Beef Carpaccio
Bacco Restaurant & Wine Bar

Bacco Restaurant & Wine Bar

25-26 Red Lion Street Holborn London, WC1R 4PS, United Kingdom

Wine • Bars • Pasta • Dining


"Booked a table on Saturday for a simple dinner for 2 before a birthday party. On arrival to the almost empty restaurant, I was promptly given a table by a fire exit, (which I asked to change to a table away from the door and in a more pleasant part of the restaurant). The chair at the first table had also seen better days and sank down as soon as I tried to sit in it, which was another reason I asked to move. On being seated at my new table I was given 1 menu, even though I had booked a table for two. The waiter seemed disinterested frankly. When my partner arrived she was left to sit at the table for quite a while without a menu until we requested one. We ordered our meals and drinks, then had to ask again for bread, instead of it being brought to us. The first course of fried calamari was tasteless and bland, with more breading than squid and at £15 a portion it was not good value at all. When asked if I enjoyed my starter, I told the waiter that I didn’t like it as it was very dry. My £16 spaghetti crab was smothered in tomato sauce and it could have been any kind of protein in there, tuna, sardine, it’s impossible to tell. My partners seafood orecchiette was adequate, but was still £18 Desert was a dark pannocotta which was ok. £8, we asked to share one and two were brought to us, so 1 was sent back. The bill came to £115 (including an obligatory 12.5% service charge), and with a top table discount on the starters and mains knocking £30 off that total to make it £85, I really don’t feel this place is either good value for money or worth visiting again. The food was bland and indifferent, much like the waiting staff and the decor. I feel this is a tired West End restaurant, knocking out overpriced and sub standard food to people on business or shopping. If you are going to spend £100 you should expect a great meal and considerate service. This was very far from that."

Verdi's

Verdi's

237 Mile End Road London, E1 4AA, United Kingdom

Beer • Wine • Pasta • Pizza


"among a large number of fried chicken restaurants, almost food joints and numerous bangladeshi restaurants is a rustic Italian restaurant with an excellent environment. on Wednesday afternoon for lunch I was amazed to see a style similar to that of a first class restaurant. the restaurant was relatiw full for a Wednesday afternoon in mile ende. the menu consisted of a few dressed in different categories that you would see in any Italian restaurants, but with a higher complication. the waiter came to explain the daily specialties that burrata with black truffles shave up and spaghetti with truffle both for reasonable prices. my friend ordered a margherita pizza that arrived with basilikum and parmesan cheese on the side. the pizza was thin crispy crust with a delicious tomato sauce, a simple dish, but prepared for a very high standard. I ordered the rabbit ragout, which was also very tasty and the pasta came al dente, I also ordered burrata with black truffles, both were very tasty. there was a formal environment with a dedicated wine menu. the waiter explained to me that the restaurant was only open two months. this restaurant can be seen as a hidden gem in mile ende and is definitely recommended to appreciate the good hearty Italian cuisine. prices can be slightly high compared to the surrounding restaurants, but for the quality of food and the ingredients it is definitiv a trip and worth the money."

Café Murano – Covent Garden Dining Counter

Café Murano – Covent Garden Dining Counter

36 Tavistock Street London, WC2E 7PB, United Kingdom

Fish • Greek • Italian • Desserts


"Disappointing experience after deciding to book here having read many great recent reviews. Maybe just caught them on a poor night. Arrived 8.45 for pre booked 8.45 table which wasn't quite ready. Front of House advised table not quite ready. Didn't offer any drink or menu to look at. Came back 10 mins later said if wouldn't be long, this time no drink offered but menus were provided. It felt a bit awkward waiting at entrance. Sat at table and ordered Oysters which were good, scallops and mini Moules which were good. A new waitress looked after us who although quite inexperienced was good fun and very pleasant. No issue at all with her service Ordered Monkfish and Lobster Thermidore and 2 sides. Monkfish was very average (i was asked if i was happy to have on the bone and it felt like they were low on stock, very little fish arrived and felt like they would have been better saying monk fish was off menu than trying to sell a portion that was inadequate) and the Lobster was rubbery and very chewy, the sides were forgotten and we had to ask for them. Complained to the manager and she offered a refund on the mains and sides which we accepted. Had to push to get the service charge removed which was pretty cheeky I would say. In summary the food quality of mains wasn't good, the welcome was poor but they did handle the complaint ok and were very forthcoming with amending bill to keep us happy which suggests to me they knew it was poor."