Insalata Di Farro
Theo Randall at the InterContinental

Theo Randall at the InterContinental

1 Hamilton Place London, W1J 7QY, United Kingdom

Pasta • Pizza • Coffee • Italian


"Having stayed and eaten at a number of Intercontinental hotels and always been impressed, I decided to book Sunday brunch at Park Lane for Father’s Day. It sounded good and varied when booking but when we arrived, the restaurant was somewhat underwhelming (poor decor, dimly lit and not at all fitting of a 5* hotel as was the salad and cold buffet. At £70 a head I would have expected far more variety and a higher quality of produce. The bread rolls were cold and relatively tough (and not with the salad buffet at all but with the sweet buffet! Our waiter was very pleasant but clearly new to the role and not particularly responsive. The beef wellington was delicious and the star of the show and for a buffet the vegetables and roast potatoes were well cooked but the chicken looked unappealing and I would have expected whole chickens roasted and served rather than rather pale and unappealing thighs on a heated trolley for a five star hotel. The sweet section was okay but all very cake based and the cheese was again somewhat standard and without crackers, chutney/qunice or fruit. At an additional £8 a coffee, I felt ripped off for what was standard filter coffee at best and £8 for a small Diet Coke also felt steep. At almost £300 for two adults and two children it massively failed to reach expectations and I am unlikely to return to the hotel for any of its dining options in the future as a result. A real disappointment sadly and a waste of money. There are many, many far better options in London for a fraction of the cost…."

Latteria

Latteria

56-58 Essex Road, London I-, United Kingdom

Cafe • Drinks • Brunch • Italian


"Latteria is open daily for breakfast and lunch from Monday and offers late dinner service from Thursday to Saturday. As a nod to Italy, we ordered an "Aperol Spritz" (£8.50), which we enjoyed immensely. The menu features other Italian-inspired cocktails like "Mojito Milan" and an extensive selection of Italian wines and coffee. It’s hard to beat Italian cuisine, and Latteria represents its country’s culinary tradition very well. We started with a delicious rosemary garlic focaccia (£5), which was crispy and flavorful. We also had a lentil salad with green apple, cucumber, and datterino tomatoes (£8.50) that was a delightful surprise! The combination of simple ingredients created amazing flavors, showcasing the essence of good Italian cooking. We particularly enjoyed how the fresh apple complemented the rich lentils. For our main courses, we tried the tagliatelle pomodoro, which is served in a classic tomato sauce with fresh basil (£7.50). This vegetarian dish can easily be made vegan by substituting the pasta. Once again, the dish relied on simple ingredients, resulting in a wonderfully fresh and tasty meal. We also opted for the chicken Milanese served with rocket salad and fries (£13). It was impressively large, but we polished it off quickly! The breadcrumb coating was crispy without being greasy, and the chicken was tender and flavorful. The salad was fresh, and the fries were excellent. We couldn’t resist trying the house-made profiteroles (£5), and we were so glad we did. They were perfect choux pastries filled with fresh cream and drizzled with chocolate—simply heavenly! Overall, Latteria is a bright and lively Italian restaurant in Islington, offering high-quality food and service. The staff is friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive. Just a short walk from Angel Station, it sits at the heart of Milan-inspired dining! I highly recommend it for a delightful meal."