Italian Cheese Selection
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."

The Wellesley Afternoon Tea

The Wellesley Afternoon Tea

United Kingdom, TR7 1SY, Cornwall,Isles of Scilly

Tea • Cafe • Coffee • Chocolate


"I booked the Wellesley Hotel as I had read the reviews and thought it sounded ok and was a reasonable price. I didn’t want to spend £70 or more on a festive tea as I had done in the past, so £35 pp was a good price. We arrived early for our seating but the table wasn’t ready. No problem there as we were asked to sit in the bar and complimentary nibbles were brought out. We were called in after 15 minutes and were advised that the lunch service had gone over time. We were to be the only party in the room for a little while until 2 other guests arrived. The room was small but the tables were spaced adequately apart, so we weren’t sitting on top of one another. We ended up choosing the champagne tea at £50 per head. Drinks came out first followed by fresh strawberries as a starter. Next was a plate of sandwiches each and we were told by the wait staff we could ask for more at anytime, which we did. They were delicious especially the small tomato and mozzarella focaccia. An added touch was a small glass of mulled wine each. Scones and cakes were next and these were also very good. The cakes weren’t very Christmassy but that was fine. We asked for an extra plate of plain and fruit scones as they were pretty good and so was the jam and lemon butter accompanying them. The second serving also meant the plates of jam, cream etc were refreshed which was most welcome. We thoroughly enjoyed our afternoon tea. We were not rushed, service was excellent and the room and table very comfortable. Staff were friendly and helpful and did a great job. Congratulations to them all (including the pianist). Having experienced quite a few afternoon teas in London, I would recommend The Wellesley."