Dinners in London

Very good, but Zucca Bermondsey is better and better value.

We have only one thing to say about our dining experience here last night – visit this restaurant, it is worth the trip to the Bermondsey backwaters! Everything was delicious, the bream carpacio, the meat ragu, the mushroom tagliolini, the zucca fritti and the wine – and very good value. The best meal we have had in a long time. And they gave us a table on a busy Saturday night even after we managed to mess up our booking. Full of Italians too. We have already made our next booking.
www.zuccalondon.com/

Food: 10  |  Service: 9  |  Atmosphere: 6  |  Value: 9

Always on the lookout for a good Italian, we were not disappointed by Mennula on Charlotte Street. Quite a new restaurant with an authentic Italian feel, carefully sourced foods and very attentive service. We ordered several items from the pasta and mains sections of the menu and found that some were absolutely amazing (papardelle with broad beans – the best we have ever had), while others were, surprisingly, mediocre (risotto). The staff immediately picked up on any discontent and quickly served up something absolutely delicious (at no extra charge). The mains were wonderfully balanced, beautifully presented and just the right size.
www.mennula.com/

Food: 8 |  Service: 9  |  Atmosphere: 6  |  Value: 6

Bocca di Lupo serves tapas style Italian food in a swish Soho location. We called up to see if we could get a table at short notice on a Friday evening and were told that there would probably be availability at the bar. Sure enough, after a short wait and a nice glass of wine, we were seated at the bar. As we sat quite close to the entrance and as it is winter, there was a continuous cold breeze from the door. The food was tasty, but not spectacular. We had a selection of vegetarian and fish/sea food dishes, but the menu is definitely more geared toward meat eaters. The best items of the evening were the pecorino and radish salad, which had great texture and a wonderful dressing full of garlic and truffle flavours, as well as the blood orange granite which made us feel refreshed and less full after a rather large meal. A few small hick-ups in the service, but a pleasant evening altogether. www.boccadilupo.com

Food: 7  |  Service: 7  |  Atmosphere: 6  |  Value: 6

We went to Quaglino’s for a free meal (yes, there are such things in London!) and were presented with a set menu that looked reasonable. We chose onion soup, wild mushroom spaghetti and apple tart, with a side of sauteed spinach and a bottle of Argentinean Malbec. The spinach and the dessert were tasty. The starter was average, not exciting. The main course consisted of beautiful wild mushrooms, entirely unseasoned and tossed with severely over-boiled spaghetti. Service was attentive and we were immediately offered fresh plates of food when we highlighted the mushy pasta, but the next round of the same dish was only marginally less over cooked and no more seasoned. We don’t get it – how can you go wrong with spaghetti and wild mushrooms? Twice? 

 www.danddlondon.com/restaurants/quaglinos/home

Food: 3  |  Service: 7  |  Ambience: 6  |  Value: 4