Alba Trattoria — Restaurant in London

Great service, but even with a limited menu there were unavailable dishes. Who runs out of ravioli in an Italian with 5 pasta options? Especially if you have pictures of handmade ravioli on the walls.

Alba Trattoria could learn a lesson from Old Street's Officina or Pasta Nostra, where limited menus are used to deliver high class, consistent food.

The zucchini frito was nice and well seasoned (deep fried, salted Cougette, can still be screwed up) as was the buratta in pesto and walnuts, but our mains were an absolute abomination.

Flavourless and soggy. The mushroom and truffle pasta (which replaced the ravioli) looked like the after thought it clearly was. Dull, lifeless and closer to blitzed gruel with a splash or truffle oil, which is all you could taste on the steaming hot bowl of grey sloppy 'pasta'.

The pea and courgette risotto was a slight improvement. In that it looked lovely, but was dressed with a million pea shoots and devoid of any cheese, salt, stock, and subsequently any flavour.

Anything from Zizzi or Ask Italian would be an improvement on this.

We were offered something else from the menu by the very attentive staff, but by this point it was clear the chef had little to offer.

All I wanted to do was get as far away from 'that's amore' and the mix outdated Italian 'classics' which wailed from the speakers like some sad Italian banshee begging for the end, which could not come soon enough. I love Italian food. When done right it puts even the best French meal to shame, but here I was left lamenting that i'd decided to try this place over returning to Provendor.

Sadly it looks like Alba Trattoria will follow Longhorn and Le Marmiton to the graveyard of restaurants built on this soil. I suspect it might be built on an ancient Indian burial ground where once, many years ago, a excellent chef was unjustly murdered and until his soul is set free we will be cursed with terrible food from this venue forever.

This place has the two most heartbreaking things a restaurant can have; lovely staff and...

A Taste of Italy in Wanstead

I recently had the pleasure of dining at the newly opened Italian trattoria in Wanstead, and I must say, it was a delightful experience from start to finish. As a word of advice, I would highly recommend making a reservation, especially on Friday and Saturday evenings, as this place is quickly gaining popularity. Upon arrival, I was warmly greeted by the staff and immediately treated to a lovely assortment of olives and sour biscuits from Puglia, a delightful touch that set the tone for the evening.

The ambiance of the trattoria was cozy and inviting, with a charming rustic décor that transported me straight to Italy.

For lunch, I opted for the set menu priced at £14.50, and I was pleasantly surprised by the fantastic value it offered. The menu included two courses of authentic Italian cuisine and, to my delight, a glass of Prosecco. The dishes were expertly prepared, showcasing the flavors and traditions of Italy. Each bite was a burst of freshness and genuine Italian goodness. What truly impressed me about this trattoria was the genuine hospitality and willingness to accommodate guests' preferences and budgets. I had the chance to chat with the manager, who was attentive, friendly, and eager to ensure that my dining experience was tailored to my liking. It's refreshing to find a place that genuinely cares about their customers and goes the extra mile to make them feel welcome.

All in all, I am thrilled to have discovered this gem in Wanstead. The combination of delicious food, fair pricing, and generous hospitality makes this trattoria a standout in the area. Whether you're looking for a casual lunch or a cozy dinner, this place has it all. I highly recommend paying a visit, I'm confident you'll leave with a smile on your face and a...

I wasn’t going to leave a review as my issues were dealt with during our visit, however I felt fair to share some feedback as I actually want this restaurant to be a success! First off, disappointingly no pizzas despite being on the menu. Then a series of really poor service. I told our waitress I had a nut allergy and double checked at the end of ordering this had been noted… she wrote “capers on the side” then laughed and said “yeah I’ll remember” as I reaction to me explaining it was actually quite serious!!! 20 mins after ordering I had to chase for our wine… which was then slopped all over the table… we were not offered to taste it and I used my napkin to mop up the spills.. starters were nice however the meatballs and burrata came without bread… so we waited about 10 mins to get waitresses attention… I would have expected to have been told this when ordering… ”you might want bread with that”. Mains were horrible… would you like pasta with your SALT… carbonara was al dente (slash rubber) and couldn’t have looked any further from the instagram images… the salt was so over powering (maybe making up for lack of nuts) that it made me incredibly thirsty however we had no table water… so had to drink water that I luckily had in my bag… tiramisu… can only be described as, well not tiramisu and tasted and resembled a yellow mud pie with a serious dusting of coco powder…let’s just say it lacked the “tira”… oh and the taste.

I must however commend the head waiter who was very good and very apologetic, he took the mains off the bill (as they were almost uneaten) and gave us a complementary glass of Prosecco… But seriously… it was really not good!! I’d like to say I’d come back but will give it at least a year… if it manages...