Alley Cats Pizza — Restaurant in London

I have NEVER felt so unwelcomed in a restaurant. I arrived at AlleyCatsPizza at 5:50 PM and queued like everyone else, expecting fair treatment. Instead, I was repeatedly overlooked and disregarded, watching couple after couple—who arrived after me—get seated ahead of me.

The waiter told me that as a solo diner, I could only sit at the stool area by the window, not at a table. Yet, I watched multiple couples take those same stools in pairs while I remained ignored. After waiting over an hour, I was finally seated, only to be treated as an afterthought again. Halfway through my meal, a staff member asked me to move down the stool table, saying that being near the door “might be cold for my comfort.” I moved, only to see that they immediately seated another couple in my original spot. So not only was I made to wait unfairly, but even once I was seated, I was shuffled around like an inconvenience to make space for more couples.

At first, I tried to be patient, but the longer I waited and the more I was overlooked, the clearer it became that my presence was not valued here. What made this worse was that every single couple who was prioritized over me was white. Was I being treated this way because I was alone, or was it race - related? Either way, it was unacceptable.

Saturdays don’t have a booking policy, so where does that leave solo diners? At AlleycatsPizza, it means being treated with a pure lack of respect, left until last so they can maximize profits by prioritizing groups. This isn’t a restaurant that values all of its customers—just the ones they think are worth their time. If I had known I would be treated like this, I wouldn’t have spent a penny here. The more I was ignored, the more I regretted supporting this place - £40+ spent on one person , the food wasn’t outstanding or anything out-of-the ordinary. Lots of hype, drawing in crowds with sub-par management and questionable practices which seems to cater to and be based on who is being served.

AlleyCats Pizza needs to review its policies and ensure ALL customers are treated with fairness and respect—no matter if they are in a group, solo, their race, or any other feature.

I’ve already sent a email to them with more details on my experience - I’d like to think I’ll get a response with an explanation, accountability and steps to ensure this doesn’t happen to others - Until then, I would strongly recommend taking your...

A Trendy New York Style Pizzeria in London

Located in the heart of Marylebone, with a recent expansion into Chelsea, Alley Cats has quickly become one of London’s most talked-about pizzerias since its opening in early 2024. This vibrant spot captures the essence of New York-style pizza, with a trendy twist that keeps crowds coming back for more. Despite the fact that reservations are not accepted, the line moves quickly, especially for smaller parties—like my own experience as a party of two.

Upon entering, the unique interior design immediately stands out. The decor is a delightful mix of old-world charm, as evidenced by the classic tablecloths, and modern industrial elements. The addition of vintage cult films projected onto the walls adds a quirky, nostalgic touch, making the ambiance both relaxed and intriguing.

Alley Cats takes its pizza seriously, with the kitchen located downstairs and the pizza oven in full view upstairs. The large size of the pizzas is notable, with the 14-inch option being more than sufficient for two people, unless you arrive with a particularly large appetite. The menu offers a wide variety of toppings, with creative combinations that feature high-quality ingredients. The crust is undoubtedly the star of the show—perfectly crunchy and ideally paired with their tangy ranch sauce. The pizza itself strikes a balance between the familiar New York style and a nod to authentic Italian flavors, resulting in a new style that feels innovative yet comforting. The pizza is surprisingly light, making it easy to enjoy without feeling overly full, provided you don’t overindulge.

To finish the meal, I decided to try their hazelnut and pistachio tiramisu. While the dessert was flavorful, it was a bit too liquid for my taste. Nevertheless, it was a satisfying conclusion to the meal.

Service at Alley Cats was commendable. The staff was attentive and friendly, and despite a minor glitch with our order, they handled the situation with professionalism. Prices are reasonable, reflecting both the quality of the ingredients and the prime locations of the restaurants. For anyone looking to enjoy a fresh take on pizza in a lively setting, Alley Cats is definitely...

Fantastic new pizza place in London. Visited first time yesterday after watching few reviews online and I can’t say I was disappointed. First thing that you notice is the queue outside, the place is just so popular and they do not do delivery so you gotta make the effort and get it yourself but trust me it’s well worth it. Once the queue was down( it was about 45 minutes long on a cold January Thursday evening) We were greeting by a super friendly staff member , who took us to our table and looked after us for the rest of the evening. The space was cool but did not theme the spotlight from the true star which was the pizza. The menu is straightforward with a few starters, pizzas and couple of deserts available. Drinks are not over complicated with 3 beers available, and some canned cocktails and wine. We’ve ordered 3 pizzas to share, some candies bacon and 2 tiramisu for desert. Pizzas arrive in few minutes and we were surprised how big and rich they looked like. We had the special pizza with mortadella and pistachio, vodka sauce and the pepperoni. My favourite was the special pizza which I had cut into quarters as it’s so huge. Pepperoni was absolutely great, and packed a spicy punch so may be not for everyone if they can’t handle some heat. The vodka sauce pizza was fantastic , the sauce is sweet and flavoursome (can’t taste the vodka - sadly or luckily). I tried one slice with a piece of the candied bacon (hopefully didn’t offend the chef) and it was awesome. The tiramisu had a nice twist to them as they had line nuts inside giving it an interesting crunchy texture. We could not finish our pizzas so had to get a take away box. We got to meet the head chef Francesco who told us all about the place and even shown us the pizza lab under the restaurant floor. The pizzas were incredible and were matched by the service from the front of house staff. Carmelo really made sure we felt like at home while entertaining everyone with jokes and volumes of personality. I have no doubts this place is here to stay for long time. Can’t go wrong when The service doesn’t fall short of the outstanding food. Will be back...