Carlotta — Restaurant in London

I guess I am one of the few who is giving 3 star reviews for this otherwise wonderful place.

So let me tell what went wrong and why. Mind you, I have been to two other Big Mamma restaurants so I know this chain well and have certain expectations.

The things that went wrong: ⚠️ To start with the starter we wanted the Shrimp Cocktail but were informed that it was no more available and shrimps were over already. ❌ Only to notice a table next to us after 30 minutes of our dinner had the same shrimp cocktail being served! 🤷‍♂️ Not sure why we were misinformed but that’s exactly how the experience started.

Next to add to this not so great experience, I went there with my partner and she wanted to place the order on our behalf but the server would constantly look at me to confirm whether I am the one in charge and this is something I really want the f&b Industry to change that at the table whoever wants to place the order it doesn’t have to be the man always, women can do it equally as well! ⛔️

Now my partner placed the order, and was then asked if we wanted bread - but when a dish is asked without us ordering we genuinely take it as complimentary but only to realise it was charged on the bill separately! Had we known we would have made an informed decision of probably ordering some other kind of bread or dish!! It was cheeky of them to add it onto us.

We placed our order which i’ll add in detail below which it also included cocktail drinks - the person who took our order was Damien (or Damieno) and they were very kind as they obliged with getting some whisky based cocktail which wasn’t on their menu.

But to our horror, the drinks came in just when the main course was almost getting over and that too after 3-4 reminders and follow ups with different people. The only thing i would appreciate is when we saw the bill the server had taken the drinks off it and made them complimentary.

But oh boy the bill had a service charge of 13.5% i mean i have seen 12.5% commonly and after the service we got here, we should have taken it off but we obliged as the food was good but 13.5% is undeserved!

So for service i would place 2 ⭐️ only.

Oh and to add, despite asking for tap water another server came to the table and opened a still water bottle and started to serve only when we asked them to stop did they go and bring us tap water.

The above points definitely took a toll on the whole experience.

What we consumed: in starters we went for Prosciutto Crudo di Parma - really nice & soft and smooth ham and was the only protein dish we ordered Bread basket (which we didn’t want to order) - a mix of 2 different breads but not sure for 2 people why would they give 3 pieces of bread 🤦🏻‍♂️ - either give 2 or 4!! 🤷‍♂️ Fettuccine Alfredo al Tartufo for 2 people - this was really nice.. loved the flavours! Tigramisu (Tiramisu) : it was nice, but somehow there something amiss, and Circolo Poplare (part of their same group) still wins that award for bestest tiramisu ever. Cocktail drinks: Brooklyn sour and probably a Whisky sour (as it was made by choice of the bartender) really smooth ones and had the delay not happened would have had at least one more each!

So overall this place is a fancy dining restaurant for a special occasion and probably should call us back for a complimentary meal to have this...

If you’re looking for an authentic, comforting, and truly satisfying Italian dining experience in London, Carlotta is an absolute gem. I recently visited and decided to go with a classic choice — spaghetti with meatballs — and it turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve made in a while when it comes to dining out.

From the moment I walked in, the atmosphere set the tone. The interiors are warm and inviting, with that blend of modern charm and rustic Italian coziness that makes you feel like you’ve stepped into a little corner of Italy. The staff welcomed me with genuine friendliness, and the service throughout my meal was attentive without ever being intrusive. They were quick to make recommendations, share a bit about the dishes, and ensure that everything on the table was just right.

Now, onto the food — the highlight of the evening. The spaghetti with meatballs was simply delicious. The pasta itself was cooked perfectly al dente, and the sauce struck the right balance between rich tomato flavor and subtle seasoning. It wasn’t overly heavy or too tangy, but rather smooth, flavorful, and comforting. The meatballs were tender, juicy, and seasoned just right, with that homemade taste that immediately gives you the impression that a lot of care and tradition go into the cooking here. Each bite had the perfect combination of pasta, sauce, and meatball — hearty, flavorful, and deeply satisfying.

What I also appreciated was the portion size. It was generous without being overwhelming, making it the kind of dish you savor slowly while still feeling content by the end. The presentation was simple yet elegant, and it stayed true to what Italian comfort food should be: honest, flavorful, and made with care.

Beyond the food itself, the overall dining experience at Carlotta stood out. The staff checked in at the right moments, the ambiance encouraged you to relax and enjoy the evening, and the pace of the meal felt natural and unhurried. It’s a place where you can come for a casual dinner with friends or even a slightly more special occasion, and it works perfectly either way.

All in all, Carlotta impressed me with its balance of warm hospitality, beautiful atmosphere, and, of course, delicious food. My spaghetti with meatballs was spot-on, and I’d happily come back to try more from their menu. Highly recommended for anyone craving authentic...

Went there for a girls' night. While the decoration was amazing, the premium price Carlotta charges doesn't justify the service. The overall customer experience was poor and would not be recommended.

We were seated downstairs, which was so dark that we couldn't read the menu properly. We ordered with pictures shown on google: Fried Sicilian arancini (3 fried rice balls..) as appetiser, prawn spaghetti and crab & seafood pasta as main dishes. Pasta dishes were delicious, but the 3 rice balls were just fine, but we were surprised it cost £14 for 3 tiny fried rice balls.. we ordered CARLOTTA'S WEDDING CAKE as dessert. When served, we were told that we had to leave in 5 minutes because the next round of guesses was arriving. If the waiter had told us, we wouldn't have ordered it and had to have the dessert in rush, worrying we were out of time.

The dining experience was extremely poor. We had to pour water ourselves. When the water bottle was empty, it was difficult to get the waiters attention for another water bottle. There was no checking in from waiters to see if everything was OK. We were asked to (self-service) pay the bill through scanning a QR code on the table. Except for the 12.5% service fee, there was even a checkout fee on the bill... I asked the waiter to pay directly. He passed on the bill and didn't come back for more than 20 minutes. (While we wondered why we were rushing for dessert earlier...). When he came, since everything was almost self served except we were served with food, I asked the waiter politely to remove the service charges after explaining my reasoning. The waiter didn't take it well and rudely said, " You want to remove it because of that? You know that's part of my salary. But sure if you want, I'll remove it. " We felt it was a guilt trip. The "discretionary" service fee should be earned, not entitled. We left the restaurant unhappy. We would not return the restaurant and do not recommend it to anyone despite its great decoration, which is...