Olivomare — Restaurant in London

I’d say that both the service and the food need improvements. The staff were lovely but there is lack of attention. We asked for bread 4 times and waited 15 minutes for it as we wanted to use the bread for the mussels broth, well, when we asked the bread for the last time we have been told that the main course were ready even though we didn’t finish our starter, so we had to send the unfinished starter. I have called in the afternoon before going to the restaurant as we went there just to eat the pasta with lobster and have been told over the phone that the lobster was fresh. Well it wasn’t. When we have received the main course, I knew that something wasn’t quite right. If a customer orders pasta with half lobster please make sure to keep the half lobster meat intact, so that customers know that they have received what they have paid for instead of mixing the meat in the pasta. The amount of lobster meat in the pasta was far less than half of the lobster we supposed to get, all the shells were completely empty, and we felt cheated, so this is disappointing and misleading to begin with. When I had a piece of lobster meat, it was mushy and disintegrated without me chewing it, this is a sign that the lobster either was frozen or was dead from quite some time when it was cooked. When the lobster is fresh the meat texture should firm. Unfortunately for them I’m sort of an expert in hospitality and can spot things very easily. It was very disappointing for us as it was our special occasion. We have researched and called in advance to make sure that it was a real Italian restaurant and that the raw materials were fresh, indeed the staff were Italian and the food too, but the quality of some ingredients were quite poor. On the positive note the mussels starter was delicious (that’s why we wanted to finish the broth with some bread), and the wine was good too. The tiramisu is absolutely overpriced £9.50 and is definitely not made in the traditional way, as it wasn’t made using eggs, and there was just a tiny bit of mascarpone, it was more double cream than anything else. Is a shame because we really hoped to find an proper Italian restaurant with quality products and service. We paid the full bill and the service charge of over £24, but we feel that the food and the service weren’t up to standards however the staff were lovely and welcoming.

Overall the food is 2⭐️ out of 5 The service 3⭐️ out of 5 The Price based on the quality of the products and the service is 2⭐️ Renato D.

Edit 1: The fact that you replied to an honest review like that says a lot about the management of the Restaurant. Classic Italianotto! You question the credibility of my review because it doesn’t suits you? Embarrassing. I have been in the industry for years and been development chef too, so I think i know 1 or 2 things about food, standards and service. Your Tiramisu was indeed made with few eggs lots of cream and a touch of Mascarpone! If you say the it comes with half lobster I expect half lobster meat in my pasta and not 1/3! The meat was completely mushy and disintegrated, if you say you cook it fresh the meat will still be quite a nice firm texture, so clearly the lobster wasn’t fresh, most likely frozen! But more importantly give us what we have been told and paid for HALF lobster not 1/3. Regarding the service can be better as customers shouldn’t demand 4 times for extra bread and definitely you shouldn’t take the plates away if we are not finished! Why do you think your serve those delicious mussels with broth? The broth isn’t supposed to be thrown away but to enjoy with the mussels and the bread! You really need to some improvements both in your service and raw materials sourcing as much as your management when it comes to...

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of visiting Olivomare, a restaurant that was established in 2007 by Mr. Mauro Sanna. Upon entering the restaurant, my initial impression of the staff was not very impressive. They seemed inattentive and lacked the level of professionalism one would expect.

To start, they served us bread and olives without providing a small plate. It may seem like a minor detail, but it is these small touches that contribute to the overall dining experience. Additionally, when the waiter asked if I wanted water, they brought the water bottle already opened. In my opinion, the water bottle should have been opened in front of me, rather than behind the bar. These small lapses in service etiquette were disappointing.

However, once I mentioned that I was a food critic, the attitude of the staff changed dramatically. It is a shame that they only provided exceptional service after being aware of my profession. This indicates that they have the capability to provide excellent service, but it should be consistent for all customers, regardless of their occupation.

Moving on to the highlight of the evening, the food at Olivemare was truly outstanding. To test the skills of an Italian cuisine chef, I ordered the spaghetti pomodoro, and it was perfectly prepared. The pasta was cooked al dente, and the tomato sauce was flavorful and well-balanced. This dish alone showcased the talent of the chef and their ability to execute a classic Italian dish flawlessly.

In addition to the spaghetti pomodoro, we also ordered other starters that were equally delicious. The flavors were vibrant, and the presentation was visually appealing. For my main course, I opted for the spaghetti with crab, and it did not disappoint. The combination of the delicate crab meat with the pasta created a harmonious blend of flavors. To complement the meal, I enjoyed a glass of white wine that paired perfectly with the dishes.

In summary, the food at Olivemare is truly fantastic. The chef's skill and attention to detail are evident in every dish. However, the service falls short and is in need of improvement. The staff's lack of attentiveness and inconsistency in their level of service detracted from the overall dining experience. With some adjustments and a focus on providing consistent and attentive service, Olivemare has the potential to become a top-notch dining destination. Nick...

The food was good, but the service shockingly bad. We arrived when it was relatively quiet, and were politely shown to our table and given menus. However, after numerous failed attempts to give our order, including one when a waiter acknowledged our presence but then walked away never to return, after 25 minutes, we had to be ‘gently firm’ with another waiter to take our simple order as he repeatedly said that only the manager could do it even though we saw him take orders from others. When the food arrived, we had to remind them that we were still waiting for our drinks 45 minutes after our arrival. It was only when the tables around us filled up that we spotted that everyone else was given a basket of fancy bread on the house, but not us. The manager apologised and understood our request to remove the ‘discretionary’ 15% service charge, but then added £1 because we had been undercharged, which was true but very petty under the circumstances, especially given the failure to serve us bread that was offered to everyone else. I had a very pleasant experience there before, but regretted not walking out after half an hour when they continually ignored us this time, especially as we got there well before the...