Osteria Angelina — Restaurant in London

Update 1Aug:

Hi Amar, thanks for replying. Just to clarify, I’m not Eric, he was the birthday guest. I made the cake, organised the surprise, and saw it served to the wrong table.

Also, no drinks were comped. The receipt is attached here, and nothing was taken off it. If something was offered, it wasn’t communicated to us.

Lastly, no one from your team has contacted me. Not by email or phone. I’m the person who raised the issue and wrote this review, and I haven’t heard from anyone.

Thanks again for responding, but I needed to correct a few things.

Original:

We had a much-anticipated birthday lunch at Osteria Angelina. The food was excellent, but a major service mishap left mixed feelings.

Beautifully styled Italian-Japanese fusion spot. However, comfort wasn’t prioritised, chairs and benches were so deep we were either leaning forward or slouching back uncomfortably.

The food was mostly fantastic.

Starters: 🌿 Nori Focaccia (£4) was underwhelming. It arrived as a single small piece without any standout flavour or texture. 🍞 Hokkaido Milk Bread with Kumquat & Burnt Honey Butter (£6) tasted great. The butter had lovely depth and sweetness but the portion of bread was comically small.

Pastas: 🍄‍🟫 Tortellini with Truffle & Kombu (£15) was exceptional. Each bite had a luxuriously creamy filling with a clear and refined truffle note. 🦀 Agnolotti with Crab & Sausage (£19) was a bit confusing. The sausage brought heat and depth, but it completely overshadowed the crab, which ended up being undetectable. 🦆 Fazzoletti with Duck Ragu & Lotus (£15) was tasty and inventive, incorporating crispy lotus root for texture. The ragu was a bit too salty, and I personally wanted more of that gamey duck flavour.

From the Grill: 🐖 Blythburgh Pork Chop (£30) was the star of the table. The chop was beautifully juicy, served with the fat on, which kept each bite moist and flavourful. The seasoning was minimal but effective, really letting the quality of the pork shine. 🥩 Aged Angus Ribeye on the Bone (£90) comes at 1kg (bone-in), it's not overly generous for the price, but the beef was perfectly cooked, deeply flavourful, and tender. A solid choice for meat lovers, though better suited for two if ordered on its own.

Sides: 🍟 House Fries (£6) were not my preference, being ultra-thin shoestring style.

Cocktails: 🍹Yuzu Spritz (£13.50) fell flat. We wanted a punchy, citrusy kick. 🌫️ Negroni Barricato (Smoked) (£13.50) was absolutely brilliant. Smoky and rich. It was among the best negronis we’ve had.

❌ The major letdown: I made a birthday cake for my friend and brought it in early, confirming with staff that they’d refrigerate it and that there was no cakage fee. I intended it as a surprise for the end of the meal. Halfway through lunch, I noticed the staff bringing a dessert with a lit candle to another table a few seats away, and I was stunned to see that it was my homemade cake. I got up mid-meal, rushed to the front and told the staff I believed they were serving my cake to someone else. They reacted quickly, but it never should’ve happened.

What frustrates me even more is that had I not noticed in time, someone else could’ve eaten it. What if that table had allergies or dietary restrictions? It’s not just a ruined surprise, it’s a serious food safety issue. The staff apologised and told me they would “take care of us,” which implied some form of gesture or compensation. But when the bill came, not a single thing was adjusted or offered, not even a gesture. They just hoped we would forget about it.

For a place that clearly hosts special occasions and celebrations, this kind of carelessness is unacceptable. It turned what should have been a heartfelt and joyful surprise into a stressful and distracting moment during the meal, and I’m still left feeling disappointed.

In the end, the bill came to £420.36 for five people (around £84 per head) which is steep for lunch and a few cocktails. Food mostly impressed, but comfort and the cake mishap left a bad taste.

Sadly, I’m not sure I’d...

Honestly one of the best culinary experiences I’ve had so far, and this is after having had a luxury 5* hotel buffet. Came here for my birthday and were seated promptly to which the ambience was a low to moderate level in which we could talk with relative ease. We sat by the kitchen which allowed us to view the chefs at work creating these beautiful dishes. Only one downside was that it was hard to catch a waiters attention as they all seemed to be busy or somewhat disappear when you needed them, and maybe could’ve been a little more attentive to finished plates especially considering the small size of the kitchen bar countertops.

For starters we ordered the courgette flowers stuffed with miso ricotta and the milk bread with burnt butter and yuzu. I don’t think I can explain how out of this world the courgette flowers were - an absolute burst of umami flavour when biting into them and definitely one of our favourites. I’m not really a ricotta fan but the filling just hit so many right spots in my mind that reminded me almost of like a lasagne or even carbonara with that cheesy but savoury flavour. I only wish that it was a little more crisp as I believe they topped it with honey which made the tempura sort of hard/ stale feeling when biting into. The milk bread was lovely and crisp on the outside and fluffy and soft on the inside, burnt butter was nutty and yuzu “jam” was sweet and tart. While this was tasty I think it was relatively weak in comparison to the other dishes we had.

For pasta mains we ordered the special raviolo. Loved all the component and I believe it also shared a bit of the same miso ricotta filling that gave it another burst of flavour when biting into it! Generous lashings of truffle were given, however I would say the dish is still pretty steep for price (around £26) considering it’s one singular raviolo. Plus, I will say the pasta was quite undercooked - not to the point of being al dente.

For the meats we chose the pork chop due to the hefty price of the ribeye (albeit it did look phenomenal and gigantic). Lucky for us it did not disappoint, despite the more affordable price point the pork chop was huge too and could definitely feed 2-3 people. The flavour of the char was absolutely beautiful, not to mention the sauce which added to that incredibly savoury and meaty flavour (wish the staff and menu explained what the sauce was as it was phenomenal and I’m curious to know what it is). The cook on the pork chop was perfect as well considering it was such a thick cut - the fat cap held its structure and held a bite but still was incredibly tender and melted in your mouth while the meat was still a light pink and had hardly any chew to it. This was definitely our favourite dish!

We will definitely be returning here next time we visit London, might even try the tasting menu at the other Angelina branch!!

For a total of about £90 (including service) it’s a pretty good price point and still pretty filling considering these are mostly meant to be...

Dining at Angelina Osteria is nothing short of extraordinary—a perfect harmony of elegance, warmth, and culinary brilliance. This isn’t just a restaurant; it’s an experience crafted with genuine passion by Amar and Josh, and flawlessly brought to life each evening under the attentive care of Francesco, whose presence on the floor makes you feel both looked after and celebrated.

From the very first bite, the menu sets the tone with milk bread—soft, pillowy, and irresistibly moreish, it’s the kind of bread that you keep reaching for long after you promised yourself just “one piece.” The tomato salad is a lesson in simplicity elevated to art: vibrant, seasonal produce at its peak, dressed to perfection. Pair it with the burrata, and you’ll wonder if you’ve ever truly tasted these classics before.

The seafood offerings are remarkable. The hamachi is delicate, clean, and bursting with flavor, while the prawns arrive beautifully executed, balancing sweetness and succulence with a touch of refinement that makes them unforgettable.

When it comes to pasta, the tortellini—elegant parcels with flawless texture and rich filling—are deeply satisfying, while the tagliolini is a masterclass in finesse: silky strands coated in a sauce so perfectly balanced you’ll want to linger on every bite.

Even the greens command attention. Far from an afterthought, they’re treated with respect and technique, offering a freshness and vibrancy that complements the richness of the meal.

Every detail, from the precision in the kitchen to the impeccable service, reflects the dedication of Amar, Josh, and Francesco. Together, they’ve created a restaurant that feels both intimate and world-class, blending warmth with sophistication.

Order the milk bread, tomato salad, burrata, hamachi, prawns, tortellini, tagliolini, and greens—and trust Francesco’s recommendations for wine pairings.

Angelina Osteria isn’t just one of London’s best Italian dining destinations—it’s a place you’ll want to return to again and again (I went 2 nights in a row) Bravo to Amar, Josh, and Francesco for delivering something truly special. Looking forward to...