Osteria Ovada — Restaurant in London

I came across this place as I was staying at a hotel just across the road from this restaurant. I had just arrived earlier in the day and had kind of a stressful morning/afternoon as an air bnb I booked turned out to be misrepresented. Anywho, I was able to get a place at the hotel and later that evening I went looking for a place to eat and stumbled upon this place. It was the best thing that could have happened after my terrible time earlier in the day. The owner seated me and waited on me, sharing with me some of the best anti-pastas, prosciutto, and Italian breads I have ever had. I told him about my morning and he was so kind to listen to my story and really made me feel welcome. The comfort of the food served here alleviated my stress and turned my whole day around. The owner Paolo is incredibly kind, friendly, and takes great pride in his restaurant. It is very clear that he wants to serve the highest quality of both food and service and that's what is being offered here. The food like I said above is some of the best Italian I have had, and I've been to several regions of Italy. It is made with pride by his chefs who were two women who were both Italian themselves. I watched them make homemade pasta and other dishes and it was clear that they both were putting in great care and attention into the preparations of the dishes they made. I also had a delicious homemade desert which was the perfect end to my meal. I didn't have any wine but it is of note that the wine served there Paolo makes in Italy. I can't say enough about my experience, it was absolutely wonderful and I plan to go back when I...

If you want oodles of authentic charm and atmosphere, with decent food this place is for you. But be prepared to pay ridiculous prices for the rustic setting and fare. And in cash, no less. Went here with my mum (thank god) and a friendly old Italian gent ushered us inside and suggested (nay, practically insisted) antipasti for everyone to start. Nice fun, antipasti but a lot of it. Glasses of the house wine decent. Tables and chairs all charmingly mismatched and old nick nacks on the walls. The waiters seemingly family, gruffly bantering and teasing each other and the guests. We asked for recs and were told what order. Pastas good if not your standard fare and portions. But holy moly the bill should not be this high for what feels like a casual trattoria. The only unauthentic bit about this experience. Will be the thing that keeps me from returning, sadly (without...

Really wanted to have a beautiful graduation dinner! It's a cute little Italian place. However, from the start we were served antipasti that we did not ask for but they just gave it to us anyway, which is fine, but they charged us 40 quid for it. Then, we wanted wine and they just opened an entire bottle and charged us 40 for that as well. Our mains were so salty it was almost inedible. The owners were so kind and we hate confrontation so we just ate what we could and paid 160 quid but it was easily some of the worst food I've had in London. Would appreciate so much more if they just asked if we wanted antipasti or the bottle of wine rather than just charge us. Felt very strange. Grateful they gave us a bottle "on the house." Very, very kind but overall I would never go...