Positano — Restaurant in London

Really lovely genuine Italian, family run feel to the the restaurant. Not terribly large but seems to be well laid out so I can't imagine it would feel any more cramped than any other restaurant when it's full. We went on a Tuesday night in the middle of a summer heatwave but it still ended up fairly busy and seemed to have a fair few know-them-by-name regulars, which is always a good sign for any establishment. The service was fantastic and all of the staff seemed genuinely happy to be working there.

Complementary nibbles were brought out to start, which were some kind of open textured bread with olive oil and herbs, which were enjoyed by the people who tried them. We skipped starters and between us had two pizzas, one pasta, and one meat dish for mains. The pizza eaters were really impressed, the meat dish was veal with a cream and mushroom sauce which was described as delicious, with perfectly cooked vegetables, and my spaghetti carbonara was absolutely gorgeous. They had no problem at all accommodating small alterations to dishes or checking ingredients and everything came out exactly as ordered. For pudding we had between us two different sorbet desserts which were lovely and refreshing (though we were so hot and full we couldn't even finish them) and 'torta della Nonna' which was described as a light, slightly nutty tart that was perfect to finish with. We had all only had soft drinks in the end and one of us didn't have any dessert, but even so it was less than £20 per head and for the quality of both food and service we all felt it was worth much more.

All in all we had a wonderful evening and we will most definitely be going back again and again, and telling everyone else to...

Overall: A really nice local and independent Italian. Have heard about this place for years and am glad I finally visited. Mains and desserts were very tasty and the staff very friendly - would recommend a visit if you’re in the area. Handled allergies well.

Food: On the whole enjoyable food - some dishes better than others. For starters, bruschetta (10/10) was very tasty. Bread was fine, reasonable portion. Calamari was a bit pale and chewy, so wouldn’t recommend, although the sauce it came with was nice. For main, margharita (9/10) was lovely - but would be good if you had the option of crust dips (probably not very Italian but I love them!). Four cheese pizza (8/10) was good and not greasy. Orecchiette (8/10) was light and good for summer. For dessert, I’d recommend both panna cotta (9/10) and sorbet (10/10).

Service: Very friendly, good with allergies - lots of starters and mains to choose from for nut and soy allergy sufferers.

Final thoughts: Portion sizes were a little bit on the small side for the price point, but given it’s an independent restaurant I think overall it is still...

Good, authentic, unpretentious family food in a very warm and welcoming setting. I had spaghetti all vongole and enjoyed it a lot,even though I usually go for very meaty dishes. The service is unique, the lady managing the place is quite a character, super outgoing and friendly, making sure everyone is OK and happy. I don't think you would have that kind of genuine attention in a chain. The decoration is very kitsch, as well as the little show they put on for diners celebrating their birthday (think strobe lights, music from the 80's, and the owner making a little dance and encouraging everyone to clap their hands) - not to everyone's taste I guess, but we enjoyed it as it felt...