Rocca Di Papa — Restaurant in London

Honestly the best place to eat Italian food (for a casual meal) in London.. amazing staff, atmosphere, vibes, food, service, and all for unexpectedly low prices!

I also have some tips: its always busy so go there expecting that don't book a table, you won't be treated differently, just come and wait if you have to soak up the atmosphere try the spaghetti bolognese (its great!) chat to all the waiters, they always have stories to tell if its quiet, and chatting to them improves everyones meal. You can't smoke in the restaurant area, but at the back there is an outdoor garden for smoking so ask for a table there if you intend to smoke best tables are the ones just outside the shop - relax and watch Dulwich move around you, Don't refer to Rocca as 'Rocca di Papa' - to the locals, its just Rocca!

Have a great time at Rocca everyone!!

edit: having read some of the other reviews, I would like to point out that the mindset you go to a restaurant with, will affect your time there. This is not the place to go for a super formal meal, this is not going to be great if you don't want to chat to the waiters, or if you are planning on 'aggressively waving them down' - its not a place to go in a rush (although food is very fast) The restaurant is also always busy, therefore, the waiters do not have tons of time, so will not come over to you to give you extra water (as was expected in one review I read). You don't come here to sit down for ages and chat (although you are welcome to) most people come hear to have a good time as they eat their food, and then leave to enjoy the rest of London! Just bear all this in mind when you come...

The food was decent, and the kitchen brought the food out hot and fast. The Tiramisu was ok at best, the cheesecake was delicious, and the Panna Cotta was good. The lasagna was good, but the lamb was not great, very fatty. Carbonara was excellent and rich and the starters were pretty good. It's a lovely looking restaurant in a great part of South East London but where it all falls apart is the service. After being seated we were ignored, and I had to get our own menus. Then after some time I had to wave the waiter over. I asked him how he was and he asked the same back. I made him aware I was not happy for we had come in and been ignored. He took it onboard, apologised and assured me he was here. A good save... at least I thought. It was clear they are short staffed as our waiter was pulled into kitchen duties cleaning up by the time we finished our mains. We again had to wave down a waitress to get another drink, then again for a dessert menu, then again to actually place our dessert options. We are a family of 5 and felt no care was given to us. We walked out after paying without anyone saying bye either. I still paid the 12.5% service charge as I feel its a tough job and they deserve it but my wife felt we shouldn't have... Shame, but we won't be returning. Our booking was for 9.30pm on a Saturdy and the restaurant was half full at most...

We’ve been wanting to revisit this restaurant since our last time, which was a week before the first lockdown and this was our first real opportunity.

This was a Friday lunchtime in the middle of October, but the temperature was mild and even though changeable, the weather was fine enough to sit outside - although we were the only ones outside.

Our welcome was friendly and we were shown to our table and handed a copy of their extensive menu.

Only a light snack was required before our short walk back across the park and so my wife ordered the Bacon & Goats Cheese Salad and I Lasagne al Forno. We each had a glass of lime and fresh soda.

The drinks arrived straight away and the food some 4-5 minutes later.

Both dishes were as we’d hoped and mine was piping hot.

The salad was £11.95, the lasagne £10.65 and the drinks £1.95 each. All in all, along with the optional service charge of 12.5% very good value for money and a cracking and enjoyable break to the day.

Rocca is a typical Italian restaurant with bags of room, an extensive menu and relaxed atmosphere. The staff that we met were very personable and helpful.

I’d be happy to recommend based upon our last couple of visits.

We’ll certainly book up another visit - hopefully sooner than 2 ½ years this time...