The Lost Elephant's Kitchen — Restaurant in London

Really disappointed by this place. We visited the Lost Elephant kitchen this morning as we wandered around Camden as it had good reviews and marketed itself as good for gluten free food. This was important to us as my friend has celiac disease. I am not one to leave reviews but we left feeling like we had to as we didn’t want anyone else going to this place expecting good service and food. The waitresses were very dismissive and rude to us. We asked about gluten free bread for my friend and we were immediately dismissed and were told that there is cross contamination, despite the menu saying that every effort would be made. We ordered anyway and when the food came we realised the waitress had gotten our order wrong and given us the £12 avocado toast instead of the £6 one. We were confused when the food was presented to us and the waitress just said it was gluten free and basically threw it in front of my friend. I had an okay sandwich but for £7 it was absolutely overpriced, even for London. The bread was stale and the sandwich soggy. We were very confused about the service as there was gentleman behind us and the staff were very polite to him? It was just very uncomfortable to be treated in such a way when other customers were not being treated this way. There was a 10.5% service charge on the bill which we took off as the whole time we were in there we felt like a burden to the staff. It was not even busy in there.

We were happy to leave. Overall the food is okay if you do not have any allergies. It is on the expensive side for what it is. What made this place worthy of a negative review was...

This place was so bad that I'm wondering if I was in a different restaurant. For a start, there were no gluten-free pancakes (internet claims notwithstanding), which were the reason I walked for half an hour to go there.

I wound up having a ham and cheese omelette, which was burned, and a vanilla milk shake, which was ok but covered in caramel sauce and thus not really "vanilla."

But the service was beyond belief. I sat down and was given a menu. I asked about the gluten-free pancakes and the server went off to find out. She came back and said no, and I asked for a minute to find a replacement. She never returned.

I eventually called someone over and ordered food. My ham and cheese omelette arrived, without bread or French fries as I had requested, and nicely decorated with tomato and asparagus. But I couldn't eat it because I had no cutlery, so I just sat there watching it get cold. I called someone over and asked for cutlery.

No cutlery showed up. Instead, they came and took my omelette away (perhaps just as well, given that it was cold) and gave it to the next table.

Some time later, my milk shake showed up. And some time after that, the omelette. The tomato and asparagus were gone. And I still had no cutlery.

By the time my cutlery showed up, my omelette was also cold, a nice counterpoint to the fact that they had managed to burn it as well.

In their response below, the restaurant explains that all of their competent waitstaff is currently on vacation. This is no excuse! A restaurant without good waitstaff needs to close until people...

We stumbled upon The Lost Elephant’s Kitchen while exploring Camden Market and it turned out to be one of the highlights of our day. Tucked away among the vibrant and eclectic atmosphere of Camden, this little gem offers an authentic Italian dining experience that you wouldn’t necessarily expect to find in the heart of the market.

The ambiance is warm, inviting, and cozy — a welcome contrast to the bustling energy outside. The moment we stepped in, we felt transported straight to a small Italian trattoria. The décor is simple yet charming, and there’s a genuine sense of hospitality in the air.

We ordered the Penne al Pollo and Penne Arrabbiata, and both dishes were absolutely spot on. The pasta was cooked perfectly — al dente, just as it should be — and the sauces were rich, flavorful, and comforting. The Penne al Pollo had a lovely creaminess with tender, juicy pieces of chicken, while the Penne Arrabbiata delivered the perfect kick of spice without overpowering the dish. You could tell these were no ordinary plates of pasta — they were made by proper Italian chefs who know and love their craft.

What made the experience even better was the warmth of the staff. Friendly, attentive, and passionate about their food, they made sure we felt well taken care of from start to finish.

Overall, if you find yourself wandering through Camden Market, I highly recommend making a stop at The Lost Elephant’s Kitchen. It’s the kind of place that makes you want to come back — not just for the food, but for the whole experience. A true hidden gem amidst the...