Trevi Ristorante — Restaurant in London

Tasty food but intimidating and rude behavior.

I went with a friend for some dinner before a gig nearby. The young woman who took our order was friendly and lovely. We ordered starters and mains. The calamari was delicious, as was the soup. We both ordered the same main of chicken escalope with a caper, tomatoe and olive sauce. An older woman brought the mains and as I dipped a chip into the sauce I could see the breadcrumbs on my chicken were burnt in places, which I could taste with the sauce on the chip I just eaten. I said to the woman that mine was burnt. My friends portion was cooked well, with no burnt bits. The woman said, 'If it was cooked less you would say it was not cooked enough!". I asked for a fresh one and she was clearly unhappy.

The plate was reluctantly taken away and a loud conversation then started between the woman and the cook, saying it was cooked fine and making unkind comments about me. It was a very uncomfortable situation and I felt quite intimidated.

My friend finished her food and a new plate of arrived for me. I could tell when my food was ready as I could hear the raised voices, making out a comment, "if she doesn't like it cooked that way she doesn't like it cooked that way!" The same older woman brought it and her attitude towards me was terrible. There were few breadcrumbs and I checked to see if it was cooked enough on my friends advice. It was decent food, I was concerned about eating it given what I'd heard, and the atmosphere was uncomfortable.

Had we not had a gig to go to nearby I may have made different choices about whether to eat the main and to stay in the restaurant.

From the moment I sent back the burnt food I was treated differently. My friend continued to get the friendly treatment and I was stared at and not spoken to. It's such a terrible way to treat people. I would like to be able to eat there, as the food we did have was tasty and decent prices, however, that's no way to treat someone who doesn't want to...

So expensive for terrible, inauthentic Italian in an environment that feels like you're intruding on a family gathering. When you're asked to pay £13 for a small lasagne, you'd hope for more than dry herbs, cheap pasta sheets and mediocre at best ragu. I've been here 4 times now and every time I thought I'd give them another try, but the food is appalling for the price and the restaurant is always full of family members (not Italian) scrutinising you for interrupting their social event. 3 times in a row now I've been the only customer at lunch time surrounded by at least 5 observers. I'd pay £5 for a loveless, mostly cheese lasagne in that situation but not £13. Will not be back.

Update!

Thanks for the response. You might want to check your prices because that's not what I was charged and not what's on your chalkboard. Thanks for mentioning the wine ... it was vinegar. Not sure whether it was an open bottle or your other customers are usually on their way to Emirates but it is really bad wine. I wish you all the best. You seem to mean well, but I'm providing my honest review which is how the world works. And to pay £15.95, which is the actual price of your set menu and £7 for a small glass of wine, is only worth 2 stars.

If you read what I said earlier I mentioned that I've tried to support you by coming back 4 times. None of the other times has been above mediocre but I haven't said anything until now. And the fact you've attacked me for providing an honest and constructive review is all people should need to know. If people are willing to pay for that ... good luck to them. You need...

I have dined at the Trevi Ristorante since 1989. It has changed ownership in that time, but the quality of food and service has never stinted in all of that time. I happened to have an hour or so spare before getting a train from King's Cross Station, so I leisurely high-tailed it the one stop on the Victoria Line to the Trevi. At 11.30 on a late August Wednesday morning, the restaurant was empty, so I ensconced myself in my favourite table, at the back and to the left. I fancied one of my favourite Trevi items - Plaice Meuniere with Saute potatoes and a side bowl of vegetables. It arrived at a breezy pace. The sauce was a delicious lemon / butter interface that caressed the delightfully moist fish in a manner unctuous and immensely satisfying. The Saute potatoes were crunchy on the outside, soft on the inner, and with addition of buttery carrots, fine beans and broccoli set me up for the entire day. All of this plus a tea and a couple of slices of toast, and change from £20. Friendly waiting staff and a clean and fresh dining environment - one happy customer, by Jove. Get yourself along to the Trevi and get well fed. You...