Ziani — Restaurant in London

Amazing! This place has not changed for 20 years. Now sometimes that's a good thing, but in this case it's just lazy. It's the same old school establishment where the tables are so close together that you can read the washing instructions on your neighbour's clothing labels and can hear every salacious syllable of every word spoken (or whispered); where the toilets are still sporting that 1990s refurb; where the "traditional" breadsticks have been grabbed from a job lot stashed in the store room several decades ago; and where the menu has evolved at glacial pace (pre-global warming). I've been more inspired watching my kids make food with play dough. The Carpaccio di Pesce for £18 was served like a packet of bresaola from Sainbury's; each circular piece carved perfectly by a machine in some factory. The charcoal grilled sea bream served with a mint sauce for £25 resembled a pair of Asda packaged fillets delivered toute seule on a white plate with what tasted and looked like Colmans mint sauce in a mini-ramekin on the side. There is so much quality in London these days, food that lifts the spirits and encourages hyperbole and all for the same price or less and without the enforced eavesdropping. This restaurant must be on its last legs, what with its cuisine and ambience as lethargic as the patrons that must surely limp from a radius of no more than 100m. The only positive is the service which is both attentive and charming, although woe betide you if you hang around too long after 9.30pm on a Wednesday evening... the feeling of having over-stayed one's welcome creeps up...

Memorable for all the wrong reasons! My daughter and I came last Thursday evening. We hadn't booked as it was an unplanned visit. We were shown to our table and within 2 minutes a waiter came to take our order. We hadn't had any time to decide so asked for 5 mins. He was unfriendly and came back 2 mins later and left the iPad on the table next to us waiting for us to order. There were plenty of empty tables. We ordered pasta each and then had waiters either leaning across us to fill water glasses or adjust things on the table. It was rude and intrusive. Only one younger waiter smiled. Our plates were cleared and the bill put on the table. 5 mins later a sour faced waiter picked up the bill holder, checked the contents then plonked it back down. We hadn't finished our drinks!! 2 mins later the same man was standing behind my daughter moaning in Italian to another waiter looking at his watch and pointing and shrugging. I have never been in such a situation. We were in and out within 30 minutes with still empty tables around. If you didn't want to serve us or deemed it such a disgrace that we had no reservation then you shouldn't have let us have a table. Rude waiters no matter if it's Chelsea are not ok!!!! Luckily my daughter and I found it funny as it was so awful. The bill had service (ironic) and extras added so they got £55 for 30 mins. You don't deserve custom. Lots of restaurants do better than this. Well done to the kitchen however as both our pastas were delicious if a bit on...

I’ve never experienced such appalling service in a restaurant. The food was mediocre at best, but what truly ruined the evening was the utterly unacceptable behavior of the staff. From the moment we sat down, the waiter was rushing us to order, making us feel uncomfortable and unwelcome. It felt as though their priority was turning tables quickly rather than providing any resemblance of hospitality.

The most shocking part was when they took the plate of olives away while I was literally reaching for one. When I politely asked them to bring it back because we hadn’t finished, they acted visibly annoyed. After a long wait, they returned only to try and snatch the plate away again. I managed to stop them, but the next thing I knew, the olives were gone. It was as if they didn’t want us to have them—an absurd, petty, and downright rude display.

The entire experience felt rushed, cold, and devoid of basic customer service. I left feeling disrespected and infuriated. I will never return to this place, and I strongly advise others to avoid it...