Il Gusto Italian Restaurant Paddington Italian Restaurant in London, Tyburnia

Reviews

1. Odeh Naber ★★☆☆☆

   Our Christmas Day lunch at Altonapoli in Paddington was a letdown from the start. Despite making a reservation, the staff didn’t check it upon arrival, which left me worried about other bookings and whether their tables might have been given away. The restaurant was cramped and noisy, making for an uncomfortable experience. We ordered a margherita pizza, which was far from "the best Italian pizza in London" as advertised on their website; I’ve had much better authentic pizza elsewhere. The asparagus and truffle risotto was okay, but it was overwhelmed by truffle oil—a lighter touch would have made it perfect. My carbonara was mediocre, nothing compared to what I’ve had at other Italian restaurants. Regarding the bill, there was an overcharge for water: the lady who took our order (one of the owners or relative to the owner) was told by a waitress that she had made a mistake, but she didn’t correct it at the time. When I later pointed it out, they did fix the error. I also requested to remove the 12.5% service charge (7.29 GBP), which I felt was unjustified. Restaurants in London are required to clearly state if a service charge is obligatory, especially on busy days like Christmas, and it must be mentioned for example when booking or on the menu. My booking confirmation, which I received twice by email, included a link to their menu stating the charge is discretionary, so they had no right to charge me. The lady who took our order claimed it was “for the company” and the staff working on Christmas, but she refused to remove it or clarify the policy, even when I asked to see where it was stated—she said she would call the manager, which she never did. I paid anyway, hoping the tip would go to the employed staff there and not to the owners, as they deserve it more than anyone else. However, as soon as I swiped my card on their machine, the lady swiftly walked away without handing me the receipt. She handed it over when I called her back and requested it. Overall, this was a disappointing experience, and I wouldn’t return or recommend Altonapoli. Definitely a tourist trap. Many other reviews echo my concerns about the service charge and the attitude received when requested to remove it, so it is just not me.

   almost 7 months ago
2. Sandeep Araujo ★★★★☆

   It was an excellent experience!! The food was as good as the best Italian food we've had. It is a lovely atmosphere and the staff are genuinely working hard to provide a good experience. The place felt a bit crowded with tables too close but I guess this is all down to the rentals in a place like Paddington. The placed was packed for a weekday and the staff seemed overwhelmed with the demands. Sometimes we felt they could pay more attention to the guests. But they are a lovely bunch and working very hard to deliver a great experience. We would recommend a visit

   almost 7 months ago
3. Mika G. ★★★★★

   The restaurant was wonderful, with perfect service, the food was fantastic. The desserts...to lick your fingers. Visit it without hesitation you will be satisfied. Thanks to the whole team for making our dinner a wonderful experience for the palate and the soul

   almost 7 months ago

1. Lillian Paulsen ★★★★☆

   The staff here are so so friendly. Upon arrival we were greeted with such hospitality and kindness. Thank you to Sylvia (sorry for the spelling) who did the majority of our serving. My dinner was good but my desert didn't taste great unfortunately. To be honest I wasn't disappointed because our dinners were nice and the staff here were the sweetest. Thank you.

   almost 8 months ago
2. Cristina Guhman (Cris) ★☆☆☆☆

   Decided to come into this restaurant instead of the one across the streets because despite it being more expensive, they were very warm and welcoming/friendly. Plus they stated food was fresh. I ordered the chicken Milanese and unfortunately it was horrible. Smelled like rotten meat and as I removed the crust, the meat was pink and really smelled bad/rotten. They took it in and brought me another. They said chicken was fresh but it was not. The mean was hard and not attractive (images). This ruined my appetite and experience, despite them being very friendly I felt this was deceiving. Truly sad because I actually enjoyed the way they treated me. But if I am paying for fresh food, this is what I expect. At the end of the day this is business and selling old/rotten meat is absolutely not okay, especially if the meat is “hidden” under a crust or dough. They have lost my trust.

   almost 11 months ago
3. Maria Maria ★★★★★

   Lovely restaurant a stone throw away from Paddington station and St Mary's Hospital. The manageress Lili was very helpful and friendly which made the dining experience all the more relaxing and enjoyable. The food was amazing and took me back to when I visited Italy all those years ago. The 3.9 Google stars it has at the moment is truly underrated! Will definitely visit again when I'm next in the area.

   almost 3 years ago

1. Anna McClarnon ★★★★★

   Came across this delightful restaurant close to Paddington station by chance. Attentive staff, with good service if not at times a little pushy about the more expensive drinks and having dessert, but they have bills to pay. Food arrived in good time, not overly rushed and certainly not rushed to leave. The food was lovely we opted for pizza as a main and it did not disappoint. I would wholeheartedly recommend and if I find myself in this area of London again I would consider them as an option for somewhere to eat.

   almost 3 years ago
2. Sync0 ★★★★☆

   After a long day of walking through the places of London, taking a good (total) 5 hours to even get here: It was a great idea to sit down here and have a bite. And oh boy. First of all the food was awesome. The food was made by hand using fresh ingredients and you could taste it. I personally had lasagna but with feedback from my companions it became clear that the pasta and vegetables were prepared perfectly. We thought that the desserts were good. The Tiramisu here has a different ingredient than what we’re used to. (from the Netherlands). However the chocolate fudge cake missed a tiny bit of flavor in my opinion. Presentation. The portion size was generous, and definitely more than enough, and it wasn’t served messy at all. It took around 5 minutes for the starter to arrive (which contained some garlic bread), and around 10 minutes for the main course, and another 5 for the dessert. The experience here was definitely worth it. Don’t even get me started on the staff; They were absolutely awesome. They are honestly very friendly, welcoming and all in all were very humble people. My compliments to the Chef. Grazie ⭐️

   almost 4 years ago
3. Carolyn Watson ★★★☆☆

   After a long overnight flight and a train ride to Paddington, I stepped out of the station tired and hungry for breakfast. I was looking for another well regarded breakfast spot along Craven Road, and got distracted by the chalkboard on the sidewalk in front of this place advertising an English breakfast. The restaurant was more than half full, which seemed promising. But there were some very unhappy customers that morning. I overheard at least two tables cancel their orders because the food was just taking too long. I myself had a couple of service related issues. I ordered a cup of tea, and was given a cappuccino. I sent it back and a hot mug of tea was soon delivered. However, I was charged for the cappuccino. It took over 30 minutes to get my full breakfast, although the toast came out fairly soon. The breakfast when I got it was quite good, hot and tasty, and portion size was generous. When I went to the counter to pay my bill, it seemed the waiter did not know how to operate the cash register. So I had to wait another 5 minutes or so for the manager to come to cash me out. The staff was friendly and earnest to serve the customers, but it seemed they were not well trained and perhaps short-staffed that day.

   almost 4 years ago

1. BDM Music ★★★★★

   Super friendly staff and amazing service. The food was absolutely gorgeous and all topped off by a complimentary Limoncello. Couldn't finish all my food, so they even gave me a box to take leftovers home. Highly recommend, can't wait to go back tonight.

   almost 4 years ago

FAQs