Just had a great meal with my family! Fantastic food and wonderful service! Couldn't be more pleased. Bolognese was awesome as was the carbonara! Don't leave without tasting the homemade tiramisu. Angelo is fabulous! read more

Food was excellent and service outstanding. Fun, friendly atmosphere- authentic italien banter. I'm looking forward to returning soon.

Great value here. Big portions. Good food. Good prices. Definitely a favorite for groups and the under 30 crowd. Stopped here before going out for the night. Had dinner around 9/10 before they closed. Enjoyed eggplant, mussels, chicken, and a bottle of wine. read more

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Food was very good as was the service. It was very busy. Good service, great food, success. Will go back next time I'm in London Thank you. read more

Linguine with pesto was disappointing. It looked visually more white than green, and it tasted like what it looked like - less basil and more cream. The baked aubergine (starter) was ok. A bit dry, and there were more cheese than anything else. The dessert (tiramisu) was great! The atmosphere is very welcoming. read more

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Felt like home to me. Italian men out front smoking cigarettes, outdoor seating packed with joyous people, Italian memorabilia and pride written all over this place. We loved our half bottle of white wine, Ravioli with lamb and beef stuffing went fast especially after being generously doused in excellent Parmesan. I had the simple lamb chops grilled to perfection without any fancy sauce, green beans cooked perfect also accompanied by roasted potatoes and broccoli and carrots. Going back soon read more

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Ordered take out from here and service was prompt. The pizza and minestrone were good, but something was lacking from the spaghetti... will come back to try the lobster pasta (which seem to have better reviews!) read more

Ciao Bella - Pizza, Spaghetti, & Minestrone - Italian Near Me - London, XGL

I never know how to start these reviews but I know what I'll say once they're started. And if I only had ten words to say about this pace they would be: 10/10 would eat again! Seriously this place is just that good. I know we can only rate out of five but this place deserves every five it gets. Not only do I applaud this restaurant for having some of the best Italian food I have EVER had, but it might also just be the best Italian food short of going to Italy itself. That's a lot of praise to give a place especially when it has stiff competition. even in London. Nothing compares, That's not hyperbole, or exaggeration. I would consider it a fact if I didn't know what options were. Let me explain My friend picked the restaurant as she was in the mood for pasta. I had previously gone to Padella and rated them highly however with the restaurant being in the middle of London, it seems like it is quite a wait. It was also cold and drizzling outside so I didn't want to stand around waiting to eat. Because of this, We decided on this gem of a place. I did however have my doubts because as I've said. It was in the northern part of London in a smaller/quieter community. It was one of only two restaurants open in the area. Without going into too much detail, were able to get a table and order food. I just want to say that everything was amazing. The staff was probably the best I've ever seen. Indulging me and my friend in comedic jokes. The decor was authentic without seeming overbearing for an Italian restaurant. The chefs(never got to meet them), cooked up some of the best food, and... chefs kiss! Every single part was a sensation that was building up to the one part people would be concerned with, food. The food was no exception. There are no words to explain how good the food was and a soon as I was done eating I wanted to order more. I ordered the Ravioli Burro e, Salvia, while my friend ordered the Spaghetti alla Carbonara. We also split appetisers , which wore Bruschetta and Funghi Dorati. All I say to this is that I now understand what Anton Ego feels biting into the food that Remy made in Ratatouille. I don't know what else I have to say to convince you, but it'll be your loss. I guess this should be put here as a side note, It didn't detract from my experience but for some, it might. The restaurant ran out of pretty much all seafood options when going however we did go the day before Christmas Eve and they would be closed for the next couple of days. I'm not holding it against them, and I'm almost certain it was a one-time thing because of the holidays season but I could see some people being upset if they went to the restaurant for one specific thing and they didn't have it. Overall, I have a new favorite Italian Restaurant( no offense Padella). I know that's probably a controversial opinion but please prove me right by heading down to Ciao Bella and seeing and tasting what I did. If you are still here then, you are a difficult knucklehead as you haven't already tried to go to Ciao Bella, however, if you need some more insight on where to eat you should go and read my Padella review and see which restaurant is better. Either way, you'll get some of London's best pasta dishes. read more

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What a special find! This charming Italian restaurant is full of large tables of locals having a grand time while friendly and efficient waitstaff brings plate after plate of authentic and reasonably-priced pasta and salads and pizzas. There are plenty of fancier Italian options also; this is a fresh and happy place where everyone is treated like family. I was a solo tourist but felt at home. read more

Ciao Bella - Penne with sage and butter - Italian Near Me - London, XGL

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Great ambiance. Fabulous food. We tried to eat here for three nights but kept filling up on reservations. Finally got one on day 3 and it did not disappoint! read more

From the moment you walk in, you feel transported to a part of little italy. The waiters are extremely busy, the crowds are extremely loud, and yet it still feels really homey and comforting. It can take a while to get seated, and you m ay feel neglected at times, but it's worth the wait. The waiters are extremely enthusiastic and fun. We ordered the mozzarella garlic bread, seafood spaghetti with white wine sauce, margherita pizza, and four desserts (homemade tiramisu, panna cotta, caramel flan, and profiteroles). The garlic bread was really pungent and cheesy, but not as soft as I had hoped. The spaghetti was good, but I was hoping for a stronger white wine sauce taste (it was a bit bland at times). However, the portion size was great and the amount of seafood and mussels was generous. The real star of the night was the desserts. The tiramisu and panna cotta were two of the best desserts I had in London. Truly fantastic - would reorder in a heartbeat. The caramel flan and profiteroles were more regular - can skip. Overall, great atmosphere for a fun dinner, but very loud and busy. read more

Ciao Bella - Italian Near Me - London, XGL

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My wife and I tried to get a table the week before, but couldn't get one. We tried again the week after and we're successful. The friendly waitress guided us to a table in a corner downstairs. At that point it was ~18:30 and the places started to get crowded. Within less than half an hour all the tables were full. I ordered a plate of spaghetti aglio, olio e peoeroncino and it was the best pasta I had in a while. The spaghetti were al dente and they put the right amount of oil, garlic and chili on it. I could've eaten more. The menu was a decent size, so they didn't leave me hungry. As a dessert I ordered a half coconut shell with coconut ice cream. This reminded me on my childhood where most restaurants (especially in Italy, but als Switzerland) sold these ice creams. They're not particularly good, but in this case the nostalgia counted :-) read more

Ciao Bella - Italian Near Me - London, XGL

Horrible service..people there very rude...food is not appetizing. Wouldn't recommend it at all read more

Didn't have a reservation and only waited around 20 minutes. Worth the wait. I love going to an Italian restaurant when it feels authentic and the staff speak Italian. Most importantly the food was hot, fresh, and delicious. read more

The only good real (not hotel) restaurant near Russell Square. Ate there twice and tried a third night but didn't make a reservation (call ahead!). It was like eating at home in Brooklyn or in Italy. Excellent! read more

Great food and outstanding service. In an obscure location but certainly worth the trip. Fried bass was delicious, fresh and tasty. Busy as expected read more

Fantastic. My wife had veal Sorrentino and I the lamb chops. Both were great. Sides of fresh roasted potatoes and carrots and broccoli were just wonderful. Had a very nice red wine from the Puglia region. Very good and a very good price point. Going back tonight for a lite sup - their awesome looking pizza read more

We keep coming back because the staff and food are so great. We have gone with kids and with adults and the staff are always so warm and fun. The wine selection is great and the food is outstanding. Hard to find anything negative to say. Every time I come from the States, we seem to end up here. We will definitely be back. read more

Absolutely loved this place and the price cannot be beat! Dinner, wine, and dessert was great!

Great food, atmosphere, the hostess, waitress, and owner were all very friendly and pleasant. We will return for sure on our next vacation!

Totally stupendous. Atmosphere.... Great. Food... Great. Wine list... Great. One of the best Italians of all time.

Amazing gnocchi, good wine, and fun sidewalk seating. Authentic Italian cuisine with attentive service.

Great place, very Italian waiter, authentic atmosphere, very tasty muscles in tomato sauce. Main courses we were not impressed with. Loved the ambiance! read more

As we all know - only one thing is important when you go for an Italian meal. You want an authentic Italian family screaming at each other. Now, I don't care if it's real - of if they hire a bunch of Italian actors. I just want to feel like I'm in a mafia movie. This is exactly why we take girls to Italian restaurants for dates. The girl can soak up all the candle and romance nonsense; whilst we're entertained by imagining Al Pacino is going to bust in any second with a gun. This is why I love Ciao Bella so much. You can get a seat literally right by the kitchen. It appears to be family owned - I assume this because there are always a bunch of Italian people arguing by the cash register. But please, don't be put off. It's not like when us English argue, all bitter and annoying. It's Italian style; it adds flair to the restaurant. And luckily, the food tastes awesome. My reason for finding the restaurant was quite a sad one. Someone I love was in Great Ormond Street Hospital next door for quite a while. But, this restaurant was so great that for a few hours at a time - our stresses and worries would be lifted. We were in Italy. Sipping wine, eating AGNELLO alle CASTAGNE - and for us males, a mafia movie fantasy being fulfilled. It can be loud, it can be quiet. It can be romantic, it can be all hustle and bustle. It's a restaurant that changes and somehow seems to magically adapt to your needs. But more than anything the important thing to know is that the portions are generous and it all tastes amazing. read more

Ciao Bella - Italian Near Me - London, XGL

Yummy! Last day in London and happy we came here! Spaghetti, raviolis and chicken dish. All wonderful! Service great. Loved it.

We went on a Saturday night and this place was heaving! Total mental! We got a table, just about, but the seating is too cramped and so the waiters accidentally were knocking my coat off the chair! Food wise, I went for the lobster spaghetti and it was just average. The lobster was fresh and tasted good, but the spaghetti massively lacked flavour! A case of pass me the garlic ASAP! My dad loved his lasagne, so maybe it was just a case of me ordering the wrong thing. At £17 for the dish though, I was expecting it to be like the crem de crem of dishes... I got a glass of the house red and it wasn't bad.. Nothing special, but for £4, it hardly blows the budget! All in all, I left feeling rather let down.. Maybe because I heard so many good things about this place, but I certainly won't be running back. read more

Ciao Bella - Lobster spaghetti - Italian Near Me - London, XGL

Make a reservation, especially if you're a group. This place was packed on a random Wed night at 9pm. Seems to be run by old school Italians. They must have an arrangement with the pub next door, because the nice host managing the wait list encourages you to have a drink there while you wait and explains that he will come find you in the pub once your table is ready. Two drinks and 45 min later we were in. We sat downstairs at this bi-level establishment. Not fancy. Felt very family style. But in a fun and boisterous, not cozy and quaint, way. Once seated, we had to beg them to take our order (granted they are always very busy and customer service in London seems to be driven by the customer being proactive). But beyond worth it once the food arrives. I had the pesto. Portions are large, reasonably priced and of impeccable quality. We also downed 2 extremely reasonably priced bottles of above average house red. And all those amazing desserts in the pic? All mine! I wish... At least I got to sample them all. I prob could have devoured them all, but my friends would have killed me. read more

Ciao Bella - Tiramisu, affogato (off menu), panna cotta, torta di ricotta & pistacchio, almond cake - Italian Near Me - London, XGL

This place is everything you want from an Italian restaurant: great staff (mainly Italian), buzzing atmosphere and over 50 menu choices including about 14 different pastas. AND most importantly on busier nights someone bashes out tunes on the grand piano. All the food is pretty authentically Italian however they do let you put Parmesan on fish based pastas (punishable by lynching in Italy). There are wood oven pizzas, antipasto starters, mains and pasta (obviously). Not too many surprises here just really well done classics with a heap of garlic and flavour. There's no wonder that on Friday you often have to line. We shared three pastas: a salmon and broccoli cream base linguini, ricotta ravioli with a safe butter sauce and lastly, broccoli, anchovies and chilli spaghetti. All excellent. Big but not too huge that you feel guilty about wasting half the plate. We also shared a tiramisu which could have used a dash more coffee but was a nice way to finish. The restaurant had some nice little touches with Parmesan, olives and bread sticks give to you as you sit down and all the staff had personality. Wine list was pretty reasonable and featured all the Italian comfort wines for decent prices. Next time I'll get into the grappa. read more

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Too successful for their own good makes my review a small ripple in an ocean of customers. The food and house red wine are generally good. The service split between my two visits ranged from prompt but indifferent to could be quite good but is either too busy or too undertrained in service or, possibly, English. Really, Ciao Bella is worth a visit and, for the most part, will not disappoint, provided you temper your expectations. And remember, a packed house can't be wrong. Right? That your arrival is greeted with cheese, bread sticks and olives is a really nice touch, especially when you arrive hungry. You will be greeted promptly and offered libations in that same breath. Drinks will be brought quickly and, at that time, you'll be queried for your order. If you're not yet ready, checking back may take awhile, and this will be a running theme. Stages in the course of your visit are generally executed rapid fire; except check backs. And this includes the main course. There was an issue with my entree making it inedible to me. Despite having consumed everything but the entree, and with salad plate still lingering, a staff member swooped in to grab my plate, while in motion asking if I was finished. When I tried to explain that I hadn't even started, because ... The plate was set back down with a comment about letting me take me time. This missed the point entirely, and before I could explain, this person quickly vanished. Let's be clear here: they made it right, but not without some effort and frustration. I truly think they mean well and want you to enjoy your meal. However, they seem to lack a certain amount of polish and adequate staffing. That said, I still recommend Ciao Bella. As long as you know what you're in for, you'll likely have an enjoyable experience again and again. read more

Ciao Bella - The front room. - Italian Near Me - London, XGL

This is a great old fashioned Italian eatery.By old fashioned, I mean literally. I'm Italian and I remember growing up surrounded by loud Uncles who always seemed to be fighting. As I got older I realized nobody was really mad, it's just the way they talked to each other. That describes the atmosphere her perfectly. The waiters are all very cool old school Italiano, busting each others chops and generally behaving like a big family. I love it! There is a fun piano player and singer that runs through his favorite songs while looking around for some acknowledgement from the crowd. He's a great guy and really enjoys what he's doing. The food of course is why you walk in. It is spectacular! The pizza is insanely good with fresh herbs and an amazing sauce. The pasta is hime made and melts in your mouth. For dessert, chocolate lovers will long crave the Tartufo Nero! Ciao Bella is an easy walk from Russell Street station. If you are in London check it out! read more

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Came in as a party of 8 (including four hungry teens) from a rainy, cold London post-British Museum. Mid-week lunch rush, no reservations. Having only read about Ciao Bella on Yelp and knowing it was a relatively close walk from the museum, I dutifully led my large party to the restaurant, hoping for the best. It did not disappoint. Despite the restaurant being packed, the owner was more than gracious when I told him of our party size. He immediately called existing reservations to see if they were showing up (some were, some were not). Ultimately, the best he could do (and he did it quickly) was to split us up into multiple tables, which we gratefully accepted. As others have noted, the food is really excellent and authentic (the staff appear to be all part of the same Italian family and the owners). The portions are large, service was brisk and friendly, and the price, more than reasonable. We were in and out in less than 45 minutes and didn't feel rushed at all. In terms of standout food, oddly enough, the spaghetti Bolognese was particularly good - light and filled with flavor. Overall, the kitchen there really knows how to cook pastas of all kinds, which makes an enormous difference for Italian food. Will absolutely go back when I'm next in London. read more

The restaurant isn't in a very happening location (on a side street along a hospital), but don't let that deter you. As soon as you walk through the door, the interior is lively, full of people laughing and talking, and you get a blast of wonderful aromas. It's like an Italian wedding, in the best of ways. Best of all, you can hear people inside speaking in Italian (both the customers and staff), which means you're in for the real deal! The staff are very accommodating, so that's a nice touch also. The menu is rather touristy (i.e., mostly common dishes like spaghetti with clams, penne arrabbiata, etc.), but everything looks to be done well even if it's not super unique. The portions are fairly large, but you'll have a tough time stopping when you're full. For the cannelloni, both the tomato and bechamel were quite good by themselves, and just elevated to a whole new level together. Several good options for wine that are all reasonably priced. I would definitely recommend going here. It's not one of the "cool" restaurants in Covent Garden, but it's fun and the food is solid. read more

Came here on someone's recommendation that the food was good but little else. I can confirm this to be accurate. I walked up at 11:56am to ask if they were open ahead of meeting my friend. The man did not look up but said, 'in a few minutes' half under his breath. I might have taken this differently if he bothered to greet me, or even make eye contact but as it was, he continued to set the tables inside, while a row of 15 tables were already set and begging for company just outside. If I hadn't already agreed on the place with my friend, I would have moved on. When my friend arrived at 5 past, we asked for seats outdoors, and a woman brusquely pointed us to one at the far end and said we could have it for an hour and a half. We took it gratefully and were brought water glasses shortly after with some olives and cheese. We put in an order for spaghetti vongole and linguine alfredo with another dour server who did not offer a smile in the brief interaction we had. The food came quickly and was indeed delicious but not anything all that special. They sprinkled pepper on the dishes with a look of contempt. From there we enjoyed our meal in peace and at the hour, asked for our bill. The total came to £24 which included a service charge - I chuckled at the presumption and coughed it up to cover the olives and cheese offering. The place was indeed buzzy with activity - not sure if this was largely due to the beautiful weather out or if this was actually a favorite for regular patrons. Either way, I would not recommend it and would suggest you keep on down Lambs Conduit for other places of business that will welcome you appropriately. read more

This was one of the best pasta dishes I've ever had! Granted I don't eat a lot of italian food but I ordered the linguine al pesto and it was amazing. There was an extremely generous portion for a reasonable price, noodles cooked perfectly, incredibly creamy pesto sauce that really coated the noodles, and there were PINE NUTS AND CASHEWS IN IT. What a REVOLUTIONARY IDEA where was this when I was eating italian food all my life... Also the ambience is great, very friendly staff, talented albeit exuberant pianist. read more

What a lovely surprise at the top end of Lamb's Conduit Street - they don't make them like this anymore!! We walked past all the trendier and hipper places to come across this little place - actually, it's not all that little as they cram them in downstairs too and some diners even braved the winter cold to sit outside (under heaters). There used to be a fair few of these traditional Italian restaurants all over London, run by families and serving honest home style dishes. Ciao Bella is one of the few left and draws in a good crowd. The flipside are large groups of office workers who come here after work. We ended up next to a group of loud and drunk men who didn't even apologise when they spilled their red wine all over my friend. All saved by the caring staff and you can't blame a restaurant for its rowdy clientele. Recommended if you are in need of some proper comfort food - I'll definitely be back, my penne arrabbiata was cooked to perfection. read more

Good pizza & all food delicious and the secret little bar upstairs is lovely- nice, cozy and quirky with great services with amazing restaurant read more

Ciao Bella - Italian Near Me - London, XGL

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Came here on a Sunday night. The bagged bread sticks are a bit tacky but we were served complimentary olives and cheese which was very tasty. There was a live piano player, but it was too hot inside so we asked to sit outside. They have outdoor seating, two rooms of dining on the main floor and another seating area downstairs, so they can definitely handle parties of all sizes. Bring the whole family! The first impression we got was there are a lot of regulars here... made me a bit jealous... guess I'll have to come more often. We started off with the night's special Calamari. I saw the word calamari and just ordered it. I didn't read the description, I just knew I wanted it, and it was D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S. It isn't your typical fried calamari with boring marinara sauce and tartar sauce or even the very over played but still delicious chargrilled calamari. It was slightly spicy for flavor and a bit soupy. There is no separation of the squid, just the whole squid cooked in the sauce. If they have this on the menu still. Get it. Then we had the tagliatelle "ciao bella" which was very good for the first few bits. Creamy and wonderful. But the more I ate the more I felt it was a bit salty and the presentation a bit disappointing. The salmon was broken up into small pieces which to me makes it look like the dish was for a very large child.... which I am so I was fine with it, but if you're big on presentation because you need something to put on your Instagram, don't order this. We also got the spaghetti cob polpette which I liked better. The tomato sauce tastes so fresh and sweet and the spaghetti noodles were cooked perfectly. The meatballs were also delicious! I would recommend this. We ended with the Pana cotta and a shot of limoncello. I personally didn't like the sauce with the Pana Cotta, it was a bit too tart but the rest was great. A man sitting next to us got a pasta dish served in a bag and poured at the table.... I REALLY want to come back and try this out. The service is friendly and quick. If you want real Italian food with a family feel, I absolutely recommend this place! read more

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37 minute rushed experience here in June 2017. We arrived for a 7pm reservation and were seated right away at 7.01pm. Our table was right in the middle of the busy restaurant with only 2 inches, no exaggeration, 2 inches on either side of our table from the ones next to us. We were sandwiched in between two other couples. The closeness of the tables made it very awkward and difficult to have a conversation with my partner. I had barely opened the menu when a waiter appeared to ask what we wanted to drink. I said we hadn't had time to look yet and asked for some water for the table in the meantime. Within a minute a different waiter had appeared at to ask the same question. We told them we had just placed an order for water with one of their colleagues. Within a few further minutes (before I had finished reading their 2-page menu) a different waiter arrived to ask us what we would like to eat. We ordered some pasta dishes, and two drinks. Within a minute the drinks arrived, and within 5 the food arrived suspiciously quickly. We ate, and I had barely put my cutlery down when the plates were whisked away and we were presented with the desert menu. Deciding we didn't want anything, we were told "just the bill, yes?". It duly arrived. I placed my card inside and within 30 seconds a different waiter yet again had arrived to take my payment. We left the restaurant within 37 minutes at 7.38pm. This was not the relaxing evening dinner that we had planned. The food was ok. I've been to a 100 Italian restaurants with a comparable menu and food quality but none with the same fast-food rush dining experience. read more

I tried the Bocconcini con Pollo and it was fantastic. The chicken was grilled well and the sauce that was drizzled over the chicken was on point. The dish came with a side of steamed/boiled vegetables and grilled potatoes. The dish is quite healthy, flavorful, and the portion size is perfect for a hungry lunch. My friend got the tagliatelle which had pieces of salmon in it. Also an fantastic and fresh fish. The prices are appropriate and service is good. Check it out! read more

Ciao Bella - Bocconcini con Pollo - Italian Near Me - London, XGL

Our last night of our 3 week vacation. Delicious food and great service. Going home on a full stomach.