We visited over the Christmas break so the restaurant had pretty and tasteful decorations up. The restaurant itself was fairly busy for a Monday, and it got loud at points. The sea bass was cooked perfectly and went well with the sauce. The tirimasu was to die for and the portion size was generous. No complaints and will come back when in London again. read more

Daphne's - Italian Near Me - London, XGL

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A deeply disappointing and unsafe experience--especially for women. I visited this restaurant while traveling, hoping to enjoy a special dinner with my cousin whom I hadn't seen in a while. Instead, we endured a distressing and frankly dangerous evening due to the staff's gross negligence and failure to protect us from an aggressive, clearly inebriated man. From the moment we were seated on the patio, the man--also seated outside--began harassing us. He repeatedly ignored our verbal boundaries, attempting to pet my cousin's small dog despite being told "no," and proceeded to interrupt us at least ten times. Staff witnessed multiple instances of his behavior, including when he shoved his face into our dog's space and grabbed at him while my cousin was holding the dog in her arms. He called us "annoying," tried to provoke the dog to bark, and refused to leave us alone. When we told the manager that the man was becoming aggressive, he assured us that he would "kick him out," - we all heard him say this. But instead of following through, the staff allowed the man to continue drinking on the patio--despite being overtly inebriated. He returned again, increasingly hostile, and even grabbed my cousin's arm while trying to lunge for her dog. He then threatened my partner while we loudly pleaded for him to stop. I and another woman (the hostess) had to physically put our arms between him and my cousin to keep him away. His wife eventually came over--also seemingly inebriated--and meekly pleaded with him to stop. At this point my cousin screamed at him which finally got him to leave. At that point, I went inside to speak with the manager, who immediately defended the man by saying, "Well, he's a regular," as if that justified his behavior. When I reminded him of his promise to remove the man, he denied ever saying it. Only after THREE other patrons at the bar stepped in to support us and confirmed that this man had been bothering multiple guests did a second manager come out. We explained that they failed to intervene, failed to protect their guests, and essentially enabled an unsafe environment--particularly for women. We felt gaslit and victim-blamed. I want to note: I paid my bill in full. I didn't demand compensation. As we walked out they offered us a paltry round of drinks. That tracks with their overall approach: excuse the aggressor, ignore the women asking for help, and only apologize when publicly confronted with the facts. Additionally drunken, aggressive behavior is par for the course at a pub -- I would have expected better at a restaurant like this. On top of all this, the dining experience itself was mediocre at best. Our courses came out in the wrong order, there were long delays between them, the chicken was dry, and the staff lost track of our drink order twice. This wasn't just bad service. It was a failure in basic decency, safety, and respect. If a man harasses women and your team watches it happen--and does nothing--you are not just running a bad restaurant. You are enabling harm. read more

Service was great. Food was delicious. And ambiance was fantastic. The shrimp and pasta was my fav but steak was tasty too. Great drinks and desert. Be back for sure read more

Food was extremely mediocre. Not worth the money and wouldn't reccemend anyone to go. They need to take the ravioli off the menu, it tastes like water. Christmas decorations are okay read more

Great spot for Ambiance & Cocktails. The drinks are unique and tasty, the service is great. The food itself is not the main attraction but great spot especially around the holidays. read more

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Very limited food menu, huge drink menu, uppity staff (especially the blonde hostess) and mediocre service. We went there simply because of the name. We should have listened to the concierge at our hotel who tried to warn us off. We had a reservation for late in a Friday night. They sat us next to a huge dinner party. We couldn't hear each other talk and it was quite warm. It's unseasonably cool right now but when you pack people into a small restaurant you should have some sort of ventilation. Couldn't take dessert to go because we were told they don't do take away. Later that evening my husband was sick from his meal - his chicken must have been undercooked. Nothing special about this place! read more

Pure catfishing! Booked way in advance for December when decor is up, a birthday dinner & got put in the crummy section that isn't decorated. We had to sit there and stare at the decorated room like peasants we are. Our waiter seemed like he was having something going on in his life, wasn't mad about that as people have the right to be human - but it was odd having to tip toe around it. Food was just so so, minimal vegetarian options (which again is fine just letting folks know). I would not recommend this beyond popping in for a cocktail and getting your instagram pics. The bar was decorated cute, hostess was super friendly, manager stops by ask how meal is etc. overall I very disappointed with the experience and it wont be on my dining list again. read more

The food was excellent but I was surprised at how poor the service was. I don't understand the concept of having four or five different servers and one or two managers serving one table. No one is accountable. I ordered a cocktail and water upon being seated but my drink never arrived. Halfway through our appetizers, no one came to check on us. By this time I wanted a glass of wine to enjoy with my appetizer. After waiting about five minutes and unable to get anyone's attention, I went to the bar myself and ordered a glass of wine, telling the bartender which table I was seated. Shortly after, the cocktail I ordered upon being seated about 20 minutes prior was served. Of course I didn't want it anymore. We were not checked on after our entrée was served either. When I was told an ingredient wasn't available from the after dinner drink I ordered, we discussed substitutions. After this lengthy exchange, he inexplicably served it to another person at my table. Other tables appeared to be getting quality service. I would understand if this were America as we were three females, one being a 12-year-old child because women typically don't tip as well as men. However, this being London, tipping shouldn't be a factor in who receives quality service. Was it because we were not locals? We were pleasant and dressed well and our bill was about 250 pounds. The manager did come over after our meal to Let us know he had taken my glass of wine off of the bill. Unfortunately, I was not given the opportunity to talk about our experience. Maybe my expectations of service are high because I am an American but for 250 pounds for two women and a child I would expect more attentive service. read more

Cozy and elegant Italian restaurant in the heart of South Kensington. Courteous staff eager to assist. Authentic Italian dishes. Melanzane alla Parmigiana: Pleasantly light yet flavorful. Burrata: Fresh and creamy with a distinct homemade flavor. Definitely a starter not to be missed. Minestrone soup: Flavorful however slightly undercooked. Rigatoni veal ragu: Well bodied sauce with the rigatoni cooked to perfection - excellent choice for a children's dish, as it was approved by our young critic. Spaghetti with lobster: Fresh tomato sauce (slightly sweetened) with a generous portion of lobster mixed to the sauce. An impressive dish even for the most discerning palates. Linguine with crab: Shredded morsels of crab integrated into pasta cooked to perfection. Unfortunately the delicate flavor of the crab was slightly overpowered by the chili. Panna cotta: Perfectly textured and flavored with visible pieces of ground vanilla bean. The only let down was the size who's contents would fit precisely into an espresso cup. Even if not shared, the portion is still a tad small. Apple costata: Well cooked crust with a soft and flaky texture stuffed with a very average apple filling. Ice cream was nothing special but pleasant on the warm pie. Tiramisu: Savoiardi were primarily dipped in a milk-blend which is not customary. However, the result was a very light cream flavored tiramisu. The strong flavor of coffee and cognac was not present as the milk and chocolate predominated the desert. read more

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The food is delicious but the waitresses aré dreary and NOT FRIENDLY. Honestly, a robot would have more personality. The decor is terrific, the customers are beautiful people and the staff were depressing. read more

Celebrated our wedding anniversary while in London. What a find: great restaurant. The ambiance, the service and food were fantastic, along with a delicious Ripasso. read more

Definitely a place to see and be seen. Booked via opentable and, as americans, were treated dismissively by hostess and server. Food was very good but not outstanding given the expectations. Three dining rooms with clear pecking order. Suspect we may have had a different experience if we had booked via the concierge at our 5 star hotel - lesson learned. Wine list was limited for this type of restaurant. read more

Beautiful restaurant and ambiance but unfortunately that's about it. Sat close to the wait station and was distracted the entire meal but staff joking, talking and goofing around- even broke a glass in front of us. Fish was dry. Service was mediocre and not nearly as professional as I would have expected given the reputation and recommendations. Wouldn't go back. read more

Situated in the heart of the most expensive piece of real estate in Europe (perhaps the world) lies this institution of a place. I won't dwell as I was there for a meeting, but if your idea of a great lunch or evening out is lots of waiters, staff, a generally formal feel and an older wealthy crowd, you've hit pay dirt. For me on food alone, was ok. Nothing more, nothing less. Cauliflower soup to start, game rigatoni for mains and actually the nicest dish was the rhubarb crostata for dessert. I wouldn't necessarily come back, but a glimpse into how the internationally fluid live. read more

Daphne's - You don't HAVE to be an oligarch to live here, but it's a distinct advantage.. - Italian Near Me - London, XGL

Appalling hostess behavior ruined the entire experience. Unfortunate as used to be quite a nice spot.

Absolutely fabulous. Service and food. We had the Dover Sole and Lobster Spaghetti. Dover Sole was excellent. Lobster spaghetti I had hoped for larger pieces of lobster. Wine exceptional and frozen berries for desert. Quite a find. read more

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such a big marketing scam, such an average place. nothing special and a total waste of money and time

This is a great Italian restaurant that Robert went to with his daughter. He loves coming here because the food is really good. It's located in a wealthy neighborhood with interesting boutiques. The front front is preferred, in the summer it's best to get a table by the window. Princess Diane often frequented here. read more

You're getting what you pay for - and probably a bit more. Our party of 5 shared various apps - scallops, burrata and tuna - and they were all excellent. The lobster spaghetti is one of the best pasta dishes I've ever had. Great wine selection, but service was a bit slow...or maybe it's because I'm American ;) read more

Oh Daphne's... most likely my favorite restaurant for lunch in London, I have spent many dapper meals dappling in Daphne's Italian exotic and diverse succulent dishes. The tiger prawns are a must try, as well as the zucchini ravioli. All the risotto dishes here are premiere. They have a sort of alcove near the back which is a lovely setting and really worth asking to be sat there if available. I could tell fantastic stories about personal experiences and life lessons learned here throughout the years but i'd rather keep this review diplomatic and insist that you try all three types of bread that comes in the basket and you will most likely ask for more because of its doughy greatness. How I am the first to review Daphne's baffles me. All the food is amazing but I highly recommend ordering at least one seafood dish as either your appetizer or entree, for example the scampi with pasta dish. read more

Daphne's is such a joy to visit - the food is authentic and delicious. The servers attentive even if some of the patrons are a bit toffee nosed! My brother always finds his way here when he is in London, knowing that the meal will be superb. The pasta is not oversauced like it is Stateside. The meats succulent, the fish fresh and everything has its individual taste and instead of sauces being used to cover up, they are used to enhance. Well worth a trip. read more

Oh boy this place is great. I got the burrata as a starter. It came with toasted break and tomatoes that were perfectly dressed. I also got the lobster pasta which comes with a tomato sauce. This is a must. Finally we got a bunch of sides to share. The broccoli was perfectly cooked and had an interesting sauce. The rosemary potatoes were great too and were perfect for dipping in the leftover pasta sauce! read more

I've been waiting for Daphne's to reopen since I moved to London. People have told me that it's one of the best so I was excited for it open its doors again after being closed for refurbishment. Food: We ordered the cured meats to share as an appetiser to share, the crab linguine and the meatball for our entrees. The portions were very generous and everything was delicious. There were so many yummy things on the menu that it was hard to choose. Drinks: We ordered two bellinis. Price: 76.78 GBP for two people. Ambiance: The restaurant was buzzing with beautiful people. The vibe in the restaurant was very classy, but not uptight. Service: From the moment you walk in you feel the friendliness from the staff. The hostess was welcoming, our waiter was helpful suggesting dishes and the other runners helping with water and clearning the tables were also very nice. The service was top notch. Would I go back? Definitely! I have to admit that they exceeded all of the hype that people had spoken about which is usually very hard to do. I can't wait to go back and try everything on the menu. read more

Living off past glories. Terrible experience; service worse than appalling. Avoid. Too many other decent options in London to waste your time. read more

'Sharing Stories was an Italian Dining Experience' at iconic London restaurant Daphne's to celebrate the launch of Alta, the new sharing bottle from Peroni Nastro Azzurro. Alta has been created with Italian passion and attention to detail, bringing Italian style to the dining table. Guests who purchased tickets to Sharing Stories were treated to a multi course dinner created by Daphne's Head Chef, Michael Brown, which brought to life the diners' most memorable Italian experiences through taste, smell and sound. I shared stories about ym tiem in Tuscany and had two mentions in the menu! The entire night was created from the diners' impressions of Italy, with each course inspired by the guests' memories. They also shaped the cocktails, décor and music for the evening giving guests an entirely bespoke experience. Through each story of inspiration, Sharing Stories provided a great opportunity for diners to discover more about their fellow guests and share in their own experience through a fully immersive dining experience. I have to say it wasn't a bad place for a first date either! read more

Not cheap, but delicious Italian food and a really intimate, romantic atmosphere... ...Although have now been here twice with my wife...and another friend! The first time was on Valentine's Day. We were the only table of 3 in the entire restaurant! read more

I've been three times now. Twice for dinner and once for lunch. Not sure that makes me a regular, but they are clearly doing something right in the food and ambiance department. Parking is always a bit of a challenge in the area as it is limited with a bias to residents permits so cab or take the tube. The dining room is nice. It's just right I think. I prefer the tables to the front of the house and in the summer the bi-fold windows open out to the street for 'al-fresco' dining. It's a smart place, dress-code wise because you want to dress nice in a place like that, but they also don't get snooty when you rock up like I did, unshaven, in a hoodie and The North Face bodywarmer because I had to do some DIY chores earlier in the day and wasn't expecting to eat in a nice restaurant. Normally I'm in a jacket and shirt. And the ladiies I was with, were dressed elegantly as they had been to the Hurlingham Club earlier. They make the best risotto for sure. I love the presentation and theatre because they normallybring it to you in a little copper pan and dish it up at the table. Although my most recent visit which feature Tartufo Nero di Norcia was a little bland, as I guess they hoped the black truffle would be sufficient, it nearly was. Service is normally very good and attentive but my last visit (this Saturday gone), the waiter (who I've met before) seemed a bit grumpy and reluctant to engage in conversation about the Black Truffle menu. When you pay the money you pay at Daphne's you hope for passion. Perhaps it was because it was late in the day (we rocked up at 2.30PM) and they had had a busy service. Who knows? But it was noted. Regardless...my guests had a good meal. To start C C (she) had Tuna Tartare with Avocado & Chargrilled Focaccia, Charlotte her out of town friend (OOTF) was allowed to order off menu and had a Bruschetta with Parma ham and Avocado and I had Burrata with Datterini and Chargrilled Focaccia. For mains she had Tagliolini al Tartufo Nero di Norcia, OOTF Pappardelle con Ragù di Cinghiale and as you know I (me) had Risotto al Tartufo Nero di Norcia. Results: She: Loved the starter. Needed to season the main (I tasted her pasta - it seemed bland) OOTF: Enjoyed both her starter and main Me: Burrata was delish and the Datterini tomatoes were very sweet. Wish I had gone for my usual - wild mushroom risotto which is a savoury delight! I like eating there. I want to eat there more so I can get a table when I want (they are often fully booked). But with an average £50 a head spend it may take a little time before I can eat there as regularly as I'd like to. read more

We had a great meal at Daphne's last night. I was very impressed with both the service and the quality of the food and will definitely be returning in the future. We had the Grilled Zucchini and Aubergine Crispy Flower along with the Melanzane to start and the Pappardelle with Wild Boar Ragu for a main all were excellent. If given the option the front room is preferred for seating as there is a large window facing the street. The interior room is also nice and has a large skylight but feels a bit too enclosed. read more

Delicious lamb dish and beef carpaccio with truffle. Would definitely come here again!

Tried to dine in. Hostess at the front desk looked at me as I was coming from Mars, as I did not have a booking. Not only, she advised me that if I wanted to dine in I would have had to leave in an hour. Simply unbelievable. Against my refusal to dine in and upon walking out, a co-host started giggling whether I understood what she meant. You know what? F**ck off Daphne. Fire those b**ches and hire some professionals. read more

We came here as a summer evening out as well as celebrating some birthdays. We haven't been to the restaurants for over 10 years as I believe they did go through some refurb a few years ago so this was our first time back after the refurb. The staff are very helpful and polite. Their zucchini fritti are delicious. I ordered the ravioli for my main course but they mixed up my order however, they tried to rectify the situation as much as possible and they didn't charge for that dish and wrapped it for me to take away as I could not eat it. Customer service is excellent, the food is good but I would not say that it is amazing. They did not have a great dessert selection, I tried the apricot dessert and they made it without the alcohol for us but again it was good but not amazing. The ambience in the restaurant was great so I would definitely go again for that great atmosphere but as for the food, it was pretty average. read more

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Good solid service,the food and wine was excellent. Nice vibe,tourists and some of the chelsea set..... I would go back... read more

I came here for New Year's Eve, and had an overall lovely experience. My venison was wonderfully cooked to medium with a delicious walnut sauce. My dessert was great too, as was service throughout the whole evening. My only disappointment was with the starters where I ordered the truffle tagliatelle which didn't turn out to be that amazing, even though the smell of the truffle was great. Maybe it was because they had used black truffle and I'm more of a white truffle fan. I wish they clarified this on the menu! read more

Daphne's - Tagliatelle with truffle - Italian Near Me - London, XGL

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This is my absolute favourite restaurant. Amazing food and brilliant service. It's not cheap but you get what you pay for. They also do 2 or 3 course set menus which makes it the same price as going to Pizza Express!! I would go here every day if I could. read more

an absolute must when staying in london! fantastic service, ambiance, and food! gluten free options available!

Elegant , old school Italian restaurant .. charming ambience , wonderful service , and good food.. but not great food!

Food was very bland, had no flavor. We hade meatballs, uneventful. Risotto was under cooked. Swordfish special was bland and tasteless. Service very slow. read more

Pricey, pricey, pricey! For pasta - e basta! I would hire a private Italian chef or cook for my guests if I knew I would pay so much. But anyway, it's not all about the money. Service is medio-cre, confused sometimes about wine-pairings. Managers were welcoming, still pretentious. But of course what can you expect from a restaurant whose port-folio says that it is located close to the stores of J Crew, Joseph and Chanel?! read more

Amazing bar staff, the mixologists really know what they're doing, and are always dressed so smartly, as are all the other staff. The ambience in the restaurant is lovely, whether for lunch, or for dinner. I especially love the table by the fireplace in the conservetory. During lunch the place us full of natural light and really lifts your spirits, and in the evening it becomes so romantic. The food is always lovely. The chef is accomodating and the dishes are always well balanced. read more

Lovely restaurant, been around for a while but still has a good crowd with decent service and food. Service started well and prompt however finished dishes spent too long sitting there. Service became a bit slow. We had various mains and desserts. Most of the main courses looked great. One of my favorite dishes is veal Milanese so I had to order it. I've got to say, for 34£, which is a price on more expensive side for London, it was fairly disappointing. Not only the the main course quite small, the proportion of veal to breadcrumbs was off, veal too thin and too much breadcrumbs. It was crispy either and was a bit greasy. Other than that, the other mains looked good. Desserts decent too. Advantage of this restaurant is the pleasant setting and the non rushed dinner. read more