Cafe Murano St James Reviews Summary

Service

Pros:

• "The service was exceptional with friendly and knowledgeable staff assisting where necessary."
• "Our waiter Callum was fanstastic so helpful, going above and beyond and he really made our lunch the best it could possibly be."
• "Service is impeccable."
• "Food was lovely and service impeccable."
• "Absolutely cannot fault this cafe for the service team's kindness, professionalism, honesty and charm."
• "Service was professional, attentive and friendly."
• "Service was excellent. Really friendly and professional."

Cons:

• "We waited over 45 minutes for our starter."
• "Where was the service...?! Not that we need to be coddled 24/7, but we hardly saw our server that night."
• "Good, friendly service- at times a bit understaffed if you're at the back on a busy day."
• "Although staff was nice, I did think it was a bit rushed as I got given twice a dirty glass and had a hair in my pasta."
• "Inattentive service (multiple mistakes and bizarrely distracted)."
• "Service was indifferent to the point of 'ah well' just another punter."
• "Service didn't ask about drinks and didn't give us enough menu's, was very loud and cramped."

Atmosphere

Pros:

• "The restaurant is quite small and buzzy."
• "Atmosphere is definitely a bit on the pretentious side but this is normal for the address."
• "The room is olde worlde characterful, good ambient lighting, with a really cool bar area."
• "As soon as I walked in I felt the buzzy, friendly atmosphere."
• "This was my first candlelit dinner with my partner and it was so lovely, I enjoyed it very much!"
• "Great surroundings, not too busy on a Saturday evening."
• "The atmosphere was lovely."

Cons:

• "The venue is tightly packed with tables, and the restaurant accepts large group bookings, so you will find rowdy groups can ruin the evening for everyone else."
• "Ambience unwelcoming."
• "The acoustics were dreadful."
• "Noisy (echoey and clattery), over-priced Italian which pretends above its station."
• "The lighting was far too low and the menus very faint."
• "Very dark room."
• "The atmosphere is nice veering on the loud- interior is unremarkable."

Food Quality

Pros:

• "Food was lovely and service impeccable."
• "Loved the food, we had the mozzarella, octopus, gnocchi, and tagliatelle."
• "The pumpkin gnocchi, sage butter, walnuts and gorgonzola was exactly what I wanted."
• "The food and services is amazing."
• "The food is all flawless."
• "Some of the dishes were exquisite (crudo, lamb with eggplant parmesan, asparagus)."
• "Food was amazing and super delicious unlike some other so-called Italian restaurants."

Cons:

• "I had the beef rump with fennel and artichoke and was amazed by the size (or lack thereof) of the portion."
• "The food came border line cold."
• "I probably wouldn't recommend this restaurant, they serve very small portions of food and most of our dishes were completely under seasoned."
• "The main of slow cooked venison was a disappointment as it was so dry."
• "Chicken Milanaise turned out to be ... well a bit disappointing."
• "The food is not greatly seasoned."
• "Food was very salty and portions were a laugh."

Value for Money

Pros:

• "This is very very good Italian at reasonable prices for the quality that you get."
• "Set menu great value for money."
• "Always outstanding. Not cheap, but reasonable for St James."
• "Good prices for the area."
• "We ate off the set menue which was brilliant value for money."
• "We had a marvellous meal, excellently priced and full of great flavours."
• "It's in a prime and convenient location so you have to expect a premium in price for the location."

Cons:

• "Menu a little restrictive for vegetarians but decent fish and pasta dishes, albeit portions are not huge."
• "The price disproportionately high."
• "Could you get as nice a, or a better Italian meal cheaper elsewhere in London?- probably, yes."
• "Its very expensive for what you get."
• "Very expensive for no value."
• "Some were excellent but some were barely passable and therefore overpriced even after considering its location."
• "The food just isn't up to standard, think more cafe than Murano."