Giaconda Dining Room

Mum's The Word After hearing that the Giaconda Dining Room was open for business again. I raced to make a booking Success! I got one for Friday night which was only 2 days away Then total deflation when I read the current review on Time Out Surely there must be some mistake, is this same restaurant that won “Time Out’s best new Restaurant 2009”? Surely this can’t be the same restaurant that Time out has raved about for years? Surely this can’t have happened to my favourite restaurant in London. What do I do now? Then I remembered what my mother always told me “You can’t believe everything you read” We turned up slightly early for our booking and were welcomed with huge smiles from the familiar faces at the Giaconda The room was as we remember it, just better, much more room between tables and warmer and more handsome (no sign of any dentist lights) But a dilemma, where to sit………….. they have built a new dining room further back though the restaurant , all that comes to mind is “swanky” very different from the front part Exposed brick wall and Tropical plants (must be an Australian thing) stunning I say After we finally settled on a table we were then faced with the same problem we have always had here, what to order, we want everything on the menu But I settled for my favourite. Baked eggs with spinach and mixed cheeses, rich, creamy and bubbling hot “sublime” My partner had Marinated Raw fish with cucumber and some of the tinniest little salad leaves and a dressing that just managed to just change the colour of the fish, so elegant and delicious I Followed with Rack of “perfect pink” Lamb with accompanying dishes of Gnocchi Al A Romana and Baked Aubergine, I had no intention of sharing this when it arrived at the table, but my partners Lemon sole with Parma ham and saffron risotto was irresistible The very knowledgeable waiter helped us choose a stunning Pic St Loup, so keenly priced I wished I had of got one to take home Deserts …. All we could only manage is one to share, Angel Pie. I will keep you guessing you will have to go and try it for yourself The prices seemed have stayed the same and some even seemed a bit less expensive, but as for value for money 10 out 10 So I am still confused is this the same restaurant in the above review? Not to us, it is just got better All I can say is Thank you Mum. You are always right "you can’t believe everything you read" A very Happy Fine Diner

Tucked away off charing x road, round the corner from soho and 5 mins from Leicester square you can choose from cafe rouge, chipotle or or Aberdeen Angus steakhouse (following a rebrand I think they're now called Angus Steak. Or mutton dressed as lamb) or one of london's locals, which really seems more suited to Barnes or Hampstead or another suburban metropolis. Not that that is an insult, but I don't think London tourists realise what a gem they have right in the heart of London's theatreland (trademark English tourist board) whereas the aforementioned middle class outliers would welcome this place with open arms. This is a truly great restaurant, made even better since the refurb in November, with an expanded dining room, more elbow room and new toilets (believe me if you've been before you'll appreciate that). Since the decor upgrade the food is thankfully as good as ever, with exceptional mainstays like the shallot and mushroom crumble with horseradish cream still there as a starter, although sadly no crab bisque in this visit. My friend had a cold salad of leeks in red wine with crab meat which she really enjoyed. I can't comment - she didn't offer me any, I'll take her word for it. Plenty of other choice on the menu, mostly French influence, and a lot for such a small place - beetroot and cheese salad, mushroom and garlic risotto, carpaccio - and most priced at £6-£6.50. Mains are heavy on the meat and paticularly offal - although there are usually 3 or 4 fish options like fish cakes or scallops - my friend opted for veal t-bone with saffron risotto, I had rack of lamb (perfectly pink and tender) with gnocchi and aubergine parmeggiano. And it was a lot of food. I mean a lot. We still managed to polish it off though. The chef (and the owner I think) gets good food. Simple flavours, excellently cooked and no messing. Service, as always, was excellent. Plenty of time, much needed, between courses, friendly and enthusiastic but not cloying. Despite feeling slightly nauseous we tackled desserts. I had the peach vacherin - meringue, cream, peach ice cream and sauce, my friend the chocolate and hazelnut mousse with a spot on chocolate sauce and cream (I dug in before she could say no. I'd learnt my lesson after our starters). We cleared our plates. Should you want to they also have truffles and grapefruit zest, individually priced in pence (60p a truffle), rather than a full on third course. And cheese too - Colston Bassett and Ardrahan on the list tonight. I love Giaconda dining rooms, and I am so pleased they've now upgraded and are also open on Saturdays. I used to rely on Andrew Edmunds if I wanted a decent meal 'up west' at prices that didn't take the proverbial. No longer. This place offers top notch cooking and is thoroughly recommended. My only quibble is the £1.50 a head cover charge. Why? This is seen so rarely these days, and for 6 olives and two slices of bread (although I'm sure we could have had more if we'd asked) it seems a bit much. I'd rather forego it. I feel bad mentioning it but am hoping, to be honest, that they may read this and rethink. I'd rather spend it on 5 extra truffles.

I had dinner there last night and it was at least as good ever - and much more comfortable as there is now a lot more space. I had a crab bisque to start which was rich and gutsy followed by an osso bucco which was good it made me want to lick the plate clean. My companion had the "almost boneless" pigs trotters which he declared "superb" and described his duck breast main course in a similarly hyperbolic manner. A huge plus of this restaurant is that you are made to feel comfortable and at home. You might not get amuse bouched up to your eyeballs but you do get really great food.

This is a place that probably pleases some but not others, depending on how highly they value a bit of elbow room and some air to breathe. It feels more like a back-room restaurant in Tooting (deep pile carpet) than a popular west end joint, so don't take visitors there for the first time unless these things are unimportant to you. The food is good, but not uniformly so, and it didn't compensate for a service style that was weird at best. Hopefully they will soon find a more comfortable location.