Numero Uno

Looked pretty good from the street- but appearances can be deceiving - beware. This is the kind of Italian restaurant that got them all a bad name in the 80's but the world has moved on and this performance was pretty poor all round. Long thin restaurant with sky light windows at rear but no ventilation. Rear dining area dominated by restroom access, whiffs of air freshener blocks and the sound of the hand blowers - thoroughly unpleasant. Experience not enhanced by professionally indifferent wait staff whose only motivation appeared to be getting you in and out as quickly as possible. White tablecloths gave a misleading suggestion of finer dining than was on offer. Menu was stained from previous unfortunate diner's hurried efforts to comply with the waiters' timeline and it was at best confused and offered little in the way of more modern finesse or of traditional comfort and comfort food. Bought in Burrata and Ham were fine. Deep fried artichoke was lacking in any lightness and completely overcooked (probably two days earlier). The main courses were embarrassing - flattened chicken had clearly been reheated and was severely overcooked, wild boar pasta completely uninspired and over salted - all served with the 1980's medley of veg!!! Wine list was wonderfully not specific and did not inspire confidence- often wine producers' names omitted and no mention of vintages. Imagine considering a 350 pound bottle of Solaia with no vintage specified. Also a few tricks seemingly food - starting with the "previously" opened" bottled water and ending with the "6 pound cover charge" - what was that for? And then the inadvertent adding of 9 quid to the bill when running the credit card through. In my opinion everything that has gotten older Italian restaurants a bad name was on display right here. A thoroughly lacklustre experience screaming "don't come back"! Take my advice don't go the first time I wish we hadn't.