Reviews of Delfina

After reading a lot of good things, I finally ventured to Delfina and was disappointed.

The choice of dishes was quite enticing, and there was some excellent bread to start things off, but thereafter the positive first impressions were dispelled.

The food was not bad, but lacked refinement (a mixture of the bland and the overflavoured), and the service was chaotic - for instance, our dishes were brought out of sequence, we were brought one dish twice as a result, and it took half an hour for a bottle of wine to be brought after we'd ordered it. No one seemed to be in charge, so it wasn't even as though there was anyone to tactfully complain to.

The atmosphere was quite good, and the tables were very far apart, which meant that one didn't have the sense of being eavesdropped on by other diners. But I'd expected more from this highly rated restaurant. In Harden's restaurant guide, for instance, it scores a "1" for service, whereas I'd have given it a "4", and that would have been on the charitable side.

I am so excited to be the first SE1 Forum user to post a review and surprised too! This place is the bees knees! Not cheap, but so very good on every level. I must admit living near by I have always felt a bit scared to go in because it's so big and imposing. The lovely knowledgable service (gotta love Ausralian waiters!) and great food made it a night to remember. Felt suprisingly intimate and cosy. Meal for two with drinks and desert was around £80.