Frantoio

So it exists. An Italian restaurant in Chelsea, with zero pose factor, friendly service and most importantly of all excellent renderings of the kind of trattoria classics that will normally have one rushing to the nearest discount flight site to eat the real thing in Italy. Frantoio delivers on all fronts and is definitely been added to my must-gos.

A family run affair, my friend and I arrived with no booking, but like that unexpected guest who is welcomed and immediately greeted with a feast we were seated at the bar area, and whilst a table was found, enjoyed a selection of Parma Ham, Salami Milano, Paramagiano and a glass of Prosecco to get the proverbial ball rolling. Looking around, our fellow diners all had the ‘repeat visitor’ vibe about them: ordering without looking at the menu, laughing, smiling and seemingly oblivious to the fact that it was a week night and work beckoned the following day. Unlike many of the other eating establishments in Chelsea, there was no overly thought out interior design concept, paps at the door or strange mood-lighting more akin to a nightclub than a restaurant. This was a space without pretention and where food and ambience were the main order of the day.

It was late so we just had mains: I only had a mouthful of my companion’s lamb cutlets, but they were beautifully pink, succulent and not ruined by some ‘voguey’ sauce. What I can rhapsody about is my two pasta dishes: The first, spaghetti with crab; literally tasted like the sea. In a good way. The spaghetti hadn’t been boiled to oblivion, the sauce light and tomato based, operated almost like a dressing, allowing the crab, the hero on the plate to sing loudly and not be obscured by a din of other ingredients. My second pasta plate was pappardelle with venison . Whoever had cooked this had clearly treated it as a labour of love: slow braised venison with a ragu that was intense and almost smokey in flavour. In short the perfect late Autumnal treat.

As I am always on the look-out for restaurants that are doing things excellently, I was rather perplexed to find mixed reviews for Frantoio: my advice to anyone who is a fan of delicious Italian regional fare that is served with a smile and will not break the bank is simply this: mission it down to the bottom of the Kings Road for this neighbourly treat.

This is the third time we went, and undoubtedly the last! In the past the slightly grumpy and unsophisticated service has added to the charm, and the food has been ok, though not exceptional by any means. But this time one of the dishes (spaghetti vongole) had no flavour whatsoever – tasted of hot water, the garlic was raw, the “sauce” was hot water: we think it had been forgotten and cooked in a rush. I asked if the ingredients were fresh – the owner took offence, and returned with proof that they were. I then said ok, but the cook then didn't do a good job at cooking it. He shrugged his shoulders, told me that that was “a different issue”, and walked away. When he returned, I suggested that the cook try the food before serving it. The owner told me to stop moaning and that there were worse problems in the world, and I “should get over it”. No offer to give me something else, no offer to replace it, no apology – he just said he wouldn't charge me and again walked away. Unbelievable, and in my mind, unjustifiable arrogance. Anyway, in my naive view if people want your money, they should offer a decent service. The food does not forgive the appalling attitude, and sadly it seems that the staff follow the example of the owner! Good luck to them.

I can't believe nor would many locals and non locals of the comments below and will be telling Bucci tomorrow when we go to celebrate our anniversary there that someone has had such a bad experience- I'm sure knowing him that he would wish to find out why the previous reviewer has had such a bad experience

For a restaurant that is packed on Saturday lunchtimes with the football crowd to the families of the well suited on a Sunday not to forget the elderly Chelsea moneyed couple who have the same table at the same time every week make this place special

This restaurant is a must for a family run atmosphere with a great set menu and a music stand packed with seasonal a la carte fish,meat and pasta dishes

The large table at the back can accomodate 12-14 and is great for special occasions – everyone we have ever taken there has been very impressed and eveyone is made to feel like a regular.

Its small but not cramped and on a sunny day the windows at the front open out making it feel like you are in another country

The prices in an over saturated Kings Road Restaurant trade are v reasonable and I have paid much more for not so much at similar establishments in Surrey where we now live

Bucci and his team are well known locally and I have never heard anyone with anything bad to say

I would eat there every week if I didn't live so far away and which he had a establishment in our local village!!

I had a truly terrible meal at Frantoio last night with a friend. As soon as we entered the restaurant we were asked what name the reservation was under, after responding the owner said there was no booking and had I called today. I replied I had reserved approximately one week ago and pointed out my name to him in the reservation book. A rude reception set the tone for what was to follow. After we were seated by the owner (an aging lothario sporting turquoise sunglasses inside the restaurant) asked if we wanted food! An odd question to ask customers in a restaurant we thought! Then as we started to order, he walked off towards another table in the restaurant. After his return (with no apology I might add), he took our wine order and then returned telling us they did not have that particular bottle in stock. We ordered another bottle of white wine and it arrived not that cold. However it was still poured for us despite asking if they could please leave it in the wine bucket for 10 minutes or so. Foodwise we ordered our meals of courgette flowers stuffed with mozzerella followed by the tagliatelle a ragu, only for the waiter to come scurrying back to tell us they had run out of the starter. Again we made another selection. When the food did arrive, the grilled baby squids were very good but the parma ham on the bone with figs was very disappointing and the pasta was lukewarm, very ordinary and bland and quite frankly I can cook better at home.
We followed up our meal with Limoncello which was suitably refreshing but by then the damage was done. The waiting staff were on the point of being rude as they delivered our bill but had made an error and crossed several things out but when we looked at it, it turned out they were trying to overcharge us, hopefully accidentally. Then when we got the revised bill, it was still not correct but in order to simply leave, we paid anyway rather than have an arguement. We were severely disappointed and will not be returning or recommending it to our many friends who eat out in Chelsea. Our advice is hop across the road to La Famiglia, where the food is always impeccable and delivered with friendly and efficient service