Ristorante Semplice

Semplice has re-opened under new management and is no longer aiming at the fine dining end of the market.

The menu is very basic and the food is advertised as simple and honest food.

OK great. I've been to Semplice before, so you are curious to see what the “new Semplice” is going to be.

I can say for sure that I will not be going back

The service is polite, but slow, and not very knowledgeable.

The food is very disappointing. A simple starter of bresola and rocket. Noting wrong with that, but also difficult to get wrong as there is nothing to cook. But from there it was really down hill. Risotto was cold and tasted like it had been precooked. I asked about the cooking and it took them 3 attempts and about 30 mins to get back to me with an answer denying that there had been any sort of precooking going on. Pasta was bland and underseasoned.

I didn't stay around for dessert, but given the time it took them to come back with the bill, I should have gone for both dessert and a coffee…

The venue is still looking pretty though…

The food is OK – the desserts are nice. Service – not attentive ! Once clients leave the restaurants, the tables are not cleaned !

I have been to this restaurant three times within the last 6 months. 1st time I've been, I was invited by a friend for lunch. Service and value was good.

2nd time I came in was for dinner which I personally booked. This time, I came with my husband and another couple. We all loved it, food, drinks, service. We all thought then that we will definitely come back and have actually recommended the place to most people at work.

3rd time I came, it was booked due to a special occasion and booked the dinner square meal deal which was on offer. I tell you, I've never experience such a hassle booking for this, as none of the staff were aware that the deal for square meal even existed! I phoned the restaurant 4 times, once daily from Monday to Thursday to book for Friday. One phone call even took my credit card, then when I phoned to confirm the next day, no one knew who took my details and there wasn't a booking made. Terrible. I kept asking to book for the square meal deal and all of the people kept telling me to call the next day as their boss wasn't around then. I finally got hold of their boss, and asked to book for the Friday using the square meal deal offer. She even sent me the set menu so we can choose in advance. We came in on time that Friday, and the girl who made our booking wasn't there. The restaurant manager was there but he refused to serve us the set menu deal for square meal. I told him we will leave instead but he made a comment that we're welcome to leave but they will still charge us £50 for the booking as a no-show! In the end, we had to pay for a full price meal, despite all the promises made by the manager that he'll rectify the issue next day (Saturday) he never replied to my email.

This place don't deserve to be awarded even half a star for michelin. I've been to so many other places that are michelin-starred too, even 3 and booked offers, set menu deals. This restaurant don't understand the level of service required. Very appalling and upsetting. I will never ever come back.

There's plenty of other restaurants that serves the same quality of food, with definitely much better service! Avoid if you can

A great place for a great moment. Everything was perfect from start to finish. Having selected the set menu, the tuna steack was cooked to perfection and the tiramisu was I believe the best I've ever had (and I had quite a few believe me). I will come back!

a wonderful italian restaurant

Believe me: this is one of the best Italian restaurant in London. Unfortunately some chefs pretend they make Italian kitchen just putting in the same pot some pasta, some tomatoes and a lot of garlic. This is not the case for Ristorante Semplice. And if “Semplice” (simple in Italian) means offering real, well done and nicely presented Italian recipes, well this is welcome. Try the Risotto alla Milanese and you will just find yourself in Brera (the Milan artist’s district). Staff is competent and always ready to give a nice suggestion. It is not cheap but you’ll be satisfied.

Semplice came highly recommended but I found it all a bit ordinary. I wonder how many people go to the informal trattoria just down the road, which has much better signage, than the formal restaurant which has next to none. The room is pretty small but nice decor. The menu promises much but on the whole doesn't really deliver. My pasta was underwhelming and the famed rabbit signature dish looked great but was under-seasoned and didn't quite work as a whole dish. The wine list is interesting, quite pricey, but has some nice choices. Service started fine but became slow.

All in all it was okay but I wouldn't hurry back

Simple Michelin-starred Italian cooking using the finest ingredients.

Good value set lunch.

Buzzy atmosphere during lunch service, quiet and romantic in the evenings.

Read the full review at The Arbuturian.

The food is delicious and the chef clearly uses the finest ingredients. We had the beef ravioli and bucatini with rabbit ragout to start and both were rich in flavour. Mains were expensive, with an average price of £25. The rabbit with red wine sauce whilst tasty, was akin to a Tiny Tim portion. Veal with cep mushroom sauce was a much larger portion than the rabbit and was divine. Vegetables were available as an addtional option.

Desserts are overpriced and miniscule, although well executed. For £130 for two courses and a shared dessert plus the cheapest bottle of wine on the list with a bottle of still water, this is a good restaurant but not one to visit when either ravenous or on a budget. As an aside, the wait between courses (30 mins for starter, 45 mins for main and 25 mins for one dessert!) is unacceptable for a Michelin starred restaurant in the heart of Bond St.

Decor is tasteful, but nothing you wouldn't expect at any standard Italian restaurant. However, the toilets are classy.

Semplice is one of these venues I can't believe I have not been to earlier and only got round to visiting a couple of weeks ago, shortly before they received their first Michelin Star. It's an intimate venue without feeling too intimate! Design give the restaurant a sharp and slightly contemporary feel – very chic indeed. Food hit the spot perfectly and never one to resist a Carpaccio tried the Carni de Manza Fassone which receives a double-yum rating. The Seabass for main with the truffle butter likewise. Chef Marco obviously knows his business well likewise with Manager Giovanni Baldino keeping the front of house team running smoothly. Certainly deserving of it's Michelin star I suggest this is added to your lists of ones to try. Also I can't wait to try their Trattoria across the yard for a chilled evening soon.