Il Bordello

I love Il Bordello!

I used to live in Wapping and every time family or friends visited they would always demand a trip to this restaurant. They do very reasonably priced pizza or pasta and have an extensive specials board that includes good cuts of meat and excellent fresh fish – including Dover sole and lobster.

Their portion sizes are indeed massive, I would recommend a ratio of 3 starters between 5 people to share if you want any chance of a 3 course meal! My favourite starter is a brilliantly simple prawn and avacado mush (they don't describe it as that on the menu..) wrapped in huge sheets of smoked salmon. You get 3 monster sized rolls in a portion so it's very easy to share!

Their mushroom raviolli is outrageously rich and impossible to finish but totally delicious. I've never ordered pizza there but it looks good – my family tended to stick to the pastas and the specials board. I remember my Dad raving about the liver there.

It's always packed, including Monday nights so make sure you book. Despite their popularity I have never been rushed or noticed any table turning. The service is totally Italian. Charming, chaotic, noisy, sometimes a bit lazy sometimes amazingly efficient. Don't go with anyone uptight, it depends which way the wind is blowing…

I'll keep going back, it's so rare now to eat somewhere with such a strong personality.

And if you have to wait for your table – just wander over the road to the brilliant Captain Kidd pub and have a pint on the huge terrace overlooking the Thames. A night out I'm always in the mood for irrelevant of the season, state of mind or state of wallet!

Really good food with very generous helpings, the waiters really know how to look after you. This place is always busy with a great atmosphere any day of the week.

Great value for money with a reasonable wine list that does not leave you feeling like you are ripped, great for the family also, our kids love it there and the waiters seem to really enjoy having kids in the restaurant.

If you want a good meal with a nice glass of wine and come away thinking that you had a great night out then Il Bordello is your place.

An excellent local Italian restaurant exactly the way that it should be – Italian chefs, Italian waiters serving great food with decent portions combined with a lively atmosphere.

The quintessential local Italian restaurant – highly recommended.

I absolutely love this restaurant. The service is fabulous, food is outstanding and I have never had casue to cmplain. In addition we regularly order food in from here at the office for 20+ people, the food is always fabulous. Would highy reccommend to anyone.