Julia's review of C London (formerly Cipriani)

My boyfriend and I have always wanted to go to Ciprianis, but never been. So last night after walking past again we decided impromptu to see if they had a table and try it for the first time. We will not be going back. Granted we were one of the first in the restaurant and were given a great table in the corner of the main part of the restaurant and when the restaurant did start filling up about 7.30, the atmosphere was great, but apart from that the whole experience was just plain awful.

The menu itself just lists the dishes with no description as to what the dishes actually are – who knows unless you are italian what Veneta chicken is??? I ordered the smoked ham and mozarella to start and my boyfriend the octopus capaccio with borlotti beans. My dish was I can quite honestly say one of the worst starter I have ever eaten in a restaurant. It was basically a small lump of mozarella with a packet of ham thrown on. A child could have done a better job!!! No seasoning, no dressing, no effort involved at all! The octopus carpaccio was no better, indeed it was pretty tastelss. The starters came up within 4 minutes of us ordering. We hadnt even finished drinking our champagne and the waiters were already asking to open our bottle of prosecco we had ordered. We had to actually ask the waiter could we have 15 minutes between the started and the main as we wanted to try and enjoy the meal – we were not in a drive through!!!

Main course was probably worse if possible. I had the chicken veneta, which was very questionable chicken pieces in tomatoe sauce – quite awful. My boyfriend had the oven roasted chicken, which he expected to be oven roasted and it just appeared to have been thrown in a pan with again some very questionable sauce – and for the record more berlotti beans!!! No greens with it or potatoes or anything. Was really awful.

Having cleared our plates, two waiters then came over pushing plates of desserts in our faces – panettoni panettoni madam??? Ummm no thanks – looks as dry as a bone and I really dont want it shoved in my face thank you!!! We declined on both desert and coffee and because the meal had been delivered so quick still had over half a bottle of our wine to drink, so we sat and took in the atmosphere.

I think the interior is lovely, but the seats are very low and its hard to get in and out of the tables easily. There are far too many waiters on show and they are quite rude and pretentious and do stare a lot – although the matire d' was quite charming and welcoming when we arrived – but I think this was just lucky as like I said it was empty when we first arrived at the restaurant.

The price of the whole experience for a glass of champagne, two starters and mains, plus a bottle of their prosecco was £90 each. Complete waste of money and overall totally disappointing. The restaurant does score points for the atmosphere and the interior, but really why does this place do so well??? Purely down to hype and the fact that we always see Madonna and the likes of Kelly Brook or Kim Cattrall having dinner there and we want to experience a taste of something that appears to be top notch! You would go to Ciprianis for the atmosphere, although the chairs are a bit chipped and worn and could do with a touch up – and I didnt like the shiny tablecloths that they have for the first two courses, but with regard to the food – seriously, save your money and go somewhere that you know is going to be good. Ciprianis is totally overhyped and bad value for money and they really seriously need Heston to come in and sort that menu out!!!