Latest reviews for Galileo's Locanda Toscana

Truly Awful by sunflowers

sunflowers — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 14:50:34 +0000

Review by sunflowers

Rating: 1.00
Tags:
Great location, Reasonable prices , Awful food. My wife and I dined at this restaurant last week. We ordered our meal from the express menu (2 courses for Â£10.95) which by the way is not the same as the menu featured on their web site. For starters we had the Tuscan sausage on bread which consisted of 2 small pieces of lightly toasted garlic bread with a few shreds of almost raw meat grated on top. For the main course my wife had the vegetarian option which came still in the shape of the foil container it had obviously just come from. I ordered the scampi with penne pasta which was truly awful it consisted of greasy pasta with two tiny shrimp in it, on top of which was the empty broken shells of two or three shrimp (where the meat from inside these shells had gone I never discovered). Needless to say we were terribly british and failed to complain about this dreadful meal, but I would encourage you to do yourself a favor and dine elsewhere.

Good post-theatre option by Litro_K

Litro_K — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 15:43:40 +0000

Review by Litro_K

Rating: 3.00
Tags:
I came here to meet a group of friends late on a Friday night as I'd found the restaurant on the Tastelondon website and was looking for a place to try out my new card. Unfortunately they don't take the Tastelondon card on Fridays or Saturdays, but next time I'll check the conditions with the resturant beforehand. I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn't deserted at 10.30pm and they seemed to be kept busy from the Theatre Royal's customers.

The Italian staff were pleasant, but one of the elder waiters seemed a little humourless when some of our party arrived late, reminding us when we still hadn't ordered mains at 11pm that the kitchens would be closing at 11.30. Fortunately we all arrived and ordered in time. The food was good, served in generous portions and very inexpensive. Considering the dearth of decent options on Haymarket, I'd definitely come again.

Enjoy some Italian food pre theatre by jo104

jo104 — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 14:18:39 +0000

Review by jo104

Rating: 3.00
Tags:
I was meeting up with a few friends for an early meal on friday evening. As mentioned in previous reviews this restuarant is suited to a pre-theatre crowd. However the 2 or 3 course set theatre menu is available not just for early diners, be advised the portions are smaller then the norm.

I ordered the Calfs liver in Vin Santo which was accompanied by courgettes and miniture potatoes, it was beautifully done and the rich sauce was a perfect accompananiment. As everyone was ordering dessert I felt compelled to do the same and I enjoyed my tiramisu when it finally came.

The young staff were attentive although the older waitress was rather grumpy which was a bit unpleasent.

Italian on Haymarket by sue

sue — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 18:21:32 +0000

Review by sue

Rating: 3.00
Tags:
I met up with some friends one evening for a meal at Galileo's Locanda Toscana. The restaurant is located on Haymarket, just down the hill from Piccadilly Circus, and is a convenient place for theatre goers who want something a little more upmarket than the neighbouring chain restaurants.

I found the look of the place didn't quiet match the prices, and thought the atmosphere was perhaps better suited to a quick pre-theatre meal than a leisurely dinner. That said, it was still an enjoyable experience due to the lovely company. Service from the Italian staff was good for the most part - our main server was smiley and helpful, but an older waitress scowled fiercely as she plonked our water glasses on the table.

To eat, I had the Scaloppina Milanese (aromatic breaded veal escalope) which was served with potatoes and courgettes (zucchini). The portion was generous and flavours good. Dessert was the Tiramisu with Vin Santo - the Vin Santo was in the tiramisu, though I had been hopeful that a glass of it would turn up instead.

Good Italian food in central London by Sarah_W

Sarah_W — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 20:33:19 +0000

Review by Sarah_W

Rating: 3.00
Tags:
This is a welcoming Italian restaurant in a great location for London's theatre land, and much better than the average offering at this price and in that area. The décor is attractive, with warm Tuscan colours, and the service attentive and friendly. I've visited twice once with the friend who introduced me to it (Trusted Places' own Jenniflower) and once with my husband, and enjoyed my meal both times, especially my main course choices (home-made pasta triangles with a pesto sauce on the first occasion, mushroom risotto on the second). There's also a good and reasonably priced wine list - I can recommend the Valpolicello.

The restaurant can be busy in the early part of the evening but gets a lot quieter after 7.00 or so when people start to leave for the theatre.

Perfect accompanment to some theatre by jennipenni

jennipenni — Sat, 17 Mar 2007 16:57:17 +0000

Review by jennipenni

Rating: 4.00
Tags:
Their motto is: Simple, seasonal, inventive Tuscan cuisine and that describes it exactly.

'Opened by modern day Renaissance man and long established figure in the London restaurant scene, Stefano Fraquelli, in 1997, Galileo's is the result of Stefano's desire to bring the exquisite cuisine of Italy's richest region to the heart of the West End. ' - quote nabbed from their website!

It caters for the pre-theatre crown (specifically those going to see The Phantom of the Opera (like us!!!!)) which is literally across the road (King Charles Rd to be more exact).

I had a Spaghetti alla carnonara for £7.85 and was well pleased with the taste and portion size. Many Italian restaurants tend to make the portions too big and they give a perfect portion.

For dessert I had Gelati - a selection of premium Italian ice cream. YUMMMMMMMMMMMY!!!!!

I have since been back here twice, once with my brother, sister and hubby, and then again with a friend.

Coming here is thoroughly enjoyable, attention was good, but not too intrusive, the food was yummy and we didnt feel rushed (which one does sometimes in these pre-theatre restaurants...).

A quick tip: Most pre-theatre restaurants (ie: most restaurants close to a theatre), have a rush before 7pm, and then quieten down after 7:30 - when the theatre shows start.

So if you do not have a reservation, best to pitch up after 7:30pm.

This restaurant does take reservations though and is fully non smoking!

by TrustedBot

TrustedBot — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 18:19:49 +0000

Review by TrustedBot

Rating: 0.00
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Galileo´s Locanda is a restaurant which offers a unique, authentically Tuscan, premium quality culinary experience.

The combination of its native Tuscan dishes, friendly, attentive service and ideal location in the midst of the theatre district make Galileo´s a 'must-visit' restaurant.

Galileo´s Head Chef, Silvano Mazzoli, adheres to the fundamental principle of his native Tuscan cuisine; that dishes are simple, fresh and seasonal, using only the finest quality ingredients whose flavours are enhanced with accompaniments such as olive oil and fresh herbs rather than masked with heavy or complicated sauces. He is always introducing new ideas to keep Galileo´s
offering inline with today´s Tuscan culinary fashions, and has worked alongside some of the top chefs in the world including the renowned Adrian Ferran at El Bulli Catalunya (Spain)
and Franco Taruschio at The Walnut Tree in Abergavenny.

Giancarlo Pasqualetti brings yet more Tuscan heritage and know how to Galileo´s in his hands-on role as Restaurant Manager. Born in a small Tuscan village called Pontremoli, Giancarlo studied his trade in the heart of Tuscany, managing a variety of premium restaurants in Florence, Venice, Torino and Rome before coming to Galileo´s. He now acts as a fount of Tuscan knowledge for all of Galileo´s diners, able to teach you about the history of a particular dish, the story of a specific wine producer, or the best places to visit in Italy´s most sought after location.

Galileo´s menu is crammed with Tuscan specialities and premium produce from this much loved region such as Prosciutto di Cinta (Special ham from Siena), Capocollo Toscano (Seasoned neck of pork), Pappardelle al ragu´ d´anatra con olive nere appassite (Pappardelle with duck meat ragu´ and black olives) and Bistecca d´agnello alla griglia con peperoni e zucchini all´agro
(Grilled lamb steak served with sweet and sour peppers and courgettes).

Complimenting Galileo´s regional cuisine is a wonderful array of Tuscan wines. From great value Rosso di Toscanas to the most renowned wines of Italy including Chianti Classicos, Brunellos, Vino Nobiles and of course the famous 'Super Tuscans', Tignanello and Sassicaia, Galileo´s offers the ultimate wine tour of Tuscany right in the heart of the West End.