Darling's Eatery and Studio

Review summary

1. E

   Eliza

   London

   1 review

   3.0

   1 review

   Dined on 7 December 2024

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 4

   Had high hopes but somewhat disappointed - the place itself is beautifully considered and intimate (but note that lots of the seating is at communal style table or on stools). One starter was great (albeit a ball of burrata), the other two were good enough but nothing special. £5 portion of focaccia was very small. In fact - all portions were far too small for the prices. And sadly, our two pastas were both considerably over salted. The leek and sausage ragu had minuscule amounts of sausage and no leek - making it essentially a small bowl of buttery cheesy pasta - which is disappointing for £18. We were given a free tiramisu to make up for it which we of course really appreciated, but found this to be lacking in coffee and alcohol flavours and too heavy on the mascarpone. Our total bill came to over £100 which included a tiny plate of focaccia, three starters, two small bowls of pasta, a beer and a small glass of wine.
   

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2. N

   Nisha

   London

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on 21 November 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   My friend and I came here on the back of some great recommendations from others. We were not disappointed. The food, service, ambience were fabulous. I had such a wonderful time and will definitely return.
   

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3. K

   Kate

   Hampshire

   9 reviews

   2.0

   9 reviews

   Dined on 21 November 2024

   1. Overall 2
   2. Food 1
   3. Service 2
   4. Ambience 2

   Was so looking forward to this but food didn’t live up to expectations. Some flavours just didn’t work
   

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4. M

   Megan

   London

   1 review

   2.0

   1 review

   Dined on 15 November 2024

   1. Overall 2
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 2
   4. Ambience 3

   smallish plates that tasted nice but didn’t wow us paired with slow service. we ordered all our dishes to share and they decided for us which dishes came out and when, which was annoying
   

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   Darling's Eatery and StudioResponded on 27 November 2024

   Thank you for sharing your perspective. We’re glad to hear you enjoyed the flavours, though we’re sorry to learn that the overall experience didn’t wow you. Our goal is to curate the dining journey as thoughtfully as possible, carefully considering the sizes of the dishes and the flow of them being sent. That said, we understand that preferences vary, and we’ll reflect on how we can better communicate or adapt this approach to suit our guests’ needs. Being a small restaurant, Friday evenings around 7 and 8 o’clock can indeed be busier and more energetic. If you’re seeking a quieter atmosphere with quicker service, we’d recommend visiting us on a Thursday evening or during the day on Saturday for a more relaxed experience.
   

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5. C

   Charlotte

   New York City

   2 reviews

   5.0

   2 reviews

   Dined on 8 November 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Every dish was delicious, ambience and style of the restaurant is beautiful
   

   Darling's Eatery and StudioResponded on 27 November 2024

   Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re thrilled to hear that you enjoyed every dish and appreciated the ambience and style of the restaurant. It means a lot to us that you had such a positive experience, and we can’t wait to welcome you back soon for another memorable visit!
   

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6. T

   Teja

   Berlin

   8 reviews

   2.0

   8 reviews

   Dined on 1 November 2024

   1. Overall 2
   2. Food 2
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 3

   Die Vorspeisen waren ganz OK, die Pastagerichte allesamt recht fade und nichts besonderes. Die Auswahl an Hauptgerichten ist extrem klein. Die Pasta war nie im Leben frisch und selbst gemacht. Für eine Eatery mitten im Industrieareal unangemessen teuer.
   

   Darling's Eatery and StudioResponded on 27 November 2024

   Thank you for your feedback—it’s always valuable to hear our guests’ thoughts. We can confidently assure you that all of our pasta is made fresh, in-house, with the utmost care and attention to quality. Our intentionally short menu reflects our commitment to offering seasonal, sustainable dishes and minimising waste, which we believe is an important part of our philosophy. Regarding pricing, our most expensive dish is currently £18, and we aim to provide excellent value for the quality of ingredients and care in preparation. Of course, we understand that perceptions of value can vary, and we’re grateful for your perspective. Thank you again for visiting us!
   

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7. T

   Tiina

   London

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on 19 October 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Excellent food and service. Had lunch before going to the ABBA Voyage show. Only 15 mins walk away. Would highly recommend.
   

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8. J

   Julien

   London

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on 18 October 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Great food and our host was the coolest and friendliest, making the experience special
   

   Darling's Eatery and StudioResponded on 27 November 2024

   Thank you so much for your lovely feedback Julien! We're delighted to hear you enjoyed the food and that your host made your experience extra special. We'll be sure to share your kind words with the team. We can't wait to welcome you back soon!
   

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9. S

   Sandra

   London

   1 review

   1.0

   1 review

   Dined on 18 October 2024

   1. Overall 1
   2. Food 2
   3. Service 1
   4. Ambience 2

   What a joke of a restaurant. Pasta were average, still looking for my meat in my ragu pasta. But the worst was the owner. Hospitality wasn’t the right path for her. This place sucks.
   

   Darling's Eatery and StudioResponded on 27 November 2024

   I’m sorry to hear that you felt this way, especially after our conversation in person. As the owner, I spoke with you directly, and you mentioned enjoying the meal and ambience, even saying you’d recommend us to your friends. You also shared your disappointment about the no-show fee since one of your friends couldn’t make it due to illness. Please know that the charge is not meant to punish our guests, but rather to help us manage the impact of no-shows. We truly wish your friend could have joined and that your experience had been more positive. You mentioned that you’d understand the fee for larger groups, and I explained that it applies regardless of table size, as no-shows affect us equally.
   

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10. L

    Lihi

    Poland

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on 17 October 2024

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 1

    We were very disappointed with the place. The food was not tasty enough, not varied, and did not match the menu published when we booked a place. The focaccia ran out even before we arrived (in an Italian restaurant this is terribly disappointing). The place was completely empty, and we didn't understand how it made sense because when we tried to book a place in advance it was not possible because according to the website the place was completely full.
    

    Darling's Eatery and StudioResponded on 27 November 2024

    Thank you for your feedback, and we’re sorry your experience didn’t meet expectations. Our menu is dynamic, reflecting seasonal ingredients, and we regret the focaccia ran out. Arriving 30 minutes late, just before the kitchen closed, led our team to assume you weren’t coming, which is not typical. We recommend letting us know of delays, as we hold tables for 15 minutes. As a pasta-focused spot, we aim for variety—vegetarian, meat, pescatarian options, plus red and white sauces, egg and non-egg pasta. Cancellations or no-shows can make evenings quieter, though earlier bookings are livelier. We hope you’ll give us another chance!
    

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