Darling's Eatery and Studio

Review summary

1. I

   Iarla

   VIP

   London

   9 reviews

   1.0

   9 reviews

   Dined on 19 December 2024

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

   The last of the party arrived at the booked arrival time of 5:30. The main course arrives at 7:05pm, over 1.5 hours later. And that was after we’d warned the staff 30 minutes earlier that we needed to leave by 7:10pm. Moreover the manager failed to apologise to the table, although did take two of the four mains off the bill and did seem to be berating the kitchen staff, although that’s hardly fun to watch as a punter in an open kitchen environment. And then she’d lied about our arrival time in her response to my first version of this review. When the pasta arrived it was pretty horribly over salted. The burrata was fridge cold and flavourless. The pumpkin slices were good, though at (if I remember correctly) £12 for 4 meagre slices was hardly worth it. The six grilled cauliflower florets were tasty but similar value. The portions are very small, so expect to have to order 2 starters and a main or a starter and two mains. Speak to the bank manager before you come if you’re hungry. Given we really had to go out of our way to go here, it was an extremely disappointing experience. I would not go again under any circumstances. Oh and the place was bloody freezing. And given the managers/founder subsequent response to the review, I am now very suspicious of all the 5 star reviews. There seem to be be only 1/2 star a 5 star reviews. Rather odd.
   

   Darling's Eatery and StudioResponded 7 days ago

   Thank you for your feedback, Iarla! We were happy to welcome you 20 minutes early, though this may have extended your perceived wait. I personally brought focaccia as an apology while you waited for your mains and explained a plumbing issue that caused delays. Once aware of your time constraints, we removed the mains from your bill, though I wish we had known sooner. Our menu is designed for sharing, but portions are flexible to suit guests’ preferences. We’re sorry the seasoning wasn’t to your taste and will address the burrata being fridge-cold. The heating was at its maximum, but we could have seated you closer to the radiators had we known. We regret your visit didn’t meet expectations and appreciate your feedback to help us improve. Warm regards, Egle
   

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2. 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.
   

   Darling's Eatery and StudioResponded 7 days ago

   Dear Eliza, Thank you for your feedback and for appreciating the ambiance of our space. We’re sorry to hear some dishes fell short of your expectations. The leek in our sausage ragù is buttered down for flavour, though subtle, and we’ll revisit the seasoning to ensure it shines. Our tables are arranged for a communal yet intimate experience, which we understand may not suit everyone. Regarding portions, we aim to balance quality ingredients with value, though we’ll reflect on your comments. While we’re glad you appreciated the complimentary tiramisu, we’ll take your feedback on its flavor onboard. Just a gentle reminder that service fees are included in the bill. Thank you again for sharing your thoughts; they help us improve. Warm regards, Egle
   

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3. 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.
   

   Darling's Eatery and StudioResponded 7 days ago

   Dear Nisha, Thank you for sharing your experience with us! We’re so glad you and your friend chose Darling's and that your visit lived up to the great recommendations you’d heard. Hearing that our food, service, and ambience hit the mark is exactly why we do what we do. We’re thrilled to know you had such a wonderful time and are already looking forward to your return. Next time, let us know if there’s anything special we can do to make your visit even more memorable—it’s our pleasure to ensure every moment at Darling’s is exceptional. See you again soon! Warm regards, Egle
   

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4. K

   Kate

   Hampshire

   10 reviews

   2.0

   10 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
   

   Darling's Eatery and StudioResponded 7 days ago

   Dear Kate, Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We’re sorry to hear the food didn’t meet your expectations, especially after you were looking forward to your visit. It would have been really helpful to hear more about what didn’t work for you while you were here, so we could address it right away and make it right. We take great care in crafting our dishes and will review the flavors you mentioned. We’d love the opportunity to welcome you back and provide a better experience next time. Warm regards, Egle
   

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5. 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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6. 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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7. 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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8. 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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9. 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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10. 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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