La Barca Ristorante

888 reviews

80-81 Lower Marsh, London SE1 7AB, United Kingdom

www.labarca-ristorante.com

+442079282226

About

La Barca Ristorante is a Italian restaurant located at 80-81 Lower Marsh, London SE1 7AB, United Kingdom. It has received 888 reviews with an average rating of 4.6 stars.

Photos

Hours

Monday12-2:30PM
Tuesday6-10PM
WednesdayClosed
Thursday12-2:30PM
Friday12-2:30PM
Saturday12-2:30PM
Sunday12-2:30PM

F.A.Q

Frequently Asked Questions

  • The address of La Barca Ristorante: 80-81 Lower Marsh, London SE1 7AB, United Kingdom

  • La Barca Ristorante has 4.6 stars from 888 reviews

  • Italian restaurant

  • "Go somewhere else unless you’re a regular here"

    "I tried several times to get into La Barca without a reservation"

    "A must visit in Waterloo! We came here on a reccomendation so we booked a table for 2 for 8pm on Friday evening"

    "Overpriced for what it is"

    "Probably the best restaurant food I have eaten in years!! I have wanted to try La Barca for a long time"

Reviews

  • I W

Go somewhere else unless you’re a regular here. The service was subpar if you’ve been to any other decent Italian restaurant. At this price point you can do a lot better. The service was judgemental upon arriving. Wasn’t going to throw the race card but it’s true what the other one-star reviewer said about their experience (racist…). We live in a multi-cultured world where one should not judge any book by its cover. We came hoping to enjoy Italian food and left very disappointed. Still water, bread and olives were put on our table without asking first (we prefer sparkling water). Took another five minutes to wave down a waiter to get olive oil and vinegar. The bread needed it as it was dry and not warm. Basic 101 to serve the bread with butter / olive oil / etc. Upon ordering the dishes, the waiter suggested it all come at once. Bad idea as the table was packed and the food got cold as we ate the bruschetta first. I should have known better here but trusted the judgement of the staff. The dishes were nothing special and you can easily achieve the same at home. The clams in the Linguine Alle Vongole had sand in them. For god sakes, flush them out first before cooking. Gordon Ramsay would chew this place to bits. Also sitting outside there were hungry flies and wasp flying around. I hope they enjoyed bits we couldn’t protect. There is no way this place is a 4.6 star establishment and some reviews are likely rigged. Made a huge mistake coming here. Hope others don’t fall into the same trap. Close enough to the London Eye and next to Waterloo Station to lure unsuspecting guests that are simply going off number of stars.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
£30–40

  • Kevin Jellikit

I tried several times to get into La Barca without a reservation. Have to admit on my 4th attempt I was resigned to thinking I'd never get in without a reservation.. this time though I managed to get a seat mid week (a bit later, around 9). This is a heads up that you may want to call ahead. Wait staff was very helpful in determining the type of meal I had in mind... Without it, I'd likely have ordered far too much food! Everything on the menu looks fantastic, and the dishes coming from the kitchen to other tables had me eyeing everything up. I settled on a semi traditional salad with tomato, bocconcini and avocado. Lovely preparation, and taste. The maitre d was especially helpful in selecting red wine by glass, especially since I was fussing about it being too 'thin'. The pasta dishes here seem to be 'The' thing. The meat focused dishes had me wishing I had tried them (the lamb looked especially pleasing), but my waiter kindly suggested a seafood linguine. The noodles were perfectly cooked, as was the litany of seafood embedded within. The tomato based sauce complimented the entirety, and has mouth watering as I write this. The restaurant is clean, and atmosphere is nice. Not too loud, just vibrant conversation from patrons with some light music as a background. Cost wise, the prices seem in line with similar quality restaurants, and this one seems to be a gem in the Southwark area. I enjoyed La Barca and will return.

  • Helen Mayhew

A must visit in Waterloo! We came here on a reccomendation so we booked a table for 2 for 8pm on Friday evening. The staff were friendly, welcoming, attentive and really looked like they wanted to be there - the service from start to finish was excellent. They give you a generous portion of nocerella olives, breadsticks and bread to start so we just ordered a beef carpaccio to share with this, and I had prawn and scallop linguine and my partner had the mixed plate of grilled fish - a selection of prawns, scallops, lobster, Tuna steak and some other white fish which were all cooked perfectly, the lobster wad particularly meaty and delicious. My pasta was very flavourful and the scallops and prawns were high quality and incredibly tasty. For dessert we shared the profiteroles and oranges in caramel, and for drinks we had a lovely white wine reccomended by the waiter, and 2 espressos followed by a complimentary shot of limoncello. We had a great experience, it was a really special date night. Bill came to £146 and we left a £20 tip. Would definitely come again, especially would be nice for a family birthday meal. Well done La Barca
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
£100+

  • Carlos Peralta

Overpriced for what it is. I unfortunately didn’t have a great experience here. First, they recommended starters (for me was 3 medium size prawns in butter) which were nice but it cost £18.50 each, which was quite pricey for each starter. The main course was disappointing too, at least for my taste, the carbonara was so creamy that looked like a soup at first glance. I still prefer the classic Italian carbonara with no cream but more egg yolk. I’ve never seen something like it before! But the embarrassing bit was when the waiter overcharged my card by 30 pounds, and then I had to call him out, he needed to refund my credit card and so on in front of work colleagues and clients. He didn’t even apologise and kind of looked like he did the extra charge on purpose (I am sure he didn’t). Anyway, the whole experience was weird which is a shame as I work locally and need some nice places for business meetings/lunches. I won’t try this place again, and paying over 60 pounds for a regular lunch with a glass of wine in a simple place like this one in Lower Marsh seems to be more of a rip off I’m afraid.... 2 stars for this review because the desserts were good!

  • Lorna Rodger

Probably the best restaurant food I have eaten in years!! I have wanted to try La Barca for a long time. I walk passed it on my way to the station and the atmosphere and vibe always looked wonderful and I wasn’t disappointed!! I booked a table for 3 as it was my sons 19th Birthday and from the moment we sat down until we left was just a wonderful experience. The food was absolutely delicious, beautifully presented and the portions were so much bigger than you’d expect. I had mussels to start then selection of mixed grilled fish, my son had Pate then Linguine with Lobster, my husband had ribs and also the mixed grilled fish. On reflection we absolutely over ordered because we were not expecting so much. The staff in La Barca were attentive but not overly so, charming and good humoured at no point did we feel rushed. The price of the meal 100% reflects the quality of produce, the quality of the staff and the location of the restaurant I can. It recommend La Barca enough. Thank you for such a wonderful evening.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
£40–50

  • Paige Smith

Hands down the best food I’ve had in London (I’m from the States)!! Great customer service, ambiance is perfect, food delicious, price is worth every pence, but the best part was that the atmosphere reminded me of my in Italy. We ordered a full meal, wine, the bread appetizer, two entrees and then they brought us a biscotti desert at no charge. We experienced a guest getting the spaghetti in a bag... I must say I’m so jealous! I thought about it, didn’t want to pay that much, but when I saw it... instant regret! Tortellini was superb and my husband’s lamb dish was just as great. Wished I lived here to dine in more often! There is a fee for the bread and oil they bring, see receipt, but I’m sure you can say ‘no thanks’ and not eat it if you don’t want it. This is rather common in Europe, but I saw some comments where there was shock over it - to each their own!

  • Richard Swaffer

Ok this is a SOLID 5 star food experience. Atmosphere is just quiet dining but the freakin' food in this place is REMARKABLE. I had a veal chop that was huge. I ordered an off-menu arabiatta red pasta that was supremely delicious. My wife had the tuna steak with a tomato cucumber chutney / salsa that was perfect. My son had a linguine lamb ragu with pecora cheese that was also out of this world. We had four glasses of a really nice Barolo by the glass, which was a nice touch, also excellent accompanying a great wine list... If you're anywhere near this place do yourself a favor and come in here. UPDATE... came here again 2 nights later and ordered all different dishes... They knocked it out of the park again... Scallops amazing.. sea bass DELISH
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 4

  • Rory Choudhuri

La Barca makes me wish I had rated other restaurants less than five stars! It really is that good. A reasonably wide menu, with excellent dishes – we had two starters and four main courses, all were superb. Couple that with friendly service, a buzz, good ambience, and no intrusive, banging loud music to stifle conversation, go to Labarca for a great evening out with friends, family or anyone else. In fact, I saw at least two people dining alone, quite happily. There were some lovely touches like a copious bread basket, little chocolates after the meal, and a generous handful of cantucci with the coffee, all adding to the experience. Looking forward to our next visit.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
£60–70
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

  • Matt Booth

Good food but disapointing service & additional charges. We visit as a group of 7 for a family meal. The food was good quality & enjoyable but a few other things left us disapointed so we would not return. We ordered meals and the waiter said he would bring a few side dishes for the table (brocolli, potatoes & spinach) - we though these were on the house but no, they we on the bill at nearly £5 each. Then a £2.50 per person cover charge & a 13.5% service charge added an extra £50 to the bill total. We asked for the service charge to be removed which was actually quite a lot more value than the price of the 3 extra dishes!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
£30–40

  • David Burrows-Sutcliffe

We have dined at La Barca many times before. The food and wine are always excellent. But our happy experience was tarnished by a single unpleasant waiter. I have identified him previously and he needs to be reprimanded. He came to our table to take our order but he was premature as we weren’t ready so politely I invited him to return in a few minutes. When we were ready to order, I told him - only to receive the curt clipped response that he was now too busy to take it! He really was horrid & it could have spoilt our evening. His manner is a disgrace in any hospitality environment.
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
£90–100
Food: 5
Service: 2
Atmosphere: 3

  • Rosana Eats

One of my favourite restaurants. Probably also one of the first ones I visited when I first came to London in 2021. They have slightly refurbished the restaurant to loo sleeker with more seating outside which is nice. Service is always great and plenty of Italian staff. Food is delicious. I love the green olives that come with the brad basket in the beginning. Previously I have had the duck pasta with cream, red wine and mushrooms. My partner had the 'steak Diane'. They do demos infant of the customers for entertainment. Very good service and great customer experience from start to finish. There's also hand sanitiser across and tables are fairly far apart. Worth the visit and the food!

  • Christina Arobieke

La barca is a must go, for sure a hidden italian gem in the heart of waterloo!! Authentic Italian, family business, really warm and personal dining experience, having arrived early, we were greeted, given the history of the restaurant, introduced the covers (breads with olive oil & vinaigrette) delicious and Italian sourced. Very authentic clearly home made pasta dishes, very tasty dishes and good portion sizes. I will visit again and would recommend La Barca if you love Authentic Italian food.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
£40–50
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 4

  • Brianna Kabirah

Had an amazing experience at La Barca the food was exquisite, authentic Italian . The service was superb felt very welcome and attended to without being too intrusive. I would highly recommend dining here they have a lovely alfresco section at the front of the restaurant which was perfect for the warm weather we have right now and the prices were fair for the quality of the food I couldn’t complain at all I will definitely be back with my friends for dinner. P.S order the Pappardelle Con Anatra Affumicata tagatelle you won’t be disappointed !!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner

  • Tim Ryan

Try the Italian restaurant in Waterloo La Barca, you will be pleasantly surprised to find that it is as good as everyone says. Among the many dishes served were Crepe Suzette and Steak Dianne both were prepared, cooked and served beside the table. This method of cooking is not a sight one sees very often and is a pleasure to watch. Recommended.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
£30–40
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Steak Diane, Tagliatelle Carbonara, Crepe Suzette, Linguine Vongole, Calamari Fritti

  • Susan Bird

Beautiful Italian restaurant we found last night, we hasn't booked a table but the managed to squeeze us in for table of 2. Very attentive staff with a traditional italian feel . Food - we only had arribiata and carbonara as we were tired ..and it was the best, so creamy . No room for pudding unfortunately...but looking at what others had ordered looked amazing, if you like seafood that seemed very popular with other diners to and again great sized portions xx Thank you so much for squeezing my daughter and myself in last night. Highly recommended.
Service
Dine in

  • Chris Hill

Old school Italian restaurant - almost 50 years old - close to Waterloo Station. I’ve eaten here a few times and never been disappointed by the food or service. The chicken liver pate starter was delicious and generous in size - could have been a small main dish (or shared starter). Linguine Vongole was spot on - lots of clams, garlic and herbs. Finished with a Tiramisu because when you’re eating at an old school Italian restaurant you have too! House wines are a good value choice - especially as the menu is surprisingly expensive! I will, of course, be back.

  • Phil Armstrong

Excellent! The grilled sardines were delicious, as was the special seafood pasta (cooked in a bag) and the veal Milanese. One of the best Italian dining experiences we have had in London (and we've had quite a few!). Service was also very good - they asked us if we were going to the Old Vic when we arrived, which we were, and after that they paced the food perfectly so that we did not feel rushed but still made it to the theatre in plenty of time. Definitely recommended.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
£60–70

  • Jonah

Bread basket was OK, not sure if freshly baked. Olives were really good (I normally don't like olives). These are both included in the cover charge The house spaghetti cooked in a bag was great, the mussels stood out as perfectly cooked. The prawns were large but not flavorful. Sauce was good. The parpadelle duck was creamy but very sweet. Beer (Moretti or Peroni) was £6.5 for half pint. £44 per person in total.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
£40–50
Food: 4
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

  • David Hyndman

Shared a lovely meal here. The staff were just right - attentive without being pushy.thwnfoid was very good. The three in our party all had good starters and good mains. The bottle of Sicilian wine we chose was quite expensive but we thought it was lovely and complementes our food well. (I have a trip to Sicily coming up so I thought it a good time to try a Sicilian wine)! It was a good relaxed evening enjoyed by all.
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
£70–80
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

  • Jay Finesilver

I was going to a play at the Old Vic Theatre tonight, I met clients for dinner here before the play. The meal was great start to finish. The calamari starter was delicious. My main was the lamb rack. It was good but it took the server a long time to carve it tableside. The place can serve you in an hour before the Plat, as it opens at 6pm. Not particularly inexpensive but a solid reasonable meal. I was pleased w it for my first night in London.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 4

  • Sandra Taylor

Wow, what an excellent restaurant! 5 star plus in fact. All the food was delicious, well presented and the staff were great. A very enjoyable night and highly recommended! Sorry, no photos as it was a professional meet up. I had a duck and mushroom pasta dish which was lovely!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
£30–40
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Tiramisu, Bruschetta Al Pomodoro, Creme Caramel

  • Jeffrey Dorwart

Authentic, excellent Italian. You cannot beat the pate de pollo (chicken liver pate) and calamari for appetizers and the specialty of the house, Spaghetti de la barca is by far my favorite. It is the specialty of the house for a reason. Not only is this dish excellent but the preparation is entertaining. If I could give six stars I would gladly.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
£30–40
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

  • E

Service was great and was really a fan of the butterflied prawns they were absolutely delicious. Would recommend them however I felt as though the fillet steak and calamari was fairly average, other than that the other dishes were amazing with the tuna etc. Great service and nice interior, would have given it 5 stars but the two dishes! Will be coming back! And may be changing my rating
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
£50–60

  • BR W.

This is our favourite Italian in London so far. Excellent food, wine and good service. We enjoyed having lunch here will come back as we live locally. There is £2 coverage charge/person but you get good bread, bread sticks and nice Olives, also great olive oil and Balsamic vinegar.
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
£40–50
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Spaghetti Alla Barca a House Speciality

  • Nick Gallop

Friendly, helpful and prompt service, not at all pushy. Happily helped us share a starter with an extra plate and fork. Our food was delicious, the house wine was fairly priced and enjoyable. With one starter, two main courses, one dessert, a bottle of wine and a coffee, the total was £110. (Liqueur pricing was outrageous, I thought: around £12 per glass plus a service charge. So I didn't have one.)
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner

  • Alicia Kayl

I don’t normally write reviews but I just had to for this place. They were by far the best Italian food I’ve had in a long time. The staff was truly amazing and really set the atmosphere. They are very family friendly as well. I would recommend this place 10x over.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Bruschetta Al Pomodoro, Calamari Fritti

  • Fulvio Cosco

La Barca is a traditional Italian restaurant (Tuscany) run by Eugenio who is the owner (from Calabria) a really nice person, same as his staff, waiter are friendly and super kind. The food is superb, even though prices are a bit high, but it's still worthy, and also the atmosfere is really relaxing. On the wall you can see pictures of VIPs that have been there in the last 50 years. The cherry on the cake, DESSERTS

  • Ajay Gajree

Not sure why this place is so highly rated, the food was mixed at best, the Spaghetti La Barca Speciality was very good but the Brushcetta was utterly tasteless as was the Spaghetti Carbonara, hugely disappointing given the punchy prices and the sneakily added Cover Charge for bread and olives we did not order, all on top of the very high 15% Service. Would not return.
Food: 3
Service: 4
Atmosphere: 4

  • Ruby

Four of us had dinner here on a busy Friday evening. Everything about this restaurant is fantastic and we had a wonderful evening. The staff are just brilliant, really friendly and knowledgeable, and the food was excellent, the best I've had for ages. We were made to feel very welcome and nothing was too much trouble. We will definitely return!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
£80–90

  • Aaron Brock

Food was lovely, was pricey but worth it, wasn't happy I was charged for bread and breadsticks they bring to your table when you arrive, also was not happy that I was asked what side I wanted with my steak that I paid almost £40 for to then be charged, £5 extra for my side, ( a bowl of fries) couldn't knock the food but alot was sneaked in, cost me £83 for a Steak, chips, Carbonara, a lemonade and half of Moretti

  • Dan Farley

We found this gem while staying nearby, and were not disappointed. Delicious food from starters through dessert. Wonderful attentive waitstaff. We will most definitely be returning our next time in London.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
£40–50
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Tiramisu, Bruschetta Al Pomodoro, Penne Arrabbiata

  • Arun Sharma

Lovely location just outside Waterloo station. Great service from all the staff, and the food was excellent too, with a nice variety of wine. Quite expensive for what you get (prawns were £18) but the overall quality is good
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
£30–40
Food: 4
Service: 4
Atmosphere: 4
Recommended dishes
Gamberoni Burro E Aglio

  • John Hopgood

Food was excellent and given the quality, reasonably priced. Service good and with a smile. The toilets are small and the ladies is upstairs , but you don’t go to a restaurant to check them out. It must be used by staff and actors from the Old Vic. which is close by, as there are lots of photos on the walls. Very close to Waterloo station and worth a visit.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch

  • Giulia C

Perfect restaurant for romantic dinners. Authentic Italian restaurant, with an Italian feel to it. Food is amazing, from the home made focaccia to desserts, even something simple like soup tastes great. Some of the dishes are prepared in front of you on a cooking tray, a very enjoyable experience. Price is slightly higher than the average, but it is justified by great quality and attention to details.

  • Angelita

I had amazing dinner with my boyfriend, we live just 2 minutes from te place but never had the chance to try it and I'm so happy that we finally did, the food was amazing, we had all fish, atmosphere lovely i felt like i was in italy, the waiters all of them very professional and kind. We will come back soon and I can't wait to try the meet. !
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

  • Kevinatwork1

Very good Italian restaurant very near Waterloo station. Pricey with cover charge and gratuities automatically added to bill but the food and service were great. Photos of celebrity guests on the wall including Elton John and many others.
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
£40–50
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Linguine Vongole

  • Irish Dano

The service was great and the food was exceptional. The table bread was delightful with olive oil. The calamari was some of the best I’ve had. It had a wonderful texture, not rubbery like I’ve had stateside. Pasta was wonderful. This restaurant will not hurry you. I love it. You have a fabulous meal and the ability to sit and visit.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 4

  • David Hatcher

Excellent food, service and wine. So much variety on the menu (for wine too) that would never get bored. Bit of a hubbub but I guess that's inevitable for somewhere so good and so popular.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
£70–80
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 4
Recommended dishes
Spaghetti Alla Barca a House Speciality

  • Gary New

Amazing atmosphere, got to be the best Italian restaurant I have had the pleasure of dining in. The level of service was outstanding, the wine list was excellent, with excellent recommendations from the waiter. The flavour and freshness of the food was outstanding, we just about managed to get three courses in........ Would highly recommend this restaurant as one to try in London

  • Clara Huyghe

On our short trip to London, we spent New Year's Eve at La Barca. The restaurant was in a great location for our further evening planning! The staff and food were excellent. All the staff were super accommodating and we have not had such an experience at home before. We would love to come back anytime!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
£50–60

  • Kerry Parkhurst

We found this lovely little restaurant while waiting to check into our hotel it was amazing. The service from the staff was excellent food was delicious was all fantastic. Thank you so much. I definitely would return if back in the waterloo area.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
£30–40
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

  • Daniela

I really like it! Tested for dinner and as Italian I remained very satisfied. Menu has wide offer of topical Italian dishes. I've Tryed fish which was well presented and delicious. Pleasant ambient and relaxing atmosphere. Welcoming and kind staff. Very suggested. Good job guys. I'll be back at next occasion
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

  • yetunde olufosoye

It was a very beautiful experience, ambience was nice and clean, staff were so attentive and hands on, the meals were off the chart delicious!!! I had the spaghetti sea food...it was awesome. I was even given another drink because I didnt like the one I ordered! Oh the butterfly prawns ,the salad,baby chicken,sea bass...infact all the meals we had was excellent

  • T J Elliott

This was a pre-theater meal before we walked across the bridge to the national theater and it fit the bill nicely. We had different dishes and I must say the grilled fish was amongst the best I have ever had. everything was swell
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
£40–50
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

  • Ruth harri

Very nice food and wine, staff were friendly and attentive. There was a nice atmosphere with certain dishes being cooked fresh next to the tables. We tried a selection of starters and all enjoyed our mains. It's pricey but the quality and attention to detail is worth it if you're looking for something special.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner

  • D CFC

My wife, myself and a couple of friends enjoyed a lovely meal yesterday evening. All the food across the party was tasty and well cooked. I had the mixed grilled fish for my main which was lovely. The portions are generous and the service attentive. Nice ambience and outside seating under heaters if you prefer.Would recommend and will definitely return.

  • rizvanr

So glad, I was able to go back to La Barca after the pandemic, the food and service was phenomenal as usual! I come back everytime I'm near Waterloo and boast about the place to all my friends. Can't wait to keep having more delicious meals in the years to come. You know the food is good when the couple next to you says "this saved our date night"

  • gabriella dc

The food, the service, everything was absolutely amazing. The Tagliatelle Carbonara was one of the best I’ve had outside of Italy. The waiters were fantastic, so accommodating and made sure we had a great experience.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
£20–30
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

  • NADIA D

We had a great evening at La Barca tonight- warm hospitality and delicious food!! Drinks were flowing and service Impeccable. We were warm under the outdoor lamps and with our fleece blankets on our laps- felt like we were on holiday in Europe ✈️✈️ Desserts were all delicious but the best (in my opinion) was the crepe suzette!!

  • Nicole Nicholson

Highly recommend! The service is phenomenal. This is authentic Italian here in London. Nicola was over the top friendly and Lorenzo’s suggested wine was more than perfect. If you are looking for a welcoming and comforting experience with delicious Italian food, this is the place for you.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner

  • Dimitris Giannoulis

I cannot recommend La Barca highly enough. It is one of the best Italian restaurants in London in my opinion. Their fish dishes (which would be first choice judging by the restaurant 's name) were unbelievable. Very fresh ingredients. Very tasty. I would only suggest, staying away from the Zabaglione. It looks better than it is.

  • Mary Stevens

Used to come here for work years back. It's more modern but omg it's still amazing. Service and food brilliant. Thank you so much.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
£60–70
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Tagliatelle Carbonara, Penne Arrabbiata

  • Ariffin Davies

Small, quaint, busy, friendly. Great food, reasonable prices. A place I'd return to. My starter was crab prawn mango avocado. Main was fillet steak bits with mashed potato. Absolutely beautiful.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
£50–60
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 4

  • Jags Krishnamurthy

The restaurant operates like a touristy one when I was expecting a neighborhood one. I was recommended indicating that it was frequented by locals. The food and the service was good. I ordered an appetizer and a Penne Arrabiata and I could not finish both. The penne was good but huge. Beware of portions at this restaurant.

  • Dave

Nice independent Italian restaurant. Think I picked the wrong meal as mine was just ok. My daughter said hers was lovely and it’s a nice setting. It was busy for a Tuesday night and had a few famous people dinning there. My wife had a pasta with lobster meal and said there was hardly any lobster hence four stars not five.

  • Fabian Fermoso

Amazing funny and professional staff, great food, I took Steak tartar as main course and it was delicious. The best I’ve ever tried. Sharing only pictures of preparation.. he asked me twice to get perfect point of spicy to ensure I’d really enjoy it. I will come back to this restaurant in my next visit to town, for sure.

  • Wim de Klerk

Last week, I went to a restaurant with some colleagues. If you want to taste authentic Italian food, I highly recommend this restaurant. Additionally, the staff is friendly and helpful. Overall, I had a great experience.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

  • Lorin LaFave

Pre-theatre dinner before going to The Old Vic. It was perfect. We were chatting too much and the waiter nicely asked if we were going to the theatre to hurry us along and order, which we needed ;-)
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
£50–60
Recommended dishes
Linguine Vongole

  • hannah gee

Me and my friend came here when in our London trip and everything was beautiful. The portions were generous, the fresh bread was delicious and the service was amazing. The atmosphere outside when all the other restaurants are serving and music is playing was a great memory. Will definitely be coming back this year!

  • J DREWITT

Great Restaurant, lovely Staff and Amazing Food, with Big Portions. But a Very Expensive Restaurant to go for a meal. I was not happy having to pay 13.5 Service Charge on top of the meal price, it made it a Very Expensive Lunch. I won't be returning again.!
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

  • Peter Bryant

A fabulous classic Italian restaurant. The front of house service and humour is perfectly matched with the delicious cuisine from the kitchen. Always made to feel very welcome.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
£70–80
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 4

  • Eric E

Very traditional old school - that's good - Italian white table cloth restaurant with an extensive wine list, lovely terrace seating and moderate prices. Very close to Waterloo Station. Extremely enjoyable. PS - the fish is great.
Service
Dine in
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

  • Theo de Jager

I am firmly of the opinion that 5 stars is unachievable...and selfishly I'd like no one to go to La Barca ...so that we can continue to enjoy it . The restaurant is top. Everything about it. Thank you to the team for the top service and great food.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 4

  • Psipsina Corelli

We dined here with friends and I can’t wait to return with my family to celebrate a special occasion. Everyone loved their choices but the spectacular spaghetti alla barca in particular needs to be had by everyone who loves good Italian food.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

  • suzan davis

Had a delicious pre theatre meal on Wednesday 5th April with my daughter. Delightful atmosphere and attentive staff. Five stars!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
£40–50
Parking
We booked a Just Park space only a few hundred yards away from the Old Vic

  • Marwan Al-Arfaj

Average Italian restaurant with very welcoming staff. Food was overrated and did not suit my taste. I ordered the bruschetta and fried calamari which were good but the lobster pasta was below average. Best wishes
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
£60–70

  • Jason Holt

Excellent food and service. Great atmosphere. Party of 4 all thoroughly enjoyed the Starters, mains, and desserts. Definitely recommended. Well- be going again.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
£70–80
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

  • Michelle Pallai

Spaghetti alla Barca is EVERYTHING! Fantastic restaurant, food snd service. Highly recommended! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Spaghetti Alla Barca a House Speciality, Calamari Fritti

  • Yusianmar Mariani

Very nice staff. They made us feel super comfortable. The food is also superb. I would advise to book in advance as its always full. We will be back!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
£40–50
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 3

  • Dean Barker

Had a lovely authentic Italian meal tonight with my elderly mother who absolutely loved whole experience. Service and food was superb, everybody so busy seeing that everyone has what they need. Cosy, great atmosphere with signed photos of 70s and 80s actors and actresses on walls.

  • OMMM mmm

La Barca serves lunch and dinner of Michelin star quality without the price tag. The ambience suits whichever purpose that you are there. The staff are friendly, accommodating and that is amazing when the location is just outside Waterloo station/ third busiest city in the world!

  • James McEwan

I've not had a better Italian dish. The Pappardelle con anatra affumicata was rich in flavour and delicious! The staff were all Italian, polite, helpful and efficient. The decor and atmosphere was classic, well presented, excellent.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner

  • Ashleigh Frank

Delicious food and atmosphere, had a great time here with colleagues
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
£60–70
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Tiramisu
Vegetarian options
Lots available

  • Laetitia Lucy

One of the most welcoming, professional restaurants I’ve been to in London. We were in a family party, with two young children and the wait staff were so accommodating and charming. The food was also impeccable. Thank you!
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

  • Eve’s Daughter

Everything was amazing from start to finish! The staff were accommodating, friendly and warm. The linen was crisp and lavs clean. The food was absolutely divine and just the best meal I had in London I was there on a business trip and the whole team loved it

  • Alistaire Knight

Good food with some different items on the menu, selection of wines by the glass but many more by the bottle. Professional staff
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
£90–100
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 4

  • shaheel chummun

We had a very nice dinner last night. Thank you very much to the team for making some chicken goujons for our 3 year old. One of the best chicken goujons I have tasted. Otherwise, the steak and the pasta we ordered were sublime. Will definitely be going back

  • Maud Hu

I think this place might be my favorite Italian place so far in London! Prices might be a bit high, but the service, portions, atmosphere and quality of the food make it worth it. Big big preferences to the duck pasta, garlic prawns and the free olives

  • Trevor Webber

Very expensive and even had to pay a cover charge for a tablecloth. Smart restaurant but overpriced. Would not visit again.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
£60–70
Food: 3
Service: 3
Atmosphere: 2

  • Bob Knox

Our first visit for at least 10 years. Still a great experience with excellent food, atmosphere and staff. A great memory
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
£90–100
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

  • Aravind Rajagopal

One of my best dining experiences - the food was very high quality, but it was the service that was par excellence. Warm, hospitable and made you feel you were with family. Highly recommend and we'll definitely be back. Grazie mille, Team La Barca!

  • Les Kelly

All the haters, I have been in UK for 3 days now and most food is nasty. But this restaurant was so good! The staff really made the experience even better. Two thumbs up!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
£60–70

  • Helen Jöns

One of the best Italian restaurants I’ve ever visited ! The Service and the food was great ! Big recommendation!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
£60–70
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

  • Jocelyn C Scherer

Delicious food, great service! It was very full for our dinner and was quite loud so something to keep in mind if you prefer a quieter spot.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 4

  • Gary Law

Wonderful birthday dinner spent at this restaurant. They easily accommodated a group of 11 guests. Given its rating, we were pleased that the food quality met our already high expectations. The pasta portions are also on the generous side.

  • Nita Newsome

Went for Friday lunch with family. Love the atmosphere and ambience. Staff so attentive and polite. Food delicious. My favourite Italian will definately be back. Thank you La Barca 10/10
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
£40–50

  • Conor Osullivan

Thoroughly enjoyed eating here! Muscles and fish selection for main were particularly tasty! Service was 5 star.. nice and cosy atmosphere and would recommend!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
£90–100

  • Rumiko Yamada (Orumi)

This is London, but I felt as if I was in Italy. All the food and service was good. Era così delizioso!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
£40–50
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

  • Lawrence Wilson

Beautiful food and very generous portions. I would have awarded five stars had the waiter not got annoyed at me for asking if they have plant milk. This is not an unusual request for a diner to make at a central London restaurant.

  • Jenny Du

A super great restaurant! I ordered sth off the menu but they still did it perfectly. The service is really nice. Although a bit pricy but it worths.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
£30–40

  • J. Rennies

friendly staff with prompt services. Very accomodating although we came in without any reservations. Every table was booked and occupied. Reservations are highly recommended.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner

  • Tessica Campbell

Amazing experience! Excellent service and food! It was a long day from travel and touring through London. They sat us for dinner regardless of there closing time! I was amazed by the food and hospitality! Thank you!

  • Kate Chandler

We had a wonderful evening last week. Crab and prawns, steak tartare (prepared at the table) and calves liver with butter and sage were the highlights. Thank you so much for your great service and wonderful food.

  • Bianca Ogel

Absolutely loved it we were so sorry we had no coins to leave tips! It was delicious, the waiters were really nice I highly recommend it's as good as in Italy!! The place is really pleasant and well located!!

  • Martin Cottell

We had a really good evening at this great Italian restaurant. Everyone enjoyed their choice and my liver and bacon was exceptional. This was my second visit and it didn’t disappoint, I will certainly return.

  • Darrell Dilley

Fabulous find unbelievable food great staff close to Waterloo Station
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
£30–40
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

  • Andreas Kallhovd

Family dinner, two kids. Everyone enjoyed themselves, and the great food. Attentive and friendly service from all the staff. The house red wine was a pleasant surprise, very nice. Highly recommended

  • Mr P

Lovely food great service. It ain’t cheap but you get what you pay for. Highly recommend for a classic Italian experience
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
£100+

  • Chai Odom

I had the duck, and it was fantastic! The service was top notch, everyone was very attentive. Make sure to try the truffle oil, incredible!
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

  • Directeur

Excellent cuisine, and very efficient service Very good access to Waterloo station if someone need to head off South after dinner Recommend
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 4

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