Have you had a good meal at Il Portico Kensington?

IAmMerfacus · 2023-08-09T18:59:46+00:00

I shall be visiting next month and hope it will be as enjoyable as I expect. If you have been and enjoyed the restaurant it would be nice if you could leave a 5 star review so that people like me who haven't been before can get an accurate idea of the quality of the food and the restaurant.

1stWorldProblems · 09/08/2023 20:24

Hardens Guide (where you have to join up & supply a minimum of five reviews a year & they only issue the info once a year - so unaffected by Tw#tter fiends) rates it
"This “old favourite” opposite the Design Museum, now in its sixth decade, is “always buzzing, with great Italian food and a sense that every patron is ‘family’”. It’s family-run, too, with James Chiavarini having taken over from his father, Pino. “James has introduced some modernising touches but I love the feeling that you’re in Italy when you walk in the door – there’s nothing minimal or characterless about it”.

It's been in Guide for a while I think. Both the Times reviewers also like it. Have had it on my list of 'places I need to eat at up London' before he came out as a JKR et al supporter.

StoatofDisarray · 09/08/2023 20:26

1stWorldProblems · 09/08/2023 20:24

Hardens Guide (where you have to join up & supply a minimum of five reviews a year & they only issue the info once a year - so unaffected by Tw#tter fiends) rates it
"This “old favourite” opposite the Design Museum, now in its sixth decade, is “always buzzing, with great Italian food and a sense that every patron is ‘family’”. It’s family-run, too, with James Chiavarini having taken over from his father, Pino. “James has introduced some modernising touches but I love the feeling that you’re in Italy when you walk in the door – there’s nothing minimal or characterless about it”.

It's been in Guide for a while I think. Both the Times reviewers also like it. Have had it on my list of 'places I need to eat at up London' before he came out as a JKR et al supporter.

Which immediately makes me want to eat there!

ACatCalledPushka · 09/08/2023 20:37

Leaving fake negative reviews has become a new ‘weapon of war’ it seems.

Have you had a good meal at Il Portico Kensington?

IcakethereforeIam · 09/08/2023 20:54

I was hoping to have a meal there at the end of August. However, seems to be closed 13th to 28th. Gutted.

nepeta · 09/08/2023 21:03

It look like many five-star reviews have recently appeared. Given that the overall picture the reviews give (over years) is highly positive, the politically motivated reviews do stand out. I'm pretty sure that anyone can flag inappropriate reviews
here
https://support.google.com/contributionpolicy/answer/7445749?hl=en&ref_topic=7422769&sjid=5159071353220514421-NA#zippy=%2Cflag-inappropriate-reviews

Flag and fix inappropriate content - Maps User Contributed Content Policy Help

Content that violates our policies can be removed from Maps listings. See the instructions below to either flag inappropriate content that you find on a listing or fix your own content that's been fla

https://support.google.com/contributionpolicy/answer/7445749?hl=en&ref_topic=7422769&sjid=5159071353220514421-NA#zippy=%2Cflag-inappropriate-reviews

IcakethereforeIam · 09/08/2023 21:30

Just read a Giles Coren review from 23rd June in the Times. After much wittering he actually reviews his meal. It sounds amazing. I could cry. I'll post an archive of it next. It'll probably be hidden but it might be restored once MN have looked at it.

IcakethereforeIam · 09/08/2023 21:31

Recent review from the Times

https://archive.ph/Sq1ZP

LizzieSiddal · 09/08/2023 22:38

I ate there a few years ago, amazing, authentic food and full of very interesting characters!
I’m up in Notting Hill for a few days at the beginning of next month so will be sure to book a table.

JellySaurus · 09/08/2023 22:41

'Cry bullies' - perfect description.

Original poster

IAmMerfacus · 09/08/2023 22:56

Glad to hear that others have had an enjoyable time. A Google review would be especially helpful, whilst better review sites which require proof of attendance are protected Google reviews, being Google, do tend to be on the first listing.

OP posts:

BlackForestCake · 10/08/2023 00:34

When I looked a few minutes ago all the fake reviews seemed to have been removed.

lanadelgrey · 10/08/2023 15:33

I love it. Old fashioned London Italian restaurant vibe. James always does us an antipasti selection - mozzarella, mushrooms and garlic prawns are lovely.

Florissante · 10/08/2023 15:39

It sounds wonderful. I hope the TRAs are chewing their sleeves in a rage at having the false reviews removed.

IcakethereforeIam · 17/12/2023 15:37

Had a meal here yesterday lunchtime, four of us. We all had something different, it was all lovely. The service was attentive without being intrusive. Food didn't sit too heavily in the stomach, which was just as well as partner made for the stairs shortly afterwards at Covent Garden tube 😭 I wasn't quick enough to stop him.

Mumsnut · 17/12/2023 15:39

We should have a terfy meetup there ...

IcakethereforeIam · 17/12/2023 15:44

It's just across the road from a Gail's bakery, which was packed.

HagoftheNorth · 17/12/2023 16:30

Sounds amazing, planning to make a point of going there next time I’m in London

1stWorldProblems · 20/12/2023 07:47

Went to lunch on 11th Dec - JKR dead right - the pasta is amazing. Rest of the food was also yummy. Attentive but not annoying service. Not cheap but will definitely be going back next thing we're up the Big Smoke

EmpressaurusOfCats · 20/12/2023 08:23

IcakethereforeIam · 17/12/2023 15:44

It's just across the road from a Gail's bakery, which was packed.

Is it the fox killer who’s annoyed with Gail’s for some reason?

PotteringPondering · 20/12/2023 09:02

The food is great, and James is friendly. I had a good meal there recently with a friend.

Bear in mind that it's more expensive than most Italian restaurants. If you're used to 'average' restaurant prices, you'll find Il Portico quite expensive.

Ereshkigalangcleg · 20/12/2023 09:46

Is it the fox killer who’s annoyed with Gail’s for some reason?

Yes, he doesn't approve of its owner. Personally I don't approve of people who batter foxes to death with baseball bats, so horses for courses.

EmpressaurusOfCats · 30/03/2024 09:03

I went to Il Portico last weekend and now I can see why it’s JKR’s favourite. The food had an incredible amount of flavour & the staff were lovely.

It was £200 for 3 of us with wine, so not somewhere I’d go every week but brilliant for a special occasion.

IamSarah · 30/03/2024 19:54

It's really outstanding food and James is a delight. So glad that people are supporting it.

FigRollsAlly · 30/03/2024 21:29

I’d forgotten the details of why Il Portico was targeted by TRAs but I read JKR’s latest Strike book last week and when the restaurant featured in it I realised she was giving them a well deserved nod.

Iop · 30/03/2024 21:35

There is so much on this board that goes over my head! I'm as GC as they come but it's like reading another language sometimes 😂 A thread a while back was just poster after poster talking about "gardening" - obviously code for something, for those in the know 🤷🏼‍♀️ And now this thread - which I assumed upon opening had been started by a restaurateur hoping to bump up their Google reviews. But actually seems to be about a restaurant that somehow manages to be GC?? I'm baffled!