Alio's has been around for at least 20 years, and is the best place to buy Italian produce. It is…read moreowned and run by the same Italian family who started it, and walking in, you would think that you are walking into an typical grocers in Italy, not Surrey. All the food is brought over from Italy, and as you would imagine, at least two isles are devoted to pasta. Pasta with names like farfallini, pappardelli, rigatone, as well as your standard penne and spaghetti's. One brand of pasta that took my attention was Dreamfields, which is a low carb pasta. That means that all those poor people who are doing the low-GI thing (like myself), can at least have the same meals. So as well as a good Italian wine selection, and plenty of pastries, there is a large delicatessen here. I usually go to pick up artichoke hearts, and stuffed tomatoes and peppers, but the other day I had one of their toasted panini's. It was stuffed with parma ham, mozzarella cheese, peppers and chillis. It was the most mouthwatering thing I have eaten in a long time.

This is a small but charming deli that I have found to be one of my favorite places in Richmond. I…read moreventured in one day with my three young boys, and though this isn't the best place to bring in children, the staff were VERY patient and accommodating. They gave me suggestions as to what the boys might like, since it was my first time going in, and they continued to come and ask if there was anything else I might need. With three children, I need all the help I can get, so I was won over many times. We ordered ham and cheese toasties and the soup of the day with a sausage roll. For a cold day, as it was, the whole thing was absolutely delicious. The sausage roll was my favorite. I had never tasted one so good. I wish I had ordered more of them, because I had to share it with my children. In the end, after I had paid the bill, which was very reasonable, we were given free chocolate chip cookies which was a wonderful surprise, and they were scrummy. I have been in to Albert's deli many times now for the sausage rolls and once, to introduce my husband to it. The time my husband and I dined in we had baked chicken in a red wine sauce over mash and sausage rolls. After we finished, again, we were met with a free sample of their chocolate brownie. My husband said it was one of the best brownies he'd ever had. So, believe me when I say you will love this place. Clean, delicious food, and kind staff.

One of my favourite past times is wandering around my neighbourhood. And if it was not for my…read morefondness of aimless wandering, I would not have found this delightful treat of a deli set in the Alberts in Richmond. The first time I stopped by The Alberts Deli, the place was closed as I believe it was in the evening on a weekend. They had a menu posted in the window, and after taking a look, I vowed to come back one weekend when they were open. A few weeks later I finally stopped back to give the deli a try. Unfortunately, at that time, they were not serving paninis on the weekends (and I am still not sure if they do), and since that is what my lunch companion and I fancied, we decided to try another place in Richmond. However, this did not stop me from having a look round at the groceries on offer. The Alberts Deli has a wide selection of Italian staples including the seemingly ever-elusive wide egg noodles, in addition to a small American section that was stocked with pumpkin purée (in case you have a craving for pumpkin pie!). I made note of these points in case I was interested in coming back for either ingredient. Fast forward a few months to my birthday. Since it was my special day, the middle of the week and I had the day off, I was keen to give The Alberts Deli a try for lunch. I was not at all disappointed with this decision. For lunch, I ordered the 1/2 panini and small soup special, going for the spicy tuna panini and the spicy sweet potato soup. The soup was gorgeous. It had lots of creamy sweet potato flavour, and the spice was subtle to give the soup a bit of kick, without overwhelming the delicate sweetness of the sweet potato. The panini was also a winner. Unlike spicy tuna paninis at some other cafes, The Alberts Deli uses freshly chopped chillies to give the sandwich spice, not a few globs of chilli sauce, which I think gave the sandwich a better flavour. All in all, it was a great lunch, and the price was good too--only £3.90 for the combo. Add on one of their delicious espresso drinks (I can highly recommend the cappuccino), and you can have a round meal for about £6. If you happen to find yourself aimlessly wandering in Richmond, I highly recommend steering yourself in the direction of The Alberts Deli and stopping in for a hot coffee and a nice lunch. You won't be disappointed.

Come here many times and each time I have been impressed…read more Food is always up to par and the staff is very welcoming and happy to explain any part of the menu. Pizzas are cooked very well as well as pastas. Highly recommend!

We live right down the street and we were so excited to finally try Valentina. We buy some things…read morein the shop downstairs and have always been happy. The olives are amazing and the panettone for Christmas was delicious. To begin with, the service was very slow. From the beginning, even just getting wine and water seemed to take too long. Then we had to wait 30 minutes to order food and then another 30 minutes to receive our appetizers. By this time we had been at the restaurant for over an hour. The main course took about 30 minutes to arrive, as well, which would have been okay if we weren't already a bit annoyed with the slow service. I'm not sure if they were understaffed (it was fairly busy, especially for a Wednesday night) but the staff just seemed to disappear sometimes. The food itself was also subpar and a disappointment. Italian food is wonderful and full of great flavors - all the food we had was bland. We had fried calamari that was chewy and, although the calamari seemed fresh, the batter didn't taste of anything. It seemed like neither the calamari nor the batter had been seasoned. My partner's fish was okay but again, seemed under-seasoned, and my pasta was also just bland. Everything lacked any sort of distinction and, considering how good the items in the store are, this was a real disappointment. I think if we hadn't been there with a 50% promotion we would have been really upset. We were hoping to find a new neighborhood spot but this, sadly, won't be it.

A fabulous Italian deli stocked from floor to ceiling with goodies throughout the shop. It's so…read moretightly packed that you need to be slightly careful not to tip something over :-) I loved this place and visited at least twice during my short stay. Run by a bunch of Italian men this place has Italian ingredients galore, meats, cheeses, oils, vinegars, sauces and prepared foods. They also have a fresh bread counter with lots of Italian breads. You can say this place is more or less edible :-) The prepared foods like risotto and vegetables are lovely as are the choice of cheeses and meats. The quality is good and the prices are also quite ok. I would shop here regularly if I could :-) it's a slice of Italy in London.

This is THE Italian deli for sweet and savoury treats to snag for dinner or a picnic. Takeaway…read morecontainers are secure and adorable, perfect for posh nosh in the park or a homemade meal you didn't feel like sweating over for hours. The wine selection is impressive, as is the deli-style spread of cheeses and meats. It's not cheap, but you're in Parsons Green, what do you expect? Homemade gooey lasagna ready for a brief oven blast, the most succulent roasted chicken imaginable, and hearty soups. Don't even get me started on the panna cotta. It's like creme brulee's much hotter cousin. The tiramisu is to die for, too. For less dairy-inclined folk, there are usually sweet breads and muffins. An antipasto buffet priced by weight with sardines, artichoke hearts, brine-soaked olives, and caprese salad has been my dinner many a night. Insider tip: all the shop-keepers I've met are Portuguese. Throw out an "obrigado" and maybe they'll give you a break on the cheese.

Nice breakfast and coffee spot along the river. Small outdoor patio area and great coffee. It's…read morelittle hidden gem in the area

This is an absolute must in the Holland Park/ Kensington area of London. Looks a little funky on…read morethe exterior but wow ..great place.

Specks is Notting Hill/Bayswater/Kensington's best kept secret. Amazing authentic fresh Italian…read moreingredients for taking home and cooking or re-heating. The place is so Italian they close for weeks on end in the Summer and boot you out at closing time if you are dithering. For starters they have all the usual meats (sliced while you wait), mozzeralla, tomoatoe, marinated artichokes, bread sticks and things. For pastas they have fresh made lasagna (vegetarian and meat) that you reheat in the oven, as well as a range of fresh pasta and sauces for reheating on the stove. Please don't waste them on the microwave! They also have escalopes (chicken - I avoid the veal) and various salads all made fresh and different every time I go in. Good collection of vegetarian dishes. This is a great place to go if you don't really cook but want to impress people who do with a gourmet "home cooked" meal. Just get all the supplies and have it in the oven or simmering when people arrive. The perfect crime! Of course this deception doesn't come cheap. Every time I've catered from Specks it's come out at least £15 per head, which is a lot for a home cooked meal but the same quality food in a London restaurant would set you back at least £35. Make sure you get the shell shaped chocolate pastries for desert.

The original grocer's on Elgin Crescent; I've been buying my bread and treats here long before The…read moreGrocer on Elgin opened immediately opposite. They have a delicious delicatessen counter and stock the right selection of emergency food if you are running late for a dinner party - yours! But the bread is definitely which sets Mr Christian's apart - a great choice and fresh every day, including Sundays. And the staff are great, too, knowledgeable and friendly.

Fantastic! I love their lunch deal...£4 freshly made…read moreamazing bagettes which are, if you pick wisely, larger than the average person! Packet of crisps and a drink, what a bargain! Great selection of speciality sauces, olives and condiments mmm yum

Has the deli been sold?!?! It's only way to explain the horrendous lack of customer service lately.read more

This is a great local deli on my doorstep. Although I find that the enclosed premises aren't very…read moreinviting, and I think that puts me off going inside a fair bit. However, they sell great olives, hams and cheeses, although I felt that the olives were overpriced and didn't seem very fresh. They also bake cakes and muffins on the premises, I love the chocolate Browniesthey are very addictive! They have lots of condiments, breads, jams and ice cream which is great for grabbing something a little special for dinner. Also outside there are few tables and chairs so you can grab a coffee and a bite to eat and people watch. They do a lot of catering too, and one of the ladies who runs it used to cook for Andrew Lloyd Webber so she must be good!

This is an unpretentious little jewish diner-type restaurant in an even less unpretentious…read moreneighborhood in the North of London. It is located in Edgeware, which I frequent a few times a year since I have a friend who lives there. However it was not until I googled: "best salt beef in London" that I knew that there is a hidden gem to be found here. To me, salt beef is the UK variant of pastrami minus the peppercorns on the outside. I love both but I've had bad versions of both. So when I learned that this is the best salt beef in London, I got excited. I came and found a little shop with a few tables to dine in and options to take away. The menu was your typical jewish fare: salt beef, salads, gefilte fish, dumplings and so on. I went for the salt beef on rye with mustard: simple but I took one bite and I was sold. I immediately regretted not knowing about this place earlier - this is sandwich heaven. Perfect beef, great bread and a little bit of mustard: delicious! You know you have yourself a winner when you find yourself craving more, even days after. Yes B&K Salt Beef Bar is far off everything and scores about minus ten on the ambiance scale. There must be much trendier and hipper places in Central London but do they also serve a AWESOME salted beef sandwich? I am not sure so until I know I'll stick with B&K. Highly recommended.

Not much to look at from the outside but don't let that put you off! The portions are huge so make…read moresure you only go when you're ravenous! Seriously, the salt beef is to die for and is very reasonably priced. It's only got a small seating area for about 20 people but you can also get take away. The staff are very friendly and it has a great atmosphere. Parking can be a little difficult as there are only a few bays on Whitchurch Lane and it's near to the traffic lights at a major junction in Edgware so you may have to park a distance away but the food it worth it! I would point out that the food is Kosher style - the meat isn't actually kosher but, if that doesn't bother you - you'll enjoy a great meal.