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Amazing location I was told by tour guide Princess Di loved. Service was spectacular. Food even better! I started with the Insalata Tricolor. Wow was it fresh and delicious. Perfectly ripe avocado, rich tomato and homemade mozzarella. Complemented with basil, EVOO and olives. Next I had the tortellini de Vito. Pockets of Rich filled tortellini and a rich tomato sauce. I told the waiter I wanted to lick my bowl. He jokingly put his arms up so no one would see! 10/10!
Food: spagettini vongole in white wine sauce, garlic bread, tagliatelle with ragú, and seafood risotto, and tiramisu. This was one of our best meals in London. (The other was chicken curry thali at Masala Zone). All the food was delicious and properly prepared. Service: the food came out pretty quickly, but our waitress did not provide anything but the bare minimum. She couldn't recommend a red vs a white wine and didn't really ask how we liked the food. I had to ask for more water. Seems like the norm here in London since most staff I see are Indian and can barely speak English. Ambiance: two floors and some outside seating. The downstairs has a lot of seating compared to upstairs. Tip: make a reservation! We walked in only to find that they were full. So I got online and made a reservation for two nights later. You will have to put down a credit card for £10 per person if you end up cancelling. Even when we showed up two nights later there was sign posted that they were full for the night.
We stopped by on a recent visit to London since it was in the neighborhood that we were staying at. Our group of five was seated immediately even without a reservation. Inside was cute on the main floor though the downstairs dining room looked full (and had air conditioning!). In any event, we had a lovely carb filled meal with really fresh pasta. I loved the pasta with branzino. The fish was delightful with lots of flavor to it. Dining partner got additional pasta; you really can't go wrong. And the pizza was pretty good too. We kept looking at the desserts and was really glad to have gotten those too. Between the gelato and tira misu, it was hard to go wrong. Add great service and this was a delightfully enjoyable meal.
This is my second time coming to Da Marios. My friend was raving about this restaurant and it was Princess Diana's favorite restaurant. This ambiance and service is amazing. The food delicious. The first time I came we had to wait 20 minutes but the restaurant was packed. It is better to make a reservation however you can still get in as they take walk ins. The second time I can we came at 8pm and were seated immediately. We started with the bruschetta and burrata. Both packed with flavors. I opted in for the Da Mario special which was a cream based rigatoni with mushrooms and pancetta it was delicious. At the end of the meal we ordered the tiramisu. Light, fluffy and perfect end to the meal. We were so full but the waitress came by with their house special lemochello for us to try. Da Marios is a must try in London and a perfect meal if you are craving Italian.
Was recommended this restaurant by a family member who lived in London for a bit, and it did not disappoint! First off, this is located in the charming neighborhood of Kensington. Loved seeing the architecture of the buildings close by. I'm glad I made a reservation, because when we arrived, they had a sign that said all their tables were fully booked! I had requested a table upstairs, which is smaller (square footage wise) than downstairs but feels more lively, plus I liked the natural light coming through the windows and the breeze from the open front door. Note that the bathrooms are downstairs. We were seated quickly, and I was impressed by the variety of options available on the menu. For two of us, we ordered: Pizza Diana (a special): 5/5 great base sauce combined with artichokes Spaghettini Sapore di Mare: 4/5 generous portion of seafood, but I would have liked a more rich tomato sauce. Octopus Salad (can't remember the exact name): 4/5 again, generous portion of seafood (loved the mini shrimp and octopus) but the arugula was too peppery for me (just personal preference) Tiramisu: 6/5 one of the best tiramisus I have ever had (and I had a lot in Italy). So light and creamy and fluffy! I would definitely recommend coming here for dinner. Just make sure you make a reservation in advance!
I really enjoyed Da Mario Famously billed as Princess Diana's favorite Italian restaurant in London. Service is excellent. Restaurant is large with 2 floors. Eggplant Parmigiana...Melanzane is the star of the show, don't miss it. Perfectly fried eggplant with mozzarella finished in the pizza oven. The spaghetti with Vongole was well executed as was the pasta with fungi in cream and pasta with tomato cream. The Rigatoni Al forno was the least successful, I was thinking baked ziti but it was rigatoni with tomato sauce mozzarella topped with prosciutto. It was fine but not what I expected. If you are in the area, it is a can't miss.
I sat down had my bread. I was ready for my main course as soon as that buttered up shiny buttery pasta came to my plate I was astonished. It was all buttery in my mouth, I just wanna get on my hands and knees and bow down to the chef that cooked up this masterpiece of a pasta. It is way too beautiful to call a pasta. I regret eating it so fast as I wish I could save every little bite of that pasta.
This place rules. My wife and I were in London and had some tentative plans on a Monday night that we ended up ditching at the last minute. Next order of business, where to eat? We filtered on a few things and landed on Da Mario, as it seemed like a reliable and popular spot. We weren't able to make a reservation, but walk ups were welcome so we took a shot. We got there around 6:45 (18:45 for non-US peeps) and were told it would be about a 30 min wait. We came back at 7:15 and got right to a two person table with no issue. The menu was pretty extensive but we noticed two guys sitting by us that had some sort of carbonara that we didn't see on the menu. They told us that it was an off menu request but assured us we could order the same. We went with that and a pizza and were extremely happy. The food came quick, it came fresh, and it came delicious. The atmosphere was bumpin and lively inside which added to the meal, since Italian restaurants can sometimes be fancier and on the dimmer side. I'd certainly recommend this to anyone in the Kensington or surrounding areas that would like some authentic and tasty Italian!
4 years ago
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7 years ago
SOOO wonderful! After a long day, it was so wonderful to have a perfect meal with a great atmosphere and attentive staff! I thought it would be a bad tourist trap but we definitely loved it! read more
3 years ago
7 years ago
5/5 for ambience, staff, pricing, food, and wine. It is beautiful traditional Italian food, just like Grandma makes it. I could absolutely eat here multiple times a week. Great for parties with multiple dietary needs as the menu is clearly labeled. read more
4 years ago
7 years ago
9 years ago
I really like the vongole spaghetti and seafood spaghetti here and they are perhaps the only main courses I had and will have here. The spaghettis are absolutely tasty and it does make me wonder how they make their sauce. Definitely worth coming even though it's £15 for their vongole spaghetti! However, it is wise to book seats beforehand. It's not a very big restaurant and it can get really busy even on weekdays. read more
9 years ago
Pizza was amazing! Garlic Bread to start was delicious... waitress was . Ice Cream to top it off... ! Atmosphere and vibe was great. read more
2 years ago
7 years ago
I'll sum it up in one line - Princess Di had GREAT taste! (The princes is said to have dined here and this was her favorite pizza place in the neighborhood - several mementos on the walls pay homage to her) At Da Mario restaurant, everything from the bread to the mains and desert was simply excellent. If you're looking for a no fuss, high on taste meal in central London that wont break the bank, this is it. We started with some focaccia bread that was perfectly warmed and crisp to dip in the two types of olive oils that were on each table - regular and chili. Yumm, This was followed by Prawns Aglio Oglio - delicately spiced and grilled to perfection, these garlicky open faced prawns were a hint of how excellent the rest of the meal was to be. I got the Pappardelle Pasta - cream sauce with spinach, garlic, toasted pine nuts, parmesan and fresh basil. For a change every single ingredient in this list was in the dish and what's more you could taste it in every bite. This has to be one of the most well-balanced pasta's I've ever had. The sauce was just right - creamy, but not too overpowering or drenched in cream that you couldn't taste anything else. Excellent. The husband opted for the Charcoal grilled sea bass fillet, baby squid, king prawn dish that was served with a side salad of mixed greens and cherry tomatoes. I tasted the fish and it had a melt-in-the-mouth type of freshness to it and the crispy bed of salad was excellent as well. To round it all of, we shared the Caramel Custard and I had a decaf espresso - the coffee was decadent and the desert was gently soothing and delightful. Not withstanding the fame that came with the late Princess dining here, the prices are modest and the portions generous. I was a tad skeptical of visiting this restaurant because of the celebrity tag associated with it, but everything including the service was great. Highly recommend you visit De Mario if you get a chance! read more
My first dinner in London and I'd consider it a major success! I scoured Yelp for a restaurant within walking distance of my hotel in order to get a head start exploring the city as it should be explored--on foot. Eventually I came upon Da Mario Restaurant which stood out when I read that Princess Diana is fond of this otherwise inconspicuous Italian spot. Walking up to Da Mario, it's chilly, but you can still see diners sitting on the patio and lights twinkling as the sun sets. The atmosphere is romantic, but lively. We started with a Fantasia di Bufala, which consisted of buffalo mozzarella, greens and tomato accompanied by olive oil and a sweet balsamic reduction. It was simple and well done, but the mozzarella wasn't as flavorful as I'd hoped it to be. I'd probably pass on this dish if I were to return. The Pappardelle Ragu was absolutely delicious. The flat wide pasta noodles were homemade and cooked to a perfect al dente. The ragu was essentially large chunks of fork tender beef in a tomato based sauce. I finished every last bite. My dining companion ordered the Pappardelle Aurora and also was blown away so I'd say you can't go wrong with one of the handful of Pappardelle dishes on the menu. Da Mario also gets a feather in it's cap for the extra generous wine pours! This spot is definitely worth checking out if you're in the area. read more
8 years ago
Decent, unpretentious Italian restaurant in South Kensington, not far from the Royal Albert Hall and Gloucester Road underground station. We met there as a group (two groups, actually) ahead of the John Williams concert. The service was friendly, if not terribly efficient - the food can be considered solid neighbourhood Italian. The pizzas and pasta aren't spectacular, but freshly made - though at downtown London prices of course (UKP 11 for a standard pizza). I myself had the sepia and shrimp mixed salad, also at UKP 11 - and it was okay, but not better than okay. The atmosphere is nice, if very busy. Solid option near RAH. read more
It may be good enough for Princess Diana but this place did not wow me at all. I'll start by saying Italian food is probably my least favourite cuisine. It's all so samey and carby. So anyway we booked a table for 5 here but still had to wait 15 minutes to be seated (and we were 5 mins late). The place is very homely but lives on the fact that princess diana came to eat there (maybe once who knows) and her memorabilia are all over the place. I ordered one of the specialities - the spaghetti with clams - and although the pasta was cooked very well, the sauce that came with it was super salty and pretty much just tasted like salty tomato. Portions were also quite small compared to other Italian places I've been to but it was still enough to fill me up. Come for a taste of Italian mama food. read more
Fan of this place for the food and the decor, but it is true that the service is a bit poo. All of these southern Italian waiters got some attitude on them, I tell ya. We were a big group and ordered a ton of food - and must say it arrived promptly. Half of us had pizzas and half of us pasta, and the Arrabbiata, the Amatriciana and the Seafood linguine were really actually great. The pizza was good but not outstanding and the tiramisu was pretty good but not great. There was too much whipped cream and not enough mascarpone. But all in all, a good italian place, I would go again. read more
8 years ago
We came around 5 p.m. and were lucky to get a table...a lot of people arriving after us were turned away because it was full. The pizza was delicious and I also enjoyed the dessert. The service was good for European standards. Princess Diana had good taste! read more
4 years ago
7 years ago
Good food, good wine, good service. I had a vegetarian pizza which was simply amazing. The crust was light and airy, the veggies fresh and abundant, the cheese was dreamy. read more
9 years ago
Impeccable service, cozy atmosphere, and the food was amazing! Start with their pizza sized garlic bread. Our group of nine had several different pizzas, pasta dishes, salads, and a meat platter to start as well. We finished with Tiramisu. This is my second visit at Da Mario. The price of food and portion size is very generous. On weekends, check out the ragout that is one of the top entrees. The meat is cooked for hours and has an amazing flavor. One in our group visits Da Mario's every week and takes away one of the ragout for lunch the next day. We enjoyed eating downstairs too. Cozy and comfortable. read more
10 years ago
Yum yum yum Delicious Italian that reminds me so much of the food in Italy I came for lunch and it was very busy. I made a reservation about an hour before I came and I'm so glad I did. Ordered the bruchetta as a starter. So delicious! For main I had the rigatoni amatriciana. All I can say is wow! As soon as I tasted it I thought I was back in Rome! The pancetta had great flavour and there was quite a bit in there. I really wanted to try the pizza but I was dining solo and knew I wouldn't be able to eat it all. Everyone around seemed to be really enjoying their meals. Wouldn't say this place is romantic or good for a first date . Very small and tables are quite cramped. I didn't see the downstairs part. Also had the cappuccino which was amazing as well. Very resonably priced . Everything including gratuity came up to about £23. read more
8 years ago
Food is amazing! The best pasta I've tried in London. Rigatoni Da Mario and Gnocchi are delicious! Just make a reservation in advance to avoid long waiting and enjoy your meal! read more
8 years ago
The Rigatoni DaMario is a MUST!! We also had the Tortelini Vitelo and the Ragú pasta. Amazing pasta and great ambient read more
4 years ago
8 years ago
We know this is a busy place so visited in the middle between lunch and dinner time. We enjoyed more than expected from a lot of reviews here. Pastas and garlic bread ordered were brilliant, concluded soon to repeat visiting. read more
7 years ago
I went there one night and had a great experience that I decided to return the next night. Now that it's the next night we have waited 25 minutes with a reservation at a table without any water or service. Seems as they forgot we were here. The first night we were on the bottom floor and this night we are on the main floor in the corner. Great food best meal I've had but the service is lacking which could be because of the crowd and the fact that we are behind a crowd of constant people standing at the door wanting a table. Update: They allow people to stand at the door way (basically join us at our table). Don't sit at the first table on the right. Completely opposite experience than the night before. Would rate the first night 5 stars but this experience so far 0. Update 2: There was a group that came in 10 minutes after us and already has their food. Don't sit at this table. Update: if you happen to sit at this table don't leave a menu out or it will be picked up and used all night. Update: this is what happens the door is constantly held open and on a cold night it's terrible. Update: just finished meal. There is another table that waited half an hour for their check. But yet again the food is amazing. The restaurant has been turned into a tourist attraction since princess Dianne used to eat here. Only recommendation is that you eat far away from the door. read more
4 years ago
4 years ago
Wow. Wow. Wow. This place killed every Italian restaurant I have been to in California. If you are from the States and want damn good Italian food, come here. First off, it's extremely busy. We were here for dinner and waited outside in the cold (Christmas time) for about 15 minutes. No complaints. It was worth the frost bite my fingers endured. We were seated downstairs, which is a bit unsettling, when you think of the amount of people downstairs and only one way in or out. My mind tends to deviate to worse case scenarios. They do have options for street-level seating, but seating is limited. The pizza was delicious and the pasta was amazing. I'd come back to London for this place alone. read more
8 years ago
Absolutely delicious! The service was spectacular, the ambiance was lovely and the smell of garlic lured us in. I don't trust the other reviewers who said that the waiters laughed at them and gave them crappy service. This team was very strong on service and clearly had pride! They even gave us Limoncello on the House! Will definitely visit again! read more
7 years ago
6 years ago
8 years ago
As I'm currently studying abroad with my group of friends, we wanted to find somewhere that would take all 13 of us. Da Mario took us without question. The waiter sat us in the back area where was quite hot. However, our service was great! My pasta was served to perfection! Plus our waiter easily accommodated for all of us to pay separately. Will go back soon! read more
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Da Mario Restaurant - italian - Updated July 2026
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