Macellaio RC Fitzrovia - London

It was not open. Despite Open Table taking my booking and even asking me to confirm my attendance the night before, which I did. At no time did I get any notice that it would be in darkness. So for a birthday meal for 6, we had a panic scrabble around to find somewhere else that could take us. Never again.

Food was okay, not too special, but the service was quite bad, the waiters were nice people but they had no idea of what they were doing. They were bringing food to the table and when we asked what it was, they said I don 't know more than once ..so we were trying to figure it out ourselves. One of the waitresses (maybe the manager, not our assigned waitress from the beginning) came to the table to take the mains order, and while she was making a point of remembering the whole order without writing it down, she was speaking so fast repeating the order, it was like a McDonalds drive thru, I couldn 't understand a single word. And it 's not like they were too busy to take their time with us, they had another 2 tables of 2 people in the restaurant while we were there. I think there were almost more floor staff than customers in. The place was really cold, although they had a small plastic heater in the back corner under the table, that was insufficient. No warm water in the toilet either. The T-bone steak was cut kind of wrong, the bone looked damaged, poorly chopped. I think they had a chef in training who was practicing cutting the meat there (right next to our table, so having a conversation was impossible next to the constant banging on the chop board, which is why we asked to be moved in the back corner of the restaurant) I 've been to Macellaio South Kensington a few years ago and that 's what prompted me to try this place for my dad 's birthday. That was a totally different experience, with super professional and knowledgable staff. I wish we went somewhere else, having spent £380 for 5 people, we would 've probably gotten better food and service at Gaucho ..or even Bill 's ... Also, the only time they seemed genuinely happy was when we were leaving!

Very disappointed with the whole experience. Overpriced wine and food. 25 pounds for 2 lamp chops placed on mash potato and served on a desert place was embarrassing Service was slow and we was the only people eating god knows what it would be like if busy. Pizza ok for the kids and my parents chicken again was ok. Nothing memorable You need to raise your game.

We go to Macellaio for the meat and it was great as always. First visit to this branch; the service was perfect.

Excellent friendly service and good food. The beef carpaccio and basil panna cotta were outstanding