Il Bordello

Featured reviews

• G

  Google user

  ·1 month ago

  “l Bordello was a must for my nephew to visit whilst here from Miami. Now, I’ll be honest: Italian is not my favourite cuisine, but I can always find something I like. My nephew had previously ordered takeaway from Il Bordello and loved it, so off we went. First up, Il Bordello is a slightly strange experience. The décor can’t quite decide whether it wants to be modern or a traditional Italian tavern. The tables reminded me more of the latter, complete with paper napkins. Bearing in mind it isn’t cheap — our bill was around the same as The Ivy Asia the previous week — I was expecting something a little more polished. The waiting staff also seem to come from another era. As much as they look ready for silver service, they appear slightly uncomfortable in their bow ties, which don’t really match the surroundings. It all reminded me a little of an all-inclusive hotel restaurant in Spain. Perhaps it’s time to update the uniforms and give the staff something more contemporary and comfortable to wear. My nephew, however, loved the whole experience — as, clearly, did the busy crowd of loyal followers. Me? Not so much. But one man’s perfect pasta is another man’s poison. First up, the service was somewhat cold, something even my nephew agreed with. Food-wise, for me it was OK, but after reading all the rave reviews, I had been expecting something special. We kicked off by sharing the calamari. We ordered the dinner-sized portion, and thank goodness we did. There wasn’t much of it, and the accompanying salad looked rather sad and wilted. To call it a salad was generous — “a few leaves” would have been more accurate. It was certainly nothing to write home to Naples about. My nephew’s pasta, to quote him, was “the best he has ever had.” High praise indeed. My sea bass was just OK. I wasn’t offered the option of having it deboned at the table, as I have been in many good restaurants, and the roast potatoes were a little soggy. Nothing was actually bad; it simply didn’t live up to the expectations I had arrived with. The Limoncello Martinis, however, were amazing, as was my coffee, so top marks there. The verdict? My nephew can’t wait to go back. Me? I’d probably let him eat while I settled down with a Limoncello Martini and a coffee. Sometimes, when it comes to restaurants, it really is all a matter of taste. One final point: on the way in, I noticed its food hygiene rating was only four stars. I’ll admit, I would not normally step into a restaurant unless it had the full five.”

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• G

  Google user

  ·2 months ago

  “Great first time at this restaurant. Food was lovely, very tasty and well presented with big portions. I had the fried calamari for a main which came with a salad and thought that it would come with spices or dressed differently but it was basically calamari rings on a washed salad. The atmosphere was great, most diners made an effort with their dress but others came in sports wear (perhaps it was to do with the world cup final?) Perhaps some authentic Italian music in the background to create a homely atmosphere would increase to 5 stars. Overall fantastic evening and would come again.”

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• G

  Google user

  ·2 months ago

  “Il Bordello in Milan is a first‑class, authentic pizza spot that delivers everything you want from modern Italian dining in one of the city’s most vibrant neighbourhoods. The moment you arrive, the atmosphere strikes the perfect balance, relaxed, contemporary, and full of the lively energy that makes Milan such a joy to explore. The pizzas are outstanding: beautifully crafted, generously topped, and baked with the kind of precision that shows real pride in the kitchen. Flavours are bold yet traditional, with high‑quality ingredients that elevate every bite. It’s the sort of place where you instantly know you’re getting the real Milanese experience. The setting is another highlight. Il Bordello sits in a colourful, buzzing part of the city, making it ideal for a pre‑ or post‑dinner stroll. Inside, the modern décor blends seamlessly with a warm, welcoming vibe — perfect for casual dinners, relaxed evenings with friends, or a comforting solo meal. Service is friendly, efficient, and unfussy, adding to the overall ease of the experience. Everything feels effortless, enjoyable, and genuinely well done. A superb choice for anyone seeking authentic pizza in a stylish, modern environment. Highly recommended.”

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• G

  Google user

  ·2 months ago

  “Definitely one of my favourite restaurants in the whole world - Yes that is a big claim but one that I fully stand behind. I’ve enjoyed every meal I’ve tried here over many years, but there a few consistent favourites: Pollo Sopressa Veal Saltimboca Vegetable sides (Roast potatoes, beans, broccoli) Carbonara (you can have a side of pasta instead of vegetables) Old style Italian waiters, excellent service, don’t always come across as the most friendly. Almost always fully booked of an evening, make sure you reserve a table in advance. They also do an excellent job of packaging their takeaway.”

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• G

  Google user

  ·3 months ago

  “Still a good place to go. Started coming here in 2000, a few years after it opened. We always had a good meal and a good amount of wine there. Drunk much less now but the pizza was still good. The pasta wasn't bad but the sauce was over salted. Service is still by the same gentlemen that were there when we first went. A little slower now but still better than most places. Will definitely go back as it's a fantastic neighbourhood place to go. It is loud there so don't go for a quiet chat.”

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• G

  Google user

  ·6 months ago

  “I was blown away by this restaurant. Came for my birthday dinner on a Monday night and it was surprisingly busy, but we walked in and got a table easily at around 7pm. The atmosphere was nice, it felt authentic and relaxed. There were a few solo diners which I think is a tell tale sign of amazing food and a welcoming vibe. I had the bruschetta with Parma ham to start which was so gorgeous, the taste of high quality olive oil was delicious. For mains I had the aurora ravioli. It was absolutely delicious, so creamy and perfectly seasoned. Pre warning the portions are absolutely massive - they have takeaway boxes so I’ll be having the leftover pasta for lunch today 🤣. I saw a table of 3 sharing 2 pasta dishes which is probably a wise choice if you want space for dessert. The restaurant is on the slightly more expensive side (£18-£30 for a main, and they also do specials going up to ~£60) but absolutely worth it for the quality and portion size. The service was excellent. I’d definitely visit again!”

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• G

  Google user

  ·10 months ago

  “Real Italian in Wapping. It’s been around for years, at a different location close by before. A lot of the team are still the same from 10 years ago. The food is excellent, fair price, generous portions and top quality. Pasta is homemade and amazing, good pizzas and other Italian classics. The steaks are well worth a try, as well as the various specials they have on from time to time. Nice selection of Italian wines, perfect to accompany the authentic Italian dishes. Booking required especially during busy periods (weekend/christmas), suitable for a couple or bigger groups. Always well looked after here and have been many times.”

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• G

  Google user

  ·1 year ago

  “It's a nice place, food was good and portions generous. I had the burata pesto and prosciutto melon for starters, both were good, and we had the crab ravioli and rib-eye with pepper sauce which was also very good, but not quite to the level of amazing hence the 4* rating. Note that there is a 10% service charge added to the bill, which is alright. I hope the staff get it.”

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• G

  Google user

  ·1 year ago

  “I had an amazing experience! The atmosphere was warm and inviting, and the service was outstanding. The food truly captures the authentic taste of Italy—rich, flavorful, and made with care. I highly recommend trying more than one dish to fully enjoy the variety and quality they offer. A must-visit for Italian food lovers!”

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• G

  Google user

  ·1 year ago

  “If I could give a higher rating for this restaurant I would. Myself and a friend turned up without a reservation, which on a Saturday looked very busy, however they found room for us. We ordered drinks and also allowed our phones to be charged after being in London all day. We ordered muscles to begin with which were absolutely perfect. For our main, we had a full Lobster Linguine and Seafood Linguine and I was so impressed. Normally, I would have seasoning on my dinners when I go out to other restaurants or tweek it to my liking, but I left every dish as they were. We then asked, for desert which wasn't in the menu for a Affogato. I literally couldn't fault anything. The food was amazing and the service was more than I have been given in other restaurants, even when travelling around Europe. For our appetisers, main and deserts, the bill came to £175 with the service charge which for everything, was very good. Isn't very often I favourite a place on my Google maps, but Il Bordello has definitely made it onto my list.”

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