Lievito Madre Pizzeria

Review updated on 8 Oct 25 following the reply from the restaurant: ——————— Original review: Terrible service (after being seated we were then told that the table was booked and we were moved to another area. After multiple ordering of drinks, they never arrived. Waiter watching something on the phone behind the server area. After asking to take the service charge off, the waiter became rude and irritated and unprofessional). Pizza fine, pasta dreadful. Would not recommend. ——————— Restaurant’s reply: "Thank you for your feedback. We're sorry to hear about your experience. To provide some context, on what was an exceptionally busy evening for Clapham Pride, your party seated themselves without a reservation at a table that was reserved for other guests. We were fully booked in that section but we explained the situation and immediately offered you an alternative table outside on our lovely terrace. Our team then did their best to accommodate a specific order for an item not on our menu, which required the waiter to step away to find the recipe on the order tablet. We are disappointed that despite this and your plates being left clean, you felt it necessary to remove the service charge, which is allocated directly to our hardworking staff who were operating under significant pressure. We stand by our team's professionalism in handling a challenging situation and in all honesty, we would prefer if you do not return to dine with us as we are clearly not the restaurant for you." ——————— Additional comment on 8 Oct 2025 following the reply from the restaurant: Thank you for your reply. While I appreciate the additional context, I found your message surprisingly defensive and, unfortunately, inaccurate in parts. It’s disappointing to see the response focus on deflection rather than reflection. To clarify, we were shown to the table by a member of staff — we did not seat ourselves. Only after being seated were we told that the table was reserved and asked to move. That confusion alone highlights the very issue I raised: poor coordination and planning. Your response actually confirms the root cause of the problem — it was a busy day (Clapham Pride) and the restaurant clearly didn’t plan or manage operations to meet the higher demand. That lack of preparation inevitably puts additional pressure on the team, which leads to corners being cut and mistakes made. The front-line staff are rarely the problem in these cases; it’s a management issue, and that’s where the learning opportunity lies. Not paying the service charge wasn’t a matter of disrespecting your team — it was simply a reflection of a negative overall experience. I’d have much preferred to leave feeling well-served and happy to pay it. Hospitality is about how challenges are handled as much as it is about food. A thoughtful acknowledgment that things could have been managed better would have gone a long way. Instead, the tone of your reply — particularly the suggestion that we should not return — sadly reinforces the impression that constructive feedback isn’t especially welcome at your restaurant.

This place is incredible! I ordered the lobster and crab ravioli and it was 10/10 - one of the nicest pastas I have ever had. Amazing atmosphere with super friendly staff. Well worth a visit.

Visited Lievito Madre Pizzeria last Wednesday and it felt like stumbling across a real hidden gem. My friend and I loved every moment. I enquired about a dish that was no longer on the menu – the Porcini Truffle Tagliatelle – and without hesitation they offered to make it for us. Such a thoughtful touch and it really made the evening. We started with the burrata and Parma ham, both fresh, simple and delicious. The pasta that followed was packed with flavour and exactly what we were hoping for. The real highlight, though, was our waitress. She was warm, welcoming and incredibly accommodating throughout our meal. She even introduced us to the Eat Club app and saved us 40% off the bill. I wish we got her name, because she was a real credit to the restaurant. We left with full stomachs and big smiles. This place is now firmly our go-to spot whenever we’re in Clapham.

Had the best girls night dinner here, food was amazing, and drinks too, great value for money! Sam our waiter was super attentive and lovely. Definitely recommend, we’ll be back soon!

The food was good and the atmosphere was nice. The service could do with some improvement though. We had a reservation for four. The mains took quite a while to arrive. When we asked, we were told the kitchen was waiting for us to finish our starters but we’d stopped eating them some time ago. No one was also around or had checked in or offered water during that time. Our fourth guest arrived a bit later. She was given a menu, but no one came back to take her order or even bring a plate. I had to find a server for the plate and to take her order. Ultimately she just ordered a can of coke which I still had to chase up. The restaurant was only about half full at 6pm, so the lack of attention didn’t feel justified. The food was delicious but the service made the evening feel disorganised and frustrating.

We celebrated our anniversary last week and were lucky to have Dua as our waitress. She was incredibly attentive from the moment we sat down always checking in at the right time without ever feeling intrusive. The service was amazing, and she made sure everything was perfect for us.

Food was amazing. We shared the buschetta, crab & lobster ravioli, caperse salad, the spicy sausage pizza and tiramisu - they were all amazing. Service was 10/10 - so lovely and funny. Great ambiance. Great wine selection.

I think i’ve officially found my local go to for Italian. The staff were so nice, the food was absolutely amazing, affordable and the vibe seemed very authentic.