Riccardo's Italian Restaurant Chelsea

Lovely place with a cute outdoor space where it can be covered. Food is good and authentic and the wait staff is super friendly. Margarita is amazing so does the wine we got. But you must try their tiramisu!

We stumbled upon Riccardo’s on a Sunday afternoon, and it was the best decision we made all day! Very authentic, lovely atmosphere, friendly staff. Highly recommend especially for anyone who is looking for a piece of Italy here in London.

An excellent local Italian restaurant in Chelsea/Fulham, maintaining its high standards for over 30 years. The friendly, attentive staff and buzzing atmosphere add to the experience. Generous portions and top-quality food—keep up the great work!

Where do I begin? Absolutely terrible. Do not go, the pizza express down the road is a much better way to spend your time. Myself and my girlfriend have walked past this restaurant a fair bit and finally gave it a try (very regrettably might I add), from the dull atmosphere to the terrible staff, this was one of the worst dining experiences I’ve had in London. We were interested when we saw they had tapas options of their main meals, so we wanted to try a few dishes between us. Of course we know tapas is smaller, but these portions were something. I want to add that the staff should’ve advised us how many to order, what’s good etc. we went for 5 options, which we thought would be fine, as this is pretty standard for most tapas options (2-3 per person). We ended up going for: Bruschetta- £5 for one tiny slice (I forgot to take a photo as we were laughing too much as it set the tone of what was about to come). The taste was average but I couldn’t get over how small it was, similar size to a Nokia phone. Chicken Meatball in sauce- £8- notice how I said meatball instead of meatballs. £8 for this? We were honestly trying to hold in our laughter when it arrived as we had joked about it before and couldn’t possible imagine it turning up like that. Taste was- 3/10 with what was definitely a jar of sauce. Presentation well, look…ONE MEATBALL?! For two people? Just let us know it’s only one, I wouldn’t have ordered it. Sautéed Potatos- £5- yes it’s cheap, but my god look at them, they look straight out of a freezer bag. Overcooked, disgusting and presentation…well the photo speaks for itself. Pizza- £10- we asked for the sourdough option, did not get it- the base was cold and tasted odd, as if it was a wholegrain wrap with tomato purée and cheese on top. Absolutely gross. Pasta- £10- This was the only dish worth having, nice pasta, decent tapas portion. I quite liked it. Although to the staff, I would ask if someone wants Parmesan (I did thankfully) before leathering it all over the top. Staff- 0/10- Wow where do I begin again, they seemed confused about their own menu? Got our order wrong. Never checked in to see if everything was okay with the food, even when you could see we were noticeably shocked when some of the food came. Started to clear our plates as we were half way through some of it, when we said we weren’t done, 2 members of staff looked as us as if we were speaking another language, we let them take the plates in the end as to be honest, we did not want the food anyway. Then had the cheek to ask for service charge at the end, which I paid as I just wanted to get out of that place as quick as I could. I appreciate people can be new to waitering, but multiple staff, on a quiet Monday night being this poor, was shocking and there was no noticeable manager there, if there had been I would’ve asked to speak with them. To top it off, we both had horrible stomach aches about 30 minutes after eating, a comment I have seen a few times in the reviews. Will never be returning, and I would advise any other people who see it online or have walked past and thought shall we give it a try, please don’t bother.

Always wanted to eat there and finally made it last night. We went in as walked in and there was availability. Customer service is excellent, Alexandro looked after is really well. The food was really tasty. Only negative thing i have to say is there was way too much oil in both the pasta dish we ordered and that’s a turn off. We will def go again for other dish as they looked really good.

We went as a walk-in for dinner, and things started off well. We were immediately greeted and seated. The server took our drink orders and then gave us time to look over the menu. When we were ready to order, she was nowhere to be found. We had to flag down another server. We had the halibut and the lamb dinners. The lamb was not cooked to the right temperature, but I ate it instead of sending it back. It was not seasoned well. The other person in my party enjoyed their halibut. Now, the chocolate almond cake was amazing. It was so delicious, I wanted to lick the plate clean. It was a bit pricy but we enjoyed it overall.

I always feel at home at Riccardo’s. Healthy, delicious, classic Italian dishes to mix and match and share, all served with heart. Plenty of gluten free options too. Warm and lively atmosphere and staff who’ve worked there forever make this somewhere I’ll always keep returning too.

The best restaurant in Chelsea. Delicious food, top quality cooking and ingredients and w is edit family vibe and excellent people watching. We have been coming for almost 20 years! Jane Simons

Service was really great and the food was fantastic. It was in a super cute area of Chelsea as well. Would recommend.

This Italian place was absolutely amazing and it was my second Italian restaurant during my trip and I know this is the one I will definitely be returning to (the other Italian place was also great, but the quality of food here was on another level). Came as a last dinner before we head out back to America the next day and am so glad this place was chosen. We sat in the patio area and even though it was in January, it was warm enough for me to enjoy my food in comfort (each seat on the patio also had its own blanket for the legs (forgot what the fancy term for those are called) in case you get cold). If need be, the patio also has outside heaters you could request to be turned on. The table service was amazing and the menu was simple enough for me to understand and gave lots of size options (you can have the tapas version or the full entree version). NOTE TO VEGANS: They also have a vegan menu! In the end, I chose the insalata di spinaci (Raw spinach salad with prosciutto, avocado and parmesan) as my appetizer and the pappardelle con ragu di cervo (Home-made fresh pasta with stewed venison ragout) as my entree. The spinach salad was a little surprising since I am so used to the salad sort of being chopped and mixed for me, but hey, I can mix my own salad, and it shows how fresh the ingredients are -- they weren't even chopped which shows they were definitely at their rawest form which is a good thing. I poured enough balsamic vinaigrette to add a touch of flavor and the flavors were great--the spinach, avocado, prosciutto, and parmesan all with a hint of balsamic vinaigrette. And my first bite of the pappardelle con di cervo, I swear, I was about to cry, it was so amazing. So amazing, in fact, that I kept eating and totally forgot to take a pic of this masterpiece until after my fourth bite! It made me forget about Yelp reviews, so that I was solely there just for the food. Not many dishes have that effect! Will definitely be back when I'm in London and will be sure to try another dish; I'm positive no dish on their menu will disappoint.

This was the best Italian we experienced in London. Add in the cozy atmosphere and the excellent service and you can understand why the restaurant quickly filled with locals. The lighting is low and there is a relaxed feeling. Come with the plan to eat like an Italian, relax and linger over your food. We passed around pasta so everyone could try each others. Not a mediocre one in the bunch. I had the prawn risotto. It was so creamy, just perfect and all the right flavors. We also had linguine with clams and pasta with sausage and marinara. The sauces were not heavy, all of the seafood was cooked well. The portions were a reasonable size, some other reviewers felt they were small. I was full, but not stuffed with no left overs.

I dined two tables over from Princess Kate Middleton! The restaurant had loads of accomplished and interesting people and it's no surprise because the menu has so many truly healthy options I could eat here every day and maintain a fit and healthy body. The owner, Riccardo, who is himself quite fit, introduced himself calmly and warmly making it evident this place was a family room for people who want exquisitely tasty food served at the very highest level of skill with ingredients that will keep them fashionable and energetic for a long life. I felt taking pictures of Kate would break the spell of royals and luminaries casually mixed in with those of us who have not yet made our mark in such a known way, but after completing my meal I googled "Kate Middleton Riccardo's" and saw a pile of paparazzi photos from earlier visits- apparently she is a regular and usually orders the tuna- which I happened to have that night and is healthy, delicious, and beautiful on the plate too.

Our favourite restaurant in London. Great food and drinks. Amazing in the summer with the open patio.

I had spaghetti with meat balls. The spaghetti wasn't anything to write about; the meatballs were very good. Wine choices adequate, dessert very good. If not for the poor service I could have given this place 4 star rating. There are other Italian restaurants in Chelsea I would try before coming back here.

Quick service, food is nice and testy. Wifi is not working. Billing is quick and tips included.

Loved this place! Everything tasted home made, with only the freshest ingredients. We were lucky to get a seat, as it was packed for a Sunday night (which is also a popular night for birthdays apparently), and now I understand why. Riccardo's doesn't have a set "starters, mains, and desserts" on their menu, as their goal is for you to eat whatever you want, whenever you want. Some dishes are smaller than others, and there are some that are obviously sides, but for the most part the idea works. You'll also find some specials every day, and yesterday's was a freshly made (and gluten free?!) pasta with lobster - they didn't skimp on the lobster either! Add to that some bruschetta to start and chocolate mousse for dessert, and it was a lovely meal and not terribly expensive. Definitely a good place for a date if you're looking to impress someone!

small portions. excellent food. wheat + gluten-free options too! recommended: chicken breast

This place is known for fabulous plates of pasta. They have a terrace in the front, but it's all closed in and warm enough for the winter. It's cozy and romantic, and also great for hilarious Chelsea people-watching. You'll enjoy their down-home appetizers, plates, of pasta, and little fuss. Gluten-free notes: Yes, this place lists gluten-free menu items on their menu and web site. When I was there, they had multiple (yes, multiple) different types of gluten-free and wheat-free pasta. You will eat well.

This was a great experience, this restaurant has great table service. The ambiance of this restaurant is best around 7-8pm where they have a nice candlit table area with small wall heaters (and plug sockets with USB ports) of the restaurant overlooking Fulham Road adds to the atmosphere of this beautiful restaurant. This was a surprise for my wife for our one month wedding anniversary and she loved it. The Vegan menu brought us here and the food is wonderfully delicious and crafted with compassion (although they gave me my starter with cottage cheese accidentally, they noticed before I'd noticed or touched it). This restaurant creates memories and very much gave us memories of Italian food from Antonio's Vegan Italian Kitchen which we'll miss very much.

I had the trofie con scampi, and it was AMAZING. It was so delicious. What was also delicious was their negroni! Fantastic. The staff was super friendly and incredibly attentive.

Oh yes. Ohhhhh yessss. Oooooooohhhhhhhhhhh yyyyyyyyyyyessssssssssss, my friend. This place is SO GOOD. Have eaten here several times over the years on dates, in groups and alone. Riccardo's has not failed me, even once!! The ambiance is perfect. It's big open room with low lighting, which has that indoor/outdoor vibe and a tiny bar in the back of the restaurant. There is always a pretty, Italian hostess to greet you which lets you know that you'll be getting a bit of Italy at this place as, we all know, all of the better italian restaurants hire italians. Bam! The waitstaff is charming and prompt, but not so prompt as to make you think you are going to be "in and out." This place lends a vibe that is lively but also welcomes a bit of lingering....no big rushes here. The lighting is warm and low and the decor is rich and yet also not busy. The menu: Spelt pastas are FABULOUS. Always al dente so you don't even have to ask. The gnocchi is SO GOOD. Get the tomato sauce OR the pesto. SUPER FRESH. Fish has always been tender and spot on, never over salted or oily. IF you get desert: Go for the mousse; if you do, i am almost certain you will be sending me a personal thank-you email b/c it is SO chocolatey and velvety yet NOT super sweet. It's a tough combination to pull off, but they do it. Fresh mint on the side, mind you. There's only one word for it and that word is YUM. Have met the owner, Riccardo and he is, of course, a wonderful and charming Italian with a love of his culture. If he is there, request to meet him and you'll be proud to patronize his fine establishment.

"Great dinner with fun servers in a fun Tuscan atmosphere" What a nice time at this place last night with a few of my friends. Had an amazing time at this place and for me it has become a landmark here in Chelsea after 20 years. The food is so Delicious and authentically cooked it's just like being in Italy. We loved the ravioli, the organic sausages and the sea bream was perfect. The wine list well stocked some great Italian wines. The staff always treat me like family ... I forgot to make a reservation and they went out of their way to accommodate me, even offering me a glass of wine on the house while I was waiting. Thank god they got me a table on the heated covered terrace before my guests arrived! The bill was honest. Compliments... Visited January 2016

I was not very satisfied with the quality of the food here. I ordered a simple dish of spaghetti with garlic, olive oil and sun dried tomatoes because after reading the menu I could tell that it was not run by italians. Unfortunately I had to send this dish back to the kitchen because it was so extremely salty. The service person quickly noticed that I wasn't happy and I could choose a new dish. This time I chose spaghetti with tomato sauce. It took somewhat more time than needed, so that my daughter was almost finished with her meal before I even started and she's a slow eater! The strong smell of the salmon dish from the neighboring table bothered me, which is a sign for me that it' not so fresh. Service was quick and friendly but the food I'm sure is better elsewhere.

Server Pets Dogs and Doesn't Wash Her Hands My boyfriend and I went here for dinner tonight. We were seated on the enclosed patio, which was hot and stuffy to begin with, but to make matters worse, the girl who was serving us seated a couple with a big dog right behind me, thoroughly rubbed down the dog, and then continued to serve food without washing her hands. We felt so grossed out. The food was very mediocre. I got clam linguine, which had very few clams and was doused in bad olive oil, and my boyfriend got a prawn risotto that was very fishy. They served the salads at the same time as the entrees, so we had all of these huge plates stacked up on the little table. It cost 60£, which is one of the most expensive meals we've had in London. What a disappointment.

SUPERB food!!!! Great staff. Very attentive service. Well balanced menu with classic dishes such veal meatballs w pasta or baby clams in oil and garlic PLUS killer specials such grilled cod with grilled veg on a pesto base. SO GOOD!! Really nice outdoor seating if the weather is nice.

This was one of those little restaurant that don't look like much, but once you're inside you know how wrong you were. The food here was stupendous and the owner of the place Ricardo even came to ask us how our food was and gave us excellent recommendations. The service was excellent and the highlight was the amazing crepes for dessert. It's a place you would take a girl on a date to impress her. Such a great atmosphere and I can see myself coming here whenever I'm in London.

What a pleasant surprise. I thoroughly enjoyed the quality, simplicity and taste of food from starter to desert. Wonderful! The service was outstanding, in particular the help I received in having dairy free meal. And the wine list: well the chianti couldn't have been better!

This place has excellent reviews, and if you sign up their own mailing list you even get £10 off your meal, so I was pretty excited to try this spot. I didn't have a lot of time and just needed to fill up before a hard afternoon of activities. I ordered from the specials menu which seemed steep but I figured with the coupon, no worries. The dish of ravioli was beautifully presented and the tomato sauce was light and fresh. My problem was with the pasta which was minimal in amount, and undercooked - if I'd had more time I probably would have sent it back, but I was in a rush so just ate it quietly. I usually find a starter in most restaurants fills me up, but this entree didn't (I think there were 5 or 6 medium-large ravioli pieces). I was intrigued by how the dish had been described - as filled with pecorino, mint and potato - but didn't get any taste beyond that of the pasta flour and the tomato sauce. Sadly, I don't think I'd return here, at least not without a coupon, since this basic dish was £18 and really only starter-sized. I do acknowledge that in this area you might pay that much for an entree, but I do feel like it should fill a small-ish lady up!

I love this place. Best service I have had in London. They were great and so was the food. Highly recommended.

Nice restaurant, warm friendly welcoming hostess. However, the intense owner that flies through the restaurant to berate the staff was unprofessional and distracting. "Ricardo" berated the hostess in front of us for putting my fiancé and I at a table for 4 rather than 2 - although the restaurant was not at full capacity. Food & wine list was good. But much improvement needed on showing more positive feedback to hard working staff.

When we ate at this restaurant, I would give everything a 3/5. They quickly recognized that we were Americans and starting asking us if we were ready to order and then our food arrived stacked so closely together. The food in general was pretty good however I think the staff should recognize that not everyone wants to be treated in such a quick manor. Overall wine selection was really good! Also, it was pretty expensive. Too expensive for everything when it was said and done.

Absolutely delightful! The service was attentive without being snobby and the food was unbelievably delicious. The eggplant (aubergine) and cheese ravioli was to die for. And the pistachio gelato was as good as any we had in Florence. Very highly recommended!

Despite progress over the last decade, London lacks mid priced restaurants that offer quality, fresh food combined with a good atmosphere. Riccardos fills this massive void with Italian style. Portions are somewhere between a starter and a main course, so def order two plates. I have been here dozens of times and the risotto nero (squid ink) is one of my favourites. Usually have a good fish option as a special. Varied Italian wine list. Only negative is dated decor but that is minor. Hardly a secret so plan on booking ahead.