Cugini’s Italiano in Waltham Forest

Great food and service i loved it

Fantastic food and homely atmosphere. Good for family dinner or a date.

Was recommended Cugini’s by a very good friend so gave it a go last Saturday evening. Very sorry to report that our experience was one of the worst experiences in a restaurant for a very long time. On entering the restaurant I was kept waiting , standing in the middle of the restaurant , for at least ten minutes before I was seated ! Had to ask for the table to be cleaned. The reason given as to why it hadn’t been cleaned was that “ We have been busy “ ! After waiting at least fifteen minutes for the menus and a drink ( Tried to book a table at Nino’s in South Woodford at this point but unfortunately they were fully booked ) a bottle of Morretti had been poured into a pint glass which was half beer and half froth ! When I mentioned this to , I believe , the owner he said with amusement “ Yeah , he doesn’t know how to pour a drink properly “ ! Unbelievable ! The service at Cugini’s was , in my humble opinion , both poor and amateurish. Would not go back there.

Food was lovely and service was very attentive. Authentic Italian good and the vibe of the restaurant was really nice especially the garden out back

was later than originally expected but also was within a reasonable time for a Friday night. all good but couldn't give it 5/5

Omg just loved everything about this place 🥰 food 10/10, relaxing atmosphere 10/10 ❤️✨ 100% recommendations 👍🏻 Come to this place and make unforgettable memories xx

Lovely Italian restaurant,cosy and good vibe.Food is well presented and good choices plus quality is very good. highly recommend Being a few times now.

Most frendliest resturant in chingford and the best food

Food is good. Service is even better.

Love Cugini’s our fav restaurant in Chingford staff are lovely and food is excellent been so may times and going back again in 3 weeks for my daughters birthday (Ava) she has volunteered to be their dish washer!

We have being going there for few years now with my family. and friends. Authentic Italian food here in E4 London. With gluten free pizza and pasta if you let them know when booking.

Great food and portion sizes, good prize and family run atmosphere.

Cugini’s hosted for me and my family. ( group of 30 people). We couldn’t fault their service. They are welcoming, friendly and provide a lovely space. The food was tasty, service was on the ball and the staff are great Would highly recommend Thank you for having us !

Cugini is hands down the best Italian restaurant I have been to anywhere! Either Up town or out in the sticks. The food is great. I have never had a single thing on the menu disappoint. The owner ‘Tony’ is as brilliant as the food and always makes you feel welcome. He treats his patrons like he is making a meal for his family members. He creates a fantastic and fun atmosphere, always giving his time to talk, connect and laugh with you when he is able. The guy really has a passion for the place which elevates the whole experience . In addition I have a few intolerances such as lactose and dairy, Tony has several meals on the menu that will cater to these things. If he can, he will even make your dish with lactose or dairy free alternatives if he can. So you can have what you want. I went there yesterday for my birthday celebration and Tony made sure it was a good time. Great food, best service and amazing atmosphere. Add all these ingredients together and you have the recipe for a 5 star dinning experience!

The food is mediocre and the service is awful I waiting and hour for a simple pizza order and when I complained the owner of the restaurant came outside of the restaurant to verbally raise his voice at me and threaten me whilst I held my 1year old in my arms. It is no wonder the food is terrible if the owner himself has no respect for women or children. If I could score this business a 0 I would!!! Disgusting

Alway have a great meal here and Tony is so lovely and helpful.

Great quality food and service, with a friendly and attentive welcome. The management and staff work hard at making this a friendly and welcoming place to visit. Well worth a visit

Well what can I say didn't know what to get for dinner and come across this restaurant great choice was lovely and lots of it as well would definitely recommend

Great food and great service- thoroughly enjoyable evening !

Relaxed, unhurried, excellent food, excellent value.

Great place to eat. Lots to chose from. Good value for money. Staff very friendly and accommodating. Very busy so you need to book.

This was our first experience of Cuiginis and it was FANTASTIC! Tony is a standout act and restauranteur. He made us feel so welcome for our brother's birthday. Nothing was too much trouble. The food was excellent. Reasonably priced and any request (i.e. fried eggs on a pizza) or helping our elderly aunt eat risotto just to make it a little more soft (and he checked in to make sure this was okay). She keeps telling us she wants to go back just to eat that Risotto! Service, Food and Atmosphere was top notch and definitely is now our go to for Italian in the area. Thanks again Tony and team!

Great food.excellent service, quick and extremely friendly

A fantastic evening. Felt well looked after considering the large group of us. Food was spot on and portioned generously.

I had sebass with mussels and prawns was delicious

First time ordering and sadly it will be the last, very disappointed with the food on a whole, the quality did not meet expectations. Specifically, some dishes were served cold, portions were smaller than anticipated, and the dessert appeared to be frozen, affecting its taste and texture.

Great food excellent service and wonderful atmosphere 👌

A family gathering enhanced by a wonderful and friendly service. Excellent food and courses came out together, no mean feat as there were 11bof us including 3 lively little ones.

Our recent visit was incredible, food amazing so too was the atmosphere all right on our doorstep. Best in Chingford probably in London

Great food and the best service…. Steaks cooked well and large, generous portions of food. The tiramisu is a delight. Recommended for lunch as not too packed but book for dinner.

My opinion, based on one visit (31 October 2023): Portion sizes: 10/10 -slightly bigger than expecting, so that's a good thing! Service: 10/10 -including speed to take order and then deliver to table. Quality of food: 10/10 -no complaints at all. Very high standards. Value for money: 7/10 -POSITIVES: You get what you pay for - high quality food, served with efficiency and politeness. Good atmosphere. Friendly service. -NEGATIVES: Drinks are expensive (£3.50 for a regular can of Coke is just bad) and the starters are a bit pricey. Parking can be difficult. The bill: I spent £103 (which I rounded up to £110 with tip) and this was for 2 adults/1 child (though 4 mains were ordered). Overall score: 8.5/10 Recommended (based on 1 visit).

Food was absolutely perfect and everything i would expect........ host was polite and helpful i will definitely be returning in the near future

Very friendly and welcoming environment- nice and chilled ambience. Val the front of house lady did an excellent job of catering for all the needs of our party of 10. Highly recommended. Thank you!

Food is lovely....but have crammed too many tables...can t hear yourself think!

I love this place always good vibes and lovely food and staff are lovely

Booked this restaurant for my daughter’s christening. Great customer service from start to end. Food was great, the waitress who served my group of 20 by herself was amazing (didn’t get her name) overall very accommodating and nothing was too much trouble even my last minute menu changes!

It’s disappointing that I have to leave this review to be honest but it was so bad I had to leave and walk down to Nastrano’s to finish my evening. The restaurant including the outside was around 50-60% full, we sat outside, ordered a couple of glasses of wine which took around 15min to arrive. The wine wasn’t great but was acceptable. It then took us another 30min just to get the waitresses attention which was a snappy conversation and we were told to wait another 2min…30min pass by again and I eventually go to the front desk and tell them we want to order. We finally ordered starters, meatballs and king prawns, fast forward another 30min after just over an hour at this place the food arrives. 1 meatball for £9, I was sure there was a mistake, spoke to the waitress and was told it’s a typo, not “meatballs” but “meatball”. Now at this point it’s past 8pm, starving and they haven’t put the lights on outside so everyone was eating in the dark. I went in and told them to put the lights on at which point a table with older people then thanked me gratefully. I spoke to the waitress which was a waste of time as there was no compassion or sympathy for the poor food and service. So In the end we decided to leave after the starters and walked down to Nastrano at almost 9pm, they served us and we left by 9:30pm. I am hoping this was a one off as I hate to bring local businesses down, but I hope the owner gets to see this and either sorts the prices or gets more staff and pays attention.

Good pizza, quiet garden space, not too expensive.

Such a lovely, cosy place with very friendly, cheerful and attentive staff. Even though, I and my partner had a bad start of the evening, Tony and lovely Italian waitress made our evening memorable and wonderful. We ordered Tagliatelle, Vegetarian pizza and more pasta which was a “ HEAVEN IN A MOUTH”. House red wine was rich & tasty and Tiramisu was Super delicious. 😊😋😋 We were sat by the front door on a breezy Saturday evening, but Tony made sure we kept warm so he kindly brought us glasses of Amaretto. What a lovely surprise.!! 😁🥰 Thank you very much, indeed. We will definitely be coming back, and I have already recommended this little gem in Chingford to my family & friends.

Lovely dinner a few weeks ago with my boyfriend, friendly staff when booking over the phone, nice familial atmosphere - luckily we were able to sit outside and enjoy the warm evening. Great food, didn't have to wait long despite it being a busy Friday night.

Going on Sat 22nd July for 18:00 can give full SitRep then ...:-))))):-))))) ♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎

Excellent service all the way , food quality is 10/10 desserts & drinks also excellent will recommend to family and friends 🤲

Good food. Nice wines (love the house red). Good friendly service. Always enjoy the back ground music. Reasonably priced. What more do you want. Recommended.

Had my daughters 15th birthday with family Lovely staff and even better food Thank you

So pleased we found this gem in Chingford. Easily accessible with pram with lovely garden to the back. Staff very attentive. Good choice of food. Will also do halal and plenty of alcohol free options. Would recommend.

Very friendly staff, good food, will come back again.

The best Italian restaurant in Chingford! We try and visit once a week - the food is absolutely amazing. The quality of the food is 10/10. Tony is an amazing host, and we always have a good chat with him when we visit. He always has a smile on his face and will go above and beyond to ensure you have a great experience at his restaurant. All staff we have encountered are just as friendly and always happy to see you. The restaurant also has outdoor seating for the warmer months. After talking about Cugini's, I think I know what is for dinner tonight!

Organised a 90th Birthday party with 20 guests. The meals were absolutely wonderful and all on time. Very attentive staff. Could not be more happy . All guests have since contacted me and said how much they enjoyed the food and warm friendly atmosphere.

Ive had quite a few takeaways from here, pizza and pasta, food always great and delivery is quick and hot! Highly recommend 👌

Mega friendly restaurant great food, great price and great host

Very nice experience, we went for a quiet birthday with 2 young kids in tow, and the staff were very accommodating. The food was also very nice.

Got take away from here on our last night in London before returning to the US. Very friendly owner who was very helpful and accommodating. The food was very good and the space very welcoming. Good experience overall.

We've eaten at a number of Italalian restaurants, and we are of the opinion that Cuginis are by far a cut above the rest. FOOD is authentic absolute quality and so tasty. (Chef - you definitely know your craft). Portion sizes are good, so you can treat yourself to one of their tantalising desserts. The VENUE is clean and comfortable. Lovely ambience. The customer SERVICE was great thanks to our knowledgeable, attentive, and bubbly waiter, Tony. Just to add, we are a family of four and attended mid-week. We'll definitely be back soon. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Superb food and staff. freshly cooked and could of done any more for anyone A*******

Reliably excellent food. Also friendly, relaxed, great for kids. Family favourite

We have visited this lovely restaurant on several occasions. Tonight we celebrated my dad’s 91st birthday here. The food is always amazing! Tony is the perfect host. My dad is a life long vegetarian and my daughter is on a gluten free diet but that is never a problem here. The service and warm, welcoming atmosphere of this restaurant keeps us coming back. Tony also has a fabulous taste in music! There is a lovely outside dining area to the rear of the restaurant which is so lovely in the summer. Thoroughly recommend eating here 😊

This place is a culinary delight! Having been here on several occasions it was the perfect venue to host my best friend’s 60th birthday. You know that looked after and cared about feeling? Add the most divine food, attention to detail and a friendly, home from home atmosphere that’s the recipe for a really special night. Can’t thank you enough.

Sunday 29th January was my visit for my mums birthday. The food was fantastic and the service matched it. Will be returning soon

We came from Malaga, Spain. All the food is quality and homemade. The service is very friendly and cares that everything is fine. Everything exceptional

First visit and really liked it. Looking forward to the next visit

Quality food, well-honed actions by the staff. Good luck, success, smiling customers and more visitors.

Brilliant food. Amazing hospitality. Highly recommended. Lovely local small business

Wonderful Italian food, drink and wine with full-on Italian family hospitality and service. Seriously, quite brilliant. Will be going again soon. Thoroughly recommended to lovers of good food.

The best Italian restaurant in Chingford by far! Highly recommend it.

Very good food and service and decent prices .

I booked this restaurant based on the reviews and I was right to do so. Tony looked after us the whole evening, nothing was too much trouble for him. The service was perfect. The menu has a great selection and as all food is prepared fresh to order, you can add or minus ingredients if need be. Authentic good quality Italian food, great portions too. They offered us to taste the wine before ordering, which was a lovely touch. We set out to have a three course meal but was so full, we had to have dessert for take away. Overall if you are looking for a lovely cosy authentic italian experience, this is your place. Highly recommend and will be returning soon.

Thank you for make my Birthday brilliant!

Excelllent restaurant, even had vegan cheese and ice cream upon request. Toni is simply unique!

This is easily one of the best Italian Restaurants around not just for the food and its sensible pricing but also for the warm welcome and hospitality. The food is just purely marvelous and freshly cooked!

The best pizza I've eaten this year!

The meal was delicious and reasonably priced. I would definitely recommend this restaurant.

Amazing food. Honestly the best Italian restaurant I have tried. The owner Tony is very welcoming so would highly recommend !

Nice little Italian restaurant. We will return as the food was great.

Good food good wine Friendly service I would eat here again

Very nice place lovely food. Staff very good.

Delicious food, efficiently and professionally served by friendly wait staff. Nice ambience.

The best place to eat in Chingford and my favourite Italian in London. Wonderful hospitality in a relaxed setting, offering an eclectic and very reasonably priced menu. Really appreciate the fact they make their own gluten-free pizzas and pasta on site. Dog friendly. Try their delicious panna cotta 😋

Food very good (although not quite as good as the last time I ate here last year) and staff very helpful and friendly. Quite pricey for Chingford though.

We asked Tony if we could hold a private function here after a baptism. He was so accommodating and nothing was too much trouble, we arrived early to set up decorations and he allowed us a bouncy castle outside for the children. The food was amazing, Tony and his staff were attentive, friendly and polite. Cugini's was the perfect venue for our party and would happy recommended and use them again.

Starter of Whitebait was very tasty however lobster ravioli was extremely hot and I felt it was microwaved as it was overly rubbery and lacked core flavour. The tirimasu was dry and chalky had no moisture or coffee flavour and heavy on coca topping.

The service that we received was very good, the food tastes amazing. If you like good pizza and pasta I would highly recommend this restaurant. Thanks guys, keep up the good work 👍 Tony (Unique Locksmiths)

Great food . Reasonably priced & great staff

The most delicious and beautifully baked Italian pizza you would ever eat in London and Chingford area. Beautiful, warm restaurant run by decent cheerful kind and welcoming people where the food is consistently excellent.

Lovely food, great atmosphere and a very friendly waitress.

Good takeaway pizza and pasta, friendly staff. Keep meaning to go in for a sit down meal.

Lovely food and location. Ciao Bella

Nice family restaurant. Nice staff, good service....

Come on, Chingford! - a place of this quality and good value deserves to be packed on a Friday night.

Loved it. Food was amazing. The hospitality of the owners was second to none. Thank you for an amazing evening with the girls...

Local Italian restaurant with a lovely atmospheric experience. The owner of the restaurant was on site when I visited and you immediately feel welcome as you entered the restaurant. Good selection of Pasta, Pizza and Wine. Reasonably priced, highly recommended.

Food was absolutely gorgeous. The staff were very welcoming and accommodating. Would recommend to anyone.

We thoroughly enjoyed out dinner here. The service was great, everything was so tasty, the food was fresh, handmade pasta and ice cream was amazing, too! Will definitely come back and recommend to others.

Love it !All is fantastic, food atmosphere music and staff!

Wonderful food; Greek pizza, home made desserts - delicious. Hosts are wonderful. Will be back very soon...

We ordered cold cuts for starters tjey look looked they cam out of a variety pack from sainsburys no olive oil or basaltic vinegar with the bread wasn't offered pepper or palmsan and asked for a second drink which was warm and offered no ice The pizza had so much cheese it over whelmed the pizza and couldn't finish it didn't have any mozzarella cheese but tried to convince me it had

This place is lovely. The food is fantastic and the owner Tony is a great host. He has a lovely charm and makes our every visit a totally enjoyable one. Me, my wife and 2 year old son are regular customers. The menu is simple and has plenty of variation in dishes to suit all diners but above all, is SOOOOOO tasty. They have the option of inside or al-fresco dining which is just brilliant. The wonderful secluded outdoor area out back is covered over and heated for those somewhat mildly chilly days. To say this place is my favourite place in chingford to eat, would simply be an understatement. Please try this place and love it like we do.

Is a little lovely 😍 restaurant with a nice and quiet music that warms your heart. I'm not disappointed that I choose it in one of my favourite list a year ago.

Nice laid back place with good food and terrific hosts and staff

Prawns were cooked well. White wine sauce was a bit too salty for my tastes. From what I could tell we all enjoyed our dishes. Portions were good and definitely thought it was good value for money.. The smokers whilst they were moved was bothersome for us.. I personally would not allow smoking anywhere where people are trying to enjoy food, drink and conversation. Can't stand it. Nice place and friendly staff good service. Would come back again if in the area.

I had the steak florentine, absolutely delicious, good service too, definitely recommend.