La Baita in Waltham Forest

What a superb restaurant this is, a pal of mine is driven from Hornchurch at a cost of £60 return to enjoy lunch with my wife and I at the best local Italian restaurant, the food is superb as is the staff and service and at a sensible price, well done Silvo, Orazio and a wonderful kitchen. 🍷 Barbara and John Bentley

La Baita is a welcoming Italian restaurant in North Chingford. Two of us invaded the establishment on a busy Friday night. We were greeted by Silvo and shown to our table. Then Orazio, with a wave from the head chef, also greeted us. Soon the chat and laughter began, and we were made to feel right at home. The decor remains unchanged: light-coloured walls with prints of Italian locations, and romantic lighting. The background music was lovely and at the right decibel level. The place was buzzing with other diners. Armed with a couple of Aperol Spritz we made our selection from a wide-ranging menu, especially when you include their specials' board. My sister went for the Avocado, Crab, and Prawns, followed by the Lamb Chops with trimmings; I went for the Prosciutto e Melone, followed by the Saltimbocca with trimmings. The food was well prepared and full of flavour. This culinary delight was complemented by a wonderful Primitivo: a full-bodied Italian red with a hint of sweetness. We then found room for desserts; there was no end to our gastronomic debauchery. We concluded this brilliant experience with a cappuccino, a black Americano, and a black Sambuca - plus, a complimentary one from our gracious host - grazie mille, Silvo. This place never fails to delight in cuisine excellence, service, and friendship. Thanks to all at La Baita for a lovely dining experience. Keep smiling. Ciao.

Another fabulous meal at our favourite restaurant in north Chingford. We had to take an early booking as it was fully booked on a Thursday night, which says something. I had veal in a mushroom and cream sauce, my other half had calves liver with onions and a sherry sauce which were both well cooked and really tasty. We both shared sautéed potatoes and zucchini. Olives to start. A couple of beers, large glass of house red, two double espressos. Great service and professional, friendly staff. Great ambience. All for £60 before tip. It’s a win win

1st Class Service, and staff but above all the menu, the food is superb and just gets better.

We went to try and eat here with friends the rudest man ever said i only take bookings over the phone he then proceeded to throw his shoulders in the air like he had the weight of the world on them . Safe to i would not be eatting here ever

Dated Interior, basic food, frozen veg, weird short waiter with mental health problems.. A small man with little man syndrome, no idea of the hospitality industry .. he could be a recently arrived immigrant. chefs look dirty, my advice go next door to Nostrama.

Just back from their holidays, La Baita opened their doors with a wondrous welcome. Monday started quiet but soon filled up. On entering, we were greeted warmly by Silvo and Orazio. It was good to hear that they had a great holiday and break. The decor remains unchanged: light-coloured walls and floor tiles, with prints of Italian locations on the walls, and romantic lighting, yet bright enough to read the menus. The menu is wide-ranging especially when you include their specials' board. Armed with a couple of Aperol Spritz and to the accompaniment of lovely background music, we made our selection. Two of us went for the Prosciutto e Melone, and one went for the prawns and avocado; the prosciutto was perfectly sliced with a dry texture and flavour, while the melon was a refreshing contrast. As for the prawns and avocado my sister wolfed it down in seconds. For our mains, two of us chose the swordfish; one with the lemon and butter-garlic sauce, and the other with a tomato-garlic sauce and capers: both were perfectly prepared in texture and flavour. My sister went for the lamb and loved every mouthful. The sides consisted of broccolli and sauteed potatoes. This culinary excellence was christened with a Primitivo: a full-bodied red from Italy, with a hint of sweetenes which complemented our meal perfectly. Two of us then found room for dessert: cherry tart drizzled with Amaretto; and an Amaretto Semifreddo. Delicious. We concluded this delightful debauchery with a lemon tea, cappuccino, black Americano, and black Sambucas. Plus, complimentary ones from our gracious host - grazie mille, Silvo. Yet again, it's not just the exemplary quisine and service, but the friendliness, chat, and laughter that makes La Baita a lovely haven in Chingford. Our compliments to the chefs for their artistry, and thanks to their head chef for the welcoming chat. We hope to see you all again soon. Until then, keep smiling and be happy. Ciao.

Great food, great service. Best restaurant in Chingford

Lovely staff food Lovely great size portion will definitely go again it was my aunts 90 th birthday lovely spending time with family and friends

This delightful eatery is located along Station Road in North Chingford. Three of us descended on this small but inviting restaurant. We were greeted with customary warmth by Orazio and Silvo, with a friendly wave from the head chef. We were shown to our table and the laughter and chat soon began. Armed with a couple of Aperol Spritz, and to the accompaniment of pleasant background music and polite chatter from other diners already there, we perused their extensive menu, especially when you include the specials' board. Two of us went for the melon and prosciutto, and one went for the king prawns: the texture and slicing of the prosciutto was perfect and the melon was sweet and juicy, a refreshing precursot to our mains; while the king prawns were perfectly prepared in flavour and taste. For our mains, we all went for the lobster linguine; it was sublime and filled with flavour. This culinary artistry was baptised with a lovely Prosecco Canti. We were truly debauched and went for dessert: Amaretto Alfredo; Profiteroles and ice cream; and, an apple pie drizzled with Amaretto - out of this world! We concluded this beautiful gluttony with a black Americano, lemon tea, and a cappuccino with two black Sambucas - plus complimentary ones from our delightful hosts, grazie mille, Silvo. This is dining at its very best: friendly chat and laughter, perfect service, and great food. Many thanks to all at La Baita for an uplifting dining experience. Until the next time, ciao and keep smiling.

Best restaurant in Chingford. Authentic Italian, with great food , great atmosphere and great service

Friendly staff and a good selection of traditional Italian favourites.

What a delight. Couldn't find fault with anything.👍

Excellent food and service, lovely atmosphere at lunchtime

Very nice Italian restaurant. Feels as if one is in good hands. I would like it if they used Free Range eggs. I do not know if they do.

This restaurant is so good, today was our third visit for lunch over two weeks, we just love this restaurant, the menu, the service, the ambience are all 100% and when your choice from the menu arrives it is superb, thank you all at La Baita see you soon, very soon. Barbara and John Bentley

Three of us invaded this lovely eatery in Chingford on a busy Saturday night, and we weren't disappointed. We were warmly greeted by Silvo and shown to our table. The decor remains unchanged: romantic lighting, light-coloured walls, and prints of Italian locations. Armed with two Aperol Spritz, we perused their wide-ranging menu, especially when you include their Specials' board. Accompanied by welcoming background music and the polite chatter and laughter from other diners already there, we made our selection. Soon, Orazio joined us, and the chat and laughter began with Silvo and Orazio. Our starters consisted of Avocado and Prawns for two; and Avocado, Prawns, and crab for one, off their specials' board. The freshness and flavour were outstanding. Our mains were as great, too. There was Lamb, fresh Tuna, both with sides; and one Linguine Marinara: all were presented and prepared to perfection. This was baptised with our traditional Primitivo: a full-bodied red from Italy with a hint of sweetness and an appetising aroma. We gluttons then found room for dessert: profiteroles and ice cream; afrogato, and an apple pie drizzled - off menu - with Amaretto. These were delicious. We concluded this culinary perfection with an Americano, lemon tea, a cappuccino, and two black Sambucas. Plus, complimentary ones from our gracious hosts - grazie mille, Silvo. It was truly a splendid dining experience. Our compliments to the chef for his artistry and friendliness, and a big 'thank you' to all at La Baita for the chat, laughter, and superb cuisine. We will be back soon. Until then, keep smiling, be safe, and happy. Ciao.

Lovely meal, friendly staff and nice ambience. Would definitely recommend for couples and families. A very good local Italian!

Old fashioned traditional Italian restaurant, very busy on a Thursday evening and everyone seemed like a regular. Fabulous menu, reasonably priced, excellent service, could not fault, will definitely be back. Thank you .

Three of us invaded this delightful eatery on a very wet Thursday night, and we weren't disappointed. The decor remains unchanged: romantic lighting, light-coloured walls with prints of Italian locations; it was very inviting. We were greeted by Silvo and shown to our table. The chat and pleasantries soon began with Silvo and Orazio, and we had a warm wave of welcome from their head chef and co-proprietor. Armed with a couple of Aperol Spritz and pleasant background music intermixed with the polite hum of laughter and chat from the other diners already there, we made our selection from a wide-ranging menu, especially when you include their specials' board. Our starters comprised of Avocado and Prawns, and two of us went for the Prosciutto e Melone: the avocado and prawns were tasty and devoured in seconds by my sister; while the prosciutto and melon were a tantalisingly refreshing precursor to our mains, with the ham a perfection in texture, taste, and beautifully sliced, whilst the melon was deliciously sweet. Our mains consisted of lamb and sides, and two of us chose the halibut in a butter and garlic sauce with sides; the halibut was perfectly prepared: moist, fresh, and had absorbed the flavours of the sauce. My sister drooled over her lamb which she confirmed was tender and flavourful. This culinary excellence was christened with a Primitivo: a full-bodied Italian red with a hint of sweetness and an appetising bouquet. We three gluttons then found room for dessert: two of us had the apple pie, while my sister waged a happy war on her profiteroles. We concluded this spectacular gastronomic debauchery with lemon tea, a Cappuccino, black Americano, and black Sambucas. Plus, complimentary ones from our gracious host - grazie mille, Silvo. Yet, it's not just the culinary perfection that raised the dining experience, it's the friendship, chat, and laughter that transforms the whole experience to a benchmark that will always be remembered. Our grateful thanks to the chefs for thier artistry in the 'hot room', and a huge 'thank you' to Silvo and Orazio for the laughter and chat. We'll be seeing you again soon. Till then, keep smiling and be happy. Ciao.

Really nice restaurant. Great food, wines, and friendly service. Highly recommend!

Lovely family run Italian restaurant, well established with typlical Italian menu as you’d expect plus daily specials. Prices are very reasonable. Service is fantastic

Amazing food and staff are amazing

Generally a good experience. Service polite, Nice white tablecloths. Dinner delicious. Friendly atmosphere. My only complaint is that the cistern in the women’s lavatory is extremely slow in filling up so one has to wait a long time before being able to flush the toilet I recommend that this situation be improved.

We visited La Baita this evening for a friend’s birthday. The staff were so friendly, the atmosphere was great, a real proper Italian restaurant with proper table cloths and napkins. The food was wonderful, and reasonably priced too! They brought out a dessert (delicious apple pie and custard) with a candle in it for the birthday boy and everyone sung ‘happy birthday’ which made his day! He was 86 today. Would not hesitate to recommend this fantastic Italian gem of a restaurant.

Lovely food, friendly staff Nice restaurant

We three gluttoneers invaded this delightful eatery on Saturday night, and it was sublime. The decor remains unchanged: romantic lighting, but bright enough to read the menu easily; light coloured walls with prints of Italian locations; a very inviting environment to indulge in gastronomic delights. We were greeted with warmth by Silvo and Orazio. Armed with a perfectly chilled Canti Prosecco, the polite hum of laughter and chat from diners already there, and the background music, we made our selection from a wide-ranging menu, especially when you include their specials' board. Two went for the Avocado and Prawns, and I went for the Prosciutto e Melone; all were prepared and presented perfectly. We then waged a happy war on our mains: Fillet Steak and sides; Saltimbocca and sides; and Scampi on a bed of rice. Again, the taste and flavour was sublime. The chilled Prosecco was a lovely complement to the meal. Being inveterate gannets, two found room for dessert. We then concluded this heavenly debauchery with a Cappuccino, coffee, tea, and Sambucas - plus, complimentary ones from our gracious host - grazie mille, Silvo. It was great and the chat and laughter was uplifting - as always. Our compliments to the chefs for their artistry and hard work in the 'hot room', and to all at La Baita. We will be seeing you soon. Till then, keep smiling and ciao.

We three glutoneers invaded this delightful eatery on Thursday, and we weren't disappointed. The decor is inviting with romantic lighting and prints of Italian locations on the walls. We were greeted and shown to our table by Silvo, and it was great catching up with him, Orazio, and the head chef again. Though small, the restaurant utilises the space wonderfully, and the tables are so arranged that you never feel encroached upon. The polite laughter and chat from diners already there created a wonderful atmosphere. Armed with Aperol Spritz for two of us, we perused the vast and varied menu, especially when you include their specials' board. We soon made our selection: two of us went for the Prosciutto e Melone, and one went for the Avocado and Prawns; the presentation and preparation was perfect: the melon was sweet, refreshing and a tantalising contrast to the smokiness of the Prosciutto, which was sliced perfectly with an exquisite texture - this was a refreshing precursor to our mains. For our mains, one went for the pizza with extra toppings of black olives and pepperoni, and two of us devoured the swordfish in a salivating tomato-garlic sauce with sauteed potatoes and broccoli; again, the flavours were spectacular. This culinary perfection was baptised with a Primitivo: a smooth, full-bodied red with a hint of sweetness, which complemented our meal sublimely. Incredibly, one of us found room for dessert: chocolate ice cream! We concluded this gastronomic debauchery with a lemon tea, black Americano, and a Cappuccino with black Sambucas. Plus, we had complimentary ones from our gracious hosts - grazie mille. Our heartfelt thanks to the chef for his artistry and talent, and a huge 'thank you' to Silvo and Orazio for the chat and laughter, and for making us feel so at home. We hope you all have a lovely summer break, and we look to catching up with you all once more on your return. Until then, ciao for now and keep smiling.

Here for one night, couldn’t ask for more

We three gluttoneers descended on this delightful eatery on Monday night, and we weren't disappointed. We were greeted with friendly warmth by Silvo and Orazio, with a welcoming wave from the head chef and co-owner with Silvo. The decor remains unchanged: light colours and tiles with prints of various Italian locations on the walls,and romantic lighting. Though it was quite full with other diners, the tables are arranged so that you never feel encroached upon, and the chat and laughter soon began. Armed with our Aperol Spritz, we soon made our selection from quite a large and varied menu especially when you include their specials' board. Two of us went for the Prosciutto e Melone, and one went for the Avocado and Prawns: the melon was mouthwatering and sweet, and the prosciutto was perfectly sliced with a lovely texture and taste; while the avocado and prawns were fresh and full of flavour. Our mains consisted of King Prawns La Baita, a pizza with all the trimmings, and a Linguine Marinara: again, the King Prawns La Baita was full of flavour in a lovely, creamy tomato sauce and a bed of rice; the pizza was the best my wife, Angela ever had; and the Marinara was perfect and fresh, with the pasta that had fully absorbed the flavour of the sauce. This culinary perfection was baptised with a Primitivo: a full-bodied red from Italy with a hint of sweetness and exceptionally smooth. Two of us found room for dessert: a scoop of chocolate ice cream, and profiteroles with ice cream. We concluded this gastronomic debauchery with black Sambucas, lemon tea, cappuccino, and a black Americano. Plus, complimentary ones from our gracious hosts - grazie mille, Silvo. Our compliments to the chef for his splendid artistry in the 'hot room'; the food was pure perfection. Grazie mille to Silvo, Orazio, and all at La Baita for a sublime dining experience. Until next time, keep smiling, and ciao for now.

Great food as always; excellent attentive service but never rushed. Highly recommended.

Restaurant looks nice with a traditional feel, unfortunately the the starters of mussels were inedible. I believe thay came out of the freezer as the texture was sticky and had a slight smell. Main had a burnt taste throughoutthe meal, bacon was undercooked and very salty. Most disappointing was the staff, would have been nice to be offered a replacement but instead rushed the food away with out asking how the meal was.

We ve just spent almost ninety pounds at this restaurant. We ve been before and I found my food to be very bland. We thought we would give it another try as it’s local. My husband had whitebait which was fine, followed by veal Valdosta which was ok. I ordered the ribs, which were soft but the b b q sauce tasted synthetic and lacked punch.. I then had lasagne, which was piping hot but dried out so was offered a change and had spaghetti vongole which I eat at many local restaurants. Again this was so bland . It lacked garlic, seasoning and any shellfish flavour. I should have stuck with the lasagne I have to say I find this food like that of a well meaning friend who can’t cook very well who would invite you to dinner and you might enjoy the evening but would not welcome a bill at the end of the night

Very good food and service. Recommended

We three glutoneers invaded this lovely eatery on Thursday night and weren't disappointed. The decor remains unchanged: warm, romantic lighting but bright enough to read the menu, with lovely prints on the walls. We were welcomed into an atmosphere of pleasant background music and the chat and laughter of diners already there. We were greeted by Orazio and Silvo and shown to our table; it was great catching up with both of them. Armed with an Aperol Spritz, we perused their large and varied menu especially when you include their specials' board. Our starters consisted of a prawn cocktail; while two of us went for the avocado, prawns, and crab: it was sublime and a wonderful precursor to our mains. There was a pizza with added pepperoni; halibut with a Provencal sauce; and lamb in a chili, red wine sauce: all were demolished in seconds with no prisoners taken. The halibut was cooked to perfection, retaining its moistness and flavour. This gastronomic excellence was baptised with a splendid Primitivo: a full-bodied red Italian wine with a hint of sweetness and an appetising bouquet. Two of us even managed desserts! We concluded this debauched extravaganza with Sumbucas, lemon tea, and coffees. Plus, complimentary Sambucas - grazie mille, Silvo. The head chef and co-proprietor with Silvo, found time to have a pleasant chat. We can only thank you all for the welcome, friendship, and a brilliant dining experience. Until the next time, keep safe and happy. Ciao for now.

Took some friends here last month and was not disappointed! This is my 2nd time here but I suggest you book as it does get busy We shared bruschetta and garlic bread as a starter between 3 of us. Mains were 2 pollo Milanese with crushed potatoes and broccoli (served separately) and one lamb shank from the specials board. We also had zucchini fritters which were very light. Even though the portions are huge, I managed profiteroles (incredibly light and chocolaty) and one fillemiulle which was light and tasty. The service was fabulous, you are greeted like an old friend and the food is freshly prepared and cooked. The prices are equally reasonable too. Would recommend in a heartbeat!

We three gluttoneers invaded this small, yet inviting restaurant on Wednesday night, and we weren't disappointed. The decor remains unchanged: soft, warm lighting, with colourful prints on the walls. Tables are wonderfully arranged, giving diners privacy while remaining part of the dining atmosphere. It was great seeing Silvo, proprietor extraordinaire, and the head chef, co-proprietor extraordinaire. The chat and laughter soon commenced. Armed with a perfectly concocted Aperol Spritz, we made our selection from a large and varied menu, especially when you include their specials' board. We soon made our choices. Starters: two went for the avocado, prawns, and crab; and one went for the melon and prosciutto. The taste was brilliant; as for the melon: it was sweet and refreshing and contrasted beautifully with the ham. Our mains consisted of lamb with chilli and wine sauce, pizza with trimmings, and a linguine marinara. Again, the texture and flavours were sublime. This culinary excellence was baptised with a splendid Primitivo: a full-bodied Italian red with a hint of sweetness and an appetising bouquet. Two found room for dessert - unbelievable, but nice. We concluded this pleasant gastronomic gluttony with black Sambucas, Americano, and lemon tea. Plus, complimentary Sambucas from our gracious host - grazie mille, Silvo. The friendliness, welcome, and food were enjoyably memorable. Hopefully, we'll be back before you go on your break. Till then, keep happy. Ciao.

Delicious gluten free options. Staff knowledgable helpful and friendly when asking for options. Gluten free spaghetti is delicious (a novelty compared to the usual gf fusilli substitutes) when they have it in but the other options are just as good!!

Great quality food cooked beautifully and catering for all...meat-eaters, pescatarians, veggies and vegans. The tiramisu is the best I've had. Love love love this place and have eaten here for years.

Amazing Italian. great food and drinks, great service. Book in advance to avoid dissapointment.

Went to La Baita for the first time for Lunch, even tho we were a little late, the Staff were very polite and atentive., Both of had Pizza and they were both lovey with fresh taste

We drive from Chelmsford 40mins away just to eat here, The food is always freshly cooked, absolutely delicious, superb choice. My favourite dish is liver & bacon it is cooked to perfection. Very good value for money, with excellent service. Highly recommend this restaurant.

My wife, Angela, and I visited this delightful restaurant for a Christmas Day luncheon, and we weren't disappointed. The background music and decorations set the mood. Though quite a smalll restaurant, the tables were well placed. The polite buzz from the other diners created a...

Like a warm blanket, my favourite restaurant, original lovely home cooked food just love it. Book book book, just fantastic.

A hidden jewel. Fantastic food with a great menu and friendly service

Excellent food well prepared and cooked by a good chef. The quality is always consistent with reasonable prices.

La Baita is long established and may not have changed much over the years. That means decor and a menu that offers a bit of a nostalgia trip for those of us of a certain age. But there is nothing wrong with that if it's...

Needn't say more than the food and service were absolutely exceptional. Can find not one fault.

We delayed ordering as we waited for a friend to join us. Despite the delay and how super busy the restaurant was, at no point were we rushed. 3 out of 4 of us requested tweaks to our choices which were all accommodated. And the...

We booked this restaurant on the recommendation of some friend who had obviously not been to the restaurant for some considerable time. The decor is from the 1960's as is the standard of food. There are far too many starters and main courses which means...

I went out for a meal last night with a friend of mine to La Baita, which is the best Italian restaurant in the area. We didn't have anything from their main menu this time, but chose from their specials board. We started off by...

My husband and I visited last month on a whim and had a gorgeous lunch, sharing a bottle of house white with our meal. Our son turned 15 so we booked to bring him and his sister to celebrate. The food was stunning both times....

First visit to this lovely authentic Italian restaurant - what a great find. Restaurant was full on a Thursday night - seemed to be lots of regulars, which is always a good sign. Had the house pizza, which was very tasty with a good amount...

We had a wonderful meal tonight. I had avado and prawns and a large spaghetti dish and my husban had whitebait and then veal cutlets. Everthing was freshly cooked and tasted delicious. There is a real taste of Italy there. The staff are friendly and...

Scampi was superb and the pizzas were very tasty. Cant wait to eat indoors soon. Thank you..keep well.

Been here quite a few times over the years and very glad to see that nowadays they are very Covid secure.Me and my partner had a really lovely Italian meal here and were greeted like old friends - due to various circumstances we hadn’t been for a little while.It still had the same friendly atmosphere in the restaurant, excellent food, wine and the usual attentive service.We went there early in October, then just before the November lockdown and have had a couple of takeaways from them since, which were still as tasty as if we had been sitting in the restaurant. The last one that we had was Parma ham and melon, garlic bread and then sea bass and a cod livornese. We already have next week planned and are going to both have pizzas from them which are always excellent.Can’t wait to go back again in December when they are fully open again.

This is one of my favourite restaurants and I went there this week before lockdown – thankfully we managed to get a table.The seating is well spaced to make it Covid secure and they also have Perspex screens between the tables which makes it feel even more safe.The atmosphere though is still warm and welcoming, there is a good choice of food on the menu and on the daily specials board.This time I had the avocado, crab and prawns for my starter and then lamb cutlets which were cooked to perfection and my other half had minestrone soup followed by mixed grilled fish. I had mixed vegetables with my main but himself decided to have a salad with his. To accompany the meal we had a cheeky bottle of chardonnay from the wine list.We had a great time as always and look forward to when we can go back, so its grazie mille to the Chef, Silvo and Orazio until the next time. But I will be getting a couple of takeaways during lockdown to support the restaurant during these strange old times. We did this during the last lockdown too and the meals were delicious as always, but obviously not as good as eating them in the restaurant. I was reading in their window today that they will be open on a Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday between 5pm – 8pm for takeaways.

A really nice restaurant, which has all the hallmarks of a family run Italian bistro. The food is lovely and the service very pleasant. The staff go out of their way to make you feel comfortable and very much at ease. the menu is extensive...

We've been here twice since these past 2 weeks. Great service, lovely food and the staff were friendly and warm. Accomodating to our children's needs too which gives us a chance to enjoy our meal!

Awesome food good wholesome atmosphere great service couldn't ask for more

Even with C19 restrictions, La Baita’s staff continues to provide excellent service,expertise and civilityWith all our visits pre/ post, meals are presented in an appetising manner, all very tasty produce obtained locally. With groups of up to pos 8, and most ordering starters and mains& mid evening, almost all tables occupied,service can seem slow but chef proprietor and asst can not hurry cooking the various dishes. Well worth a visit even in these straitened times.

Regular haunt and need support after lock-down.Best food and service always,love the place.Highly recommeded!

Took my stepson and his future bride to be there Saturday night, as We remembered it, cosy and Italian. Fantastic staff, and boy did they work hard. Lovely well presented food, served with a smile. Drinks and wine flowed all night. Everything reasonably priced, a perfect night. Have already booked again

Three of us invaded this superb eatery. The decor remains unchanged: small yet cosy, with warm lighting yet bright enough to read the menu. The menu, including their specials' board, should satisfy most palates. It was great catching up with Silvo, Orazio, and the co-owner, the main chef. Armed with an Aperol Spritz, we soon made our selection: prawn cocktail, parma ham and melon, and crab and prawn cocktail; all of it was prepared and presented perfectly. For our mains there were a lamb cutlet, fruitti de mare linguine, and seafood risotto; again, it was all perfect in taste and texture. This was christened with a lovely Italian red: Primitivo. This culinary safari was concluded with a Tia Maria, and two Sambucas with coffees and lemon tea. Plus complimentary ones from our gracious hosts. The chat and laughter was very uplifting to the spirits, and the food and service was great. Grazie mille. We hope to see you all soon.

Thank you La Baita. An excellent lunch today for all the family, we enjoyed the food and the wine, the excellent service and the whole experience.

Noted from a sign in the window that duiing lockdown there were doing take away!Menu seemed ok (apart from chips with everything) but hey there's a crisis and they are trying?Thought I would support my local traders and order dinner one night but was told that my choice had just run out!!So what is the point? they cant even maintain their limited take away menu! Wont be trying again!!

An average dish of pasta for me, with some of the pasta not cooked properly. My wife enjoyed her pizza and salad. Service was slow and we were overcharged on the final bill. This is a very popular restaurant with locals but our own experience was somewhat lacking. The tables are also very close together.

On a rather cold and wet Monday night, three of us descended on this delightful eatery. It's small but cosy with warm lighting that gives a romantic 'feel' and yet is bright enough to read the menu. The background music is at the right decibel level and enhances the ambience. We were greeted by Silvo and Orazio and shown to our table of choice. We love this place: you never feel hurried or stressed, and the chat and banter is uplifting. Armed with a perfectly concocted Aperol Spritz, and with the wash of polite chatter and laughter from other diners, we made our selection from quite a varied menu and their specials' board. They often say that great minds think alike: we all chose the same dishes. It was the prawns, crab, and avocado starters; followed by their linguine marinara. The freshness of the prawns and crab with avocados was succulent and tasty. We then devoured our linguine marinara; again, the freshness and flavour was out of this world: the mussels, prawns, and calamari were tender and, like the pasta, had successfuly absorbed the taste of the rich garlic-tomato sauce; my fork twirled its way to Heaven and back without incurring any social disasters. This gastronomic fest was baptised with a lovely Italian red: Primitivo. It's quite full-bodied with a hint of sweetness, and the aroma of berries - great. Two found room for dessert; I couldn't eat another morsel. We concluded this brilliance with a cappucino, lemon tea, black Americano, and lit Sambucas. Plus, complimentary ones from our gracious hosts. Grazie mille to Silvo, Orazio, and their very talented chef. We will be seeing you all soon. Until then, keep smiling. Ciao.

We went first to this restaurant over 30 years ago regular han had good meals. but moved away 10 years ago since then new ownership by the old chef and visited again last week from Eastbourne for lunch nothing has changed but the staff same Chef but all i can say food and service up to the standard it has always been we will visit again when were are in the area do visit J & B

We visited again after 10 years from Eastbourne management has changed but then surprised the chef from 10 years ago is the new owner and chef. Oh and the service and food were just as good try the skate with black butter if it's on the specials boardwe will definitely visit again when in the area

Very friendly stuff where good with the children Food was lovely Differently returning Was busy but we managed to get a table Would advise to maybe Pre book table As it’s a small restaurant

Fantastic little find in Chingford! Recommended to us by the folks at Gilwell, we are so glad we took the time to linger over lunch at La Baita. Extremely attentive staff, delicious food, excellent wine. Thank you LaBaita!

I am lucky enough to have been to many good restaurants in the world over the years but this one in my own area is in my top three and is quite simply one of the best restaurants in Waltham Forest.My relatives and friends have never had a bad meal at La Baita as everything is freshly prepared and is above all very tasty.The service is always good, the place is spotlessly clean and there is a good atmosphere in this restaurant.On our visit this week my partner and I both had two of the starters from their specials board which were spare ribs and sardines.The La Baita specials board always has a good variety of different dishes to those on their main menu, but it doesn’t matter which menu you choose from as the food from either will be very good.I had never had the ribs here before but they were very tender and tasty, so I will definitely have them again the next time they appear on the specials board.I then had another of the specials for my main which I have had previously, linguine marinara (my favourite dish here), which I would highly recommend you try. My partner for a change had a seafood pizza which he really enjoyed.We had both saved room for a desert and had a torta selva nera (another favourite) and a cassata.To accompany the meal we had a bottle of chardonnay.All I can say is it was all fab and I look forward to my next visit. Grazie mille to the Chef, Silva and Orazio

La Baita is the best restaurant in Chingford and I have never had a bad meal there.The food is tasty, the restaurant has a good atmosphere, the waiters are friendly, the service is good and finally they have a great wine list.For my meal yesterday I had the scallops wrapped in bacon as a starter and then the seabass with various vegetables. I even saved room for one of their delicious sweets – a torte selva nera. My friend had the king prawns and the skate which he said was very good.Apart from their normal menu, do look out for their specials board which compliments it as there is always something good on offer each day. Do try the linguine marinara if it’s on the board as this is excellent.It’s well worth a visit and I can highly recommend this restaurant.

Been here before but so much choice of restaurants these days forgotten how good it is. Portions are quite large and quality of dishes are excellent. Also vegetables are included on the plate, so no nasty surprises on the bill. All in all good. Only criticism is the tables can be quite close together. Pleasant staff good service.

My wife, Angela, and I visited this lovely and popular eatery on a Monday night. Though small, it has an inviting charm with lovely pictures on the wall and honeyed lighting that gives it a warm, romantic feel, and yet is bright enough to read the menu and their specials' board. I apologised for not booking, but Orazio was at his friendly and accommodating best and showed us to a delightful table. Amidst the polite laughter and chat of other diners, and armed with a perfectly concocted Aperol Spritz, Angela and I made our selection from the menu and specials' board. We both went for the crab and avocado prawns as starters: this was deliciously fresh and succulent, and the combination of flavours had us drooling; we were fortunate not to get arrested! For our mains, Angela chose the scampi on a bed of rice in a provinciale style; she loved the garlic-tomato flavour, and the fresh, tender scampi had absorbed the sauce stupendously. I devoured my sea food linguine with unbridled gusto, and twirled my way to Heaven and back without any social disasters. This culinary perfection was christened with a perfectly-chilled Sauvignon, which complemented our meal wonderfully. Angela still found room for dessert. We concluded this gastronomic excellence with a lemon tea for Angela, and a black Americano for me, plus warmingly lit Sambucas. Our compliments to the chefs for their talented efforts. And a special grazie mille to Orazio for his friendly chat and banter, and for the head chef, who is the co-proprietor of this culinary haven, and who also chatted with us. It was truly a magnificent dining experience. We will be seeing you all soon. Until then, keep smiling. Ciao.

My wife, Angela, and I booked a luncheon table at this delightful eatery and weren't disappointed. It was a hot Tuesday afternoon, and they had their doors open on a terrace for those who favour al fresco dining. There were quite a few diners already there, and it was pleasantly buzzy. It is small but retains an inviting charm. We were greeted by an old friend Orazio, whom we knew from Adriatico. It was great catching up with him again, and the laughter and banter flowed wonderfully. He invited us to sit at a table near the air conditioning - grazie mille, Orazio. Armed with a perfectly concocted Aperol Spritz, we soon made our selection from a menu, though not large, should satisfy most palates, especially when you include their specials. They say that great minds think alike, and Angela and I went for the crab, prawns, and avocado starters off the specials' board; it was truly fresh, and the texture and combination of flavours were perfect. Angela then demolished her Cod Livornese with trimmings, and loved every mouthful. I waged a happy war with my Linguine Marinara, which was brilliant: the clams were tender as were the prawns, and they had absorbed the flavour of the sauce, and I twirled my way to Heaven. This culinary perfection was christened with a chilled Sauvignon, which complemented our meal wondrously. Incredibly, Angela found room for dessert: it was like a tart with berries, cream, and ice cream, and she is still drooling over it! We concluded this gastronomic debauchery with lit Sambucas, black Americano, and lemon tea. Our compliments to their talented chef, and a huge grazie mille to Orazio and Silvo for making us feel so welcome. And thanks for the chat and laughter, Orazio. Based on this standard of service and cuisine, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this restaurant to all who favour a great dining experience. Ciao, and we'll be seeing you again soon. Until then, keep smiling.

It does exactly what it says on the tin. Decent Italian food. Reasonable prices. I found service a little slow but the numerous regulars didn’t seem to mind.

A great little restaurant. Superb food and service. Seated at 8pm on a Friday evening (booked) and were the last to leave at around 11pm, with no pressure from the staff. Cannot praise enough. Will definitely visit again very soon! 😃

We have visited this restaurant for many years, admittedly we haven't been there for a while & I can only assume the family that ran it for so long are no longer running it. We visited a little after 7pm on a very hot, Wednesday evening. We hadn't booked as we had been out for the day & didn't think we would need to with it being so hot, early & mid-week. Our experience was awful from start to finish. We explained to the waiter we hadn't booked & asked if it was possible to have a table for 3, he was actually stood right by an empty table, without a reserved sign on but told us to wait & wait we did for almost 20 minutes. Two other people arrived shortly after us & also were told to wait although they explained they had booked. The same waiter told them they hadn't booked, they queried it & after at least another 5 minutes later he said they had & showed them to their table & us to the table he had been standing next to 20 minutes earlier. The menu clearly stated to ask if you needed special dietary requirements, when eventually the waiter arrived with the menus I explained our grandson needed to have gluten free food & he pointed out a few suitable dishes, clearly saying he could have pizza as they wouldn't use normal flour. However by the time, much later, when he came to take our order this had changed & all he was offered was grilled fish or grilled chicken breast. About an hour later when our food arrived, my seafood risotto tasted like they had used pudding rice, gooey & lumpy with dried up seafood, my husband's liver was over cooked & the chicken breast was tiny, again overcooked & swimming in butter, without any seasoning or sauce, totally bland. The sauted potatoes were more like boiled potatoes that had been drizzled with a little oil, the only accompanying vegetable on offer was broccoli, so we paid for petit pois. Allegedly the potatoes & vegetables were for two people, two people with a sparrow's appetite perhaps. The service was appalling, the waiter had no product knowledge, he spoke very poor English & was completely out of his depth. All three meals were overcooked, bland & for what we got extremely overpriced. We will not be going back unless we know the previous owners are running it again, as two out of the three waiting staff were clueless & the chefs need retraining..

Fantastic food, great staff, good value for money. Would happily recommend it to anyone.

My husband and I tried here after reading some of the reviews, which sounded reasonable, plus they claimed to be able to provide gluten-free choices. It seemed like a good place to eat. We arrived early evening without booking a table and were able to get a seat easily, though it did get very busy as we left. The staff were very friendly, courteous and helpful. The food, however, was a different story! My husband ordered a pasta dish which he said was quite nice and I ordered a seafood risotto. When my dish arrived there was a huge mound of rice with various types of seafood mixed in. My initial thought was - this doesn't look like a risotto! Upon tasting it, it became apparent that it probably wasn't risotto rice but I ate it because I was hungry. It looked and tasted like basmati rice, and sure enough, when I questioned the waiter who then asked the chef, I was told they had run out of risotto rice so they used basmati rice!!!! This is supposed to be an Italian Restaurant - surely no self-respecting Italian chef would dream of using this type of rice in a risotto. I ended up with a pile of rice floating in a tomato sauce with some seafood thrown in. Not my idea of a good risotto. Why on earth didn't they tell me they had run out and then I could have chosen something else? Very disappointing and thankfully I won't be going back there as I'm unlikely to be in Chingford again.

Fantastisk velsmagende pizza i italienske omgivelser. Alt personalet er italiensk, som konstant har service og hygge i højsædet. Fremragende mad og betjening,

Great local Italian food is fresh nice friendly service the veal Milanese is amazing and very reasonable prices we have been as a couple and with friends always good

Thought I would try again with this place but seems to go from bad to worse , the staff look dirty the food is just oily and after trying to speak to the iffy waitress realised they are not even Italian !

Nice family run restaurant with lovely food and authentic Italian feel . Food was nice and hot - the wine was good too

Through recomendation we have just enjoyed a lovely freshly cooked Italian meal in a family run restaurant. Our experience was wonderful from start to finish the welcome and service combined with the freshly cooked meals from the varied menu and daily specials board were beautifully cooked and presented and more than substantial. Our main courses were fresh Skate, beautifully cooked from the specials board and Veal Milanese and a Lasagne.

First time to this place. Food was tasty plenty to choose from the menu. Service first class. Restaurant is not big and it is advisable to book. Parking can be difficult at weekends.

Used for many years and seldom does it disappoint. It is now under new mamagement, the manager trained by the previous owner whose aim is to maintain its reputation.

Superb. It really is the only Italian near here .

Very friendly staff greet you and make you feel welcome. The décor is attractive. The food is superb and the menu quite extensive (anti pasta, pasta, pizzas, mains, deserts, chef specials.) I chose the pasta followed by Chicken Kiev. The wife had prawn cocktail and a creamy chicken dish. There is a good choice of wine, and some house wines by the glass. Chefs specials included a wide array of fish dishes and lamb dishes. The portion size was generous, and well priced. I must say the sautéed potatoes and the way the chef did the Kiev, was a winner. I would certainly have it again. The dessert menu is extensive and thrilling. The main difficulty is narrowing your choice to one, there were several very good contenders. The atmosphere was good and everyone seemed very happy with their choices - whatever they chose, so the chef is clearly very talented.

We should come here more often. Always good food, Relaxed atmosphere. Plenty of choice. Good for larger groups too as well. Fair prices for what’s provided.

We had not been here for some considerable time and were not disappointed, excellent food and service. We used the restaurant at lunchtime mid week so it was not at all busy.

Starter was very good main course ok but not outstanding--could have done with a more extensive wine list. Service was fine as you would expect on a but on a Monday so the restaurant was not as popular as at a weekend

My wife and I were long term regulars under the previous owner Piero who was most welcoming and charming and went out of his way to offer great service with quality food at reasonable prices. Unfortunately age and failing health caught up with him but I have got to say the new owner who was schooled by him has maintened the same high standards. It has to be the best Italian in the area.

The food here is very good, the menu is varied and the service is friendly and efficient. I recommend the onion soup. I must say that on a Saturday night it is very noisy but well worth going to.

Truly awful experience, food was beyond average but cheap. The decor is run down, drafty and cold, and to top it off the waiter took it upon himself to keep our £7 change, despite asking for our change he just ignored us! Never will I return

Popped in here for a quick lunch parking just outside, you will need a scratch card for parking. Back to the food few tables outside and a specials board. Had white bait and crispy calamari which was very good. I had beef stroganoff and rice and a chicken dish couple of beers fair prices worth a visit

A lovely evening and even able to sit outside as it was still a warm evening. Made very welcome and good choices on the menu. Very friendly with good food. Would definitely visit again as also good value for money .

Four of us visited on a Tuesday recently food very greasy decor and staff tired looking .....apparently new owners ....think they need a re vamp