La Follia in Tunbridge Wells

Lovely little restaurant with great ambience and a family feel. It’s run by a fantastic Italian hostess and chef and is our favourite restaurant in Tunbridge Wells. Ask for the ‘off menu’ dessert. Yum! Looking forward to coming back.

Some local friends suggested La Follia for lunch, a restaurant that we have walked passed on numerous occasions, but never tried. This is an unpretentious family run Italian place that is good value and we will definitely return to. Two of us had the pollo al funghi porcini with a salad, one had the penne amatriciana, and I had the grilled salmon with salad. Everyone enjoyed their chosen dishes, and odd as this may sound, the salad had a really good dressing which made the combination work particularly well.

Family run Italian restaurant that I didn’t know existed! Yes it’s small - so make sure you book or you’ll miss out! Food is delicious, piping hot, very tasty and very reasonable price! Went with a group of 8 other girlfriends, and we had a lovely evening, with great service and a very enjoyable evening. Glad I found out about this and will be returning.

Wonderful family run italian restaurant. Stumbled across it and it turned out to be a gem. Friendly owners serving delicious food, starter main and pudding all homemade and very nice. Will definitely come back for more when nearby again. This is what I expect from an authentic Italian restaurant!!!

Cramped, dirty, disgusting toilet, overpriced, small portions, no atmosphere and when we complained we were told we were rude and didn't like Italian food. This has been our worst Italian meal in 50 years!!

This quaint Italian restaurant is such a nice change from all the chain restaurants. The Italian lady, who owns the place, is extremely welcoming and attentive. The food was delicious. I don’t like desserts but we shared some anyway and they were very tasty. Definitely would recommend and we will be going back. The only reason I didn’t give it 5 stars was because there is only one toilet for everyone which was full of cleaning products.

Small and cafe-like, this restaurant is like being in Italy. Very simple Italian family food freshly made with excellent ingredients, together with good Italian wine combine to make a really good uncomplicated style of meal. Unfussy and very relaxed, quite basic and not at all flashy - but proper simple Italian as it should be. Well worth a visit with the family.

Italian food is my favourite and we wanted to find a local restaurant to celebrate our 25th anniversary. Just wonderful food, service and ambience. Thank you, can't wait to come back.

I have dined here many times and thought I would write another review to let everybody know it is still the best. Hubby and I took two friends who were visiting us from Dorset. We started the meal by sharing Bruschetta and a meat and cheese platter with bread.We then moved on to the mains. I had my favourite Truffle Tagliatelle and hubby went for Steak with truffle. The truffle is excellent,the flavour is incredible! Our friends had fish stew and really enjoyed it. We all finished up with the best Tiramisu ever. We did indulge ourselves with wine from the excellent selection and left feeling spoilt and indulged. Sara and Tony the owners always make you feel so welcome and our friends returned to Dorset vowing to return soon even if its just to eat here again. I can highly recommend and remember that small can be beautiful. A couple of reviews previous seem to have been eating somewhere else as I do not recognise La Follia in these reviews. I urge you to try yourself and enjoy some of the best Italian food ever!

We've been to this small intimate restaurant twice & both times we've been impressed. It is run by a husband & wife team - he does the cooking & she runs the dining area. The service is informal, but friendly & efficient. The food is delicious with good portion sizes. There is fairly extensive wine list - all Italian. We will be going back there.

The food was great, authentic Italian, prepared fresh to order. Friendly owners. However, the decor is shabby and not in a chic way, and could do with a bit of a clean. The area between the dining area and the toilet, and toilet itself, are in need of a serious clean and redecoration.

Ordered “ravioli of the day” and watched the chef take it out of a plastic packet to cook it, If I wanted supermarket ravioli I would have stayed at home

The staff were unbelievably friendly! The food was hands down the best Italian food in that you can get in the UK! The flavour was incredible and the truffle pasta to die for! I don’t usually write reviews but this place is the best place I’ve ever eaten at!

Unless I had read the TripAdvisor reviews I probably would have walked past this small trattoria. Saying that the aroma coming from it would certainly entice you in. It is small but certainly has a large heart. Ran by a husband and wife team you could not fault their enthusiasm and passion. The menu ticked all the boxes for us. We both went for the Spaghetti Vongole. It was utterly delicious one of the best I have ever tasted. It was interesting to notice other diners comments and compliments . Also aware that every plate went back empty. Ours certainly did which rare for me. If you love proper Italian food you will love this small place. It's not all about decor. I'm planning my next visit

I’ve never written a review in my life but La Follia deserved it, totally wonderful date night. The food was so authentic and delicious. The owner is very Italian. It feels like you’re in Italy.

Got off to a bad start a visit with my siblings and (due entirely to my older sisters incompetence) we arrived 30 minutes late, by which time the owner (quite rightly had given our table away) But having got past that, what an experience! Great...

It’s no wonder you have to book in advance. What a great little family run restaurant, buzzing atmosphere. Great food, great service, very relaxed. We were a party of six, so we ordered lots of starters to share, which the children really enjoyed to, highly...

We visited this lovely little restaurant as a family and wanted an early meal as we had a two year old with us. They very obligingly opened an hour earlier than their normal time just for us. The staff were friendly and the service and...

What a great little Italian find in Tunbridge Wells. Hostess/owner was brilliant and the food was fabulous. The four of us shared antipasti and then had a different main dish each. The meatballs were so good (not something I would pick ordinarily) and my husband...

After reading the glowing reviews, and the wonderful photos we couldn't wait to try this "local gem". Our experience of the food bore no resemblance to the photos. A tiny cafe with a very expensive menu - lunch- that had nothing at all to tempt...

Great little Italian restaurant. Have walked past this unassuming trattoria and wondered what the food is like. So glad we decided to go there. The food was really delicious, and we were made to feel very welcome by the lovely owners . Definitely going to...

Excellent traditional & authentic Italian restaurant in heart of Tunbridge Wells! Brilliant service & the Truffle Tagliatelle was phenomenal! 10/10 for the service, this is our new favourite! Keep up the great work

A birthday lunch with my wife- who hasn’t (yet) been to Italy but I told her this is the closest you can get. Fabulous food , service and atmosphere even though it was a quiet Monday after the bank holiday. Will definitely return- knocks spots...

Well… this is a shock… I cannot find a single fault of this place! If you want authentic amazing tasting Italian food then look no further ! In a world full of “Italian” chain restaurants this place blows them all away. Yeah the decor isn’t...

What a total gem. Amazing food, fabulous atmosphere and the loveliest woman ever running it. I’d recommend it to everyone.

Visited La Follia last night. It is small, intimate and relaxed. The service is friendly and warm. The food is fabulous. We had spicy prawns and bruschetta starters followed by veal escalopes and gnocchi. For dessert we had tiramisu and a mint ice cream Everything...

The most enjoyable restaurant visit in ages on every front. Oozing authenticity. If you want a taste of true Italy this is the place to go, food just wonderful and the owner too. Cannot rate it highly enough

Came on a Friday night, had incredible gigantic olives, fresh bruschetta, two of their specials (artichoke truffle pasta, then a seafood rice dish) followed by tiramisu and limoncello. Everything was absolutely superb, really delicious and authentic. Service was amazing, really friendly and not too formal...

Had a wonderful meal in this amazing Italian restaurant. Been there ages ago......and taken far too long to return. Can't recommend it highly enough Neil

What an amazing find, I googled best Italian restaurant in Tunbridge Wells and we weren't disappointed. It's a tiny family restaurant and if we hadn't booked online we would probably have not even noticed it and walked right by. The food was exceptional (the spicy...

I was at La Follia last Saturday evening with a group of friends to celebrate a recent "big" birthday. It was an absolutely fabulous evening at this small, but perfect gem of a place. There was a lovely, lively buzz and we were extremely well...

First time Small restaurant Great food and service Bill was £191 for four people which included three alcoholic drinks and three courses each

Superb is the word. Last minute booking which turned out to be a fantastically tasty dinner. Best tiramisu ever and the pasta was lovely

Fantastic little place with a relaxed feel to it and brilliantly welcoming and fun staff. Really lovely food. Definitely worth a visit!

Very nice food indeed : I enjoyed the truffle pasta which was very tasty : very good wines to complement : This is a very small restaurant indeed but the host creates a great ambience with her personality : It was somewhat airless with the...

Real gem of a find. Real Italian food. Great service. The tiramisou is out of this world. Impressive wine list. Highly recommended. Book first, limited tables

Just go. It's amazing food, theservice was brilliant and it was intimate yet friendly. Great atmosphere and the owners were super lovely.

I’m so pleased we found La Follia! Brilliant food, wonderful atmosphere and so much truffle. A really hidden gem, it really felt like we were in Italy!

We had a fantastic meal here - wonderful service and very friendly staff. The food was outstanding: spicy prawns, clams with pasta and cherry tomatoes, canneloni and tiramisu. It has a really variety of options and some unusual items (lots of things with truffle, for...

We thoroughly enjoyed our meal at our most favourite Italian restaurant. The food as alway was really excellent, so tasty and full of flavours. The service was brilliant, friendly and homely and Sara always makes you feel so looked after and she makes the experience...

Really slow service, they don't take your order quickly and they are slow in cooking and serving the meals

Easily the best authentic Italian in Tunbridge Wells, beautiful food and lovely owners! Couldn’t have wished for anything better, will defiantly go again.

Fantastic Trattoria discovered during a short break in Tunbridge Wells. So good we booked a second night, ate other dishes all truly magnificent and for those raised on poor chain "Italian" restaurants this will be a revelation. Sara guides about the place making all feel...

Service was standout and warming. If the Carbonara had some more pancetta, this would be 5 star. The flavour was amazing.

I would like to say I had a meal with my partner and I thought I was in Italy or Venice tonight , the food is incredible and special. Great atmosphere and friendly, professional staff. Please don’t miss this opportunity as this is so near...

A very homespun dining experience. Excellent quality authentic tasting food, prepared to order. It really is like eating in someone's home in this small intimate (but Covid complying) restaurant. It's an informal experience with high quality ingredients and food. Our hostess was front of house while our host was in evidence in the kitchen at the back of the restaurant. While it's not a cheap place, it was worth it!

Having walked passed La Folia almost every Saturday, we finally decided to try it. So glad we did. The food is authentic Italian. Cooked by Sera and her partner. It was delicious. The menu is quite extensive from pasta and meat/fish dishes. All cooked fresh. There is an excellent wine list and my husband was thrilled to find some (expensive but excellent) old favourites from years ago. Service is super friendly and helpful when making your course choices. Sera is on hand to advise. It is a small bistro. No frills or fancy table cloths. But always busy and well respected. We have been back since our first visit. So glad we took the plunge. We will visit again.

you would walk straight past this place,but friends recommended ,couldnt get place in evening so went for lunch -same menu..the lady who runs the front is really friendly and helpful and the food is really good.so good i was planning my next meal before i left. recommend the truffle gnocchi,fish stew and the tiramisu ( best ive had) .

Had a meal at La Follia last night. It was a really good evening and so pleased to have found it. Been under my nose for years! Will definitely go back. Recommend to anyonensure. Lovely couple running it, great food, and still good atmosphere despite all the current restrictions. Try it. Thank you La Follia Neil

Superb. The food, ambience, totally exceptional wine list and service. Sometimes in life, less is more.

Oh I Love pasta love Italy! This is a Great little place to go one of best Italians I’ve been for a while. Me and my mother enjoyed our food and service will be recommending this restaurant of course.

Had a lovely family lunch here yesterday all food and wine excellent and great service. I recommend and look forward to returning.

Visited here for the first time last night (Saturday) after friends had said that they had been and enjoyed it. The restaurant itself is very small but the owners are extremely warm, welcoming and friendly and the food was absolutely delicious. Being a Saturday evening it was full and some of the customers had obviously been before - which is a good sign. I would certainly go back again and would recommend it.

An Italian welcome and good Italian food, had two very enjoyable lunches here including a perfect dish of gnocchi.Puts the restaurant chain type of Italian food to shame.This restaurant is small and a bit shabby in appearance but don’t be put off, it’s a gem!

Tiny eating place everything reminiscent of a working mans club snack bar including the cutlery. Food awful on all three different main dishes. Heavily overpriced. One of the three of us had diarrhoea 3 hours after eating here.

Very cosy, great atmosphere and the food is truly wonderful. I've been to this restaurant 5 or 6 times now and have never been disappointed. It is quite small and the kitchen is open and practically in the restaurant, but this only adds to the atmosphere and the smell of the cooking as you walk in really wets the appetite. The service is always friendly and attentive.

After reading a few reviews, we went here on valentines day and was not dissapointed. The lady was very welcoming and made you feel at ease as soon as you walk through the door.

La Follia - that means the madness, in Italian. And it sums up the owner in a nice way. She's a great character, and very honest about the restaurant's offering. It's very cozy, but a nice atmosphere with more than decent food and the wine we chose was very pleasant.

Best Italian in Kent/Sussex, Sara and Tony are incredible hosts that go out of their way to make you feel welcome. Also their wine list is seriously impressive!

I can’t say enough amazing things about La Follia! From the moment you walk in, Sara makes you feel like family, greeting you with a warm smile and charming personality complete with her sweet Italian accent. The service makes you feel like you’re dining in her home and the food speaks for itself - it’s impeccable. I am from New York and my grandmother was from Naples and a chef by trade and this food reminds me of her. Not to miss - anything with truffles (steak, tagliatelle etc.), bruschetta, ensalada Montanara (prosciutto di Parma with shaved Parmesan and rocket big enough to share for 4 people), mussels appetizer, aubergine parmigiana (bakes, not fried - be prepared to be amazed!) and the homemade tiramisu for dessert. This place is the real deal - be prepared for an amazing meal and incredible evening dining out!

Superb little place, one of the best Italian restaurants I have visited in a long time and well on a par with many I have been to in Italy. It is the real deal; just like being in an Italian family kitchen, with excellent freshly prepared food and, equally important, the welcome and excellent service provided by the owners. You never felt hurried, and nothing was too much trouble.

What a lovely little restaurant! Sara & Tony make you feel at home in their home. Great Italian food - All cooked fresh! - one of the best tiramisu I have had in uk. Will be back again soon

We had read about the restaurant online recently regarding a drop in footfall for the overall area in the town. We decided to pay a visit and we are so glad that we did.

La Follia is truly amazing, it is a cosy little

I was lucky enough to be taken out by work colleagues and they chose this restaurant. What a fabulous choice!! Sara was an excellent hostess and just wanted everything to be perfect. We had the bruschetta to start and I then had the chicken cacciatora. Both were delicious. There was 1 portion of homemade tiramisu left which had my name on it. You must go here if you are a fan of homemade Italian food.

Recently had a meal at La Follia in Tunbridge Wells. The restaurant is authentically Italian. Sara, the owner, is charming and fusses with the food. It is small and cozy. The food was delicious. Our group thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I highly recommend it.

A lovely evening with our daughter and family. Sara and Toni couldn’t have been more welcoming. The food was exceptional and we will definitely be back. Thank you x 😘

Had a brilliant meal here. Cannot fault anything. La Signora was absolutely charming and the food was amazing. Can’t wait to revisit.

No need for superlatives just think of that special little Italian around the corner that you knew, which specialised in nothing more than fabulous food, wonderful wine and superb service and you have this ridiculously friendly and fine Trattoria in one. Go and enjoy.

We had a delicious meal on Saturday night. The restaurant is small so tables are close together but this makes for a fun and buzzy environment! The waitress was charming and the food was excellent. We'll definitely be back.

Another example of falling for vastly overrating reviews, also on tripadvisor.

Visited here with my husband while on holiday in the area. Reserved a table well in advance. While dining, the owner seemed to be trying to cram as many people as possible in a tiny space and threatened to move another couple to our small table in the middle of our meal. We were enjoying our food, but the environment was not conducive to a lovely meal out. We hurried up and got the heck out of there. It was a shame as the chef knows what they are doing.

Went on a afternoon lunch, really sweet restaurant with fabulous food and fantastic service. Loved been taken here for lunch- recommended by my boyfriend!

Excellent food, really really good. Very friendly service. What a find, can't wait to return with friends.

If you want an authentic Italian experience this is the place for you .

I booked lunch today with friends, my 4 year old and baby based on the reviews, and what a great choice! The restaurant is small but they were very accommodating letting me squeeze in the buggy, and also letting me order off menu to please my son. The food was really delicious, it reminded me of the meals my Italian grandmother used to make...very authentic & fresh food...and homemade tiramisu was superb. The atmosphere was homely, warm and welcoming. I will definitely be back and encourage you to try it out...hands down beats the chains!

We booked a table at this Restaurant on the back of a recommendation made by Greg Wallace in Inside Kent. We did not know what to expect but have come away tonight knowing we will be back. The food is sublime. We have visited many restaurants in Kent and London, and this is a true Italian Restaurant. Nothing pretentious, just good home cooked Italian food. All four of us thought it was amazing. And the Tiramisu was sublime. Thank you!

I was introduced to this little gem by a girlfriend and have been back multiple times, including for my husband's birthday. The food is full of flavour and the atmosphere is always friendly and welcoming. Whether you are grabbing a bite of lunch or wanting something special for supper this little place punches above its weight every time. Simply love it

Another gem to be found in t wells.lovely food and lovely staff. So pleased . Definitely visit again.

My husband and I visited Tunbridge Wells last weekend and happened to stumble upon this restaurant for dinner. Lucky Us. It's a small restaurant, with the loveliest waitress and where you can see the chefs making your food. What we had was nothing short of delicious: simple Italian dishes cooked to perfection. We had the bruschetta followed by gorgonzola gnocchi and spaghetti amatriciana. It was one of the best Italian meals we've had and I wouldn't hesitate to return.

Came here for dinner with a group of 6. Lovely cosy atmosphere and fantastic authentic Italian food. The tiramisu is the best I have ever had! Recommend booking as it is small and very popular !!

Love absolutely everything about this place, food, very warm welcome, generous chef. Sharing board is probably the best value food ever, even has a fresh oysters. Pasta is historic. Wine is very good value. Always a fun night out.

You will not find a better. La Follia is more than just a restaurant but is a place which provides an Italian experience entirely tailored to your personal requirements. If you want a flexible restaurant that caters for you and provides a genuine Italian atmosphere this is the place for you

If you want a very relaxed family type meal and simple dining experience it is great but if you want a nice/smart restaurant experience try elsewhere. Lovely landlady and very accommodating.

Stopped in for lunch in the middle of Christmas shopping on a very wet & miserable day. Cheered up from the minute we walked in to a warm, friendly welcome. A family run restaurant with a trattoria-style menu; excellent home cooked food and wonderfully tasty fresh ingredients.

After a spontaneous trip into town, my girlfriend and I worked up and appetite and decided to continue the spontaneity by visiting a new-to-us restaurant. We were definitely not disappointed. The friendy warm welcome and our peppered mussels starter, which we shared, set the tone for the rest of the meal. The mussels tasted so fresh and the broth they were cooked in was so delightful we left nothing of it. I had then had the seafood special spaghetti and my girlfriend had the Spaghetti Ragu. Both dishes lived up to the expectation set by the starter. The spaghetti was perfectly al dente, the seafood (mussels, clams, squid, king prawns and tiger prawns) were cooked to perfection - not overly chewy at all - and the sauce was divine. The expression on my girlfriends face when she had the first mouthful of Ragu gave me the impression she was equally as impressed with hers too! To finish it off, we shared the Tiramisu which was a perfect blend of textures and tastes. I really have nothing bad to say about this restaurant. If you ever find yourself in Tunbridge Wells and fancying a taste of Italy, definitely go here!

My daughter wife and my self were in Royal Tunbridge Wells for a couple of hours on a horrible rainy Monday evening we popped into La Follia, what a cosy warm welcome we received, we were able to watch our food being cooked as the kitchen is open for all to see. The food was excellent, if I'm ever back in Tunbridge wells I would definitely return, top place.

Fantastic night. A small restaurant with an unassuming appearance. Sara and Antonio made us so welcome with great hospitality in true Italian style. Wonderful food and wine. all authentic and totally delicious. All fresh ingredients. Guaranteed that you will have an evening that exceeds all expectations. Suits those who like an engaging evening! Authentic Italian--not your "pizza/pasta" type--family restaurant not a chain David

Lovely little restaurant tucked between shops near Lakeland . Menu is very good with dishes that you would usually find in an ItLian restaurant as well as some interesting others .

I happened to be passing and was drawn in by the smell of the food from outside.

After a hectic shopping spree i decided to spoil myself a bit more and visit my favourite restaurant! I was warmly greeted by Sarah and Antonio as usual they are always so welcoming.

Came here on a Thursday evening after watching some Jazz on the Pantiles. We were greeted warming by our host; she was great throughout the night!

We have visited La Follia a number of times now and always have excellent food and service. Having spent a lot of time in Italy, this is my little bit of authentic Italy in Tunbridge Wells. The Lasagne is amazing! Highly recommend for a little piece of true Italian charm.

Having seen all the good reviews, we went for an evening meal a couple of weeks ago, but sadly I don’t think we'll be rushing back. The service couldn’t be friendlier which was its big plus point, but I love my Italian food and my meal was seriously the most disappointing I’ve had in a very long time. The pasta dish I chose wasn’t available so I was offered the next closest thing, which turned out to be two small cannelloni, quite seriously over cooked (soggy pasta) swimming in a ton of very off-putting pink tomato/béchamel sauce. My husband said his bolognese was tasty enough, but quite a small portion for the money. I really hope they were just having an off night and that the usual standard is better, because I’m all for supporting local businesses. But it wasn’t cheap and there are other good Italian restaurants in town. So I hope they read this review and look to improve where they need to. Being lovely and friendly is only one part of the whole. I’d suggest you also ditch the coloured plastic handled cutlery which is maybe okay for a cafe style lunch, but really doesn’t work when you are serving an evening meal.

I really don't understand the great reviews. I was expecting something special, something authentically Italian even. The lady running the place was so nice and friendly and the service was great. There is a very good wine selection. Portions are large. Water was brought to the table right away. This much they get just right.

I surprised my boyfriend for his 22nd as a meal out here, since we both are huge lovers of Italian food. This place did not disappoint, the food was absolutely fantastic and exactly how it should be in Italy (definitely recommend the arrabitaia and the bruschetta).

A lovely place with absolutely delicious and authentic Italian food. The service was excellent and very friendly

Living locally I have been to La Follia on several occasions and have always found it to be truly excellent. The service is friendly and the food is superb (the Pollo Cacciatora in particular is sublime). The atmosphere is far more relaxed than most restaurants in centre of Tunbridge Wells. In a town with numerous very good restaurants, La Follia has been my favourite since my first visit.

This was the most welcoming, relaxed and attentive restaurant I’ve ever had the pleasure of experiencing, with that fantastic Italian dining experience!

I like Italian food. One of the benefits of travelling the country is that I get to try the top Italian restaurants. This one is very good but the hostess makes it the best. Delicious pasta and seafood. Personally chosen wines. Above all, a warm welcome and a willingness to chat about food and drink. I have only found this elsewhere in a packed busy seafood restaurant in Covent Garden which was booked up for months. Treat yourselves - go. On second thoughts - don’t go and I can always get a table here. On third thoughts, go - so that they are still there the next time I visit TWells - otherwise I shall get them to move to where I live.