Positano in Guildford

What an amazing restaurant..truly one of the best in surry and Hampshire. The food is great with a home made feel and care. But what really stands out is the staff. Knowledgeable, warm and welcoming. 💯 recommended

Super food and really pleasent atmosphere

Lovely historic building, not overly large so space limited and would recommend booking during busy periods. Very friendly and attentive staff who also had a good knowledge of the building history which was nice to hear. Went for a late lunch and took advantage of their fixed price two course menu, a couple of cocktails and some bread and olives. Very large bowl of olives which was nice, they were pitted and we do prefer non pitted as tend to be more flavourful, however these were still enjoyable and a good sized portion. Bread was reasonable but nothing outstanding. Bruschetta nice, sweet tomatoes and fresh, street pizza found a little sloppy and a bit bland personally. Mains an Arrabiata sauce they kindly changed penne to spaghetti for my partner, pasta nicely cooked, sauce could have used a little more chilli, simple but tasty overall. I had the Carbonara which tasted creamy but as I had a little bit of a cold I'm not sure if it actually had a touch of cream but it certainly wasn't a full cream base which was good. I did find it although rich slightly bland in both the pancetta and the cheese, again I had a slight cold but expected the flavours to be a bit more punchy. Couldn't manage a dessert but we did both go for a liqueur coffee, myself a Scottish and my partner an Italian, both were pleasant and well made. The two cocktails as well had a decent measure of alcohol, quite well balanced flavour wise and whilst I've had much better they were certainly enjoyable. Definitely would give it a try again, sniffle free to give a fair shot. The staff and the very reasonable price for lunch would make a visit attractive, but would also like to go for an evening meal and a more relaxed experience.

Best waiter, great atmosphere, great food. No wonder it is busy!

Had another lovely family lunch here today. Wonderful service & generous portions all round. Franco & his team are a credit to Guildford (& Italy)!

Had a great evening with a friend and my family. It is very lively and always appreciated by locals and visitors alike. The food is based on Neapolitan Italian tradition and is divine. We loved it a lot. We had 2 sharers between 5 of us, then 3 tagliata, a pizza with bufala and a "spaghetto allo scoglio". We drank a nice, cold greco di tufo and finished with a ricotta and pistachio cake and a limoncello cheese cake. A.m.a.z.i.n.g. The team is lovely, attentive and chatty and will entertain guests with anecdotes and explaining pairings and details of the food history. Gets are very crowded on Fridays so better to give them a call and see if there are any last minute changes or cancellations. Pictures speak for themselves. Try it and you will be in for a great time!

Nice place but quite noisy, and I don't know why they need a DJ on a sat night as all he did was play no dancing was to be seen

My most favourite Italian restaurant. Superb service from both the staff and the owner. In a world of chain restaurants it's a delight to eat in a family owned establishment. There is something for everyone here. I always take my family when they come over from California. Just go eat there you won't be disappointed.

Sublime food with awesome service, that's a plus! Wish we had the belly space for more. We were craving for some formage pizza and Positano delivered. When the waiter came with giant tube of pepper and grinds it before us, we were absolutely impressed, it made our day. The arancini was crisp on the outside and the inside was saucy and packed with the right intense flavour. Recommend it for starters. Thanks for having us!

Very good food and atmosphere. Great service from Paulo who made sure we had a lovely evening. Portion sizes are huge!

Went there on the 27th and had an amazing experience. Went there for my 4 year anniversary with my partner after enjoying our experience there the year before for Valentine’s. Was served by Paolo who looked after us before and remembered us. He was wonderful as usual, gave exceptional service and was friendly. He was really patient with us as we tried to figure out what we wanted to eat. He even gave us a little treat to celebrate at the end which we truly appreciated as it was completely unexpected and wholesome. The food was amazing and we felt truly taken care of.

What can I say.. we have been recommended this place several times by several different people, as it was one of our birthdays we thought we would come here to celebrate, we have not had a meal out experience like this in a long time! Food was amazing, staff were so friendly, our waitress was so lovely, shame I didn’t get her name but she had auburn hair, the atmosphere's felt great, we have now found our favourite restaurant and will 100% be coming back, the portion sizes were great! If you haven’t already tried it you are missing out! Thankyou for a lovely evening everyone at Positanos 😁

Typical English restaurant with typical Italian cuisine. Incredible combination. Excellent pizza, wonderful Genoese pasta, attentive and friendly service. Very competitive price for England.

Everything you could ask for from an Italian restaurant! Undeniably authentic food with specialty Neapolitan dishes, cooked to perfection, incredible service and great atmosphere. Special thanks to Paolo for looking after me!

A very cozy place, very friendly and efficient staff and. Highly recommended

Everything about this restaurant is great - lovely food, great service and friendly staff. Was only visiting Guildford for the day but will definitely be back next time!

Well, where do I start. Positano has all the opportunity to be great but was sadly very lacking. There was no love in the food. The carbonara, was a cream infused tasteless mess. The waiter admitted after serving that it was a creamy pasta. The margerita pizza was wet and again tasteless. The tomato base had zero flavour. The seafood linguine again, tasteless. We left feeling very sorry for the staff who done their best to look after us. We won’t be back

Delicious food and great service. Highly recommend

Amazing place, we were looked after and great to meet Franco. Tiramisu was home made and fantastic.

I believe the atmosphere must be 5 stars next time when I dine in...this time we were sitting outside.. thr food is perfecto! the servers are friendly and professional.

Esme was our waitress, she was excellent and super friendly. Food came on time, all was incredibly delicious. Will definitely be back.

This was our third visit to this retaurant and it just gets better. The staff are wonderfull and nothing is to much trouble for them, you get treated like a member of the family. It goes without saying that the food is excellent, not to big and not to small portions. There is a vast amount to choice from on the menu and that's without the specials on offer. I would recommend anyone to give this restaurant a visit, but my advice is to book in advance so not to be disappointed.

Nice place, great service and atmosphere, friendly stuff and tasty food. Would definitely recommend!

As always 5*+, this place never disappoints! I’d say it’s the best Italian in the UK. All the dishes are amazing 😁

A little gem in Guildford that I wish we knew about sooner. The food was amazing and the staff are very knowledgeable. Definitely worth a visit and we’re certainly going to visit again.

Been coming here for the best part of ten years. Food service quality and atmosphere are always fantastic. Thank you yet again for another brilliant birthday meal tonight.

First evening visit to this restaurant. Absolutely lovely experience with excellent food, service and ambience. We’ll be back!

The stuff in the store has a very good attitude. Almost every table will say hello and ask how the dishes are. It feels very friendly. The portions are huge, and the food tastes more like home-cooked food. Very suitable for friends and family get together☺️

Typical well-kept Italian with excellent service and a pleasant atmosphere. The food has room for improvement, my mother liked the macaroni better, and she didn't invest a million euros in her kitchen. The pasta sauce was very weak. In general it is rich.

The food and service at Positano was good. The general ambience of this place really needs to be brought up to date. It very much reminded me of a 1970s, or 1980s Italian restaurant from days gone by. The place itself is quite small and the lighting could have been brighter. It felt like sitting in a dimly lit cupboard. The toilet was really quite dirty. It really needs some proper in house cleaning and to throw out all the dirty and sticky air fresheners. A bit of paint and redecorating would really go a long way to hopefully improve the current environment, and overall I felt as though more could be done to bring this restaurant up to speed and make it more in keeping and current with modern day dining and customer expectations.

Went with a friend and baby today. We were so warmly welcomed, lovely staff and delicious food- highly recommend!

Extremely friendly waiters and great atmosphere. Food wasn't the best to be honest - suspect it was microwaved and lasagne tasted like the sauce was heinz tomato soup. Nice big portions though so left good and full.

I always enjoy coming to this restaurant. The food is exceptional, full of flavour and the front of house are fantastic in their table service. The atmosphere is great and anyone who visits really does enjoy the experience Well worth going if you are looking for a great Italian restaurant. Make sure to ask about the specials as they are absolute diamonds.

Family lunch at Positano yesterday was exceptional. Food was authentic and delicious, service very attentive, friendly and professional. We will definitely be dining here every time we’re in Guildford. Highly recommend

We're based in Bracknell and when we want to eat Italian food our first choice is Positano, so we highly recommend you. Amazing food, services and atmosphere, well done guys. 👏 ✌️

A great restaurant with a lovely atmosphere. Food was delicious and in great portions, and the drinks were lovely. Would recommend going here!

This has become our favourite spot beyond all surrounding areas! Truly authentic and delicious! Never let us down on quality and service. Staff are all super genuine and friendly. Very fairly priced for the level of food you get.

Lovely staff, fantastic food and great atmosphere 😀 Highly recommend!!

Amazing Italian. Brilliant food and atmosphere. Would definitely recommend

Can't believe how many times we've walked past Positano and finally we've had a really delicious meal there! Very good value for money with very good quality food, a large menu. I had gluten free pasta, a treat as it was linguine with seafood. The service was excellent, such nice staff, our waiter was very nice, friendly and smiley. Highly recommend ps try the olives!

What an amazing find. Reasonably priced lunch set menu with delicious food. Couldn't resist also ordering desserts and the menu is quite extensive with great selection. Had an amazing lunch and will DEFINITELY be finding a reason to visit again! Service is great, food is great - no wonder you have to book coz its so good people - dont miss out!

After an afternoon at the Guildford Leisure, we stopped here for a late lunch, it was busy at 3 PM too on a Sunday afternoon. This is a lovely indie restaurant, with delicious food and really friendly service. Highly recommend this wonderful restaurant, the interiors have an old world charm. It’s on a lovely street so in the summers will be lovely to sit outside too.

We reserved a table to celebrate a belated Valentine’s Day. We were greeted by the most lovely staff and our table had a little heart on it. The atmosphere is just lovely, the waiters and waitresses were very attentive and fantastic. The food was just amazing! I think we may have found our new favourite restaurant. Will definitely be returning!

Could not fault this restaurant! Have the most amazing valentines meal. One of the best meals I have ever paid for and cannot fault the service, can’t recommend more highly. Will definitely be visiting again!

Great old fashion restaurant. Quirky building but with warmth and atmosphere. Lovely staff and excellent service. The food was wonderful.

Looking forward to a long awaited date night with my partner and after reading the reviews we thought it was going to be perfect. Upon arrival we were greeted and shown to our table and the restaurant is cosy and romantic. The waitress took our order and was pleasant. We ordered some olives to have prior to our starter. The starter turned up first and we had to ask for our olives. The waitress apologized and brought them over. The Arancini starter was very disappointing. The were dry and the tomato sauce that was meant to come with it was the tiniest amount and had dried up. When the mains arrived the presentation wasn't great and didn't look very appetizing. No one came to ask us during our meal if everything was ok. It was at the end when the waitress came over and had seen I had barely touched my meal she asked if everything was ok. I explained that it was a great dish and I wasn't happy. She took the plates away and then all of a sudden the manager was stood at our table and we were made to feel uncomfortable by his confronting manor. He wasn't really happy to listen to our complaint and felt we were in the wrong. He didn't charge us for the olives but I thought there should have also been a further discount as the food was so disappointing. We won't be returning again.

Absolutely lovely this place. Such a great atmosphere and very delicious food! The chicken and potatoes aren’t presented well but the taste is exceptional. Thank you

Fantastic lunch. Great food and service, would thoroughly recommend. Best to book as well.

What a great find, lovely cosy restaurant and the staff were very friendly and attentive, and the food was excellent the best I,ve had in a long time. Will be back 😊

What a gem! Very busy at lunchtime mid week which is always a good indication. Service was friendly, helpful and attentive and the food was delicious. Will be back.

My all time favourite reasturant. Never fails to be amazing, incredible staff, food, drinks, atmosphere.

Truly beautiful setting with such friendly and welcoming staff. Food was delicious, with generous portions. We'll be back.

We asked if they had gluten free food, told us they did when the food was not gluten free.

Cannot express how much I love this place. Always welcoming, great atmosphere, friendly and happy staff even when it's super busy. My favourite restaurant in Guildford by MILES. Very good quality food, desserts, drinks and coffees. Do not be afraid to try new dishes as they are always SPOT ON. 5-6th visit and all at different days of the week and times but it has never been a miss. You already know we'll be back :) Grazie mille for the amazing time every single time 🩷

Best dining experience without hesitation! Warm friendly atmosphere. Instantly offered water and kept the glasses topped up. Staff were engaging and happy to bring you your order. Food was exquisite, large menu lots to choose from and very reasonable prices. Great conversations with the staff and saw everyone treated with the same welcoming greeting. This is everything you can ask for from a restaurant! We will now be regulars for sure!

All I can say is WOW. I’m so glad I found this place for me and my partner to enjoy a date night. The restaurant is so cosy and really makes you feel like you’re in Italy.The food was incredible. Full of flavour and was so tasty, we wanted to order everything! The special arancini starter was delicious! Every single staff member was polite and spoke to you in English and Italian which I think is fab and really adds to this experience. No wonder this place is so popular! I highly recommend. Thanks guys :)

Amazing food and service! Will be back again soon!

The staff are exceptional and their service is amazing. Only downfall was the pizza was very watery we ordered pizza and beef pasta. The pasta was lovely. The staff booked us in as I had made the incorrect booking and they accommodated me straight away. They also paid attention to the smallest details. Thank you!

Love this place - can't think of any negatives - all great, will be back again for sure

A really nice romantic setting and possibly the best Italian in the area. Save this for a nice special occasion and you won’t be disappointed. The Tiramisu is out of this world, a must try!

The best aubergine parmigiana I had in ages.

Classic decor, fantastic service and capped by amazing food. Amazing experience for this out of town foreigner.

One of the best Italian restaurants I had in my entire life in many different countries. I was alone & I have ordered Bruschetta 5/5 Fries and kindly asked for truffle and Parmesan on it 5/5 and the pizza 4 fromaggi 5/5. Everything was mouthwatering! And the staff is super completely friendly and smiley which makes you comfortable at the place! Only the deco and atmosphere 4/5 as it should be more italian style.

Excellent food and service.the Roman boy who served our table was amazing.

We ate here yesterday evening and it was absolutely wonderful. Not only the food but all the staff were simply amazing. If you want exceptional quality food beautifully presented and served by attentive, engaging and knowledgeable staff, this is the place for you. We have been many times and never been disappointed. Will be visiting again very soon.

Amazing service and the salmon pasta was so delicious best I have had in an Italian place.The garlic bread was ok could have done with bit more garlic. The warm chocolate soufle was lush. Lovely restaurant with a warm touch. Looking forward to coming back.

This is my favourite restaurant in Guildford. I go there every year on my birthday (and any other time I have a good excuse to celebrate!), and every time though I think 'maybe it's boring to keep going back to the same place', I am reminded why I do by the impeccable quality of the food and service. I've rarely been disappointed by a dish, and have frequently been astounded. Good rich, bold, moreish pasta sauces, fine seafood specials, and amazing desserts - particularly the limoncello cheesecake, which is perfectly balanced, sweet and zesty without being overblown. The staff are friendly and helpful with wine selections and generally making your visit feel a bit more special. Their peppermill is approximately 1m tall. I don't know why I mention this, but there it is.

I enjoyed a wonderful meal here with my parents. The food was divine, the service was excellent and the atmosphere was warm & friendly. It was the best pizza I have eaten outside of Naples! We can’t wait to eat here again. I would highly recommend to all. Grazie mille!!!

Super delicious food, generous portions and amazing, warm and friendly service by intalians. Highly recommend !

Such an amazing place and a cozy place. The staff was very sweet and the food had topped the experience.

Great choice for weekend treat.

I am a real pizza snob who travels to Italy regularly to get my fix! I have finally found pizza that meets the standards set out in Italy! Such kind staff, quick service, great wine and great atmosphere too. A real family run feel to the restaurant too which makes you feel like you're dining on the Amalfi Coast!

Would I go again: yes regularly do. Food: always delicious and tastes local. Staff: always surprises me how friendly and welcoming they are continually! You would think I'd be used to it. Atmosphere: cosy, old feeling in a good way if you like that. Dog friendly: in their canopy that is heated more than enough to be warm in winter!

Excellent food, exceptional service, friendly and polite staff. I highly recommend it

We had a fantastic experience celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary. The food was incredible and we ate far more than we should have. The service was warm and professional. A special mention to Paolo who went above and beyond. We will have to return to try more of the dishes that we had no space to eat.

Perfect food and a lovely atmosphere. The staff is friendly and eager to make your stay memorable. Food is well cooked, presented exquisitely and very authentic. It was nice to find a piece of my home country in Surrey.

What a lovely place to have a Christmas Eve meal with family and or friends. I was with my family. All 5 of us, including my 3 sons, who are rarely all at home at the same time. Positano has a lovely entrance and the inside is very quaint and oldie worldie. The staff were friendly, courteous and very attentive. Food was reasonably priced and excellent. The menu had a good selection of various Italian dishes. Italian cuisine is my favourite. I highly recommend this restaurant at any time of the year.

Positano is a well-known Italian restaurant in the area, with a charming European cottage-style interior—simple yet elegant, exuding an antique charm. The food meets expectations, delicious but without significant surprises. The service is excellent, making it a satisfying Italian dinner experience. #KissKidsFamily

Good food, good wine and good customer service.

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Positano with excellent food, great service and a very nice ambience. My only gripe would be the smell of damp/mould which smacked me in the face when we walked in. My nose became accustomed after a few minutes but it really is quite unpleasant and I'm quite certain there is an underlying issue of some kind which needs attendance. A pity because otherwise I could not have found fault with the whole experience.

One of the best Italian restaurants I've been to outside of Italy. Delicious food, excellent service and a very welcoming, friendly atmosphere. The décor in the restaurant is old-fashioned, but this adds to the charm. On our table to start we had a antipasti sharer, calamari and mussles. All were delicious and went down very well. For mains we ate Pennette alla Calabrese, Spaghetti al Pomodoro Fresco and Spada alla Puttanesca. All amazing! After that we were well satiated, so shared a portion of tiramisu to finish - and guess what... it was DELICIOUS too. Thank you to all at Positano for making our evening so wonderful. We will be back!

Food was amazing and staff were so attentive and friendly! A young Ukrainian girl served us and even brought us free ice cream for my boyfriends birthday! Will definitely be back again 😊

Delightful Italian restaurant in Guildford, service was excellent, food was superb and charming atmosphere

From start to finish, the service was fantastic! We were greeted as soon as we walked through the door, made us feel so welcome and also knew we were there for a special occasion. Food was outstanding and full of flavour, our waitress described our specials in full detail which we couldn’t say no to. Beef ragu stole the show, I look forward to returning and trying more of their delicious menu. Thank you to the team who looked after us this evening!

The environment was very nice and the food was great, we will go again!!!!

Nice place but not an amazing place, overrated. Food was ok, choose special pasta with meat. My pasta was drowned in rich sauce-didn't see much meat. Felt bloated and uncomfortable for most of the night.

I ate well, I've been served well, I felt good and will be back :)

10/10, so far, the best restaurant in the town , fresh dishes with an Italian authentic flavour, and the best customer service in the town

Really good traditional Italian restaurant with totally tasty food and wine. No photos as the food was so scrumptious we eat before we thought about the review. Probably best to book as we popped in 3:00pm on Saturday as a break from Shopping and the place was full.

Went there for a Christmas get together and was absolutely yummy!!

Lovely Italian restaurant in Guildford. Food was delicious and authentic Italian. Top-notch service.

The place is cozy and the welcome is very warm. The kitchen reminds me of my grandmother's, that says it all! I highly recommend this restaurant.

Best restaurant in Guildford. Genuine food, Genuine staff!!

Great food, attentive service from Alfredo - would highly recommend you visit

Very good service from Cosimo and Alfredo, they always smiles for us and be politely! As well as all the staffs! The food is great too! I strongly recommend Vitello Marsala and Souffle😆😆😋

Very good experience here. All the staff are very kind and those foods and deserts are so so good! Excellent service from Cosimo and Alfredo (very handsome and cute hahahahahhaha) To anyone who wants to eat here, I highly recommend you to order the Souffle！

I would say that Positano is the best Italian restaurant in town. They offer incredibly delicious food, and the staff here are both professional and friendly. Cosimo and his team exude enthusiasm and passion for their work, leaving a lasting impression every time I visit. The soufflé is beautifully presented, the tiramisu is delightfully tasty, and the affogato is particularly impressive. Moreover, their prices are reasonable with around 40 for dinner (alcohol drinks included) or 12.15 for two courses lunch set. I have dined at many restaurants around the world, but they remain among the best. Guildford is indeed blessed to have such a restaurant.

Visited today with my son and his girlfriend for her Birthday treat. We all thoroughly enjoyed our lunch which was superb. The welcoming staff are so lovely and we will certainly be visiting again soon.

This is not only mine and my partners favourite restaurant it’s also my parents, I cannot ever recommend it enough to people the building / location is beautiful the staff are always so warm and attentive (it never feels forced) and the food for the price is just out of this world! I know we will be back many times over!

Awful food, Italian food…!!! Absolutely disappointing, we drove all the way from Hook to Guildford to enjoy Italian food based on people’s review. I cannot contemplate how people are giving Positano any stars?! Never again