Venerdi in Hackney

It's a nice looking restaurant and the waiting staff did a good job. The food, however, is painfully average. £17 for a salmon penne... which was supposedly pasta that is "homemade" but looks and tastes suspiciously like it came out of a packet. A few chunks of bland salmon, a few whole, uncut cherry tomatoes (?) In a bland, watery cream sauce. My partner had an equally disappointing meal. Just under 40 quid for 2 bowls of below average pasta. Won't be back in a hurry.

The food and service are good but why have they changed the sign at the front of the restaurant? It used to look actually nice and now it just look tacky from the outside. Whoever made that decision….

Friendly service and really lovely food

Nice restaurant, a tad bit pricey...£3.50 for small pub sized coke bottle was excessive. Food was also expensive for what it was.

Great food quality and portions sizes ratio to the prices, really recommend

Looking for somewhere to eat as we are new to this area, decided on here & was not disappointed. Had a mixture of staters followed by pasta for 3 of us & my daughter having one of the biggest pizzas I have ever seen! All tasted great & the service was excellent. Good food & good value for money, will definitely be back.

Venerdi Italian Restaurant Review: A Taste of Italy in Clapton Located in the heart of Clapton High Street, Venerdi Italian Restaurant is a true gem that combines convenience with a rich, authentic Italian dining experience. I recently visited with my partner, and from start to finish, our experience was exceptional. The service was warm and attentive, making us feel welcome from the moment we walked in. The staff were knowledgeable and accommodating, adding to the cozy yet vibrant atmosphere of the restaurant. For our meal, I opted for the lasagna, and my partner chose the tagliatelle with lamb ragu. Both dishes were simply delightful, embodying the flavors and textures you would expect in a traditional Italian kitchen. My lasagna was layered perfectly with rich, savory sauce and melted cheese, while the lamb ragu was tender and flavorful, perfectly complementing the fresh tagliatelle. Venerdi truly brings the taste of Italy to Clapton, and we left thoroughly satisfied. It's a place I would highly recommend for anyone looking for delicious, authentic Italian cuisine with great service in a fantastic location.

Lovely fresh pasta, nice staff. Delicious food and good quality.

The pasta was divine. I had the spaghetti bolognese through Deliveroo. It arrived al dente and thick and sumptuous and the sauce to die for. The best in Hackney!

I never write reviews but I had to leave one for this restaurant. Absolutely beautiful setting, energy was amazing, servers were lovely and attentive, food. was. phenomenal! My partner and I had our anniversary dinner there tonight and have been raving about it since we got home. 10/10, would absolutely recommend!

I went here for me and my girlfriend’s 3 year anniversary. The servers were nice and friendly and the food was amazing!! They even gave us a free drink each because it was our anniversary!!! 10/10 would certainly recommend.

Absolutely loved the food and service Ramzay the server was so polite and helpful Chef Nazir cooked a delicious pesto pasta !

Everything was 10/10. We were here twice in just 4 days. Class 🤟🏼

As a family it was a delightful experience at Venerdi Italian Restaurant:Venerdi Italian Restaurant - A Memorable Experience. Venerdi Italian Restaurant is the place to be. Venerdi Italian Restaurant stands out not just for its delectable food but also for its outstanding service and talented chef. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, creating the perfect setting for both intimate dinners and larger gatherings. The decor exudes a charming Italian vibe that enhances the dining experience. The staff at Venerdi are exceptional. They are friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive, ensuring that every guest feels welcomed and well-cared for. Their passion for hospitality shines through in every interaction. The chef at Venerdi is truly a maestro of Italian cuisine. Each dish is crafted with precision and a deep understanding of traditional Italian flavors. The dedication to using fresh, high-quality ingredients is evident in every bite. We highly recommend Venerdi Italian Restaurant for anyone looking to enjoy authentic Italian cuisine in a welcoming and vibrant setting. Buon appetito!

Lovely dinner . Had fried salmon with potatoes & for desert the chocolate fondant was amazing

Nice place, clean good location , food was a bit average, the seafood seemed defrosted. The portion sizes were great and good value for money but quality 3.5 at best out of 5, compared to Italy! It’s a good and decent place but don’t bring an Italian here!

I have been there numerous times, the food is always amazing very fresh cooked to perfection furthermore I had 3 children today and the staff were so great they have made us feel so comfortable, portions are so big atmosphere is child friendly and the staff is extremely polite professional and helpful this is a must visit place

Very tasty authentic Italian food and great service. Penne salmon is unforgettable!

Delicious, well prepared Italian cuisine. Couldn't fault a thing. Highly recommend 👌🏻

Good atmosphere, good products with fast service. I recommend +++

A beer and a lemonade for 12£. Not in crystal nor golden glass. We've been there also a couple of years ago and it disappointed us badly, but we were thirsty so decided to stop by. Pity because it was nice before.

I ate very well in this place, it exceeded my expectations, compliments to the chef and all the staff.

The food was extremely delicious! Very gentle and delicate service.

The atmosphere was very nice. 🩵 We ordered 3 types of pizza and they were all delicious. The staff is very good helpful. Toilets were very clean.

Really nice time, great food and a good time staff very friendly

Arrived with 4, they asked if we have a booking. We didn’t. They ignored us after walked around us and and were not polite at all. At least they could have offered a place to sit with two kids (they had free table which was reserved for later) but no, they were okay with a family with two kids standing outside in the rain waiting for a taxi while they had free tables inside. Of course we were not paying customers. Well I’ve been visiting this place for 10 years, but today was the last time.

Some fixes to drastically improve the experience: serve non-soggy pizza, put salt on padron peppers, take £2 off the cost of each glass of wine, and lose the fake plants and candles on tables Or just charge less. Servers were polite and friendly though!

Hilariously bad. Upon entering not even greeted & told to ‘sit wherever’. Had to ask for a menu 10 minutes after we sat at our table. Only a random fork on the table as cutlery. ‘Waitress’ knocked & smashed some poor guy’s wine off his table. Really uninterested and vague response with a friends life threatening food allergy ‘we can’t guarantee anything’, waitress (who spoke to us like a children’s tv presenter throughout) at one point started speaking to us through the bar decor separating the kitchen and restaurant. Literally After we ordered our 2nd round of drinks we’re told ‘we close in ten minutes’, and the cherry on the cake was being charged nearly 20 pound ‘discretionary service charge’ truly the faulty towers of restaurants. Absolute shambles of an overpriced place.

Terrible pizzas. Avoid if possible.

I have been meaning to write a review of this place for a while. I always found the food mediocre and OK at best for £17-£19 they charge for a plate of pasta (not freshly made) plus the wine list is a joke, but I understand it costs to run a venue like this. However, after coming in today at 4:50PM, I asked if they still had the lunch offer on. To this, the waitress wasn't sure, so I said, "Or, is the 5-10PM offer on?". To this, the floor manager replied, "It's OK." I ordered the carbonara and what arrived was greasy pasta literally swimming in a pool of fat, I managed to eat a little over a half before starting to feel it. When presented with the bill, I asked if they forgot to add the discount. Reply was that I have ordered at 4:50PM, which I was aware of, hence I asked them. "No, you asked me, if I had lunch menu." OK then. Not sure how the reply of "It's OK" conveys that, however, this is not about 15% off, it's about the rude floor manager being defensive and me genuinely having enough of a bad product. Shame as there isn't much else in Clapton pasta-wise, but will be spending the £20 plus a meal (before drinks) elsewhere.

Mellow vibe place on Sunday. Pasta was delicious. Staff were all friendly.

Great location and delicious foods. Service always been quick and friendly. I also met Mr. Anil and he took very good care of us, we will come again👍

Recently, I had the pleasure of visiting this bar, and I must say it was an exceptional experience, especially due to the extraordinary italian waitress who works on the weekends. Her professionalism, contagious smile, and attention to detail made my visit unforgettable. Thank you!

Everything here is perfect! I'm coming for the 2nd time. Thank you for the pizza and we bought a wonderful balloon gift for my child 🎈 the manager and staff are very nice👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

If I could rate it 0/5 I would. If you want to know why, just meet Anil. Devastated is an understatement and it’s completely RUINED my trip to London.

Great local resto. Food is very good, nice selection and we are regulars (also order delivery regularly). Pricing is very reasonable. Service always been quick and friendly. Atmosphere has good buzz usually.

Really love it here. The food and atmosphere are great. Have been here a couple of times and really enjoyed it. The only thing I don't recommend is the risotto. One of our party had it and it was very bland/not very nice.

Food was overpriced and bland, drinks were great and service was good. Manager was rude when we came in and ignored us and then told off our waiter for seating us without asking him about bookings, he then sat around doing nothing except complaining within earshot of our table. He also took part of the tip we had given to our waiter in front of us as we were leaving which I couldn’t believe. A shame to see those working hard treated this way, avoid this restaurant as you can get cheaper and better pizza elsewhere or make better pasta at home.

The menu had loads of options for a me Sea bass, Salmon, Seafood Pastas, Pizza or Garlic breads quite -larger .. nice and Various Salads. Plus the waiter a quaint young handsome chap Bernard ensured my SOLO Dining experience was greated with warmth and professionalism. He BERNARD made my experience worth to sharing and a worthy RETURN WITH additional numbers. Oops Bernard also ensured I didn't eat PORK.. in a dish in was about to order. Because I don't eat it... (Thank You Betnard). That was perceptive of him simply from my possible menu selections queries and queries.... He should be head waiter or hill be poached.......😁

Really nice place, cosy, especially in the winter. Food really nice.

Very despondent the food was average not fresh Managment very poor his name was anil he be ok cleaning not managing Italian restorant he should be there no recommendation

Went here tonight with a customer / friend ordered a seafood pizza and And pasta carbonara Food was dreadfull Calked the so called the supervisor over said to him , come on £25 for a pizza and it has more empty shells on it, than Southend sea front ggg my has , basically said it’s what it is , his attitude stank So what was meant to be a chilled out evening, ended up being a fight with a second rate pizza and pasta Avoid at all costs

Took my mate here as I’m local to area and he asked for a specific pizza with seafood! Charged £3 each extra for mussels, clams, prawns &calamari and he ended up with more empty shells than seafood. We made a point of saying only for them to poke around the pizza and bring same back saying the seafood had gone into it. He ate half of it and thought it awful, calamari like rubber and could not find the buried seafood. Again we mentioned it but when the bill came no discount at all ! I also make a much better carbonara than I ate there. I couldn’t believe that they totally ignored our complaint. I live around the corner and will never go back especially as they charged him £25 for a crap pizza. Overall the food is overpriced and not really that great at all. So if you wanna eat there, it’s expensive for bland food.

Italian restaurant in the lively Chathworth road. The kitchen is open all day long so it’s possible to have pasta and pizza at 3 pm when many restaurants in the area where closed. They have a discrete wine and soft drinks list. The food was quite good, we had a Parmigiana, Carbonara, Pomodoro and Aglio e olio pasta. The only downside is that they say on the menu that the pasta is homemade while it is not.

Horrendous and bland food! Overcooked lasagna and cold pizza. AVOID

Found completely by chance in a part of London we have never been to before. Couldn't have asked for a better atmosphere, friendly staff, and really good food and wine. Watching the kitchen made it a really different atmosphere to enjoy a meal before a show at Chats Palace down the road. Hope to revisit again.

Disappointing. We ordered gnocchi and risotto. Both dishes were brought out suspiciously quickly and were underwhelming. The rice in the risotto was loose when it should be sticky. The gnocchi was ok, but nothing I couldn’t make at home. Portions are large, but lacking in care and love. I had to get up from my seat to get service and my wine glass remained empty with no one coming to check. A disgrace to Italian food and hospitality with an obligatory service charge. We could have had a delicious Italian meal elsewhere for the price, but not at this establishment. Wine also unimpressive for the price. Struggling to find any aspect that was redeeming …

Amazing Pizza - GF options available

We loved Venerdi. We didn't have a great deal of time as we were going to a gig at moth club, but the service was excellent. The food was delicious. Next time we hope to stay for 3 courses and a bottle of wine. The only issue was it was very dark in the restaurant, I had to use my phone torch to read the menu.

I recently move to the area and wanted to pick up a late Tuesday night pizza to takeaway with my girlfriend. Our idea was to have a drink while we waited for our pizza on a night warm night. About halfway through the our drinks the pizza arrives boxed up. We thought about it, and came to the conclusion that there’d be no harm in eating a few slices while we finished our drinks, perched on the benches outside. As we’re sitting there the manager charges towards us angrily ranting about the rules stating we now must be charged extra because we were technically now dining in. He was aggressive and shocked us both. I tried to explain that the way he was behaving, not to mention the pettiness of the rule he was applying (it’s not like we were harming anyone, there was probably one other set of customers) would mean I’m not ever going to come back. I’m not sure he heard anything I said he was too busy shouting over us both. He charged us almost £7 extra. In hindsight I’m guessing he applied a service charge. Ridiculous and pathetic behaviour. We weren’t trying to get away with something, just didn’t want our pizza to get cold while we finished the drinks we paid for. The rest of the staff seemed nice, I feel bad for them having to work for him. Venerdis pizzas are nothing more than pleasant, their main stock in trade for me as a potential new regular was convenience and friendliness. We left after we finished our drinks, as we said we would, feeling like we’d been mugged. I meant what I said to him, I’m never coming back. Edit: the response to this, is definitely from the manage. To whom I would say - it’s your tone mate, grab yourself some human touch. You’re a hospitality manager not a vending machine

A bit overpriced, and certainly not authentic by any means, which is okay because they don’t present themselves as an authentic Italian restaurant, but the quality of the meals is pretty bad. It’s worse than what was ever made by someone from Italy cooking for you at home in their leisure. Spaghetti Ragu’s sauce is so salty, you can’t really eat much of it before putting down the fork. Meat in the sauce is too lean so it feels very dry, brittle and overcooked. By the look of the way they used garnish on the pasta (they stuck some greens upright in the noodles as though they are growing from them) it all felt a bit childish. Particularly avoid their salads - they are way too big in portions with way too much dressing (practically drenched in it). They served the salad together with the main meal, which was also unideal - by the time you work your way through the salad, the main meal gets cold. I left after barely touching the food and have still paid £47 for a very depressing meal.

Whilst waiting for my husband, who had an appointment at the local hospital, I popped in for a glass of wine (ahem). I received just the right level of service as I was feeling anxious. Lovely place. If I'm in the area again, will come back to try the food! Thank you x

Lovely food, especially the starters. The cocktails were all mixed very well.

Been here many times. Nice little Italian spot on Chatsworth road. I’ve been for brunch which was great (my favourite experience of all my visits). Nice fresh breakfast dishes. Lunch= good deals during the week. Salads are big and fresh and pizzas are freshly cooked and all is tasty. Sometimes a bit hit and miss with the service when it is busy. Pizzas (in my opinion) are a little over priced for what they are. Nice cocktails. DO NOT order for delivery as I don’t think it travels well or sits too long before the delivery driver collects it. I will continue to come back for nice Italian quick lunches

First class service and great food. We've been here several times and it's consistently good. The staff are always very helpful, kind and efficient. The food is always fantastic. My kids also love it and always feel welcome. It's such a great asset the Chatsworth Road.

Xenia is an extremely polite/friendly & welcoming server who took great care in making sure our needs were completely met. The food is truly DELICIOUS, the setting is stunning & the wine was amazing. This is at the top of our road so VERY local & I’m so pleased it is, we’re frequent customers.

Was served by Xenia. Was very helpful and kind! Great food and local too! Amazing Italian place and would recommend to anyone who enjoys italian.

The last time I was here I think the restaurant was under different, management but the food still tastes really good. Their waiters weren't the friendliest, but they weren't rude or dismissive either so maybe it was just a long day. The menu is vast with a lot of vegetarian options. I ordered the lobster pasta with a glass of wine and it all tasted really good; the price was very reasonable. They also sell some Italian snacks that are not readily available elsewhere in London.

Went there today. Food was bad. I used to be a regular 6 yrs ago. Quality was much nicer and it wasnt overpriced. Probably never gonna go back

Came for dinner with my bestie to celebrate 10 years of friendship. Manuel looked after us, he was amazing, friendly, funny and he recommended very good wine.

We visited a restaurant to meet friends. Delicious food, nice staff. Huge portions!

Venerdi‘s is our favourite local restaurant. The food is always excellent, staff very friendly, and all at a ver fair price. We‘ve been coming regularly over the years and it’s consistently great!

Shared a starter with my partner since we didnt anticipate such high prices, and half of the bill was the still water which we assumed was free (4 pounds for 2 small glasses) and the service charge even though we were there for 15 minutes at most. We were very disappointed unfortunately.

Went for lunch with family at this cosy restaurant in Hackney, greeted at the door by charming Emillia, excellent service provided by Thomas who was our waiter at the time from the very beginning, we ordered some starters and pasta, everything was delicious and we really enjoyed our stay, Thomas were very attentive and went us through all the dishes and offered us a dessert at the end which we didn’t have time so i went for coffee instead. I will definitely recommend to a friend, food is amazing! Well worth any penny!

Such attentive and friendly staff (shout out in particular to Pino, Wictor and Xenia). Excellent and innovative food. Warm, cozy and relaxed atmosphere. Would happily return.

Went as a walk in and was able to be seated straight away. Our server Xenia was very friendly with great humour. Food was lovely and prepared in great time which was brilliant for us as we were hungry.

Good italian meal. Pizzas better than pastas, I think. Really good service too, actually. Apparently I have to write 100 characters hence this final sentence.

Did have an all out dinner, amazing service. Xenia was so lovely. Would recommend

10/10, mussels were amazing, pasta top notch and real decent pizza. We were served by Xenia who literally gave such a lovely experience and made us feel right at home. Very attentive, ask for her! 😁😁

Why is the food here so expensive?! £15-£20 for a simple pasta dish? Used to be able to get a good dish here for £7/£8 but since it's been taken over the prices have gone through the roof and the food hasn't gone with it....

Charming staff (like really charming), amazing food, good price. Best lunch experience I’ve had in so long !!! Would give ten stars. Lookout for Thomas the waiter he is a wonderful person!

Decent portions, both adults’ and kids’ menu. The kids’ pizza was so big we had to pack it for takeaway. Shoutout to our waiter Wikor, you were amazing!

Listen, the food. Absolutely fantastic! Love the arancini, loooooved the pannacotta. Also, we were lucky to be served by Wiktor, a real one! Would definitely return.

We ate here as a family for the first time this evening. The food was fantastic and was authentic tasting. Our waitress Emilia was lovely and attentive, the atmosphere and decor was relaxed and comfortable. We would definitely consider visiting again.

Decided last minute to have a lunch. We were warmly greeted by Wiktor and attended to so nicely. Food was quick to come. Tasted so good - best food we’ve had since arriving in London. Fresh and top quality. Highly recommend. Will be our new...

Love this place! I visit here often. Cute atmosphere and very friendly staff- Wiktor especially. Food is delicious. Recommend to all.

Great pizza and even better service than you Wiktor! Did I mention how good Wiktor was? If I didn’t he was great

Victor was very accommodating in finding us a seat in which we could use our laptops. Loved the lasagna

Xenia made our evening was so helpful and fun Food was delish, good wine! I would recommend Venerdi for an evening meal

OBSESSED with this place, been visiting for 5 years. Always recommend to people, always bring my friends. But I literally just can't afford to visit anymore since the prices were put up. It's always been a 'treat' but I had to actually cancel my last monthly reservation after realising the cheapest vegi pasta I could get would be £18. ☹️

Drop by for lunch during the weekend while exploring the area. Great food and service! Excellent service from Wiktor!

This is my 2nd time coming here for the mussels with pizza dough top and it's an absolute banger. Shout out to our lovely server Wiktor!

Nice looking restaurant in a trendy area. As I read menu I realised it’s the same group of restaurants where I recently had a not too great experience. However other than food coming out far far too quickly between courses, the food was good. And...

It’s my partners birthday and we wanted some good food, well The food was sensational and stunning best restaurant we have ever been too will definitely be back and will be recommending to family thank you for having us xx

Such a perfect evening. Huge portions, quality ingredients, just like the real Tuscany. You should should order the tagliata and gran romana - yum!!!p.s, great playlist xx

Been here a couple ✌🏽 times now and the food has always been Spot on! 🎯 I wanna say it's kinda pricey, cause it kinda is! ...BUT I know the ends ain't what they used to be, since white folk and money moved in, So I won't!! 🤫🤔😁 But Regardless, the pricey food & drinks were on point! 😁💯 and I'll defooo be back, and would defoo recommend it to others too! 💯🏅

Just a legitimately great local restaurant for 🍕. They have excellent GF bases too (though cooked in the same oven so won't suit coeliacs). Negronis five stars. Really good service today from Xenia. Attentive, good sense of humour. Great lunch. Thanks Venerdi.

We was greeted by very friendly staff. They made sure we was happy with our table outside but then it started to rain and it was too hot to go inside. They moved things around to accommodate us. Food is amazing. Staff very attentive. Would...

Very nice lychee cocktail. Good vibes and music. Food served quickly and delicious pear starter. Friendly staff

Kieran's mussels were fabulous. Good music vibes and chill atmosphere. My friend also loved the play list.

The cocktails were exquisite The food was divine The service from Manuel was 5 star, so attentive and a lovely smiling face. We said we wanted to share a pasta, so he had the portion split between two plates without question - perfection

It is a dream to find real Italian food, excellent staff and very attentive, delighted by the selection of wines. Vibe is relaxed, perfect spot to meet with friends and have a chat. Coffee is best in the area

VenerdiI is wonderful in every way; environment, vibe, staff and the food is REALLY great. They also offer a lovely selection of cocktails.

I first visited Venerdi a few years ago and enjoyed it. This second, recent visit, on the other hand, was not great. Much of the food was woefully underseasoned (especially the calamari, which came with old-looking citrus) and the quality of ingredients was low. My...

Good food, friendly and fast service. Also reasonably priced

Siamo stati a cena in questo magnifico ristorante la sera del 24 giugno. Personale gentilissimo e disponibile! Ambiente ben curato,...

Siamo stati a cena da Venerdì con la famiglia durante il nostro soggiorno a Londra, cucina tipicamente italiana nel vero...

We had mussels and Arancini to start and it was amazing. The mussels are served with a fresh doughy bread that you open to get to the mussels. So clever and well presented. For mains we had 3 pizzas, a Margarita with anchovies, a figo...

Great spot for a chill Saturday afternoon. Love the neighbourhood. Nice decor and great food. Xenia was a lovely host

Such a nice mid week treat. Sat outside with the doors open, nice music, lovely staff and really good food! would definitely come again!