The best restaurants serving Italian food in Southend-on-Sea East of England

Family was fed and watered with some great dishes - very yummy 😋 lots of traditional foods that was appetising, portions great and Victoria looked after us.

Been going to this restaurant for years, and it's always been great. However, the meal I had there last night and the service was awful. I wouldn't normally comment, however when you see other people getting better service just because they are the friends of the restaurant staff, it really annoyed me. The starter was fine, then had to wait 45 minutes to get out mains, which we had to ask for, and the waiter gave us a nasty look when we did. We'd also finished our drinks and nobody seemed bothered to come ask us if we wanted another, or to clear the empties. So we took our empties to the bar and ordered there, still waited another 20 minutes to get new drinks though. Whilst a couple next to us (friends of the waiter) was being treated like royalty by the staff, got their food fast and drinks whenever they wanted them. Their portions were massive, whilst we were left feeling more hungry after the meal then before. When we finally got our mains, I had Pasta and the waiter asked if I wanted some grated cheese. I said yes please, and saw him leave to never come back again. In fact, I saw him giving parmesan cheese to what felt like literally everybody else in the restaurant but me. I tried waving him over but was ignored. Our mains were cold and dry, like they'd been made then left under a heating lamp and then forgotten about. We had already decided we weren't going to tip, but when we got the cheque, they had put a 10% service charge on for the first time ever, which given the rubbish service was a joke! I've been in there when it's busy, and never had service so bad. I probably wouldn't have the hump if everyone had been treated the same, but when the friends of the staff (and it seemed to be alot of their friends in there last night) get better treatment then all the other paying guests, it rancles me. I will never go back there after last night, there are better Italian restaurants in the area, but we go to this one out of loyalty. Well never again, such a shame!

Pre-theatre dinner in a lovely restaurant. The place was very busy at 8pm when we arrived. Told staff we needed to be be gone by half nine and they were happy to accommodate this request. Portions are very generous and the prices are very reasonable. The food was delicious and everyone was happy at our table. Also the complimentary limoncello at the end was a nice touch. We will definitely be back to enjoy the food at a more leisurely pace.

10 of us visited for dinner last week. Holly our waitress was fantastic - she couldn’t have done anymore to make us all feel welcome and cater to everyone’s requests - thank you!! The food was also great, the pizzas are delicious and we’d all highly recommend the pistachio tiramisu! We will be back!

Booked Ricardo's for my recent birthday, with family and a couple of friends, there was 12 of us in all (plus a couple of babies) the restaurant was nice and busy with a good buzz, we were all on one table. The service was excellent and the food amazing (we mixed between the 2 menu's some had the a la carte and some the set menu) the costs were reasonable inc the drink (which is where so many other places often put their prices up, Ricardo's was reasonable). Will happily go again !

I recently dined at La Casetta and had the pleasure of trying their pasta carbonara. The dish was rich and creamy, with a generous amount of pancetta that added a delicious smoky flavor. The spaghetti was cooked to perfection, coated in a velvety sauce that had the right balance of cheese and seasoning. While the presentation was simple, the taste was truly satisfying. Beyond the food, the service was exceptional. The staff was attentive, friendly, and made sure we had a great dining experience. If you’re looking for a cozy spot with delicious pasta and top-notch service, La Casetta is definitely worth a visit!

Food is fantastic, fresh and authentic.. Service is superb… Front of house, Francesco, is just fantastic.. Lovely Valentines Day lunch which was so worth the 25 mile drive to come to.. You could choose from the Set Lunch menu, Chef’s Special menu or Alacarte menu, all excellent.. Looking forward to coming back soon and trying the Sunday Set Lunch… Thank you for a lovely experience..

Lovely place. Had a delicious lunch.

A gem of a restaurant!!! Lovely atmosphere and such.a welcome !! Food was delicious. Will be back !

This restaurant only opened under this name last month and appears to have a new menu etc. It was formally called II Palazzo and from the dates of the reviews below they all refer to the "previous" restaurant. Service was Ok but instead of the large dining room shown in the photos we were all packed into tables set out in the former bar area with about two feet between tables. Food was Ok

We are so pleased to have found this excellent restaurant. The food was freshly prepared and to a very high standard. The lasagne was delicious as was the pollo Milanese with a scrumptious spaghetti bolognaise. The garlic bread with mozzarella was also a big hit. We will definitely return.

Visited La Sirena with the family for my partner’s birthday. We had been recommended by a friend as one of our party has dietary requirements. The service we received was outstanding. The food was delicious, lamb shank, pizza, pasta and sea bass were all excellent as were the desserts. We will definitely be back and will highly recommend La Sirena. Thank you - 10/10

Great food and atmosphere just a pain to find parking

Excellent choice for a pre theatre dinner. Had the two course set meal before 7pm. This had a big choice, the food was really good with big portions. Excellent value for money. Service was very polite and happy. Thoroughly recommended thanks.

My wife and I attended Monti for a two course meal and found the food to be excellent. We ordered off the A La Carte menu rather than the set menu options, having calamari to start and a steak plus pizza for mains. Service from the staff was superb, especially from the manager who was monitoring all members constantly to ensure a high standard. The decor and layout was quirky and spotlessly clean. My wife and I would like to take this opportunity to once again thank the manager for all the help with our reservation and being able to move it at short notice due to our son being unwell on the Saturday evening. We are truly grateful and so glad we got to experience dining in your restaurant. We will be 100% returning in the near future. Richard & Lisa Bars