Had a wonderful evening in this friendly restaurant. The food was home cooked and wonderful, the wine list was very reasonable and the service was spot on. Highly recommend a visit and next time we are in SE London we will definately return.

Located at the foot of the Sydenham high street, family-run Trattoria Raffaele has been delighting locals since 2008 with its menu of authentic, homely and fresh Italian food served in decor I can only describe as 'charming'.

Sourcing ingredients locally and living by the motto "to provide great food, not fast food", each dish is a labour of love which is quite evident with each bite. What sparked my interest though was the promise of fresh pizza with bases all made by hand onsite daily. So no surprises then when, once seated, a order of a pepperoni pizza was made shortly after along with the gnocchi sorrentina completing a casual night out.

Like the decor, the meal that arrived I can once again only describe as 'charming' on first sight. The presentation certainly isn't polished but there is something quite beautiful and homely about it which I actually find makes the meal feel more relaxed. What the dishes lacked in aesthetics though, it more than made up for in flavour. The gnocchi was delicious served in an intense tomato sauce which made the tastebuds jump but it was the pizza that brought me here and it proved to be worth the journey; the base, topped with a generous amount of ingredients, was springing with life and had the fluffy consistency which is only achieved through hard labour by hand. Without question this has become my first thought when looking for pizza locally and I'm sure I'm not alone in that respect.

In summary then, a really enjoyable meal with fresh, authentic Italian flavours in a casual, relaxed environment which gives you that fuzzy feeling only a local can - a gem in the Sydenham area.

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What a wonderful, cosy, welcoming restaurant. Service was flawless and charming, the decor is lovely - checked tablecloths, retro posters and family photographs, and the prices are reasonable. The food is outrageously good! Best dough balls I’ve ever had! Delicious homemade pastas, they serve pizzas too, and a range of Italian desserts. They have lots of lovely wine and cocktails too. A really joyful, happy place. Will most certainly go back!