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.
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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!
Have been trying to get a booking here for weeks and now I know why it's so tough! The food is unbelievably good, just great traditional Italian food. The dough balls are out of this world, also had the homemade Papardelle with lamb ragu and it was sensational. The pistachio and white chocolate cheesecake was also ridiculously good. All of the staff were so friendly and helpful. Will definitely be back - if we can get a table!
Was walking past and popping into the restaurant they squeezed us in without a booking. Service food and atmosphere were very good. We will be back
What a great find. Small but perfectly formed. Staff were lovely and the owners are great. Really comfortable atmosphere and loved seeing photos of the family and restaurant over the years. On to the food. We had the bruschetta with burrata and crispy parma ham for starters. Was fab. I then had the homemade papadelli with pork, nduja and rosemary. Absolutely delicious. Will be definitely visiting again soon. There was so much on the menu that I'm excited to try
Fantastic Italian. There are no other words for it. The owner is friendly, the food is fresh, and it feels like sitting in a restaurant in Italy. You better book if you want a table, they are popular! (And it's not hard to see why)
Edit: as good as usual! I'm going regularly and it is amazing!
Such a lovely place with amazing authentic food and lovely staff. Will definitely go again with my family. Thank you Trattoria Raffaele we had a blast.
The food is always fantastic, and the service is with warmth. Repeat visits are a must!
Absolute best Italian restaurant outside of Italy. Every bite is so delicious that you have instant regret straight afterwards, as you know you’re getting closer to finishing your perfect meal. The service is always outstanding and it has a great family atmosphere.
This place is an absolute GEM!!!! Incredible authentic Italian food, warm & friendly service and welcoming family vibes. They go out of their way - relaxed, homely yet professional and exceptional service. One of my favourite restaurants in London. Just ask Raffaele and Maria for their recommendations and be prepared for food heaven!!! 😋
Staff were very friendly and accommodating. The restaurant itself is quite small so I would recommend booking. The portions were reasonable for the price, but could have been bigger. The garlic bread to start was lovely, as was their daily special mixed berry cheesecake (and a very good portion size). Overall a pleasant evening at a good price!
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