Strada

A chain that I like!
I’ve had many things here, from pizza to pasta and everything in between.
I had the most delicious and filling starter of mushroom in a cream sauce on polenta, I don’t ‘even like polenta and I liked this. The sauce was super good.
Overall, if you’re in a bind, need food now, its not a bad place to go. I find it lovely.

This location is my first and only Strada I have ever been to. And after five visits have finally decided it was time write my review.
Lets get a few things out of the way. First off, this is not high end dining, nor is it some trendy super eclectic restaurant. Strada is a simple, casual eatery that does basic Italian dishes. And for what it is, Strada delivers some of the best.
For those of you back in California, think Pasta Pomodoro. But this is miles better than Pomodoro. Maybe it’s the proximity to Italy that gives Strada the advantage over Pomodoro to execute some really terrific pastas and pizzas? Or maybe it’s just the fact that they use better ingredients and know how to prepare food in a way that kicks Pomodoro’s ass?
Strada is so good that on two occasions while on long layovers at Heathrow, we have hopped on the Tube and over to Marylebone just to have lunch here.
Yes, I realize there are Stradas closer to Heathrow, but we had a friend who lived within a few blocks of this location — hence we ended up at this one.
The service is very good. The pizzas are just about as good as you will find back in San Francisco, and just about as good as the ones you would find at Delfina. The menu is varied with enough choices for even the pickiest of eaters to find something they would like. Strada is vegetarian friendly. And the pricing of the entrees is very reasonable and will not put a very easy on the wallet.

it is a pizza place like any other this particular one has bad service. things can go wrong at any place but here staff seems not concerned about it

I’ve visited this branch of Strada several times and the service can be very hit and miss. The first time, the staff was attentative and friendly, but it may have had something to do with the fact that we were a family. The other times (just 2 of us) the service was slow, and we had to wait 10 minutes for a menu, then another 15 minutes for the wine we ordered.
However, the food is always fresh and good quality (Seabass — delicious, Fillet steak — melt in the mouth). It’s a shame the service lets it down.

Strada is a great ‘chain’ of italian restaurants, but doesn’t feel like a chain restaurant. Good selection of pizza, pasta, risotto and meat dishes. They give bottles of complementary water on the tables which is a plus point. Service is usually swift and it’s good value for money.