The Montpeliano

I tried this place before I went to scalini and thought the veal Milanese with fresh pasta was the best ever… It is very good but I will have to tip my hat to scalini. The service here was very spotty. My waiter looked like was jacked up on like 20 shots of espresso and he was forgetting things left and right. Inside is dated but goes with the dishes they are serving. Worth a try for sure. Some Londoners sware by this place.

This is much bigger than the older restaurant on Brompton Road. Spacious, food was delicious and fulfilling.

The culinary gods must have been kind to us that cold day in London when Jamie W. and I found ourselves feeling peckish after being gobsmacked by the exorbitant prices of all the dining options in and around Harrod’s in Knightsbridge. I refused to eat at a fast food chain on my vacation even though Jamie was more than willing to detour into a Mickey D’s to get that back-​home feeling of comfort. We were sauntering about when we came upon this cavernous Italian place looking quite empty in the middle of the afternoon. Although they use white tablecloths and had all sizes of wine glasses on each table, it was a relatively casual spot.
Photos of the Rat Pack and Marilyn covered the walls (photo:
), which was appropriate since there is an old-​school ambiance about the place. They offfer quite a comprehensive menu (photo:
). Our meal started with quite a variety of rolls and breads in a basket (photo:
) and a plate of big green olives most addicting (photo:
). I knew Jamie was going to jump on one of their daily specials, the £ 18.50 Pappardelle con Polpettine di Vitello e Tartufo Nero (Pappardelle with Veal Meatballs and Black Truffle), which was a nice, hearty dish that wouldn’t have been out of place at our local neighborhood trattoria (photo:
).
I decided to go for the Set Lunch since it was only £ 17.50 for two courses although the limited choices were a bit too adventurous for Jamie’s palate. My starter was the Rigatone Alle Cozze e Burtaga (Rigatoni with Mussels and Roe Burtaga), which I liked even though it was light on sauce (photo:
). The mussels and chopped tomatoes were plentiful, but it needed some more lubrication to be truly satisfying. My entrée was the Fergato Agrodolce (Sweet and Sour Liver), which wasn’t a Chinese dish but truly a plate of pan-​fried livers in a wine-​based sauce that could have benefited from other ingredients like chopped onions or basil (photo:
).
The livers were a bit barren and redundant on their own, but they were tasty all the same. What was nice was that I got an unexpected side of mashed potatoes and sauteed broccoli and snap peas (photo:
). I also received the dessert of the day, a Panna Cotta with a drizzle of Strawberry Sauce (photo:
). Not to be left out by my embarrassment of riches, Jamie ordered the £ 5.50 Tiramisu which definitely tasted homemade with just the right sweetness (photo:
). As if that wasn’t enough, we were also given a plate of mini-​biscotti which we had no problem devouring (photo:
). So it really isn’t a culinary minefield around Harrod’s. Give the Montpeliano a go.
FOOD — 4 stars… surprisingly tasty Italian fare with the set lunch quite a deal if you’re hungry
AMBIANCE — 4 stars… quite spacious and very low-​key in the late afternoon
SERVICE — 4 stars… attentive and accommodating
TOTAL — 4 stars… a nice find in Knightsbridge should Italian tickle your fancy

Was invited here for dinner with a local Londoner/​friend and had a very pleasant evening. Tried their Lobster soup as a starter, then had the Lobster Linguini with a delicious tomato sauce. The breads were delicious and the house wine was decent. I especially loved the tiramisu for dessert! Overall, great ambiance, friendly service, and a good price point for the quality of food/​service you receive.

I would say this place is a solid three stars, pushing towards four stars.
I had dinner here last night with four other people. The service was top-​notch, the food was great and the environment was enjoyable. My main dish was swordfish with sauteed vegetables. I thought it was delicious, well-​cooked, flavorful, etc. I would not say it was über-​good, high cuisine, and thus the price (£23) not really warranted. But the meal was filling and tasty; I’m not putting it down. If this restaurant was in a different neighborhood I’m certain they could not get away with these prices.
So overall no real complaints. If you’re looking to go out for dinner in this area I’m guessing you might have some money to spare and this restaurant was very good. Have fun.

I had a very nice Valentines Day dinner with my boyfriend here last night. He told me a little something about what he read on the internet, but I think we were both pleasantly surprised at how beautiful the restaurant was. We were definitely underdressed for the occasion, but the wait staff seemed to not even notice. They promptly took our coats (I’ve never been to a restaurant where they took you’re coat! :O) and seated us in a nice quiet area.
Initially the service was a bit slow, but it got a lot better once we ordered our wines and meals. The food came out very quickly, so we didn’t wait long. I had a porcini mushroom risotto and he had a lamb with veg. I really enjoyed my risotto, especially since it’s not something I order very often. My boyfriend said his meal was nice, but he was more impressed by the veg than the lamb. Also, his portion was quite small. Afterward we had to make a stop at Subway so he could be full!
It’s true that the restaurant is pretty expensive, but the vegetarian options are generally quite cheap, mostly around the 10 – 15 quid mark. Anything meaty or fishy, and you’ll easily go over 20.
The selection of dishes is really nice, and they had some really nice looking specials, including Valentines Day themed ones. As we were leaving, I was even given a large heart shaped chocolate. I actually forgot about it until this morning, but I’ll definitely be devouring that soon :)
It’s a very nice place to take a date, or bring family for a special occasion. But be aware that between 2 people you’ll easily spend over £60, much more if you’re planning on starters or desserts.

like Dumas’ ‘The Three Musketeers’ this restaurant is French
French… and it knows it is.
When I was younger it was cool seeing French Chelsea players like Marcel Desailly and Frank Lebeouf at Montpeliano but I feel like as of late
the restaurant has gone past its prime. Very traditional in menu and design, Montpeliano is a fine and classy French restaurant suitable for a casual date and recommended for it’s 50’s London flavor.
clearly well above mediocre but nothing modern tourists would go ga-​ga over.

Old school italian restaurant but attracts an eclectic crowd from stars to regulars who have eaten there for 30 years. Most wonderful food, attentive service, great for kids or grandparents. Not cheap but personally given the quality the bill.