Pappa Ciccia - Putney

Marcela (22 February 2008)

I used to like this place for fresh and good food for the price. The staff changed about six months ago and I think the chef has changed too. The food is now not as good, and the atmosphere changed to poor service, it isn’t the friendly place it was.

Last time I was there my bill was magically increased by £10 without explanation. When I pointed it out they made the change with a cursory apology. I used to recommend this place, but now I’m not going to.

James (28 February 2005)

We used to love this place, which served fresh Italian food at reasonable prices. However, a change of ownership about a year ago coincided with a severe drop in quality. We discovered the reason for this when we finally complained after several terrible meals there, including a "risotto" costing £10 that was no more than a plate of boiled Uncle Ben's style rice with tinned tuna and artichokes tipped into it. The waiter initially insisted that it was genuine risotto and that arborio rice was used, as stated in the menu, but when we asked him to show us the packet that the rice had come from, he admitted that the food is not cooked on the premises but prepared in a warehouse and reheated on site. No wonder their food doesn't taste fresh any more - it isn't!