Umberto's Chalice, Hornchurch

I was quite amused to read the review that called the restaurant 'hideous'... LOL... it is very quaint and basically decorated, that is correct, but you go to a restaurant to eat at the end of the day. The food is always excellent and the service is warm. The waiters are always very helpful and the atmosphere intimate as it is so small. I find the fact that it is so quaint quite attractive. I often dine in 'up market' and modern restaurants, which look wonderful but the food is no better. Some people are just ignorant at time and also cannot spell, what a surprise haha

Awfull

I took my Wife and Children to Umbertos yesterday for the first time and I am still quite depressed by the whole experience. I have never felt compelled to write a review before this.

Apperance and atmosphere. Hideous

I should have gone with my gut reaction and turned around and walked straight back out again. The restaurant is tatty with holes in the plasterbaord, ( presumably where some one has punched it). The decor resembles one of those '' Traditional English pubs'' that you might find in the back streets of Magaluf. Maybe if the restauarnt wasn't so glaringly bright we may not have noticed how grubby it is. I struggled to find anything remotley Italian about it. There was no atmosphere or even music and we could clearly hear everyones conversation in the room.

The Washroom! Is like a step back in time to the seventies with the salmon pink sanitary wares and tiles hanging off the wall.

There was no sign of the warm welcome advertised on the web site. We were greeted by grumpy head matre d who couldnt even manage a smile.

The restaurant was about a third full and clientele generally aged and I assume made up people who have been going there for years or first timers like us. The tables are incredbly small and packed so closely together that you are elbow to elbow with the other guests and have to ask people to move thier chairs when you get up. A £6 dimmer switch would sort the lighting out.

Food -Below Average

For starter I ordered the Mushrooms and blue cheese which arrived as four small button mushooms in the middle of the plate and nothing else, and tasted bland. My wife had the the chichen liver pate which was ok but came with a couple of slices of Kingsmill and a bland salad with no dressing.

For Main couse I ordered the Red Mullet, I was served three fish the size of sardines that were over cooked and covered in some kind of Italian Gruel. You could see all the ingredients were there in the sauce, Olives, onions, garlic, Capers and tomatos but somehow the chef had managed to make it taste of nothing. This was served with a selection of cold vegetables served on some kind of prison tray. The children shared a main cource of chicken which they both left.

My wife had lasagne which was inferior to a supermarket bought ready meal and was proportionaly about 90% pasta and 10% other stuff.

We ordered a bottle of the pinot Grigio which was like none I've ever tasted and was more like a cheap Chardonay.

We decide to skip desert! The damage for this was over £80 and would recommend anyone who has not been before to give it a miss. Maybe the chef had a bad day but I can only assume that the people who have written these other reviews have never experienced good Italian food.

David, Hornchurch

we eat out often and hadnt been to umbertos for a while. I forgot just how good it is. The food was excellent, service good and good atmosphere. will definatly go again soon! Proper food ,well presented but not poncy - proper portions. Piping hot as well. And a bar next door if you fancy a drink.

I have to Umbertos's twice this year & plan to go back this weekend for my partner's birthday.

The place is warm, welcoming & very friendly.

The food is of a very high standard & each time I have been, I could not finish my meal so they glady gave me a doggy bag to take home which I thought was very nice - they woud rather I took it home & ate it than it be wasted.

It is a small family run restauant, good food, good wine & good atmosphere.

For a local eatery, slightly pricey but you get what you pay for.

if you like Italian food, give Umbertos a try :-)

Umbertos is a friendly family run restaurant. Every effort is made to make people feel relaxed and comfortable. Food is freshly cooked on the premises and is always of a good standard. I have been to Umbertos to celebrate several family events and I have never been disappointed with the standard of the service or the quality of the food.

A lovely resturant. Am just about to book again for my birthday.

i went there for the first time and I had calves liver, it was huge very greasy, no ssauce unless you paid extra, the bacon was greasy streaky bacon the onions was some sort of reconstituted mess, no mashed potato or crushed new potatoes to go with it, all the vegetables were extra. The liver tasted as if it was reconstituted very very soft and unappetising! Another guest had Veal Millanese which was not crispy but soggy and no spaghetti with it! Another had Lasange which she said was awful. Two others had fish, Sea Bass and Skate which they enjoyed!

The atmoshpere was very dull and old fashioned, so all in all a very miserable evening and very expensive for very poor food and setting!

The atmosphere is friendly its like sitting in a family members home, the service is exceptional I always feel so welcome when I eat here the staff are superb. At one particular meal the waiter played his guitar. When you look around the restaurant you can see little bits of Italy.

The food is lovely I love the way the vegetables come up seperatly the plate is not overwhelemed with food you cannot finish. I have never had a bad meal here.

I reccommed this restaurant and will continue to eat here, in fact have already booked for 2010

My wife and I go to Umberto's Chalice for our wedding anniversary every year. It is an amazing little place and would not change it for the world.

The food is very authentic and specials are to die for. Rustic homemade Italian food what more could you ask for.

We had a great night at Umberto's Chalice, Hornchurch, the food was first class, the ribs fantastic! one of the best local resturants I have been to in a long time! The staff are friendly and treat you like a regular customer, theres a waiter who plays his guiter and sings! makes for a great ending to a brilliant night!