La Romantica, Rayleigh

In wanting to find somewhere to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary with our family, we chose La Romantica in Rayleigh. Having known it has been a consistent part of Rayleigh High Street for many years I felt we would be looked after - I was not wrong. From the first contact by telephone, Marco was very helpful. 13 of us, ranging in ages from 28 - 85, arrived, we were made to feel very welcome. All the other tables were occupied, indicating this was a well supported restaurant.

We ate mainly from the Sunday lunch menu, and everyone enjoyed their choice of starters - the melon and parma ham looked very plentiful. All the dishes were attractively presented. One of our party asked for her chicken to be served without any sauce, no problem Madam was the reply. The portion of roast beef was very good and the vegetables plentiful and cooked to our liking. The desserts were yummy too, especially the tiramisu. I heard no complaints about the house wines either.

As we were the last party to sit down, we were the last to leave but were not made to feel rushed.

Everyone enjoyed themselves and we would certainly return. A family run restaurant is becoming a thing of the past, especially in High Streets, it was a welcome change to the usual Ask/Pizza Hut etc.

Thank you La Romantica for helping to make our day special.

i am not sure there is anything particular italian about this restaurant other than the (possibly fake) italian accents that the waiters have.

The starters were terrible quality, nothing was particular fresh, or imaginitive or well presented.

The mains and desserts were plentiful but i have had better in pretty much every italian restaurant i have ever been to, oncluding the chains such as pizza express or ask.

The service was verging on friendly but utterly incompetent. The waiters were good but had too much to do., the waitress / bar woman (possibly the owners wife) was incompetent and rude. we asked her for things several times and. ohing happened, as soon as we asked another member of staff it was done straight away.

The best part of the night ( except leaving) was seeing how many times we could ask this waitress for a drink or a menu before we actually got it... we got thirsty!

this restaurant needs to shave its head and start again.

This little place is quite good.

It has been owned by the same family for over forty years.

It is a friendly place and tries to keep up with current Italian trends.

The prices are not Michelin and the food is basic with enough of it.

The special nights are brilliant with the tribute shows, you go to join in and enjoy yourself........

Resent chef changes (3 months) have been for the better. Basic wine choice is adequate but not the cheapest.

Deserve to be supported. A great deal better than the cattle market service of the new places in this area.

Hope they don't suffer with the current economy.

Terrible experience and a real shame as we use to love visiting La romantica. The food is now well below par but not as bad at the service. The service spoiled our whole experience. The management are especially pushy and intimidating; and the live music is god awful.

La Romantica use to be such a lovely restaurant and real gem - the food has deteriated and the service is despicable. The less said about the themed nights the better.

Looks a little dated now - our party of four were allocated atable with an end up against a wall - so no chance of widening your elbows if you wanted to.

Didn't get off to a good start when the rolls arrived - no imagination at all - soft baps of the kind you buy cheaply in Tescos - no choice at all. Talk of first impressions.

Main courses were OKish but overall pricey for what is on offer. The ice cream dessert was both miniscule and of poor quality. A fairly nondescript Pinot Grigio was quite pricey.

I have been going to La Romantica for approx 7 years and i can honestly say that i have never been disappointed with the food, service and the friendly atmosphere. I returned yet again last night with my husband and 3 kids off the cuff and they welcomed us - no problem !! We all had a fab evening as always. Its my 40th birthday soon and i have booked the resturant for 50 of my friend and family as i know the boys will do me proud. no wonder they have been there for 41 years may it continue !!!!!!

I have been dining at La Romantica in Rayleigh for the past 2 years since moving to the area. Each and every time i find the service, food and ambience to be of the highest standard. Exceptional value for money and a thoroughly enjoyable experience every time. Their Tribute evenings are a fantastic night out and i am about to spend my 2nd valentines evening there. I would far rather dine out at La Romantica anyday than a chain like Ask any day, cos its personal with that extra special touch of Italy.

We re-visited this restaurant for the first time in about ten years. It is very dated, and as with your previous reviewers found the staff quite slow, the food was not of a very good standard, the rolls were cheap and we asked

for some jugs of water for the table which they were unable to offer and gave us a couple of glasses and some bottled water. Why can't they provide some nice bread like most other Italian restaurants!!!. This restaurant needs to move forward and think about their customers more and not live in the past, total refurbishment is required.

Went to La Romantica for a leaving meal. It was our first time there.

Staff were a little slow but friendly. It was the worst meal I can ever remember having. The food was not freshly made and had no taste to it and for the price we paid it was disgusting! I didn't finish the meal and I wasn't the only one. The bread rolls obviously haven't changed they were still the kind that I would expect to get from a Chippy. To be honest I wish we did go to the local Chippy, it would have been a lot tastier and definitely worth our money!!

I wouldn't want to be around if Gordon Ramsay did visit this restaurant!!! How embarrassing!

This was the only restaurant on town that had a table available at short notice - now I know why!

Food, distinctly average, one meal had to be returned as it was cold. The rolls on the table were the type of rolls you'd get in a chippy for a butty with no alternative bread offered when we asked the old waiter but when we asked the younger waiter he offered garlic bread (at an extra cost). The older waiter (the owner?) was pretty unhelpful.

It's not romantic and has very old fashioned decor.

A set meal for £12.95 was advertised in the window but apparently this deal was not available on a Saturday so we took the old guy out and asked him to point out where it stated this on the poster. Of course, it didn't state it at all. He told us it was stated on their website which I have since found out to be incorrect as well.

We won't be going back. Ever. I would rather starve.