New Pizza Restaurant

[nellieb]

I've just heard that the Montecassino restaurant on Sydenham High St is going to be re-opening as a new pizza/pasta place later in Sept. Thank heavens I say...It's about time we had somewhere to go for a good Four Seasons!

[biscuit]

Yes - agree with NellieB - the old Montecassino was in dire need of a revamp to something smarter and more inviting. Looking forward to the restaurant re-opening. Sydenham is mysteriously short of smart, trendy Pizza/pasta eateries.

[Eagle]

Amazing , I recall the first incarnation of Monte Casino back in 68/69 , at the time the best place in SE 26,

4 to 5 arsons later it appears to be making another comeback.

[SMOKEIT]

....it was about to have it 6th attack if they didnt sort that place out.
hope they are opening it up with a modern and inviting frontage.

[marymck]

They're lucky in that they've got that little area in front where they could put tables ... and not just for smokers. It would be lovely to sit out there on those rare summery evenings.

[Eagle]

Trouble is sitting outside has become a no no for non smokers now.

[mikej]

Why's that Eagle? I love to sit outside in the warmer months.

[Juwlz]

I think Eagle means because of all the smokers being outside polluting the air.

Doesn't bother me though, as an ex smoker I love the whiff of a silk cut or two on a summer's eve.

[Dotkin]

Perhaps you're not enough of an ex-smoker Julwz!!!!

[poppy]

I can relate to the smokers outside thing. I was sitting outisde Blue Mountain a couple of weeks ago with a very, very new newborn in the pram when two middle-aged women sparked up right next to him. I was pretty pissed off actually! I could smell the smoke so it was definately reaching him because he was closer and facing them...

[ebbsingen]

I have been eating there recently, more than once, and it's pretty good indeed. Prices are inviting, so are the dishes. The son of the previous owner took over and he is carrying on the good tradition.

[lbere]

whats the general feeling about this place now? Thanks

[Willy]

I went here on Saturday night and I was disapointed, I really wanted it to be good but it isn't.

The service is great but the food is rubbish.

[natbeuk]

Really? That's a shame.

Personally, boyfriend & I love That's Amore. The owner greets us like old friends now, so it would feel like cheating if we went anywhere else!

[robotfish]

I love supporting local establishments but I found this place disappointing. We had an assortment of pizza & pasta between us one evening and found it all rather bland.

A shame, as the staff seemed to be very attentive & pleasant.

[Fairlawnresident]

As a regular of Lorenzo's in Crystal Palace I have to defend the quality of food at the Trattoria. My wife, daughter and I went for the first time last night and the food was stunning. Pizzas were both at least as good as Lorenzos which my 10 year old daughter is obsessed with. Service was welcoming and friendly.

Sydenham needs local residents to support businesses like this. Please don't be put of by those who claim the food is not good; this is simply not the case

[nellieb]

I agree with fairlawnresident, Sydenham needs some good places to eat and we've always found the food at Trattoria to be superb. The pizzas are great as is the wine, and as we always used to have to drive to Crystal Palace to eat before, we welcome a nice local place to eat!

[Chazza]

+1 for Trattoria. I'm pretty sure there's a thread full of praise for the new place. We haven't been back to Lorenzo's since Trattoria opened because, frankly, TR's pizza is just as good as Lorenzo's and it's bigger!

[crimson1]

Sydenham needs local residents to support businesses like this. Please don't be put of by those who claim the food is not good; this is simply not the case[/quote]

Merry Christmas to all!

I totally agree with "Fairlawn resident" and have nothing but heart felt PRAISE for Trattoria Raffaele (spelling correct?).
The quality of Trattoria's food and warm friendly service are second to none. (beats Lorenzo's hands down in my humble opinion).

I know this is not about the original thread BUT ......Fairlawn also mentioned a bug bare of mine about the importance of supporting local businesses (if we want to avoid living off a dead high street). I'd extend Fairlawn's sentiment that if all Syders residents stopped shopping at the enormous Savacentre which has contributed to bleeding Sydenham High street dry - and instead do our shopping more locally i.e. from the shops all down the High street then surely the high street would thrive and WE would benefit. We're lucky to have such a fair choice of shops for our daily needs- so let's just hope they do not become further casualties of the "crunch".

Has anyone read the book "Ghost Britain?". Savacentre will never suffer as it attracts people from all over so really won't be too hurt if we all changed tracks and bought our everyday goods from the High street.

Now that's off my chest - SEASONS GREETINGS TO ALL

[Willy]

So..we should support restaurants that serve sub standard food?

I didn't have the pizza but the people I was with had the Saltimboca (horrible), the meatballs (horrible), and the arrabiatta (horrible), if you can't cook the classic Italian dishes then there is something seriously wrong and the thing that makes it worse is that we were the only people in at the time.