La Ballerina in City of London, Westminster

Looking for late supper after seeing a West End show, we stumbled upon this restaurant. What a find! We were warmly welcomed and quickly had a drink in hand. Classic menu with all the favourites. A regular at the table next to us recommended the cannelloni- a brilliant choice. All the familiar wines are found on the wine list - all reasonably priced. Food was excellent and generous portions. The highlight was complementary limoncellos followed by Darcy, the patron, joining us and offer more complimentary drinks. We were overwhelmed by the whole dining experience - lovely ambiance, good food and friendly service. A real find and so refreshing compared with the chain restaurants nearby. Ideal for lunch, a long dinner or a late supper.

I ordered the pizza special and it was very poor. (I am certain it’s a frozen pizza from a supermarket, despite the giant sign outside saying homemade pizza LOL) And the waiter added his own 12.5% tip to the bill. Cheeky bugger! There are plenty of better places in Covent Garden. Avoid

It was wonderful eating here. The food is incredible. On their main menu (though not on the desert menu) they offer to make meals gluten free and they are really good. The server Rehman was especially kind. When it got really busy I got the feeling that the tables were too close together. I will definitely come back. At times when it’s not too busy, it’s a lovely calm space in the busy and loud heart of London.

Lovely food and wonderful staff, especially Reham!☺️☺️

I had a wonderful dining experience here! The Pennette Arrabiata was rich in flavor, with the sauce perfectly coating the pasta. The Panna Cotta was absolutely delightful, with a smooth and silky texture complemented by a delicious caramel sauce. A special thanks to Rebman, who was incredibly friendly and attentive, making the entire dining experience even more enjoyable. I highly recommend this restaurant and will definitely be coming back!

Place is very nice with amazing food Pizzas are very fresh and delicious Nice pasta must try Panna arbiata And tiramisu.

Place is very nice with amazing food Pizzas are very fresh and delicious

good place for pizza, service it's also really good

Restaurante acogedor, comida sencilla, buena, precio correcto y en una zona bonita. son muy amables. Volveríamos a repetir sin duda.

The service is good - friendly, helpful staff - and the prices reasonable considering the location, but the food is an approximation of Italian, nothing like the real thing. The "sirloin" steak was NOT sirloin steak - some parts you couldn't have swallowed even after a lifetime's chewing, and it's never nice having to remove a chunk of chewed meat from your mouth and put it on the side of your plate (which I had to do three times). You're probably safe with the pizzas on offer, but the main dishes were like AI versions of Italian cooking - soulless.

Great place, great food!! Prawn pasta was amazing. Would definitely come again!

We had a wonderful time at the restaurant. The food was delicious, the service quick and timely and the ambience lovely. Rehman ensured that our meals were special, kudos to him and the entire staff!

We where welcomed by a very well mannered manager. All the food was excellent. We surely recommend this place to more friends and relatives. Thank you for your service and keep up your good work.

The servers were very nice 🙂👍. The food was good.

Dinner was wonderful and relaxing. The service was excellent. The manager Rehman and his whole team made us feel welcome and like VIPs. Thank you so much. We recommend La Ballerina if you would like a great meal with a cozy experience and great value/prices.

Lovely little place in covent garden. Food was lovely and great service. Would recommend.

I took my daughter there before going to the theatre. I saw other menus offering pre theatre menus. Ballerina is more expensive than others . The portion size was very bad and food quality terrible . I wouldn’t recommend this restaurant. Would I go again definitely not give it a miss

It's not an authentic Italian sadly and the waiter we had wasn't very friendly and didn't have hospitality skills - the ballerina pizza wasn't as good as I was expecting and certainly not as good as other Italians I've been too! The pasta dish my partner had felt like it had been left out waiting - no spoon was given for the tagliatelle that other establishments offer - place was cold due to the close proximity to the door - hardly any space around tables so I kept getting interrupted by people trying to pass behind me.

Very disappointed with this restaurant. The service is very slow. Waited around 45 mins just to get a drink. It’s not run by Italians. The food is pretty much what you get from a harvester. We had a few meals brought out cold and all at different times. Such a shame.

This is by no means an Italian restaurant, even though they call it so. We went with a group of friends and we were greeted by a very unhappy gentleman, italian, middle aged and bold. He was rude throughout he service, looking at us in a menacing way, ordering us to order only drinks at first and than food, making us wait longer than necessary. He was clearly bothered by our presence, I almost felt guilty for being there! The pizza was nothing less than a pre-made ball of dough which was electrical cooked, terrible! An insult for Italian people as well! We ended up asking for the service charge to be removed, that’s how bad it was, and we left the restaurant without being acknowledged by anyone, or even being thanked for spending the money, which I wish I never did.

The restaurant is overall pretty good, our waitress was really nice at the start, but later we had a different guy who was also nice just not as friendly. The restaurant is a little dated but it was clean and quite quiet. I had the ballerina pizza which I swapped the pineapple for mushrooms, was very nice. Overall I would recommend the prices are very good for central London.

Amazing service by Rahman and the staff, the food is amazing 👏 🤩

Our second visit and the food was just as delicious and reasonable, and the service is very warm and friendly. Pretty decorations all year around and It’s worth going for the homemade Tiramisu alone - I’ve been to Italy but this is the best I’ve had.

Great experience, food was very nice and the best was the host who was extremely nice and helpful as we were tight on time and he still made us feel comfortable and provided and very timely service! Thank you

Rehman was such a good lad, I was so happy with his service I exploded with joy!

Rehman was really great, his service was brilliant and even let my friend take the tray of tiramisu home with him!

Rehman was the best waiter ever, if I could take him home I would!

A good evening after watching the theatre. It’s a cozy and warm place. I was on a dinner with my partner. The gluten-free al-funghi pizza was good. The Minestrone soup can be worked on a bit more. Overall, worth it. Special thanks to our server, Rehman, who clicks good pictures too.

A very well served meal with very attentive staff. Our meal was well priced for central London and good quality. A definite recommend, especiallyfor families.

The local comfortable and looks so good. The service was amazing, very gentleman and the food very tasty. I recomend this place to everyone

Very nice fresh salmon and potatoes . Kid friendly menu

the food is not bad, but my family asked the waiters for ketchup three times and it still didnt arrive

This is my second visit here. The food is always a treat. The staff are attentive and provide an outstanding service even at peak times. The profiteroles are an absolute treat! Speaking to other patrons seems like they have regulars which is not a surprise given how good the food and service is.

Myself my son and his bf dined here for my 57th birthday on 27 Nov just before going to see Tina turner at a theatre nearby.The atmosphere food staff and drinks were fantastic.Unbenown to me my dons bf asked the staff for a birthday cake for me.The waiter came over with the cake and everyone sang happy birthday to me in the restaurant.It made my night.I would highly recommend this beautiful place and will definitely return.Thankyou everyone here who joined in with making my birthday very special X

Very friendly reception and waiters. We took the fixed lunch menu which was very good. Very generous salmon portions. Coffee service a bit slow but the place was very busy and the cost of coffee was waived without our complaining in any way.

We were looking for a place to have a cozy dinner for our first night in London. La Ballerina was open late, and their customer service was excellent. The food was good and fresh, and the prices were reasonable.

This is a great little buzzing restaurant for a straight forward menu, quick service and very reasonably priced considering it's in Covent Garden. Second time here and will be back.

The food here’s delicious, the atmosphere is great.

The food was really nice, really enjoyed the service as well and Rehman was really kind with us and ensured we had a smooth service. Thank you to the La Ballerina team!!

A cosy and atmospheric restaurant with very friendly service. I've been there a few times and will continue to go there as the cooking is unfailingly excellent. I've had saltimbocca and costoletta d'agnello (the latter twice as it is superb). Their tiramisù and panna cotta are delicious as well.

Delicious food and very polite staff, especially Rehman who is a manager there who always looks after everything! I definitely recommend this place which is one the best pizza place in london!

Brilliant, great food great atmosphere

Excellent homemade pasta, good atmosphere and reasonable price

Had a great experience, with Rehman helping us choosing the best dishes. La Ballerina Italian Restaurant delivers an authentic Italian dining experience in a charming, intimate setting. From the moment you enter, the warm ambiance and friendly staff set the stage for an enjoyable meal. The menu offers a diverse selection of traditional Italian dishes, including well-prepared pasta, fresh seafood, and classic pizzas, each made with high-quality ingredients. I highly recommend the Linguine alla Vongole, which is rich in flavor and perfectly seasoned, while the Margherita pizza impresses with its crisp crust and flavorful tomato base. The wine list complements the menu, offering a good range of Italian wines that pair excellently with the dishes. Desserts like the Tiramisu are a delightful way to end the meal. Overall, La Ballerina is a must-visit for anyone looking for a genuine Italian culinary experience, with reasonable prices for the quality. Perfect for a cozy date night or small gatherings.

The food is really amazing. The staff name Rehman suggested us the best of vegetarian options and we all were soo satisfied with the food and bill too. Can really try Gnocchi with pesto and cream.✨✨

I have been coming here for more than 2 years and always I had an amazing time. Great food, impeccable service and a really good price. All the members of staff are lovely and it’s always a pleasure to come back. This is a special gem in London, don’t miss it!

Great atmosphere, Delicious food, Wonderful staff, Would reccomend

Food & everything was really amazing, Love to he there again

Thank you for the amazing food, that too so late at night. Loved it, extremely lovely place to bring friends to.

A delightful find, post swim delicious and quick pizza, friendly service by all especially Rehman, I’ll be back.

beautiful little place!! the service was exceptional and the food was delicious. Came here Saturday evening for my birthday and had a wonderful time. The set menu had great options and was super tasty and filling too :)

Amazing food, service and customer service. Highly recommended.

The best service and customer service. The food is amazing.

Great service and very lovely staff and owner. Super friendly and nice atmosphere!!

Great food and drinks, recommend this place! The owners are very sweet gentlemen

Lovely food, polite and nice waiter, watch the world go by

Very good meal, with very attentive staff. We enjoyed our evening here very much and will definitely return. Thankyou Mark and Donna

Great restaurant in the heart of Covent Garden next to the Royal Opera house. Great to have an independent business that offers fantastic food, great service at a good price

I’ve been to ‘la ballerina’ twice now and I can almost definitely say I have not been disappointed. From the service to the food, it has been outstanding. Would definitely recommend going.

Nice small restaurant, a bit cramped - anyway we had a nice corner table - the food was good, a big bonus is that you can get gluten-free pasta

Amazing little find, great chill atmosphere and amazing food! The salmon pasta is amazing!!

Both me and everyone in my family (party of 3) got horrible food poisoning symptoms just an hour after eating at the restaurant. Do not visit!

Lovely independent trattoria, classic menu and excellent house wine. Just what you're often looking for, nothing fussy, and reasonable prices for location. Glad we found this place as will return.

Great experience. Lovely food & service . I would definitely recommend

They just try to let us leave before they were closing because they want to finish earlier their shift… the writers call elisa from Peru was really bad… we arrive and it was empty around 10 pm and even if the time Of closing was at 11 pm around 10.40 they hurry up us . Not nice

Great location, food was very good. Seating is very cramped inside. Service was good, one of the waiters had good joke with us. I had 2 peppers pots on our table no salt, so I took from table next to me as it was so close. Starters very nice, garlic bread was delicious! Fungi pizza was nice, I had the vegetarian lasagna, good portion but it had no salt in it!! We asked for chilli oil, but that took good 5 mins for it to arrive. We asked for bill twice and waited almost 20 mins for it. Dessert was profiteroles a little disappointing just looks like it had been slopped on the plate. The old man in the restaurant came to take clear our plates, he looked the owner or manager was very miserable, no smile no thank you nothing!

Food was tasty and cooked quickly. It did feel like they were trying to turn over tables very quickly.

Jantamos em outros restaurantes italianos em Londres, e neste, a massa vem com bastante molho, e vc vê o preparo com pedacinhos de cebola, tomate e salsa, tornando a massa bastante saborosa. Pedimos o tagliatele com salmão, e veio saboroso do início ao fim. A entrada foi um pão com alho e queijo, e berinjela com molho de tomate. Perfeitos. Preço justo para Londres, e muito bem feito!!!!

Excellent attention, great pasta!!! They were very nice even it was near to close time The red italian wine was very good

We want to say thank you to the owner and employees! We visit the restaurant "La Ballerina" every time after visiting the opera. Food and service at the highest level!

Check your bills, guys! I noticed I was charged for a more expensive starter on the bill so I raised this with the old guy who did the payment thing. Instead of apologising, he turned very upset. After he corrected the bill and I paid, he literally thrown the receipt onto the table and walked away. He probably is the manager or the owner, I wonder why he’s so upset when I found out I was over charged. I wonder why he didn’t at least had the courtesy of saying “I’m sorry, I got the bill wrong”. And I wonder why people are always over charged rather than under charged.

I visited la ballerina for my birthday party. The food was great and there was a really nice atmosphere with classical music playing in the background. Great food and polite staff.

What a delightful restaurant! Authentic Italian food, great ambiance, quick service, hot food cooked to perfection! I most would recommend this place to all! Must visit!

amazing, beautiful, perfect, loved it, great staff they’re so nice and accommodating, new fav, could never be anything better, totes gorg xx

Really enjoyed our meal here. We ordered a mix of pizzas and pasta and couldn’t fault any of the dishes and rather enjoyed our one too many Aperol Spritzes! Staff were super friendly and the Italian waiter made us laugh with a few stories of his time in Italy. Will be back.

We always forget about this brilliant restaurant which is crazy, but always eat there when passing. Much better than the two chain pizza places nearby. It’s a rather elegant looking restaurant but very children friendly and has a kids menu. The pizza is always great but we’ve had exceptional pasta dishes here too. The staff are super friendly and attentive and the prices are reasonable for such a prime location. The decor is lovely too. Highly recommended! Five out of five.

Very good service! The dishes were tasty and it really came very quick

Lovely little place, we stumbled upon before going to the theatre! Staff and food were amazing! Will definitely come back, highly recommend 😊

Wonderful service, Elizabeth was lovely

fantastic spot for delicious food. It's definitely worth a try if you're craving pasta.

Great experience pizza was delicious 😋 highly recommended

Totally ok, tasteless Carbonara. The house wine was good.

Super enjoyed our experience here - food was great, we ordered the Balerina Pizza and the prawn pasta. Their drinks are fantastic tooC i ordered 2 mojitos and they were prepared and mixed so well. On top of that, the people are nice and warm - they were really proactive and kind, going out of their way to accommodate us. Definitely recommend this place!

Honest, simple food. Good service.

Good food and good value. Freshly prepared and very tasty.

A hidden gem and the best place for Italian food in Covent Garden! We stumbled across La Ballerina while walking around the area looking for somewhere to eat and thought we would give it a go. This was several years ago and we've been back many times since. The food is all freshly cooked and homemade, catering for various diets and offers gluten-free options. Everything is reasonably priced for the area, the atmosphere is always lovely and the staff are friendly and helpful.

Excellent hidden gem. Beautiful food and reasonable prices.

Basic food, bland and not worth the price. Can cook better at home.

Normal food, but the drink is served hot.

Thank you for the delicious food and the help and surprise for our daughter's birthday! You were very kind!

Good position for fitting a quick meal pre or post theatre. Reasonable prices for the area. Food average, though pleasant service.

We went on a Saturday night by reading some of good reviews. I was conscious about negative reviews as well but ignored as I believe supporting independent restaurants. Unfortunately I had a very bad experience. Food was average and service was the worst. Staff was more into gossips rather than paying attention to the customers. Very disappointed

Family Italian restaurant in the heart of Covent Garden. Great food, quick service, nice people. Reasonably priced. Opposite Zizzi’s. Don’t go to Zizzi’s- come here - much nicer and authentic

Very quick - could be too much but it’s borderline, and everyone is lovely and polite!

Elizabeth's attention was very good, the food was very good, we ate like at home 🏡 👌

The pasta was delicious and staff were super friendly! They made our day! It wasn’t as expensive as other places in Covent Garden

The food was delicious and staff were very courteous. Great atmosphere to enjoy your meal. Thank you Elizabeth.

Best gluten free pizza i have ever eaten. A fresh gluten free base, made as I wanted with any ingredients requested. Excellent service from very attentive staff. Great location and this was the lunch time menu at sub £20 in Covent garden. Thank you all. this was a party of 21 adults and we had a thoroughly good time. No food complaints or bill complaints.

Best gluten free pizza i have ever eaten. A fresh gluten free base, made as I wanted with any ingredients requested. Excellent service from very attentive staff. Great location and this was the lunch time menu at sub £20 in Covent garden. Thank you all. this was a party of 21 adults and we had a thoroughly good time. No food complaints or bill complaints. Dietary restrictions: Coeliacs and gluten free options for pizza and pasta and both very good.

Had an early meal here before a show in the West End. Very convenient, able to book a table and so good in that respect. Food was fine, average, but fine. Nice atmosphere. An Italian restaurant with an Indian undercurrent. Average was the word we used to describe it.