Mick Mac Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 Si MangiaWent there for the first time on Saturday night and we thought the food was good. But overall the experience was just an ok one.The food was very good but not great. It seems to do the basics well. There is a lot of fish in the starter menu, prawns, calcmari and scallops and a lot of chicken *too much maybe) on the main menu. No veal and only one meat dish on the mains menu being fillet steak (not counting the sausage dish). I had the calves liver pate for starter and meatballs with fettuccini for main, both were good. A bottle of Chianti was ?21 which was fine.Unfortunately what was bad was it had two huge and noisy tables in the main restaurant, with about 15-20 people on each, one of which was a 50th birthday, so it was incredibly noisy. We had lots of happy birthday singing and the lights dimmed for a birthday cake to be presented, all a bit tacky. Also I was sitting under a speaker which played a whole Bryan Adams best of album the whole time we were there, and played it loud. Run to you, Anything I do etc, all his 80s/90s hits. Surely something more Italian would set the Italian restaurant scene better.If I were to try it again I'd probably try it midweek and hope to get a quiet night to experience it in a different light, but unfortunatley it seems to see itself as a party place on a Saturday night.But it was absolutely jammed so why would they want to change? Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/7129-si-mangia-italian-restaurant/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
???? Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 At least it wasn't Bruce Springsteen Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/7129-si-mangia-italian-restaurant/#findComment-227464 Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadwolf Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 Or Sue.The Goose is out! Bruce returns to east dulwich - but not as you remember him. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/7129-si-mangia-italian-restaurant/#findComment-227468 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marmora Man Posted July 21, 2009 Share Posted July 21, 2009 Mic Mac - Si Mangia usually gets a good write up here as a fair, middle priced, local eaterie. A search would reveal the full range of opinion. My family and I use it regularly, not as a destination or special place but for good food, sensibly priced with friendly service. In my experience your noisy visit would be a one off. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/7129-si-mangia-italian-restaurant/#findComment-227493 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Mac Posted July 21, 2009 Author Share Posted July 21, 2009 i think i did give it a fair write up mm. As i say the food was good but a mid week visit might be better next time. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/7129-si-mangia-italian-restaurant/#findComment-227504 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Palaeologus Posted July 21, 2009 Share Posted July 21, 2009 I dont think that Si Mangia tries to be anything more than a local Italian restaurant. The fact that they had two full tables would seem to be a good sign these days. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/7129-si-mangia-italian-restaurant/#findComment-227506 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Mac Posted July 21, 2009 Author Share Posted July 21, 2009 Yes MP - they were completely fully booked so as far as running a successful business they are doing everything right. I have nothing negative about Si Mangia apart from the music and the parties on Saturday night. As I said I would recommend a week night visit rather than a Saturday night, I have only been once but will be going again soon prob for lunch with the children.I had gone to a central London Italian for lunch on Friday and had a different Italian dining experience. It was small, little circular tables, white linen tablecloths, elderly Italian gentlemen serving. It was a little like the restaurants in the Godfather movies. If anyone wants a recommendation for an Italian in London its Biagi's Upper Berkeley Street in Marylebone. It's been around a long time. It has an independent feel to it and is not expensive. So perhaps my expectations were a bit high after that. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/7129-si-mangia-italian-restaurant/#findComment-227526 Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob Posted July 21, 2009 Share Posted July 21, 2009 Have to agree with MP on this one used it a lot and enjoyed once sat under the speaker and found it to loud asked a member of staff to turn it down done no probsBob S Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/7129-si-mangia-italian-restaurant/#findComment-227583 Share on other sites More sharing options...
RosieH Posted July 21, 2009 Share Posted July 21, 2009 Mick Mac Wrote:-------------------------------------------------------> No veal and only one meat dish on the mains menu> being fillet steak (not counting the sausage> dish). I had the calves liver pate for starter and> meatballs with fettuccini for main...Mick, what on earth did they make your meatballs out of? Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/7129-si-mangia-italian-restaurant/#findComment-227610 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Mac Posted July 21, 2009 Author Share Posted July 21, 2009 Yes - very funny Rosie - I did laugh, honest. :))If I take your point correctly, the meatballs were not a main dish - they were on the pasta dishes (not strictly main courses)....but very nice none the less. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/7129-si-mangia-italian-restaurant/#findComment-227659 Share on other sites More sharing options...
RosieH Posted July 21, 2009 Share Posted July 21, 2009 You do, you do. Sorry, am in a sleep-deprived faint hysteria today and was just making myself laugh, for which I apologise.You are quite correct, pasta is not officially a main. Were they nice meatballs? I like meatballs a lot and if they're of suitable quality, may venture down there (once I've been proactive enough to look up where it is). Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/7129-si-mangia-italian-restaurant/#findComment-227682 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Mac Posted July 21, 2009 Author Share Posted July 21, 2009 They were nice Rosie - not too firm, not too soft (if you grade your meatballs the same way I do). Its on Forest Hill road - come out of the Herne Tavern and turn right up the hill on the right hand side. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/7129-si-mangia-italian-restaurant/#findComment-227691 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Palaeologus Posted July 21, 2009 Share Posted July 21, 2009 I too like a meatball.If a meatball reaches large proportions, does it then become a meatloaf? Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/7129-si-mangia-italian-restaurant/#findComment-227697 Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadwolf Posted July 21, 2009 Share Posted July 21, 2009 No Michael. A meatball remains a meatball, regardless of it's area and volume. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/7129-si-mangia-italian-restaurant/#findComment-227708 Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadwolf Posted July 21, 2009 Share Posted July 21, 2009 Pinhead. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/7129-si-mangia-italian-restaurant/#findComment-227709 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Mac Posted July 21, 2009 Author Share Posted July 21, 2009 They do have a nice website. Si Mangia Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/7129-si-mangia-italian-restaurant/#findComment-227786 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Palaeologus Posted July 21, 2009 Share Posted July 21, 2009 bigbadwolf Wrote:-------------------------------------------------------> Pinhead.Chihuahua Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/7129-si-mangia-italian-restaurant/#findComment-227825 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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