Me and my husband have visited the new Lulivo in baker street before and had such a wonderful time, that when we saw the lulivo in Leicester square we just had to go in!The decor was beautiful and very inviting; we were pleasantly greeted at the door and show to our table. The atmosphere was gr8 and we where quickly presented with olives and bread which you are NOT charged for.Our service was quick and the waiters and waitress were very nice and couldn’t do more for you. Our food was just divine, I had a lamb steak with potatoes and my husband had the veal cooked with lemon, followed by desert.The price was very reasonable and there is a service charge but this is only common when you dine in places like Leicester square. Lulivo is a brilliant place for family, business or indeed you and your partner, I have visited both and have been more than satisfied each time!

On entering Lulivo's a departing customer said don't go in as it's very hot. We decided to see where our table was and luckily it was near the open doorway and we were not unduly hot. Asked waitress how long service would be as we were due to go to a theatre. She said 15-20 mins which turned out to be accurate. We were given appetisers as soon as we arrived which we had not ordered and quickly gave them back (we know this is common abroad and there is often a charge). I had one of the best lasagnes I've had - hot with plenty of meat and cheese - and husband enjoyed his chicken salad and son his tagliatelle. Despite handing the appetisers straight back there was annoyingly still a service charge (£3.50?). We did not question this but chose not to tip instead which we would normally do (despite being asked if I wanted to add anything extra when paying by debit card). Found staff friendly.

Visited 28 June 2008

We were drawn in by the inviting, rustic Italian decor of the restaurant but unfortunately that was all that was enjoyable about our evening meal at L'Ulivo. The service was at snail's pace, I can only conclude that they must have been picking the asparagus and mushrooms. My asparagus certainly wasn't cooked and retained a disturbing, wooden quality. Wooden would also be an apt word to describe my uncooked, congealed risotto. My husband found that the pasta he has bought in Sainsburys to be of a higher quality than the dry, tasteless attempt at pasta that he was served. If all this wasn't insulting enough, when we requested the bill we were hit with a £3.50 cover charge which the surly waitress called "a kind of tax". At least the beer at L'Ulivo was cold.