Jamie’s Italian offers something for everyone, says critic

Jamie Oliver’s high street restaurant group Jamie’s Italian offers something for everyone, according to the London Metro.

Food critic Marina O’Loughlin finds the group’s first London branch in Canary Wharf to be a reasonably priced, quality chain product, despite the gimmicks.

“The menu is extraordinarily comprehensive, staggering wildly from chickpea 'popcorn' through antipasti, pastas and salads to more elaborate main dishes,” she says. “It defies anyone not to find something they like.”

Time Out’s Guy Dimond finds the New York bistro-inspired Lower East, also in Canary Wharf, lacking authenticity.

“The can-do, smiling service might be evocative of Manhattan, but the brief menu is a very loose interpretation,” he says.

Bloomberg’s Richard Vines enjoys the flamboyant menu, over-the-top room and charming service at The Criterion in Piccadilly.

For these reviews in full and more see What’s on the menu? Visit Guide Girl for the latest gossip from the fine-dining world.

First Jamie’s Italian in central London to open ahead of plan >>

Lower East heralds spate of new Canary Wharf restaurants >>

Criterion Menuwatch >>

By Kerstin Kühn

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