Topo Gigio

This place is dire went with 3 others on a groupon deal what a scam! They apparently had NO steaks at all (funny that as some friends had been last week on a groupon deal and they were ALSO told there were no steaks) No point looking to see if anyone else was ordering steak as everyone in the place was on the groupon deal it would have been absolutely empty without it. The food that we had was not good (although the 2 that had pizza for main said it was nice) prawn cocktail with the smallest bits of prawny-​looking things you’ve ever seen (probably bought in from Iceland’s value range) and hardly any sauce, garlic mushrooms that weren’t very garlicy and were just plonked on top of lettuce and tomato. I was really looking forward to a steak (I had already been told by someone else who went on a groupon that they’d said they had no steaks but thought it might just have been a blip, but lo and behold, no steaks in the entire place funny that) so I ordered chargrilled chicken with chips and salad, chicken extremely dry and hard to cut, only ate half cheap frozen french fries and ok salad. Highlight of the meal for me was coconut icecream for dessert which was yummy, but then, they just buy that! We will NEVER go there again

This is a genuine place, though maybe the first impression when you walk in is a bit unprepossessing. Don’t be put off — it’s really nice and genuine. You can watch the chefs at work, cooking the food for you, not just not heating it up behind the scenes. Friendly staff too. The spiral staircase up to the loos on the first floor requires care but is safe enough. Basically Italian menu but with a good dose of Portuguese as well — no bad thing at all, as Portuguese food is highly underrated. Definitely felt at ease here, and with good decent cooking too. We’ll be back. Such a welcome change from the ‘chains’ and ‘franchises’.

Topo Gigio is one of those restaurants where the food is very good, but the décor could do with perhaps a little modernising.
Downstairs is the dining area whilst upstairs hosts a bar that looks like it was built in the 1980s.
Regardless, the friendly staff will take good care of you. The restaurant serves authentic Italian food and the flavour and quality show. This is real stick to ribs home cooking.
I had a calzone here and it was freshly made and tasty. Great with some red wine.
The cost of dining at Topo’s is very reasonable with my Calzone around £8.
Overall, even the though the place might look a bit dated, you’ll forgive that for the warm welcome and great food served here.