The Waterway

This is now my favourite place,amazing food and outstanding service- a dining experience I won’t forget. Highly recommended and we’ll definitely be back!

One of the best pubs I have visited in a while. Service was very great, super accommodating and attentive. Managers touching the tables and waiters very professional. Food was absolutely brilliant as well. Will dream about the potato croquettes.

Pietro the head chef really stood out as a fantastic Chef. He personally introduced himself and assured us how he caters for allergies. We felt very assured. We are extremely careful and choose very carefully where we eat due to extreme allergies and not many chefs go to this level of care. We will definitely be regulars here. The food we had for lunch was very high standard and all the staff professional and really nice people. Thank you so much! As with anyone with allergies we recommend notifying the restaurant of the allergies before your visit when making your reservation.

Had lunch at The Waterway today with a walking group. Really friendly staff. Food was great and reasonably priced. Would definitely recommend.

Lovely Italian theme restaurant by the side of the canal in little Venice. The Sunday roast was exceptional - the roast pork was a thick slab of meat, but so tender and juicy and a generous yorkshire pudding. The roast beef felt undersized as a comparison but still tasty.

I always thought that this nice restaurant and bar near water will be average with food but I was impressed at my last visit. I ordered the burger and food was delivered to our table in such a short time that I was amazed. And the burger was delicious and medium as I like it. Amazing and price very reasonable including a jug of Pimm’s. Tiramisu was also amazing so highly recommended

I have to be honest, this wasn’t our first choice as we usually frequent at The Summerhouse just down the canal, but they were fully booked on this particular day; and seeing that they are both part of The First Restaurant Group, if The Summerhouse is anything to go by, we were looking forward to trying this place out. It is literally 2 minute walk, if that up the road from The Summerhouse and whilst being part of the same group, they have a slightly different vibe and that’s because they have a busy bar with outside seating that overlooks the canal. The atmosphere is quite busy but in a good way, especially for those that enjoy the true London hustle and bustle vibe. There’s outside seating which is popular during the glorious summer evenings. Service is good, polite and attentive staff, even during a busy peak dinner service. There’s a simple menu with a range of foods that should have something for everyone. Snacks, Sharers, Starters with Mains consisting of salads, pastas and food from the grill like burgers and steaks. There’s a decent drinks menu with cocktails and jugs and a good selection of wines to accompany anything from the menu. We went for the Argentinian Malbec. My friend and I started with the Antipasti Platter - homemade cannellini bean hummus, aubergine dip, truffle stracciatella, nocellara olives and pitta bread. Following up Seared Tuna Steak served with lettuce, puttanesca sauce and crispy block olives and myself having the Slow cooked Rigatoni Bolognese served with grated Parmesan and basil. Portions were modest but still filling, you can order sides for extra. Desserts were the homemade signature Tiramisu and I had the Salted Caramel Affogato; Vanilla Ice Cream, Salted Caramel and a shot of Espresso. This place was lively throughout and can be a little noisy and crowded during peak times but don’t let that but you off. It’s a great place for small gatherings wanting a decent bite with drink. Couples, yes, but expect the bar life vibe as opposed to romantic candlelight dining.

Had such a nice meal here! The chicken pollo is 10/10, highly recommend!! Great service

We celebrated my sister’s birthday at The Waterway and had an amazing time! Jasson gave us outstanding service, the food was excellent, and the canal-side vibe made it extra special. Highly recommend when in London ✨

We had birthday dinner, was very lovely, food super delicious, atmosphere perfect, staff,all off them were very friendly, specially Samanta, her service was outstanding, definitely recommended...

Stumbled upon this restaurant while wandering with my friend. Even though it was busy, it didn’t feel noisy or overwhelming. Really enjoyed the pork Sunday roast. Service was swift and professional and the app made it very easy to order. Will definitely visit again.

Great location; away from the busy city. Really good food, all choices were delicious. Service was good (a bit slow but nice and professional). Inside and outside seating. The outside seating is great for good weather and even when it’s raining (most outdoor seating with roofing installed) Overall great experience!

I recently dined at this beautiful restaurant in London, and I was absolutely blown away. The steaks are to die for—cooked to perfection with incredible flavor. The wine selection was equally impressive, complementing the meal perfectly. The service was nothing short of spectacular; the staff made the entire experience unforgettable. I will definitely be visiting again whenever I’m in London. Highly recommend!

Blown away by the people and gorgeous atmosphere. Would happily come back. The pan fired salmon was really well cooked and it tasted nice. Wasn’t a big fan of the creme brûlée but the manager very kindly took it off our bill, which he didn’t have to! This is a hidden gem

The restaurant's location is delightful, especially in such pleasant weather. Despite the rest of the party canceling, the hostess was understanding, kindly accommodated my reservation, and ensured that I was seated at a pleasant table in their charming garden. The food was delicious, and the service was efficiently attentive.

The Waterway offered fantastic food, really good service, and even better management. I really recommend their steaks as it really was one of the best I had. The location was very welcoming, clean and elegant. On top of all of the above, what impressed me the most it was how management was able to handle an uncomfortable situation: During our lunch a mishap happened, and one of our personal items was damaged. Nonetheless, with extreme professionalism, the general manager Antonio, put effort in trying to remedy the situation, and proposed a satisfactory solution. I really recommend this place for its food, location and most importantly to the attention they give to its clients. An attention that I have never found anywhere else.

Food was delicious, it came so fast! I loved their selection of mocktails and the atmosphere was perfect with space heaters, blankets and riverside view. Cozy comfort… and the food reflected that too, with an elevated touch. The vegan options were delicious too, I had the plant-based black rice salad and the bang bang cauliflower. 😋

Welcoming staff. Good value. Clean and pleasant. How things should be done.( 1st visit. Update (2nd visit)- Well, it was good first time. White bearded Maitre D looked me up and down upon arrival. He did it with his eyes. Thought I wouldn't notice, I guess. Possibly the owner? Whoever he is, he lacks manners and could do with addressing his own looks before judging others. Also, one of the waitresses was quite abrasive when we asked for a seat. Definitely up themselves. The barman however was delightful and well mannered unlike the other two mentioned before. Letting popularity go to their heads. Deducting a star because of 'Beardy's attitude all round. Saw him talking firmly to staff. He should look in the mirror.

Such a lovely place, and amazing service, great food and wine selection. Our server Uthra was very friendly and knowledgeable of the menu. Her recommendations were wonderful, we couldn’t be happier. This was our first time, and I feel like celebrating my birthday there, what a gem!

What a lovely place! Fantastic service too, the young man serving us was so friendly, bubbly and polite, brought the food really quickly and made my family feel really welcome. The restaurant is beautiful too, the igloo we had pre booked was a magical experience, quietly tucked away from people, surrounded by beautiful lights, inside it comes with fur throws and blankets, a heater and a Bluetooth speaker. Even in just +4 outside on a chilly evening night we were all incredibly warm. The food and drink selection wasn't huge yet somehow they have something for everyone and let me tell you.. it was absolutely delicious! I personally love to cook quite frequently in my house and it usually takes something special to surprise me when eating out, but the mains desert and wine were 😙👌*chef's kiss*

I ordered the superfood salad and paid extra to add hot smoked salmon. The salad was a massive portion and could easily be shared between two. The lemon dressing was exceptional and the balance between sweet and salty was perfect. 5*

Honestly, not bad! The food was nice, the. Staff were polite and the ambience was relaxed and welcoming. We went as a group of three and sat outside for dinner, I ordered the cod fish and chips, which was garnished excellently, but the sauce felt a bit too salty in combination with the already salty cod. The food was also plated excellently. The ambience was welcoming, with fireplaces and subtle music, the view also complemented the experience. As for pricing this restaurant us more on the higher end of places, but it was worth the extra money! I would definitely recommend this spot to anyone who is interested in some good food and good vibes!

As a non alcohol drinker this place has an amazing option for such drinks ; amazing fish dishes and their sweet fried potato is just divine. The location is amazing where you can have before or after stroll The staff are the sweetest 🤗

We found this lovely bar when exploring Little Venice, luckily they managed to find us a table as it was very busy in there. We were just going to have a drink but after seeing the food arrive at other tables we decided to have some lunch and so glad we did, it was delicious. The staff were really friendly and the whole place had a great atmosphere.

The Waterway in Little Venice is basically where good vibes and great food collide in the best possible way. The staff? They’re on point—helpful without being in your face, making you feel like you’ve just stumbled onto a secret local hangout. The vibe is relaxed but lively, with just the right amount of people so it’s never too quiet or too packed. And the food? Pure bliss. Whether you’re here for a chill brunch or a cheeky drink, everything hits the spot. Plus, you’re right next to the water, which makes it feel like you’re in a little oasis in the middle of the city. If you’re in the neighborhood, don’t even think about skipping this one!

Great dinner with colleagues. Service very attentive. Menu was removed after ordering appetisers and then brought back for ordering mains “to allow more space to eat” and to create a relaxed environment in which you do not need to order everything upfront. I really enjoyed the fries with truffle, the pork belly bites (very unique and tasty) and my main which was a seared tuna. I asked for a very light cook and I like to eat it almost like a sashimi and it turned out to be a fantastic choice. The waiter also suggested to have the sauce it comes with on a side so I could decide how much i wanted to taste the tuna flavour which for me was a very good quality, tender, moist and flavourful. Good job! Thanks

The kitchen here closes an 1.5 hrs before the restaurant and no where indicates this so if you arrive for a late dinner be prepared to order quickly. Despite that the food was flavorful and good portions. Seemed a bit overpriced for what it was but not bad overall.

Nice, friendly atmosphere. Despite the weather, the huge outdoor terrace with 'fire pit' style heating was very popular. Good portion sizes. Would recommend the chicken wings starter and the salmon for mains (with a side order of something). I was surprised at how full I was at the end! Sorry about the lack of menu and so hungry forgot to take photos of the starters 😛

+6

We stopped in this riverside restaurant while exploring little Venice. They mainly have italian food, which is really tasty. Portions are enormous. We started with excellent bruschetta with veggies and ricotta. We tried some pastas, gnocchi and ceasars salad - all tasty. Roasted chicken with yorkshire pudding, veggies and potatoes was done to perfection. I cannot remember rhe last time I had such a great tasting chicken. Wine - perfect red full body i recommend this restaurant, it is worth trying.

+2

Great pub and service is very friendly. Menu is decent too. Dissapointed that there aren’t any bar snacks but have to settle for side orders. If you allow people to sit just for drinks, then should offer some snacks to those that don’t want a full meal. It would work out good for both customers and the pub in terms of generating extra sales and keeping people happy. Overall a good night as always.

This was my first visit and overall it was a very positive experience. The location is excellent and the décor is stylish and well thought out, creating a really pleasant atmosphere. Although it was busy during my visit, the staff were clearly well organised, attentive, and appeared genuinely happy and confident in what they were doing, which always makes a big difference. The venue is dog friendly, which many guests will appreciate. However, during my visit there was some persistent barking, which was clearly unpleasant for a few nearby guests and did detract slightly from the otherwise relaxed atmosphere. There is a good range of draught beers available, along with a solid wine list. Unfortunately, there was no Shiraz available at the time, which was a slight disappointment, but there were still plenty of other options to choose from. The food arrived in good time, was served hot, and tasted very good — exactly what you’d hope for. Portion sizes were reasonable and the quality matched expectations given the setting. When it came to paying, I noticed that a compulsory 12.5% service charge had already been added to the bill. I had been intending to leave a 20% tip due to the good service, but as this was already included, I didn’t add anything further. Overall, a great experience in a fantastic location. A well-run venue with good food, a strong atmosphere, and professional staff — I would happily visit again and recommend it to others.

+6

Very nice atmosphere. They have a lovely outdoor seating area that is shaded. Their menu is nice and varied, with interesting plates. We ordered the chicken with Saffron, calamari, both were nice. For desert, the Eton Mess was nice, and the brownie chocolate. But I’d preferred the brownie to be more warm. The waiters are friendly. The bathrooms are clean.

Nice place for a drink or dinner. Gets VERY busy after 6pm when it’s sunny. To the point the waiters are rushed off the feet and we were told the next diners are coming in 15mins as we were finishing up our meal. When booking it says tables are reserved for 2 hours, technically we still had the table for another 30mins…

Service was good, drinks arrived rapidly. Starters and mains were ordered and arrived in good time. Sausage dish which I ate for starters had too many pineapples & Onions. My main of Lamb Chop were cooked medium like requested which was good. Couldn't really taste the rosemary in the rosemary chips however they were cooked well and slightly crispy from outside. Location is very nice, could recommend to all.

I enjoyed The Waterway - the food was quite nice and the setting was lovely. However, I have to mark them down for charging £25 to bring in a cake for our friend’s birthday. It felt unnecessarily rigid and ungenerous, especially considering we had reserved a large table and how much we ordered in the end. A bit more flexibility would have made the experience far warmer :)

Had a late lunch as a group of 4 followed by drinks recently. Found the service to be hugely underwhelming for lunch, had to request water 3 times, including going to the bar to remind them. A very hot day, they provided water glasses then we had to glad someone down to take our order, even long after our wine was poured and our food delivered they hadn't bothered with our water. We weren't overly happy that a 12.5% service charge was added but paid it anyway. We then moved to the garden and asked for a bottle of wine. No sign of this after 20 minutes (it wasn't so busy that they forgot). We stayed till around 9pm ordering drinks via the app and were not impressed that the app automatically adds a service charge so you have to make a point to remove it. Maybe they feel they don't need to work hard to earn tips, one waitress even looked like she was in a bad mood, we were cheerful and thanked her but she didn't crack a smile. He young chap who brought over our last 2 rounds was the most cheerful and friendly but he definitely was not on during the day! Probably wouldn't return here. The lunch dishes we had were nice enough but nothing special considering the prices. Oh and of the 2 ladies toilets, one had a broken seat and clearly no one was doing regular checks as the broken toilet seat seemed to be overly wet the duration of our visit (6 hours)!

I recently visited The Waterway in Maida Vale and unfortunately left feeling disappointed with the service. At the start, our waiter was very polite and welcoming, which gave us a great first impression. However, shortly after, his attention shifted to another couple, and we were seemingly forgotten about — despite him walking past our table numerous times on the way to the till. What made this more frustrating was that it was particularly quiet, with only three tables occupied, so there didn’t appear to be any reason for the lack of attentiveness. We asked for the dessert menu as we intended to order, but after being ignored for a while, we decided not to bother. It was frustrating trying to catch someone’s attention and feeling overlooked. I also ordered soup and was surprised that it didn’t come with bread. When I asked for some, they brought a single slice and then charged me for it, which felt unnecessary. It also took about 5–10 minutes to arrive, and we had to ask again as my soup was getting cold by the time the bread finally came. Overall, while the initial welcome was pleasant, the lack of attentiveness — especially on a quiet service with only three tables — and small details like charging for a slice of bread really let the experience down. I hope they improve their service so all tables feel equally valued.

It was ok. food is ok atmosphere is ok for locals, for tourist so-so. Waiters don’t empty tables, we had starter and when main course came waiter looked at as with hands full of plates. We moved plates from first course and he just left not collecting old plates.

One of the worst dining experiences I’ve ever had. I couldn’t even figure out what I ate or what I was saying. The table was only booked for an hour and a half, and during the first 45 minutes, a waiter came by every five minutes to tell us how much time was left — all while our food took over 40 minutes to arrive. It was extremely stressful. If I hadn’t had a reservation and paid the booking fee, I would have walked out within the first 20 minutes. It was my first time, and this experience has proven to me that if your first visit is unpleasant, it’s unlikely you’ll want to return. In my opinion, the restaurant should put more effort into customer service for new guests.

I’ve been a loyal patron of Waterways for decades, so it is truly disheartening to see the standard slip so drastically. The stale bread alone, charged at £6, is utterly shocking, and the roast, everything cold, pre-prepared, lacking any finesse, is nothing short of embarrassing. For a place with such a longstanding reputation, this decline is deeply disappointing to locals who have watched it with fondness for years. Disheartened.

I am surprised this venue has a high rating, which could be misleading to customers looking to have a good food. As usual, many places in the prime location don’t really need to try to maintain good food standards… I had buttermilk chicken burger for £18 - it was mainly greasy batter and small amount of chicken inside (the menu description did not have any reference to batter), and a low-quality bun.

We had reservations for family lunch there. We were seated at the nice spot and that is when service ended. First we were waiting for our starters for a half an hour, and after that over one hour for our food to arrive. When we asked for how much longer we are going to wait, the explanation was very bizarre. Kids were tired, all of us were tired. I would not recommend to go there.

I chose this restaurant because it looked beautiful and I wanted my mum to have a lovely birthday meal. Unfortunately, the experience turned out to be really upsetting. When we arrived, our server was kind and welcomed us, sat and I immediately noticed my knife was greasy and asked for new one, which wasn’t a great first impression. The starters were nice ,I had cheese (normally on the dessert menu) and we also had fries, which were fresh and delicious. The mains arrived very quickly, so my mum and I stepped outside for a quick cigarette since my dish was a cold salad and we wanted a break between food. When we came back in, my mum enjoyed her salmon, which made me happy because I just wanted her to have a good time. Sadly, my meal was very disappointing. The salad itself was fine, but the chicken was not. I had asked for fried chicken, but it came out extremely overcooked . The outside was burnt and very greasy, while the inside was dry. It honestly seemed like it had been fried multiple times. I didn’t eat any of it. No one came to check on our table, and the waiter seemed very busy with a large party nearby. When I finally asked for the salad to be taken away, the waiter brought over a manager with white hair. I explained politely what was wrong with the food and said I didn’t want a replacement because we needed to leave to continue celebrating my mum’s birthday with family. The manager refused to remove the dish from the bill and told me the chicken was “supposed to be burnt.” He also said it was our fault no one checked on us because we went outside for a cigarette, which I found very unprofessional and upsetting. I wasn’t asking for anything extra , just some understanding for a meal I hadn’t eaten. I also mentioned when booking that this was for a birthday, but there was no acknowledgment at all. In most places, at least the birthday guest is made to feel a little special. It’s a shame, because the venue itself is beautiful, but the way the situation was handled completely ruined the experience.

The location is lovely, quiet, cozy, and (on paper) perfect for a quaint, sunny Sunday by the canal. I had booked for 11:45 (on the website it said it was still breakfast service) and was told on entrance that the kitchen had closed and switched to lunch. They said that if I ordered immediately (I hadn’t even been shown the table by then) I could still have it. My friend was late, so fair enough we were cutting it a bit thin, but it was still a bit upsetting and spoiled the experience on start as the way it was handled was chaotic and disorganised, especially considering the fact that the manager shouted audibly at the kitchen that they could close breakfast service as I was being walked to the table. One server grabbed our drinks order and then disappeared for ages to find out when we asked what non-dairy milk options they had, then another server came to get our drinks order(?) and then the first server came back again and got our food order? A bit poorly explained on my end but it was giving confusion. We were told that we couldn’t make our beef carpaccio a main if we paid extra (a bit silly if you ask me?). Food itself was okay. It has to be said that, on the upside, they were very attentive when my friend had a little incident spilling her drink. Side note: I have worked in restaurants previously - so at the cost of sounding too strict, I can tell when floor staff is not being managed well. They weren’t even short staffed as they had so many people running around the floor. All in all - sub par. I don’t eat out often because of cost of living so when I do it’s really with intention… alas.

Awful - absolute disgrace of a place and I would avoid at all cost. They can’t decide what they are. A river side bar ? A Gastro pub ? A posh restaurant? We arrived and the place was packed. Was given a dodgy table that when folks walked past the table would jiggle about. So asked to move inside. Talk about jumping out the frying pan into the fire! We had around 5 minutes of peace when our senses were assaulted by the sudden materialisation of a crèche. Loads of kids rocked up - the youngest probably a few weeks old if that, screaming, crying, throwing tantrums. Absolutely vile how parents think the public should be saddled with screaming babies, toddlers and even a 10 year old was having a meltdown. Even worse none of the staff was bothered to ask them to handle the situation and their child. None of the parents went outside to calm the child instead just sitting there sipping wine and conveniently ignoring their screaming devils. Then the food came. Starters the croquets tiny balls of mash fried and only 3 given in a sauce. Plain. Chicken wings tasteless, just tasted oil. The mains - swordfish, small pieces draped over aubergine and lentil type of mash with zero seasoning. I’m from the Seychelles and we know how to prepare fish, for £30 this was a disgrace. Even worse to come the chicken burger you wouldn’t serve to a serial killer, this dry, burned and over cooked piece of meat ( we think ? More like leather ) for his last meal. You would pity the poor fool. So why then are you charging £17 for this ? Alongside soggy brown horrid chips ? The staff did not check on the food. The food we came for via the fork app wasn’t available, your menu was limited and I understand it was Mother’s Day - but don’t serve people sub par food or open if you don’t have the staff if you’re a busy location . Then you won’t be garnering reviews like this one. Came here for a date and we stayed exactly one hour and bolted out of there quicker than you can say KFC - which is where we are now going to have proper chicken burgers. We were charged full price and we had the 50 % fork app food festival. Nobody checked on us or the quality of the food and asked if we were okay - so we removed the service charge. Terribly disappointing. Youre charging high end food prices to people and you can’t even provide a decent calm place for people to enjoy their meal. Everyone looked stressed out because the day was a bit warm and you had a few mothers in. This is by far the worst restaurant I’ve been to for a long time and I fail to understand the high ratings, raise your standard people and stop applauding mediocrity and greed. This is all of those things. The pictures looks better than the food tasted for sure !

We've been regulars at Waterway and have always enjoyed the ambience and the food. On our recent visit, we ordered a bottle of wine and a dessert to share. Unfortunately, the cookie dough was far too sweet and undercooked — we could barely get through the portion we had. Instead of requesting a replacement, we politely asked for an extra scoop of ice cream to balance the sweetness, but were told we’d need to pay for it. For a place we’ve supported regularly, this felt unnecessarily rigid. It’s not good service, and certainly not a good way to treat your customers. A little flexibility and care would’ve gone a long way. Sadly, this experience left a sour taste. Would not recommend the cookie dough.

We visited Water Way on Christmas Day hoping to enjoy a special family lunch, but unfortunately the experience was very disappointing. The food was extremely dry and difficult to cut and eat. It tasted as if it had been cooked the previous day. We also ordered meals from the children’s menu, which arrived covered in a large amount of gravy. None of the children were able to eat their meals. When we politely asked if the children could have plain pasta instead, we were told this was not possible. This lack of flexibility and consideration for children was disappointing, especially on such a special occasion. The restaurant really needs to review both food quality and customer service. Sadly, our Christmas lunch was spoiled, and we did not have the enjoyable day we had hoped for.

We visited this restaurant on Christmas Day and were very disappointed. The food was not enjoyable, and unfortunately no one in our group liked their meal even the kids didn’t eat their plates. For the price we paid, we expected much better quality and taste. It felt like a waste of money, and it really spoiled what should have been a special day. I hope the restaurant takes this feedback seriously and improves both the food and overall experience