Harden's survey result
Summary
“One of the prettiest restaurants in London – charmingly tucked away in Floral Court, Covent Garden” – this is the in-town offshoot of the famous Richmond plant nursery, and in fact houses two establishments – “La Goccia is the better of the two” (see also). There’s “a lovely atmosphere in this light and bright room – it’s the sort of place you might take your rich aunt to for lunch”. The food, though, is “not especially memorable” and “weirdly expensive for average fare”.
Summary
The undoubtedly “beautiful central London location” of this Covent Garden spin-off from the famous Richmond plant nursery makes it – for some reporters – “worth paying for the pricey food” in its two restaurants, especially if you have romance in mind. Plenty of others disagree, complaining of “disappointing” food in an operation that is “not even a decent shadow of the home port”.
Summary
A classic ‘rus in urbe’ venue – this lavish, flower-filled destination in a still-new-feeling Covent Garden development channels the charms of the well-known Richmond Park plant nursery in its two restaurants, interiors shop and florist. A “nice place”, undoubtedly, but one too often accused of serving “tiny, overpriced portions” of modern Italian food.
Summary
“Like being in the country, but without leaving London”: this year-old ‘lifestyle destination’ in a new Covent Garden development – spun out from the Richmond garden centre’s famous shabby-chic restaurant – comprises a shop, florist, deli, cicchetti (Italian small plates) bar and a main restaurant. It’s a lavish investment from the Boglione family, with a “beautiful atmosphere”, but the food is “only just about good enough for the prices”, while the “disorganised and chaotic service requires some serious work”. Still, for a romantic lunch on a summer’s day in the centre of town, its flower-filled courtyard is hard to beat.
For 33 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at The Petersham?
1 Floral Court, off Floral St, London, WC2E 9DJ
Restaurant details
Prices
 Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £48.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £5.50 |
 Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Service | 12.50% |
1 Floral Court, off Floral St, London, WC2E 9DJ
Opening hours
| Monday | 12 pm‑3 pm, 5 pm‑9:30 pm |
| Tuesday | 12 pm‑3 pm, 5 pm‑9:30 pm |
| Wednesday | 12 pm‑3 pm, 5 pm‑9:30 pm |
| Thursday | 12 pm‑4:30 pm, 5 pm‑9:30 pm |
| Friday | 12 pm‑4:30 pm, 5 pm‑9:30 pm |
| Saturday | 12 pm‑4:30 pm, 5 pm‑9:30 pm |
| Sunday | 11:30 am‑4 pm |
Best Italian restaurants nearby
Italian restaurant in Covent Garden
Italian restaurant in Covent Garden
Italian restaurant in Covent Garden
Best similarly priced restaurants nearby
British, Traditional restaurant in Strand
American restaurant in Covent Garden
Fish & seafood restaurant in Covent Garden
