La Partenope

I was very pleased by La Partenope. I have wanted to try it for a couple years, now, without really daring to go in (let's be honest, it's a rather expensive place).

I went with my wife on a weekday, and were extremely happy with the service and the food. The portions are very generous, and the pasta is really tasty. I will agree with other people here about the place being a bit pricey, but I think it is worth the money.

The wife and I popped in around 5pm on Saturday 17th Nov. 2012. We were asked if we had booked, which we hadn't, we were then shown to our table and offered a "menu" which was a A4 sheet of pastic covered paper which was covered in food and had seen better days. The menu was overpriced and offered a very limited selection. The only reason we decided to stay was that the Rugby and Football had just finished and the other restaurants were quite busy . While we waited for our starter the seating area began to fill with smoke from the kitchen, not a slight waft or a pleasant aroma from cooking but a kinda " I just burnt your food" smell, this coupled with the very dim lighting did not make for a pleasant experience. The menu we were offered was also way overpriced and not that exciting or tasty. I have never felt the need to give my opinion on a restaurant before but if reading this prevents a least one couple not making the same mistake as we did then it will have been worthwhile. Oh, just a quick question to finish with, is it acceptable to charge £6 for a bottle of beer ? one pound more than the glass of wine my wife had. Just read some of the other reviews and it seems like 2 different restaurants ! Pizza ? Melted cheese on sausage ? Nowt like that on our "cafe stlye" menu, in short won't be back.

Just wanted to say thanks to this place for making our night...The service was top class and all the italian waiters were friendly and well presented. We were recommended a lovely wine by one of the waiters and it went down VERY well with our dinner... I had the Italian Sausages with melted cheese over the top of them and they were cooked to perfection. My friends had seafood pasta, pizza and steak..all these meals (apart from the pizza) came with vegetables, yummy roast potatoes and salad. The food was to a very high standard and the prices were affordable. The final bill was roughly £160 for 4 people.. Some might think its a bit steep, however we did drink quiet alot of wine between 4 people...Didnt have desert cause there was not enough room after thier generous portion sizes from the main course. I most certainly would recommend this place to anyone who asks..it is clean, the food and wine is devine, friendly waiters, good vibe and a classy place to enjoy a night out with mates..or family;-)

My friend and I ate at La Partenope last week and the food was divine. I had the scallops and my friend had the seafood platter. The chef (and owner) made me something specially that was not on the menu for me. We found the staff to be friendly and the atmosphere was great. I was seated near the kitchen and we got to speak and see the chef preparing the meals. I was too full for desert, however my friend had the homemade tiramisu and its a thumbs up for that desert. I would recommend La Partenope to anyone who wants a classy night out with great value for money.

My partner and I dined in La Partenope just before Christmas for the first time since moving to Scotland in November. We were very impressed with the food and the service.

We have been regulars in there every month since and i totally recommend it to anybody who likes nice Italian food in comfortable surroundings.

Having tried many of Edinburgh's so called "best" Italian restaurants this is by far our favourite. The other restaurants are totally over priced and the portions are nothing compared to this. It just goes to show you that if you shop around you will find your ideal restaurant.

Our candle lit dinner on Valentines day was 10 out of 10 and i feel so lucky to have a partner that totally agrees with me (for a change lol)!!

All in all a great restaurant!

I travel back and forth from Edinburgh to Glasgow quite a lot and happen to spot La Partenope on the way home.
I rarely go to the same place twice and i have been to many different italian resturants both in Edinburgh and Glasgow because i wanted something more authentic, and found La Partenope offers just that.
The first time me and my partner visited La Partenope was indeed a great experience, welcomed by friendly staff and was surprised how charming the atmoshere was. Once we were sat, the waiter informed us about their selection of seafood they had to offer. I went for "Pesce Del Giorno" and was cooked just right. I remember sitting a few meters away from the kitchen and you can smell all the food they were cooking and regretting not ordering a starter!
After a few visits (and many delicious homemade desserts later!), i know that we've found our "little corner of Napoli in Edinburgh!".

I have a beautiful evening in La Partenope restaurant...... 14_2_2010 valtine day....that evening was very busy . food was { EXCELLENT } La Partenope the foods just Delicious. and something very nice form the owner , I have A big beautiful flower. Thank You

My boyfriend and I have visted La Partenope on numerous occasions and have always found the food and service to be of an excellent standard. The staff and atmosphere are friendly, relaxing and homely whilst maintaining a formal standard. The food is excellent, especially the wonderful fresh seafood and the gorgeous homemade desserts. Lots of lovely choices, catering for virtually every need. The prices are very reasonable, one could not hope to find a better or more authentic Neapolitan restaurant in Edinburgh!

As per a previous post and similar to warnings I had received from friends who have previously visited, I feel La Partenope's approach to their available menu's is at best questionable, at worst downright dishonest.
We had been looking forward to visiting the restaurant for a long time, and was advised by a colleague to be wary, as they will try and only give you the specials menu.
On arrival, we were sheperded to the non eating side of the restaurant and presented with the wine list and a specials menu and what was referred to as the "weekly menu". I assumed that this was in effect the a la carte menu, however it appeared expensive.
Having ordered and taken our seats in the actual restaurant, it was obvious the warnings had been correct. At least two nearby tables were eating Pizza, which did not appear enywhere on either menu we were given. In addition, it was obvious that one table was clearly "regulars" as unlike ourselves, they were given their menu's at the actual table they would be eating at.
The food was a mixed bag - my cold meats starter was average, whilst the sauteed seafood main course was very good. My wife's scallops were average, whilst she thought her courgette and artichoke pasta from the weekly menu was overpriced at > £10. She said it was nothing that we couldn't have prepared at home for a fraction of the cost.
We asked for the bill and waited 20 minutes and eventually had to go and ask for it, and found another customer making a complaint along the same lines. We were given our coats and asked for a taxi as given the length of time it had taken to NOT get the bill, we had missed our last train.
The waiter asked if I would like to leave a gratuity to which I advised no and proceeded to explain my unhappiness. It was apparent that this isn't the first complaint of it's type as he knew immiediately what I was about to say. He proceeded to advise that there was an a la carte menu, but this is for people who have just come off the street - we had booked and he wanted to give us the best. In a rather patronising manner, he said that Pizza or Carbonara is the type of "Italian" we would expect in the restaurants further into town i.e. they are not as good as La Partenope. He also suggested if this is what we wanted, we should have asked. I replied that, as the customer, you expect to be given all options up front without having to ask.
He also suggested that as a Neapolitan restuarant the emphasis was on seafood, but his suggestion that they do not do Pizza was a little strange given the fact that this originates from Naples.
Ultimately, a bitterly disappointing visit to this restaurant. These underhand attempts to fleece customers will quickly become common knowledge. No way to treat paying guests in a credit crunch

I've visited Lapartenope a few times over the years and while I excused my last experience there as perhaps just an 'off night', after last evenings dinner I am sad to report the place is definitely in decline. From the burnt bruscetta which was distinctly lacking in any garlicy flavour and instead heaped with cold straight from the jar oily vegetables.. to the disappointing seafood platter, I left feeling the restaurant very unsatisfied (and significantly poorer!). The lobster was rubbery, the scallops didn't taste fresh and the sea bass and tuna were indistinguishable. My partner had the meat platter which didn't fare better. The only taste sensation of the night was the Italian Sausage,other than that there was not a thing to write home about and over priced for what it was. Certainly the house red was over priced and the ambience was lacking a little with a strange choice of distinctly non italian music. Where did those lovely fairy lights go?
Staff were pleasant enough, service quick and we received a complimentary half measure Lemon cello before we left so I can't say they didn't try but for the amount we paid it was an over all disappointing experience.

It's a real shame as they started off so well all those years ago but I wont be going back again.

We was visit to La Partenope on last Thursday night, We see a famous T V presenter with he friends, after they leave, I just a nosey, I ask the staff, what the T V presenter eat? the staff told me ( they come for dinner at 5pm with three people, after he leave for a few hour, he came back,on the same night with more people, seven of them, he also write visit book for la partenope. )Wow !! it was a fantastic place,presentation of the food is very high standard, this little restaurant among the best five in town,very good food,I would highly recommend.

I have eaten here several times over the last few years and generally found it good however after a recent visit I was very disappointed.
I had arranged to visit on a recent Friday night with a party of four and after numerous requests for the "normal" menu which is on display in front of the restaurant I was told that this menu was not available at weekends-only the "Specials" one was on (I suspect they are contravening the Trade Descriptions Act)
Needless to say the "Specials" menu had most items at twice the price of the normal one & I found this frustrating. In the past I have been able to mix & match from the specials & the normal one but this time I was left feeling duped. Additionally up until recently I noticed that their house wine Multipulchiano (approx £14) is the one exact same available for sale at the nearby Lidl (for £2.98) . Me thinks the proprietors have become rather too greedy........I will not be returning again