Il Capitano Italian - Mole Valley

Our starters arrived, and they were decent. My partner ordered scallops and was rather disappointed to find only two bite-sized pieces on his plate. My partner’s dad jokingly asked for a generous amount of parmesan on his starter, suggesting he would love the whole portion. The owner took this joke literally and proceeded to dump the entire contents onto his plate. Then our main courses arrived. One dish ended up on the table, as the drunk owner managed to drop a calzone in front of us, splattering sauce all over my partner’s shirt. In shock, we watched as he picked up the sauce—with his fingers—and put it back on top of the calzone, all without an apology, before taking it back to the kitchen. He returned a couple of minutes later with the calzone, now covered in half a tub of rosemary, as if that would mask the mess. He attempted to offer it back to my partner. When we confronted him, he asked if we wanted black pepper—yes, you read that right—without the slightest acknowledgment of having served a secondhand calzone. Throughout the evening, I would occasionally make eye contact with him as he peered at us through the glass separating the dining area from the outside. I initially thought it was a fluke, but I grew increasingly uneasy when I realized he continued to stare. It seemed as though he was astonished that anyone was dining there, or perhaps he thought he had seen a ghost. After he finished eating a whole spaghetti dish and pizza at a nearby table, he came to clear our plates. As he stumbled away, we heard a loud crash—he had dropped every single plate. I would never recommend this place to anyone. The rest of the staff seemed just as frustrated with his behavior. On a more positive note, there was a kind young man whose name I didn’t catch. He was polite and should definitely seek employment elsewhere.

The overall atmosphere of this restaurant is quite gloomy. The waitstaff were friendly, but it took a long time for our food to arrive; we waited about 30 minutes for a burnt garlic cheesy bread that was topped with a blob of unmelted mozzarella. The main course was rather average and not particularly flavorful. Additionally, the prices are steep—£19 for a risotto—which I don't believe is worth it. I wouldn't consider returning to this restaurant.

I really enjoyed my experience; it felt like dining in Italy. The food was fantastic, the service made me feel like I was part of the family, and everything was excellent. I will definitely return.

The food was absolutely amazing and exceeded all my expectations. I never thought Italian cuisine could be this excellent outside of Italy, especially on Leatherhead High Street. The owner, Giovanni, is a fantastic host who delivers outstanding service. I highly recommend this restaurant; it’s clear why people come from far and wide to dine here, and it’s no surprise that it has remained popular over the years. We feel fortunate to have such incredible food right in our neighborhood, and I regret waiting so long to give it a try. Thank you for your warm hospitality!

The food was outstanding, and the desserts were exceptional. The drinks were top-notch as well. The service was special, with beautifully set tables. The staff was incredibly friendly and polite.