Il Padrino

Fantastic carbonara! Sorry, had to get that off my chest; it really was amazing! Staff were very friendly, accepting a 10 person table and serving us very professionally and efficiently. Visited a few times before, and the service described above is always delivered, whether you're a 10 person table, a small group, or a dating couple. 100% will be back, and I'd highly recommend to anyone

Family owned. The chef is brilliant, he’s always there and everything is made under his supervision. Make sure you sit in the lower floor, best starter is the avocado prawn and fried mushrooms for mains have smoked chicken risotto and the lobster spaghetti. I always come back to this place. Remember to book your table because it’s always busy.

Can't belive it me has taken me until yesterday to visit il Padrino for the first time. The food was absolutely delicious and felt authentically Italian. Good portion sizes and reasonable prices. The fish specials board is excellent! The downstairs area is beautiful with the painted murals, so I recommend asking to sit there. Service was excellent, prompt and friendly. Overall, this is the best Italian restaurant in Colchester!

Always Consistent, Fab Food, amazing choice of Specials and a Great Menu! Loved my Risotto, perfectly cooked followed by Crab Gratin which was very tasty. All four of us were delighted with our meals. The Restaurant was very busy and there was a lovely atmosphere, candlelit tables with beautiful white linen table clothes and napkins and very good service . This place represents to me a little bit of Italy on our doorstep!

The food really is excellent, authentically cooked. Salmon was very tender and Rich in flavours, perfectly cooked. Sadly for me, all the pasta is cooked with eggs, vegans be warned, yet there is still other options but not many. A little over priced for portion size yet absolutely delicious! BTW I must say, in fact, I would prefer to rate 3.5 but 3 is underbaking it and it's all a matter of taste! Certainly appreciate a lovely meal, but the guy didn't like me sitting alone up stairs, not a lot of breathing space on the ground kitchen floor for me with a tourist sized rucksack. Yet i was met with politeness and pleasantries from the waitress and it was nice to relax up stairs.