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Barbarella opens in Canary Wharf to mixed reviews

The new restaurant is praised for atmosphere but criticized for food quality.

July 20, 2025 at 05:00 AM

Barbarella, London E14: ‘A large scoop of Lady Gaga does House of Gucci’ - restaurant review

The new restaurant offers boisterous dining with a focus on fun but mixed reviews on food quality.

Barbarella in Canary Wharf delivers extravagant dining experience

Barbarella, the latest opening from the Big Mamma group in Canary Wharf, promises an extravagant dining experience. The restaurant is styled with flamboyant decor and oversized sculptures, creating a chaotic yet elegant atmosphere. While it excels in entertainment value, with energetic staff pouring drinks and presenting food in a theatrical manner, the food quality has raised eyebrows. Dishes such as the £36 lobster linguine often lack depth, and the food is sometimes described as overpriced and underwhelming.

Key Takeaways

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Barbarella emphasizes a fun, theatrical dining atmosphere.

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Food quality is often criticized as underwhelming and overpriced.

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The staff maintains a character that may detract from honest dining feedback.

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Dining here is more about the experience than the cuisine itself.

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Big Mamma's rapid growth indicates a demand for festive dining options.

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Critics question whether the fun can compensate for average food.

"Barbarella is about escapism, boisterous group dining and being swept up in the moment."

This captures the restaurant's focus on experience over culinary excellence.

"The food isn’t always terribly good and is sometimes actively awful."

A stark critique that highlights the disparity between the restaurant's atmosphere and food quality.

"The staff simply cannot break character, so all the pasta is, according to them, freshly made this hour."

This emphasizes the exaggerated presentation style at the restaurant.

"I don’t think I’ll be running back for a scoop of gelato any time soon."

A closing remark that showcases the reviewer's disappointment in the food quality.

The Big Mamma restaurant concept thrives on its ability to provide a vibrant, escapist dining experience. However, beneath its glamorous surface, concerns about food quality remain. Diners may be entranced by the lively atmosphere and friendly staff, but repeated complaints regarding the food suggest that the restaurant may prioritize spectacle over substance. This tension between entertainment and culinary excellence could affect long-term customer loyalty.