We ate at Lena's shortly after it opened and we were wowed then - they have however certainly got their act together. The chef is a genius! Beautiful Italian food! My father was Italian and I do not eat Italian food out, because it is never as good as I would make or get at home, however I have found true Italian food, served by charming Italian waiters with true Italian hospitality. The setting is chic and trendy, but charming and welcoming. The home made breads are divine, but you need to be careful not to over indulge, as the delights that follow need to be savoured fully. It is wonderful right up to the end, the home made almond biscuits are to die for.
(Can you make the biscuits and bag them up to sell, please?)
Fabulous selection of Italian wines - but then I am biased! Keep up the fantastic work.

My husband is Italian and I'm a keen cook, so between us we feel we know our Italian cuisine, and Lena is just great! Authentic and of a really high standard - the kind of food we expect, and regularly get, in Italy. I too have booked it for my birthday party - apart from the great food and lovely and efficient staff, it's just a perfect glam setting for a celebration! Highly recommended.

This was my third visit to Lena; each time I have been, the ambience with live jazz and beautiful interior have been a treat. I feel like I am in some chic Italian port rather than in usually dark and mysterious Shoreditch, with the swathes of white linen and glittering chandeliers! The service is relaxed, but attentive with smart staff and an owner who is obviously proud and passionate about his restaurant, named after his mother I was told. He casually speaks to customers, giving that familial Italian feel that I thought had all but died in London. You are never rushed; we spent almost three hours this time, feeling comfortable to relax and enjoy.

I am a food lover and I cannot understand how anyone could be negative about the food! The portions are far from measly and anyone who eats out in London should know that main courses are served without sides that you order as required…it’s not Bella Pasta! Everything I have eaten here has been delicately flavoured, allowing the flavour of obviously good quality produce to shine, with the provenance of the ingredients listed in the menu. The starter of homemade pumpkin ravioli was richly autumnal in flavour with as much parmesan as I wanted – a rare treat of the whole bowl being left on my table rather than the usual sprinkle! I then had fillet of beef with Porcini and pears, cooked to perfection. I could eat a bowl of the rosemary roasted potatoes, but then I wouldn’t have space for the chocolate torte with oranges which is nothing short of a decadent, truffled slab of loveliness! To finish off, a proper espresso with homemade biscuits (as if you haven’t indulged enough!).

For so long, Italian food has been unfashionable and tacky; Lena not only makes Italian food stylish,but it offers something rare in London; the feeling that you are a ‘regular’, a convivial atmosphere that you can only attribute to the Italian passion that is everywhere. I love it so much I have booked the downstairs bar for my birthday!

I came here on Friday evening on a friends recommendation. This is definitely the best restaurant in East London, which is handy as I live just five minutes down the road so I'll be back more often, even if just for a few drinks. The food was more than good; they were not shy on portion size, the dessert was even amazing, the best chocolate torte you have ever tatsed, the wine list is magnificent and the cocktail menu is even better!
The style is fab and the staff are just the icing on the cake!
A very enjoyable experience, now I'm looking forward to a Friday night downstairs in the bar with friends, cocktails and live music.

I ate here last night and have to say that the lamb was devine. Love the decor, very relaxing and a great place to meet and catch up with friends over a nice bottle of wine or two! Staff helpful and polite and know the menu well with good recommendations. I have already booked my work Christmas party there, look forward to tasting the Christmas menu!

My work mates and I came here for dinner 'off the cuff' just to see what the place was like and we were suitably impressed!
The incredibly tender rack of lamb, (Carre D’Agnello al Forno 18.00), peccorino & broadbean mash and the quality of the roast veal T-bone and seasonal vegetables , which although is priced above £20 (Nodino di Vitello 24.00) were mouth watering and worth every penny!.
We found the service was ‘attentive and friendly’ the décor and ambience were stylish and sophisticated (quite rare these days)….obviously a lot of money and effort went into the design and attention to detail was outstanding!
We loved the reclaimed railway sleepers used for the tables and bar. Very inventive!
We had amazing cocktails (particularly loved the Negroni & Espresso Martini) after dinner downstairs in the lounge and listened to some live jazz. How often can you say you have a gorgeous meal, looked after by staff as if you are millionaires and all in a venue that looks like it was made for the Hoi Poloi!! Fantastic - above and beyond your expectations!
Definately will be coming again, with friends, family and of course work colleagues!

66 Great Eastern Street has long been a death trap for restaurant ventures and after eating there last night, it seems that Lena is doomed to the same fate as its predecessors. The room itself is nice and lively - they've obviously pumped a lot of money into the place. There were some positives about the food as well - the flavours were not bad and the produce is obviously high quality. But that's where it ends. The service, which had given the appearance of attentiveness at the beginning of the meal, quickly fell apart. Dishes were forgotten, complaints were shrugged off and the whole mood began to sour. And while the food could be tasty, it was not always cooked well, the portions were miniscule and ingredients were not always mentioned on the menu. This is bad under any circumstances, but at the prices they charge, it is truly galling. The management, who gave no impression of wanting to take on board the views of their customers, are going to have learn pretty quickly to change their approach or we'll soon see another restaurant opening up in its place.

66 Great Eastern Street has long been a death trap for restaurant ventures and after eating there last night, it seems that Lena is doomed to the same fate as its predecessors. The room itself is nice and lively - they've obviously pumped a lot of money into the place. There were some positives about the food as well - the flavours were not bad and the produce is obviously high quality.

But that's where it ends. The service, which had given the appearance of attentiveness at the beginning of the meal, quickly fell apart. Dishes were forgotten, complaints were shrugged off and the whole mood began to sour.

And while the food could be tasty, it was not always cooked well, the portions were miniscule and ingredients were not always mentioned on the menu. This is bad under any circumstances, but at the prices they charge, it is truly galling. The management, who gave no impression of wanting to take on board the views of their customers, are going to have learn pretty quickly to change their approach or we'll soon see another restaurant opening up in its place.