Umbertos Hornchurch Restaurant Menu Reviews and Booking Guide

Umberto’s is a family-run Italian restaurant at 195 High Street, Hornchurch (RM11 3XT), East London, rated 4.5 of 5 on TripAdvisor from 200 reviews and ranked #8 of 95 restaurants in Hornchurch. The restaurant serves traditional Italian and Mediterranean food with fresh seafood, meats, pasta, and vegetarian/vegan/gluten-free options, open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday.

What is Umberto’s Hornchurch and where is it located?

Umberto’s Hornchurch is a claimed family-run Italian restaurant at 195 High Street, Hornchurch RM11 3XT, Greater London, England, operating since the 1990s with current owners Enzo and Gina leading the team.

Umberto’s represents a traditional Italian eatery in one of Hornchurch’s oldest buildings, offering lunch, dinner, and late-night service with a full bar, table service, and wheelchair accessibility. The restaurant serves alcohol, provides highchair availability, parking, and seating, positioned on Hornchurch High Street in East London’s Havering borough. Enzo and Gina, the husband-and-wife team managing the establishment, are frequently mentioned in reviews for their first-class service and passion for authentic Italian cuisine. The venue has earned TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice award, ranking within the top 10% of properties worldwide based on consistent great reviews.

Hornchurch itself is a town in the London Borough of Havering, situated approximately 10 miles east of Charing Cross in East London, with a strong community focus on local dining and cultural events. Umberto’s has operated for over 35 years, with diners noting they’ve attended special occasions there repeatedly since the 1990s.

What dishes are on the Umberto’s Hornchurch menu?

The menu features fresh seafood (lobster linguine, scallops, halibut, cod, skate, sea bass, Dover sole, mussels, sardines, prawns), meats (calf liver, special ribs, veal, pork shoulder, rib eye steak, fillet steak), pasta (seafood linguine, lasagne), and starters (garlic prawns, salmon, prawns).

Umberto’s maintains a varied menu with a specials board showcasing daily fresh seafood options that staff explain in detail, including ingredients and preparation methods. The seafood selection includes lobster linguine with full lobster meat, scallops, mussels, sardines, halibut, cod in tomato-chilli-garlic sauce, skate (described as “best ever”), Dover sole, and sea bass. Meat dishes feature calf livers, special ribs, veal, pork shoulder, rib eye steak, and fillet steak cooked to perfection.

Pasta options include seafood linguine, lasagne, and multiple pasta varieties, while starters range from garlic prawns (large and peeled), salmon, and prawns wrapped to fish platters. Desserts include homemade chocolate orange cake and limoncello shots served at meal endings. The menu adapts to dietary needs with vegetarian-friendly, vegan, and gluten-free options available, including gluten-free bread rolls for coeliacs.

Reviews confirm all dishes live up to expectations with fresh food made to order, expertly cooked and presented across three courses. The specials board is consistently “loaded with lovely dishes,” meaning diners often don’t need to examine the standard menu.

What do customer reviews say about food quality at Umberto’s Hornchurch?

Customers rate the food as “amazing,” “delicious,” “very very tasty,” and “cooked to perfection,” with 37 food photos on TripAdvisor and consistent descriptions of fresh, flawlessly executed dishes across all courses.

TripAdvisor reviews from October 2024 through December 2025 describe Umbertos as “one of the best around Hornchurch for a taste of Italian and Mediterranean food” with excellent food and first-class service. A October 2024 review states “the food was very, very tasty” and “all our dishes lived up to expectations”. March 2025 feedback from a gluten-free diner calls the starter “amazing” and main “delicious,” noting the restaurant caters excellently to coeliacs.

May 2024 reviews describe the evening as “flawless from beginning to end” with every dish “exceptional” matched by outstanding service. October 2023 feedback states “the food was amazing, all 3 courses were beautifully cooked and presented” as the “best restaurant experience”. December 2024 reviews confirm “perfect food—lovely service” with food “so fresh and tasty” across multiple visits.

January 2024 customers report all three courses were “spot on” with lovely service rounding off a great evening. May 2025 reviews describe food as “simply amazing” with fish and meats “clearly sourced fresh daily,” executed to “very high standard, with style and quality”. September 2025 feedback from a decade-plus return visit calls the food “very, very tasty” with a “lovely experience”.

December 2025 reviews from an 8-person group state “food was delicious with everyone loving their dishes” across meat, fish, and vegetarian meals, all “excellent”. April 2023 reviews call it “best restaurant in Hornchurch if not Essex” with “fantastic food” and “all food fresh made to order”. November 2023 feedback from 35 years of special occasion dining states “food is simply amazing, everything cooked to perfection”.

How does Umberto’s Hornchurch handle dietary restrictions?

Umberto’s offers vegetarian-friendly, vegan options, and gluten-free options, including gluten-free bread rolls for coeliacs, with staff knowledgeable about the menu who tailor meals for allergies professionally.

The restaurant explicitly caters to coeliacs, as confirmed by a March 2025 review where a gluten-free diner received a “warm, tasty gluten-free roll” upon arrival—something “that doesn’t happen in many restaurants”. Staff go through the menu and specials thoroughly, informing diners about options and handling dietary restrictions with care and professionalism.

A May 2024 review describes two party members with allergies where staff ensured “each meal was tailored accordingly”. The establishment lists vegan options and vegetarian-friendly dishes on its TripAdvisor profile, confirming formal accommodation of these dietary needs. Staff are described as “so informative going through the menu and all of the specials on offer,” explaining ingredients and preparation methods for allergy-aware dining.

What are Umberto’s Hornchurch opening hours and price range?

**Umberto’s opens Sunday 12:00 PM–4:30 PM, Tuesday–Thursday 5:00 PM–10:30 PM, Friday 12:00 PM–2:00 PM then 5:00 PM–10:30 PM, Saturday 5:00 PM–10:30 PM, and is closed Monday; prices are $$–$$$ (moderately priced).**[1]

The restaurant operates lunch and dinner service with late-night availability Tuesday through Saturday, plus Sunday lunch only. Friday includes a brief lunch window (12:00 PM–2:00 PM) before evening service. Monday closure is consistent across all weeks.

Price positioning is “$$ – $$$” on TripAdvisor, indicating moderately priced to mid-range pricing. Reviews note prices are “not for the faint hearted but worth every penny,” placing Umberto’s on the “higher price end compared to other Italian restaurants” but justified by quality, quantity, and family-run passion. A 2020 review calls it “good value for money” despite higher pricing, emphasizing the amount of fish in mains shows customers get “your money’s worth”.[3][1]

How do I book a table at Umberto’s Hornchurch?

Book by calling +44 1708 475218 for reservations; the restaurant accepts reservations and staff are accommodating, having adjusted bookings twice for a delayed kids’ football tournament without issue.

Umberto’s features reservation capability as a listed amenity, with phone contact at 01708 475218 (+44 1708 475218). Reviews confirm the restaurant is “accommodating, adjusting our booking twice due to a delayed kids’ football tournament” before arrival, demonstrating flexibility with reservation changes. Upon arrival, guests receive warm greetings and attentive table service.

For weekend dinners (Friday–Saturday 5:00 PM–10:30 PM), booking is essential as these are peak hours. Weeknight dining (Tuesday–Thursday) offers easier availability, particularly before 6:00 PM or after 9:00 PM. The restaurant’s small family-run nature means capacity is limited, making advance booking critical for group dining or special occasions.

What makes Umberto’s Hornchurch ambience and service special?

The restaurant sits in one of Hornchurch’s oldest buildings with great ambience, pleasant surroundings, and a warm homely atmosphere; staff are friendly, welcoming, knowledgeable, attentive, and never make problems too much trouble.

Interior photos (6 on TripAdvisor) and review descriptions confirm a pleasant dining environment with warm, inviting welcomes. Peter E’s October 2023 review notes “great ambience” in “one of Hornchurch’s oldest buildings”. IsabelleFC’s August 2020 review describes “very warm and homely” atmosphere. Steve J’s September 2025 feedback calls it “relaxing atmosphere in pleasant surroundings”.

Staff consistently receive praise for being “friendly and helpful,” “listening to other diners asking for variations always met with ‘no problem, I’ll do that for you'”. Reviews describe staff as “welcoming and knowledgeable about the menu,” “attentive,” “friendly and welcoming,” and making guests “feel at home”. A September 2025 review states “friendly, welcoming and knowledgeable staff who made us feel at home … nothing was too much trouble”.

Service quality includes attentiveness (prompt tablecloth changes without fuss), detailed specials board explanations, and professional allergy handling. The family team’s friendly, welcoming nature is repeatedly highlighted, with multiple reviews calling service “superb,” “first class,” and “excellent”.

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How does Umberto’s Hornchurch rank among East London Italian restaurants?

Umberto’s ranks #8 of 95 restaurants in Hornchurch overall, #3 of 4 for family Italian restaurants in Hornchurch, and #1 of 4 for late-night Italian restaurants in Hornchurch, all with 4.5 of 5 from 200+ reviews.

On TripAdvisor, Umberto’s holds 4.5 of 5 stars from 200 reviews, positioned as the third-best Italian restaurant for families in Hornchurch after The Aviary (5.0, 121 reviews) and Onyx Restaurant and Bar (4.3, 418 reviews). For late-night Italian dining, Umberto’s ranks first above Tarantino’s Restaurant (4.3, 536 reviews), Prezzo Italian Restaurant Hornchurch (3.9, 353 reviews), and Domino’s Pizza.

Umberto’s is described as “the best restaurant in Hornchurch/Romford/Upminster” by a November 2023 reviewer with 35 years of special occasion dining there. Another April 2023 review calls it “best restaurant in Hornchurch if not Essex”. The restaurant has earned TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice award, ranking within the top 10% of properties worldwide.

Compared to other Hornchurch Italian options—Tarantino’s (51 High St), Prezzo (189 High Street), and Da Vinci’s (13-15 Station Lane)—Umberto’s at 195 High Street maintains the highest rating among established traditional Italian restaurants.

What should I expect when dining at Umberto’s Hornchurch?

Expect a flawless three-course meal with fresh made-to-order food, detailed specials board explanations, attentive service, professional allergy handling, perfectly paced courses, limoncello shots, and homemade desserts like chocolate orange cake.

Diners receive warm greetings upon arrival, attentive servers who present enticing specials boards with variety of mouthwatering dishes, and expert descriptions of ingredients and preparation methods. The meal is “perfectly paced” with suitable time between courses, as confirmed by a September 2023 80th birthday meal review.

All three courses are “beautifully cooked and presented,” “spot on,” or “exceptional,” with fresh seafood and meats sourced daily. Staff handle dietary restrictions professionally, tailoring meals for allergies. The menu is talked through by staff, showing passion for food and flavor combinations.

Service includes prompt attention to issues (tablecloth changes without fuss), friendly welcoming attitudes, and knowledgeable menu explanations. Meals end with refreshing limoncello shots and homemade desserts like chocolate orange cake. The family-run atmosphere provides warm, homely welcoming with nothing being “too much trouble”.

Value is justified by quality and quantity—customers report getting “your money’s worth” despite higher pricing. The experience consistently earns “10/10” ratings and guarantees return visits.