All reader reviews by lawgiver
Pho
This restaurant is average at best. I have to echo the sentiments of the other underwhelmed reviewers on this one. So I'll make this a quick coup de grâce, unlike their service.
Food is average. The dishes on the menu repeat down the page, subtly changing one ingredient here and there, so there are, in practise, only three significantly different choices. The fruit juices were very nice though.
Service is painfully slow. My party was there during lunch and, yes, I know it was busy, but one should reasonably expect a restaurant to predict the rush and make plans to cope. We were there for 2 hours for 2 courses. Empty plates and drinks were left littering the table for inordinately long periods. The staff are authentically non-Vietnamese, which fits absolutely perfectly in a Vietnamese restaurant.
Atmosphere. Well, we could all breathe I guess, so that counts as atmosphere in one sense of the word. But it's otherwise a fairly soul-less affair that comes across as a restaurant under construction. If they got around to finishing it, it might be quite nice. Some might think it's arty, though.
Value for money.... overpriced but not breaking the bank.
If you're into being seen in a trendy venue, you'd better hurry down there before it becomes a has-been. Otherwise I'd say it's a case of emperor's new clothes.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Overall rating 
Food 4 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 5
Lemonia
This review is being written to keep the average up. I would like to echo the sentiments of the previous diners by stating that this family-run restaurant is an excellent ambassador for Hellenic cuisine.
There are actually two Lemonia restaurants on the same road, roughly opposite each other - the large one and the small one. We ate in the small one. Initially we were disappointed to be away from the buzz but what we ended up with was something of an indoor taverna.
The food was the real thing and the service was attentive without being pushy. In fact the owner(s) came to chat with us between courses, which was a nice touch.
Worth a visit.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Overall rating 
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Foggs
This one pulls in a high rating on many levels.
When you visit Fogg's you are letting yourself in for two hours of culinary pampering for the discerning palate. It is located on Chalk Farm Road, nestled among the many trendy bars and restaurants of the area.
It is an ideal place to unwind after a mooch around Camden Market or even just to catch up with old friends in a cosy setting. I'd say it's worth a special trip to visit, even if you only go once.
The staff are very professional and, when I visited, showed an impressive focus given the venue was completely full. Our food arrived well within a reasonable time and we did not feel rushed to vacate the table.
The experience was extremely positive and I'm glad to have found such a place within my usual stomping grounds.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Overall rating 
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Zerodegrees
I'd rate this place as slightly above average. It tries so hard to be some sort of concept restaurant but it's all too easy to see past the gloss and realise what's beneath is in fact little more than pizza in a pub. A very loud pub. And a very echoey loud.
Don't get me wrong, I don't dislike the place. I'm just saying the wool wasn't pulled over my eyes on this occasion. And I felt it was trying to do just that. I went in for food more than beer. We were shoehorned into a table that wasn't quite the right size for my party and thereafter found that service was only provided if you could get the staff's attention.
Now the operative word there is "if". They seemed somewhat adept at avoiding eye contact and the acoustics were so bad that even the most carrying voice was lost in the cacophany. I would have given the service a 5, but they were doing a good job on a busy evening, so it's worth an upgrade.
The food was good, but that was about it. Oh and it's not too expensive. But, for me at least, it ends there.
I'd go again, but probably only if someone asked me.
Friday, August 15, 2008
Overall rating 
Food 7 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 7
Piaf on the Hill (Wimbledon)
This should be quite an easy review to write. Just need to keep the scores up.
Everything (positive) that needs to be said about this restaurant appears to have already been said. Food - excellent. Good enough to warrant a repeat visit. Definitely good enough to point out to the staff.
Value for money was remarkable. With generously-sized portions such as these, coupled with the level of service received, one would be expecting to pay significantly more. That's not a cue to raise prices, by the way!
Our visit took place on a Saturday evening around 8pm, but the restaurant seemed to be a little empty for that time. This is not to say it was completely empty - but there were just a few more vacant seats than one would normally expect for the time. This isn't a major point, however, and may be down to the fact it was January.
All in all it was worth the trip to Wimbledon and I have no qualms recommending anyone to stop by.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Quaglino's
At this time of writing, I feel Quaglinos is taking something of an unfair beating. I went in a party of 6 and found that the service was, on the whole, quite good. Now I'll repeat "quite good". I do agree it's not the mindblowing experience you would expect with the reputation it has. But it's certainly not awful either.
My only complaint about the place was a sensation of being herded around. We were ushered into the bar area at first because our table was not ready (even though we were on time). But they didn't track where we were. So, when our table did become ready, they had to hunt around the bar area looking for us. Then there was a moment of disorganisation in the dining area as it had not been made clear which table we were supposed to sit at.
The acoustics are a little echoey, but this is not at the expense of being able to hold a conversation. The space is nice, but I'm wondering if it's had its day. Although I found it a pleasant place to be, there was something nagging inside me that felt the place could do with an update.
Aside from the disorganisation, the service was very good. The waiters saved the day with their promptness, efficiency and knowledge.
We generally felt the food was very good although not quite excellent.
Overall, I would stand up for Quaglinos and say it's worthy of one's patronage. But I do agree they should rethink a few points. They definitely need a system of tracking where they are with the customers in the bar. They also need to improve the interface between the bar and the dining area.
Would recommend it.
I would go back. Probably not immediately, but I'd have no reservations about it, either.
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
Overall rating 
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 7
Freemasons Arms
Since the renovation, this pub has gone the way of many of the butchered atmospheric pub to become..... the same as everyone else. Don't get me wrong, it's very nice to look at and it's all very tasteful. But it's not unique. There is no soul - only pastel.
I took my parents here for my mum's birthday and, thankfully, the food was spot on. I won't go into details about what was ordered, etc - only that we were happy in this respect.
So where did it go wrong? Well, it started with the table booking itself. I was told no table was available at the time I requested, so I took an earlier table. At the time I requested, only 2 or 3 of the many tables were occupied, so I'm not sure what they were talking about there.
At the end of our meal, we were asked to leave the table as they needed it for the next set of guests. Many of the tables around us were still unoccupied.
Then came the gobsmacking moment. When paying the bill, they asked me directly if I wanted to leave a tip. This is no-one's place to ask but I decided to leave one anyway. Then they took 6 (yes six) attempts to process my card, making me enter my pin each time. When the payment was finally processed, I noticed I had been subtly overcharged. For this, I obviously demanded a refund and return of my tip for being so cheeky. The refund took two further attempts. The manager was very blasé about the fact that my mum's birthday was being run into the ground on the final hurdle.
So I give 1 point for service because they did bring the food out.
When we left about 15 minutes later, the table we had occupied had still not been taken by the next guests. So there was no need for us to be moved on in such a hurry after all.
The following day, my credit card company confirmed the bill, but no refund. Several emails later, the management of the pub had chased the refund but said I needed to wait up to 14 days for it.
No compensation was offered for the time I had to spend chasing this up or the fact that this ruined a special occasion.
By all means go here, but please please please use a credit card. At least that way you have greater protection from any unfortunate "sleight of hand" (or what they like to call "genuine mistakes") when it comes to paying the bill. Oh, and have a thick skin for the prospect of being bullied off your table.
Otherwise, the food's good.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 5
The Magdala
We visited this place last October and plan to return. Their starters were perhaps a little lacklustre but they redeemed themselves from that point on. We both ordered their steak, cooked to varying degrees, and nothing failed to disappoint.
We also added a late order of sides, which they handled speedily and professionally.
They even remembered us personally from the time of having made the table booking. A nice touch.
All in all, this was a really solid night out. Their wine list was extensive enough to have something for everyone and we had no trouble choosing something to go with our choice of main.
Dessert was enormous. We had to leave it unfinished.
The place has a great atmosphere and evidently many repeat customers, judging by the first-name terms many of them were on.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Overall rating 
Food 7 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Fratelli la Bufala
Why is everyone leaving such unfair reviews about this restaurant? Time to redress the balance.
Last time I ate here, I was not disappointed. It is true that the food can take a while to arrive, but is this such a major problem? I don't think so. We're not talking cripplingly long waits here - just an extra 10 minutes or so. Let it go.
I do agree there is something missing with the service, but I'm not sure I could possibly describe it as rude, as others have. At the very worst it's indifferent.
So what of the food? I say all in all not bad. Our mains and sides all arrived together, cooked to specification and exactly as described. Portions lean towards the generous side. Possibly slightly lacking in flavour, so I'll drop a point.
Personally, I really liked the space with it's plain walls and strange art. The ability to view the kitchen is always a plus for me.
So what's wrong with it? I can't think of much. I genuinely believe certain past reviews have shown this restaurant in an unfair light and urge everyone to give it a chance.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Great Nepalese Restaurant
I'm really only writing this review to keep up the score of the other reviews. This place is great! Some of the decor is starting to date but who cares when the food is this good?
This is the sort of food that you want to take slowly, to make it last longer. But you can't, because it's so tasty. You end up cramming it in your mouth like you've never eaten before.
The service, we felt, was spot on. It was non-intrusive and staff appeared at all the right moments.
Then the bill arrived. Only £50 all in. That was for two people ordering two starters, two rice, three main dishes, two drinks and two desserts, all of which was at a very high standard. Beat that.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Locanda-Ottoemezzo
I have to be brutally honest on this one. I felt it was a tough call.
Don't get me wrong, I had a great time here and the restaurant is a gem. The food was some of the best Italian food I've had in a long time. The service was, for want of a better word, charming and the various nooks and crannies of the venue gave the place a very cosy feel (even if the plastic chairs were a bit odd). My only gripe is this: I personally think it's too expensive relative to what you get.
Yes, it's trendy and yes, it's in the middle of Kensington, but £50 per head for a standard 2-course meal? I thought that was a bit steep.
So enough said on that. I DO recommend this restaurant because I don't believe the cost should be a barrier to a pleasant evening out. Just be aware, that's all. Well worth a visit.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 5
Bengal Spice
You will be made to feel welcome here. We came to this restaurant blind, in that we did not read any reviews beforehand. And we can now confidently state that nothing has changed in the standard of this restaurant since the last few reviews were posted here.
The main element that struck me was that it was incredibly good value for money. We ate until it was physically impossible to continue and the bill came to £18 per head, including drinks and tip.
There's not a lot to let this restaurant down. If you're at a loose end in the area, you won't feel disappointed here.
Monday, July 16, 2007
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 10
Piazza
This restaurant is very much like a breakfast cafe with the decor and atmosphere. But they're trying to be much more. And they're not.
The starters were fine. We went for their garlic mushrooms. All good so far. But the pizzas were extremely chewy, like rubber. We decided to tolerate it. Then the cracks appeared. First, they removed our plates while we were still chewing food. Is this right? I don't think so.
Second, two customers, who were leaving before us, pointed out they were not happy with their food or the service. The manager responded with a "tough luck" answer. They left. Lastly, the staff allowed a rose-seller into the restaurant. Not a bad move in itself but I reserve the right to ignore these people. They do not have the right to place a rose on the table if I haven't asked for it. So I admit I lost my rag with the guy. The staff should have intervened but only did so when I asked them to. Up until this point, they had merely been looking on as if the incident were some kind of spectator sport (as opposed to them actually doing their job).
I refused to pay their service charge on the basis that the rose seller had been allowed to harrass us. They obliged but what followed should have been a feedback-giving exercise. It evolved into a full-blown argument. In short, the restuarant refused to acknowledge their wrongdoing. Unbelievable. In front of the other patrons I was called a bad customer and told I should be ashamed of myself.
Avoid. There are other Italian restaurants. I lost my money. Don't lose yours.
Friday, June 22, 2007
Overall rating 
Food 4 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 2
Queen of Sheba Ethiopian Restaurant
First taste of Ethopian food and not disappointed. This is somewhere I'd easily bring a few friends for something different. The format is one of a very informal family-run restaurant.
The food was very interesting - we opted for a mixed platter (because we didn't know what to choose) and it was a visual and gastronomic feast.
Service was a tough call though. We had some frustratingly long waits. 30 minutes per course wouldn't be an exaggeration. But they clearly took a pride in their restaurant and this showed.
We'll be back, but probably earlier (in the day) than before, to account for the waits involved.
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Bengal Quay
This place needs to be shouted about. My partner and I visited on a Saturday evening and were not disappointed. I will agree with the other reviews in that this restaurant is oddly-placed, away from the central buzz of Canary Wharf. However, on talking to the staff this would not seem to be a problem for them with their Friday nights routinely seeing just about every table occupied.
The food and service are second to none. This is *the* team. They work flawlessly. And enough people have commented on the standard of the food, there's little point repeating it.
I've dropped Atmosphere to 8 because it is right next to the DLR (practically under the track). While this was a novelty at first, it did start to get a little long in the tooth towards the end. But not enough to spoil the evening.
This restaurant is definitely on my shortlist.
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Little Bay (Belsize Rd)
Have been to this restaurant a couple of times. On entering, it is a very charming venue with tables on the ground floor being set into their own alcoves and split-levels. Downstairs is a larger area where most diners will end up.
We found the food was above average but not mind-blowing. However, for the price one couldn't complain. One minor point was that the menu was a bit confusing. Some of the main courses come with vegetables. Others do not and require side dishes to be ordered separately. Some clarification!
Atmosphere - a point of contention here. It's loud and acoustically bad! But this is an opinion. Some like it loud. I like to think and take it all in. Okay for some.
Service was okay - no fancy trimmings but no complaints either.
Would go back as it's great value for money, but not top of my list.
Monday, April 16, 2007
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 9
Le Cellier du Midi
This restaurant does well at what it's trying to be. It's trying to be a family-run business with a cosy atmosphere.
Yes, it could be said that the decor is slightly dated but I wouldn't go so far as to call it depressing. It's just a little dark. However, I feel this is more than made up for by the general ambience and location of the restaurant. Where else can one feel at home in a basement? They've done the job well.
Food was second to none. My party ate just about everything that was put in front of us. The waiter had extensive knowledge of the food coming from the kitchen and sold the specials so well we all went along with his suggestions.
Only downside is that they were a tad clingy as we were leaving. Yes we will go back. Probably soon. This place is worth a visit for a special occasion. Parking is a bit of a pain due to local restrictions (relaxed on Sundays), but if you're coming on public transport, it's within short walking distance of Hampstead tube station.
Recommended!
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Valentinos
This is an old-school family-run Italian restaurant. The staff really engage with you and make you feel welcome and the excellent food comes from a chef with 30 years of experience. The whole place makes you feel as though you have been welcomed into someone's home.
From the outside the place may not look like much but it is a gem albeit it very oddly placed.
We felt it lost out on atmosphere with the somewhat dated decor but did not want to mark it down too much given that there is a very strong following at this venue with regulars very much in attendance. The staff were on first name terms with many of them.
Bottom line - we are very glad we went. We had been planning it for a while but the location might prevent us returning soon.
Monday, February 26, 2007
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 10
St Germain
This restaurant is truly outstanding.
The staff were attentive and efficient from the start but were not pushy. The whole team were working seamlessly.
The venue is amazing. You may be aware it is an ex-printing press. Many of the original features remain. There is a dramatic black and white scheme throughout with atmospheric lighting to complement.
Lastly the food was spot on and at the right price. We only had room for 2 courses as the portions were on the generous side.
One of my favourite London restaurants.
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
The Grange Pub and Dining Room
My partner and I went for the three courses with wine routine in here. We were not disappointed.
It's definitely above-average and certainly a pleasant place to be. But we felt it fell down on the atmosphere somewhat. There is something missing from the soul of this place that makes me wonder if it was built for the summer.
There is a conservatory area which was closed off (we visited in winter), forcing the drinkers into a smaller area and hence making the dining area nosier. I think that warmer weather would really open this place out, so we will visit again.
Thursday, February 08, 2007
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 8
La Menara
I booked this for my partner's birthday and it was faultless.
Watch the mezze. It's big. Really big. It will feed about 4 people easily.
Cleveland street seems to have a few gems on it. It's underrated. Go there. Go. Now.
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
La Cage Imaginaire
You won't be disappointed. This is a charming restaurant tucked away in a secret corner of Hampstead.
It has a kookiness that appeals to us.
Anyway we thought the food was fantastic and the service could not be faulted.
We plan to go back.
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Andreas
My partner and I visited this place in the middle of summer and the whole place was opened up like a Greek taverna (as much as is possible in London)!
We went for the works, three courses, bottle of wine and a liqueur to finish.
The service was top-notch all the way through, despite the venue being quite busy.
We have a lot of experience of Greek food and felt this place was serving the real thing. So it's authentic. We appreciate some of the reviews here are not so complimentary but we beg to differ.
The owner of the restaurant engaged his customers and made us feel very much at home.
We stayed all evening from about 8pm until closing time. The owner was in no rush to move us on. It was all very relaxing.
So top marks. We will be returning. Recommended.
Sunday, September 24, 2006
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Zizzi (Charlotte St)
I'm going to talk about the service in this review. Something has gone badly wrong at this restaurant.
For a start, I would appreciate it if the staff could wear something other than jeans when on duty. I had trouble identifying them among the customers.
Secondly, it would be nice if some of them could be around when you needed them - like when paying the bill. Here I kid you not. I actually had to phone them from my table to ask them for the bill!
I spoke with the manageress prior to leaving. She was surprised that I'd made this phone call, but not fazed in any way. I know if I were in her position, I'd be surely embarrassed. She did not offer to put things right, although she had ample opportunity.
Not sure why I left a tip.
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Overall rating 
Food 6 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 5
The Yellow House Restaurant
I went to this restaurant with a party of 6, two of whom were staunch regulars. So I'll write this review based on what we all said on the night.
It's simple food with very good ingredients and presented very well. Everybody has had mushrooms on toast for instance. But not like this. At home it's a snack. Here I wanted more.
It's ambitious. The head chef has an impressive CV, having worked for a big name or two in his time.
The staff are friends as well as colleagues. This comes across in the service. Everything is very relaxed and not pushy in any way.
It's also worth noting that the menu changes on a weekly basis, so there's always a turnover of courses.
I recommend this restaurant. If I lived more locally I would probably come here regularly.
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
