Livebait (Covent Garden)

Visited Livebait for a quick pre theatre meal. Had excellent fish and chips followed by crème brulée all washed down by a average but enjoyable Pinot Grigio. Very nice waiter knew we had limited time and served us fast. Total price was a few pence under £63 for two. A hefty £10 was added for cover charge and service. Food was very good, but expensive for a 2 course fish and chips meal. (Having just spent 2 weeks in the South of France where you can eat well at half this price the London prices came as a big shock!)
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Jamie Easton
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 4
Monday, June 11, 2007

Visited Livebait on Saturday 12th May, was a little apprehensive after reading reviews but had already booked. Had booked table for 6pm but turned up at 5.30pm and was shown to our table (requested a booth, and got one) straight away. My partner and I love seafood and treated ourselves to one classic platter (28.50) and one Livebait special platter (34.95). The house red wine we ordered was delious. When the food arrived on one giant platter the whole restaurant stared at our bonnaza of seafood, crab, cockles, oysters, mussels, lobster, giant prawns etc. Many people came over for a chat about it which did become a little annoying. Unbeknown to us the Livebait platter included 2 glasses of champayne, nice surprise. The seafood was gorgeaous especially the crab & lobster.

The waitress was lovely and I did check that the 12.5% service charge actually went to the staff and not the business.

We cannot wait to return to Livebait and would highly reccomend

X
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claire - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Monday, May 14, 2007

I have been in LiveBait on Tuesday night by 5pm for the pre-theatre the service was really slow and the manager was very rood to the staff its look like italian guy with a purpil short I was on holliday very shocking by this manager seriously horrible but the waitresse was very friendly and polite she was trying to explain me why my main course ws=as taking time in the polite maners.

Ataf
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Ndiaye
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 2
Saturday, April 21, 2007

Popped in here for lunch and chose the set menu option. A £1.50 additional cover charge brings French bread with butter and fish pate - delicious. The Louisiana crab cakes chosen as a starter were well presented and tasted good. For my main course I had ordered traditional fish and chips with tartar sauce and I was full of expectation having seen this dish being delivered to other tables. When it arrived, a good sized portion, the predominant aroma was of the oil in which it had been cooked - most unappetising. It tasted better than it smelt but was very oily. I suspect the cooking oil had become overheated and also that the fish, freshly cooked and hot, had not been properly drained before serving. I would feel inclined to give this restaurant another chance but I would probably give the fish and chips a miss after this experience.

A 12.5% service charge is added to the bill.
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Chris K. - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Friday, March 16, 2007

My husband and I visited this restaurant last week (8th March 07) and it was EXCELLENT!

The food was wonderful and the service was first class. We did not feel rushed and nothing was too much trouble.

When we return to London, we will return to Livebait.

I would heartily recommend it!
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Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Monday, March 12, 2007

We love seafood so decided to make an evening of it in London and visit Livebait for dinner.

The food was wonderful. Starters: Mussels (great flavours) and Scallops (Amazing taste although small portion) Mains: Salmon wrapped in banana leaf (Delicate and juicy, fish melts in your mouth) and Sea Bass in hoisin on noodels (Strong hoisin flavours, which i love, flavoursome fish) Dessert: Shared Pear frangipan with chocolate mousse (surprisingly good, even my partner who hates this kind of dessert wanted more!)

Luckily we got a booth to sit in (if you can when booking ask for one as its a much better dining experience). Even loved the bread and salmon paste we had while choosing from the menu.

Cant wait to go back again.
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sarah stirling - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Sunday, February 25, 2007

Looking for somewhere for a not too heavy pre-theatre lunch, we tried Livebait for the first time. It was perfect! A great atmosphere, lots to choose from, and helpful staff who steered us to a platter of Crab, Lobster and Prawns. Rather than sell us more than we needed, they advised only ordering one and sharing (good thing at the price - all worked out at £35/head with one bottle of £25 wine), and it was indeed as filling as it was tasty. It also lent our lunch the sense of occasion that we wanted on a special day. Will very definitely go back.
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Darren - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 7
Sunday, February 18, 2007

I had a really nice meal here in the summer so was looking forward to going back - and it was one of the worst meals I have ever had! I ordered grilled prawns - and for £16 got 6 tiny prawns, very very overcooked and pappy, with some watery, overcooked spinach - that was it!!

I ordered dessert as I was still completely starving - and got a very tough and overcooked toffee pudding. I only ate everything because I had missed lunch due to a broken down train, as it certainly didn't taste of much.

A real disappointment especially given the steep prices.
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Felicity
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 0
Friday, February 09, 2007

Took my partner to have a meal first evening in london. I don't like fish a great deal, but my partner does.

We chose to have the set menu, louisiana crab cakes were wonderfully spicely and the salmon wrapped in banana leaves was delicate and fragrant.

Wonderful service, people and value
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Alan Williamson
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Friday, January 12, 2007

I recently visited the restaurant with my husband and we were both very pleased with the quality of the food and it's presentation. We had scallops to start which were delicious, I had a fabulous Sea Bass fillet with Hoi Sin sauce with noodles and spring onions - really superb.

Husband had a red Thai curry which tasted good. I would say that the staff need to listen to what is ordered as we were served the wrong water and the wrong coffee but both were hastily replaced with apologies. They didn't have the wine on the menu which we chose and offered us a substitute which was £8.00 more expensive than the origional Pinot Grigio. The floor was also dangerously slippery and the toilets seemed a mile away - but to end on a positive note, our waiter was good fun and very friendly.
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Sandra Cooper
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 5
Monday, January 01, 2007