Fredericks

My first ever visit and probably my last.

Althought the restaurant has a great atmosphere and the staff make it a pleasant outing, the food rather disappoints. When my starter of sweet pototo and blue cheese tart arrived, the pastry was cold, the sweet pototo mildly warm but cold in the middle and no taste and no sign of any blue cheese. When I mentioned this to the staff they very politely apologised and turned up with another one. Although warm throughout, the taste was positively nastly and still no sign of blue cheese. They deducted this from our bill. My husbands of confit of duck was just a duck leg plonked on a plate looking exceptionally unappetising. My main of duck breast and burnt side pototo dish was sub-standard but my husbands beef fillet was good and his eton mess desert he proclaimed to be fantastic (I had no desert). All in all, with a couple of drinks and a bottle of champagne our bill of £180 left us wondering why this restaurant was so popular and now I know why I have avoided this place for so many years.
Comment on this reader review

m - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 4
Sunday, May 10, 2009

The deceptively unprepossessing exterior of this restaurant on the bijoux Camden Passage gives way to a large, modern dining space which leads into a stylish glasshouse extension. The generously-spaced tables with starched white table linen creates a chic haven from the hustle and bustle of Upper Street. We knew we were in capable hands as soon as we were greeted by the slick front-of-house staff and our waiter seamlessly took over at the table on our arrival for the Saturday dinner service.

The menu is probably best described as "Modern European" with some (surprising) Far East influences such as the king prawn and vegetable tempura, or the crispy chilli squid for starters. We dived straight into the main courses and were spoilt for choice by the number of fish offerings: both the sea bream and sauteed oyster mushrooms with parsley mash, and the sea bass and shallot tartin with an intriguing-sounding blackcurrant hollandaise proved very popular amongst the other tables. But the cote de beouf with a zingy bearnaise proved to be an irresistable temptation, particularly when it arrived nicely grilled on the outside and the steak (blue, as requested) proved to be one meltingly tender mouthful of flavoursome earthiness after another. Our sea bream was perfectly-cooked and yielded firm white flakes of freshness as we dug in with our forks. All in all, fine demonstrations of the kitchen's capabilities with fantastic ingredients, although we were slightly perturbed when we were notified of the 25-minute waiting time for our order, even though the restaurant was only at half-capacity.

Now that Upper Street has become a parade of restaurant chains there are certainly cheaper places nearby to get your fill of grub, but Frederick's still offers terrific value-for-money for a restaurant in its league and a true "Little Black Book" destination in its own right. The set lunch/pre-theatre menu at £14 for two courses or £17 for three has to be one of the best bargains in town.
Comment on this reader review

Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Thursday, April 02, 2009

Greeted warmly, service good. My mushroom with parmesan soup was delicious and the duck confit starter could be presented better. The main course of duck breast was moist and tasted succulent but not hot enough. The roasted sea bass was enjoyable but insufficient sauce to make it perfect. Creme bulee very good-accompanying Biscotti great combination. Atmosphere very good but unfortunately the chairs let the ambience down. Overall good experience.
Comment on this reader review

Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Tuesday, March 24, 2009

I went here yesterday to celebrate my friend's birthday and i made a surprise for him.. frederick made a lovely birthday cake for us.. Every things were excellence. This place is very very nice to take someone you love.
Comment on this reader review

Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Saturday, September 13, 2008

Four of us went here during the week for a special meal to celebrate a birthday, and Frederick's fitted the bill. It's a stylish, tasteful venue with comfortable seating. We were placed in the garden, which was also quite pleasant - even if the patio area betrayed that birds can sometimes be a problem there!

The first course of dressed crab with prawns, guacamole, cos lettuce and toast was excellent - and with a surprisingly large portion of both crab and prawn. The langoustine salad was reported as being really good, as was the asparagus and red pepper salad, accompanied by a notable goat's cheese dressing.

This set a high standard for the main course, which my rump of veal with French beans, girolles and tarragon dressing very nearly met. The veal was tender and plentiful, I would have just preferred it slightly better done (I wasn't asked my preference). No complaints at all about the roasted cod and herb-crusted halibut. The sole vegetarian option was artichoke and spinach ravioli with crème fraîche and truffle oil; this was reportedly really enjoyable, if not very filling - my husband needed to help himself to some of the side dishes we ordered to satisfy his appetite. However, he was fairly impressed with the numerous ingredients in his two vegetarian courses, none of which were the inevitable mushrooms!

Pudding was excellent. The chocolate baked alaska with warm raspberry sauce could not be faulted, nor could the double chocolate pudding soufflé. The cheese course was praised, particularly for the accompanying chutney.

Frederick's has a very good wine list, priced very reasonably - our Italian Chardonnay was very enjoyable. However, drinks at the bar are quite expensive - and subject to a 12.5% service charge. A round of four drinks after our meal came to £30.

Frederick's participates in a discount card scheme to which I belong, offering 2-4-1 on the food courses. We chose Frederick's over another local restaurant which said their 2-4-1 applied only to two diners, regardless of how many were actually eating at the time - I thought this was a little churlish, so decided against that particular restaurant. I am very glad that Frederick's doesn't adopt the same attitude, as I then felt we'd had good value for money. That factor, together with the pleasant, unobtrusive - if a little unhurried - service, means I'd certainly like to return to Frederick's at some point.
Comment on this reader review

dawnage - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Friday, July 25, 2008

Went here this week to celebrate my girlfriend's birthday but have to say the whole experience was disappointing.

Her squid starter was like something you might get in a Brewers Fayre pub with a garlic dip off the back of a lorry. Her steak arrived well-done when she asked for rare (if I'd been in a weatherspoons paying 3 quid you might expect it but when you're paying nearly 20 I expect it to be perfect first time!) The lamb on the menu was off so I was offered a different cut. Again this was ok but nothing special.

Sure the garden area is lovely but I left feeling I had had a distinctly average meal for over-inflated price. Wine was great however - about the best part of the evening!
Comment on this reader review

B
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 1
Friday, June 13, 2008

A lovely restaurant for a special occasion. The garden room is airy and spacious, the staff friendly and properly attentive (i.e. bringing refills of water and bread without being asked, but not constantly refilling wine glasses), and the food delicious. The portions aren't enormous, which is OK by me, but everything is finely cooked and beautifully presented. The deserts especially are divine - try the cinnamon beignets! The wine list is quite extensive, and not greedily priced. I'd go as often as I could afford to!
Comment on this reader review

Scott
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 7
Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Ate with two friends there on Saturday and a perfect dining experience.

The lounge area is great to wait and meet friends while having a drink and chilling if they are late. Ambiance was great, nice decor, professional, efficient, great food (am vegetarian so selection was not huge but it tasted good), great waiting staff. Would recommend it and will go again. Nice for a special occasion.
Comment on this reader review

Mag Leahy
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Monday, November 26, 2007

Went to Fredericks for the first time a couple of weeks ago, thought it was good, if not slightly overhyped (certainly within my group of freinds).

The starter were a real treat and enjoyed by both me and my partner.

Had the Fish Pie main that was good, but the portion was really quite small.

Fredericks is amazing value if you have a tastelondon card (2 meals for 1), if not, there maybe better value to be had elsewhere.
Comment on this reader review

Mel
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 5
Monday, March 26, 2007