Butlers Wharf Chop House

A great location –but the food Vile Vile Vile!

Yesterday we arrived too late for breakfast so decided on an early lunch.

The menu looked interesting so I opted for Sweetbreads on toast followed by slow cooked belly pork. The sweetbreads had obviously not been pre-prepared properly and tasted like a plate of gristle, inedible, and the sauce they were swimming in was sickly.

I had higher hopes for the pork, but it was too fatty and over-seasoned as was the veg.

My companion had a passable potted shrimp, but the steak he ordered medium rare came out very well done – he said it tasted like liver –to ad insult to injury the steak carried a supplement of £4 –probably to cover the extra time on the grill!!

Following the mains I felt rather queasy –I fancied coffee but didn’t risk it so we paid the bill and left.

I really don’t like leaving bad reviews, but this was so lamentable I felt I had to –it spoilt my day.
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Bill Portlock
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 1
Monday, January 14, 2008

The set lunch in the bar area is very good value. Service is efficient . Bread is very good. Wine is quite expensive (Conran restaurant -surprise surprise) and not much choice by the glass. Great location. Recommended.
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maz
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Thursday, November 08, 2007

The Chop House offered good food and service and a stunning view across the river which I had enjoyed on several occasions. As of last night, I can confirm that the view is still there..

Slow service on what was not a busy night, food cold on the outside and nuclear within, duff oysters, dirty toilets out of towels. And the price noticably higher than previous visits.

I recommend getting a drink and enjoying the view.
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Tim Drain
Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 3
Friday, October 26, 2007

Worst breakfast in London. Poorly cooked and horribly overpriced. One of my poached eggs was hard the other runny. Hot cakes where a burnt disaster. The view of the bridge sadly is not enough to overcome the food.

The small servings end up being a blessing in disguise
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Mark
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 0
Saturday, September 01, 2007

I'm very surprised at the negative reviews, my girlfriend and I have been going here every few weeks for at least two years for lunch and without doubt the service and quality of the food is exceptional, even more so considering the cost. We eat in the restaurant where the 2 course is £22 and have never needed to order side dishes, the portions served are more than enough and we rarely manage desert at £4 extra, still feeling stuffed in the evening!

To watch service is art in motion - the tables perfectly set with glasses facing you - waiters carrying large trays above head height from the kitchen - and like true professionals they set the food down without needing to ask who had ordered what.

To answer the other review, the shimps are potted, not pate, which is why they were presented like that. They even make the tartare sauce, to go to those lengths just to impress and you know anything here is going to be a bit special.

This is good honest traditional English food as a chop house should serve, but served with the elegance and quality of a top London restaurant in a perfect setting.

I can't fault it.
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Dave Plumb
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Sunday, August 26, 2007

A friend of mine booked a lunchtime meal for three of us for Saturday 14th July.

After reading the reviews I was not that excited about the prospect of lunching here.

We all had a lovely meal and the service was first class.

Two options for lunch being two course £22 three courses £26, add one side dish so make it £25 and £29.

I had for starters chicken liver and mushrooms on toast, very tasty,

Main steak and kidney pudding with mash, very good sized portion and tasty.

No room for pudding which was a shame.

Service was very good which was attentive but at the same time relaxed.

Would definatly go back.

I decided to write a review as my experience was more positive than most of the reviews.

View overlooking Tower Bridge was good as well. Enjoy.
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James OToole - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Sunday, July 15, 2007

I went to this restaurant once before with my father and found it medicore. But 2 years on and now living close by I gave it another go last week. My husband and I brought 2 guests and got a table outside in the 'bar' area with stunning views of the bridge. We were allowed look at the restaurant menu but couldn't order a starter from one and then a main from the bar menu - even though when I asked a supervisor about it, I was told the dishes on the bar menu were the same but cheaper.....She also told me that the 24hr slow cooked steak was fab and had no fat which is why she liked it. So two of us chose it as a main - mine was at least 40% fat, as in one huge piece of disgusting fat attached to a piece of meat. The other one had a lot less fat but was definitely not 'slow cooked'. One guest asked for potatoes instead of the fries that came with her dish - we were charged extra for them as they brought both to the table.

Overall , very disappointed with the food, the service was ok, nice waiter. Stunning view.
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Sonia
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 2
Wednesday, July 11, 2007

I went here last night as a bit of a birthday treat, and thought it was great, slick service, and great food. lovely setting, will be going back for sure.
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Stuart
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Friday, May 25, 2007

I always feel this place is much underated. We use it on a fairly regular basis for Sunday lunches and the place has never failed to deliver. The service is very very friendly and the food is always of a good standard.

Think much malgned because of the Conran connections.
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Danny Loughlin
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 5
Wednesday, May 02, 2007

Having been to the Chop House a few times I find it is extremely hit and miss, with service and food quality varying. However I have always been prepared to go again until my meal there recently.

Service was slow to the point of non-existent - we had to ask for menus!

Starters were fine if not spectacular. Then having arrived at the restaurant at 8.30, I checked my watch when the main courses arrived and it was almost 10pm. The reason for this became apparent when we tasted the main courses and they were both stone cold. Clearly had been sitting waiting to be served for some time.

We complained and were given marginally warmer re-doctored plates which were clearly the same food. Didn't really improve the texture of the pork loin....

There were no real apologies for this and of course no reduction on the bill for either the cold dishes or the service charge.

Will not be going back again.
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Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 1
Thursday, April 19, 2007