Butlers Wharf Chop House

Have been here many times before (& even left a good review on this site), but I just had the worst meal out in a long time. Food was poor, the pork was so dry and the mullet main course far too small (maybe 100 grams).

However the service was even worse, things forgotten, no smiles, no pouring of wine, stale bread, wrong wine served, I could go on and on.

I asked for the service to be taken off and the bill was snatched from the table and the new bill slapped on the table. When I gave the girl my credit card I asked if she was curious as to why I wanted the service to be removed to which she I answered "I didn't serve you so I don't care". Never again!!!
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Chris - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 5
Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Went on Saturday for lunch with some friends and it has to be said it was very good. My rib of beef was excellent and the portions very generous. It isn't cheap but I think the food is worth the price. We had an excellent bottle of Chateau Neuf du Pape but they did know how to charge for it. The wine list could of done with some more affordable choices. The service was a little hap hazard at times. A lot of waiters and managers but not a great deal of organization. I will definitely be going back.
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David Ginsberg
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Tuesday, May 27, 2008

My father-in-law took us here to celebrate my wife's birthday. Unfortunately I have to report it was a real let-down. The service, location and atmosphere were all fine but the food was only average at best. At the prices they charge average is not good enough.

I had the beef and onion broth. I wouldn't be surprised if this came straight from a tin. They had put some small horseradish dumplings in to liven things up but these didn't taste of anything so they needn't have bothered.

My Steak and Kidney pudding was fine but I've had better ones for a quarter of the price in various pubs throughout the land.

The treacle tart was TERRIBLE. Steer clear.

All I can say is I'm glad I wasn't paying. I would have been gutted to hand over the 160-odd quid my father-in-law had to.
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Tom - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 3
Saturday, April 19, 2008

Myself and two friends visited the Chop House at the beginning of March, and what an experience!! I read the reviews on this site before we left and was not particularly looking forward to going. That was an error. The location is excellent and the scenery is exquisite (even on a typically gloomy London day). Once inside we were booked in our coats and were shown to our table, so far so good. We ordered drinks and were left to decide from the menu, and after just the right amount time the waiter came to take our order. The food came within 10/15 minutes and without any sarcasm, the food was the best I have ever had!! I had the beef with Yorkshire pudding, as did one of my friends; the other had the Fishermans pie. We all agreed this was simply gorgeous. The beef cut like butter and melted in the mouth, I had arrived in heaven. We ordered puddings, which were equally lovely. After our second round of drinks we asked for the bill and were very impressed, very good value for money. Overall an excellent meal out, even the weather didn’t dampen our spirits when we walked home!!
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Stephen Harper
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, April 02, 2008

The food was absolutely awful. It is very rare that I am so disillusioned about the food at a restaurant that I have to write about it.

Went to Chop House with a few friends on Monday night. The starter was the duck terrine which was too dry. My partner had the potted shrimp, which was passable, although the melba toast was slightly burnt.

I was terribly upset with the main which was the Brixham fishstew. I was assured by the waitress that it was excellent. Unfortunately for me, she tried it when a different chef prepared it. It was very very bland (almost as if they forgot the salt), and shockingly, the fillets of fish were not deboned: I spent a good five minutes trying to pick the bones out. The grilled mushrooms were cold and tasteless as well. Thankfully, the green beans made up for it (a bit) - but all they did was drench the beans in butter - not that difficult. My partner had the roast beef, which was actually quite good. The Yorkshire pudding was also excellent. Unfortunately, they failed to provide enough gravy - which I would have thought was the easiest thing to do.

Finally, the dessert. Had the drop scones and honey ripple icecream. That was passable. I was told that the coffee was absolutely terrible though.

Service was not very good. Barely acceptable for a restaurant if they charged half the price this one was charging. I think the highlight of the evening was actually the spinach bread. That was quite nice.
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Twentycents - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 1
Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Another excellent lunch in the bar . I had sardines on toast to start. Lovely fresh sardines. Perfectly cooked pork chop for the main course . The pork came with mash, but we didn't realise, so ordered chips to share. The waitress didn't put us right - she must have thought we were just a bit greedy.
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maz
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Saturday, March 15, 2008

I normally eat in the bar here rather than the restaurant, and at 3 courses for £12 you really cant beat it for value. Last visit also had a nice bottle of Chapel down baccus reserve and even with a couple of side dishes it was still great value. As for the food and service both are generally pretty good.
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Chris - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 10
Monday, February 18, 2008

I have previously visited this restaurant and thought it was excellent, so I decided to give it a go for a special occassion, what a mistake!

Myself and my partner ate in the bar area and I have to say that the value for money is fantastic. Only £12 for 3 courses! However, the service was absolutely awful. It took them 45 minutes to bring our bill, which we didn't mind about for the first half an hour because there is a nice atmosphere, but even when they did bring the bill we waited for another 15 minutes and still noone came to take my card. In the end I had to ask for the manager, who could offer no explanation for the poor service. Obviously the waiters had said we were lying. The restaurant was not even busy, all the waiter did the whole time was organise coats in the cloakroom. After complaining we got the wine free, but the service charge was still left on which I had to ask to be removed! In total, it took us an hour to pay!

I would recommend this restaurant for the food, but the sevice is the worst I have ever encountered.
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Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8
Friday, February 15, 2008

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