Coq d'Argent

Four of us went for dinner on Saturday here to celebrate two 40th birthdays. The service was excellent, waiters very attentive but not too much. The starters had mixed reviews not because they were bad but simply the two gentlemen dining with us thought there portions were rather small. The main courses were excellent although myself and another had the chateaubriand and it was rather peculiar that they chose to serve it with some salad and what was obviously very finely sliced potatoes but looked like kettle chips. The steak however was excellent as were the other main meals on the tables. Vegetable selection was good but we did have to order an additional potato dish as there was not enough to go around. Overall we had a wonderful evening and the restaurant service could not be faulted - only a shame that the view from the roof terrace were marred by the amount of building work/cranes taking place in the city.
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Karen Bernard
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Monday, July 07, 2008

Just returned from lunch.... the best meal I have had in a long time... foie grois was the best i have ever had... scottish oysters also excellent (I know it sounds like two appertisers.. but we shared a dozen between three... I highly recommend it!).. then Chateau Breon (between two) also excellent..... wine, fabulous Australian Penfolds.. I guess it should be for £145.... well up-sold by the semillier.... just lucky the corporate AMEX was ready for a lashing.... God I love this city!
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Rob
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 6
Friday, June 20, 2008

3 of us went for the jazz lunch at Coq d'Argent yesterday and had a nice meal.

All of the nine dishes we had between us were of a high standard and of a good size, and at 3 courses fo £30 not bad value either.

The place was quiet, as it was a Sunday in the city, but the jazz band gave the place a nice vibe. My one main problem was with the wine list. Yes there is a great choice with over 300 bins to choose from but there is very little choice for less than £30 a bottle.

We ordered a Billicart-Salmon Rose to start which was presented and opened and we were told it was the last bottle. No problem so far. However on tasting the wine we all agreed it was corked. The sommelier said no problem and gave us back the wine list to choose another bottle.This is where the fun started. Tattinger Rose? out of stock

Billicart-Salmon NV? out of stock.

At this point we thought we would go straight to white and ordered a bottle of Pouilly fume. It was brought over opened and again we were told it was the last bottle. Wine was nice and when we finished the bottle we had to go back to the wine list. Sancerre? out of stock Gavi di Gavi ? out of stock. And one more choice I can't remember was also out of stock before we settled on a sauvignon blanc from the Loire.

I just don't understand why a restaurant like this can't simply mark of bottles they are out of stock so as not to waste so much time choosing a bottle only then to find it not available. Apart from the fun with ordering the wine the meal was good and I will be returning.
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Chris - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Monday, June 09, 2008

once again a fabulous night, great food, excellent original scallop starter followed by the best duch dish I have ever had served with crushed peas , kumquat puree and jam (just remarkable), to finish a great selection of desserts, I had the vodka and pinapple baba (just perfect), the small bit of fondant my wife let me have was just stunning, all 4 of us enjoyed every bit of it, probably some of the best food in london at the moment. The restaurant was full and the bar absolutely packed but the service still managed to look after us, although you could tell they were unfder pressure and a few more waiters would probably have helped. only down side was the heavy price of the wine list, but if you look carefully you can find some decent bins at a affordable price. Will be back very soon
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Matt
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Friday, May 16, 2008

I took some overseas colleagues last night (a Thursday) as I wanted to impress. I was very disappointed. We arrived early so thought a quick drink on the terrace would be nice. From order to drinks delivery took over 15 minutes. We were then under immediate pressure to go to our table as our allocated time had arrived so the relaxing drink became a quick gulp.

The restaurant was packed with very little space between the tables. The density of people packed in meant it was extremely noisy making conversation very difficult. It was like having dinner in a tube train at rush hour.

The staff were attentive - but too few to provide the level of service the price indicates. The food was good and well presented but not stunning. I can name a dozen restaurants in London where the food is as good but 50% of the cost. The wine list was good and the bottles we had seemed well kept and the Sommelier knowledgeable.

We had a good evening - but it was in spite of, rather than thanks to, Coq d'Argent.

In summary the restaurant should be avoided by romantics (too dense and noisy to be intimate); people who want to be stunned by the food (try Michel Moore in Marylebone instead); people who want a sense of value for money (though OxO tower is even worse). In fact I can think of no reason to go when there are so many better options - unless of course being seen somewhere crowded and expensive is your sole purpose!
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Bob - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 1
Friday, April 25, 2008

A group of 7 of us ate at Coq d'Argent on Monday lunchtime. We were all blown away, the food was superb.

In particular the milk fad lamb was out of this world, i would return again just for that alone! The wines chosen for us was some of the best wines I have ever tasted (and i like to think of myself as a bit of a wine buff) and the service was friendly and relaxed. Each person at our table had 3 courses and everyone was more than satisfied with the presentation, size and above all, taste of their meals.

Amazing!! will be back soon.
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JG
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, April 23, 2008

I have just got back from a mothers day lunch at Coq d'Argent.

I must say, I have been to many of the top restaurants in the City, and I have to say, this has got to be the best restaurant I have ever been to.

The service was impeccable, the drinks were perfect (my other half ordered a mild bloody mary with some umph, and it arrived to his taste, which i must say is unheard of, as he is particularly fussy!).

The food, was just perfect. It was the right amount of yumminess, and also they offered bread more than once (i hate it when they give you a lousy tiny roll and thats it), and there were at least 5 waiters to our table of six who all knew exactly what we ordered or our specific requirements.

I must add, I was rather disappointed at there not being something incredibly chocolatey on the menu, but I settled for some choc ice cream.

May I also add, the cocktails are the best I have ever tasted, and i would recommend the blackberry bramble.

Overall, I must say, everything was just perfect. I have never felt so special, and nothing was too much of a problem. I will definitely be going here more often... and would recommend this to everyone I know, who wants to go somewhere they wouldn't usually attempt.

Enjoy!
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Laura Morris
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Sunday, March 02, 2008

I had lunch here on the 31st January 2008. Whilst there were three of us, we were originally shown to a table of 2 - which was not impressive. However, what was appalling was that an hour and five minutes after we had sat down, I was told (in front of my client) that they needed the table back in ten minutes. Now, had this been Wagamama, i'd have accepted the need to eat lunch in an hour and 15 minutes, but I thought this was outrageous. I complained by email as soon as I returned to my office and I still, 24 hours later, have heard nothing.

The food was very good itself, but this left a very bitter taste in my mouth.
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Mark
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 6
Friday, February 01, 2008

We went for lunch here today (12.30 - 2.30). It was absolutely wonderful. The staff were incredibly polite and unobtrusive, always popping up at just the right time and not a moment too soon or too late. The restaurant was packed to capacity with city diners and ladies who lunch, but the atmosphere was calm and relaxing, unrushed. The food came quickly and what mouth-watering food it was. I had baked stone bass fillet on a bed of olive mash and spinach, with side dishes of tiny new potatoes, boiled in jackets, succulent green beans, red cabbage, more spinach and mash (there were 7 of us at the table !). The fish was a thick fillet with a heavenly crust on the top, melting in your mouth with a taste that's hard to describe or to beat. The wine, a 1996 Rioja Gran Reserve was one of the finest, smoothest I have tasted. The dessert - a chocolate and praline mousse feuillitine was extremely rich and sweet, just the right amount on the plate - I must admit to coveting my colleague's vanilla creme brulee though - and even sneaking a spoonful when she looked the other way...

Finishing with a delicious filter coffee, it was then unfortunately time to go back to work...

I would recommend this restaurant unequivocally and have already booked to take my husband there one evening in the not too distant future.
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Sian Heath
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, November 06, 2007

We had a fabulous time here.

We booked a Saturday-night table for 4 adults, a 3 year-old and a 1 year-old, and there were no problems with booking for children (unlike some other places I could mention!)

Although we were given a table laid out for 4, the staff were all so friendly and helpful, providing a high-chair and an extra chair and cushion for the littler diners! The chef even specially prepared a small chicken-supreme and chips for the two toddlers to share, all with the same attention to detail and taste as was evident on our own food.

The food was of a very high standard, although there was a lack of appetisers or amuse-bouche, so often a mark of fine dining in a fine restaurant.

The restaurant was busy for a saturday night in the otherwise empty City, but the table didn't feel squeezed or communal, and made for a relaxing meal overall.

I would thoroughly recommend the Coq D'Argent, at least on a Saturday evening!
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P.Sharpe
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Monday, August 20, 2007