Coq d'Argent

arrived on Saturday for the top table offer and thought we would have a drinkie before dining, Just a word of advice DONT order cocktails...overpriced and jam packed full of ice....not a sniff of alcohol. I am quite sensitive to spirits so even a thimble full would have been appreciated.

Soup was extremely watery (in line with the cocktails)...was it due to the offer or always served that way (I have eaten here before and the soup previously had been the best I've ever tasted). Yes as a veggie I am limited. Deserts though were fantastic and extremely yummy.

Great service ....will go back ....but will avoid the bar...and yes it was cold!!
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the veggie muncher
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 6
Monday, March 02, 2009

Food was not of the level had expected.. Restaurant was freezing cold, although we did ask for the door to be closed, and were told it wasn't possible because of the people wanting to smoke outside. Even a lady who was wrapped up in a blanket standing at the bar it was so cold. Understand that is sometimes neccessary to order sides to accompany main but would have been nice to have been made aware of this when we ordered rather than having to order these once main courses had arrived and were going cold. Have eaten at several of your restaurants before and this did really not live up to the group name.
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Laura mckenzie
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 1
Friday, January 09, 2009

Food was not of the level had expected.. Restaurant was freezing cold, although we did ask for the door to be closed, and were told it wasn't possible because of the people wanting to smoke outside. Even a lady who was wrapped up in a blanket standing at the bar it was so cold. Understand that is sometimes neccessary to order sides to accompany main but would have been nice to have been made aware of this when we ordered rather than having to order these once main courses had arrived and were going cold. Have eaten at several of your restaurants before and this did really not live up to the group name.
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Laura mckenzie - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 1
Friday, January 09, 2009

I'm not normally in the habit of writing reviews, though the bad spelling of some of the other reviewers (chateau brione ??) and also regarding an amusebouche as the mark of fine dining has driven me to put pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard!

Let me put it simply. If you want pomp, over the top service and visually stunning food, or as I would say 'ponceyness' then go somewhere else.

If you want superb food, excellent service and a pleasurable dining experience then go to Coq D'Argent. They don't try too hard, because they don't have to. The food is definitely the best food I've tried in City and probably in London. I say probably because after a few glasses of red the mind does get a bit hazy!

I won’t recommend anything specific from the menu because everything we had was excellent, and everything we didn’t have looked excellent and I’ll try some more next time. I’m a picky bugger but I can only fault them on the presentation of the cheeses, I wasn’t told what each one was – but that’s my little foible due to my cheese related OCD.

I like this place. I like its service, I like its food and if you're careful with the wine choice (it's easy to blow a lot of cash on some of their bottles) it's not too OTT priced.

Though, if you want to impress someone with a location then go to one of the style over substance parlours of the West End or Shoreditch. If you want to impress a foodie and have a relaxed lunch or dinner then you could do a lot worse. But let me know if you can find better because I’d like to try it.

Bon appetit!
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Nicholas Huddart
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Wednesday, November 19, 2008

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