The Engineer

I am really suprised by all the negative reviews on this site. My husband just started work on Princess Road so we decided to try The Engineer for lunch on Saturday with the inlaws. I had been there about 5 years ago but thought we'd give it another go. The staff were as friendly as could be, the place was packed and jumping with a really great atmosphere and the food was absolutely divine. I am the most discerning bloody mary drinker (and have been known to send many back) and these were fabulous - well worth the £7. My smoked salmon tartare with poached egg was heavenly and my chicken and mash with cream and porcini muchrooms was perfect winter comfort food. My husband demolished his cheeseburger and we all had to try the goats cheesecake with roast butternut squash that my mother in law had. All in all a lovely lunch - lovely atmosphere, friendly staff adn great food. The service is a little slow but they are packed so its understandable. I wouldnt go here if I was in a rush but for a long drawn out lunch it was perfect. And yes its pricey - I certainly couldnt afford it on a regular basis but for a treat you cant fault it.
Comment on this reader review

charli
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Monday, February 01, 2010

I went to this pub recently after having heard so much about it. I have to say that its location and also building make it really attractive.

First impression when you get in: the atmosphere is nice and cosy but certainly due to the limited space in the bar. It is definitely a place where to have a meal more than just one drink (except maybe during the summer when you can enjoy the garden at the rear) as there are different dining rooms (a big one downstairs and a couple upstairs).

First shock: the unfriendliness of the bar staff. Not really what you expect from a 'gastro-pub'. The restaurant staff is a lot more friendly and helpful.

Then the quality of the food: although everything looked very appetizing on the menu (and in your plates as well), we were all a bit disappointed by the results. Very well presented and original recipes/mixes of flavours but disappointing, especially for the price. The beef carpaccio was tasteless and consisted in layers of raw beef, without any olive oil or lemon. Although the lemon sole (which was recommended to us by the waiter) came with an uncommon and tasty truffle sauce, the fish itself was more than average.

Then the wine, also recommended by the waiter (who seemed really into his wines) was even below average.

When I see the comments of their Manager below, I have got the impression that the whole staff is over confident. Of course they have a good reputation but you get a feeling that they rely on: their location, building, decor and garden, and pretend that all the rest is quality when it is NOT.

Friendliness of the staff is a MUST in a gastro-pub and instead of getting upset by their customers' complaints, they should start changing now or they will lose the category of customers that are ready to pay for good food and service and keep the ones who are too wealthy to care.
Comment on this reader review

Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 4
Thursday, December 31, 2009

Do not let the lovely decor, the extensive bar and their self-proclaimed “Best Bloody Mary in town” fool you. While The Engineer's Bloody Mary is better than some I have had, it in no way compensates for their rude and inattentive staff. My partner and I waited to be acknowledged by a waiter and be given a menu for the better part of an hour, despite repeated requests for service with any staff that would pass us by. Needless to say we declined ordering food when we were finally acknowledged, and requested the bill for our drinks. They took another ten minutes to locate our credit card which they had somehow lost and added what I thought to be a very cheeky 12.5 % “service” charge to our bill, for drinks we had ordered and collected at the bar. Had we not been so keen to leave, I would have contested this. The tables in the garden which were “all reserved” when we arrived, were still not occupied by the time we left.

Personally I would say don't bother. There are countless eateries, restaurants and cafes in the area, where you will get better value (and service!) for your money.
Comment on this reader review

Iris
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 0
Thursday, May 07, 2009

Today was a glorious Autumn Sunday in London - possibly our last for 2008 - and everyone was out and about making the most of the city, with smiles as bright as the sunshine. That's everyone except the staff at The Engineer, who were grumpy and rude from the moment we arrived.

We had a booking for a large group of 12, which we all understand can be more difficult to look after in terms of serving meals etc so we split our group into a table of 6 and table of 4 - this pub doesn't do bookings fore more than 10. The waitress 'looking after us' in fact told us that their kitchen can't handle tables larger than 6.

Our plan for the afternoon was to sit in the beer garden on this beautiful day, eat a yummy lunch (which it was), and share quite a few drinks with some friends but the staff at this pub seemed intent on making sure that didn't happen - we were sick of the treatment so left as soon as we'd finished lunch to go to another pub near by for a few more drinks.

The staff at The Engineer don't seem to understand the concept of the hospitality business. They were anything but hospitable. I won't be coming back or recommending it.
Comment on this reader review

Meike
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 5
Sunday, September 28, 2008

Had lunch today. Food was nice and fresh, but the staff is so unfriendly: from the girl at the bar, to the waiters, all of them look grumpy and annoyed....
Comment on this reader review

Alby - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 6
Sunday, September 21, 2008

My sister and I went to the Engineer on the 23rd of July and had a nice night out. We had booked a table inside (it was a nice day and there were none available outside). I was pleasantly surprised by the specials--everything looked good, light and summery. We both had cocktails--my sis ordered the berry mojito but got the regular instead and was a bit disappointed. Service was okay *until* we had finished our main courses and you'd have thought that they'd want to sell us another drink or a dessert or coffee. However, not a soul arrived or took any notice. We waited for a while and finally I managed to flag down the waiter. This was the only downside to the evening. The food and drinks were very good and when the service arrived, it was cheerful and efficient.

It would be nice if they opened for dinner earlier than 7pm.
Comment on this reader review

Danielle
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Thursday, August 21, 2008

Food poor, staff unbelievable. Ruined the wifes birthday. she cried. unforgivable. how rude. never again
Comment on this reader review

Steve tranmore
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Monday, August 04, 2008

Despite offering the best pancakes I've tasted in London, the contempt staff at the Engineer show to customers is disgraceful. And every time we went back thinking it was just a one-off, the staff just got ruder and ruder and more despicable.

How is it possible to recruit so many different people who are so equally contemptuous? The below reviewers are absolutely correct and I only wish the owners would take note of our comments and clear the deck for some nice employees...
Comment on this reader review

David S, NW London
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 4
Monday, August 04, 2008

Went here last night and won't be again. The place was full of Primrose hill fools and katemossalikes. The service was ridiculous slow, and even though me and my female friend had booked a table we had to constantly ask the irritated head waitress if it was ready. When she snapped "just a minute will you?!!" I replied in my usual way that if she talked to either of us again I would take it MUCH further. I think she realised she and the Engineer were dealing with superior people and she stammered a half-baked apology.

The Fish... mmmm not that bad but quite bland Samantha had the steak which was apparently very chewy. We had to keep telling the waitresses to leave the bread and olives we had ordered alone and that if they tried to take them away ONE MORE TIME.. we would walk out without paying. Opposite we had the most annoying pair of women talking "Media" shop in loud voices and swinging their (drunken) arms around, narrowly missing us two. I had to put them in their place as well.

We told the Manageress that the service and the establishment were not quite the standard we normally expect and said that we were not paying the service charge. She did not quipple.

Overall then, not a too bad - if expansive for what it is - place but hardly a gastropub experience.. The man behind the bar doing his best to chat us girlies up was the best part of the evening.! he was so inept but made us laugh!!!
Comment on this reader review

Yummymummynumberone - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 4
Friday, August 01, 2008

such a beautiful pub! unfortunately, the service was ridiculous. despite being ignored by the waitress (who was staring at the screen behind us while taking our order when she finally came over), a guy unloading the dishwasher looked through us without a word when approached. everybody behind that bar moved so slowly, i was not the least surprised that they didn't bother collecting the empty glasses from the tables.

we loved the garden, though, and friends assured us they've never experienced anything like that there. so we will probably give it another shot.
Comment on this reader review

Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 5
Monday, July 28, 2008