The Engineer

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

Went for the first time on Saturday and was disappointed with the food and the service. The former seemed to have been microwaved, and the latter ought to have been. An attractive venue, however.
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Nosher
Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 4
Wednesday, July 16, 2008

i went to the engineer for lunch a week ago and it was lovely , starter i had the pickle pepper and main course i had the mizo cod , it was amazing , and a chocolate fondant for desert with the pistachio ice cream , just perfect . i recomend .
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charles
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, February 05, 2008