The Fox Dining Room

I was extremely disappointed with the Fox Dining Room. The place had absolutely no atmosphere whatsoever.

It was cold and uninviting. The food was okay, but the service was terrible. The waitress started clearing away our plates before my friend had finished the meal. She then asked if wanted more drinks. Which we had to order soon because she was going to clean down the bar.

She then started stacking up the chairs on the empty tables, which made us think they were closing, which seemed odd, as it was only ten past five. When I asked her what time they closed she replied 6 O’clock.

There must have been at least eight other people in the pub all feeling slightly uncomfortable when the staff turned the music down and made it very obvious that they wanted us to leave. Having spent £108 on our bill I think I can safely say myself and my 3 friends will never be returning.
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Lou - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 2
Monday, November 19, 2007

Returned on Sunday for the roast. Wow. I was expecting a standard Sunday roast - it exceeded our expectations!

We went for the rib of beef for two. It arrived on two enormous serving plates - one for the meat and potatoes, the other for the veggies (carrots, delicious honey parsnips and green beans). And a jug of gravy. I hate leaving food, but we literally couldn't finish it. All very Edwardian.

The meat was fantastic - beautifully tender, quite a pale cut, nicely seasoned with mustard. The veggies were sensational, really tasty potatoes, sweet and tender roast carrots, and parsnips that were really buttery and caramelised.

Virgin Mary's were good, and for pudding, we shared a hot chocolate pudding. It was very nice, a shade overcooked - more so than last time - but still some good runny chocolate inside.

Service was also great, friendly, and the chef was around when we placed our order too, to chat about the food. Prices very reasonable. For all this, it came to £20 each.

Alongside the Easton, this is new joint #1 Sunday roast to be had in London.
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Douglas Hauser
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Monday, September 10, 2007

I ate at the Fox last night, for the second time in a month or so. Both occasions have been exceptionally good.

Both times i had steak - different cuts. Cooked to perfection. Last night I had onglet (solomillo / hanger) with potato cake and green beans. Dessert was incredible - chocolate fondant - which has the tendency to be overly sweet and quite cocoa'y. However, after such a good main course, I decided that I trusted the chef to do it well and I was not disappointed. This was not too sweet, and the middle was almost like melted valrona. Served with creme fraiche - it really was a joy.

The wine - we had Portuguese white wine - Loureiro - fantastic.

Service was attentive and friendly. Was pleased to hear they now open at weekends and do Sunday lunch.

Highly recommended - this is fast becoming my favourite place to eat in London.
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Douglas Hauser
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Friday, September 07, 2007

How upsetting........The Fox used to be my favourite gastro pub because the food was always good, the wine list was good value and the atmosphere was incredible.

How things have changed....... the downstairs looks like it has been refitted by Ikea, all bright lights and shiney beer taps, while upstairs they have taken away the beautiful mirrors that adorned one of the walls.

The food was good but not worth the money, the cheese plate being particularly poor. Wine list is vastly overpriced and the glasses are cheap and vulgar. The service was indifferent, considering how empty the dining room was.

The only positive i can bring from my visit were the improved toilets.

I would not choose to go back.
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Simon Frikner
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 2
Thursday, June 28, 2007

I went to the Fox with my girlfriend for Friday night dinner having heard how fantastic it was to eat there. The dining room itself looked really good, well laid out and beautifully lit. The friendly service was also an absolute joy, even if my girlfriend did overhear the chefs having a dig at the customers' orders on her way to the toilet... The menu and food did not match the service in my opinion, a disappointing choice and way too much bias towards really gamey bird. I ordered smoked mackerel for starters and was given a fish tail and a knife barely sharp enough for the butter let alone the fish skin. The house wine wasn't bad. If it wasn't for the service this dinner would have been a real disappointment, as it is I still don't think I'll be eating there again in a hurry.
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DJDave
Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 4
Sunday, January 28, 2007

I was always a fan of the Fox Dining Room. So I was in turn nervous and excited to hear that it had changed hands in the autumn and went along on the first opening night last Friday. Gone are the eclectic tablewares, the set price menu, the mirrors and, thankfully, the rather revolting toilets. However, much of what made the place good has been taken away too. In the past the menu was always spare, two to three ingredients at most on each plate. But these were usually put together well, and at the price, was exceedingly good value. Prices are up, and the food, well, I don't really remember. Ok I guess, just a bit boring and run of the mill. I loved the Fox for not being just another gastropub. It seems it now is.
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David Jenkins - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 3
Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Went last night with a big group of friends. Was expecting great things, but a bit disappointed. Really beautiful dining room upstairs with the most gorgeous outside terrace. Straightforward menu 2 courses for £16, 3 for £21 (or similar). Pretty good food but not spectacular - squid was a bit chewy, pigeon a bit grisly etc. Some good wines, at decent prices too. What really let things down was the service - took 20 minutes to get menus, waiter failed to bring water despite being asked 3 times, ordered mallard and was served mullet, insane wait between courses. Maybe it was an off night, but it really took the gloss of a promising evening.
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Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 6
Friday, September 15, 2006

Drank & ate in here at lunchtime today and was absolutely sickened by the way the landlord spoke to a waitress when she dropped a plate! His threatening behaviour was repulsive and forced us to leave. Seeing someone shout abuse at a young female so close to her face that he spat on her was revolting! Am absolutely disgusted that a landlord can behave in such a way. This was our local to work as the rest of the staff very friendly but will seriously re-think after such a display.
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Samantha Haddock
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 3
Wednesday, April 19, 2006

I've been to the Fox several times and have always been throughly delighted with the experience. On a chilly evening it is the perfect place- lovely fire, dark atmospheric room, candles. It's like stepping out of Shoreditch hell into a gastronomic haven. Extremely cosy. Imagine the sort of fare served at the St John eateries, albeit a smaller selection, but without the stark surroundings.

The set menu is brilliant value and the portions so plentiful that I don't mind my fellow diners stealing food off my plate. I've usually paid £20 for two courses with wine. Excellent ingredients, well cooked and presented for people with decent appetites.

There's a great long table in the middle of the room so that you can indulge the feeling that you've been invited in an eighteenth century feast.

With other gastro pubs getting increasingly expensive and fussy with their food, the Fox they deserves every award going if you ask me. And you can book which makes it a safer and calmer bet than sibling restuarant, the Eagle.
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CJK - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Thursday, March 02, 2006