Livebait (Waterloo)

Having read some negative reviews on the Waterloo branch of Livebait, my husband & I were a little unsure about eating there. However, a love of fish and a half price promotion finally persuaded us to visit on a Sunday evening about 7.30. (We thought if it was going to be a negative experience - why pay full price) We made it clear to the waitress upon arriving that we had a discount promotion voucher and it crossed our minds that maybe this would produce a meal & service of a lower quality. We need not have worried - we both found it to be a really great evening. The service was so attentive from the moment we sat at our table. We chose the extravagent platter for two - but even we were surprised when it arrived at our table. It was enormous and the presentation was first class. The platter had been topped with 2 whole crabs and they even managed to make these look attractive. We are former restauranteurs so unintentionally often find ourselves being quite judgemental on food venues, but we had no complaints about our experience. Restaurants unfortunately may have 'off days' and it is very disappointing if you visit on one of those days, but we have to speak as we find and would recommend this place. We are definitely going back, offer or no offer.
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Adette
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 9
Monday, September 03, 2007

Having read some of the reports here, I was concerned that my friend had booked us in. I need not have worried.

I'm not sure if the staff were having an off day or what when the negative comments were passed.

Four of us went there today and all had different starters, mains and desserts. We had two different fabulous bottles of wine.

The only food that went back was what we couldn't eat because we were full.

I had the whitebait - very nice, a superb lemon sole, and finished with a delightful creme brulet.

The only minor criticism I would have is that the mashed potato was clearly kept warm and the slight skin showed and my friend ordered mushy peas which were more pureed than mushy.

Expensive? I guess so but this is central London. The restaurant was quite strange in that it looked like a posh fish n chip shop but it was clean, the service was pleasing and quick, and the restaurant was full for lunch.

Being a sceptic I could be forced to thinking the negative quotes are from competitors so I hope my comments redress the balance.
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Mark
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 7
Thursday, August 16, 2007

My daughter and I ate there on Monday 30.07.07, early evening. The service was very good, the premises were inviting. The food was poor. We shared a platter which included prawns in batter which had not been shelled!!, consequently we were picking out bits of shell from our mouths, not pleasant.

I had bream in a sauce which was watery and pretty tasteless, the fish was tail end and overcooked. Not a good experience, sadly, and not worth the price.
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Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 1
Thursday, August 02, 2007

Just wanted to set the balance a little straighter... was reading the reviews previously written but thought I would go and see for myself. Very impressed overall- nice and friendly staff, ate a delicious seafood and tomato broth followed by seabass fillet and cannot fault the quality of the food. Not a fan of the cover charge at £1.50 but it was removed when I mentioned it to the manager. Great location for a meal before heading to the Old Vic.
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Johnathon
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Tuesday, July 24, 2007

I went on Saturday 8 July, 2007, for a meal for two, having spotted the restaurant a few times and thinking it looked intriguing. It turned out to be one of the worst meals either me or my partner have ever had. His tuna was thin and tasteless, coming only with an insipid oil, half a lemon, and a side of chips which would have been better from an ordinary chippie. My fish pie, more expensive than at J Sheekey, was a glutinous mass of unidentifiable fish pieces, which I was unable to finish. At one point the table in front of us were complaining to an unfortunate waiter about their "appalling" food, while the one behind us had collared another and was criticising their "mediocre," "over-priced" fare. It wasn't the waiting staff's fault, they were only as polite as they could be, but we sensed they knew they were serving rubbish. Never again, ever. And before I finish, what is it with chain restaurants (as this turned out to be) that they have to give you pathetic little cards promising "savings savings" if we return, as if it were a trip to Tesco? Don't the marketing people realise that this sort of effort simply turns people off? Anyway, enough said, and the taste of that appalling fish pie is finally going, 15 hours later.
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Rory O''Callaghan
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 0
Sunday, July 08, 2007

I wa surprised by some of the comments regarding service. We went for a pre-theatre dinner for two on a busy Saturday night and had nothing but polite and attentive service (apart from seeing our starter being taken to the wrong table before it made its way bck to the kitchen to be re-routed to our table). The quality of the food is no more than adequate and is certainly overpriced - especially wine and water. Bread and a very nice smoked fish pate was brough without being asked for but a cover charge of £1.50 per head was added to the bill as well as a discretionary 12.5% service charge. On the whole, I would say it was an enjoyable but unexceptional experiance and compares with other restaurants of the same type such as Loch Fyne.
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Sam Segar
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 4
Sunday, May 27, 2007

Very disappointing dinner last night with 2 friends. Service was okish but a weird mixture of slack and overattentive - eg forget to bring water then keep topping up wine glasses then asking if we want another bottle. Prices are steep, particularly for wine. BUT the real problem is the food.

Starters were ok-to-good - my whitebait was very nice but serving oysters without an oyster fork was a bit dumb. But the main courses were horrid - my mussels smelt like a mixture of horse poo and old socks and went back untasted - the replacement fish pie was mainly salmon with a couple of manky mussels embedded. One friend had scallops that were rubbery, another had severely overcooked tuna served sprinkled with canned jalapenos and guacamole that had turned brown. Yum. To top it all both friends had upset stomachs last night/ this morning. Still the sides were ok - minted mushy peas and quite good chips. Didn't have dessert but I do think that £1.85 for 7 mint leaves in a cup of hot water is a bit excessive on the tea front.

Livebait should be avoided if this experience is typical. If you're in the neighbourhood and want fish you would be SO much better off going to Wright Brothers at London Bridge.
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Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 3
Friday, May 11, 2007

I was largely skeptical about going to this restaurant after reading some of the comments posted here. After talking to a fried who said they frequent the place i thought i'd take the chance.

I'm glad i did, we were after some seafood and the spread at Livebait was great, between three of us we all devoured the tasty rope grown mussels which were a good portion for a starter at the price (around £8)

We then had the Tiger prawns which were a little diassapointing but tasted great. A portion of the Grampas Praws with tomato and feta were superb.

THe deserts were ok, we'd come for the seafood and had our fill by then so not too let down.

Overall i was well impressed after some of the slatings this place has had here. THe staff were well manered and helpful, the food was good, the atmosphere was what i would expect for the area and style. The price was well, not the cheapest - but then no where in london will youget cheap seafood that isn't battered fish and chips. I woudl recomened if you every fancy a tast pf eth ocean and adore shellfish.

While the price and and then
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Marcus van der Velden
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Friday, March 23, 2007

We ate last evening at Livebait in the Cut - the service was moderate if somewhat chaotic and showing a lack of training and knowledge of any availability of food or beverages. The bread (for whch there is a charge) was decidedly stale, the whitebait greasy and fortunately a very mean portion. The gougon of sole was also very greasy and the "onion basket" consisted of some onion rings which had been fried in the same grease as the whitebait and the gougon. Not a restaurant to recommend or to revisit following a visit to the OLd Vic. Our comments were handed in at the time, but I doubt if any response will be made. The "chippie" a few doors away is probably a better bet and no doubt less expensive.

Norman Raffles
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Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 2
Sunday, March 04, 2007

We were sorely disappointed by our meal for 4 last night. Service was sort of ok, I suppose, if a little unattentive & moody, but I was amazed by the exceptionally poor quality and ungracefully high prices of the food and wine. Sole gougons came complete with a nice piece of chef's hair holding it all together (literally cooked into the gougons, not just lying on top...!), which completely put all of us off our already-uninspiring meals; some rather old, tired & chuffy grilled lobster and a very grey, bored slab of tuna to go with the hairy sole. Our bill was reduced on complaint, but to save our sufferring stomachs from further injury, we will not be returning, and I would suggest that only the health and safety board should visit.
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Richard
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 1
Friday, January 12, 2007