Flaneur Food Hall & Restaurant

I've whinged about the slow service in Flaneur before, but one of my mates always talks me into going back because she likes it, and I always end up saying "I'd forgotten how good the food is". Went for lunch today, and the usual experience except... food appeared really quickly, so did the coffee (used to take 15 -20 minutes) and the bill arrived as soon as we asked for it. The waiter asked us as he gave us the bill to pay it at the till, which meant we didn't spend ages trying to get someone to come back and accept payment, which is the way a meal at Flaneur used to end. It looks as if they've finally responded to all the complaints about slow service. And the food is as good as ever, I've never had a bad meal here. I'll definitely be going back soon.
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Alex M
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Friday, May 23, 2008

I dined here with friends on Friday evening. The food was delicious but the evening was ruined by the service, which was incredibly slow. We repeatedly had to ask for wine which we had ordered, for cutlery which was missing and for the bill. Food arrived at different times, as did coffee. The waiters were either actively unfriendly or indifferent to customers - when I asked one about some white wine we had ordered some 20 minutes before, he barked at me that it would be handed over "with the food". Extraordinary.

There are plenty of places in London where the food is just as good, if not better, and you get decent service. Unless you have all the time in the world and the patience of a saint, give Flaneur a miss.
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Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 3
Monday, April 07, 2008

Never in my life have I experienced such rudeness - so much so I was reduced to tears - and I'm still reeling!!

20 minutes after ordering the wine I got up and asked the bar man if it was on it's way - he told me to "ask him" (the manager). The wine finally arrived, and quite a while later so did our starters, which were very nice.

However, when the mains arrived that is when it rapidly went down hill. I had ordered a steak, to be rare - however it was not rare when it arrived. I waited to try and get the waiters attention (the manager), but to no avail. So I got up to go and speak to him and took my plate with me. When advising him that I had asked for my steak to be rare he said it was. I said that it's wasn't and politely asked if I could have another one - he then told me to stop being rude. Since when was it rude to ask for something the way you like it when you are paying for it? Eventually another steak was brought out, however I refused it and went without the rest of my dinner, had I not been with friends for a birthday dinner I would have left the restaurant. The service was appalling and the attitude of the staff - well it leaves alot to be desired. Flaneur could be a great place but the staff really let this place down.

There are plenty of alot better, and cheaper restaurants over this one so don't waste your time here.
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Lisa
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Friday, April 04, 2008

Awful, complete disappointment. The food was average, the service incredibly sloppy and the prices steep. Flaneur is to drift or stroll on by and they certainly did that.
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mike
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 0
Friday, January 25, 2008

I visited Flaneur with some trepidation because of some of the reviews on here but was very pleasantly surprised. The restaurant is set out at the back of the shop - big wooden chairs and tables. The menu has half a dozen choices for mains and starters and I think it changes quite regularly.

the charcuterie with pickled figs came on a wooden board and about 4 or 5 slices each of 5 different types of hams. It was gorgeous. The only complaint was that the "pickled figs" was actually one pickled fig.

Fish stew with prawns, clams and salmon was as generous as the starter and delicious too. I found the service to be good and helpful, we didn't have to wait long to order drinks, our meal or to get the bill.

I would recommend Flaneur and would definitely go back. Bill for two courses and a glass of wine was £27.
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Lisa
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8
Tuesday, July 31, 2007

The service was appalling, the food was tepid, the prices were steep.
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Josh
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 2
Friday, March 30, 2007

I've always liked the coffee at Flaneur. I'm a local and get coffee practically every day. The measures aren't too long and my morning latte is definitely revitalising rather than just a hot coffee-flavoured milkshake. I seem to remember being told the coffee came from Monmouth, fave coffeehouse on Saturday at Borough. Anyway, Flaneur's changed their coffee and either they're not used to it or the new coffee is just bad. I'm very stuck in my ways and am not looking forward to searching for reliable cafe latte.
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Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 5
Tuesday, November 14, 2006

The alluring interior (delis are, after all, meant to be enticing) bode well. But things went downhill once we sat down. The starters of purple-sprouting broccoli, and a board of meats were nice. But the mains (gnocchi) were bland and uninteresting. The wine never arrived. The waitress didn't speak good English. And the bill was quite steep (about £35 each with wine and service) for what was an under-whelming dining experience.
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Nigel - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 3
Friday, May 26, 2006

Discovered Flaneur by accident when passing on a Saturday evening. We were made to feel welcome and as others have said, the ambience is very inviting. The restaurant tables are at the back of the food hall, so you are surrounded by 20 foot high shelves stacked with exotic tins and boxes. The set meal was excellent value at £21 for two courses or £35 for three. My asparagus with roquefort butter was a generous portion, very fresh and perfectly cooked. My friend opted for courgette and feta fritters which were served with toasted pine nuts and rocket, and he had to fight me off his plate it was so good. My main course of steak was a decent cut, cooked perfectly medium as requested, accompanied by somewhat tired and greasy potatoes which was the only disappointment of the evening. The mushroom and cheese risotto was tasty. The dessert was absolutely heavenly - we both had the super moist chocolate cake. The waitress brought a soup tureen full of double cream to the table with a ladle, which she left with us for the duration. Not so good for my waistline but both amusing and delicious. We had an excellent bottle of cava with our meal for £24 and some delicious coffees and armangac with dessert. We found the staff to be charming but reserved and I will definitely be going back. Great food and wonderful value.
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Savage Pink - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Monday, May 15, 2006

I agree with a lot of what everyone else has said. Nice 'space', OK food, very poor service. And you would hope for more from a meal that cost getting on for £100 for two, with an 'optional' service charge added to your bill.

The wine we ordered didn't arrive until our starters appeared, and only then because we asked the manager where it was. The waitress 'had had a long shift', apparently.

Some of the food was very good, some distinctly average.

Then we were told the kitchen had closed when we ordered puddings, with no previous warning that this might happen, so our choice was restricted.

I shan't be going back and I wouldn't recommend it.
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Graham
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 3
Wednesday, May 03, 2006