The Magdala

I've been here several times and the food just gets better and better. The service is also very good. Highly recommended!
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8 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Friday, September 25, 2009

I have been going to The Magdala now for about 6 years perhaps every couple of months. I think the food is good - often really very good. They have put their prices up recently and before that it was excellent value for Hampstead. Now I suppose still pretty reasonable.

The staff are always friendly and helpful. I've noticed other reviews (all I think from thr same person) suggesting otherwise. Of course there have been mistakes but they are always swiftly sorted out with good grace - this is a reasonably pricd pub , not The Dochester.

I love this pub. I live in Hampstead and there are others close to me but most do not manage to combine good food, good atmosphere and reasonable prices.

By the way, I am no longer a bringer of young children. Mine go to The Gate et al now! Anyway I have not been plagued by other peoples's here although they are often around. Unless you are very unlucky or just have a major problem with kids this one is fine. There is one up the road which does not allow them. Try that. Maybe it's called The Curmudgeon (not really) but on the way down to chalk farm.
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julie
8 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Monday, January 26, 2009

I had the misfortune of visiting the Magdala on Sunday. I ordered the 'tempura prawns with chilli julienne vegetables'. Not only were the julienne vegetables missing when it arrived, the prawns had also been battered and fried whole rendering the whole tempura batter completely pointless.

When I complained the staff admitted that the prawns should not have been cooked that way but when challenged about the vegetables the manager proceeded to tell me smugly that the grated salad that I received was in fact the julienne vegetables. Hmm, not like any I've had before!

If you like places that don't serve what you ordered, have incompetent chefs and patronising smug managers then this is the place for you!
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Marion Reilly
1 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 0
Monday, September 29, 2008

We visited this place last October and plan to return. Their starters were perhaps a little lacklustre but they redeemed themselves from that point on. We both ordered their steak, cooked to varying degrees, and nothing failed to disappoint.

We also added a late order of sides, which they handled speedily and professionally.

They even remembered us personally from the time of having made the table booking. A nice touch.

All in all, this was a really solid night out. Their wine list was extensive enough to have something for everyone and we had no trouble choosing something to go with our choice of main.

Dessert was enormous. We had to leave it unfinished.

The place has a great atmosphere and evidently many repeat customers, judging by the first-name terms many of them were on.
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Alan Ingham - View all reviews by this user
8 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Monday, November 12, 2007