The Magdala

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!
Comment on this reader review

Marion Reilly
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.
Comment on this reader review

Alan Ingham - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Monday, November 12, 2007

Agree with the previous review - great atmosphere, really good service...but the food wasn't up to scratch. I was at a party in the upstairs room, and as a set menu had been arranged (some people had pre-ordered, others hadn't), it was disappointing that on the night, both the chicken and fish options were finished, leaving only vegetarian. Actually, the main courses were all very good, but it was a disappointingly ordinary and 'so what' avocado starter and a frankly awful white chocolate cheesecake with the consistency of cement that let down what is otherwise a really great local gastropub.
Comment on this reader review

Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Monday, December 04, 2006

A little dissapointed by this restaurant, the service was great, the wine list ok and the atmosphere in the downstairs bar pretty good. However whilst the menu looked very tempting, the food actually served wasn't quite up to scratch (both mine and my dinner date).

Having said that the history (Ruth Ellis) probably means it's worth a visit and hopefully the food on the day I visited was a one off.
Comment on this reader review

- View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 6
Monday, June 19, 2006

My friend just moved close by so I read the reviews and thought I'd give it a try. All the tables were full but it didn't seem too busy and the service was fantastic. The food was also excellent. The pork fillet main was particularly good and though not cheap the prices were reasonable. An open kitchen usually means you can see it but usually at a distance but in The Magdala the chef leaned on the counter and I had a chat with him whilst sitting at my table about where he sourced his ingredients and what's in season at the moment.

Highly recommend it and will definately go back
Comment on this reader review

Ben - View all reviews by this user
Monday, October 10, 2005