North Pole Bar & Piano Restaurant

went here for my birthday last Sunday. There was 14 of us and we had the private red room in the restaurant. It looks like just refurbished since my last visit and looks very nice.The menu was £14.95 for 2 courses and we all had a roast which was very good. All of us had a great time chatting and service is excellent as well.. Decor was pleasant and ambience. . Love it!! Went down to the bar after and heard a wicked band and was told that the pianist . It was a brilliant day and highly reccommend this place.
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enjoyfoodlady - View all reviews by this user
8 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 7
Monday, November 08, 2010

My husband and I celebrated our wedding anniversary with a meal at the North Pole Piano Restaurant last night. I had read others (somewhat mixed) reviews on here before going- I didn't want to have a disappointing evening.

Our experience was exceptional. The décor was charming, the service from our waitress was faultless, she was attentive and welcoming. The food was perfection. I didn't notice any wait for the courses. Portion sizes were perfect and well presented.

I wanted to go somewhere for the perfect meal out to celebrate a special occasion, and experience certainly did not disappoint. I would highly recommend it. I know I will be returning.
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Rebeka Carey
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Monday, July 26, 2010

We went here on the recommendation of a friend for my wife's birthday (15 of us in party) and we were all very impressed. The decor was very nice and we especially loved the goldfish in the chandeliers. The food was well presented, served very timely and good portions. We chose the £25 3 course set menu that included a glass of champagne and thought it was very good value for money. The restaurant was packed yet the service was exemplary.

We have eaten in many restaurants in the area and this is now one of our firm favourites. The previous reviewer sounded a little too harsh in my opinion but hey everyones entitled to their opinion.

We would definitely recommend this place and we even headed down to the bar for a bit of boogying after the meal and cocktails!
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Jason Barrent
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Oh dear! My partner, friends and I regularly eat in Greenwich and decided to give the North Pole a try after reading the reviews on here. Never again!

We used the 50% off food offer and just as well - I've never been served such average food at Michelin star prices. £7:95 for a small starter. £18:50 for lamb? Bonkers.

There were just 2 waiters that we could see (although my friend thought she spotted another one) and one was spectacularly under-trained. We arrived just after 8 and didn't even get a drink until 8:55. We were about to walk out when they arrived.

We were in the 'Fine Dining Room' which means you are ignored most of the time. The excuse for the slowness was that they were busy. Well yes, and with 2 waiting staff it's no surprise. That's not an excuse, it's poor management.

Why don't management spend the 12.5% they fleece in service charges and pay more staff?

We all noticed that several of the other diners found it difficult to attract the attention of the staff and there were quite a few knowing looks between tables.

Quite frankly, my friends and I won't be wasting our time and money again.

If you're planning on spending £40 per head or more in Greenwich, go spend it at Spread Eagle or Kum Luang. Or save your money and go to High Chaparral or Café Rouge.

Having recently returned from New York and Amsterdam where service is always exemplary I really deplore the standard of service in some of our local restaurants.
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Nick
3 Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 2
Monday, January 25, 2010

wow, well this restaurant caught my eye as it had a rating on here of 10- which I've never seen before. I went on Saturday, and as it was Blackheath fireworks, I couldn't book anything there, so we decided to walk down to Greenwich.

I was a bit dubious about the 'piano bar' concept for starters, but if anything it made the place more memorable- it certainly made us giggle a bit too- as we were sat right next to it- it was rather loud sometimes, but still was a nice change.

The place was quiet, but filled up a bit later on, so not sure how they would be under pressure- but the service was second to none. Attentive waiters, excellent service (topping up water without being asked) and not being too pushy on getting more wine etc.

There were four of us and we ordered sea bass and duck between us. The food arrived in a timely fashion (lately I've noticed food arriving far too quickly in many restaurants- surely a sign of pre-preparation and lack of freshness?!)- this arrived about 20 minutes after our order. I am usually worried about where the fish comes from, and am still not sure the source/fishing method for the seabass, so that is a point to mark them down on- these days I want to know if my chicken is free range and if the fish is line caught, sustainable etc.

The food itself though could not be faulted. A meal like this really shows the difference between being able to cook, and knowing how to really cook! The fish was delicate, the skin crispy, and completely boneless. The dill was just right (easy to overdo dill) and the potatoes fabulous. £4 for a side dish of beans was pricey, but they were cooked to perfection with shallots- as were the side of carrots we also ordered.

My desert was the white chocolate cheesecake with berry basket and raspberry coulie- which was divine (and a proper size!- small, so didnt leave me gasping and feeling like I'd over-eaten).

The only downsides other than the lack of information on the menu, were the poor goldfish swimming around the tacky glass lamps in the chandaliers, and the occassional noise coming up from the basement bar- but considering it was well after 10, this latter issue was completely reasonable (and the big boxing fight was being shown as well).

Overall, I must say in 7 years of dining out in London, this was the best fish dish I've ever eaten, and probably the most pleasant (and sincere) service I've ever had- as I said, the waiters were attentive and friendly, but not pushy.

I would (and have already) recommend this restaurant for a great dinner- mains are all between £16-18 with a £20-ish steak dish, but the few extra £ you pay per main over other similar restaurants. If they'd fix the goldfish and menu sourcing information issues, I'd have rated this a 10!
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Jared
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Monday, November 09, 2009