Sofra (Covent Garden)

Attended the Covent Garden branch as part of a large party of 26 people. Problems started when, despite the number being confirmed about 6 hours previously, they misjudged the settings. 5 of us were left standing until the manager said he would move a table onto the end of one of the two bigger tables - and then started to move the couple who were sat there, half way through their main course!

We perusaded them that we 5 would be fine on a separate table, which they then set (with about 3 requests for missing items).

On ordering the drinks, we were told that the smoothies and the fruit juices had all "sold out", despite us seeing an orange juice being delivered to a table 5 minutes later.

When we tried to order, a waitress (who spoke no English) insisted that we ordered from the specials menu (when we just wanted the healthy set menu).

When the meze had arrived, we asked the waiter which dishes contained nuts as we had an nut-allergy sufferer at the table. His repsponse was "I'm new, I'm not sure", so we asked if we could see a menu (which has the nut info), at which point he told us which two dishes had the nuts. They were the wrong two dishes (which we discovered before the allergy-sufferer did!).

Then, the icing on the cake! After we had pretty much eaten the cold meze (which was clearly lifted straight from the fridge, vegetables and all!), we noticed a large plate of grilled meats sat on another vacant table. After about 10 minutes of it sitting there, curiosity won over, and we asked a waiter. He took a look at it and just plonked it down on our table - "that is to go with your meal". On explaining that we had eaten everything else over the last 20 minutes and that some cold, grilled meat on its own was not what we were expecting, he asked "What to do you want *me* to do about it?". We intimated that some complimentary dishes to go with the meat might be an idea. He begrudgingly brought some.

When we had finished, the other two big tables were still waiting for their main courses, so we decided to just leave and wait at a pub around the corner (which took about another 1 and a half hours!). For the first time in the evening, the waiter asked us if something was OK - the bill. They had charged for both the extra dishes we ordered *and* a 12.5% "service" charge, both of which were omitted from our payment. On pointing this out (with our reasons), the waiter started to flounce! We were gobsmacked and just left with this guy having a huff!

In short, the food was actually quite tasty, but it was truly, by far and away, the worst service I've ever had in a restaurant!
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Bert Hindle
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 2
Tuesday, January 29, 2008

unbelievable. a shocking shocker of a restaurant. the tagine was so sweet they could have served it with ice cream as a desert. the service - truly awful. at about £30 a head
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Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 1
Thursday, December 27, 2007

I went there with other 9 people, we ordered for 10, but they kept bringing food for 9, even after we explained to the waiters that there was an error, one of them just left when we were complaining! another one wasn;t able to speak any english, poor guy, and another one answered to his phone while he was taking the order!!!!, and started flirting with one girl of our group! unbelievable

the food was even nothing special, not authentic at all.

I highly NOT suggest this place to any food lover.
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Alex
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 2
Tuesday, December 04, 2007

Had lunch here last Saturday. The healthy set menu was good value. Really good food and friendly staff.
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mauteek
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Tuesday, December 04, 2007

Visited the St Christophers place branch on saturday 10th November

Unsmiling service, dumped in makeshift basement dining room with no atmosphere or music. We ate soggy (pre-cooked and kept warm ) boreks.

Tagine with freezing cold vegetables, dry moussaka and miserly wine measures.

The only resaon its full is because it is lucky enough to be in the wonderfully atmpospheric St Chris place.

VERY DISAPPOINTING.
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H PINNINGTON
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 2
Sunday, November 11, 2007

I went here for my birthday dinner with a group of about 8 close friends. We all had the meze selection (after asking for the regular menu, instead of the 'party' menu of 18 per person, they had initially given us). The food was really tasty and the portions were decent. The only complaint I would have is on the service. The staff was not very attentive and they al lgave the impression as if they had just taken on too many tables, even though the place is not really that big. Aside from that, it was a very pleasant evening and I would go back.
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- View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Sunday, November 04, 2007

I have been there are few times and the food has always been excellent. This is the kind of place you can go with your friends and chat and have a good conversation.

As soon as you walk in you get a place of olives, humous and naan bread.

I do remember when I used to go they used to put special offers on the board outside, but they have stopped doing that (not sure if they do that in winter only perhaps to attract customers). Will have to go back to find out.

The Meze is excellent!

Caters well for both Vegetarians too and the food is very healthy!
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Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Willkomen, Bienvenu, Welcome! Having just taken in the matinee show of ‘Cabaret’ we decided upon a ‘post’ theatre dinner at Sofra in Covent Garden. Once in the restaurant, we found, to our surprise that we had exchanged the sexually charged decadence of the ‘Kit Kat’ club for the candle lit darkness of Sofra.

We arrived at 6:30 pm. There was a group of 5 of us, and to keep things simple we ordered the Meze (£10.95 per head) and some Turkish white wine, which at about £12 a bottle is very drinkable. We had envisioned a leisurely evening where we could all catch up on each other’s news. But no, the Meze was served up in a blitzkrieg of food and within about 35 minutes the food was ordered, served at the table and devoured. Perhaps they had mistaken us for the pre-theatre crowd?

The food was excellent. All the vegetarian dishes were very good, but in the darkness it was difficult to make out what they were. The barbecued meat on skewers was very tasty.

The waiter came from Kazakhstan. His jaw dropped when we asked for more. This time he brought out Turkish pizza, more meat on skewers, some salad and more Turkish wine. We also had a range of typical Turkish desserts (about £3.50 each), which as you probably know, are very sweet. We ordered a jug of tap water. The jug was brought with alacrity – always a good sign of a decent restaurant.

This time we spun out the food and wine till about 9 pm, by which time I think the restaurant had given up on us.

Mr Ozer, the patron, suggests you will have an average bill of £24; we notched up a bill for £33 per person. Having said that, we all agreed the food and restaurant were well worth it. The restaurant is excellent for pre and post theatre meals; and I think this candle lit restaurant would make a good venue for the romantic diner ‘a deux’, as long as you can slow the kitchen and the waiters down a bit.
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Stephen Blagden
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 7
Thursday, October 04, 2007

I read many good reviews about this restaurant, so decided to go myself. Food was lovely, but service for us left this place a little disappointing.

The waiter kept coming back to take our plates event though it was clear we had not finsihed eating, it was not like they needed the table back - the restaurant was half empty!

Also watch the charges on your bill - the menu clearly stated specials for dinner were £11.95 for a main and a side dish, but we were charged separately which was more.

Lovely place but the service left a sour taste....probably won't be going back in a hurry.
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Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 2
Thursday, September 13, 2007

Visited with my sister and parents on Sat eve (1/9/07). Food was v good, starters really lovely, mains a little on the small side, but more than enough. The house wine was v good, we were ordering a bottle of red and white and decided on an australian, but the waiter said he would get some of the house red and white for us to try. Both were v, v good so we changed our minds. Lots of choice foodwise. Difficult in covent garden to get good food at a reasonable price, Sofra hit the nail on the head. We had a lovely eve and will most definately be going back.
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Sarah
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8
Monday, September 03, 2007