Villandry

I visited Villandry this evening with my boyfriend and I have to say I disagree completely with most of the reviews posted below.

I visited this restaurant based on the recommendation of a friend who went a year ago and I was not disappointed as the high quality of food as not changed at all.

I took advantage of the meal discount. Prices nare on average about £20 for a main course and £6 for a starter/dessert. I had a charcuterie platter for my starter and to be honest I was not hugely impressed as it was a relatively small portion for the £10 price tag.

This was followed by one of the most fantastic steaks I have ever had in London. It was a sizeable portion and incredibly tasty. It was a very high quality thick cut of beef.

Dessert was, like the starter, mediocre.

Based on how amazing the steak was, I hold a very high opinion of this restaurant as the normal piece of meat I seem to get this days is a limp, fatty cut in most other places.

Including a starter, main course and coke, the bill came to a very reasonable £25 including service.
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roses - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 10
Friday, September 04, 2009

Used the 50% voucher from this site. It was OK I guess.

The night started in the main bar - pretty poor: dirty bar, etc.

Then went through to the restaurant. Friendly Aussie manager/waitress team.

Smoked haddock egg cocotte thing - nice and fresh. The lamb to follow was revolting as it had a sauce that appeared to be half lamb fat and half cheap balsamic vinegar. Disgusting.

Cheese plate was nice, but how wrong can you go with slicing cheese?

Got over the whole thing by drinking two bottles of wine (the wine list is excellent btw) and left drunk and somewhat underwhelmed by the food.

Hard to recommend - I see why the scores are so low for this place.....
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Coops
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 3
Sunday, August 16, 2009

This must rate as the restaurant with the rudest staff and a manager who certainly never went to charm school. Customer service - please go elsewhere.

The food is average, in contrast to the price - very high, and I'm only taking about a cesear salad and a club sandwich. £1.80 for a glass of water...

Villandry is one of the most pretentious places you wil find.
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Raymond
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 0
Wednesday, July 01, 2009

The service was not great, the food was prententious and almost pre-prepared like. They dont have proper cooks I suppose. Bread was not fresh, etc. etc.

Nothing you would expect from a place as such. Nothing but a nice facade and very mediocre food.

Overpriced and unprofessional. DONT go there.
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richard chamber
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 1
Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Ate here last week and really enjoyed my meal - delicious oysters to start, followed by the highly-recommended calf's liver. My husband's globe artichoke starter was reportedly very good - it looked and tasted great. However, the sole vegetarian meal on the (extensive) menu of main courses was an inspiring pasta option.

We ate at a 50% discount, which made the dinner excellent value, but probably won't return because of the lack of choice for vegetarian diners - there are plenty of places which cater for vegetarians much better.
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dawnage - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8
Sunday, July 13, 2008

We were 4 that went last night. Nice setting but a bit too bright in the reestaurant when dark falls. We all had main course, 3 of us had dessert and we shared 2 bottles of wine.

The bill came to £240!! Never been value!!!

Luckily my friends booked on top table which means we got 50% off the total bill but still way too expensive for what it is. The food is nice and fresh, but nothing special worth £120. Service was effective but very unpersonal. Shame! Will I go back? Yes, if I don't have to pay....
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Critical
Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 0
Tuesday, July 08, 2008

The food is nice, very nice really, but it should be at these prices. the service was another matter. I was alone for lunch, it was just before 12, I asked if lunch was being served yet and was told yes and shown a table. The waitress (sullen and unsmiling girl) then told me, when I tried to order, that "we don't serve lunch until 12". It was precisely 11.58.

Feeling annoyed but not feeling like bothering to go somewhere else, I said I could wait two minutes to order my food. I then ordered a glass of wine and some water. I had to ask for the water twice and by the time it arrived I had nearly finished the wine, not the way it should be.

The pepper and salt pots on the table were empty. I just could not be bothered by this stage to ask the sullen one to fill them, no doubt this would have taken ages.

For these prices I expect much better service.
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Nikki
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 2
Friday, July 04, 2008

Can't rate the food as we walked out before we ordered. Sat at an inside table and were completely ignored. Had to ask someone to come and take our order (we were beginning to think we had to order at the counter). Rude waitress arrived and got very cross with us as we ordered food before deciding what drinks to have. At this point we just got up and walked out.
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Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Tuesday, July 01, 2008

Had a super dinner at the Villandry with friends.

Completely recommend the macaroni and cheese and the vegetables with the anchovy dip as a starter and the calfs liver as a main course. The parmesan fries and courgettes were pretty great as well as sides. To top it off we had the baked alaska which was a fabulous end to the meal.

Would recommend going to Villandry on a walm balmy summer evening (rare in London I know) and sitting outside.

Good service and great wines.
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Sheirna Petit
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Quite quite the worst meal out for the price i and partner have ever had in London. Opted for the red mullet soup (canned bisque from the super tastes better, and less watery). Then came the chicken-literally a chicken breast with a blob of tomato on top and some rocket.

The hot smoked salmon on pea mash-well once again: pop to the supermarket and you'd do a better job.

Tiny portions, bland tastes and a total rip off.

oh and the barman needs to lose the attitude and smile a bit
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Angus B
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Sunday, June 01, 2008