Browns (Islington)

The service here wasnt as bad as I expected after reading all the bad reviews on here. Although the waiter did forget to give us any cutlery when he brought us our food and we had to ask for it. I was dissappointed they weren't doing their pre/post theatre menu at this branch as that is such a good deal. They also didnt have the food I ordered available off of the a la carte menu, which was another dissapointment. but overall it was very nice, the food didnt take too long or too short a time to arrive and the waiter checked we were ok with everything. Browns is a great chain.
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kim
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Friday, February 29, 2008

Ive been here many times before and just recently went for Valentines day. The food is great, and service is always with a smile. I will be having my boyfriends birthday meal here also.

5 out 5 for me!

Keep up the good work!
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Nicole
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Thursday, February 28, 2008

I am upset to hear all the negative reviews about this restaurant- I went for a Sunday lunch with friends and found it an enjoyable experience. The waitress was friendly and efficient and the food was delicious, quick and well presented. The sticky toffee pudding was to die for- overall, my Brown's experience was one that I will definitely be repeating!
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Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Monday, January 28, 2008

This follows two formal complaints to the restaurant, where we recently celebrated my birthday.

Sicne the gathering of 15 people, I have been disgusted and embarassed to hear my friends' comments.

Furthermore, the quality of the food was diabolical. Comments from my guests included: "the worse restaurant meal I've ever eaten". The chicken was inedible on two counts, and the steaks were a disgrace. One of my guests suspected that the meat had been microwave cooked or reaheated, and when this was mentioned to the waiter, his response was to say "oh" and he walked away. No response, no apology.

I have for many years been a regular visitor to the Covent Garden branch and have never ever encountered such poor service, poor food or been insulted by members of staff.

My view of Brown's and that of my 14 guests has been severely tainted.
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Luke
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 0
Sunday, January 06, 2008

I walk pass Browns on a daily basis and I really am amazed that the place still seems to attract customers. I went once for supper about four years ago, and was shocked by the appalling food and service. Poor ingredients, poorly cooked, and arriving at the table with a total lack of courtesy. For some reason I made the fatal mistake of giving it a second chance recently, when I popped in for breakfast. If anything, the situation had deteriorated. I find it depressing that such a well-situated restaurant can get away with serving such horrible meals.
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Alex
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 1
Monday, December 03, 2007

I took a group of carers to Browns Islington Green last Christmas (2006).

I have heard so much about Browns and all were surprised that I had never been before.I was looking forward so much for the day.

The menu had to be pre-ordered (not a problem) but when we got there I was quite dissapointed. The starter and dessert was fine. Having eaten Monkfish for the first the previous week, at a different establishment and thoroughly enjoy it, I duely orded this. When it came it resembled a rather large King Prawn and was so dried out that it was chewy and dry. Maybe it was pre-cooked and left in a warmer, but for £25 i expected great things and have not gone back again. I don't know if the other branches are the same, but am now very dubious about the 'Browns' name, quality and value for money!
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Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 1
Wednesday, November 07, 2007

I am still fuming after our most recent visit (over a month ago) to Browns on Islington Green. I don't normally fill in these reviews but the experience was so awful this is the only way I think I might be able to let off steam.

I have been going to Browns for thirty years and so was delighted when they expanded and opened branches in Old Jewry and Islington Green. My family were regulars and not only was the food good but the service was excellent - they seemed to recruit English Roses that did not think service was below them and really wanted you to enjoy your time in the restaurant.

Unfortunately the restaurants appear to have fallen on hard times and the current waiting staff give the impression that they are overworked and undervalued, and the place looks grubby and create an uneasy atmosphere.

My real complaint though is that my wife ordered swordfish which was clearly not cooked when she cut into it. This should not be a problem: take the fish and give it a quick flash on the grill and all would have been well. Unfortunately the ars* in the kitchen who had failed the first time obviously took offence and decided to teach us a lesson and after 15 minutes we were returned the same piece of fish now shrunk to half its original size and totally overcooked. I am astounded that a professional chef would ever allow this in his kitchen.

We should have slung the plate back at the waiter but my 10 year old begged me not to create a fuss so my wife ate what she could and we left quietly but we wll never return and recommend that you do not darken their doors unless you are a lot stroppier than we are.
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Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 0
Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Our waitress took over twenty minutes to bring our drinks to the table although had pleanty of time to lazily 'clean' vacant tables and those of the people who had just left. She then assumed the starter was mine and literally whacked it on the table in front of me even though it belonged to my boyfriend. There was quite a delay between starters and mains but the food was good and did not seem rushed. At the end of our main course the staff had already hastily started stacking chairs and tables around us (this was around 9pm) and then our waitress muttered 'Do you want anything else or not?' Clearly no time for dessert then. She then took the money for the bill and never returned the change, which, cosindering the service she had given us was quite astounding.

We asked another member of staff about this who said she would go and sort it out but it took so long that we just left in the end, utterly dissatisfied.

Overall, good food drowned out by over-presumptuous, dissinterested, unsettling and hasty staff.
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Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 3
Saturday, August 11, 2007

Considering that this chain has a decent reputation of serving traditional British food to a fairly good standard, I was thoroughly dissapointed by my dinner here. The interior had a feeling of being run down and slightly dirty, the food was scarily quick to come out of the kitchens which is never a good sign (which when it did the lamb was cold) . It really was the most boring and tasteless piece of meat and chips I have ever had and at £15 it was definately not value for money. I really would not recommend this place for dinner... it really should just be a bar and leave it at drinks where it is harder to go wrong. If you are looking for a restaurant/bar I would try the Living Room around the corner.. a much more tasty and imaginative menu and it tastes like it has actually been prepared in a clean and well run kitchen!

May 2007
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Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 1
Saturday, May 26, 2007

I have been an infrequent, though usually contented, diner at Brown's Islington for a while. Never again.

Trying to eat lunch there last Saturday I was initially told I could not sit in the window as this was set aside for people with accompanying children. So far, so bad.

I was then showed to a large table nearish the window and asked whether I would be happy there, which I more or less was. After consulting the menu, I settled in with my paper only to be interrupted by another waitress who asked me whether I was expecting anyone else, as a "family" queued up behind her. When I said 'no' she blatantly lied to me saying the table was "reserved" and pointed to a tiny postcard-size table for one in a dingy corner. I was so speechless that I just got up and left.

An offer of a coffee or something would have been a more positive response. As seems all too usual, a good restaurant ruined by badly trained staff. Quite sad, really.
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Jason
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 0
Saturday, February 17, 2007