Simpson's-in-the-Strand Grand Divan

Booked Simpsons for my special birthday treat with my father. We ordered the smoked salmon and haddock omlette for starters, the steak and kidney pudding and roast rib of beef for main courses. The food was very good, and the service excellent. We couldn't fit in a pudding, and we both waddled out very, very content.
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David Allen
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Saturday, July 12, 2008

I've dined at Simpsos for many years of my life. I have no complaints about them what so ever, but perhaps like every where it has good and bad days. I chose a standard champagne, with the smoked salmon, which as ever was fantastic, and afterwards the beef, which again was fantastic, a true british experience if anyone hasn't done so before. For dessert I had a treacle pudding which was sensational, the service was good and the atmosphere always has a pleasent feeling to it, nothing fake around.

Price: a tad on the expensive side, but then again, when you walk into the foyer, you'd be naive to think that it's going to be cheap.

Regards
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Ben Guggenheim
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Food was excellent however the service was lacklustre at best and the sommelier was rude. I have previously raved about the place, but it has gone downhill and I felt embarrassed to have recommended it to the group I was dining with. I won't return.
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Matt
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 1
Monday, March 03, 2008

nice decor tables very close to next table. food was warm. side dished which are extra were very small bordering on mean. No Roast Potatoes but small new pots passed off as roasties.... thats not British...Service is very ggod but living off an old name with No real value for money.....supermarket entry wines are to expensive £35 upwards that really bumps the bill up......the Cabbage was tasteless this comes with the Saddle of Lamb.

I am really sorry but i had a big bill and felt like i was mugged...I will not rush back again....overpriced and pompous..... folk expect value for money you cant keep relying on the passing tourists
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David Grant
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 4
Friday, February 22, 2008

I went to this restaurant last night for my mum's birthday. The staff were very friendly and charming and made a real fuss of her. They sang Happy Birthday and put a candle in her desert, something that we hadn't asked them to do!

The food was delicious, scallops melt in the mouth, i had the lamb which was scrummy. The carving of the meet at your table adds a nice touch.

Yes it's kinda dated looking, but that's what this restaurant is all about! It's that olde english feel to it. Would recommend for a special occasion if you are into good no nonsense english food!
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Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Friday, January 25, 2008

I am sad to say we tried this venerable institution a second time in 6 months. One would think that in a fine restaurant that specializes in beef that meat could be ordered rare yet It remains impossible to have rare roast beef in this roast beef specialty house. In fact their idea of medium rare(which they offered in its place) was medium well done. Most of the dishes are preprepared and overall belong to a quality of cuisine that is very dated and honestly mediocre. The ambiance is charming and the staff is pleasant but unable to accommodate any creativity.

It would be nice if management felt a quality redo was in order. Its needed
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Andrew Nelson
Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 4
Wednesday, December 05, 2007

Previous reviewer appears to have been having a very off day!!

Granted the carpets are slightly faded. BUT - All else was faultless, charming staff, generous(!) portions of delicious food (aged rib of beef - melt in the mouth and very tasty), starter of Foreman's London smoked salmon, treacle pudding - all wonderful.

I'll be going again - and by the way was there with someone who had been 2 months before and wanted to go again.

Maybe more of a venue ofr out of towners, but a rare treat - old fashioned and all the better for it.

Only quibble - did you need Sky Sports on in the upstairs bar? Still the chaps seemed to feel at home.
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Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Thursday, September 27, 2007

We dined in the main dining hall on July 28th 2007. With the exception of lobster soup this was truly appalling.

The room and décor although I’m sure once impressive is now tired and grubby, the ceiling was leaking in three places. I would say majority of diners were tourists, let’s hope they realise that this is not typical British fare. Service was acceptable and reasonably attentive.

The signature dish of roast rib of beef (despite allegedly being aged 28 days) is best described as a fatty, tasteless piece of scrag end and that is doing scrag end a disservice as it does taste of something. Two small roast potatoes cold and soggy, savoy cabbage overcooked, cauliflower cheese inedible as flour not even mixed into sauce. The treacle pudding was acceptable, but supermarket standard.

In summary absolutely appalling value, if you were served this at a “ £6.95 eat all you want buffet” you would feel cheated.
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Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 0
Monday, July 30, 2007

Went for Lunch in the Main Dining Hall.

This id rate as a fine splurge of British Food at its near best.

Started with the Fois Gras and Aylesbury Duck confit. Avery Satisfying fatty indulgence with the meat of the Duck adding the robust flavour. The toasted brioche was a good addition to the dish.

The main course was a superb medium-rare cut of Roast Rib of beef. I can understand why it is a signature of Simpsons as it was just about the best roast ive had and in 3 generous slices. The Potatos and caggage were a fine accompaniment as was the Horseradish although the Yorkshire pudding could have been crispier.

The lunch was finished off with a classic Treacle sponge and excellent vanilla custard....properly made.

All washed done very well with an undemanding Navaresse Criantha.

The service was polite and attentive and served in the grand old Dining room.
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Guy Hannay-Wilson
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Tuesday, May 15, 2007

We had a phenomenal dinner here last Friday night. It was a real treat. The roast beef truly melts in your mouth, the atmosphere was just perfect and the service was top notch. Expensive, but I would highly recommend it for a special occasion.
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Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Monday, May 14, 2007