Randall & Aubin

I'm amazed at the amount of negative comments as I've always had great experiences at Randall & Aubin. The service is consistently friendly and efficient and the food always exceeds my expectations, especially for the reasonable price. I have recommended this restaurant to a number of my friends and often get great feedback from them. I am and will always be a fan. Top rating for sure!!!! Tip for anyone who decides to go, try the lamb wrap (best I've ever had) and make sure you get a portion of oysters!!
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ja24 - View all reviews by this user
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, September 27, 2011

My husband & I were in Soho and happened upon Randall & Aubin. It’s a wonderful looking restaurant & immediately caught my eye. It turns out to have been an old butcher shop from the early 1900’s & the current owners kept most of the fixtures and fittings. The walls are filled with great mementos of its previous incarnation such as a fabulous framed invoice for Winston Churchill.

The vibe is electric & we instantly loved the place. We were greeted by an incredibly sweet staff member & luckily got a seat by the window facing the street – we arrived at just the right moment because it filled up quickly & a queue started to form. It was also fun & quirky for the waiter had to step outside & service us from the pavement.

We ordered a lower priced white wine & it was delicious. We had a starter of half a dozen oysters & they were truly divine. I went on to have the scallops, which can so easily go wrong & be overdone. I’m happy to report that they were perfect in every way. My husband had the fish & chips with mushy peas and gave a glowing report. We opted to have another bottle of wine in lieu of dessert and simply soak in the fun and festive atmosphere and watch Soho walk by our table. A perfect find & wonderful evening!
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Helen Maddison
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, September 13, 2011

I had dinner last Friday at Randall & Aubin with my wife and was very disappointed about the quality of the food. I had the fish platter, it came half of the size compare to a few month ago, the presentation was horrible as well as the taste. In fact my plate was just full of oil with 2 shrimps, one piece of fish and 2 mussels...tasted awful.

My wife took the whelks, several of them were not fresh.

It looks like the kitchen staff completely change and the level just dropped. So will not come back as long as the kitchen staff remains the same.
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SRey
3 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 2
Tuesday, August 16, 2011

I was there with the bunch of friends on Friday night. It was buzzy as always but I must say we were very disappointed with extremely small portions of food considering the prices. Plates were greasy and food badly presented. The ladies toilets had no light inside and to our surprise the general manager didn't seem to care even after we complained about it. In fact he was rude. We still managed to have fun but don't think we will go back in a rush. All that queing for overly priced average food, rude manager and not very nice toilet with no light. No thanks.
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3 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 1
Monday, April 18, 2011

Very mediocre. I went for brunch on a Sunday midday. The place was virtually empty yet it took ages to be served. I ordered an assiette de fruits de mer which was very mediocre - and expensive. Cover charge for some bread and olives was a bit naughty, considering the price of the seafood. Finger bowl was only brought after I'd finished my meal. Annoying loud Shakira playing in background. Better elsewhere.
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Gabrielle Koonin
4 Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 4
Monday, April 11, 2011

Why do so many people just not get it? Randall & Aubin is a drop-in stalwart for the young party-going Soho funsters who frequent it, not for a quiet destination dining experience on a rare trip to the West End. Get things in perspective, folks! Come here for fun, loud music, the buzz and a bit of reasonably priced comfort food with an aquatic bent. All seating is up high to make it feel like the casual diner that it is - not a formal restaurant. I judge a dinner/restaurant on the laughter and mood of fellow diners as well as food, wine and service. Everyone here always seem to be enjoying themselves - me included.

The waiters have attitude because that's what suits the place and that's what Soho is about. With that sassiness comes efficiency and professionalism too. These guys are not for fawning. I love it for what it gets right and also for its imperfections. And long may it reign.
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Sean - View all reviews by this user
7 Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 6
Monday, April 04, 2011

Get rid of the rude waiters who think that they are too cool to serve you. What happened to this place and staff that use to be friendly and fun?? Avoid.
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Dissapointed regulars, Paul and Dean
4 Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 3
Tuesday, March 29, 2011

WORST dining experience in my life!

first of all, what kind of seafood restaurant is it when you dont have any fish besides tuna. they had no prawns, crabs, lobsters etc.. should have told us BEFORE we sat down. Ordered a glass of white wine which took ages to come. Fish soup was good. ordered 12 oysters which were surprisingly meatless! the staff was rude. I wasn't impressed with the oysters and asked them to take them away. I will never go back there again!
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3 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 3
Monday, October 11, 2010

This was one of the (if not THE) best meals, myself and my friend have ever had and we like eating out!! We chose R&A based on some great reviews over several different websites. We decided to arrive early on at 5pm and we were so glad we did as we managed to get seated straight away (as there is a no bookings policy), however within half an hour there was a queue out the door and a waiting time of 45 minutes! The place is small but very charismatic due to being in the style of the former butcher shop that was once there. Meals are taken at high tables and counters, the music is louder than you normally get in a restaurant and very funky. We loved this though as you do sit in close proximity to others so it allows you to talk without being overheard. As you look around and people watch everyone in the restaurant is smiling and jiggling away to the music albeit in their seats. Now to the food! We had the crab salad and moules mariniere to start which were excellent but the mains were truly outstanding. We had the tuna and king scallops accompanied by dauphinois potatoes. Delicious, delicious, delicious. The wine we chose was the cheapest of the reds on offer, yet absolutely divine. Service was attentive yet understated. It wasnt cheap but it was the best money we'd spent in ages. Despite under increasing pressure from the queuing masses waiting to get in, we were never once rushed and we left around 2 hours later. Please if you love fish, are young at heart (if not in age) and you love London, go to R&A, it wont disappoint.
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Sam Franklin
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Music is far too loud for a restaurant. Food is expensive but very good. You can't enjoy your meal though if you're squashed in, as we were, half hanging off the end of the table and elbow fighting with our neighbours. We could barely fit ourselves, our plates and our drinks on the tiny piece of table we were given. Hectic, rushed, noisy and overpriced is the only way to describe the experience. Would not go again in the evening. May consider a quick lunchtime pit stop if the music isn't playing.
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3 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Thursday, July 29, 2010