Randall & Aubin (Soho)

My boyfriend suggested we try Randall & Aubin after he had been there many years ago. I loved it. Great food, great wine, great service, great atmosphere!

He enjoyed it also. Fresh seafood, bubbly atmosphere & service. We will definitely be coming back to R & A!
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Bec
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Friday, September 05, 2008

I dine here about once every few months and I have to say, there is something quite special about this place. The food's great, the service excellent and the atmosphere is refreshingly friendly. A great dining experience in one of London's most buzzing restaurants. This places oozes cool!
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Dan
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Thursday, September 04, 2008

We visited this restaurant on a recommendation from friends after asking where was a good place in Soho to eat fish and chips. We arrvied at about 6pm on Sunday evening and we were shown to a table straight away. The restaurant was busy but no queue. This is the type of restaurant where you share a table like Wagamama's etc. The kitchen is open plan and you can see the chefs working. Loud clubbing music blasts out whilst you eat so if this is not your thing I would try elsewhere.

After ordering a bottle of Lebanese wine (very nice!) and being present with bread and olives, the waitress took our order. Unfortunately, when we came to ask for fish and chips, we were told that they didnt have any left! A fish restaurant without fish and chips?????? This was the only reason we had chosen this restaurant! Why were we not told this before taking our order? Having ordered wine, we were now trapped so we felt compelled to choose something else from the menu. My companion chose sausages and mash, and I had the starter of salmon and haddock fish cakes with a portion of chips. The food was of acceptable quality, but nothing special and it certainly didn't justify the expensive price tag. I have had far better food at other fish restaurants for half the price.

On checking our bill at the end, we also found we had been charged for 3 covers (for the bread and olives I assume) instead of 2. Fortunately I noticed this,and it was rectified by the waitress without question, but I would advise people to check their bill throughly. I don't think I would return to the restaurant. It wasn't that is was that bad, just average and expensive for what it was.
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Stu
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 5
Monday, August 18, 2008

Second visit this year - first time was fantastic, this time even better. My wife had tuna - best she ever had! My seabass was perfect. Noisy, camp, vibrant, buzzing - everything we wanted whilst in london for the weekend. Made even better by bumping in to friends from Sheffield! 4 bottles of prosecco later...

Fantastic lunch staff - brilliant, especially the waitress from Algeria! We will be back again and again.
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john tompkins
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Thursday, July 10, 2008

They don't take bookings, which left me nervous about not getting a place on a Friday night - it's not a good way to start a first date!

We arrived to find that, sure enough, there was a big Friday queue inside - we joined it but the jostling got too much so we waited outside, with a bottle of wine to keep us entertained. The waiter filled our glasses, then kept the bottle on ice at the bar.

There was no need to worry about missing our place – when the queue shortened, he called us back in to take our place at the start. Watching the staff prepare the seafood built up quite an appetite...

I thought I'd prefer tables, but was pleasantly surprised by sitting at the bars around the wall. The informal seating, banging music, general hubbub, hands on food, and bunches of people who just come to stand around for a drink all make for a relaxing and fun atmosphere. Yes, the music is very loud, but that just encourages one to get closer to hear each other, and smooths over the occasional rests in conversation.

The food: WOW WOW WOW. We ordered the ice platter of fruits de mer, and the lobster supplement. It tasted great, and as a bonus, was messy and fun to eat. Just be careful with the shellfish's spikes and cracked edges! Between the two of us, we left a small pile of prawns, so maybe the lobster supplement was overkill. Sweet tasty overkill. Sitting there in a protein coma, we rounded off the meal with teas. This is when you realise why, apart from the good food, there's such a queue - they'll happily let you sit and relax, with no pressure to get your cash nor show you the door.

This will go down as a favourite restaurant experience, and my date loved it, which is what really counts in the end :D
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mong
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Took my teenage daughter here today, as she fancied some oysters and lobbs. Saturday at 3pm, the place was packed to the hilt and we didn't mind waiting for 20 minutes to be allocated a place in this communal joint. The enticing display of fresh fish near the entrance was more than enough of an incentive to be patient. Service was to the point but highly accommodating. Ordered a dozen Claires to start with; fresh and succulent. She had half a chilled lobster which she pronounced sweet and 'can I order a whole one instead next time '. I noticed the size of her a lobster was rather diminutive, could this this be the superior tasting Scottish native? My fish and chips was surprisingly brilliant, considering R&A are not known universally for this, the batterd cod was beautifully seasoned and the fish fresh tasting. The mushy peas are to die for. Complimenting the above I had a glass of 'Moose-car-day, Sir lee' and she had burpy water. This place puts smiles on our faces, we're going back despite the queue and the loud music.
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bellaphon
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Saturday, January 26, 2008

Great place if you know what you're getting. Very loud house/pop tracks playing, seafood (but there are other options) the atmosphere is always buzzing and fun, there is always a queue everytime I've gone to eat there, but you can crack open a bottle of wine while you wait. The food is good, not fantastic as the other reviews seem to suggest, I had the sea bass -butam a real seafood fan, so might be too critical. Anyway, its always a good time, very camp as well. In the summer they open up the front of the restaurant and that adds to the atmosphere even more. Definitely worth checking out, perfect before hitting the bars/clubs in Soho.
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S
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Monday, January 14, 2008

I totally agree. This place rocks - and if you don't get it - you don't get it...
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John Rattagan
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, January 08, 2008

I agree the music is loud so I wouldn't come here for an intimate dinner - but the combination of fantastic food and champagne, beautiful attentive staff and fantastic music works at Randall's.

I have been going to Randall's for years and as yet can't fault the place. It's my favorite spot in the West End. I think the music acts as a barrier between tables and many Hollywood bigwigs have their meeting there - the music creates a sense of privacy for the post production staff who frequent the restaurant.

And if you don't like your music loud then there are thousands of other restaurants in London where you can listen to the usual. Please go there and keep out of our queue- our place.
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jenny ringan
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, January 07, 2008

I think it depends very much on what you want from a restuarant. This one specialises in seafood and fish and that's why most people go there. It also has loud, poppy music which adds to the upbeat and camp atmosphere they are trying to create. I went again last night and ate fantastic lobster, squid and mussels and had a fun time with two drunk friends.

It's a perfect place to go for a substantial snack before hitting the bars or clubs or if you want a rauccous night with a few friends. You always have to queue and you're going to be perched on bar stools with little personal space between you and the other diners. There's a quick turn around for tables. Service is fun and irreverant and the serving staff are absolutely beautiful. If this sounds like what you fancy then try it, but if you're after a quiet, leisurely dinner for two (or ten) or supper with your grandma then best go somewhere else.
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Lucy - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, December 05, 2007