Smollensky's on the Strand

We had tickets booked for Joseph but had got the wrong time and were in fact 2 hours early. We need someplace to eat and didn't want to go far as we had 7 young children (under 6). With 5 adults we made up quite a large party. At the theatre they recommend Smollenskys . Almost opposite. On arrival they were more than happy to accomate us quickly and even had goodie bags for the kids along with a great kids menu. On the Sunday we were there they had a punch and judy show (which entertained the kids for ages so we tired adults had a few moments peace with a glass of wine.) The service was prompt and courteous and when the children had finished they were off playing play station and watching a dvd (which had been selected especially for them).

All in all a good experience and next time we are back in London we will be back.
Comment on this reader review

Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Thursday, April 10, 2008

For my friend's birthday I organised a surprise birthday party for her at Smollensky's on the Strand. She had been to the Green Park one when it was Smollensky's Balloon and had really enjoyed the atmosphere.

Anyway I booked a table two weeks in advance and was helped by a polite and helpful receptionist who offered suggestions and options to enhance our reservation. Not only did they book a table for us for 8 people but reserved a bar booth for after dinner so we could stay and enjoy the (excellent) live music afterwards. On arrival at he restaurant (we arrived early so we could all get into place for the birthday girl) we found that smollensky's had put balloons on the table and when the birthady girl arrived thay were very discreet in not mentioning it was a birthday. The food and service were excellent thoughout. I had the lemon and thyme chicken which was succulent and delicous. When they brought out the pre-orederd birthday and the (amazigng) birthday sparkler, it turned into a real occasion, with people at the next table clapping. After dinner we retired to our bar boot near the band and drank cocktails. We had such a great evening ( my friend has alread said she wants next years party here) and I look forward to my next visit. Thanks Smollensky's for a truly memorable evening.
Comment on this reader review

Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Thursday, April 10, 2008

Booked a table for 4 on line and got email confirmation of this. On arrival were told their reservation said 2 people and they would not be able to accomodate us. Also our 2 children age 13 and 15 (hardly toddlers) were with us and we were told they would have to leave within an hour as that was the "law". I understand licencing laws and that is not the case. We were made to feel like second class citizens and felt humiliated by the whole experience. The staff were rude and unhelpful - especially so since the booking error was on their side. Avoid this place - I certainly will.
Comment on this reader review

Andrea Reid
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Monday, March 31, 2008

It was my first visit to Smollenskys and I have to say it was great. The cocktails was to die for and the bartender really friendly and helpfull with my selection.

It went from good drinks to even better food. I have dietary requiremnets and the restaurant staff was really going all the way to help me. Sometimes you get restaurants taht do not want to be accomodating, but this was not the case at all. My gluten free chicken dish was excellent and the dessert to dir for.

All I would say is go and try it out!! You are in for a great surprice....
Comment on this reader review

Darren K
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Friday, March 28, 2008

Went to Smollensky's for a Sunday lunch out with a friend - we both took our kids with us. The clowns were great, the party bags diverting, the layout of the restaurant (including DVD player and playstation) lent itself to much larking about by the kids and general entertainment. The food was pretty good (if a little pricey). The BUT here is the attitude of the staff. Having not seen my friend for ages we were having a good old chat, whilst perusing the menus. Twice, three times were were asked for our order. Politely we said we needed more time but ordered drinks for everybody in the meantime. We were then told that we would have to give up our table by 2.30pm (it was a 12 o'clock booking but we had not been told this at the time of booking, otherwise we might not have bothered as we wanted to make an afternoon of it.) When we questioned this with the manageress, she was extremely rude and said, reluctantly she would try to move the 2.30pm booking elsewhere when it arrived. Of course there was no 2.30 booking and, moreover, a third of the tables in the restaurant remained empty whilst we were there. The other staff were also rude, one waitress rolling her eyes when I dared to check iif our vegetables were coming and to which questioned she almost shouted at me: 'I only have one pair of hands you know.' A really great place to take the kids (albeit expensive)n but I have to ask myself if I can bear to be subjected to such rude, and at best indifferent, service again.
Comment on this reader review

Simone
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 5
Tuesday, March 04, 2008

We went to Smollensky's after seeing it on TV and liking the look of the grilled steaks ... and the food turned out to be really good. But the service - truly appalling. Rude, stroppy, unhelpful, offhand staff, all with an attitude, all acting as if the customers were the enemy who had to be humoured and ignored.
Comment on this reader review

Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 6
Wednesday, February 27, 2008

I recently visited Smollensky's with my nine year old son, Charlie. On arrival we were greeted in a courteous and friendly manner and shown to our table. Like us there were lots of diners eating before going on to the theatre.

The service was prompt, polite and efficient and wee didn't have to wait long for our meal and drinks. The atmosphere had a nice' buzz' to it which enriched our overall experience. Charlie ate from the kids menu and he thoroughly enjoyed it.

My burger was delicious and hot . We didn't have a dessert because we were so full! I had a coffee.

It cost about £30 for the two of us and I regard that as excellent value in the West End.

We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and the whole experience was the perfect precursor to our show.

We would not hesitate to choose Smollensky's again when we're next visiting the theatre.
Comment on this reader review

Mark Kingston
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Wednesday, January 09, 2008

I went to Smollensky's for a work Christmas Do and it was great - apart from a horrible smell that kept wafting over from the toilets. They need to get that sorted. Apart from that, there was live music, the food was nice and the service was pretty good. I am posting this because the other reviews are so awful and really, its not that bad a place !
Comment on this reader review

Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 6
Wednesday, December 19, 2007

What a waste of time and money.

My girlfriend and I popped in for a bite to eat after a few impromptu drinks at 1 Alwych after work.

We were sat down and waited 5 mins for someone to come and see if we wanted a drink. Bearing in mind there were more staff than diners at this point we thought we might have a slightly shorter wait.

To make up for this the restaurant managed to deliver our two mains within 2 mins of us ordering which was amazing. How they managed to rustle up the chicken and chips (which incidentally was fine but hardly worth every penny of the £13 or £14 it cost.!!) in this time was one thing, but the jambalaya was another story. What resembled and tasted EXACTLY like a supermarket microwave meal with a few bits of crayfish thrown on top was hardly worth the £15.

I was so incensed that I was going to complain but I felt the robots serving me and the disinterested girl on the front desk would just tell me no more than that the computer said NO

All in all, we spent £45 in approximately 30mins for a dining experience that left me feeling like i'd been mugged.

I always tell friends coming from abroad to avoid tourist traps like the plague but I thought Smollensky's was above that.

I wont be going back, and I'll be listening to my own advice more often in the future!!
Comment on this reader review

David
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 0
Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Avoid this place and spend your money at other, more deserving, restaurants. The service we got was rude, the cooking is bad, the menu expensive.

We thought we would be safe ordering two burgers but instead got a raw pre fabricated meat patty in a dry bread bun and some cold fries. When we asked the waiter to arrange for the meat to be cooked a little more he proceeded to tell us it was our fault for ordering a "medium" and that was the way it was cooked at this restaurant (the subtext being we can go elsewhere if we didn't like it). In the end we got charred burgers as a thankyou for our complaint. I am glad we didn't spend money on the overpriced steaks.
Comment on this reader review

HR
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 0
Saturday, November 10, 2007