Chez Gerard (Southbank)

As a french person I would like to add a review regarding Chez Gerard Southbank. I have been to the restaurant a few times now for business meals or enjoy a quick dinner before the theatre. The Staff is always polite and friendly, they try to do their best even if the restaurant is busy.

The food is always succulent (fish and the steaks are deliciously cooked).

the desserts are better than anyone else I have ever had.

The menu is vast and they have some vegetarian options. They propose as well a fixe price menu, 2 or 3 courses just perfect for a pre theatre dinner.

Both Chefs are French and some members of the staff as well, they are not here to push you and they know how to recommand the right wine for your meal.

I 100% recommend this restaurant wether having business dinner (they have fabulous private rooms) or for a sunday family lunch and If you would like to impress your guests, do not hesitate to ask a booth for 2 or 4 which make the evening even more special.
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Françoise
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Friday, June 06, 2008

We had a very good meal indeed here. One had sirloin, the other fillet steak, both medium rare, with the included chips and (pay extra) portion of spinach each and red wine Rasteau 2005 Cotes de Rhone. We split the steaks in half as agreed and found both delicious. The wine was purple 14abv and superb with beef. Total price inc excellent service, and a glass of cheapest red (which was quite good, aromatic merlot) was £91. The service was good but I insisted they let me sit down and get my coat off before deciding on what to drink. After that it was very good. I think you cannot go wrong here if you go a la carte and order steaks and Rasteau, some of the unhappy reviewers went for the 2 or 3 courses for £xxx options - these are fairly well hidden on the table in a little card and did not tempt.
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William
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Thursday, November 22, 2007

I have eaten three times at Chez Gerrad South Bank. The first occasion was

good, the subsequent occasion was so awful I wrote a letter of complaint to management without any reply despite providing my name and full address So much for their PR.....................

Four months later, finding nowhere else on a busy friday night, my companion and I decideded to try it again (he had not been there).

On this occasions it was frightful beyond belief - two starters of what they call Salad Nicoise - a few lettuce leaves and a filet of grilled tuna slapped on top,. -

his main - confit de canard which was dry and clearly microwaved - and my own horror dish described as honeyglazed ham - five thick tough chunks

of meat covered in a sickly sauce.

Our underdone chips came in a basket with a fork stuck in the top. When I enquired of our ? eastern European waiter could we have something else to serve them with - he said ` you gotta fork didn`t you.` Charming..........

We had half a bottle of Sancerre which cost £18 bringing the total of what Chez Gerrad claims is a `menu` ie two/three courses prix fixee - to a whopping £60.12.5 % service charge - what service ?????? ans £3.00 cover had been added to the bill.

No wonder this restaurant was half empty when all others around it were full.

I will never, ever go back again.
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C.B.Osborne
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 0
Sunday, October 14, 2007

Four of us dined on Saturday. We had 2 bottles of wine - one white, the other red - which were fine, and the pre-theatre menu, which was not. We all had crab cakes, which were clearly refried from the previous night plus the brab must have escape en route to the table. Tasteless and awful. Two of us had the duck confit - again a retread from the previous night. The only good thing about the food was the superb chocolate ice cream with cappuccino. Poor value for 148 GBP - with 12

5% service.
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Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 1
Sunday, September 30, 2007

Dined at Chez Gerard South Bank on Saturday and was very pleased with the service - our waitress was lovely and really helpful. The staff were very attentive. We also enjoyed our food which was well presented and tasty. However, I was not happy when the bill arrived and was very annoyed to find that we were charged 5 x £1.75 for bread and olives (we were 4 adults and 1 child). This was particularly annoying as we were given no choice about whether we wanted them, they just put them on the table and I naively thought they were complimentary. I lived in Paris for quite a few years and it would be considered an insulting if a restaurant expected you to pay - so much for Chez Gerard "bringing a bit of Paris to London"!. It also really annoys me that they serve the dishes without vegetables so you have to pay for them on top. All in all I think it's a rip off that the 4 adults had to pay £30 per head when we only had one course each - we split the child's menu of £6 between us - and we only had one bottle of wine and no coffees!
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Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 0
Monday, September 03, 2007

I went to this Restaurant with some fruends, reunited by that famous website. We were on our way home via Waterloo but stopped for a drink. It was 5:30pm when we entered and nearly 11:00pm when we left having had a wonderful blend of ambience, food and wine. The staff were helpful, available and quite brilliant at easing us in to what must have been a busy pre and post theatre dinner schedule, especially given we were in off the street. It will be great to repat the excercise. I didn't come away feeling horribly ripped off either, even the next day.
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Martin, Charlie and Sandra
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Thursday, April 19, 2007

Absolutely appalling. Two wines unavailable by the glass. Fish-a slab of cod with no garnish dry and unappealing. £10 discount voucher not accepted off the prixe fixe altho we were 4 people and one had two starters from the a la carte having sent the fish back. This voucher having been accepted for prixe fixe some weeks earlier. For the second time shown table by the toilets when others were available.

As on our previous visit staff harassed and rushed.
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Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 3
Sunday, February 11, 2007

A group of five of us, (3 adults, 2 children) dined at Chez Gerard on Saturday evening as part of a London Eye package. Although rather pricey, the food was uniformly good and level of service excellent. They didn't bat an eyelid at us being 20 mins late, and were happy to change my youngest daughter from a childrens to adult menu. Choices were limited and watch out for the veg. as extra, but we would recommend the steak and fries!

Pity the information staff at The Eye didn't know where to direct us, and almost sent a bemused couple in front of us also asking for directions to Bishopsgate
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C Smalley
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Monday, December 04, 2006

After a flight on the London Eye - bringing nine people, (6 over 60), this made a great evening into a wonderful night. Food, Service and easy access all made this an excellent place to eat.

Made to feel very welcome and attended by very pleasant staff. Can certainly recommend.
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Barry Evans
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Friday, November 24, 2006

I booked this restaurant as a theatre package on best london restaurants and the entire deal was superb. The food was excellent, service sharp & the overall deal was excellent value for money (where else can you get a 2 course dinner & tickets for a top show for under £20 each??)
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Ray Meadon
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Sunday, August 06, 2006