OXO Tower Brasserie

I probably picked the wrong time to go to the Oxo Tower Brasserie as the week before Christmas lunchtime was always going to be busy and so it proved. The place was heaving and what with the tables all so close together the general ambience was that of a school dining hall. We had a great table right by the window so a lovely view of St Paul's and the city and the Thames - that wasn't such a great place to be when a sleet storm hit and we discovered that the windows are not wholly weather proof.....

The cocktails were lovely - as was the wine.

I went for the stilton and pear starter and I amused myself with hunt the stilton - I found a couple of crumbs....

I then had a nice sounding chicken dish - to get roast chicken breast, some brussel sprouts and something else - dull, fairly cooked but very unexciting. Sorbets I had for dessert were unusual lavours and very nice.

Overall service was not very good but they were very very busy. Food was OK - nothing more. I wasn't paying so not sure what the bill was but hope it wasn't too much.
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TF
5 Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 5
Thursday, December 24, 2009

I was delighted by my recent dinner at Oxo Tower Brasserie. After all these years, the menu is just as clear and readable, and fresher and more impactful than ever. You really get the feeling that you’re getting the best. And invariably you are. My scallops were apparently hand-dived and not dredged. My companion’s venison was virtually fat free, which meant there was no guilt suffered over the delicious truffle mash underneath it. All very autumnal it was – beautifully coherent.

Not just the best ingredients, the ‘cookmanship’ was in another realm. The octopus apparently was done in a steam oven to keep the flavour and soften the texture, after which they did some magical trick with seasoning and crisp edge to the skin. I’ve never had it so … err… sophisticated. And washed down with a Hawkes Bay Gamay Noir; it was all becoming a little otherworldly.

I have to admit my Jerusalem artichoke soup with cunning flecks of smoked chicken and truffles was rather dangerous: it was so ‘more-ish’ that in fact it killed all conversation for the few minutes that I wolfed it down.

And the scallops, they were carefully un-upstaged by their delicate cauli-puree but set alight by the sensation of edgy black pudding and the delicate sharpness of lemon/caper butter. Yum – overwhelmingly so.

The other bits and pieces were all fine. Rocket salad laced with some other rather less cheeky green but topped with generous slabs of parmesan. Our shared Frangipane cake with caramelised apple and amaretto foam was jolly tasty but perhaps not as memorable as the starters and mains.

The ambiance was as good as I remember with the lights along the Thames sparkling at us and the restful and polished glitz of Oxo a pleasure to withhold, as ever. Our waiter was handsome and helpful, if perhaps a little over-attentive. In a nutshell, Oxo really is a step closer to heaven than I recall. Reliably good.
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Tony Corballis
9 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Sunday, November 22, 2009

I came here last week for my birthday and a friends birthday who was celebrating his 50th. We had such an amazing time and were looked after so well. I mentioned that it was a birthday celebration and at dessert they sent out our desserts with happy birthday written in chocolate. They also took our photo and put into a little frame as a momentum. It was just lovely. My friend cried as she was so overwhelmed - she needs to get out more!

Would recommend this place to anyone who wants to feel special on their birthday! I felt like a queen!
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P Smith
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, November 16, 2009

I had always wanted to go to the Oxo Tower so when it came to booking a "special" birthday for me I took my family - a total of twelve.

I can't say how impressed I was, the booking was done efficiently a month or so before and the Manager kept in touch with me throughout and accommodated the fact that there were two vegetarians in my family.

What a super super place, we all got there earlier to allow time to have cocktails first - wow the cocktails are impressive to say the very least and the view !!

We went in for dinner at the Brasserie at the time I had booked and were shown to an absolutely fab table by the window.

The service was marvellous and we all ordered what we wanted. I had previously put by wine for the table and this was served to us throughout our meal.

The food was divine, absolutely divine and when dessert came they had lit a candle and iced happy birthday around my dessert.

If you want to be very formal then I suppose you may not like it but we all loved it and will certainly go again - to the Brasserie. I don't think it is any more expensive than a good London restaurant probably cheaper.
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lvklipcia
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Wednesday, November 04, 2009

Pleasantly surprised by a iconic restaurant serving up the environment you would associate with something of that calibre. Staff very welcoming upon arrival (I had booked in advance-so they were expecting us) it was our anniversary and I wanted to try a new venue, that friends had been positive about visiting.

The food was the only let down which as we had starters and I being hungry had two mains, which the staff were accepting about not (sniggering behind my back which has happened before- I am a slightly larger then average male). Friendly staff who not only happily arranged a seperate table but were most helpful in advising on which wine to go with our meat and good coffee a plus -which my partner told me (i can't stand the stuff).

I don't think u can top the views and the location in central london - one of the reasons we visited did't let down even though it was a overcast day. Value for money I would have given a ten to but mail could have been warmer although our lovely waiters did get a chef to rehaet a bit which was much appreciated.

I would go again and try some seafood which other guests we shared a celebratory tipple with reccommended with gusto.
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wills fision
9 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, September 23, 2009

I love this restaurant, the views are great, the food is delicious and the service is friendly, helpful and unpretentious.
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Emma Singleton
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, September 15, 2009

I have eaten in both the restaurant and the brasserie before and, I can tell you its not that wonderful of an experience.

I wouldn't say it was the most terrible experience I've had but it's definitely not worth the money!!! The whole experience was very very average
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1 Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 0
Wednesday, September 09, 2009

The service was poor, and both our main meals were lukewarm-verging-on-cold when they arrived. I don't expect this when I'm paying these prices, and I certainly won't be going again. A generally miserable experience.
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Griff
4 Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 1
Friday, August 28, 2009

Just wanted to say what a lovely day my friend and I spent in the Brasserie on Monday, we didn't realise how long we had been sitting there, lots of catching up after so long, and what better place to do it.

We'd like to say a big thank you to the staff for the experience and the sweet message you decorated onto the dessert plate.

We would also like to say how fabulous your food was, my friend said she had never tasted food like it, I am fortunate enough to have eaten there before but it was her first time, won't be her last though!!

We really felt we had been spoilt. The staff kindly took a photo of us together, this was a lovely touch too.

After 15 years friendship, we still had so much in common and enjoyed catching up at the Brasserie.

We look forward to our next visit!!
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Danielle Abbott
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Thursday, August 27, 2009

I just want to say I had the most wonderful lunch last Saturday at the Brasserie. It was a joint birthday celebration for my sun, her daughter and me and we cannot fault anything. The service, food, and atmosphere were superb.

This was our first visit but we will certainly be back.
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Mrs Rebecca Rose
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, August 24, 2009