Oxo Tower Brasserie

This is my second time eating out at the Oxo Tower, in light of the reviewers below - I have the completely opposite opinion; as per usual the staff were spot on, on the ball throughout the night with a fully booked out restaurant they even kept up efficiency to those of the german car manufacturers.

The food was overly rich or spicey in my opinion but that doesn't detract from seeing an absolutely spectacular view of the London Skyline AGAIN coupled with great services from the staff; only go if you have lots of money to spend.

Also, wear a suit as then perhaps the staff will not snigger at you.
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Theo
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Saturday, May 10, 2008

I cannot disaggree more with the review below. My family & I dined at the Oxo Tower Brasserie last night - & the service was the best I have experienced in a long time. The staff were very welcoming & knowledgable, both about their menu & their wine list. The young head waitress pointed us in the right direction with some outstanding food & wine recommendations, as well as although an Antipodean herself was able to tell my kids some interesting facts about the view! I have been here a number of times in the past & it is somewhere I always take any visting friends or family & know we won't be disappointed. The service charge on our bill at the end of the night was definitely well deserved.
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Charles White
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Monday, March 31, 2008

I took ten members of my family to lunch at the Oxo Tower brasserie today to celebrate my daughter's 18th birthday and for the first time in my life had to ask for the service charge to be removed from a restaurant bill. The staff weren't just slow, inattentive and unprofessional. They were also miserable, surly and at times downright rude..

After I asked for the bill to be adjusted a rather ineffectual manager asked me what had been wrong and I told her (30 minute wait after arrival before we got served with a drink, unhelpful staff unable to advise on wines, having constantly to be asking for extra bread, glasses to be topped up from offhand staff who seemed untrained and unmotivated etc) There was no expression of regret let alone an apology. Instead, she just began hassling us to leave the table because we had overstayed our time. Meanwhile a group of staff were lined up by the bar 5 yards away watching on (they do a lot of that at the Oxo Tower) and blatantly sneering and badmouthing us to each other. Giving us the evils, as my kids described it. And we were the paying customers! Unbelievable. You get better service and more respect when you go to McDonalds or my local chippie.

It's a shame, because the location is great, the views brilliant and the food and wine (when they eventually turned up) quite acceptable. But the management here have a real 'front of house' problem, which is made clear from other reviews on this site. The atmosphere in the restaurant was lousy: no energy, no buzz. As flat as the miserable music emanating from the disinterested looking pianist slumped in a dark corner of the restaurant. What a dismal place the Oxo Tower Brasserie is.
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Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 1
Monday, March 24, 2008

I went to the Oxo Tower restaurant for dinner last night and was really rather disappointed. The service was slow and unorganised and the food was pretty average, given the price tag associated with it. I have been once before around 3 years ago and had a much better experience. We had gone prepared to splash out for the full 3 courses and wine, coffee etc but by the time we'd had our starter and main course and had been waiting for 20 mins for our dessert order to be taken we decided that we had had enough, got our bill and left. We paid £130 for 2 courses each, water and a bottle of wine. There are far better places to spend that sort of money in London and we won't be back.
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Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 3
Saturday, March 15, 2008

the fact that we were a iitle late arriving this did not affect the very good level of service that we had last night. The staff were kind courteous and very efficient and we all agreed that the food was excellent..
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william leach - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, March 04, 2008

Having eaten at the Brasserie for the first time tonight I must agree with those reviewers who felt that the place had become less than welcoming. The service was average but what we had not expected was the decibel level,as much from the clientele as the musak. It is one thing to be 'buzzy' and I know perfectly well what that means,something quite different to be disturbed by the screaming of fellow diners. The food was quite good but by the time the main course arrived the only thought was escape. Just like Quaglinos once it had been discovered by the coach parties this place is in a time warp which is unfortunately still fuelled bt those of little discrimination and taste
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andrew race
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 1
Saturday, February 02, 2008

I took my partner to the brasserie for dinner as a surprise for our anniversary as I have been on several occasions and never been disappointed with the whole package. The food and atmosphere as ever was fantastic, however, the service fell well short of the 12.5% charge added to our bill. We had to wait for drinks once seated and eventually after catching the waiter's eye then being ignored, 15 minutes after seating we were asked if we wanted to order dinner, at which point we ordered some drinks. The waiter kicked my partner's chair every time he walked past it and the waitress interrupted our conversation mid sentence 4 or 5 times without even an 'excuse me'. All picky points and none took away the enjoyment of the evening, however, we chose not to pay the full £12 added to our bill for discretionary service and paid £4 instead. When we left, I felt the waitress walking behind me almost breathing down my neck as we went to pick up our coats at which point she challenged me as to why I had not left the full amount and what had been wrong with our meal which was a little confrontational for my liking. I told her the truth at which point she said sorry for the inconvenience in a sarcastic tone then walked away. We were left standing with our mouths hanging open we were so stunned at what had happened. A shame really as the Oxo experience has never failed to impress me.
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sharon rene
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Saturday, December 08, 2007

I booked this venue as I had always wanted to visit the Oxo Tower!

From the very beginning, the staff of Harvey Nicols were very supportive and helpful when helping me arrange the evening of 27 November 2007. When we arrived, we were certainly not disappointed.

The staff at the Brasserie were friendly and very relaxed and helpful. My meal was absolutley wonderful, the terrine of duck and pork was terrific and the sea bass for main was cooked perfectly with beautiful flavours of the mash and spinach complementing the fish. The pudding was a luxurious, vanilla mousse with a delicious crispy surface and berries on the top!

The wine was excellent and the staff happy to keep us refilled at every turn. Everyone in my party commented on the excellence of the food, of the service and of the venue with the stunning view of the Southbank and St Pauls the main highlight which made this visit the most wonderful and breathtaking experience!

I would recommend everyone I know to try this place as it really is 'not to be missed'! And do not forget to send compliments to the 'Chef ' as the food really does deserve to be complimented!
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Anita Johnson
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Wednesday, November 28, 2007

My friend could not stop raving about this place so thought I better give it a go. Took my girlfriend here for her birthday and she loved it - I got lots of brownie points!!!! We went for a drink first in the bar, which was a little busy but it had a real buzz to it , obviously a very happening place to be after work on a Friday. Then they came and collected us from the bar, still don't know how they remember who we were or how they found us in the bar - very impressive! The food was amazing, I went for the steak which was cooked just how I like it - compliments to the chefs!

Make sure you go to the Brasserie as it has a real buzz with the live jazz -the restaurant would be better for taking my parents I think as it is quieter.
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Chris Russell
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Wednesday, November 21, 2007

It has been a long time since I have such great food and service. The food was the prefect portion size so I could fit 3 courses in, never normally have room for dessert! so this was a major plus for me!

Would def recommend to my friends and collegues.
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Amanda Langley
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, September 25, 2007