The Archduke

I hardly ever write reviews but feel compelled to write and say just how poor a dining experience this is, even to the point that whenever we walk past it now (being a resident of the area) we point and laugh at just how bad an experience it was.

OK, to start with the food was just so plainly average, the bangers and mash which normally is a comfort food was poor. The sausages were not particularly tasty (sainsburys do taste the difference 12 for £4) and they are far better than the 2 that I was given on a bed of cold mash potato - all for arond £12. The wine was room temperature (it was white) as well as being overpriced and the girlfriends food was also nothing to shout home about.

We thought we would try and finish off with a nice desert, and again was disappointed.

I realise that this isn't going to be in the league of some of the better London restaurants, but a bill of around £75 for a meal I could have cooked at home for a tenner and bought some wine to accompany is not worth it.
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Simon
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 0
Tuesday, February 26, 2008

I know the Archduke well from some years ago, and many of my friends know it well too. On a recent visit to London I naturally decided to go there again. Searching the web for its opening hours, I came to this site and was surprised to see how poor some of the reviews were. We decided to take a risk and go anyway, and we were glad we did. I can report that The Archduke is as good as ever. From my experience I cannot see what some people are complaining about. It may seem a bit expensive but you have to remember that this is central London, and high quality food and wine. Maybe the sweets were not as good as the other courses though.
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Richard Reeves
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Sunday, February 10, 2008

We are the touris from Italy, me and my friends saw this website online, and saw there is a good deal for eating out, therefore we made the reservation for the 2 course discounts online. After arriving the resturant, we have been told that the offer was ended, and if we mind to have the meals from their original manual, otherwies they cannot be able to arrange any seat for us as they have been fully booked (there were only 3 tables been served at that moment). Of course we were not happy at all, but we could not find somewhere to eat at that time, therefore we can only manage to sit and calculate how much we can eat.

The price of the food is very high and the portion is horribly small, the most unhappy thing is that their staff keep asking if we want to order some more, that was very rude.

Anyway, we left totally unhappy and just hope to share our experience online with you all. Too good to be truth!!
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Alex
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 2
Tuesday, September 25, 2007

My friend and I have just dined at this restaurant for the first time. Her choice of main course was the calves liver with mashed potato and I chose the pork fillet with rosti potato, both served with brocolli. The presentation of the food was appetising and everything tasted really delicious. For dessert we had the strawberries with shortbread and ice cream and the brownie with ice cream. Again both were delicious.

The restaurant was busy which made for a good atmosphere but lots of work for the staff. We were asked when we arrived if we were going to the theatre or a show. In fact we had been to the theatre so were not in any hurry. The service was a bit slow although for us this was not a problem and we never felt that we had been completely forgotten. The staff were very attentive to our requirements and very friendly.

We both felt it was very good value for money and will definitely visit again.
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Audrey Hodgson
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Six of us needed somewhere to eat in a hurry yesterday evening before our visit to the RFH - local restaurants had already disappointed with either being closed, having a huge queue or no chef(!), so The Archduke it was.

And we weren't disappointed. All of us opted for the 2 courses + tea/coffee for £14 deal, which proved to be very reasonable. I opted for the duck terrine to start, which was very nice, while other friends enjoyed their leek and potato soup.

As a main course, I was really pleased with the sea trout - although it wasn't what I expected at all, not being an eater of trout regularly. It was very similar to salmon in appearance and taste; I really enjoyed it. The bed of mash was really good and it was presented very nicely.

My coriander-hating husband was restricted to the sole vegetarian option of couscous and coriander cakes - but said he really liked it anyway, as the coriander didn't overpower the rest of the dish. A couple of our party opted for the pork dish, which was decent and looked appealing.

I would certainly recommend the Archduke to anyone seeing a performance locally. Service was really prompt - we were asked if we were seeing a performance and we were really pleased that the efficient service reflected our need to get out quite quickly. The staff were very friendly and professional. I felt that the food and wine was good value and would certainly return again.
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dawnage - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8
Saturday, July 07, 2007

A place where the deco could be much improved, the promise of 'Jazz' keep our spirits alive, and when just a pianist arrived, which we couldn't here from our table, we were mildly disappointed.

Then the food arrived, an undercooked egg (the whites were well, transparent) we returned the dish to be laughed at by the staff and told that the egg was perfectly cooked. After ten minutes of discussion, they finally accepted our concern and we chose another dish, this was brought to us quite quickly, which was a pleasant surprise, however, after cutting into the food, a 2 inch piece of plastic was found - we returned the dish and thankfully didn't pay for it (but one of our party went hungry!)

Will never visit again.
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An Other, London
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 3
Tuesday, July 03, 2007

no really, please do not go here, The food must have been the most overpriced rubbish I've had in london for years. "fresh out of the fridge" stale starters. Our mains where only saved by over-seasoned ready made sauces, and the deserts genuinely reminded me of my school dinner days. This is not to mention the uninspiring menu that left us struggling to choose a dish we actually wanted.

The restaurant interior was also shockingly poor quality. Tiny, paper covered tables that would have been more fitting in a chinatown dinner. The chairs were uncomfortable, metal framed, that you might find in the reception of some ex-soviet block dental surgury.

London is full of great, well priced restaurants that despite being a little more off the beaten track, merit your money a ton more.
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ginoT - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 1
Saturday, March 31, 2007

We've been satisfied customers for 27 years and have eaten here five times this year, at different times of the day,in the restaurant and in the bar. It might not be the cheapest place to eat but for quality, consistency and friendliness it would be hard to beat. Even at the peak of Christmas bookings, service was professional and friendly.
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Michael Lewis
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Thursday, December 28, 2006

I have visited this fine establishment for fifteen years, with the unique perspective of having worked away for over ten between visits. I can say now that some things not only don't change, but improve with time. The same owners, servers, and fine food, wine and jazz persist. How nice to know the foundation of Waterloo Bridge remains intact!
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Frank Domurat
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Saturday, September 23, 2006

went here last night to avoid the poky crowded places on the south bank and wish I hadn't. The whole place has come straight out of the 80's loadsa money era and seems to be stuck in a timewarp.

The food was poor and criminally overpriced. The starter consisted of lukewarm tuna steak on a vegetable salad with cold vegetables and raw potatoes dressed with a sorry balsamic dressing and cold anchovies. The main course of tough rump steak, out of the bag shoestring fries with a gloopy bernaise sauce. Acceptable but nowhere near the £15 that it cost. We thought that we'd splash out on a decent wiine from NZ (you can't really go wrong with that) but archdukes managed to pick a cheap bitter wine costing £19 that I could have easily picked up for £3 in any supermarket.

Don't ming paying for expensive food and wine when it is justified! but archdukes was an embarrasing experience because the waiters were hard working and polite throughout and you kind of feel sorry for them having to dish out poorly produced food and unjustified prices. - Go to the southbank instead next to royal festival hall - you will get better atmosphere and food at a price that you'd expect to pay.
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tony mcgarry
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 1
Thursday, September 21, 2006