Axis

When I went to Axis had a great time! The atmosphere was fantastic and the food was really nice. I went for my birthday and had a blast; all 8 of us got fed our starters and mains at the right times with no hassle. Staff were lovely and I have actually been back since. Thoroughly recommend it for every type of occasion!
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Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Without a doubt the best dining experience we've ever had in London, with a great location, fantastic food and outstanding service.

The steak tartare was very good, the boeuf bourguignon absolutely perfect.

The very friendly staff took their time to answer your questions, the sommelier is happy to help you select from the wine list. Next to us sat a couple with a girl of about six years old. Their waiter took special care of her and when she didn't like something about her dessert, an altered plate was returned within minutes. When my wife received her dessert, it had 'happy birthday' written all over the plate in Dutch. They had asked what was the occasion of our evening, but had figured out themselves themselves that we spoke Dutch...

To conclude, this restaurant is without a doubt worth what you pay for it and we can recommand it to anyone who is looking for a pleseant evening in the best possible conditions.
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Kris
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Thursday, November 05, 2009

Had dinner at Axis last night with a friend. Absolutely loved it. The atmosphere was great, the staff smiley and friendly. Service was prompt. Wine list was extensive. Meal itself was top quality. I don’t like medium rare meat but decided to go for it and was surprised at how much I liked it. So top scores from me and will definitely be taking my new boyfriend there.
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Paulina B
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Excellent menu, good choices, all in our party were impressed with the quality of food. Most impressive was the service from all staff - could not have been more professional.
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PDW
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Saturday, May 09, 2009

We dined at Axis restaurant as part of their Movies on the Menu deal: £38.50 pp for cocktail, three course set menu and a movie screening in their private room. The entire evening was flawless; the staff were welcoming, discreet, attentive. We enjoyed an aperitif in the upstairs bar which overlooks the restaurant before being invited downstairs. The venue itself is beautifully and tastefully decorated, comfortable, spacious. Our set menu choice was expansive enough for both of us to be happy, the food itself was tasty and beautiful, the wine delicious. For me though it was the little touches that made this a special evening: the immaculate tea roses in a pretty vase on our table, the way we were invited to move into the screening room and our drinks were taken with us, we were shown to our seats (free popcorn for those who had the room) and even afterwards there was a waitress waiting to take us back through the hotel to the cloakroom - as I say, flawless. I recommend the Movies on the Menu deal to anyone who appreciates good food, oustanding service, beautiful surroundings, and a film thrown in.
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Skipper
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Monday, December 01, 2008

I attended this restaurant on Friday 25th April. I was extremely impressed with the level of service which was most definitely first rate. I especially liked the complimentary bread throughout the meal which was a nice touch.

The decor looked modern and the high ceilings with painted bamboo wall gave a curious effect. I liked it.

The meal itself was quite well prepared and although not too filling it was presented very well and tasted as I thought it should. I think Mr Ramsay would be impressed if he came here.

I strangely wondered why on a Friday night it was at least half empty (or half full for those optimists).

I will make one comment about a certain crying baby, which did detract from the atmosphere, especially having to put up with this for at least an hour and a half. (I wonder why guests feel the need to take a 1 year old to a classy restaurant like that.) Staff have to be praised for trying to make amends by offering a complimentary glass of Rose, but I had to wonder why they didn't ask the family with the 1 year old to leave as they had clearly finished their meals even before we sat down. Perhaps they were friends of management, or buying a lot of food and wine. Your guess is as good as mine.

I will probably return, but not until I have tested a few other restaurants in the Covent Garden area first.
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Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 6
Monday, April 28, 2008

We booked here mainly because the space is really cool, big bold soaring art deco thing with a fantastic futurist?/vorticist?/cubist? mural acroos one wall.

Arrived at eight for drinks. I had an old fashioned which was okay but a bit weak tasting. I kind of give up on cocktails in the UK. Between taxes, weights & measures and profit margins its almost impossible to get a decent cocktail for anything less than the national debt of a small country.

Anyhoo not the meal.

The atmosphere was quiet and relaxed. If this is typical this is not a raucous city eater but more somewhere thats a bit grand but where nevertheless you can hear each other speak.

Starters for two of us was a dish of smoked eel, crispy pork belly and Excellent beetroot and was excellent. My other companion had Cheddar gorge cheese soufflee. Its was a bit batter'y for me but there again I'm n souffee officianado. He was pleased with it.

Main course was Herwick lamb, salsify and kidney. Lamb very good and done to expectation. Kidney a little over-cooked.

Companion A. had smoked haddock, bubble and squeak and poached egg and was well pleased with it. Companion B had poached salmon, lobster and seafood bisque and again was very pleased. Wine was very reasonably priced Australian sav blanc and went well with our dishes, possibly the seafood more than my lamb!

Slight gltch: The broccoli side dish was way too cooked and the mash side could have been presented better, looked a bit insipid on the plate, a drizzle of olive oil perhaps? a sprinkling of pepper?. Pity as the mains were so well done.

Dessert was chocolate fondant, blood orange sorbet and a nasty caramalised clementine [fruit was dry and segments unpeeled]. I had treacle pudding and vanilla icecream, the pudding was a bit dry having been deconstructed with the treacle on the side, suggest dropping the 'El Bulli' approach and just soak it in treacle, subtlty is not the way forward with this dish!

Excellent fruit jelies and chocolate petit fours to finish off went very well with coffee.

Axis is a competent restaurant with interesting and well executed if not inspiring food. In a less interesting space it would be overpriced but travertine and murals cost as well as good food (I don't mind paying for surroundings as long as the food is not too far behind)

Service is very good in that they just get on with it with a smile, surely all you need on that front?

I'd go again but probably for the impressive space and reliablity rather than a culinary revelation.
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Marc, Mark & Lizzie
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 6
Sunday, March 16, 2008

I have just come back from lunch at Axis and was generally very impressed. The three course lunch for £17.50 was excellent value and the food was beautifully presented and not overly ambitious in terms of combinations of flavours. The Christmas pudding with vanilla and brandy custard could have been a ridicukously rich affair but they got it just right and the halibut for main course was perfectly cooked and accompanied by a sauce which just hit the right note. The service was a little on the cold side I have to say but it was attentive and quick. The setting, in my opinion is really stunning. Plenty of space to relax and comfortable furniture meant it was a lovely place to sit for an hour if nothing else. Didn't have wine but had a look on the winelist and it was very reasonably priced, starting at around £18 a bottle. Water was 3.95 which isnt bad compared to some places which can go up to 6 or 7. All round, pleasant experience (can't ask for more than that) and will return.
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Brian Sheehy
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, December 10, 2007