Le Mercury

Not a bad place but not brilliant and after all, you get what you pay for.

Staff were amiable but not fantastic, and were ready to squeeze a group of five of us onto what appeared to be a table for two until another one became free.

Food was hit and miss - the goats cheese starter was delicious, but gambas was very small portions. Same with the mains - lamb shoulder was lovely but the chicken with puy lentils was very dry, and desserts were pretty poor.

Overall Le Mercury has a good buzzy atmosphere and would be good for a group of friends looking for a cheap night out but certainly not a great gastronomic experience.
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Katie
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Fabulous atmosphere, fabulous staff, but the food really lets this restaurant down. It was tasteless and luke warm which is unforgiveable given the small menu and such a shame as the restaurant has everything else going for it.
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Alison Price
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Friday, October 26, 2007

My boyfriend and I went there after booking at 8pm on a Saturday night for a 9pm table and were surprisingly welcomed and given the best table in the house. We had the corner table away from other people very romantic with views of Upper street. The wine was amazingly good for a house wine. We each had deiicious appetizers, albeit the portion was a bit small but in this case.....less is more.

I had the crisy skinned sea bass and he had the chicken...both were decent however the chicken was a bit dry and he was giving only one slice.

The desserts were AWESOME...I had sticky toffee pudding and he had a delightful creme brulee.

We wanted a romantic dinner but felt a bit rushed because the food came out alarmingly quickly.

If booking ask for the corner table on the 2nd floor when as it is the best seat in the house.

I will definitely return..... dinner with apps, entree, wine and dessert was a reasonable £ 45 for 2. Overall money well spent.
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Kayko Andrieux
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Sunday, September 16, 2007

Perfect for anyone who's not so into the 'chain restaurant'... Le Mercury has an individual style which is intimate and relaxed.

Staff were friendly and attentive, food was very fresh and tasty with good variety and all reasonably priced.

tables were perhaps a little too close together but it the place is strangely quiet for the number of people they can fit it.

not somewhere to go with a large group but really lovely for a date, or a catch up with a couple of good friends. i'll definitely go back.
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Meike
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Saturday, July 21, 2007

My friends and I while visiting London over the weekend dined at Le Mercury on Friday evening. We were really impressed we had a fantastic meal. The food was excellent, nice atmosphere and the service was friendly and attentive with good value for money. Highly recommended.
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A.H.
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Thursday, June 14, 2007

Went there again last night, and it is as ace as ever. Amazing value too - 2 people had 3 course meal, bottle of decent wine and coffee for £50.

As for the reviewer who lamented the days when they 'flashed the credentials and a double-barrel name to get a table' - well, I hope you boycott it for a very long time, as you sound like just the kind of person I like to avoid at my favourite places...
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Hugo Hutchison
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Thursday, June 14, 2007

Went to Le Mercury last night, two Chef Friends and myself. Read the reviews before hand and was a little confused, because some were great but few of the reviews were really bad. We all had a Fantastic meal, the food was Excellent the service was ok, Good value for money. Would definitely Recommend
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Peter
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Thursday, June 07, 2007

I used to love this place back in 2000/2001 - was a good kept local secret, small, intimate, good food at a very good price, a great place to take business clients who are new to london and want to eat at the best places.

Not any more...

I went there tonight with my girlfriend, raving on about what a great secret this place has always been, how hard it is to get a table, flashed the credentials and a double-barrel name to get a table and realised I neednt have bothered.

Rushed service, arrogant staff, wetherspoon like menu, with the limp salad, burnt sauce, tiny unimaginative portions and terrible wine menu that it entails.

I was disappointed to say the least. I know that 6 months can be a lifetime in a restaurants history but this was beyond a joke.

Loud atmosphere, pushy staff, squashed up tables, absolutely dire food - literally the quality of a gastropub chain like wetherspoons

And they wondered why I insisted on not tipping....

Im happy to pay for good food and good service, regularly paying dinner bills of £200 and upwards. But this place no long warrants the reputation it had in the past.

Dont get me wrong, I used to adore this place and went every friday evening with clients and we always left sated and pleasantly surprised.

I do not recommend this to anyone. If you go here then you are encouraging them to provide the dire service they have resorted to. Stick to your guns, boycott them for a while - maybe they have a fighting chance then to change their ways and become the wonderful bastion of upper street cuisine that they earned their reputation with.

4 out of 10
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Steven Hamilton-Healey
Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 3
Friday, May 18, 2007

Nice cheap eats Confit Duck was superb, great bottle of Morgon for twenty quid and friendly efficiant service and only 70 quid for 3 courses with generous tip for two, only downside was the Congnac, ive has some rough marc in my time but this was like moonshine
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morgan
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 8
Thursday, May 10, 2007

I went to Le Mercury last Wednesday and was pleasantly surprised. The food was delicious.. I had Gnocchi to start with and Beetroot Risotto as a main. Bought dishes were extremely nice. I was especially impressed with the risotto... beetroot did not sound as an exciting option originally, but the dish tasted fantastic!! Service was good although staff seamed very busy and rushed of their feet. I will definitely be back in this lovely place especially as the prices are so reasonable.
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Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Friday, March 23, 2007