Small & Beautiful

My friends and I have been going there for years. The food is good and cheap and the staff very friendly. We are going there to celebrate my birthday next week. It has a varied menu and the service is good. No service charge.
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JOAN KUPLER
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Thursday, December 13, 2012

the food is not the same. i think they changed the chef. from 8-9 months the food is really getting worse specially steaks
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steve - View all reviews by this user
4 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 8
Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Apparently some of the reviews in here (yes, the bad ones) have been written by rival restaurants in the area as the info they have provided in most cases is wrong. An example? As otherwise mentioned, Small and Beautiful doesn't charge for service and secondly paying 200 quid for a meal in this restaurant especially if there are only 4 of you could never happen - unless of course, each of you weigh 150 kilos and more. I went to S&B with a group of 9 people for my birthday and we still didn't pay that much (we nearly had everything on the menu from starters to desserts). I frequent the restaurant with my boyfriend and all I can say is that it's one of the best restaurants in London. I' ve been to Gordon Ramsay's restaurant with the same group of friends and they all thought it was crap compared to S&B. All in all, the food at this place is exquisite, the prices are amazing (I don't know how they make a profit), the atmosphere is quirky and cool, your food always comes on time tasting amazing and the staff is fine (for the people wondering, yes they can take an order, be polite and bring you your food..I mean that's all they need to do, isnt it?). Thank you S&B, never change...
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Maria and Mark
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, December 27, 2011

I've been going to this restaurant on and off for years now. I have just been back a few times over the past few weeks and find that there have been substantial changes, definitely for the better.

Firstly, the menu seems to have grown to offer a range of prices to suit the most humble of clientele. They are offering a 3-course meal for £5 - I have had this four times now and only once was I disappointed. The main course is a choice of 2 meals. You can also get 2 courses for £5 from a choice of 4 starters, 4 main. Another addition is pizza and drink (including a glass of house wine) for £5. You would think at these prices, they would be in a hurry to get you out - but that's not the case.

The quality of food is usually excellent with very good portion sizes. Added to this there is an a la carte and also daily specials.

They have had a change of management with a new chef and the staff seem to be alot more efficient, and friendlier than before. All in all a great place to eat.
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Suchita
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Friday, August 05, 2011

After reading some of the reviews on here I was surprisingly appauled by some of them. I felt I just had to write my own review as my evening at The Small and Beautiful was a great one!

This restaurant definitly provides value for money. The staff are friendly and do

their utmost to ensure that you are kept happy. The food portions are generous and very tasty. The drinks are priced reasonably. The waiter who attended our table was very pleasant and very speedy in delivering our starters,main meals and desserts. All in all Small and Beautiful is a delightful cosy little restaurant- a great way to get your evening started or to end your evening with.

I will be back there soon.
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James
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Its several years since I went there because the last time several of my friends were upset that therer were no vegetables served with their dishes.

This time I made sure everyone had been warned they must order some veg. Not everyone did though.

Its been there a long time and its one of those places which seems to be run just by ever changing and not very experienced staff so it depends on exactly who is working when you go. They rather seemed a bit challenged by the complexity of their new jobs to be very friendly but they manage the basics of taking an order and bringing the food!

The £5 main and starter from a limited list is such good value that its surprising they dont make it £7 and include some veg. But they dont! Thats fine as long as you remember that. The food is mostly European style and quite good but seems to be mostly prepared in advance although many are stews etc. I only mean that factually rather anything bad.

I think the house wine is about £12-£13 a bottle but I only had a glass.

The clientelle are rather mixed, mostly 20-30s and often rather arty, equally mixed with couples and girls together. Many people seem to go there to eat before going on to somewhere else in the area rather than making the meal the focus of their evenings entertainment..
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Tony Glazier
7 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8
Saturday, April 30, 2011

£5 two course meal is the best in town.or £5 three course set meal is just stunning.i had moule marinierre for starter in a very delicious creamy white wine sauce and had chicken florentine for main course its was outstanding,both just for £5,that will somewhere else cost me atleast £ 15.It is conviently placed on my way to tricycle theatre from kilburn tube station.unbeaten price truly.
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ajit
8 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, March 29, 2011

This restaurant is a mixture of brilliance, quirkiness and charm, but with a bitter aftertaste. Having lived in the area for about 18 months now, we've frequented Small & Beautiful four or five times for different occasions - a quick meal or a group gathering. It's well located, quirkily (but comfortably) decorated and above all - cheap. It does what it says on the tin pretty well.

Portions are reasonably generous, tastes are bold and - given you're paying standard pub prices - the food is substantially better.

So far, so good. The sad thing is, presumably to keep costs down they seem to be of the impression that good manners and good service cost a fortune. At its best, the service is perfunctory and has never excelled. During busy times, during quiet times, at lunch or at dinner, it's just - ok. Which to be honest, isn't what dining out should be about. It could be so much more.

Sadly, at its worst, it's nothing short of rude. On Saturday night we were hosting my brother and his wife. We booked a table to ensure availability, turned up on time and were told that they'd given our table away. We were offered some complimentary drinks - a nice gesture and eventually were seated (as the previous table occupants were ushered out the door - god knows what they'll think about their experience). After a poor start, service from there on in was non-existent. When we asked for a jug of water, we then had to separately ask for glasses (what she thought we were going to do otherwise, is anyone's guess), and even then she brought two, assuming the other two members of our party would just re-use their beer glasses. The food, as ever, was fine (if nothing more...) but when it came to the bill - our complimentary drinks (given to occupy us for 20 minutes whilst they re-gained our table) had been added to our bill. Upon questioning, they remained upon the bill. Incredulous, we reduced our tip from generous to standard (8-10%ish) and whilst leaving overheard one of the staff sarcastically quip "yeah, thanks for the tip."

Well, that pretty much sums this place up. Good food, sub-standard serving staff and - sadly - somewhere I will no longer frequent. A pity - some friends have good memories of it a few years back. Sadly, I'll also be ensuring they don't go back either.
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Adrian - View all reviews by this user
7 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8
Sunday, December 05, 2010

This restaurant is amazing value - I can't believe they make a profit, especially with portions so large they can't be finished! Although the food is never going to win any Michelin stars, it is acceptable. This is a quirky venue, well-suited to informal, relaxed group meals; it's charm means that I would return if in the area.
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dawnage - View all reviews by this user
9 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Sunday, October 17, 2010

I think this is a great little place and amazing value for money. I had the salmon fillet which was delicious and comes with peppers and beans. The food is not michelen star standard but for this money it's great. Service and atmosphere were adequate. It has a great and well priced wine list and the tiramissu was one of the best i;ve evr had. All in all a great place for a cheap eat but if you're looking for well cooked prime steak go somewhere else.
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mcp750
8 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 10
Friday, August 20, 2010