The Blue Legume (Stoke Newington)

Worst meal out I've had in 8 years of living in London. Badly cooked ball of tagliatelle pasta swimming in flavourless pink sauce with an army of frozen baby squid overunning the bowl, also known as Classic Seafood Linguine!!! Terrible service from a smart-one and bad wine. Feel as sick as a microwaved frozen squid just thinking about the meal. Kennedy Fried Chicken at the end of Church St offers better service and food.
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john
0 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 0
Thursday, August 11, 2011

Last Saturday (2 Oct) I went to Blue Legume to celebrate my birthday with friends. I had never eaten there before, but chose it based on positive online reviews and a seemingly interesting and varied menu. The evening was an unmitigated disaster. If you like good food and value good service, you wouldn't dream of going to Blue Legume. I have never posted a restaurant review before, but the experience was so horrible and mortifying I feel compelled to share it anywhere I’ve read a review of the place.

1. We arrived at 8:15 but it took until 9:00 before our order was taken (and that's only because we asked them to take our order).

2. Five of the party ordered the lamb shank for their main, but some time after ordering a waiter returned to say that there were only two servings of lamb shank left and that three people had to choose something else. One of these three also had to change her starter as they'd run out of the duck too.

3. The starters were horrible. My asparagus was cold and set in cold, custard-like Hollandaise sauce with a skin. Those who ordered the cod or whitebait were presented with a plate of something mercilessly deep fat fried.

4. The mains arrived at 10pm - in dribs and drabs - almost two hours after we arrived. Most of the group were just glad that the food had finally arrived, although the general consensus was that it was bland bland bland.

5. Most of the time throughout the evening the glasses on the table were empty. I can't recall the staff once asking if we would like more drinks (let alone apologising for the lengthy wait). Attentive they were not. In fact, I'd go so far as to say they were indifferent to the point of rudeness.

6. We were seated in the conservatory at the back of the restaurant. It was raining heavily outside, but this is no reason for customers to get wet. One person in the party was dripped on throughout the evening.

7. The table was booked for 18 people, however there were 14 of us in the end (4 fewer people to be told they couldn't have what they ordered, I suppose). After the meal I asked to speak to the manager. I told him how disappointed I was with the service, and with the food that could most kindly be described as mediocre. I told him that if they were unable to accommodate large parties they shouldn't accept the bookings. He replied, and I quote 'but we do cater for parties'. Clearly you don’t.

8. We couldn't make out from the bill if we received any form of discount for my complaint as it was handwritten with numbers scrawled here and there in no comprehensible order. It worked out at a highly unacceptable £20 per head. We didn't enquire further - we'd spent a disastrous three hours in the place and were keen to cut our losses.

It was after 11pm when we finally left the restaurant - much later than expected, and consequently my plans for the rest of the evening were scuppered. Of all the wonderful restaurants on Church Street I had to choose this dump. Awful food, woeful service, a leaking roof and two servings of lamb shank. You've been warned.
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Claire m
0 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Tuesday, October 05, 2010