Daquise

I went on a date last night and visited this restarant as we'd decided to have a wander and find somewhere we hadn't been before. Another couple were peering at the menu outside when we happened by and even though the place was empty, their cry of 'you go in and we'll go in too' added a sense of fun that we couldn't resist.

To say that this place in 18 hours has become the stuff of legend is an understatement. It was sensationally bad, so bad that it is funny and we've been guffawing about it ever since. the decor was something out of bad dream, the service, well- I won't ruin the reputation of the word service by using it here, let's just say they were turning lights off at 10.00 and looking at their (digital) watches. But the wine you ask? - we had a bottle of rose which was more like Tizer than the French classic as it had been billed as and lastly, the food. Absolutely ghastly- truly truly awful. It was in every way like a school dinner bar the price.

If you're in the mood for a laugh or you're a documentary maker. get down there.
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Kezzer
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Thursday, July 24, 2008

We visited the restaurant last Sunday along with my friends and I must say it was one of worst food experiences we ever had. At first I was a bit disappointed with the interior design & cleanliness, but I thought they must have really good food as the restaurant was fully packed. But I was absolutely wrong. First of all the the waitress has no idea about serving order, she brought the drinks and the food and she served male guests first then ladies. The tea I have ordered tasted as warm water with some milk added. For the starters we ordered bilins with salomon which was tastless, the borstch tasted as if it was from ready made powder, the soup of the day - the cucumber soup was the only starter which was good. All starters arrived separately as the waitress made a mistake and gave one of our starters to a different customer. And then we got our mains: my chicken de volaille tasted as it was made from old chicken meat - I could not go through it, my friend got potatoe pancake which was burned oil soaking, the shashlik came with rice instead of chips and it was awful - some pices of meat was fine but some was old. We did not want to risk more and we did not ordered deserts. Overall the only good thing was a bottled polish beer. I often visit europen food restaurants, I have been to places such as Wodka in Kensington or The Knaypa in Hammersmith and there is no comparison, the food is a bit more expensive in the other places but at least you know what you are paying for.
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Marek Philips
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 0
Monday, April 07, 2008

I always like visiting this restaurant. The front window could do with a clean but that's my only complaint really! The food is great, far better than anything available at the overpriced and unjustifiably pretentious Ognisko restaurant that's just up the road.

Daquise is modest and reasonably priced, and the pierogi and cake selections are to die for, which is just as well, considering the artery clogging contents of most Polish foods.
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Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, March 24, 2008

A massive disappointment.

I'm a big fan on German and Czezh cuisine, so I was really looking forward to trying Polish cooking - I can only say that if this is representative I will have to pack sandwiches if I ever visit!

I found the food cheap, poorly conceived and lacking any sort flair or taste. Our food came in about 5 seconds after ordering and tasted like it had been cooked several months ago and kept lukewarm ever since! My school dinners were taster. The service was perfunctory at best, which would have been fine if the food had made up for it. As it was it added insult to injury.

Maybe the chef has changed, but I can only say that the overpriced school dinners we were served earn this restaurant the badge of worst eatery in London - avoid.
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Gridlock
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Friday, March 07, 2008

was there for valentines day, had a great evening, but was still disappointed by the restaurant after all the good reviews! staff was very friendly and attentive to say the good thing first- although we had to wait for the bill for more than 20 mins. tha place was generally very cold and drafty, esp. since the door opens in a way that the whole restaurant cools down in seconds. the food was very average. i had the borschtsch with mushroom pierogi for starter- broth nearly tasteless! the polish platter (meat version) had a nice assortment of some dishes from the menue, but apart from the bigos all of them rather fatty and bland tasting. the apple strudel for desert was from the fridge, but i would have loved to have it warmed up and with some (ice)cream or custard! overall not worth going again!
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Agnes - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 4
Saturday, February 16, 2008

This place is excellent. Perfect atmosphere, good food, great prices. Strongly recommended.
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Joe
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, August 15, 2007

hey

my husband and I go very often over there. we love the food and the vodka. we tried other polish places in London and abroad and frankly it is the best we had. it is true that the service is not great. they do not smile alot but the it is kind of cute inside and the food makes up for the lack of smiles. (it must be something polish maybe)
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Céline
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 9
Friday, June 15, 2007

We found this place by accident while visiting the city the week before Easter. It was during the week but was pretty crowded. I had the Polish platter and my favorite vodka - zybrovka. My wife, who is originally from Poland, had the pierogi platter. Not only was the food delicious, but very reasonable by London standards. I think it was the best food we had during our week. The waitresses were very friendly, and although the restaurant isn't romantic - and you know that going in so who could be disappointed - it was decorated like many we've been to in the 'Old Country'. Well done - dzienkuje!
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Randy
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 10
Saturday, April 21, 2007

Read about them in a travel book and visited 28-Jan-07.. Simple place but cozy. Friendly staff, food was quick. Good for kids who like meat...our boys had beef pierogis. My wife and I split orders of kielbasa and the Polish platter so we had a good combination. Platter is pancake, 3 pieorgi's, golabki and something else I can't seem to recall. I had a beer and we had three deserts as well. All together GBP 44 with tip.
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Mike
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Spruced up since the kitchen fire, the place still looks fairly stark, but functional and tolerably intimate. Just two vegetarian options, I went for the Polish Platter, a smattering of a few of the dishes on offer. Saurkraut, dumplings (think vegetarian Gyoza), potato etc. all very tasty and well prepared. My partner went for beef goulash with rice. Reportedly flat and dull to taste. Apple strudel was fine, some nice desserts on offer. Overall portions are a bit mean given the price and relatively humble ingredients. We've been meaning to try Daquise for years, it makes a change from the usual cuisine, the flavoured Vodkas are interesting and reasonably priced, but the atmosphere less than perky and the service more or less completely deadpan. An interesting experience but not one I will be rushing to repeat. We expected more considering how busy and well established Daquise is. Worth a try when you are bored of the usual favourites. Wodka off Kensington High St offers a better if pricier experience, but they smile sometimes and that helps a great deal.
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Lordsoandso - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 4
Tuesday, January 02, 2007