The Drapers Arms

I went 2 nights ago. The ambience is nice, unconventionally and subtly elegant. Unfortunately, the food is rather banal and the attempts to make it interesting (like pouring garlic mayo on most of their courses) simply worsen the overall result. There were 12 of us and I tried a few. Despite the nice location and the peaceful view form the windows, the food is disappointing. Service not at its best but I can excuse them.
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Frank
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 2
Saturday, May 24, 2008

A fabulous meal with great service, and a good atmosphere to boot! It's very difficult to get all elements of the equation right - but The Drapers Arms have cracked it. And the well balanced choice on the wine list was great to see. Overall, I can't recommend The Drapers enough! Thanks for a wonderful evening.
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Rob
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Thursday, April 24, 2008

Was bitterly disappointed three weeks ago when I went to Drapers for a lunch. Had recommended it to a companion, always enjoyed drinking there ( especially in the patio area ) and trusted that the cuisine would be up to the same standard.

Not so at all.

The wine was indifferent and the food very poor indeed, both in its basic quality and in its serving. My companion had a rib-eye steak which was so hard and tough that neither of us could eat it. ( We both tried - enough to be able to say that we'd given it a chance - but no way! ) Both our starters were very small and bland, and my own main course was much the same. Even the new potatoes were crusty and tasteless. The side dish of chips ( which we both love ) was left almost untouched. They were hard and cold. The only grace ( not enough to be a 'saving' one! ) was the pavlova my companion had for dessert, which was 'nice'. We didn't complain, because we were both reluctant to spoil entirely a rather special occasion; nor did we object to the 'built-in' service charge, but there was one important reason for this: the waitress who served us did everything she possibly could to alleviate the problems. She was attentive and professional, even igniting one of the patio burners because we were a bit cold. Top marks to her! But for the rest - almost nothing, I'm afraid. I would not return to Drapers - even to drink ( it's been spoiled for me ) - and as part of the reason I chose to eat there was to reconnoitre on behalf of a substantial office clientele, I shall be unable to recommend Drapers to them; quite the reverse. A place that pretends to be a 'gastro' pub but fails even to provide basic, good-quality food, is one against which people should be warned. It's not as though the area lacks good eating places.

At the end of the lunch I was faced with a bill for over £80. That says it all.
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Nicholas Blyth
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 1
Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Went for dinner here last week and could not believe the top room which used to always be full was empty other than 1 other table. I have been on numerous occasions before, although probably not for a few months, and was very concerned as to why it was so empty. My concerns were not unfounded - my main course which was pasta with tomato and haloumi was very bland, the pasta tasted weirdly of butter and had a strange consistency and for the price of £13 it was no way near good enough and I left half of it. I hope they can sort out their problems, perhaps they have a new chef? as I've always loved this pub but until I read on this website that things have improved I won't be venturing back!
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Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 2
Monday, March 10, 2008

I will never go back and recommend that you do not go there until they sort themselves out. This is a fancy gastro pub but they are so up themselves it ruins the possibilities of the nice interior and position. The beer is average, the food just OK for the price, the bar staff variable, and the waitresses in the restaurant upstairs incredibly surly and rude. Last night they argued with me because I refused to pay the full 12.5% service charge that had automatically been added to my bill. Bearing in mind half the bill was bottles of wine that we had to serve ourselves to I thought my 20% tip on the food was enough. But these moody mares thought not and told me I had not paid enough. Awful.
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Deborah Kelly
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 2
Saturday, February 23, 2008

Had to say that I was very disappointed with the Drapers Arms. The venue and ambience is great - very Victorian settings. However, the service and the quality of the food left a lot to be desired. For a start, we were running 15 minutes later, and we got told off on the phone, which immediately put us on the backfoot. Then, after reasonable starters, we waited for what seems like an eternity for the main courses. My dish was guinea fowl in a shitaki mushroom stock with potato & parmesan dumplings. The guinea fowl and dumplings were pleasant enough - however any satisfactory flavours were washed away by a dreadful watery gravy which killed the dish. Certainly not what is expected from a £16 main course. The other main courses faired just as badly - a "three meat" pasta which was devoid of any flavour other than meat and pasta. We didn't bother with dessert in the end.
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Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 1
Monday, February 11, 2008

I felt I had to write a review, having had our 'staff party' here just before Christmas.

What a great place!

Although very busy the level of service was impeccable from beginning to end, the food was exceptional and the wine selection superb,

Highly recommended.
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Matthew Johnson
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Monday, January 07, 2008

We live round the corner from the Drapers, and have now given up going. At first we thought that the poor experiences we had were one offs. They weren't. We've been at weekends and in the evening, and in comparison with other local Gastro pubs, the Drapers is slipping down the league, and after a promising beginning a few years back now riding on its reputation rather than its delivery.

Whilst at the pricey end, none of the fare is particularly inspiring , compared say to the reinvigorated Albion round the corner with a much more imaginative menu.

Where the Drapers really loses out is the ambience and the service; we, like others on this board, have been made to feel as if we should wait half and hour for a menu, and that we should be glad to be there, and actually the serving staff are far too busy and important to be pleasant. At least when you eat an Conran, you can forgive a little of the snootiness. They also want to demonstrate how frightfully busy they are, rather than being busy but calm at the same time, its all too frantic, making the place tense rather than relaxing.

Either the serving staff are just a tense, unhappy bunch, or they have weird sense of their own importance which they need to project to customers. In particular, the Drapers seem to have a problem with children; like most places it tends to be full of families on a Sunday lunch, and several times we have experienced, or seen behaviour (including pushing children out of the way) which does not make the place family friendly. It is not the place to go if you want to have a nice family lunch.

If you are in your twenties, have a bit more money than sense, like an environment that is too loud and want to be seen out, go the Drapers. If this is the crowd the owners are after, its a shame they didn't buy a pub on Upper Street, though. If you want good food, pleasant welcoming service, a more relaxed ambiance, better value for money, go to one of the many other choices within three minutes walk.
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Nigel
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 2
Monday, November 26, 2007

Having heard good things about The Drapers Arms over the years, we finally made it there last week. We were there on a rainy Wednesday night - the Drapers felt like a great refuge in a storm. Sadly, the evening went downhill from there - ceasar salad was dull and bouillabaisse wasn't very fishy; the medium rare steaks we ordered were served very rare and smothered in hollandaise sauce. As the plates were cleared and we were asked if we'd enjoyed our meals we said that the steaks had been on the rare side for us, and received a very cross "You should have said so earlier" instead of an apology. I don't know what the puddings are like because although we asked for the menu, after 20 minutes it still hadn't arrived, and by that point, we didn't really want to hang around for more very average food. Overall, we were very disappointed - cool service and over priced, low quality, unloved food.
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Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 2
Saturday, November 24, 2007

Superb. Can't understand the negative reviews, unless something happened over-night.

Visited last night (Sunday evening). Atmosphere, well, relaxed.

Both of us fully enjoyed our starters, mains and quite awesome chocolate pot!

Service was pleasant and the food was served in quick time.

In short, one of the best meals I've had in London in quite some time, and yep I eat out quite a lot and choose wisely!
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Kevin
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 9
Monday, September 24, 2007