Simplicity

Worth a visit for an intimate modern small restaurant dining experience at reasonable prices in an unexpected place:

Right next to the Brunel Museum beside the Thames, just down the road from Rotherhithe Overground station, making it an easy trip from Canada Water Jubilee line stop, or from Whitechapel, north of the river.

Beer battered fish excellent although portions of vegetables, and dessert could be larger. Good cheese plate. Serving bread with the meal would be a plus.

Good wine & beer list.

Friendly staff. Diners appear to know the place and return regularly for more.
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TJ - View all reviews by this user
8 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Monday, June 20, 2011

I love this secret corner of the city where this restaurant hides, and I love the idea of a restaurant using locally-sourced produce as much as possible, so of course I was just dying to love this restaurant before I set foot inside.

I found a mixture of good and bad. Quite extreme levels of both, too. Friendly waitresses and chef (good), but very slow service (there were only two of, FHS!) - bad. Menu looking very meat-eater-centric (bad when you're veggie) but then being able to order a scrummy omelette and salad (honestly! I know anyone can whip up an omelette at home, so why order one when you're out). Yes, they were out of a few things on the menu, but my co-diner still pronounced her roast pork with battered bubble and squeak to be very splendid. And I was so glad I took waitress up on her suggestion to have the baked alaska. yummy.

Wine list looked good. Beer I had was good. All in all, bill seemed pretty reasonable. Atmosphere was lovely - buzzy chatter and light pouring into the lovely room.

I'll be back some time - but when I know I won't mind if I have to wait ages for my food to be served.
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New Cross Eyes
7 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Monday, March 08, 2010

Mindful of a few of the reviews here, I visited Simplicity last Thursday. Anticipating good food, and perhaps service somewhat lacking. On arriving, early (they open at 6.30pm), and with no reservation at 6.50pm, I was a bit taken aback on finding the restaurant un-staffed. Having stood for a full minute waiting for service to appear, and having been completely ignored by the kitchen staff who could clearly see us loitering in the dining area, we decided to leave and regroup. Maybe I could have yelled for service, but something in me finds that a little degrading. I feel I am the customer and if I have to go hunting for the staff I'm in the wrong place....

After a pint at the nearby Mayflower, I was pursuaded to return. And to be fair, was very glad I did. By 7.20pm things were starting to move, and the waitress who showed us to the table apologised for the earlier lapse, explaining she had been in the office. Hmmmmm. Perhaps a bell on the door might be useful? Anyway, to the food:

Starters of a ham a split-pea soup (delicious) and goats cheese tart (lovely, crisp pastry and tangy cheese, but perhaps could have been a touch warmer - personal taste) were served reasonably promptly. The Chilean Malbec was excellent. A slight break and then to the mains - the roast lamb was perfect (pink, spiced with a nice crunchy crust and on bubble - very East End) and the battered fish beautifully presented with delicious batter. No room for dessert but next time (and there will be a next time) I may skip the starter to ensure I get to try one.

I can't believe it's taken me so long to get to Simplicity. I'm saddened at the reviews commenting on service, but with luck they have ironed out the problems there and this will continue to be an excellent small, local bistro-style gem.
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Marcus Holden - View all reviews by this user
8 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8
Sunday, February 21, 2010

The food was great and excellent value for money (brunch). The service was shocking. The waitress was extremely rude as though was were intruding which was disappointing as we'd heard so many nice things about the place.
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A Birtwistle
6 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Pathetic service, we waited 3/4 hour for three breakfasts only to be told they'd forgotten to place our order. When apologised to by someone who'd spent the last 15 minutes reading the paper I asked for free drinks to be met with a 'Sorry?' as if he didn't understand the notion of customer etiquette. We were told our food would be with us in 5 to 10 minutes, after 10 minutes we left. For breakfast at 8 quid a time I expect much, much better. Utterly disgraceful, avoid at all costs.
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J Hollands
0 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Saturday, December 12, 2009

Had an excellent meal last night with my wife and parents. The menu is fairly short but the dishes are well choosen with good variety and the ingredients of excellent quality. The wine list is again fairly brief but well choosen to match the food.

Service was good but not overbearing and the atmosphere was good. We were there on a Monday night and the place was almost full so would recommend booking.
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rjsmall
8 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, September 29, 2009