Great Queen Street

Having been introduced via the sister offering (Anchor and Hope in Southwark) i had reasonably high hopes however i had always been slightly put off at the A&H's policy of cramming people around communal tables.

I was therefore delighted by the same ethos of really attentive and refined British cuisine, but with space to breath and enjoy yourself.

This place is extremely well suited to groups with sharing plates going up to 5 people in size without ever losing quality. In fact it can be argued they just get better.

Having been once i have now returned four times in the last 6 weeks and have only ever once waited ten minutes for my table (in the bar downstairs, no problems there). Once there the service is great and genuine and the raucous atmosphere encourages you just to join in as you pile into the heaped plates.

It is not cheap here but you certainly get what you pay for and is a brilliant 'occasion' restaurant for get togethers, dates and reunions. The ales are always delicious and the wine is similarly good and not eye-wateringly expensive.

I need to ration how often i go now as i don't want to kill it but i cannot recommend it enough to anyone planning a night in Covent Garden and is terrified by the lack of options that exist in that part of town.
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Chris
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Tuesday, November 17, 2009

I went here for an ad hoc meal with friends and I am pleased to say my experience of the service was the complete opposite to that of some of the reviewers on this site.

Despite arriving without a booking on a busy evening we were taken downstairs to a table in a lovely bar area and looked after with drinks and free nibbles (lupin beans and pork crackling) while we waited for our table upstairs. And boy was it worth the wait. . . We had an amazing venison pie for 2 (that could have easily fed 3-4) with a suet pastry crust to die for, some gorgeous and reasonably priced Sancerre and very friendly and relaxed service.

In my opinion the place is a real gem hidden amongst the generic chains in Covent Garden and I'm heading back there this weekend.
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S McColl
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Friday, November 13, 2009

Went here with a friend about a month ago. Although slightly noisy (which IMO just adds to the atmosphere), the service and the food were good.
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derick - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, August 26, 2009

We went here yesterday and we were very disappointed. We had made a reservation for 8pm but ended up waiting for more than 30 minutes. The manager was rude and unhelpful, claiming that “British people are used to waiting”. Eventually we left and therefore cannot comment on the food, but the service was terrible. I would recommend tourists avoid this place!
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Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Wednesday, August 26, 2009

I totally agree with StowEater et al - the dire service in this place absolutely lets it down. I used to rate this place highly . The food has gone downhill in the last few months, but the most noticeable thing is the worst service I've ever experienced. It's so rude and inept, it's almost impossible to get over it whilst you're there - not writing down orders, getting orders wrong (fine so far) but then becoming incredibly rude and indignant when this is pointed out. The trouble is that this approach to customers seems to be led by the Aussie manager, who obviously sets the tone for all the other staff. Genuinely unpleasant.

In short - avoid at all costs. Unless you like a large side of arrogance and petulance with your food, don't bother trying Great Queen Street.
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Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 3
Monday, May 18, 2009

I've been to Great Queen Street twice now and been very impressed both times. The restaurant is set up nicely so it feels comfortable whether you are there as a table for 2 or table for 8.

Great food, especially for sharing - the rib of beef for 2 is some of the best beef I've ever eaten. Haven't tried it, but the beef wellington (for 5) looked phenomenal.

The wine list is priced very nicely with quite a good selection. The rib of beef and a bottle of Priorat makes for a great dinner out.
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NB - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Thursday, February 12, 2009

The food is strong and wholesome, and it's always a pleasure to read about a new non-chain restaurant in Covent Garden. They've been lucky to get very positive reviews in The Times and restaurant guides, so when I was there, it felt like it's having its moment of cool.

They do a wonderful chocolate dessert - which is a sort of a lush mousse. However, the staff do make the experience difficult. One of the staff members makes absolutely no eye contact. Another stood by when we were leaving and we got neither an acknowledgement, nor a smile, leave alone a 'goodbye' or a 'thank you.'

There are lots of great places around Covent Garden (such a Joe Allen) where the prices are accessable and the staff are warm and professional. The cold service pulls down the strong food.
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Sorab Shroff
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 4
Sunday, October 05, 2008

What a great place......individual, different, great food, no pretentious surrounding or offhand service, we were a table of 7 and had more food and wine then we should have really had, including some pre and after dinner drinks, cost £41 per person..and the really nice thing, they didnt automaticaly add 12.5% service!...which because the service was very good during a hectic saturday evening we paid anyway...

In essence this is a real gem, lots of the dishes are to share, so go with a few non fussy eating friends and enjoy..
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andy t
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Monday, September 22, 2008

I love this place - I've never failed to have a really enjoyable evening here. The food is great - simple and delicous, and the service is pleasant and well timed, but not intrusive.

I appreciate the fact they swifty bring tap water and a pile of excellent bread, and then will happily advise on anything on the menu you're not sure about.

The people who run Great Queen Street understand food, and you always get the feeling that the dish you choose has been prepared for you with care. If you want a charred steak smoothered in ketchup (as some reviewers seem to!) you'd be better off picking another restaurant.

Prices have crept up a little but it still represents good value - especially considering the quality and location.
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- View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Monday, September 01, 2008

I have been to this restaurant a number of times since it opened and introduced many firends to it, but after my most revcent trip I won't be going back. We got a slot (had to have the table back by 8.15 as usual) and I ordered sea bass to share with my friend and my other friend ordered the wood pigeon. I asked if I could order an accompaniment of chips to go with the bass - it came with nothing (even at £32) and I saw chips on the menu to go with other food. Unfortunately I was told this was not possible as the chips were hand cut ONLY to go with the steak (?). The fish arrived and I divided it between our plates but it was not cooked and smelled not too good either. We sent it back and it then re-appeared 15 minutes later cobbled back together again but this time not raw. We had gone off the whole idea at this point and our other frend had eaten her (nearly raw) wood pigeon on her own while we waited. We made the best of things and ate a some part of the fish then left the rest. I was so surprised when the bill came that they had made no gesture at all for the fact we had to send our food back even though we had said that we hadn't enjoyed it. They said they wouldn't take the fish off the bill 'because we'd eaten it'. Eventually they said they would compromise and take desserts off - but only becuase we made a point of it. It ruined the meal - if they had made a gesture without having to be challenged we would have written it off as a mistake and returned. Then to be asked for our table back sharply when we had been delayed by the fact our food wasn't cooked just topped it all off.
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Stow Eater - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 0
Monday, August 18, 2008