Great Queen Street

Went here for the first time last night having loved The Canton Arms which is run by the same people. The place was full, which for a Monday night speaks volumes.

We were told that it was fully booked but that we could eat at the bar, but eventually a table became available. The service throughout the meal was very friendly and attentive, and although small, the menu was imaginitive with some excellent specials. The onion soup was in a relatively small bowl, but a perfect quantity after tasting the richness of it. Squid was perfectly cooked with a fresh vibrant salsa to accompany it. The highlight was the main which was from the specials board. A grouse and fois gras pastie, which was quite incredible. Wonderful flaky and buttery pastry surrounding moist and pink grouse sandwiching a slither of fois gras between the slices. Perfectly cooked, it was rich and full of differing flavours and textures. A winner. Puddings were also good. Whilst not cheap, by sharing the richer dishes, you can easily come out for less than £50 a head which compares well with the alternatives, especially as you menu is so interesting, and the setting warm and informal.
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Will - View all reviews by this user
8 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Two of us visited on a Saturday lunch time. The restaurant wasn't full and it was a pleasant venue. Yes, as others have said, it's dark but that's the building style and it's fine.

Menu was short and competent, service slightly less slick - friendly but a bit haphazard. It didn't really detract from the meal though.

We had dover sole [excellent, beautiful white flesh] and duck with chickpeas [cooked and flavoured well]. We followed this with a hazelnut and raspberry tart and the best bread ice cream we've ever tasted. The orange and thyme sorbet was also great, really refreshing.

We didn't like the prosecco and wine being served in small tumbers and that actually prevented us ordering any more - a minor quibble but sometimes being trendy doesn't work.

Overall a nice venue and good food at a good price [for the area in particular].
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cut2quick - View all reviews by this user
7 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 7
Monday, November 21, 2011

I really don’t see what people see in this place. After booking a table for 8pm and arriving a bit early we were finally seated at 8.45 (we waited in the bar where the barman was friendly – the only positive part of the night) and by this time half the food had been taken off the menu. We ordered a roasted duck crown and were advised it would take 40 mins and would come medium rare, a friend ordered the hare ragu.

Over and hour later our ‘roasted’ duck arrived and was unceremoniously dumped on the table by our waiter who swiftly walked off. The ‘roasted’ duck was barely warm, thoroughly over cooked, the skin was soggy and flaccid and the fat definitely hadn’t been rendered off. The accompanying chips were over salted and luke warm and our side of greens must have fallen into the mustard pot and been left on the side to chill before serving. Quite frankly all unacceptable and revolting.

After being asked to speak to the manager (it took 5 mins to get any attention) we were told this is how it was served and if it was a problem we would have to wait another hour before our food would be ready. She also gave the excuse of ‘were busy’ (it was a Saturday night surely you would expect to be busy!!) The manager then walked away and returned to tell us that duck was always served cooked and pretty much told me I don’t know what I am talking about. What every happened to the customer being right??

On top of this my friend that ordered the hare was also given food was luke warm. This time the hare ragu basically tasted like it had been mixed with Cadburys drinking chocolate. Disgusting.

Needless to say our plate went back to the kitchen basically full no apology given and we then were charged top whack for the pleasure.

I wouldn’t recommend this place if you paid me, and I DEFINITELY won’t go back, in fact I just want to warn London not to eat here, there are so many fabulous places that are better and cheaper.
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1 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 0
Monday, October 24, 2011

Went for a very light lunch today after a colleague recommended it. A table in the window was ideal, anywhere further inside would have been too dingy I think. A noisy space, made much worse today by a table of 10 braying media types working through their expense account. Never mind, we could just about hear each other though the waitress struggled a bit. Bread and butter were fabulous. Cornish pollack ceviche inspirational. My friends duck confit was a little dry apparently though he was able to persuade the kitchen to substitute the listed salad for the vegetables from another dish on the menu which impressed him. The guest ale was good, Skinners, and clearly dispensed by gravity - good show. Small glasses of wine came tumbler-style which didn't really do much for the contents but it was pleasant enough. We were up for dessert but the delay between asking for menus and getting the menus was enough to take the edge off that desire so we skipped it. Final bill £30 which was a tad high given the restrained ordering but probably right for the style of food - bread and water gratis but service not included. Maybe give it another go but there are a lot of places doing this sort of thing and some of them have a bit more polish to offer.
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Steve Earley
6 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 7
Friday, September 16, 2011

Had an absolutely fantastic meal here last night. Top quality unpretentious proper grub. I knew it was gonna be good once the bread and marvellous Netherend Farm butter arrived. Started with their home cured ham which was absolutely top drawer (who needs acorn fed Spanish pigs?!) and then shared a delicious chicken and mushroom pie, the pastry of which was perfect covering an unctuous and perfectly seasoned pie mix underneath. All washed down with a very nice and reasonable priced Gamay, the bill was under £40/ head. A bargain. Will definitely be returning.
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Nico Rilla
8 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Very good and knowledgable service.

Food excellent. Superb fish, hake in particular.

British food with French influences.

Recommended.
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GHW. - View all reviews by this user
8 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 7
Thursday, July 28, 2011

We had a very different experience from the previous reviewer. Not an awful place at all. Surroundings relaxed (jeans are fine), service attentive, waiter friendly (not a sneer in sight). Food hearty and comforting (excellent cider cured mackerel, braised ox neck, baked sea bass with fennel, that sort of thing). Puds light and fluffy. It'll be interesting to see the summer menu once London starts to heat up, cos they'll need one.

No pressure to hand back the table after 90 mins (always a big plus in my book) which meant we could stay and chat as long as we wanted.

On the downside, the wine was a bit ordinary and some more light on the proceedings would have been good (there's atmospheric and then there's X Files).

Not cheap, but good value for what we had. Would happily go again.
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Richard Marchant
8 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Monday, May 02, 2011

Awful place, food very average, waitress half asleep, brought the wrong wine twice and sneered when we dared tell her, and expensive.....what is the point?
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Nick nack
0 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Tuesday, March 08, 2011

Always fabulous British food. Tables are a little small/cramped and it's quite noisy, but the menu is always fresh and different and reliable.
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niblet239 - View all reviews by this user
7 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Thursday, March 04, 2010

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
8 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Tuesday, November 17, 2009