Canteen at RFH

Loved it. A young Aussie boy served us and he was a dream. The food was a bit quick to say the least, just in front of the drinks. Nice vibe, i dont think i went to the same place as everyone else which may mean its a bit inconsistent. Simply a camp chap like me perfect date venue.

DC
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Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, September 02, 2008

Im confused by earlier reviews and unsure what people expect. I go to canteen often and i find the Door hosts/managers welcoming, the food great and the service friendly if a bit rushed. There are things that they can do better but it is a friendly relaxed restaurant after all. Ive complained once and the response was quick and the problem solved which is a darn sight better then many places i can mention. I dont usually write on these review sites but canteen seems to be getting an unjust battering.

Im going on Saturday night and im sure ill have a great time.
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Phil Mathers
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Tuesday, September 02, 2008

Went last Sunday, door person was very rude when we asked if there was a table available we were immediately told “well if we had one I’d give it to you” in a sarcastic tone and then huffed and puffed! She clearly did not want to be there. Sat down and ordered drinks, despite pointing to the menu 3 out of the 4 drinks that we ordered were incorrect. We decided to leave at that point. The staff then watched us walk out. I sent an email to the manager who responded back by asking me to call him which I think is rude when I am the one complaining. I called him and got his answer machine and left a message with my telephone number to call back. I have heard nothing back!

Judging by the comments below customer service is low on the list at Canteen which is a shame as I have been to both branches before and the food is excellent for the price point and always tastes fresh.
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Will Phillips
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Sunday, August 31, 2008

Visited on Tuesday night. The Macaroni cheese was nice but the service let the place down a bit. Didn't seem to be as bad as some others have experienced, but just wasn't quite up to scratch. Took ages to place our order, they forgot drinks and various side orders and when they brought the bread we had instead of a starter, there were no plates! My friend's salad was the minutest bit of salad with chicken on top - more of a starter really. For the price I was expecting a decent amount of leaves (the cheapest bit!).

Would probably try it again, as it's a good location, but wouldn't rush to recommend it.
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Kitty J
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 6
Friday, August 22, 2008

Went to Canteen on Friday night - what a disappointment! Food was OK but unremarkable and pricey, and the service the worst I have ever experienced in ten years of eating out in London. Won't be going back! A great idea, but appallingly executed.
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Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 3
Monday, August 18, 2008

Absolutely shambolic. Having experienced poor service there a few weeks ago we passed it off as "teething problems" (as I've always had good food/service at the Spitalfields sister restaurant and assumed they would work to achieve the same level of proficiency) but our visit today was even worse. 20 minutes for the first round of drinks to arrive, long delays before our order was taken and then when food finally arrived two meals were missing. We certainly won't be back.
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Jules
Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 2
Saturday, August 02, 2008

Took two friends here recently as a thank-you present. The food was decent, not cheap but good quality, but the service was so stupendously awful I'd be very reluctant to come back. The staff were not busy, but it was almost impossible to attract their attention. At one point around five staff were roaming around the room, not serving anybody else and ignoring us, while we tried to flag somebody down so as to place our order. Getting the bill was another ordeal, and took about a quarter of an hour.

It's a shame: the idea's great and the food is good, but something is obviously badly wrong with the management of the place.
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- View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 0
Friday, July 25, 2008

Given where it is and what it offers, I had high hopes for Canteen. Not any more. I have, very unwisely, been twice. On the first occasion, they forgot part of the order. Instead of admitting it - though it was fairly clear from the reaction of the counter staff and the manager that they had - they just let us wait for it to not arrive.

Second visit (not my choice) the fennel, tomato and courgette bake turned out to be sparse amounts of fennel, tomato and courgette roasted in a pot. No sign of "bake" at all - unless you take it in the most literal sense that someone had put it in the oven. They had also run out of fish and chips at 5pm on a Saturday as well as running out of practically every cake on the menu.

This place is such a disappointment. With some decent management, it could be a great restaurant.

As an illustration of the staff's attitude towards customers and potential customers: A young woman asked if it would be OK to use the toilet, the member of staff's reply was no he couldn't let her because last week they had been vandalised, she would have to use the RFH's upstairs. This unnecessary rudeness when all he needed to do was direct her to the toilet's in the RFH without adding the suggestion that he couldn't trust her not to vandalise them, is indicative of this restaurant and one of the many reasons I have been warning everyone I know to steer well clear.

Here's hoping they take the hint from all these poor reviews and either re-train or replace the terrible managers and staff there.
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Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Tuesday, July 15, 2008

went there for sunday lunch, The food was very good but the service was very poor. I think they shoud spend some time training the front of house staff

I am willing to pay 12.5% if you invest in your team.
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Graeme meek
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 6
Sunday, April 27, 2008

All I want to say is ask about the service charge - it's a scandal .... food was 'ok' but our waitress (from Thailand) was a star!

Nice to see
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Brenda Philips , Croydon
Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 6
Monday, April 21, 2008