Santa Maria del Sur

We visited this restaurant last Friday and were quite disappointed overall.

My starter was lukewarm on the outside and cold in the middle.

My partner's steak was very chewy and had lots of gristle in it which was inedible.

The waiting staff totally ignored us once we'd received our food and only came to speak to us again when it was time for us to leave so someone else could have our table (despite the fact that there were several other tables free!)

The bill came to just short of £100 for two of us which was quite a lot for a very disappointing meal.

Not terrible. Just not very good.
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Bodger - View all reviews by this user
3 Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 1
Monday, September 06, 2010

This place is great and would like to say that the whole dining experience was brilliant. We were down for a weekend in london and this was my 1 must do thing while in london. Even with the tubes not working it was very worth a visit and will go back again next time I am back to london. Food sevice staff all great . I too went on the recomendation of gordon ramsay after watching his F word show.

I will always rave about this place and would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone from any background.

WOW
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big eater - View all reviews by this user
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Thursday, July 15, 2010

Service was shocking! Food excellent although simple. Gordon Ramsey was impressed but it seems that they are riding on this and seem too arrogant to keep up the standards.The owner and chef who contributed to their recommendation are no longer there. The atmosphere was far from happy and there was no Argentinian vibe to say the least. After booking months in advance you would hope for a fantastic evening. The only table available was 9.45pm. Upon arrival we had to wait 5 mins for the table to be set and there is no bar or area to wait, so we shuffled outside, lucky a warm evening. Once seated we were left waiting 10 minutes until I had to ask to be served. It was busy but I had noticed the other table that arrived at the same time were now pouring the wine! The waiter was far from polite and said we needed to order our food as the kitchen was about to close. Being that we had not ordered drinks yet, we were rushed into choosing. He made no excuses for the delay and seemed more interested in planning his night out with the rest of the staff. Food came very quickly, which makes you wonder where it was hiding...The Argento & Malbec were lovely, the rump was tasty, the fillets were big, chips were fat although a little under cooked, the salad was standard. We were never seen to during the meal to see if we needed anymore drinks, water jug or glasses never came. Our allocated driver was somewhat parched. Then when we were relaxing minutes after the last mouthful, restaurant now emptying out, the waiter came over with the bill! We had not asked for it, or been offered dessert. They were closing the till. It was 11.15pm, absolutely amazing. Totally would not recommend this to anyone, you can take the food out and place it any top restaurant but the staff, service, atmosphere can stay in Battersea.
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k weston
3 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 5
Monday, June 14, 2010

We finally got around to visiting the restaurant (an hours drive away), having seen it on the F word a while ago. My girlfriend booked it as a surprise and the only tables available on a Sunday evening were at 9pm. We arrived early and there were several tables available....

I had not read the various web reviews on this restaurant prior to visiting, and had I done so, we would not have booked. However, our experience was generally positive though I agree with some of the negative remarks others have posted. Having lived and worked in Argentina, I did have a benchmark for comparison.

The Good Stuff:

The quality of meat was high and it was cooked exactly as we had ordered - a rare fillet and a medium rump.

The menu is short and almost all of it can be cooked on the barbecue type grill. Simplicity works in this environment.

Portions were large (so we wished we had not ordered starters).

Some of the service was excellent - prompt, relaxed and friendly.

The atmosphere was good (though loud)

The wine is not excessively expensive.

It was very easy to park right outside.

On the whole we enjoyed the experience and felt it was quite good value. It could have been very good value.

The not so good:

The welcome was not especially welcoming as they made a bit of a fuss about us arriving 20 minutes early - even though they had tables available.

Some of the staff looked and acted tired and lacklustre.

The kitchen went absolutely overboard with the garlic.

The chips were mediocre.

The restaurant and toilets have a slightly grubby and tired air about them.

To elevate this restaurant to a higher level they need to get a good cleaner, renovate the toilets and decor. Fundamentally some of the staff need to be friendlier and more welcoming.

It is well worth a visit and recommended. Don't expect fine dining though.
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Adrian
8 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8
Tuesday, June 08, 2010

Travelled from Manchester after seeing this restaurant on the F Word. Tables had not been wiped down from earlier sitting, starters were very nice, I had a sirloin steak and it was very dry and tough, salad with it was wilted and warm, chips were not good had obviously been fried in too hot oil. My partner had a rump steak and although he enjoyed the steak it was not the best he had had infact our local pub do 2 rump steaks for £10 and that was better quality and a better taste. All in all I would rate the meal as 4 out of 10 and very disappointing I would not eat there again. Throughout the meal I could not see my partner as the sun was shining directly in my eyes and there were no other tables free.
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Nicola
5 Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 4
Monday, May 24, 2010

What a disaster!!!

Me and my boyfriend have been trying to get a reservation at this restaurant for over two months and finally we found a table for 18th may at 6:15. We arrived to this very dull and dirty restaurant (my plate was dirty and table unwiped), which was empty after waiting months to book?!!. The waiter was very cold and uninterested as we ordered. I ordered the sirloin medium and my boyfriend the rib eye. I could barely cut into my steak, even with a steak knife and found it very hard to chew, my boyfriends rib eye was very very raw and practically breathing. They forgot our sauces and after nearly finishing our steaks did they bring them over. After all the hype on this restaurant on TV and by Gordon Ramsay (who is supposedly a michelin star chef with high standards) we were completely shocked and very disappointing and let down by this restaurant which is supposed to be the best steak in london. The steaks had no flavor or any texture at all - seemed like we were eating very cheap cuts of meat. Also do not eat the mushroom, so salty, un-melted warm cheese on top - horrible!!!

Overall extremely disappointed by this restaurant and in Gordon Ramsay and feel like this restaurant should have been on 'Gordon Ramsays kitchen nightmares' not on the F word!!!!!!
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0 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Tuesday, May 18, 2010

What a let down! I had planned a special meal in London for some friends who were visiting London from America, I had been telling them all how great this restaurant was and how good it was on the "F word" . Well from the moment we arrived the service was very very poor, two menus were dropped on the table for five people to look at, not a word of welcome or if we would like any advice with the menu or if we would like drinks! We asked for more menus, after 10 minutes of waiting we went and got three more menus from the bar ourselves. We then had to ask if we could order drinks after waiting for someone to come over to the table. When our food arrived two of the steaks had not been cooked as we had asked , one which was ordered medium but was blue and still cold in the middle, the salad was just a bowl of lettuce leaves with no dressing, Ordering more drinks was a painful experience, having to keep asking. When we complained to the waiter he said they had a full house and was under staffed, as I had to book the table 2 months in advance I guess they know they would be full. He said perhaps we should complain to the manager and tell him they needed more staff! The manager did not come to see us, probably because he was busy saying sorry to the table next to us, who was also unhappy with the service.

On the board at the front of the restaurant they said "the best steak in London" I would say the steak was at best,good but not the best! But I can say its the worst service I ve had in london. This restaurant is living off its success on the F word, but the restaurant we all watched and cheered on during the show is NOT the one you experience, I would never go back, and advice you not to be suckered in as I was!
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Kevin Jones
4 Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 3
Monday, May 17, 2010

Extremely disappointed. We booked this table 3 months in advance, like the other review, the anticipation was thwarted as soon as we were shown to our table which was clearly cobbled together for our party of 12, in the far back corner, outside the toilet and in front of the fire exit! Zilch atmosphere to be had there. The booking was made for 2.30pm (this was the time offered to us) and once we had all arrived and sat down we had the menu's for approximately 5 minutes before we were rushed to order as "the kitchen was closing at 3". Two of our guests were still en-route and we were told to phone them and take their order over the phone.... WHY take a booking of 12 people giving them just 30 minutes to select and order?? The selection on the menu to my mind was short and not too sweet. The fillet steak did not warrant the £19 price tag, it was bland and not full of the taste you would expect from a fillet, and a bowl of chips for £3.50? Seriously?? We were rushed and made to feel we were imposing on somebody's private dining room. The fact the staff were sat down for their lunch whilst we were eating explains the rush but should they take a booking that late in the day if they use from 3pm to prepare for the evening?? Overall we were all very disappointed and shocked that the F-Word would recommend such a place. Clearly they have used the exposure of G.Ramsay to up their prices but they need to up their game. Won't visit again.
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Toni Oosthuizen
3 Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 2
Thursday, May 13, 2010

I organise regular 'steak nights' with a group of friends and one of the group saw this place on the F Word and suggested we try it. For a group of 8 I had to book 3 months in advance. Given that lead time expectations build and this may have contributed to my disappointment. The atmosphere was good but the food was awful, and nowhere close to the standard of other steak houses in London. If you want good steak you should try Goodman, and if you're wedded to Argentinian steak the Gauchos are better than this place and they have a better wine list. Sure you pay £10 - £15 more for those places but I'd suggest it's worth it if you're after a good steak.
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5 Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 5
Wednesday, May 05, 2010

I went here with my wife on the 8th of Feb for my Birthday. Very cool setting, cosy and atmospheric for a grill. We both felt the food was very average, and a little on the pricey side. If this is supposed to be one of the better restaurants in London... i am worried!
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Adam
6 Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 4
Monday, April 12, 2010