Waterloo Bar and Kitchen

I have eaten in this restaurant twice in the last couple of months, and the food was good, well presented and quite interesting dishes. I thought the menu was rather limited though, not many choices for any of the courses. Like a previous reviewer, I thought the staff didn't seem very happy and weren't at all friendly, but the service was efficient. Little in the way of atmosphere, and the exterior could do with brightening up. It was a bit pricey but it is very centrally situated, and overall I thought it was reasonable value for money.
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Violet - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 7
Sunday, August 31, 2008

My partner and I went here last Saturday. It’s a really nice, clean space but none of the staff seemed particularly happy to be there. The food was pretty good and we had a decent bottle of wine, but that and two courses each came to over £60 which we thought was too expensive for the type of service and food they are providing.
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Abbie - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 2
Thursday, July 31, 2008

On St Valentines evening, I was looking for a pre-theatre dinner for two near the Old Vic. I googled and found this place, and we had an early meal at 6.30.

Just fab, from start to finish. Good buzz with lots of theatre-goers doing the same as us, good choice on the menu .... and even when I said I wanted something that wasn't on it (steak and chips) the polite, smiling waiter (manager?) sorted it out for me with the chef.

Perfect place to eat before going to the Old Vic., and absolutely no hesitation in recommending it.
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Andy
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Friday, February 15, 2008

This is a great Waterloo Restaurant. Coming from Canary Wharf, I have two choices as I get off the Jubilee Line. Turn left after the escalators and get something to eat and drink at the Waterloo Bar and Kitchen or turn right and get on another train to Wimbledon.

Unfortunately for Bank Account and Liver, I turn left too much. It is a lovely down to earth restaurant that is welcoming and friendly to all. Good Food + Good Drink

Well Done!
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Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Friday, January 18, 2008

It is hard to find a restaurant in Waterloo that is decent. I guess the restaurants close to Waterloo Station do not need to try very hard as the volume of customers in the area will always guarantee good business.

However I have found a Waterloo Restaurant that is a little gem. The Waterloo Bar and Kitchen is a lovely little restaurant next door to the old vic theatre. From the outside it looks a little untidy but the atmosphere is great inside. The staff seem genuinely keen to provide quality service. The food is relatively simple but it really is very nice and reasonably priced. The Wine List is fantastic.

I am delighted to have found a Waterloo restaurant that hits the spot.
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Jenny Miller
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Friday, January 18, 2008

After heading here for a Christmas company get together I was impressed by the location. Just round the corner from the Old Vic and a stones throw from Waterloo station. However this was where the positives ended.

Service was below average at best. Lack of enthusiasm and willingness to serve you drinks. Waiter more often than not looked like he was about to confess it was his first time on earth so didn't know what a smile was.

Tended to play James blunt on repeat for the entire evening which really gets you in the Christmas spirit, NOT !!! Requests to switch to something different resulted in the volume being reduced and further requests ignored.

Food arrived and went without taste. Pate caused problems of sorts and the lamb could possible have been confused with edible substance.

Christmas pudding and custard was reasonable but was probably made externally.

Reasonably cheap considering I didn't pay for it although I would be tempted to ask them for money should I turn up again with my own credit card.

Make you own mind up.......(Please don't)
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T Smith
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 1
Sunday, December 30, 2007

We held our team Christmas party there. The basement room was small and unwelcoming. The waiter was surly for the whole evening. They attempted to charge us for coffees that no one ordered and the food - a set Christmas menu - was disappointingly bland.
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R.Sampson
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 1
Thursday, December 20, 2007

Having previously had a lovely meal at the Waterloo Bar + Kitchen in July, myself and my boyfriend decided to go back there on saturday evening.

The menu had not changed, which we were a little disappointed with, however the food and wine were still excellent and promptly served.

However, the waitress serving our table waited behind us, watched us eat, then cleared our plates whilst my boyfriend was still eating! We felt quite pressured and did not enjoy the food as much as we should have.

The 12.5% gratuity is optional, however upon paying, it was already entered into the card machine, then given to myself with only the "Enter your PIN" screen displayed - therefore I had no idea as to which total had been entered. When asked, the waitress said it was the gratuity included total. I therefore asked her to remove it (due to the hovering service we were not prepared to tip the full 12.5%) she asked if everything was okay with the meal, I explained the food was lovely but we felt quite pressured with the waitress (herself) standing behind us. Instead of an apology - which was all we felt necessary, she argued that she didn't think anyone would do that and I was wrong! After making a big show of voiding the previous transaction, she then threw the receipt on the table and marched off!

It completely ruined what was meant to be a special evening and although we had been recommending the restaurant to friends and family, we will not continue to do so!
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A. Gallacher
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Monday, November 05, 2007

I've been here twice for lunch mid-week, and both times, the food has been excellent. Last week I had chargrilled squid on saffron risotto, which really was top class. I've also had the home-made fishcakes, also very good. My friend pronounced her smoked chicken salad wonderful, too. It's an attractive room, and the service is the best thing of all - friendly and professional. The only thing lacking was atmosphere - both times, the room was barely half-full. I can't understand why, and would recommend this place to anyone.
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RS
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 7
Monday, October 15, 2007

After a hard day trekking around the west end, I took my two visiting friends to the Waterloo Bar and Kitchen, happy to escape the hordes and queues on the South Bank on a hot, sunny Saturday evening. I had stumbled on this place a few months ago in similar circumstances (everywhere else was mobbed), and been pleasantly surprised by the friendly service and good food. It didn't disappoint this time - we were just surprised to find the place virtually empty at 7.30; I know it's very near Waterloo, but I suppose people tend to turn left rather than right out of the station.

Service was exceptionally friendly and relaxed; we were not hurried in any way, and enjoyed a couple of bottles of very drinkable, inexpensive rosé and three excellent courses (particularly good smoked tuna, and stem ginger ice cream). I don't know if we happened to hit it on a particularly quiet night, but this place deserves our custom!
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Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 7
Friday, August 17, 2007