Cafe des Amis

Revisited with friends early Fri eve. Very, very busy and waitresses totally engaged in clearing, setting and serving. Some urgency to take drinks order and promote latest wine but in a friendly way. Food excellent as before and no rush to present bill. Not as relaxed as original visit but if it allows prices to remain reasonable and more to visit fair enough. The attention to the food is still apparent.

On a general note. The 12.5 % service charge automatically added still irritates. Il Bordello never includes service, thrives is always busy, even Monday's. Our friends were amazed at the rate and that it was included. Excellent restaurants such as this one would have nothing to fear if it was.truly discretionary. In today's climate a rethink may promote custom.

We will be very happy to return to enjoy great food and attentive, efficient service especially when a promotion is on offer.
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Shrewsman
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Saturday, November 19, 2011

Visited.Saturday last with a la carte offer. Arrived 45 mins early but table made available instantly despite being very busy. Very friendly,patient and attentive staff. Wonderful relaxing and satisfying evening, great sea food and amazing value. Starter, mains and desserts all great. Waitresses make you feel totally at home.Thoroughly recommended. Definately seek out their offers and return often.
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Shrewsman
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, November 07, 2011

Outdoors in October! Fantastic. We went for lunch on a £15 each 3 course deal. Much better choices than on the £14.50 prix fixe and all of the courses were excellent. The Staff were attentive without being oppressive and were really cheerful;, such a refreshing change. Our receptionist, Stephenie was superb ensuring everything was just right. My only negative comment is that the outdoor tables are along a very narrow lane which can feel a bit claustrophobic but it was still nice to sit out. The inside tables looked very nice. Highly recommended.
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Dougie Barr
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 9
Thursday, October 06, 2011

We went yesturday 8/9/11 our table was booked for 8pm but we had to phone to arrange it for half 8 this was not a problem when we arrived we was shown to our table up stairs as there was 12 of us we had a room to ourselfs and was looked after so well staff where friendly and food was to die for everyone in the group was impressed and we would visit again and again. We rate this place 100 out of 100 wine is a good price and the champane lovely £40 bottle great.
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sharon cook
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Friday, September 09, 2011

Went to this restaurant on Wednesday lunch with a group of girls on a "school reunion". The staff couldn't have been more helpful and accommodating. General view from everyone in party that food was very good, especially as we all went for the fixed menu. 2 courses, then off course we all added a pudding!!!! Great value for money. Will definitely be back. I may even contemplate introducing my husband to this great find when we do a theatre trip to London. Highly recommended.
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Margaret Avis
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Friday, August 26, 2011

Went to Cafe Des Amis for the first time about a month ago and had a pasta starter, delicious and my husbands french onion soup was very nice. I then got the lamb which was so fatty I had to complain and it was taken off the bill. My husbands chicken breast and tagliatelle was lovely though. I went again with some friends and the red tuna steak was so bland it was like the taste had been deliberately sucked out. My friends duck was equally unimpressive. It's a shame because the restaurant has a nice ambience but the food I have had leaves something to be desired.
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4 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 4
Saturday, June 18, 2011

Star quality food for a very reasonable price. Simple.

When we return to London, we'll come back to this place.
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10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, June 06, 2011

Nice table settings and a good starter. But what dry fishcakes for the main course. The side salad was limp and unappealing. The service was slow but also uninterested. Bad smell coming from downstairs 'winebar' next to the toilets.
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2 Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 1
Saturday, June 04, 2011

I had dinner for two at Cafe Des Amis last night. It is a wonderful place and in such a great location. We had drinks at the bar before going upstairs to the main restaurant. The menu had an excellent variety and the food we ordered was superb.

However, if you're looking for somewhere with good service then this is probably not the place to go. The staff are quite charming and helpful but are not assigned to any tables in particular and, as a result, requests take quite a long time before they're met. They were also a bit cheeky in presenting me with my bill, despite the 50% off offer which is advertised on their website. The head waiter was very surly with me when I asked for the discount and gave me evils until we left. The waitress also asked me if I'd found the service good and that if I had then I should leave a large tip!

If you're looking for good food and great atmosphere and don't mind not having high quality service then I'd definitely recommend Cafe Des Amis. It was packed, even on a Tuesday night, which says something.
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James Russell Stoneham
6 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 7
Wednesday, December 15, 2010

We had the £12.50 lunch menu. We had excellent food and the service was impeccable. This is a proper restaurant and I was worried we would be patronised for having a bargain meal. For the starter my friend, who is from southern Spain, had squid and we both agreed it was the best we had, anywhere. The Normandy moules were delicately flavoured, and the kitchen didnt skimp on ingredients for the rich creamy sauce. The mains, linguine and steak were also full of flavour, and all this was washed down with a great glass of, inclusive, red. If you are in Covent Garden, and this offer is still on, I cant see you could resist it!
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Mark Oxley
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Saturday, November 13, 2010