Aubaine (Regent St)

A table for 8 people on a Saturday night was booked with only a days notice-we should have known something was up.

We arrived and the place was practically empty-one other table for 2. The decor was nice and the menu looked good so we were ok with the lack of other diners. We ordered the food from a member of staff who didnt understand us/didnt seem to care either way. Most of the group didn’t want a starter so two of us decided to split one. They didn’t comprehend this and thought the whole table of eight wanted to share one starter-they snickered at each other and gave us all side plates and knives and forks-the silence was deafening as we were all feeling very awkward. We ordered a bottle of 2010 wine but it came out and it was a different year- 2008, I questioned this and he said 'its the same thing' as if I was stupid to even ask. The disgusting crab and avocado starter arrived with a smell of rubbish/feet-really offputting. The mains were all luke warm with the steaks overdone.

The restaurant was very cold. There was an awful smell of sewage/rubbish coming from somewhere-we asked about this and they said it was from the street outside. Funny that-there was no smell outside when we left. The place seemed to get colder and the smell worse as the night wore on...there were about 5 staff to our one table and they were so arrogant it was shocking. They all stared at us and didn’t even try to hide the fact they were speaking about us. I went downstairs to use the bathroom and there was a liquid trail going down the stairs which was from a bin.

On top of all this, the main door kept opening and the staff could see this but wouldn’t close it unless we requested them to, and when they did it was made into quite a big deal with some eye rolling thrown in and the door kept opening again by itself. They began clearing off all the cutlery and candles from the other tables at about 9.15 and bringing in the plants from outside the front-clearly wanted us to leave. The staff were just incredibly rude. The bill was brought to the table without us asking....the whole experience was very very poor-and very overpriced because the food was simply not good. We asked why they were so quiet (it was bizarre-in Soho, London on a Saturday night to have only two tables?) and their excuse was another place opened nearby-we were on regents street there will always be competition!

It was one of those meals that is painful to pay for because the experience was just so bad-I felt disappointed to have brought visiting friends to a place like this with all the other great spots in London! Save your money and go somewhere else.
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deebee - View all reviews by this user
1 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 1
Tuesday, October 02, 2012

Very average, bland food but service was good.
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5 Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 2
Thursday, April 12, 2012

I booked a table Aubaine yesterday over a telephone and during this process a member of their team asked for my e-mail address and my job role, given they already knew which company I was calling from. At no point did she say that these details would be used for advertisements and that I would be added to e-mailing list. This morning I received an e-mail from their company with a welcome to their e-mail club. I thought the detail was given for booking a table and I definitely did not opt in to any e-mails.

Needless to say it is not acceptable to add anyone to an e-mail list without asking and receiving their consent to this! I have had many enjoyable dinners at the restaurant in the past but something has happened during the last months as the prices have gone up and their service has become slow and non-existent. Far cry from days when they had reasonable prices and great staff.

Be careful of the dubious ways of adding you to their e-mail list if you do decide to go there!
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2 Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 1
Friday, August 12, 2011

Things have clearly changed since the last review in Dec. 2010...

We chose Aubaine because all the other restaurants in Heddon St. were crowded and it wasn't: we should have guessed why...

The food was acceptable, but cold and overpriced (though it is just off Regent St.). The wine list was fine and probably priced at the higher side of average.

The waiting staff were perfectly pleasant, but didn't seem at all experienced, which created a poor impression.

The low point came with the arrival of ketchup and mayonnaise both in little Heinz pots! Even if Heinz were a French company, this would still have been totally unacceptable. The lack of presentation is one thing, but for a "French" restaurant to serve Heinz mayonnaise.. !! When we asked for some French mustard, the waiter told us there was none. I called over the maitre d', who told me that the order had not yet arrived. When I pointed out that they sell Maille mustard at the Tesco down the road, he shrugged. However, to his credit, we were not charged for one main course.

In short, a well-located, nice-looking restaurant let down by indifferent food and mediocre service. Not at all an authentic French experience. What a shame.
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R - View all reviews by this user
4 Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 3
Friday, July 08, 2011

This restaurant had a warm and welcoming service. The food was amazing and the options of dessert could not be faulted.

An all round excellent experience again
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Alveena Butt
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Friday, December 10, 2010

Poor service. Poor value. Location good. Food once it arrived average.
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Dave Peacock
2 Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 0
Monday, July 05, 2010

went in terrasse for a quick lunch.... great food and reasonably priced (the best value for money in heddon street) compared to the other restaurants in the street. service can be a bit slow but the staff is friendly.

i have the aged ribeye and it was great meat, my friend have a simple but lovely lobster spaghetti.... desserts are a must have.
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8 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 7
Friday, June 18, 2010

went in aubaine heddon for a lunch...food was lovely, great dessert selection and the staff is really frendly.

i recommend this restaurant to people looking for a friendly place in central london
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8 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Saturday, June 12, 2010