Rivington Bar & Grill (Shoreditch)

I have always loved this place although I haven't been for a few years. The food was still good but being a vegetarian it was very disappointing that the previous full vegetarian menu is gone and there was only one starter and one main. My other half asked if there were any other dishes that could be adapted and the waitress said no.
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7 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Sunday, July 10, 2011

Went on a Sunday night. Service cool/off-hand to fine. Waited 5 mins for someone to take a drinks order then gave up and stopped the waiter. Food not good. I had a smoked salmon salad with various mild flavoured veg spoiled by an overpowering mustard dressing. My friend's sea bass was over cooked, as per someone else's comment below. I wouldn't go back given that, reading these reviews, my experience seems entirely typical. Why don't the people running these places read the reviews and do something about them?
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Joe
5 Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 4
Monday, May 30, 2011

Oh dear. Service was friendly enough, but the food didn't cut the mustard, and was pretty slow to arrive.

£7 potted shrimps to start. But rather than the usual shrimps served in cold, hard, shards of butter they were just warm shrimps on a piece of toast. Bizarre. Maybe this is their unique take on this but no thanks!

Main of roast chicken was dry and lacking in flavour and the roast potatoes dry, not particularly crisp either - but saved by a gravy that had good savoury flavour. Interesting stuffing with chicken livers in was different but let's be honest the main part of the dish was a failure.

Wouldn't really have much of a desire to go back there.
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Richard - View all reviews by this user
5 Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 4
Sunday, February 27, 2011

A group of ten for 9pm sitting, last Thursday 16th Dec. Starters were good for those that had them. Smoked duck pate with toast and piccalilli was fantastic. Looking forward to a nice rare Bannockburn rib steak (£27.50) with Chips, three other people had same. On first cut my steak was blue...which I didn't mind. But when tasted, it was cold! The other three were the same.

When we complained, the waiter seemed very nonchalant and we asked him to take it seriously. The waitress apologised and offered further cooking . I'm pretty sure mine was microwaved it came back so quickly. Vegetables arrived when main course had finished.

7 of us had problems with main courses, one had to re-order and two were completely satisfied.

Whom I regarded as the manager, gave us three steaks discount, but the bill was still £41 per head. Included 4 bottles of house wine. A little bit steep for the quality. 80% disappointment. Would not recommend.
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2 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 0
Sunday, December 19, 2010

A group of us ate here Friday night and while the service was very good (our waiter was excellent - helpful, friendly and knowledgable) the food didn't justify the price tag. The rib eye steak was £26 and just wasn't good enough to justify that price.

There are lots of restaurant in London that provide twice the quality at half the price and we won't be coming here again.
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Simon
5 Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 2
Monday, February 22, 2010

My boyfriend and I thought we'd treat ourselves to a nice meal out and so we pushed the boat out as we'd heard the Rivington Bar & Grill was very good.

On the food front there were no complaints - it was all very lovely, however the snooty service left us feeling like a pair of scolded children...not a pleasant experience and we won't be going there again.
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4 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 4
Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Unfortunately, what would have been a pleasant meal was spoiled by the waiter's curt and superior attitude to customer service. I notice from reading the reviews, here, that others have had a similar experience. The waitress, who also served us, was very pleasant and friendly, on the other hand, and did not seem at all surprised when we remarked on his attitude - we only decided not to walk out as she apologised on his behalf. Before I could get round to ordering wine, I asked for a bottle of water for my friend who was driving which seemed to irritate the waiter. He abruptly interrupted and questioned whether or not we were intending to have wine - with such a tone as to imply that we were beneath contempt if we did not order a bottle with our lunchtime meal. I have eaten in top Michelin star restaurants in London where staff were a lot less pompous and superior.
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3 Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 2
Wednesday, August 05, 2009