Le Cafe Anglais

My first visit, for lunch, was a great success. An excellent dining room, enhanced by large windows, is situated on the first floor, so that you avoid the somewhat depressing ground-level view just off Queensway.

The menu was extensive, but full of variety and interest, without being pretentious. Crab and avocado salad, followed by pheasant, were of a high standard and my companion's partridge received rave reviews. Service was attentive, professional and knowledgeable, and informal without being over-friendly.

The restaurant was hardly half-full, so I cannot judge the atmosphere and service when it is busy, which others have mentioned, both favourably and unfavourably.

A good spot for a business lunch, but perhaps a trifle bland for a more social meeting, unless it is with granny.

The prices are on the high side, although about par for the course for this type of restaurant: still, I wasn't paying!
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James - View all reviews by this user
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Thursday, November 26, 2009

Took my girlfriend there on Friday the 30th of October, and had a great time. I dont think that I've been to a resturant with as good of an atmosphere as this one in a long time.

The service could have been a little faster, but the food was very good, as was the wine, and the waiters who served us very friendly.

We both loved it, and would definantly go back there again.
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Josh - View all reviews by this user
8 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 7
Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Went on Sat 28 March 2009. The food was everything we hoped for - the Jay Rayner review being spot on - I won't cover that again.

Despite the food being excellent, the restaurant lively and the decor oddly (pastel green leather) appealing, I did have a massive problem at the end of the meal. After being asked if I would like to see the dessert menu I replied that I would because I had been looking foward to that all day. I took about 2 minutes to make up my mind and then spent (literally) the next 25 minutes trying to get somebody's - anybody's - attention to order. This was impossible.

In the end I had to fold up the menus and hold them in the air above my head before somebody came over to see what I wanted. At that point I told them I wanted the bill with the service charge removed. No dessert and no coffee thanks. I'd love to have spent another hour there but Sunday was swiftly approaching.

There followed a faintly half-hearted apology, especially considering this was a £115 bill for two (no puds). The issue appeared to be that there just aren't enough staff. The one visible manager (guy in a suit) appeared to be having to muck in with the waiting staff and was not performing his own role co-ordinating service.

Excellent place and will go back but they really need to sort this out.
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John
7 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Monday, March 30, 2009

I was taken to Cafe Anglais for my birthday and came away with mixed feelings. We had a lovely evening - the setting was wonderful art deco, the staff friendly and some of the food really interesting. But some of it just wasn't that amazing. The starter/appertisers were great (but having read reviews of the food I insisted my bofriend ordered the pike boudin - poor bloke had to eat tepid fishy mousse type stuff - probably is a great dish but not one he relished), the anchovy toast with parmesan custard was really tasty and interesting. The main courses of roast dinners were good but not memorable. My rack of lamb was well flavoured but my boyfriend's suckling pig was a bit bland - perhaps that is just how suckling pig is? I'm not sure. Desserts were ok. But a glamorous evening none the less.
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SE - View all reviews by this user
7 Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 6
Tuesday, February 10, 2009