Hix Oyster & Chop House

I reserved a table at Hix Oyster and Chop House for my husband and a Japanese friend for dinner. We live in the Barbican but had never been to Hix before. Firstly reserving the table by phone was a very pleasant experience, no waiting on the line and a very friendly lady took my reservation.

We took our own wine to the restaurant which they allow you to do, this a real benefit. The actual restaurant is very pretty, somehow you feel as if you are in France and it does smell great.

All three of us had the same, we started cuttlefish with peas and bacon, really tasty and then followed it by Steak Tartar, also delicious. The chips which we ordered as a side dish are wonderful. All portions are very generous.

The service was throughout perfect, a really nice experience. Our Japanese visitor loved Hix and my husband and myself will certainly return.
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Claudia - View all reviews by this user
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, August 07, 2012

It is noticeable how the average review of this place becomes lower the longer the restaurant has been open and the further Mark Hix has spread himself across London. It is unsurprising, I suppose, that the Oyster and Chop House should start to feel a little unloved.

And it does. Half of the things I wanted to eat were all consumed at lunch, leaving none for the dinner service. Very disappointing. I went for the steak and oyster pie, which was a formidably rich bit of old british cooking. With only one oyster (which felt like a bit of a con, really).

The other food was so-so. Worth about half of what is charged for it, and delivered by pretty hapless staff, who appeared not to know that simply saying "sorry" sometimes goes a long way.

I won't be returning, and I won't be recommending it to anybody else. Average and expensive.
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4 Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 2
Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Went for lunch with 2 colleagues. My starter of potted prawns were not what i was expecting, and were a little too saucy, although very tasty (but i would have preferred less salt). My friends nettle soup with poached egg was lovely, but tasted pretty much like the one's we used to make at home (very easy!). main of beef and oyster pie had no oyster in it, it tasted like a good steak pie, although there was definitely too much salt for my liking and i couldn't finish it as a result. My side order of champ was good, although one of my friends who had mashed potato was so salty it tasted like eating teaspoons of salt. Not one of us could eat it, and one of my friend loves salt and all things unhealthy. it was even too much for her.

The Bakewell tart that we shared for pudding was amazing and i wished i'd missed the starter and main and just eaten two puddings instead.

Food is better in a good gastro pub. i would be unlikely to go back, not even for the very tasty oysters.
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6 Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 4
Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Went for 10th wedding anniversary for lunch. Took 7 year old soon too. Staff were friendly and helpful and were able to offer half portions for him which he thoroughly enjoyed.

On the plus side the waitress we had was friendly. My son's fishfingers and chips were good and the crackling was excellent. The one pudding we ordered was also very good and the hix stout went very well with the oysters.

We had 8 oysters between 2 which were lovely but there was loose shell on them which was a bit unpleasant when you got a mouthfull of it!!

We both had steak a rib and another cut which I don't remember. The steak was cooked well but like others have said here it wasn't the greatest we have had and that is what we were both expecting. I also object to having to pay seperately for sides when spending £30 on one steak. We ordered one side which was sprout tops and they were very good.

The wine list whilst long did not give much away on each wine - a clue to the grape variety would be helpful to those who are not very knowledgeable. As it was we asked our waitress for a recommendation based on our taste and she recommended the most expensive one.

Overall the experience was OK, we would not go back but we are glad that we gave it a go. If you are looking for a great steak there superior ones on offer for good seafood go to Bentleys.
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Clare Blake
6 Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 4
Friday, October 29, 2010

I liked the place. The setup is great, service excellent and food overall very good. The steak (we shared a Porterhouse) wasn't the best in town, but still pretty acceptable and cooked to perfection. Will definitely be going again. PS: Wine list so and so.
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Pascal
9 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Monday, October 18, 2010

Went there last night Wednesday 8th September. Noisy very overcrowded place made the atmosphere almost unpleasant. Considering the volume of diners in the place and lack of space for the staff to move around, service was prompt and attentive. We were two and starters were shellfish soup which was mediocre, but certainly better than a Mashed spuds and mushroom concoction (who thought that one up!). Main course were faultless steaks which were excellent, and cooked exactly to order. Both puddings looked exactly the same - apple pie and Victoria pudding. Both frankly were insipid, with heavy thick butter pastry that was indigestible judging by the fact that it it still sitting firmly in the same place that it was at 9pm last night! The chef that made the custard that went with the Victoria pudding needs to be sent for re-training, as what was served as custard was separated and curdled. Not an experience I would wish to repeat i am afraid.
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John
5 Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 4
Thursday, September 09, 2010

Would not recommend this restaurant to friends - service was a mixture of friendly waiter/bolshy waitress. The menu didn't impress - my main was breaded pork with duck egg and capers - pork was dry and overwhelmed by the egg and capers). Asparagus was good though. We went at 5.30pm so we didn't get a sense of the ambience (as it was empty). Meal cost £130 for two - and it felt like a waste of good money. I'd rather go to a good cafe for a fry-up for a tenner - makes sense.

Please note: I contacted the restaurant about my experience of the service and received no response.
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Francoise
2 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 0
Saturday, August 21, 2010