Vanilla Black

My wife and I went to Vanilla Black for Iunch.

As we are both vegetarians - it was great not to have to look through a whole menu to find something we could eat. Guess what we didn't have to have mushroom risotto or a pasta dish !!!

The food was delicious and the presentation on the plate was artistic.

The starter of Gold Potato Cakes were excellent but then again so was the main course and the dessert.

I would give this restaurant a 10 out of 10.

The staff were friendly. The restaurant was beautifully decorated in a contemporary style.

We will definately be going back to this restaurant.
Comment on this reader review

Paul
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Friday, November 25, 2011

I went here last week with my partner for my birthday. After reading a few of the reviews I knew the food would be good, it was only the atmosphere I was concerned with. After eating her I can honestly say the food surpassed my expectations, the ideas they come up with is not something i would ever try at home, but yet tasted delicious. We had the 3 courses for £32 along with a nice bottle of wine, which was recommended by our waitress and didn't disappoint. For what you get its a reasonable price. Yes you are paying for vegetarian food, but lets not forget that it is a Michelin awarded restaurant, which means they can charge whatever they like, yet the keep the food at very fair prices. The room was yes like I'd read a little like a 'reading room' but still warm and pleasant, and not as bad as some reviews have made it out to be. The staff were extremely helpful and very friendly, I couldn't fault any of them. Overall I had a lovely birthday, and would go back there again.
Comment on this reader review

Laura Hogan
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, November 08, 2011

Fantastic place. Am not vegetarian, but I loved it - delicious food and friendly service. Would recommend.
Comment on this reader review

9 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Fantastic Restaurant!

Very modern take on vegetarian food which was enjoyed by the meat eater just as much as the vegetarian within the party.

A bit different and special.

Friendly atmosphere and excellent service!

Would thoroughly recommend!
Comment on this reader review

Vicky Hewett
8 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 6
Monday, August 08, 2011

As a major fan of vegetarian food I was predisposed to liking this place. I wanted to like it so badly...but sadly I just didn't.

The ambiance was great but as soon as the amuse bouche arrived I knew I probably wasn't going to enjoy this... I truly question the judgment of a chef who thinks that serving horseradish jelly as an amuse bouche is a good idea. Quite apart from the fact that it tasted horrendous, it completely annihilated any sensation in my taste buds- which is the exact opposite of what an amuse bouche is supposed to do. It is supposed to whet your appetite for the meal with a subtle and exciting dash of flavour. This one though, just made me want to go home and wash my mouth out.

After about 4 glasses of water and some much needed emotional support from my girlfriend, we received our starter. To be fair the chickpea chips were quite good as were the potato cakes, but neither was anything I would travel any distance to sample again.

The main courses had very little to recommend them. Although some individual components weren't bad, together they clashed and just did not work. So whilst all the instruments were there there was no one conducting the orchestra! The result was a clunky mess of competing flavours or in the case of my girlfriend's dish one element that completely overpowered every other taste.

The chef needs to learn that more is not always better and that in many cases less is more!
Comment on this reader review

DC - View all reviews by this user
6 Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 7
Monday, May 09, 2011

...I forgot to post a review for this place...it's been awhile so I can just say that overall it was very good. I remember the staff as being excellent and the room has a rather calm feel to it.

I'll go back and try it again.
Comment on this reader review

- View all reviews by this user
8 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Thursday, February 03, 2011

I really, really enjoyed Vanilla Black, what a treat as a vegetarian to actually have several choices, none of which being mushroom pasta / risotto. The golden potato cakes were delicious, as were the feta cheesecakes. For mains we went for a blue cheese dish and mushrooms duxelles and both were spot on. We were too full for pudding so I'd love to go back again soon and try one. Ten out of ten. The staff were really friendly and helpful and the wine list was excellent. Would definitely go again.
Comment on this reader review

Emma
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Saturday, October 23, 2010

Two of us went on a Friday night. The free munchies were out of this world.

The tomato soup starter with crunchy chickpeas were magnificent. Best soup we have ever had!! The mains were good and portion sizes were large. We were too full to try the desserts. Service was attentive. The decor was rubbish.
Comment on this reader review

Brent Harris
7 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 8
Monday, October 04, 2010

I absolutely loved Vanilla Black. My husband and I are both vegetarians and eat out a lot. I was livid that he'd booked our guests to a vegetarian restaurant as I felt we were imposing our beliefs on them - how wrong I was. The food was exceptional and delighted us all no end. The food was well-presented with a excellent variety of flavours and textures, which combined well together. Although the menu was perplexing, and although the staff weren't well-informed, we went with a mind that wanted to be surprised rather than having our expectations met. And we were thrilled with our experience and quite glad that we didn't really know what was to come.

The restaurant has a very nice sedate atmosphere, actually peaceful, with staff who were friendly but not imposing - perfect for an quiet, leisurely evening to spend catching up on long lost time.

I left feeling that had the bill come it at more than £200 for four of us, for a three-course meal including wine, I still would have got great value for money.

Cannot wait to go again - and will be taking non-vegetarians with no hint of remorse on this occasion - because there's a lot more I want to experience from their menu.
Comment on this reader review

9 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Friday, October 01, 2010

I have to say this was the worst vegetarian restaurant I have ever been to. I am a vegetarian, so expected great tasting food and was very very disappointed. The food is a million mile away from being anything remotely near to being a taste sensation. I found the food to be lacking in taste, bland and a really boring choice. The portions were beyond what I would term fine dininig and I doubt a 5 year old would have felt fed, never mind an adult.

The staff were attentive ,if a bit wooden and I left there starving having paid way too much money for nothing worth more than a fiver, other than the wine which was really good. There was no atmosphere and I agree with a previous review that it felt more like a reading room than a restaurant.

NEVER AGAIN!! I will stick with The Gate as a treat and Mildreds to feel fed.
Comment on this reader review

Milly Stroud
2 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Thursday, August 26, 2010