Metro Garden Restaurant & Bar

I was at the same party as the reviewer below and agree with all his points: incredibly slow service, serving wine beyond the quota without alerting us, excessive bill in light of the £35 agreed, agressive response of staff.

Catering for a party of 40 was obviously beyond the capacity of the kitchen. They knew we were coming, there was a set menu, yet it took over an hour for the staff to even take our orders. Then when the food eventually started to arrive, there were the inevitable few people kept waiting until practically everyone else had finished eating. I'd suggest that Metro doesn't accept bookings for such large groups if they can't employ enough kitchen/front of house staff to get the food out efficiently.

The food was average-good and the venue itself is attractive, with a cosy main restaurant and pretty marquee area at the back where we were seated. Unfortunately though, the surroundings didn't make up for all the shortcomings.

Overall, Metro is yet another example of the problem with so many London restaurants - it overcharges and underdelivers. Which is a shame, because it has a lot of potential if it could just be a bit more realistic about what it can deliver and what customers expect for their money.
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Hannah C.
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 1
Wednesday, March 14, 2007

We went to Metro for a friend's birthday. We had agreed on a set menu, with wine, at £35.

In the end we are all charged £47.30 each because we had 'drunk more wine than allotted'. This may be true, but we were not told when we had reached our 'quota' and also there is no way we each drank that much extra. A large number of people were not drinking at all.

The service was poor (2.5 hour wait for main course- no wonder we drank more!), the food average, the portions small. When we complained the staff were aggressive in defence.

All in all- terrible.

A shame, as the venue is great.

Luckily we had a good night with all our friends, but this restaurant tried their best to ruin it.
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Brian
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 1
Sunday, February 18, 2007

I love this resturant. The chilled atmosphere and the garden makes for a lovely place for a romantic meal or sunday lunch with my girlfriends.

£10 ish for the roast lamb or beef was well worth it.

I recommend it.
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Bex Craig
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Friday, February 09, 2007

I had the Christmas menu. The starter deep fried brie was served up looking like three fish fingers with bit cheap lettuce on the side. The main dish was sea bass. The thin slice of over cooked fish served to me had been plonked on top of a load of badly cooked potatoes. The so called sherry trifle consisted of plain jelly topped with custard and cream.

The staff seemed to be all over the place.

Disgusting food at Clapham prices.
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F.Carroll
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 0
Sunday, December 24, 2006

My friend and I went to this restaurant around 12 months ago and thoroughly enjoyed the food and atmosphere. After a recent visit on the weekend I was stunned at exactly how terrible it had become – I’d like to say that maybe the chef was having a bad night, but from the general reviews posted here I guess it is just not the case and the standards have dropped dramatically.

Generally the service was friendly and welcoming. The starters arrived quite promptly but my 3 prawns served on a large serving on lettuce were dry and chewy and my friend’s soup had missed the micro-wave entirely – it was fridge cold! After the soup was reheated we waited an inordinate amount of time for our relative simple mains. My chicken was again dry and chewy, and my friend was unimpressed with his main.

The evening was redeemed by a beautiful bottle of South African red, but that was not enough for us to be bothered to return again. It was expensive for what it was and highly disappointing, especially considering the great night we had around 12 months ago.
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Jennifer
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 2
Monday, October 30, 2006

We were a group of six cebrating a birthday.....and what an awful experience. Do not believe any positive reviews.

In fairness the food was poor-average but waiting nearly two hours for everyone to get their mains was unforgivable. And, no the dishes didnt arrive at the same time. Two had finished by the time the last arrived. We asked for a discount, but the management were not interested claimingthey were 'very busy'. So what! Thats not my problem. We left refusing to pay any tip/service charge.

Bad restaurant management and cusomer service. Dont go there.
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paul
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 1
Sunday, August 20, 2006

The Metro is a restaurant that you either love or hate. If you want a quick meal with perfect silver service then you will be sorely disappointed. If, however, you want to make an evening of a meal then this is a first class choice. The staff are relaxed and friendly and never in a rush; you never feel pressurised to finish your course and you have time to enjoy it, let the food settle and enjoy the company of your guest(s) betweek courses.

I have had many a good meal here which has started at 7pm and finished at chucking out time with cocktails to start and a good port to finish. My guests have never left disappointed and many of them have gone back with their own friends despite often not living in the area.

The menu is varied and changes often and they have an excellent specials board as well - although their mushroom risotto which is sometimes on the specials is, I think, the best risotto that I have had in London - which is high praise from an avowed carnivore such as myself.
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Toby Bryans
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 7
Sunday, August 13, 2006

Terrible would be polite! If it wasn't for drunk passing crowd this place would be empty. Service is auful, staff are rude and the music is far too loud and belongs in an all night rave. The worst thying is the cost of it all, let alone the pathetic portions. On paper it all sounds like a romantic night out but very few people ever return for a second helping of whats fastly becoming one of londons biggest let downs!!
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Marc
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Friday, June 30, 2006

Went here as a spur of moment thing - it was AWESOME. The service was impeccable and food out of this world and atmosphere delightful. Would recommend this wholeheartedly (and in fact have). Quite pricey I guess but on the whole well worth it!
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Emma
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 4
Wednesday, June 14, 2006

Our new favourite place - worth a 40 minute drive for an early Sunday dinner. This is a relaxed but utterly delicious neighbourhood joint, so don't be shocked if there are crumbs on your seat when you arrive. We think we are fussy about the things that count. Service was very welcoming (we were late); and accommodating (replaced a glass of champagne served two minutes too early without grumble). Am a dedicated risotto cook - this place was one of the few that have really impressed me. Fresh watermelon martini and passion-fruit cheesecake were also highlights. And the setting is quietly magical. £30 a head.
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SG
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Sunday, June 11, 2006