Brian Turner Mayfair

Hideous. Service was indifferent. Food was not fresh. Overall disappointing. Not worth any money really.
Comment on this reader review

Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 4
Tuesday, April 22, 2008

My friend and I ate here this week, and had a fabulous meal, in fact my friend described it as "the best meal I've ever had".

The service is not 'in your face' - I like that. I suppose there are those who feel that they have not had a top class meal unless the staff grovel and fawn on them; I'm not one of them, and I prefer the cool reserve of the Brian Turner staff to the osentatious display of service in, for example, The Savoy. We were welcomed, we were served promptly, we were asked if we enjoyed our food and if there was anything else required - what more is needed? I went out to enjoy the company of my friend, not the staff.

Great plus points about the restaurant were: striking black and cream decor, floral arrangements on each table, full linen tablecloths (yes! I refuse to eat off bare wood, take note, trendy restaurants!), muted lighting and, best of all, THE SPACE BETWEEN THE TABLES. For anyone who's had their dining experience ruined by being crammed into a tiny space and subjected to the noisy conversation of the next table, this was heaven: a full three metres between tables, and all the privacy you could wish for.

We had champagne, too: it wasn't warm, it was great. We were also served complimentary Bloody Marys, with crushed ice and a crayfish on the top - a nice touch! The food was superb and everything you could ask for: perfect sauces, piquant tastes, vegetables not overcooked, melt-in-the-mouth fish, and puddings that were out of this world! I only wish I could cook as well - but that's what you pay for; and believe me, this restaurant delivers.

Why on earth would people object to Brian Turner showing his guests the great courtesy of personally enquiring if they were enjoying their evening? I thought it was a lovely thing to do; my friend, who watches TV and knows his programme, was delighted.

I would recommend this restaurant to anyone. The food is excellent.
Comment on this reader review

Corey
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Saturday, February 16, 2008

I celebrated a really good evening at this restaurant for my 60th birthday. Surroundings were comfortable and discrete , service second to none , marvellous food beautifully presented and all my family loved it. The presence of Brian Turner to supervise the was a big plus and extremely courteous. Recommended +++ .
Comment on this reader review

Dr Anthony John Warren
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Saturday, January 05, 2008

What a shame!

Great restaurant

Fantastic food

All let down by the sommelier. He is such a snob and will not give you the time of the day, he is far to busy to discuss wine with customers.

When I go to a top class restaurant (as this is supposed to be) we expect to be almost entertained by the sommeliers knowledge of wines. This one was either clueless or secretive, neither of which are a good quality to have for the position

My advice? Find out when he is on a night off.
Comment on this reader review

Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 2
Sunday, December 23, 2007

Brian Turner should spend more time in the kitchen checking the food coming out rather than waltzing around the restaurant saying hi to everyone or leaning on the bar.

The champagne was served warm. When I told the waiter, he just laughed at me!

The food was flavorless and bland. The sweet corn mouse tasted only of egg and completely lacked any seasoning. There was the faintest hint of truffle in the truffle mash. The “Brian Turner Fat Chips” served on the side were not cooked nor was the chocolate and coffee bread and butter pudding which was just awful. Tasted like they had added nesquick to it!

All in all the food is bland. I felt like it was an evening wasted.

I was surprised that there were so many good reviews for this restaurant. I can see why though. It’s a lovely hotel, lovely restaurant and almost all the staff were extremely nice. All let down by the kitchens bland food.

Our food waiter must have been trained at a chain restaurant. He had no manners at all. Very disappointing experience!
Comment on this reader review

J Hyde
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Thursday, December 13, 2007

What a huge disappointment! The champagne was terribly warm and the sommelier thought I was being funny when told him so. Not a good start. The starter (seared tuna) was good but nothing extraordinary. For main I had rump of lamb which was very tasty...shame about the rest on the plate though. The mash was runny and tasteless and half of boiled potato with few runner beans on top totally lacked seasoning. I could not taste any truffle sauce either. I decided it to give it another chance with dessert. What a mistake! I ordered chocolate and coffee bread and butter pudding. I think it's the first time I can't finish a dessert. There was no custard at all and the pudding was seriously soggy and undercooked...still...where is the flavour gone? I forgot to mention the side order. The turner fat chips were left untouched as they were not properly cooked.

The service overall was quite poor. I could tell my waiter knew I was not enjoying the whole experience and did not even ask if I was happy with the food. I totally gave up on saying something as his attitude really put me off. I probably had very high expectations from this place but all I can say I will not be back. If I was after a below than average meal then probably this would have been the right place.
Comment on this reader review

Stefano
Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 5
Thursday, December 13, 2007

2 puddings!!!!!!

excellent, excellent, excellent, Dined here on 23 august 2007, me n mum, lovley staff, really friendly, had venison and lamb, then couldnt decide on the puddings so had 2 each, pear crumble - DELICIOUS, choc pudding each DELICIOUS, blueberry curd tart DELICIOUS -

attention to detail wonderful - and icing on cake - BRIAN TURNER HIMSELF, posed for a picture. and had a chat with us.

made our night.

better than claridges - nicer room , nicer staff, bigger portions -

definately go back again

jue n mum - stoke on trent
Comment on this reader review

julie hancock and mum Bes dunn
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Friday, August 24, 2007

I went here on Saturday night as part of a party of four. We felt the ambience was superb and the setting was part of the exclusive Millennium Hotel. We were shown to our table by a very friendly Matre De. We were then given the Menu and WIne List and given time to peruse. Orders were given and we were then presented with a free glass of bubbly and Hors D'Ouvres courtesy of the Chef who that night was Brian Turner himself, who by the way took time to go round all parties asking them if they were happy with their meal and was making sure everything was ok. All the staff including Brian were friendly especially the Somellier. Our 4 starters consisted of Rare Beef on a Rocket Salad, Scallops and Potato Dumplings, Smoked Haddock and Crayfish Pancakes and Rosemary Marinated Tiger Prawns with Crab Salad - everyone was more than satisfied with the starters that proved to be only the start of a delicious meal. The 4 mains were Venison with Pear and Chocolate, Halibut with Mussels and Spicy Sausage, Italian Aubergine and Fillet of Beef - all again cooked to perfection and extremely filling. For Dessert three of us had a decadent Soft Centred Chocolate Pudding with 'Jaffa Cake' Ice Cream and the other had a very varied and well presented Cheeseboard. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone and to see Brian Turner at work rather than just being a name at the head of the menu was a big plus for us.
Comment on this reader review

Dan Holland - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Sunday, August 12, 2007

I've always liked the look of Turner's food on TV so a visit to his Mayfair restaurant should have been an enjoyable evening. It wasn't! The crab and prawn sald was badly let down by crab that was so full of pieces of shell as to be inedible. The duck breast that followed was rubbery and the vegtables dry and uninspiring. A complaint to the waiter brought an indifferent shrug. Mr Turner was much in evidence in the bar - sadly he seemed to more interested in making lewd and suggestive remarks to female diners than in attending to his trade. Very disappointing - an experience to be missed saved only by the raspberry kyprenia!
Comment on this reader review

Andy Duffield
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 2
Tuesday, July 31, 2007

We came here as a party of four, on the 3 courses for £28.50. The service was impeccable. It was quite quiet when we went (8pm on a saturday night) but the furnishings were neutral and inoffensive. The toptable set menu was limited to 3 choices per course which i felt was plenty. Started with a great (and very rich) fois gras, then had the roasted gilt head sea bream, which was outstanding. We were all too full for dessert, and so we were charged the two course meal for £24.50 instead. It came to £50 a head for the meal, a bottle of wine and a champagne cocktail each. It was also nice that Brian Turner came out to say hello to everyone.

I'd definitely recommend it.
Comment on this reader review

Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 7
Sunday, June 03, 2007