what the critics say

AA Gill - 4/5

Giles Coren - 6.33/10
your comments review this restaurant and win a bottle of champagne
We dined at the Harwood Arms tonight after hearing and reading overwhelming reviews about the place. Firstly the food undoubtably was a stand out, for a gastropub to be producing award winning food like it is is something to be reckoned. Their famous scotch egg definitely lived up to its name with the soft boiled centre and the rest of the meal continued along the same line.
As for the staff i thought they were welcoming and pleasant, it wasn't hard to see that with a full house and christmas drinkers, at times they were a bit pushed but they seemed to cope well. Over all i would go back again and would definitely recommend this place to anyone who wants to eat top restaurant quality food but still feel at home in that pub environment.
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John
Overall rating ![]()
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Thursday, December 17, 2009
The food is excellent and the new and interesting dishes they provide is great. The prsentation of the food is outstanding and the quality exceptionally high. Recomendations are the pigs trotters, pork belly and snails. We are regulars at the Harwood Arms and live on the adjacent road, so it is with regret that we have to write this report. So the food is fantastic but however all of this is let down badly by one thing - the staff. The bar staff are miserable, we were last served by a couple who openly argued with each other in front of us, they did not smile once and served us begrudgingly. For a client facing role, they were truly appalling. This is not a one off as previous bar staff have been the same. The waitresses are not unpleasant but they are not welcoming or do not go that extra mile to make your meal special. The one redeeming member of staff was the male manager who seemed to appreciate what good service is, but he is one person in a team of 6-8. If the Harwood Arms wants to live up to the reputation they seem to have built up, they seriously need to review their hiring policy when it comes to the staff.
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Pat
Overall rating ![]()
Food 9 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Saturday, December 12, 2009
My all time favourite pub. Excellent food. Love the wine list. And the fact that they have London Pride...mmm...
Even though I've eaten there on numerous occasions I still get excited like a giddy schoolgirl whenever I dine there.
Just their snack menu:Venison Scotch Egg and Smoked Trout Croquettes IS to die for. Could live on those too alone. And working in catering industry myself:I have to admit that i wish i could be their employee. Just the pride they must be feeling working in such an amazing place.
@Graham:Honey,I don't know whether you were drunk when writing the review or what,but to call their food overpriced is absolutely ridiculous. Your staple diet must be Mc Donalds burger(retail price:99p) if you think that paying 15.75£(which by the way is what you would ruffly pay for a main course in any other decent restaurant in town) for a rabbit stew cooked so superbly that i wish i could capsule that moment in a bottle and take it home with me and then rejoice in it over and over an over again(or any other dish of Harwood Arms menu) is too much.
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Isabella
Overall rating ![]()
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Saturday, November 28, 2009
I shall not return to this backstreet bar with food as the greeting I had last night was so awful and unprofessional. The staff seriously need to learn that they are in a service industry. The food is so over priced the owners need to understand they are running a backstreet pub in Fulham, not the Waterside Inn. Dreadful.
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Graham
Overall rating ![]()
Food 3 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 0
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Been here a few times over the last year and have to say it has been consistently good.
the food reads simple honest pub fare but is actually executed to a restaurant standard
never been disappointed here in 6 visits
hearty meat dishes a speciality. good beers on draught
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The Shrimp
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Overall rating ![]()
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Wow ! This place is a fantastic discovery. The food is just sensational, the wine list very reasonable, friendly service, and altogether a great pleasure to discover. I had some sort of game scotch egg to start followed by venison and mash. We stayed there all afternoon drinking wine and were delighted to only be charged £65 each. The Harwood Arms will definitely become a regular haunt for me.
My only criticism is that I can see how it could become too noisy in the evening. There are not many tables and I imagine that the noise from the bar area could get a bit over bearing at night. Still, no such problems were experienced on a friday lunchtime and I'm thoroughly looking forward to my next visit.
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Jimmy
Overall rating ![]()
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, September 08, 2009
We dined at the Harwood Arms tonight and left decidedly underwhelmed. I think the 'waiter' visited our table less than 3 times during the entire meal and the staff really did not seem at all on top of their game (bread, salt, pepper and cutlery had to be requested). Food was good, but once it finally arrived it did not seem to deserve rapturous praise that other critics on this site have given it. Wine list was limited - at first glance Champagnes dominate the first page with the tiniest 'by the glass' selection that I have ever seen in a pub at the bottom. In no rush to return I'm afraid. A shame as I had heard really good things about this place.
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Julia
Overall rating ![]()
Food 5 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 5
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Having written a less than happy review the first time I visited the Harwood Arms at the beginning of May I am pleased to be able to return to this site to write a much happier one. At the invitation of The Harwood Arms I returned at the end of May with my two daughters where we had the most divine dining experience. Yes of course we were given very special attention and generosity but none of this would have counted a jot were it not for the most exquisite food and delicious wines that we were fortunate enough to consume. The table next to us ate the same main course and it was out of this world. The food is in a completely diffferent category from any other I have eaten but it is not prissy or mucked about. It's the finest ingredients cooked by a genius. We had a fabulous time and will return on my next foray up to the big smoke from the seaside where I live.
I still do have slight concerns about noise levels commented on by other reviewers. On my second visit the pub was serene and we also had a table tucked away as far from the bar as possible. The pub was mostly full of diners whilst we were there and they were not inclined to shout at each other while they ate. Would an upstairs dining area be a welcome addition? however, do go and do eat the most sublime food ever!
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Helene Webber
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Overall rating ![]()
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Sunday, May 31, 2009
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