The Wells

Nothing special - I am not a local and came all the way from West London to enjoy this supremely rated establishment. However it was not worth the travel, there are plenty of places like this all over London. Pubs who fancy to be restaurants and are not quite sure which direction to take. The food is well executed but not inexpensive. The only really let down is the staff, there is no warmth, no feeling of being special. Another one of the places where you go, eat and leave and are not going back to, unless you live nearby and have no other real options. Leave it to the locals and enjoy London where staff is glad to have you as their customers.
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MF
2 Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 1
Sunday, January 08, 2012

I've eaten here several dozen times in the past 4 years and always come back for more. Yes it is overrun with barking, yelping dogs (which should be thrown out) and yes it has too many kids some of which are not fit for being in public dining places, but the food at this place has been consistently solid for years.

The service is caring and warm. It isn't overbearing, but it is modern attentive and practical. Some of the wait staff have been there for years. That says something about the place.

The owners of this place are doing a great job and I sincerely hope they don't change a thing about this place. The dishes are a delight to my senses.
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Roland Hartwig - View all reviews by this user
9 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Sunday, April 17, 2011

There isn't much wrong with Hampstead today, but there is always room for a tweak here and there. I love the area and have lived here for over a decade, but the increasing march towards pompous, self-important gastropubs - at the expense of characterful, friendly places - is bad news.

Nor do I agree with letting kids run riot in what is essentially a pub, and is still licensed as one (AFAIK). Take your kids to a restaurant, not a pub - and leave somewhere for adults to gather, and enjoy some adult company. The Wells, like so many places, deliberately blurs the distinction to cash in on the best of both worlds, and ends up delivering neither genuine pub nor proper restaurant experience.

The new-look place has been open long enough now to have got it right, not least because of its association with a rather formidable London restaurant critic. The place, unfortunately, is saddled with that air of insouciance that comes with charging high prices to diners who are too unaccustomed to complaining, but who won't come back. In my experience, it's slapdash, snotty and cold.

And for me, that goes against the grain of what Hampstead is meant to be about. It's Hampstead - not Chelsea.
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ade
4 Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 4
Wednesday, November 25, 2009

There is an unfortunate facet to our culture: "only review something when you've had a bad experience". I think The Wells is suffering, unfairly, from this phenomenon. This may be something to do with the fact the locals, while probably a nice bunch, seem to be inclined to complain when the slightest thing does not go their way. Grow up, people. Why don't you stop being so childish and learn to be a bit more flexible? Perhaps you could try running a place like this and see how you manage. It's a pub, not a palace. So I'm writing this to defend this fine establishment.

I adore the decor in this place. It's offbeat but done very well. If you've only visited downstairs, try eating upstairs. It's like a posh restaurant up there. As far as I know, the same menu applies on both floors. Even the toilets are upmarket.

Food has been far above expectations on every visit. I may be wrong here, but it seemed as though the menu changed slightly each time. In any case, both the food and the choices seemed to be quite fresh.

The bill was a little steep for a pub, but I do feel it is justified in this case. You do get what you pay for. It won't break your bank, though, so don't be afraid of going.

As for the service, I can't fault it.

The only genuinely disappointing aspect of this venue is that the drinkers have been squeezed into a tiny area of a few sofas so that the restaurant area can be expanded. This becomes less of a problem late in the evening, when most people are drinking anyway, but it can be an issue in the middle of a hot summer's day!

No-where is perfect. But this place does come quite close. I'll be there again soon.
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Alan Ingham - View all reviews by this user
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Thursday, August 27, 2009

I agree with the reviewer below that some reviews on The Wells have been a bit too harsh. I have now been there on 4 different occasions (lunch and dinner) and have always had a nice time and a very good meal.

Staff is efficient, the uptairs room looks nice and relxing and most dishes are very well cooked - I would particularly recommend the crab tempura and the sea bass. All in all very good value, making it stand out in the area - definitely worth a visit.
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Bruno
8 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Sunday, April 12, 2009