Balham Kitchen and Bar

Great atmosphere and good food but the service is lacking. In fact, it's not usually the waiting staff's fault. Rather the kitchen staff who don't seem to be able to cope with large orders. If you go with lots of other people don't expect your food to come at the same time and do expect to wait and wait and wait. Never had problems when I've gone with one or two people.
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sarah
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 6
Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Not satisfactory by any means. The staff were disinterested and surly, the food was reasonable but no better, and the atmosphere and decor left a lot to be desired. And for around £50 per person, value for money was nowhere to be found
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Tom
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 2
Wednesday, September 20, 2006

i went here quite a bit when it opened. good food and good service. now it's a very differnt story. none of the above means i wont be going back... i'm very surprised soho house have let the standards slip so much. try lamberts just by the tube.. food and service are second to none... my fave place in south london for sure....
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Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 2
Tuesday, August 22, 2006

My boyfriend and I went for an early dinner at BKB a few weeks ago. Our experience seems to be a little more positive than that of my fellow reviewers.

The front of house staff were friendly and pleasant but our waiter was a little 'over' friendly and that was unpleasant. I ordered the special (black bream) it was nice, but not particularly impressive. My other half ordered steak which he thought was delicious. I was disappointed when I had to ask three times for a glass of wine, which eventually came when I had finished my desert! (Eton Mess - sinfully good)

I also think that the place had an odd atmosphere - perhaps because we were early?

I have eaten at BKB before (Saturday lunchtime) and had a much better experience so I would say don't be put off, it can be a fantastic place to eat - let's hope they pull their socks up!
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CJ
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 3
Monday, August 07, 2006

Very enjoyable lunch.

Atmosphere staff and food very good.

Mussels, crab cocktail and steak excellent.

Chips incidentally very well presented in a pot but hopelessly soggy as a result and hence not worth eating.
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DC
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Tuesday, August 01, 2006

I've been a regular here since it first opened, i always thought the staff where very friendly and helpful until yesterday, i went in and a manager was very sarcastic and abrupt ,when you go to dine you want to feel relaxed and invited.
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sue
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 5
Thursday, July 06, 2006

Moderate concern mounted ahead of my progress to the BK&B last night - the reviews below make for ghastly reading and yet the word-of-mouth from chums and colleagues was pretty strong.

And after all that? A rather good experience for an enjoyable "school night" meal out. The place itself has had a lot of money spent on it and is pretty cool. In terms of the important bit (the gnosh) we both went for the chicken pie which was mid week comfort food of the best sort. Well cooked, plenty of meat and 'shrooms, lashings of creamy mustard sauce and a generous pastry lid to boot. Throw in to the mix good service (notwithstanding the loss of our table booking) which was attentive and not overstretched and an interesting (if New World biased) wine list.

Well worth a look.
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A Stockbrokers'' Clerk - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 5
Thursday, April 20, 2006

This is the worst place I have ever paid £50 a head to eat in. The bread was stale and I had to send my meal back as it was cold. Gross.

The desert was nice, but wasn't enough to make up for the fact that this place is far too pretentious and overpriced. It worked out more expensive than Chez Bruce! Rip off. Don't even bother.
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Fran
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Tuesday, April 11, 2006

Went for a friends birthday last night and left distinctly unimpressed. I asked for the fishcakes as a main course and was presented by two of the smallest potato cakes I've ever seen, I could only surmise that they were the starter portion and that they'd hoped I wouldn't notice... I struggled to find any fish at all in the contents and ended up eating the whole bread basket to fill myself up. Desert was OK (chocolate fondant) but nothing to write home about. For all this, a glass of champagne and a share of a bottle of wine I stumped up £47. Outrageously bad value - we're in Balham not the West End!
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Kate Apenteng
Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 1
Saturday, February 25, 2006

Had been before and had a very enjoyable evening - but that was about a year ago. Went last night - charming and completely unsupported waiter tried valiantly to do everything right but with such a poor hand of cards - a number of items on the menu were unavailable, the food took ages to arrive, the moules might well have been still in a rock pool such was the salt water quotient (luke warm to cold I should add), main course (how hard is steak?) distinctly average. Great shame as it had come up trumps before - not going back.
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Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 1
Friday, February 24, 2006