Hare and Tortoise (Bloomsbury)

Simply THE BEST! Cheap, excellent food served by friendly staff and positively buzzing with atmosphere....GREAT!! I could not believe some of the other miserly reviews when I read them. This place is so good you cannot keep me away!
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Michael Redclift
8 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Abysmal service. Such a shame because the food is good and the prices reasonable.

Last time I went the waiter got my order completely wrong, and instead of taking it away and bringing me what I had ordered, proceded to tell me I was wrong and had in fact ordered it. He then aggressively asked what I wanted, I said what I ordered, again, and he huffed and walked off.

I later asked him why he had been so rude, and he denied having been rude at all and didn't even look me in the eye. Worse than this, the manager was standing next to us shaking his head and then eventually hanging his head in his hands.

I have never had to defend the act of complaining in a restaurant before, when it was a simple mistake and all they should have done is apologise and brought me what I ordered. Instead, the waiter argued he had done anything at all, and in fact it was my problem for ordering incorrectly.

Hare & Tortoise don't seem to recognise that customers have a right to complain, at all.
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Carol
7 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Tuesday, January 25, 2011

I went to the Hare and Tortoise restaurant after a recommendation. After reading the reviews, I was left with the impression that this is must be a run down student dive with good food. But I was plesantly surprised that this is a smart modern clean restaurant.

As per reviews, there were queues to the door. We waited some 10minutes (though I was told by my friend sometimes you can wait for 30mins). We were handed out menus whilst waiting. I liked the menus as they included photos of some items on the menu and so helps in choosing the most appropriate dish.

I would describe their menu as a cross between Wagamama / Sushi / Oriental Asian. For instance they had big bowl Noodles soups and also Malaysian Laksa curry dishes.

It does beat Wagamama in comfort, which has benches or makes you sit next to other people (if busy), this place has proper chairs and own tables! (though you are close enough to hear other people's coversations!).

I ordered the prawn vegetables tempura. The prawn tempura were excellent, however, the tempura vegetables they included where green beans and a red pepper ring. I didn't get that. Would have prefered if they had put vegetables such as baby corn, carrot or brocoli, which make much better vegetable tempura.

The springs rolls where average. Pumpkin Croquettes were good, something unusual.

Overall the food was good and I would certainly return to try other dishes on the menu.

The only thing that I did not like was the fruit juice, I felt somewhat watered down. As almost half looked clear like water. Did not help they put ice it. I think Wagamama do a better job on their fruice juices.

If you only went for a meal and a drink you could budget yourself for £9 per head. If you went for a 3 course meal you should budget for £15.

Service was good. Though could have been better, they took away our forks. I think I am not fussed about eating with chop sticks and prefer to eat with a fork. Plus, I suspect it is more environmentaly friendly. I have no idea what they do with used chop sticks, since you always find them sealed in paper wrapping.

As this is a well priced menu, there is a sense, they want people to move on quickly. I was surprised if you find a bill on the table before you have asked for it. Which was funny, as there were no people waiting and a few empty tables.
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RK
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Monday, April 05, 2010

I went to hare and tortoise for the first time today because there was always a queue each time I walked past it. I now know why. The food is fantastic. It is also cheap. I went with two friends and we ordered different things. And everything was just amazing.

The service is OK. Nothing special but not bad either. The atmosphere is OK as well. But of special note, the starters. I have never eaten starters as good before. I especially recommend the soft shell crab roll and the prawn spring rolls. All in all, the hare and tortoise delivers perfect value for money and I will make visiting this restaurant a habit.
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Emeka
8 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, December 02, 2009

Went there regularly. The quality of food is always very good. Most courses on the menu are yummy. The service is sometimes terrible. They won't allow you to carry any food with you to go in there, even though you are not going to eat or drink them in the restaurant. There's no way you can explain things to them. The staff are just inflexible. But overall, the food is very good.
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YJ - View all reviews by this user
8 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Saturday, September 26, 2009

Me and a couple of mates went to hare and tortoise the other day and the atmosphere was electric. We arrive at eight and had to waiting for about 15 minutes, considering where we were in the line, i say that was quite a decent time. Also we got the soft seat so that was good.

The food is amazingly cheap and the servings are massive, more then what a girl can handle but we got through it in the end. The starters and sushi are to die for. I didn't get a main but my friend got the tori katsu curry and it was great.

To drink we had a 2 litres of Asahi super dry. It was great, they give u this big massive silver can soooo COOL.

The atmosphere was buzzing, they were soo busy and the staff were soo friendly to talk to, we have a little chat with one of the staff it was jokes, he told us the funniest joke. One of the staff was kind of rude but its understandable considering how busy they were. The toilets were clean, that's a big plus. And what was funny to see was that the staff were laughing and having fun too which was cool to see, it kinda adds to the relaxing atmosphere
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Jade
9 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, June 30, 2009

I go here regularly at least once a week for the past year and ive never had a bad meal, its brilliant and so cheap and the ingredients are fresh and generous. Yes the service is a little hurried but they are always rammed to the hilt this place is a favourite of mine. the sushi is brilliant and the main meals are lush i dont know what everyone's complaining about, im asian and very fussy about asian food, forget XO or Hakkasan, I would choose this place everytime.
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asianqueen
9 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 10
Thursday, March 19, 2009

after raving about the soft shell crab to friends before, this time they sadly disappointed with two overcooked specimens. The sashimi salad is still good along with the sheared tuna. Our main courses of roast duck rice and Penang noodles reconfirmed my view that you should only eat starters here.
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wpang - View all reviews by this user
6 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 6
Thursday, March 05, 2009

A friend and I went to the Brunswick location for lunch. We keep giving the place a chance every few weeks and each time it lets us down. We have decided not to go back.

The service is terrible. We never get our food at the same time. The last 4 times we have gone (yesterday being the last time), my friend gets her food and then its at least 15 minutes before mine arrives (or vice versa). The other problem is getting someone to bring your bill so you can pay and leave.

We really like the food there but the service is so unacceptable. We would ask someone every now and then to check on my food and they'd just nod and walk away.

The kitchen needs to be more organised so that when a table orders food, they can all eat at the same time. I have seen other tables go through the same thing when we have been there.
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6 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 7
Friday, February 27, 2009

Hare and Tortoise is a great noodle bar with a great range of food, like sushi, noodles and salads. You get very big portions that i can never finish, so if your hungry its great. It is always packed after about 6PM, it has great atmosphere and food, but you can sometimes feel very rushed because of the quews. It is a great restaurant and you should try it, but go before the rush!!!
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8 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 10
Friday, February 20, 2009