Cheyne Walk Brasserie

I do not even know where to start as everything was wrong. I'm usually understanding with restaurant service, as I have been on the other side as well, having worked in pubs and Relais&Chateau restaurants, too. The experience makes it even worse: I know what I can expect, and Cheyne Walk was a disaster to that!

I admit I do not dine every week at this pay bracket, so when I saw the offer on Groupon to cover two courses for two plus a glass of champaign for £49 it seemed reasonable.

The first annoyance we encountered was the over attentive staff. Hardly did we sit down with my girlfriend, when we were already asked if we have already chosen. I had to politely ask the waiter to return in couple of minutes. It must have really only been a couple cause I had to ask again soon, and felt pressured to order-eat-get out. Finally, we did order from the very limited menu (3 starters/4 mains) despite the offer originally presented on Groupon and the delicious sounding menu online.

The starter gave some space for credit, the scallops were well presented, and tasteful. So our mood was again up on the roller-coaster, just before the steep downhill...

The ribeye was indeed medium rare as I wished for, but the burnt surface left no other taste in my mouth but bitterness. I had to slice off the surface in order to prevent leap year advance to cancer, but the experience was no better. Way too over-salted. By this time Ive noticed that the side orders were very salty, too (spinach and wild mushrooms). May be we were expected to live on fish and chips, so to compete with our taste buds for saltiness. Alternatively still water must have a huge profit margin.

I know my girlfriend is very sensitive on complaints, so I tried to be very polite when my steak was taken away, and simply said: "Well, I do not expect anything, but just as to give you a feedback, I cannot say I was pleased as I found the steak burnt and way too salty". (Was wondering if a medium-rare was burnt, what I would have got if I had ordered well-done?)

The manager listened and simply announced her regret. Full stop.

We decided with my girlfriend to pack up quickly, and rather have a dessert at a local jazz bar on the way home, so I asked for the bill. To my surprise, not only did they not express their regret with at least taking off the bottle of water or the glass of wine, but listed everything in full, moreover calculated the 10% service charge on the full amount, that is the £49 of voucher plus whatever we consumed top of that.

In principle it makes sense, but when you have an upset customer, you don't rub your excessive demands into his face.
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Peter
3 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 0
Monday, October 10, 2011

Disappointing.......average seafood starter, bland and chewy rib of beef, house wine, slow and inattentive service - £80.00 per head.
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Louise
4 Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 1
Tuesday, August 30, 2011

I had booked this restaurant as a special treat to celebrate an achievement and it went so horribly wrong. They did not have a record of my booking and somehow I was made to feel that I had done something terribly wrong to not know that I should have received a phone call to confirm it that day. Then there was a misunderstanding about being able to bring my own special bottle of champagne. I was prepared to pay the £10 fee for them to release the cork from the bottle but had not read the fine print that this was only an option at lunch time. Again I was made to feel like some kind of low life that had mistakenly crawled into their restaurant. Customer service does not exist here. A simple apology, explanation and some kind of gracious gesture.. a liitle aperiif could have sorted it out rather than the surly attitude I experienced. The steaks were tough and fatty as well. I could not get out of there fast enough.

Best come here with low expectations and it will be fine.
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1 Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Sunday, June 05, 2011

This is a little gem in the heart of Chelsea. Relaxed atmosphere, great food and a very interesting wine list. The service is always friendly and attentive.

The overall experience is most enjoyable.
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Chris
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, February 01, 2011

I had lunch here with friends. Relaxing atmosphere, excellent food. Some of us had char-grilled fish, some had steak and al of us were happy with our food.
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eloise6 - View all reviews by this user
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, January 04, 2011

Excellent restaurant, with nice ambiance and atmosphere, cosy with really friendly staff, love this place it is for me one of the best in London!!!

I am sorry to read what people wrote before
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Thibaut Desfoux
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Saturday, December 11, 2010

Really disappointed with this restaurant. Food served cold and tasteless, service appalling, received the wrong orders, waiting staff don't speak english. Awful place
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1 Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Tuesday, November 09, 2010

Went for Sunday lunch with friends yesterday, it was my first visit and after reading the reviews here on London Eating I was a bit concerned it wasn't going to be up to much. The venue was their choice and as I was being treated for my birthday I didn't feel I could say could we change the venue to where the comments were a little more encouraging! Well, I was very pleasantly surprised both by the food and the service, so things must have changed for the better since the last withering review. So I can happily report we had a most jolly afternoon with prompt, polite service and my grilled sea bass with herbs was beyond delicious, as were the potato dauphinous and green beans with bacon bits. The winter sun was shining through the windows which enhanced the pretty interior and everyone seemed to be having a convivial time including the staff who were tolerant of our revellery fuelled by lots of champagne! So I am certainly looking forward to visiting again. Hopefully this improvement will be an ongoing trend.
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Kik
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, March 01, 2010

I have been to Cheyne Walk Brasserie a number of times with friends and we have always enjoyed it. However, last night was possibly the worst food and service I have had in London for some time. I had pan fried halibut with spicy aubergines and red wine sauce. It's presentation reminded me of one of my toddlers artistic impressions in brown and it was so over cooked I had to send it back.

Unfortunately the standard of service matched the food. The waiters were either arguing with each other or yawning and lethargic. To cap it all, when our bill finally arrived they whisked away our visa card and did not return it for at least 20 minutes.

One can only conclude that perhaps this complete drop in service at every level was down to a heavy staff party the night before and they were all simply too hungover to care. I guess we have all been there at one time or another but when the bill comes to just under £100 a head you may hope for a little more.
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Roma Van Den Bergh
3 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 2
Friday, March 27, 2009