Bistrot Bruno Loubet

Enjoyed a lovely dinner here and I'd go back again. Friendly service, tasty food, comfortable seating.
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LJ - View all reviews by this user
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Made a point of coming here after good reviews, so perhaps had artificially high expectations that were not fully realised. Was initially alarmed at the familiarity of service, but the chap meant well and soon settled down. The room is very pleasant - I think I may coin a new term here if I call it 'light and airy' - and the area outside is good with Vinoteca and The Dovetail nearby. Food was good - only a main of pigeon disappointed slightly in that it was overly substantial and one-dimensional in flavour. Starters were excellent and showed the mains up a bit. Did not have dessert due to the pigeon. Wine was fairly priced and red.
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Thernard ''Davy'' Blenkhorne
7 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Thursday, July 01, 2010

Another memorable visit and again I'm in "boudin blanc heaven".

Absolutely everything was perfect and even Heston Blumenthal sitting next to me thought so.

However our evening was nearly ruined by an American greeter who couldn't be bothered to listen to my name or attempt to remember it when he finally mastered all five letters of it. He asked if I'd booked which I had of course, so he looked at his list where I could see my name then looked up at me and said he'd try to find us a table. He pointed to the bar and told us to wait there while he wandered off to do nothing much at all. Fortunately our mood was lightened by what must be London's most beautiful barmaid, I'm in love.....

Finally our American friend wandered past so I stopped him and asked how he was doing to which he replied "fine thanks how are you" obviously having completely forgotten about us. I replied "not good we're still sitting here waiting for the table we booked that you've obviously forgotten about". He looked confused and finally took us to a table that had been empty and ready when we arrived.

From there on we had a wonderful evening.

Bruno this guy needs sacking without delay he's a complete waste of space.
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Chris B
9 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Ah, now you're talking. This is a place to go to again and again. A charming room made more charming by the excellent relaxed yet attentive Maitre d'. Our evening began with excellent cocktails and what followed was food of a very high standard. My beetroot ravioli was light, subtle and divine. We chose from the extensive wine list a red for the langedocc which complimented our food well and then moved on to superb mains - mine a summer take on Cassoulet which was light and fishy. More langedoc wine serve us well and our puddings were all top class - mine a great creme brulee. Service on the whole good though sometimes a little slow. This is a place to go to again and again
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toby tucker
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Monday, June 21, 2010

So pleased to have Bruno back in London where he belongs, it has been a long time.

Having used to frequent his Soho restaurant, I was expecting something really special, but it was just simple and well cooked. A true French Bistrot, short menu, very interesting, well prepared, clumsy presentation and over large portions (again very Bistrot), but lovely. The food was a little bland and the chefs could not get a handle of cooking fish, both my mackerel tart and main course gurnard were slightly overcooked. A touch more seasoning please.

My main worry though is the service. Cocky and arrogant, uber "trendy", slow and very poorly executed. From the maitre d' who could not raise a smile, to the 3-4 waiters whose attention you could never get as they were more concerned about what they did the night before. Examples : Greeting at door, sanguine and dull, host who seated us greeted us not once but twice. We had to ask for our order to be taken, then our wine did not arrive before we received our food ( we did not have aperitifs), we asked for extra bread 3 times, to 3 different waiters and it never arrived. The under side of the plate was dirty, I was checking the pottery coming from Staffordshire, yuk (the dirt not the plate). Mains were cleared, we had to ask for our dessert order to be taken. After they were cleared, yes you've guessed it, we had to ask for coffee after yet another 10 minute wait, by the way the chocolates served with it were stale. When it came to paying the bill, once again we had to ask for it. God I hate these wannabe trendy places, be cool but be good, this front of house team were neither cool or good. Bruno sort it out, fire a rocket up their lazy backsides!
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Emily Bunce
4 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 5
Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Simply fantastic, can't wait to go back.
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PottedLambShanks
9 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 7
Thursday, May 20, 2010

Went there for a big family occasion and it was excellent. Mackeral tart starter was excellent, while the lamb was verytender and tasty. The dessert had a salt ice cream which was interesting but only that, so I just kept to the bitter chocolate. Atmosphere and service also good, so will be going back.
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Stephen H - View all reviews by this user
8 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 7
Tuesday, April 20, 2010

I really wanted to love this place. The menu is brief, cleverly constructed and to the point, bistro dishes with a twist. Each dish sounds well conceived. My friend and I shared three starters. The boudin of guinea fowl was good comfort food, whilst a "revised" take on lyonnais salad required more oomph and a skate terrine lacked seasoning. The mains were both poor; my pigeon dish was barely edible and my companion didn't like his lamb dish which admittedly looked most unappetising. The accompanying potatoes again lacked seasoning. Desserts were mixed. Our red wine was served far too warm; the wine list has some interesting choices but was a difficult read and not in tune with the spirit of regional French cooking. Service was a mixture of charming and scatty. The restaurant was packed with a good buzz but without Bruno in the kitchen it felt rudderless. I wouldn't dismiss this restaurant on the basis of a single disappointing experience, but it needs to bring its A game consistently to the table if it is not to be a flash in the pan (to mix a few metaphors).
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Wine Guy - View all reviews by this user
5 Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 5
Monday, April 12, 2010

Extremely average in every way. A fine example of a big name chef adding hype and rave reviews to an otherwise run of the mill restaurant.

Terrine: too oily but tasty.

Daube of beef with moussiline potatoes: cold and under seasoned.

Roast sirlion: ok but no yorkshire pudding, soggy roast poataoes. no horseradish available. (they did make me some but it arrived after I finished)

Floating island: too sweet.

Service: very patchy, waitress was clearly well briefed, she knew what to say but clearly didnt understand the words.

Having eaten in pretty much every restaurant and gastro pub in the area I left feeling very dissapointed. Currently Caravan (which opened at a similar time) is leagues ahead of this place.

Not bad but not good. They will get one more chance, perhaps for dinner..
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Jim Robertson
5 Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 5
Sunday, April 11, 2010

My husband and myself used to be regulars at Bistro Bruno in Soho and loved the food and the amazing winelist. We were therefore very excited to see that Mr. Loubet he re-opened in the Zetter Hotel which is very close to us as Barbican Residents. We had a table reserved for Saturday 27th at 20:00. The restaurant was extremely busy when we arrived at 1954. Nobody offered to take our coats, we were told that we are early and should wait at the bar. And there we sat - and sat. By 2020 nobody had come to say anything to us by way of apology or offer us a table. We then decided to leave since our business was not wanted and the area is full of good and friendly restaurants. Upon leaving we told this the maitre d who did not feel it necessary to apologise but just shrugged his shoulders.

We eat out a great deal in the area and have not come across such amazing rudeness. They obviously had too many good reviews to care but if I were would I would not bother.
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Claudia Methley - View all reviews by this user
0 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Monday, March 29, 2010