Sally Clarkes

My husband and I passed the restaurant while in Notting Hill - it looks smart, 'local', warm and welcoming we decided to give it a go.

It has a really nice atmosphere inside with a cosy layout and lighting. The service was faultless throughout with attentive, friendly and very professional waiters. The bread was lovely and there's a nice selection of wines. The food on the other hand was dissappointing. Thankfully I didnt come here during the 21 years they operated a no choice menu - they now have a small menu with 3 choices per courses, but none of the mains were vegetarian (I dont eat fish). The waiter said the kitchen would make me up something which tuned out to be the selection of vegetables that accompanied the other meat main courses and a small amount of Polenta. Cheeky I thought, but wouldnt have minded if it tasted good. There was an unidentifiable burnt vegetable - which was served deliberately burnt (other people had it too i noticed) and therefore all the more ridiculous, and the other vegetables (including my starter of artichoke) mostly tasted of oil. The produce was seasonal and probably fresh, but didn't taste fresh - the cooking process had ruined it.

My husband had a salmon salad - which he thought was ok but bland and a main of duck, the meat was very good quality, but came with a sauce which wasnt to his liking and more importantly contained wine which he has an allergy to. Given the descriptions of dishes are lengthy, and other dishes listed any alcohol content they should have listed it for this dish so he knew what he was ordering. He didnt suffer a reaction in case you're wondering!

The desserts of rhubarb & grapefruit trifle and chocolate pudding were very good and made some amends for the other courses.

All in all it was below average and not worth the price tag of 43.00 for 2 or 49.00 for 3 courses - the service and ambience do deliver to the standard expected for this price, but the food falls far short. There are many many places in London that are more deserved of that kind of price tag.
Comment on this reader review

Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 3
Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Went for dinner -we were 6.ended up in the basement with the cooking smells;toilets etc.Although ground floor looked cramped.Excrucuatingly expensive for cooking which is very ordinary.some may wax eloquent about ingredients,but this was all standard fare with nary an interesting ingredient in sight.Frankly I can buy the lamb cutlets and grill them myself at home for about 15% of what we paid for them.No imaginative sauces or any kind of passion evident in the cuisine.Portions not generous.There is better to be had for less money.
Comment on this reader review

c.elder
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 3
Thursday, February 08, 2007

The no choice menu has gone but there is still a "Sally's Choice" which we went for. Food is fresh and expertly cooked. Service is spot on. Wine list has a good range. £175 for 1 x 3 course, 1 x 4 course, champagne to start, a bottle and half of wine.

Always worth a visit.
Comment on this reader review

Patsy S - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Friday, February 02, 2007

For one of your reviewers to state simply "food's fine" demonstates that she has totally missed the point of Clarkes. It is all about the food and the food is exquisite: of the highest quality, of unparalleled freshness (in London) and prepared in a skillful way that never detracts from the flavours and freshness of the ingredients. That is what one pays for at a reasonable premium. The wine list also deserves a mention - it is superb, as are the sommeliers who can offer thoughtful assistance without trying to steer the diner into a higher price range. My girlfriend and I have been to Clarkes twice now and hope to return again soon. Our only possible grumble might be the non-smoking policy but this is wholly mitigated by the staff actively encouraging us to take our wine outside to enjoy a quick puff. I recommend this restaurant to all food lovers.
Comment on this reader review

Ed O
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, May 23, 2006

I'd heard good things about this place (mostly on London Eating if I'm honest) and visited on February 21st. We were a group of 6 and as such invited to take the set menu, of terrine, lamb cutlets, selection of English cheeses and chocolate fondant which at £49.50 was pretty steep. Atmosphere-wise it's OK but not great: our group was seated in the basement,right next to a very loud group of 10 which made holding our conversation without raising our voices to compete somewhat difficult. On balance, I'd say food's fine, atmosphere OK, service good, but not all that for the money.
Comment on this reader review

Kate Apenteng
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 6
Friday, March 03, 2006

Food and service cannot be faulted even though there was a large party downstairs. There was a slight problem with the main (it was luke warm) but this was recified straightaway. It is lovely to have the freshest of vegetables in mid January. The lamb was exquisite. I always love the chice of cheese. I have never had a problem with the no-choice menu here.

A bit pricey but worth it.
Comment on this reader review

Patsy S - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, February 01, 2006

The food at this restaurant is seriously good. The pudding we ate - rhubarb - was the best pudding I have ever eaten. The ambience was slightly muted but we had a fantastic time there.
Comment on this reader review

jenny
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 6
Tuesday, December 13, 2005