Gordon Ramsay's Boxwood Cafe

An absolute SHOCKER! I went back to the Boxwood Cafe on Saturday night after having gone last year (a lovely experience - then). This time there was a large party of us and they could not have made it more obvious that we were an inconvenience. I am amazed that a top restaurant found a table of 12 such a trial! The only good I can say of it was my food was lovely (although that was not the case for everyone in my party) because the service was appalling. The head waitress was rude from the word go - we were informed in no uncertain terms that we had to order all three courses at the beginning of the meal even though we were not on a set menu and were paying the usual prices per course. She was brusque and unreasonable - when one member of the party asked to have his dish cooked a little more she flat out told him 'no'. It took management intervening before his request was granted.

On asking her for a wine list I was interrupted halfway through speaking to her and told that the 'wine had been ordered'. Not true - another person on our table had ordered the red, but not the white. The wine waiter twice filled our glasses with a completely different wine to what was already in them, and glared when we called him up on it. In the end we removed some of the (DISCRETIONARY) service charge, and were - rudely - confronted about it by the same head waitress. The birthday boy had to explain the catalogue of errors and rudeness to management, who were understandably horrified. Terrible. It ruined what was supposed to be special birthday treat. It might be good for a small party but as a group wild horses couldn't drag me back. Incredibly pretentious and very, very disappointing.
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Telperion
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 5
Monday, June 01, 2009

My wife and I had two days away without kids last weekend. We decided to treat ourselves to an evening at Boxwood Cafe, having heard good reports from my work colleagues.

The whole experience was fantastic, exceeding all expectations. The room is fairly small, split level in layout and the tables are close together, but I guess that's fairly standard for Central London.

We had champagne cocktails before being seated, which were excellent. The food was superb - my wife had the shoulder of beef which melted in the mouth. I had lamb which was just as tender. Portion sizes were decent as well.

All in all, a very enjoyable experience - this restaurant can't be recommended enough. It was a very relaxing evening with a mix of diners on the Saturday we were there. Staff were all friendly, knowledgeable and there was no pretence about the restaurant. It certainly felt like we were paying for the quality of the food, rather than the name behind the business.
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Doug Bingham - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Thursday, April 23, 2009

The food and ambience exceeded my expectations...the only thing that made it not so pleasurable was the waitress...really quite abrupt and not interested in her customers...but we still had a fantastic evening!!!
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RITA TSOUKKA
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Wednesday, April 01, 2009

Went here with friends to celebrate my birthday on Saturday evening. I was not disappointed.Good service and wonderful food. Started with the best scallops I have ever had, followed by hanger steak, then Tart tatin. small criticism that we waited a little long for the main course, but not long enough to complain, and main course could have been hotter. Other than that a lovely evening. about £65 per head, which was much less than I expected. Would certainly visit again
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Jean
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Monday, March 30, 2009

We visited the Boxwood this week for lunch. After reading reviews we were alittle hesitant however we had the most fantastic time. We started with champagne cocktails then opted to mix and match the set lunch with a l a carte menu. We were not disappointed. The complimentary onion soup was divine as was the taglioni crb starter. The duck salad a little bland but the numerous hot rolls made up for it. The main was Vale of Beef which melted in the mouth nad the homemade rice pudding and champagne rubarb was delicious. The wine flowed well and service was very goog. Toilets a bit disappointing but hey just went for a nosey!!! All in all we had a wonderful time. It was busy and fun. The bill was £125 (we expected more!) and will definitely return in the future.
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J
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Thursday, February 19, 2009

I went with a friend, just before Christmas, for lunch at Boxwood. The food and the service were very good BUT please do not serve coffee with the dessert. We were taken aback when it arrived and should have sent it back. It is not what one expects from a top restaurant. Please take note Boxwood.
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Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Friday, February 06, 2009

I can't believe this is one of the popular restaurant.I chose here for my husband's birthday dinner. The interior was simple,but have to say quite dated. The music was loud-wired acid jazz from 90's or something. Waiters are great.They know about the ingredients very well,nice smile and smooth service,excellent. The big problem was food.We ordered Scallop with sea urchin and apple butter sauce-the scallop was cooked perfectly,but the sauce didn't taste sea urchin at all-and crab meat pasta-this was great,full of flavor.~We should've ordered this as a main.Then salmon and sea bream as main courses.Both perfectly cooked and good presentation, but it's just tasted very boring. Desserts Tarte tatin and Pnna Cotta were too sweet so we couldn't enjoy and tarte wasn't caramelised.

It is really shame because this is the restaurant with great staffs and location.
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Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 7
Monday, February 02, 2009

I took my girlfriend here for our three year anniversary, and the restaurant did not disappoint, the services was perfect, very good wine list and something for everyone menu.

There is a hint of pretention in the air however once seated and served our drinks that feeling was soon forgotten and then we started to enjoy our dining experience (apart from the two rather obnoxious northerners next to us).

A three course meal with a middle list Chablis cost around £140 and it was money well spent, if you are looking for 5 star dining then do not come here, however if you are looking for somewhere with a very chic dining experience that the boxwood café should be near the top of your short list.

It was my second time here almost opting for the foie gras burger for the second time I went for the Beef brisket and salt and peppered prawns for the main where where both wonderfully presented and full of flavour. The highlight for the evening where the cinnamon doughnuts with plumb jam (I requested a scoop of fresh vanilla ice cream), I can say without doubt its one of the most terrific doughnuts that I have ever had.

Well prepared food, Great ambiance, relaxed atmosphere, perfect service, and very easy to get a cab when outside, this establishment will be seeing me for a third time.
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AJ
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Thursday, January 29, 2009

My Girlfriend and I ate at Boxwood on the Friday just gone (23rd) in Celebration of my 30th Birthday and our 1st year together, and I was extremely impressed by most aspects of the evening. I love my food, as does the blonde, so it was good to see upon arrival that the portion sizes weren't small as can be expected in some other high end establishments. I had the Foie Gras followed by the grilled Rib eye, the blonde had ceviche of salmon, and then the salt and pepper prawns, it was all absolutely majestic. I enjoy a good steak, and have eaten a few, but this was absolutely out of this world, I had it medium rare and it just melted in my mouth, the port wine braised shallots and daily vegetables which accompanied it were perfect, a real treat. For dessert I asked for the Pear and apple tarte tatin, and it was presented with a decorated "Happy Birthday" in chocolate around the edge of the dish, which I thought was Great in itself, but then another plate was delivered to the table, without being ordered, carrying 4 chocolate truffles, with "Happy Anniversary" on it, that really made our evening. Before we had even left we had made plans to book again soon with some friends so we can show it off to them!! The one tiny downside was being unable on occasion to understand our waitress, due in part to the music, and also to her Eastern European accent, meaning we couldn't always get a grasp of what she was trying to tell us about our respective dishes, but that was a tiny hiccup to an otherwise superb evening. 2 starters (1 being a special), 2 mains (1 being a special), 1 dessert, 6 glasses of wine, 2 bottles of water, 1 herbal tea = £180.00. Some of the best money I have ever spent.
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Matt Maleary
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Simply fantastic! My husband and I enjoyed the 3 course set lunch menu for £25 on Friday 9th January. The service was impecable and the food was to die for. There was a lovely relaxed atmosphere and although the restaurant is very chic it was not stuffed or formal. We received an additional free course of onion soup in an expresso cup from the chef which was delicious! I mentioned that we were celebrating our wedding anniversary when I made the reservation online and our dessert plates were decorated to say happy anniversary in chocolate which was a very nice touch. I couldn't fault this place at all and felt that we had got ourselves a real bargain when the bill arrived! We'll be back as soon as we can!
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Mr&MrsC
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, January 12, 2009