Geales (Chelsea)

Poor service and below average overpriced food.

I went with a group and we had to pre-order our food. I ordered the steak. There was no choice about how well done I would have liked it and, when it turned up, it was just grey. The mash it was served with was ok. However, there was nothing else, no sauce, no vegetables and was, quite frankly, very dry.

Pudding was Eton Mess with lemon curd - it would have been nice had there been some fruit in it. Then they forgot to bring one of the puddings - my friend didn't receive hers until about 10 minutes after I had finished.

I also lost count of the number of times the waiting staff bashed into me when delivering / collecting plates and drinks.

Very disappointing. I will not be going again.
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2 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 2
Monday, October 01, 2012

What a turn around!

Fantastic service and wonderful food (although I have always enjoyed the food here).

I have been greatly impressed by the turn around performed here, the service which was fair at best for so long has now been replaced with an efficient and friendly team headed by a charismatic new manager (yes another new manager) who I hope hangs around a little longer than any of his predecessors'.

The food is still excellent and very well presented (I'll ignore the odd bit of chipped crockery for now) and the daily specials menu is always inviting and never disappointing.

Well worth a visit and a great set menu!
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10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Thursday, June 14, 2012

A word of warning for groups....

I made a booking for 27 people for the 1st December 2011. As the group was considerable in size, we were required to submit advanced menu choices from the Christmas menu (perfectly reasonable). On the evening of the booking, we arrived slightly behind schedule but there was no real problem with that; I was looking forward to demonstrating classic British food to the group which was made up of European and Canadian colleagues.

The atmosphere was great, the table laid out perfectly and the scene was set for a really good evening. I hadn't considered the service though...

While I appreciate that it is difficult to manage such a large group, the service was beyond slow. We were due to receive a drink on arrival, yet this didn't turn up until half way through the mains, we had a number of people receive their main course at a time when others had finished their main, and we eventually received our dessert at around midnight (having been there for 3 hours already). The group were gracious enough, but suffice to say it was both embarrassing and disappointing. The host was apologetic and took the service charge off the bill. He then promised to call me the following week to discuss the issues, but of course the call was never made.

I chose this restaurant because I wanted to show what really good classic British cuisine we could offer, so much so that I had arranged for a coach to drop us off / pick us up to travel from the Strand.

Totally, utterly disappointing and thankfully no reflection on me as a event host.
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James Tillyer
5 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 4
Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Shared a fantastic seafood platter of lobsters, prawns, squid....very fresh and the prawns were pan fried to perfection. Came with a delicious aioli dip. The creamed mash went really well. The restaurant is well known for its seafood and from what I tasted - praise is well deserved.

Would completely recommend the restaurant - particularly if you can get the cosy table for two at back near window.

Service was very good as well. Would definitely visit again for a nice quiet night with friends.
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Sherina Petit
9 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 7
Wednesday, September 14, 2011

I had the most delicious birthday supper .Really hope to go back before my next birthday !
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Chrissie Lawson
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Thursday, June 02, 2011

I had dinnert there last night with a friend, I had been to Toms Place so was interested to see what changes had been made. The interior was much improved and also the menu choice was was much better, it being the week of The Chelsea Flower Show it was packed so the waiters were kept busy, that being said they carried it off with aplomb and both the waiter and the manager on duty were charming. A little wait for the food but with such convivial company, it didnt really matter. All in all a good evening.
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Jane Craig
9 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Thursday, May 26, 2011

We gave a second chance recently to that place with my girlfriend and got pleasantly surprise, portions grown bigger, staff looks more after you then themself now, looks like they heading into the right direction. Just need more space around tables becouse its destroying atmosphere. In the end we left happy and now I can recommend that place to someone else.
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tomson - View all reviews by this user
6 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 5
Monday, April 25, 2011

I went here with some friends and we found the food and service to be really mediocre. The prices were not great either. What a shame. We had been looking forward to having a new seafood restaurant to go to in Chelsea but this certainly will not be the one. Apparently it was a big hit in Notting Hill at some point? It certainly will not be in Chelsea. They need to pull up their socks and made a real effort
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1 Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Awful, awful, awful. If you are planning to go here - don't.

We went to Geales for lunch today, having heard that a new restaurant had recently opened up on the premises of the old Tom's Place on Cale Street. We found virtually nothing positive to comment on.

Having booked a table, we were not greeted by anyone at the door (or anywhere near it) and eventually had to interrupt the manager and waiters' conversation at the other end of the restaurant to ask for our table. From start to finish the staff had a somewhat comatose quality to them...

We ordered a £21 bottle of Chilean sauvignon blanc which looked and tasted like a £4 bottle from the Co-op.

Nonetheless, we were looking forward to some seafood and decided we would order the seafood platter for 2 - whole lobster, prawns, mussels, squid, chips and spinach. It was the most expensive item on the food menu and we had high hopes.

When it arrived we were surprised by how small, poorly presented and unremarkable the "platter" was. The lobster, deep fried squid rings and prawns were presented on a griddle pan that was not hot - and neither was the food really. The single chips and spinach portions to share were barely enough for 1 and certainly not enough for 2 (something which we commented on and seemed to come as no surprise to the tired waiter).

The prawns - which, like the rest of the food, tasted half fresh at best - came with shell on, therefore one would assume that a finger bowl would be presented with the platter. Having de-shelled her prawns, my wife asked if she could have a finger bowl. By the time the finger bowl finally arrived the rest of the already lukewarm food was cold...When she complained about the lack of finger bowl, she was met with a silent sullen stare from the waitress. Wonderful.

We decided to cut our losses and ask for the bill, leaving the rest of the food untouched. When the bill was presented by the "quirky" manager we were not asked whether we had enjoyed our meal or experience and he seemed very keen to get our money and move us on. Not really the way to treat locals when you open a new restaurant on a site where the last enterprise lasted just 6 months. Thankfully they do not add service charge but it did grate somewhat that we had to cough up £80 for a truly mediocre "meal" and experience that lasted under an hour.

We love to support local businesses and especially any new restaurant which opens up but this was an experience which we would rather forget. Be warned...
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0 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Saturday, October 16, 2010