Marcus Wareing at the Savoy Grill

Dined here with my mum on a recent visit to London, chose it as was mum's 60th birthday and we wanted to go somewhere special. It was quite formal, although we didnt feel out of place. The food was fantastic, and although on the expensive side, it was a delight to eat here. The wine was very expensive so we chose one of the cheapes bottles at £38. The petit fours after the meal were to die for and I am very sorry I didnt ask where they were from!! The total bill came to £195 for three courses, wine, liquer and coffee, buta s it was a special occasion and an overall great experience, I didnt grudge it at all. Remember to ask for a tour of the kitchen, which you waiter will only be too pleased to do.
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Louise Adams
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8
Thursday, December 13, 2007

Have eaten here twice recently.

The room is a delight-the service is splendidly savoy formal-the food is quite good-some of it is not well seasoned-try the stuffed quail-the soup was nothing special.The cheese was prehistoric-stilton was served with a spoon-i thought we had moved on from that.

If you want something in a different league try La Noisette on Sloane St.

The bill at both is a terror-la n is a different and superior experience.
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- View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 5
Wednesday, December 12, 2007

we have eaten here several times, it is excellent and well worth the money (or wait). a definate for any occassion.
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Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, November 05, 2007

We thoroughly enjoyed out dinner at athe Savoy Grill. The food was excellent - absolutely heavenly! Highly recommended! The only thing is that the portions were quite small, so that you only started to enjoy the beautiful taste of a dish and it was already over, which was a bit sad considering the price you pay. Still it's an amazing culinary experience.
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- View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, September 05, 2007

My sister and I went to the Savoy Grill for dinner last night. What an experience!!

We arrived at the restaurant slightly behind our reservation time. We had the 6:00 pm reservation so the restaurant was not full. There were only a few tables.

Same as the other reviewers, we were offered apperitifs, which we ordered only some sparkling water and we asked for the wine list instead. So, when we have decided which bottle to order and what food to order, the manager came over to take our order. After we have ordered our food, I also wanted to order the wine but the manager was hesitant to take my order and the Sommelier came running towards our table. The Sommelier took my order of the wine instead. I probably had insulted his intelligence that I ordered a 2003 Pinot from New Zealand and that I did not "need to" seek his advice that he decided not to open the wine himself but got a waitress to do it. If he insisted to take our wine order, then, he should have insisted to open the wine for us, isn’t that the logic?

As soon as I tasted the wine, the Appetizers arrived. The Appetizers arrived in about 5 minutes after we placed our order. What efficiency!! While we were having our Appetizers, the Sommelier came over and kept pouring wine into our glasses when our glasses were still quite full. He was not even watching where he was pouring and he kept talking to others while pouring wine into our glasses. He came over around 5 times just to do this. It was so uncomfortable that we got interrupted all the time while we eat and while we talk. We take it as a "hint" that we have to eat faster.

The wine was poured into our glasses so fast that we eventually finished one bottle of wine when we finished our Appetizers. When the Appetizers were taken away, I asked for the wine list and my sister left for the ladies. When she returned, I ordered our second bottle of wine. This Sommelier is much better than the other one and he graciously took my order. We ordered a 2000 Croze Hermitage, which this Sommelier decanted for us. What a beautiful wine.

As soon as I ordered the wine, I stood up to go to the ladies myself. The really interesting thing is that the Manager took our main courses to our table. Remember, I stood up already. In all upscale restaurants that I have been to around the world (not to mention in Michelin Star restaurant), if I stood up and the food arrives, the waiter or the manager will either take the food back into the kitchen immediately or that I would be asked whether I would like my food now or after my visit to the ladies. Unfortunately, I found myself standing in front of our table, telling the manager that I am going to the ladies while he put my food on the table. I looked at my sea trout and I looked at the manager. I cannot believe what was happening. Where did they get the training? Unbelievable!! He actually wanted me to sit back down and eat?! So, I told him again that I am going to go to the ladies and eventually, the manager asked whether I would like my food to be covered. Well, I think the manager should have done that without asking me.

So, eventually, while we are having our main course, another manager and the hostess/cashier came over and pointed at our table and frantically discussing. We must have been really slow in having our meal. We noticed the food was served so fast, with MacD efficiency, which they managed to have an average turnover rate for the tables in 1 ½ hour. So if you make a reservation for 6 pm, your table is needed by 8 pm for the next guest. So, it is more like 3 sittings rather than 2 sittings. If manager and the hostess wanted to discuss that we are slow or that our table is needed for the next guest, perhaps, they should have done it more discretely and not to point fingers. If they dare, they could have told us when we made the reservation that we must return the tables to them in 2 hours. If that is so, we would not even have come here in the first place, regardless how famous this restaurant is.

Then, we finally finished our main course. The dessert wagon was pulled over but we wanted cheese so we ordered some cheese instead. As it was a Sunday menu, the cheese was a selection platter but the cheese was nice. We wanted some port to go with the cheese because we have finished our second bottle of wine. I actually heard the not as nice Sommelier exclaimed when the waitress told him of or wishes that we wanted "More Wine?!". I guess the Sommelier needs to understand the concept of Digestifs.

After our cheese, we ordered some coffee. I ordered a decaf espresso and my sister ordered a cappuccino. For some strange reason, the waitress gave me a regular filtered coffee instead, which kept me awake the whole night. I did not even bothered to change the coffee as the whole experience left only bad impression on this famous restaurant.

When we finally got our bill, something did not add up so we checked the bill and we found they have over charged us 37 pounds (that is before the 12.5% service charge). I asked the hostess/cashier to come over and explained to her that the bill was wrong. She did not apologize and just took the bill away. She came back with the new bill and mumbled some insincere apology. Imagine, apology with an attitude. It was their mistake, not mine, and the mistake was huge, a difference of 15% on our bill.

So, summing up the whole night, food was good and the service was mixed. There were some very good waitresses and a good Sommelier. But the other Sommelier, the manager, and the hostess/cashier just made the whole experience horrible. This is the worst and the most horrible 1 star Michelin restaurant that my sister and I have ever had. They really could use some “retraining” for the staffs.
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Beaver
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Monday, August 27, 2007

I booked the chefs table at The Savoy Grill for my husbands 50th Birthday 19 August lunchtime. We had a fantastic time from start to end.

Where do I start? We began in the bar with champagne and canapes which set the scene. The Maitre d helped me choose the wine to accompany our meal and he was very knowledgeable and no pressure to choose expensive wine.

Then the adventure began. We were escorted downstairs and shown round the kitchen then shown to our table. The table was in air-condioned glass fronted room which looked into the kitchen.

We started with carrot and roast pepper soup which was devine. This was followedby ham hock ballontine, then ravioli filled prawns and lobster with a veloute sauce, then roast cod, then roast beef and yorkshire puds then cheese and then desert which was a trio incorporating almonds, pasionfruit and chocolate.. I don't think I can adequately describe how good the food was, sufice to say there were a lot of empty plates!

Each time we had a new course the chef who had prepared it came in and explained it to us.

I have eaten at other Gordon Ramsay restaurants and this was as good as they were.

The service was excellent., Food wonderful and the memories of the experience will last a lifetime.
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Patricia Gay - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, August 21, 2007

We had the most fabulous dining experience on the evening of 15th August 2007, as a special birthday treat.

The service was absolutely impeccable, and very discreet. Our welcome to the restaurant had a very personal touch.

We had the choice of a theatre menu for £30 per head, or a la carte for £60 per head. We opted for the a la carte, and weren't disappointed. The delivery of each course was perfectly spaced and we were even offered additional starter and dessert tasters, compliments of the kitchen, and completely delicious of course. The food was cooked to perfection, and outstanding.

Final bill with drinks and service was just over £200, but well worth every penny.

Overall, an amazing evening with excellent food and service, neither to be faulted.
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Julie & Stuart
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Saturday, August 18, 2007

My Husband and I had Sunday Lunch at the Savoy Grill on the 12th August.

The service was magical and the food perfect.

The air conditioning was freeze and would have liked it a little warmer.

We had the set menu for £25.00 and 2 glasses of Bellini total cost £100.

We don't begrudge a penny.

This was the most mavellous setting, service and atmosphere. I felt like a queen on my birthday.
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Gillian Pope
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Friday, August 17, 2007

How does a £30 per head pre theatre dinner here turn into a bill for £210 for three? Easy, champagne more or less poured onto your lap before you have even sat down, a shared bit of thin toast and marg, not even ordered £4.50 and the tea........a fiver a cup! The whole meal was a rush leaving us with severe indigestion on leaving in more ways than one!

The food wasn't the best quality I've ever had and when its a special occasion and the birthday guest didn't enjoy it, how disappointed did that make me feel!

Never again..........................
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MISS SMITH C - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 0
Monday, August 06, 2007

I had lunch on Saturday 14 July and it was not very good. Almost all of the meal was disappointing - the Yorkshire Pudding was lukewarm and brick-like and the first two courses were not warm enough generally. However, the pudding, Creme Brulee with Raspberries and shortbread was divine - absolutely perfect! I wrote to the Savoy Grill when I came home but they have not bothered to reply.
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Muriel Raistrick
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 1
Tuesday, July 31, 2007