The Gilbert Scott

Having booked a table here for a special occasion I was rather worried by some of the reviews here. well I suppose there are people who will complain about anything. The over heated room - maybe you should have taken your cardi off; as someone who cannot stand hot rooms I found the temperature just right. The cramped booths - have you never been to a parisian brasserie - they would have crammed in twice as many tables and chairs!

We had a wonderful evening starting with cocktails in the stunning bar. Very pleasant greeting from the maitre d' and straight to our table with charming waitress waiting with menus. Delicious food (OK maybe not quite Michelin star, but then not Michelin prices either), even if we slightly over ordered sides as a review here had claimed they were hardly adequate for 1 (you must have an amazing appetite). As a result too full for pudding - have to wait for next visit.

Overall a wonderful evening in a superb setting and can't wait to go back.
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John W9 - View all reviews by this user
10 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Food is deeply disappointing, as though the impressive surrounds to send out average food. And it's massively expensive to boot.

I had the sole in coffins which translated to dry, powdery, overcooked fillets of fish on mashed potato with fairly tasteless white sauce - that was it. Not worth half off the £21 quid I was coughing up for it. Oh, with a teeny-tiny deep-fried bit of potato skin on top. The steaks at our table were flavourless without any char, the sides were absolutely miniscule and one didn't even show up.

Desserts were a bit better.

The service is odd – not very professional. And the room is really. really uncomfortably hot.

I'd save my bucks and go to the Wolseley instead.
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rosie
4 Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 1
Monday, September 19, 2011

After wandering through the amazing architecture you arrive at a rather bland room which doesn't have the same impact as the rest of the building. The prices are astronomical and being just a bit too north to be in for the trendy set is probably why the room was only three quarters full on a Friday lunch. The food was Ok, the duck salad to start was fine but not over awing and the BBQ chicken was no better than your local chicken shack but 2000% more expensive, add sides and the cost is off the scale. would I eat here again, only if I was a guest and some one else was paying. Can't see it lasting as the room lacks atmosphere and the costs are huge and frankly you can get a better meal elsewhere at a far lower cost.
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Mark B
4 Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 1
Monday, September 05, 2011

Dined at The Gilbert Scott last night and had to write about the experience as it was so great. Started in the bar with a fabulous 1873 cocktail, so delicious and the smoked butter and black pepper popcorn is amazing. The bar itself is a wonder on its own and I will definitely be back on more than one occasion. The restaurant is beautiful too - yes it is a little crowded but I think this adds to it all as the ceilings are so high it can cope with it. The staff were all fantastic, very knowledgeable and helpful (esp with my companion who had a food allergy). They were very friendly and hospitable and looked like they were all enjoying the place too. The food is fantastic - quality ingredients to start with and some really interesting and delicious dishes. The wine list is great too - perfect for by the glass selections and the sommeliers are very helpful too. I loved the place and thought it was worth the money spent. Definitely a great place and I shall return.
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sadier - View all reviews by this user
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Sunday, August 14, 2011

Dined here this week and had a fantastic experience. The restaurant is stunning, even more so is the bar. The service was fantastic, really friendly, knowledgeable and just the right amount of attention. My entire table's food was really good - very tasty, also innovative and very reasonably priced. The wine list is also great - very accessible and the sommelier's are great too. We got taken down to see the amazing kitchen table too - will definitely be booking there later this year for a birthday celebration. I would really recommend this place (unsure why some previous reviews are so negative).
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EmmaK - View all reviews by this user
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Saturday, August 13, 2011

Terrible! They kept us waiting for our table for 20 minutes, and when we were summoned from the bar, the table wasn't actually ready, so we stood in the corridor for 5 minutes while someone frantically prepared it. The waiter seemed very uncertain as to what to do with our drinks during this time. It was awkward and unprofessional.

The dining room itself is too crowded and there seem to be too many staff bustling about. Yet the service was extremely slow, inattentive and - once again - quite unprofessional. They do not know the basics of how to serve, when to take plates, etc. It's also very annoying when they don't let you keep the wine at the table, and let you pour, but also don't come round often enough to keep glasses filled.

The food was good, but I would never return. I found it unwelcoming, unpleasant and surprisingly like an over-crowded railway cafe for a restaurant that actually costs £60 a head.
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2 Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 0
Tuesday, August 02, 2011

What a treat! A menu that's familiar and exciting in equal measure such that we both found it difficult to pin down our choices. Eventually: crab salad with cherry and almonds (refreshing, intriguing); brawn (beautifully clean and crisp-fried); pigeon (as intense as you'd want, perfectly cooked); and lamb (stunning flavour, barely pink). The slight let-down was desserts. Again. Why can't the A-grade chefs be bothered? Eccles cake with cheddar-cheese ice cream is intriguing but not enough; and a tart with apricots and meringue didn't sit together; literally. Combine that with a superb bottle of red - OK at top-end prices - and pretty charming service and it's a good evening; add in the deservedly excited atmosphere in the room and it was even better. A full-on, big-time restaurant. Loved it.
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Paul, E London
9 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Sunday, July 10, 2011

Had dinner here the other night and it wasn't at all bad.

Our starters of salmon and onion were delicious, but the mains of battered cod was a little greasy, whilst the lamb was cooked to the right amount of pinkness.

The food is pricey for what it is, especially with its £2 per head cover charge, and tiny side dishes, which all tasted fine but are nothing to shout about.

The service is probably better than the food. The waiters were polite, kept filling our glasses with tap water without complaint, and were haughtily attentive.

If I ever come back, it'd be for the experience of the place. The atmosphere was quite buzzy in the early evenings which adds to the gorgeous interior. and the 5.30-6.30pm early dinner set menu looks the best value for money.
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7 Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 6
Friday, July 08, 2011

I went here for dinner with a friend last night. The service was excellent. The maitre'd attentive and knowledgeable. I had corn beef hash followed by cod and chips and then Lemon Cream Ice. I would go again with out hesitation. I have to agree with reviewers that the tables are too close and surprised that is still the case.
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Anne - View all reviews by this user
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8
Tuesday, July 05, 2011

Our long awaited visit to the Gilbert Scott was a huge disappointment.

The restaurant is hot with table too close to each other. Seating is uncomfortable.You will end up sticking to the fake leather chairs . No side plates means you don't quite know where to put your bread. The menu is limited although the food is good.

Service is lack luster. One of our party did not get her green salad side dish. By the time she managed to get someone's attention she'd almost finished her meal. Another of our party ordered a second dessert. This was so long arriving we had to remind the waiter. The bill did arrive very speedily!

They added on a discretionary 12.5% which we declined to pay.

My advice to anyone - don't bother dining here. We have dined at several top restaurants in London - this is the worst.
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caroline
4 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 4
Monday, July 04, 2011