Julie's Restaurant

I recently frequented Julies as part of a party of 18. Ive never been so disappointed by food so much. the restaurant itself is quaint I agree, but somewhat offputting when the owners scruffy dog is lingering outside the kitchen.

The food to be described in two words, bland and overcooked. We already had a pre arranged three course meal, otherwise I would have stopped after the lousy starters.

My starters consisted of "buffalo mozzerella with sunblush tomatoes in a summers dressing". in reality what I got was 2 olives, 2 small cubes of mozzerella with a teaspoon of tomato puree smothered in copious olive oil.

The main was as uninspiring as all of the vegetables were ridiculously over boiled. My asparagus came in fragmented parts as it was too soft and fell apart.

Out of a party of 18 I think only 5 risked following through with dessert.

I've never had such rubbish food and pay the earth for it. before you ask why didnt I send it back, well my answer is I did. Trouble is if you send it back there is meant to be a stark improvement in what has been returned to you. I cant say I noticed. The food was terrible.
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Alex - View all reviews by this user
2 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 0
Tuesday, April 17, 2012

I had lunch at this restaurant with my girlfriend, since I live in the area and had walked past it a number of times -so thought of giving it a try. The ensuing experience inspired me to do something public spirited: write a review to encourage other people to avoid this place. Service was OK and the ambiance was good (possibly aided by good weather), but prices were very steep and most sadly the food was very bad. To put things into context, we ended up spending 50 a head when mains were a horrible steak and kidney pie (barely edible) and some spaghetti with lobster that barely tasted like lobster and cost £25. First courses were also very expensive and no good (the crudite assortment was just a bit of bread with a few slivers of vegetables and tapenade, the artichoke salad tiny and the artichokes bitter). I might have made a comment to staff, but then no-one ever asked us if the food was OK -probably because they know it is some of the worst in town. Let me put it this way, I would not eat there for free. The food is just too bad, never mind the price.
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Italiano Raffinato in London
4 Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 1
Saturday, March 24, 2012

Went to Julies for the first time with friends who made the booking. The upstairs booths are really quaint and cosy. It wasn't very busy, but the diners who were present were very trendy and upmarket looking.

Unfortunately the food was a massive letdown. I ordered the Lobster Spaghetti, which cost around £25, but only ate maybe £7.50's worth of it. The "lobster" pieces were few and far between. I'm convinced that it was diced langoustine or prawns instead since the tiny morsels had neither the consistency or taste of lobster. The sauce was lacking in flavour and the spaghetti was way overcooked. Believe me, when you pay that much for a dish, you expect to finish it all, but it was THAT bad.

My friends had various chicken and meat dishes, and all were very disappointed. With all the amazing other restaurants nearby, we've all agreed to try somewhere else next time.
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Carole
0 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Thursday, March 22, 2012

Benefits from a backwater location adjacent to one of the wealthiest neighbourhoods in London with a well-heeled clientele attracted by the outdoor seating at this time of year. This allows them to price the food and drinks accordingly and whilst service was good and the overall experience a pleasant one, the food was decidedly average and significantly over-priced (in particular the gripes over the side dishes are justified).

It's been this way for the 10 years I've very infrequently been coming here and I expect it'll be the same for the next ten. They're luck enough not to have to try very hard so they don't.
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londonglen
6 Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 3
Monday, July 05, 2010

Julies is a local stallwart and Notting Hill fixture since 1969. It sits in front of a quaint and relatively quiet square surrounded by a few local shops know as Clarendon Cross, and an excellent place to sit and have a drink in the summer. The mutli-roomed interior with quirky victorian relics also lends to a lovely, even romantic atmosphere. And, the proprieters know this and are able to trade off the ambience, charging a hefty ticket price for mediocre food.

The menu is standard "upscale restaurant" fair and unispired. mozzarela and tomatoes, etc. for starter, standard fish and meat dishes. A warm feta, watermelon and mint salad was the most interesting of the starters, but the tiny watermelon bits and a single whole mint leaf was a weak execution on a good combination of flavours. Mains were ravioli (pea and mint) for my wife, while I had a very tasty chicken with broad beans and port wine sauce. The number of broad beans received could be counted on one hand, and so a side of spinach and mashed potato was ordered at £5 each! The mashed potato was served room temperature and tasted as if it had been made earlier in the day and warmed over - the waiter disavowed this, and I replaced the mashed potato for thick cut chips, which were flavourless and pasty. Good chips are an art, and take effort with multiple soakings and fryings to do it right - which doesnt happen here. My wife's ravioli had some flavour, but unfortunately has a pasty texture and maybe was over cooked. Mains were £15 to £23, starters £7 to £12, and sides (which you need to order to have a complete meal) are an egrigious £5. £3 cover charge as well for bread and boring olives.

The wine list was small but varied and we had a slightly over-priced mid-grade Chablis. Go for drinks and the atmosphere, but don't expect much from the food and expect your wallet to be £65 lighter for starter/main (no drinks) for two.
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jseal - View all reviews by this user
6 Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 3
Saturday, June 05, 2010

Absolutely loved it. Went with a group of friends and it was brilliant. Great atmosphere and I'll definitely be back (often)
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Debbie Rowe
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, April 06, 2010

What a find! Haven't eaten at Julies for years and had forgotten what fantastic ambiance. Atmosphere is completely different updstairs and down - really cosy downstairs. Food, however, equally good in both. Prefectly cooked and staff really friendly. My teenagers would love it and so would my parents! Am being nagged to hold my birthday party there and may just succumb! An intimate but interesting venue. Will rush straight back!
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Maggie McMillan
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, April 06, 2010

Bad Food ! dirty floors and wine glasses... lost its shine back in the 1980's

out dated... How could the food be so bad who is cooking there so bad my 6 year old could do better.....
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tom dunn
3 Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 1
Friday, December 11, 2009

Julie's is an incredible place, sprawling out over several floors and multiple rooms, each entirely different from the others. One is Moorish in feel, another Balearic, one casual and cafe-ish, another formal and haute; you could breakfast, brunch, lunch, dine and sup here every day for a week and never feel that you were in the same place twice. There's a very homely feel about Julie's, at least in the part in which we were seated, which I'm sure must contribute in no small part to its local appeal.

One criticism that's been leveled at Julie's by some reviewers is that the pricing of the food bears little relation to the quality and indeed quantity of it, and I must admit that when I looked over the menu some of the prices struck me as being rather steep. However, we ordered from the brunch menu all of which appeared to be fairly priced (for W11 at least). Everything that came to the table was excellent; my smoked salmon and scrambled eggs was almost as good as I make it at home (in my not-so-humble opinion), the full English two of our group enjoyed was all present and correct and very attractively plated, and a plate of eggs and bacon was much liked. Toast was hot and crispy, butter soft and plentiful, the preserves superb (Bonne Maman no less) and the coffee strong, aromatic and very freshly roasted. Service was quick, courteous and unobtrusive, and we were welcomed and waved off warmly.

My experience of Julie's was entirely and only positive, and that it has stayed in business - not to mention in the same hands - for four decades must surely be an indicator that its fans outweigh its vocal online detractors. I certainly am already planning to go back and look forward to experiencing Julie's for lunch and dinner having thoroughly enjoyed brunch
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Hugh Wright
8 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Tuesday, December 01, 2009