Rosemary Lane

My wife and I dined here on Easter Saturday and it was like being seated in a cold store. The food, which looked and tasted very good, was marred by the fact that it too was insufficiently hot. We would have asked for it to be re-heated, but we were so uncomfortably cold that we just ate it and asked for the bill. It was a shame really because the service was so good. I would give it another try on the basis of the service alone, but there was no excuse for the restaurant to be that chilled, no matter how cold it was outside.
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Frank Neal - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 4
Wednesday, March 26, 2008

After reading some of the rave reviews of this restaurant I feel a bit curmudgeonly to rain on everyone's parade, but I did NOT have such a good time on Saturday March 22nd. when my wife and I dined there.

I could not fault the service, it was excellent, but the restaurant was uncomfortably cold. I appreciate that it was a cold night, but either there was no heat in the place or the heating was not working. After ten minutes or so my wife went and got her coat, I tried to be Mr. Macho but eventually I had to do the same. A couple to our left saw this and remarked that it seemed like dining al fresco in Siberia. Both of our mains were not hot enough and normally we would have asked for them to be re-heated but we both wanted to finish up as quickly as possible and get into a warm bar. It was a shame really because we both agreed that the food looked and tasted good, and would have been excellent had it and the restaurant been at a reasonable temperature.
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Frank Neal
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 4
Sunday, March 23, 2008

After reading the glowing reviews, I knew I had to try this restaurant out. I was not disappointed. Amazing restaurant, with lovely service and fantastic food. Not the best location, but this just means we get Michelin-star-quality food at affordable prices. Looks like I'll need to know the manager's name, as I can see myself being a regular!
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MC
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Saturday, March 15, 2008

Went last saturday and as usual everything was top notch.Have been many times and will continue.
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Chris - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, February 05, 2008

My girlfriend & I went to Rosemary Lane for the first time for her birthday last night, and the food we had was really good. The place was empty except for us and another table but then this happens every year when you eat out on Jan 2nd!

Anyway, the restaurant can probably best be described as "understated" which I like and is a refreshing change from some of the Mayfair-based Michelin-starred restaurants that can often be so pompous. For anyone who has been to Thyme in Westcombe Park (next to the train station) they'll know what I mean - in a good way.

Rosemary Lane isn't exactly in the nicest area, a couple of minutes walk east from the Tower of London, and looks like it used to be a pub. Hence the use of terms like "hidden" and "modest", but don't let that put you off.

So the two of us are sitting in this virtually empty restaurant and there's only one waitress on duty (who needs more when it's dead) and we're both thinking that maybe we have made a mistake coming here. We ordered our food and then we were given an amuse bouche (don't you just love it when that happens and it isn't advertised as part of the 5 or 6 'courses'). And this is when we started to realise that it was well worth coming.

The beetroot soup amuse bouche was fabulous (and I don't normally like beetroot) as was my tuna starter. Then another non-advertised palate-cleanser of guava sorbet, followed by the main courses of gorgeous pork belly and a perfectly rare fillet steak. All the food was beautifully presented and tasted wonderful.

And, if that wasn't enough, it all came in (including wine & coffee but no desserts) at a shade under £100 for the two of us. So great value for money.

I can now see why the perfect description for this restaurant is a "hidden gem". We will definitely be going back again. See you there!
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Sam Cole
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 10
Thursday, January 03, 2008

The tasting menu (I believe only done on Saturday evenings) made it well worth braving torrential rain to get to the restaurant. We had 8 courses and each was a gourmet treat. And the food was great value at £30 a head! The house red was delicious and inexpensive so our bill with pre dinner gin and tonics, coffee and service was £51 per head! We had a great evening and I'll be going back.

DFD

2 July 07
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Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Monday, July 02, 2007

Went here last Friday following a recommendation. Food was excellent as was the Prosecco. I eat out a lot and it was the best meal I'd had fro a while and the set menu was great value. The only problem was there was only 4 people eating there on a Friday lunch. Come on everybody get along there so the next time I'm in that part of town its still trading!
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Uncle Donald
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, May 30, 2007

One the best french restaurant I tried over the last two years in London and I know what I am talking about since I am french. The food was delightful, the service was perfect. Price was not insane, it worth every penny.

The place is charismatic, I especially liked the jazz music.

MS
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Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, May 22, 2007

What a shock, a great experience we had in what most people would describe as a hellish neighbourhood. Once on the premises you get a clear understanding of what is about to come. It's a clean and honest establishment with charm, but the best charm came from Kevin (I think he said his name was) but more importantly the food. The waiter (Kevin or Gavin) was honest and understanding to budget and explained exactly what wine he thought would go with our food, not trying to sell the best wines but an honest answer, which you do not find often in London. He explained why he thought these would work best, getting us away from the usual Sancerre!!

The food, well what can I say or any member of my party was amazing. We had never dined there before and was greeted with free delicous bread, a free amous buche (a delicious Gazpachio) then on to starters. I had the tuna which was just as the menu said but was a work of art the colours and inspiration was amazing. For mains I had the Sea Bass, the fish itself was okay but it was the sauce and the smoked fish mash which made it a true delight. I can only give my comments on the food, but it is the first time I have seen empty plates on all the table.

To die for is the chocolate fondant.....Just Heaven.

You have to try it to believe it!!!

The total bill came in at just over £50 per head, but it was worth every penny and considering the night before in a Gordon Ramsey PUB we spent £80 per head it is excellent value for money.
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Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Friday, May 11, 2007

Presenting wines last Tuesday around the corner at Corney and Barrow, we followed their recommendation and came to you for lunch. C&B did us a real favour: the food was delicious, excellent! I was escorting a celebrated Spanish winemaker (Benjamin) and his Spanish commercial manager on our second visit together to the UK, and our unanimous verdict was “best food we’d had at any meal in the UK”. The wee dining room’s a gem, and we also had fun with the wine-list… the Gruner Veltlioner elegantly eased us in, and the Le Cigare Volant – Benjamin is an acquaintance of Randall Grahm (of Bonny Doon) – a great choice!
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Reg Ward
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Monday, April 30, 2007