Refettorio

Haven't written one of these in a while, but I feel should write a few words about this place.

The food is good and, in the greater scheme of things, not particularly over-priced (especially if you go when an offer is on). One slightly negative comment in this regard is that I personally didn't find the much touted cold meats/cheeses to be especially good, the cold meats in particular - though it could just have been the selection I had (eating ordinary mortadella from a £13 meat platter felt a bit naff). However, starters and meat dishes were spot on.

Service was also spot on: affable and efficient but not overbearingly so.

The thing that most impressed me though, is the wine list: short, but not too short, plenty of excellent names that are remarkably uncommon around here (eg. Antinori's Puglian winery, Tormaresca) and, most important of all, very reasonably marked-up, with half the list at £50 or less and plenty under £30. Most probably, one of the most sensible, better-value lists I have come across in London. Also, I noticed they have Menabrea beer, which, again, deserves to be much more widely available in the UK than it currently is.

Unfortunately, I couldn't help but notice how much the place feels like a business hotel dining room. Bearable when the room is full, not so when less full. This and the cold meats aside, I thoroughly recommend it.

NB I've been generous with the value for money score as a reflection of the wine list.
Comment on this reader review

8 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 9
Wednesday, March 31, 2010

I've been there a couple of times recently, casing the joint for our company's Christmas party (75 of us now booked there for dinner in mid-Dec.), and I think it's great. The slow roast rump of lamb is as nice as any meat dish in London. It's a big space, but very well presented in tasteful muted shades and shows how pleasant non-radical modern design can be.

The manager refused to take any payment at all for our first visit, and only under duress for our second and even then the drinks were on the house. OK they knew why we were there, but it was done with good grace and no embarrassment.

Full on London hotel prices though.
Comment on this reader review

Robin Joy
7 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 5
Monday, November 16, 2009