Bishopsgate Kitchen

My wife and i had a late lunch yesterday at Bishopsgate Kitchen and were really dissapointed with the experience. The service was mediocre to start and the brunch menu options to choose from were not spectacular. I had the chorizo hash and my wife had the salmon sweet potato fishcake. My chorizo was a plate of new potatoes boiled and slightly grilled with chunks of chorizo around, and grated manchego cheese over the poached duck egg (which was over cooked). The way that i understood the dish is that the hash was going to be the potatoes??? The dish was awful and i left 80% of the potatoes. My wife did not enjoy her salmon cakes either. I think the chef needs to rethink - salmon and sweet potatoes do not go! It was way too sweet and way too much sweet potato to salmon in the cakes - she had to search for the salmon chunks.

As for service after we got our dishes, neither of the two girls came by to ask us how the food was or if we needed anything else. A mute girl came over when we were finished to take the still half eaten plates away and then came back to bring the dessert menus? We declined having suffered enough pain and requested the bill. Which included a 10% gratuity - what cheek! After we paid, we walked past the two servers and neither of them said "good-bye", "thank you", "go to hell", nothing? We did not expect 5 star dining treatment, but an acknowledgement of helping to pay their salary would not go a miss, especially since i did not dispute the 10% surcharge. Do you just take it for granted that this should be included? I am writing because i have not been this disappointed in so long...in London most restaurants do not care if they get negative comments, because the overwelming demand. But the owners should know that the staff they are hiring cannot cook or treat customers.
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smroberts
2 Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 1
Sunday, March 11, 2012

Visited for the first time last sunday and had a really great experience. Really friendly service and the food is delicious. Really busy and fun place and will be going back soon.
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9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Saturday, November 05, 2011

Terrible. The most messy system we've ever experienced. We ordered starters and mains and mains came first! So we cancelled the starters. Then after we had our mains the waitress were trying to serve starters! Also gave us a wrong dessert. On the first bill we were charged the starters, twice and some other drink we didn't order. Food itself was also disappointing. In short, what a waste of this nice location. NEVER going back.
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Elen
3 Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 2
Thursday, October 13, 2011

This restaurant is like a hidden gem amongest the hustle and bustle of london life fantastic food, relaxed chilled out atmosphere, waiting staff were very friendly, defienatley a place to chat amongst friends and family whilst choosing what starter from the chefis platter to nibble on next.
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10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Monday, August 01, 2011

Was taken here by a friend late on a Saturday evening. I have dined in many places across London and I have to say that this place has the best service I have ever experienenced. Better than anywhere else where you will easily pay at least 4 times per head for a meal. Upon our arrival, the waiting staff were super friendly and straight away I knew it was going to be an enjoyable meal. The range of food on offer has something for everyone. We decided to get a bottle of wine and asked one of the waiting staff for their recommendation. they suggested the second cheapest on the menu, and when he realised we still werent sure, we were given a taster from a couple of bottles. They did forget to bring out one of the dishes that we had ordered, however this was soon put right with a sincere apology and some extra delicious cherries and more yummy olives. I couldnt find any fault with the food itself, and the wine was perfect. At the end of the meal we were given the bill and noticed they hadnt charged us for a bottle of wine. My friend pointed this out and we were duly charged however they appreciated the honesty and so gave us 50% off the meal! AND as we were leaving and they were about to close, they gave us a couple of delicious muffins. If restaurants ever needed a benchmark on how to make sure a first-time customer returns, then they should look no further than this place. Yes it was late and so perhaps more attention was given to us than normal, but even if at busy times the level of service is only 50%, I'd still be happy.
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Gordon
9 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Monday, July 18, 2011

Went there for lunch on their first day of opening recently and I have to say it didn't seem like a first day in that the staff seemed at ease with each other and worked well together. There did seem like a lot of people enthusiastically greeting us as we made it to our table but I'll put that down to first day excitement!

We both had the poached free range eggs with ratatouille, Manchego and toasted sourdough which was a combination I hadn't come across before but worked for me. I especially enjoyed the bread which was tasty and fresh.

The setting is spacious and airy being stylish and friendly at the same time.

Luckily this place is across the road from work so I anticipate a few more visits in the near future.
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Alan Chandler
9 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Friday, July 01, 2011

The platters we ordered were excellent, with very generous portions. The bread (very fresh) kept on coming, and all the olives and other ‘little bits’ were topped up. Once we had finished eating more bread and olives were offered. And we were encouraged to stay chatting long after we had finished our meal. Very relaxed atmosphere, with friendly staff.

Incredibly good value, would definitely recommend.
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ol'' mare
10 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Friday, July 01, 2011

Popped in to this restaurant on Saturday, on the way to the market. The service was friendly and the food simply but tasty. I had some cheese, meats and a sea bass. Not sure what the other reviews meant, because I saw them slice the meat fresh for me.

I would definitely recommend, as a relaxed place to go in a great location.
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Milly Farrell
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Monday, June 27, 2011

Extreamily disappointing, dropped by today as i live and work locally, was greeted by who appeared to be a friendly gentleman but soon discovered his English was very poor, i decided to try it out, ordered a glass of wine and some dishes of hams and cheeses, i was brought some olives which looked like they had been left out for a month ! totally wrinkled then arrived a basket of stale bread which i did not eat of course, the cheese and wine were good but it would have been nice to have had fresh produce to accompany them, i was not asked how anything was but i did bring it to the attention of my waitress who did nothing about it, i was going to ask for a manager but not worth the hassle. left with bad taste, won't be returning.
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Michael Mc Grath
4 Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 4
Thursday, June 23, 2011