The Wapping Project

Been twice and both times the food has been exceptional and the venue fantastic. Art is also great. A really unique restaurant experience and I can't believe the negative reviews as this HAS NOT been my experience at all! OK, the service is a little 'trendy' but that would be my only criticism. The last meal I had there was one of my all time favourites and their cocktails are to die for!
Comment on this reader review

Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, June 30, 2009

We went to The Wapping Project last night (group of 4) and were thoroughly impressed by the food, atmosphere, art, staff and yes - the owner! - she is absolutely lovely and spent quite a bit of time telling us about really interesting events coming up - she is clearly passionate about her work!

This will definitely become one of our favorite spots in London - please don't be put off by some of the other negative reviews - well worth a visit - go see for yourself!
Comment on this reader review

Gina
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Friday, May 01, 2009

I attended the Cordon Bleu Cookery school in Marylebone a few years back, where I was taught the finest skills in cooking. Not just french! The Wapping Project should send their chefs there to be trained properly. The food was awful, I resented paying the bill. I have been to many restaurants all over the world, but this by far was the worst. Rude staff and ridiculous 'art'. I have never rated a restaurant before, but this was so bad, I feel I owe to it to anyone who is thinking of going not too! As it states in its name, it's a project. It's not there yet!!
Comment on this reader review

Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Thursday, April 09, 2009

This was the worst and most bizzare restuarant experience I've had. The food was terrible but when we sent it back, we were told that 'the customer is not always right, the chef says the food is perfect'. We then got a different dish which was equally as poor. We also ordered a reasonably priced 'Heywood' wine when the bill came we were charged for a very expensive 'Harwood wine' - clearly they were hoping we wouldn't notice. When I asked politely for it to be changed and suggested they might consider a small reduction on the bill in light of the poor quality food, we were told rudely to leave the restaurant which was an incredible reaction. As I was putting my coat on to leave (in shock) I was then 'shouldered' out by the owner and pushed out of the door.

DO NOT go here unless you are looking to pay close to £100 for 2 to eat poor food and to be treated like dirt.
Comment on this reader review

Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Tuesday, April 07, 2009

FABULOUS.

Three of us went here just before Christmas (yes, I know it's the end of March now, but better late than never!). One of us is a fish eating vegetarian, one a tee-totaller and all three of us pretty picky when it comes to food.

The food, the building and the service were all fabulous. The 'art' was OK - you could take it or leave it - you'll never please everybody with art - but it was an interesting diversion before we ate. And after all, we had gone there to eat. You couldn't fault a single dish. They were all absolutely delicious and the portion sizes were just right. The lady who greeted us at the door on arrival was lovely and very helpful and there was just the right amount of attention from the waiting staff all evening. We all agreed that it was a geat choice of venue and good value for money.

I shall certainly be returning here.
Comment on this reader review

Lulu
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Saturday, March 28, 2009

Food was fine (but expensive - quantity on the small side). Existing building is superb no doubt. OK now I'm done with the positive I can rant:-

I consider myself an easy-to-please-art-lover (and I work in the creative industry) BUT talk about rubbing bad art in your face ... it's the first thing you are greeted with! And don't even start with the attitude of the waitresses thereafter. Given the current economic situation the management should really brush up on their customer services and smiles, which is proven hard to come by under the pretentiousness of the whole setting.

Awful experience altogether, particularly in terms of 'service vs. food'. The latter isn't quite strong enough to deserve a second visit with hard earned money. Happy to dine elsewhere.

PS: Square plates and oversized pasta bowls with minimal food is so 90's!!
Comment on this reader review

Me
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 0
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

A tricky one to summarise, but I'll try: unfortunately the food isn't quite good enough to bear the colossal quantity of pretentiousness being heaped upon it.

The space really is genuinely excellent. I even quite liked the roof and its “fantastic views over Shoreditch basin”, which is about the most over-optimistic piece of description since someone described the attitude of the woman who greets you at the door as “friendly”. This “Greeter”, as she’s been described below, really tells you everything about this place. Her first words to us (party of four, two couples) were to ask if we knew our way around – which I suspect means have we been there before. The answer of course was no, as surely, surely nobody could ever come to this place twice, even for the temptations of the “bookshop” that you’re strongly encouraged to visit which is a greenhouse in the garden.

All the booze is Australian as are, apparently, the owners. The food was fine – not amazing, and not I’m afraid to say worth what you were being asked to pay for it – but fine, in a slightly minimalist kind of way. But the service was glacial. It was beyond glacial, it was like being driven somewhere by my Dad, which is to say slow and agonisingly frustrating. And just so very surly, as everything you did you had to prove that you were good enough to be there, justifying the enormous favour they had done you by letting you have a table and a £245 bill. I felt like they were tolerating me rather than hoping that I would enjoy myself, and that is a very poor premise for a restaurant.

I would advise you not to go, but if you do, please – please, please, please – ask the Greeter for a Fosters, I think she’s actually explode in disgust that you’d make a joke about her “Project” – and that should tell you everything you need to know.
Comment on this reader review

Rupert - London
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 2
Monday, February 23, 2009

I've seen the mixture of reviews here, in particular people have commented on the "greeter".

I went there with a large work group before Christmas and I did not have a problem with the greeter. Far from it.

She was welcoming and helpful. I'm pretty sure it must be the same woman from descriptions below.

The food was excellent, drink was reasonably priced and service was good. It is such a unique place to eat, really worth the experience. Some interesting artwork on display. Just the whole place is truly different and atmospheric.

I had a delicious pheasant dish with chestnuts, cooked to perfection. Desserts looked pretty amazing too.

Don't be deterred by the negative reviews: it is a truly different eating experience, one which you should make your own judgement of.
Comment on this reader review

Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Sunday, February 22, 2009

If you have read all the other reviews for this restaurant (as I had) my advice to you would be to listen very strongly to those which point fault with the greeter on the front door.

Upon arriving her greeting was direct & stern yet did not immediately have alarm bells ringing in me. Just to note having read the other reviews I was wary of her before arriving. We were given a brief guide on the layout of the building; certainly an interesting piece of architecture & novel idea in which to place a restaurant.

The food was delicious and was one of the best duck breasts I've ever tasted. Sufficed to say the taste experience was let down by the pungent smell of Halibut dominating the room due to the location of the grill & not having a powerful enough extractor fan. The ambience was lacking in a space which felt cold & uninviting.

Our waitress was very polite, attentive & courteous & my hats go off to the majority of the staff I encountered there. Tthe wine was overpriced & Australian - I really could not understand why.

Up until this point I might have returned to this restaurant had the next event not occurred. As myself & my girlfriend were leaving we were met with the greeter lady asking us if we had been to the roof exhibition. I said no as we did not have time that night given our circumstances (which I was made to fell were somehow her business.

Greeter: "Then I take it you won't be coming back then???!?"

Me: "Excuse me?"

Greeter: [Repeats herself] "I don't want this place to be known as just a restaurant."

Me: "So...am I to understand that you're barring us?"

Greeter: "Well I suppose I am then!"

Various upleasantries then followed between resulting in us having the door slammed behind us.

Now I really want to make this clear. Up until that conversation I had been the politest, most courteous customer any waitress/ owner could ever want. Having just spent £75 on a meal for two & then to be treated like that, words cannot do justice to how angry & insulted I felt. Needless to say my only comeback will be to hopefully encourage others to avoid this atrocious excuse for a restaurant.
Comment on this reader review

Leon
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Everything about the Wapping Project was a delight. This place is an absolute gem. The menu has great twists on classic dishes and ventures into places that many others do not go to.... The cuttle fish starter was brilliant simple food at its best. The pecorino and Brussel tops pasta was both subtle and substantial and Foie Gras was creamy ambrosia itself. For the mains we all plumped for pork belly which had the crispest crackling in the world – the mustard mash was lush and overall the portions were generous.

Service was fast – knowledgeable and honest. We asked which starter was best – they replied that the cuttlefish was great. There was one portion left. No pushing of the slow lines here but a shared passion for food. We arrived late and without a reservation – neither is particularly advisable – we were made welcome by the owner who went out of her way to fit us in.

This is the first menu I have seen in ages where I could have gladly eaten anything and everything on the menu. The food is high quality, well cooked and beautifully presented and delivered by a team who care. It is outstanding value for money considering for the food – but this is only part of the story. The less you know about the building before you arrive, the more exciting your first visit – so if you like design, industrial architecture or contemporary art - get there and be prepared to the surprised and delighted.

Do not leave without making the calorie burning trip to the roof for the final bonkers chapter in a great story.
Comment on this reader review

Duncan SOnes - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Sunday, January 25, 2009