The Vine

I booked this restaurant because it was near the forum. The soup was watery and flavourless with lumps of bread on top (croutons?), the chips were horrible and the burger was so peppery I couldn't eat it. I was asked did I enjoy the meal so I replied not really but they didn't bother to ask why.

I would want my worst enemy to go here, it was the worst meal I've ever had. The wine was drinkable and I liked the decor inside but the outside was very shabby, not in a chic sort of way and it was not obvious were the front door was.

Not a good experience.
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Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 0
Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Went here for a small birthday celebration last Sunday for food and drink. The poor manager (Tony, I think!) must have been very bored of my effusive praise for the place (which became more effusive as the evening went on, fuelled I am sure by the complimentary limoncellas!) but it really is an amazing find.

The garden area is lovely, the food is fantastic and the staff unbelievable - nothing was too much trouble (even my constant questions about the place!). I rarely eat a roast at a pub now as I can always do a better job at home but this is one of the rare places where I would save myself the bother. Really interesting flavours and delicious red cabbage and spinach.

Ended up spending the whole afternoon there. I had only planned to come along for a couple of hours but stayed for 5! Will definitely come back and hope to make use of hiring the place at some stage as the cost is very reasonable (works on a guaranteed spend basis!). I cannot rate this place highly enough and Tony and the staff made us feel like locals - a rare skill indeed....

Thanks guys and hope to see you again soon....

Although we live in East London, the overground line goes from Blackhorse Road to Gospel Oak (a short walk away) so try keeping us away! Come on Ken, let's have some more trains though!
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Emma Hillman
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Thursday, December 20, 2007

My grumble with Gastros is that they charge restaurant prices but deliver sub restaurant food.

Well the Vine doesn't really fall into that category. It's a nice pub on Highgate Hill which serves a decent varied menu. The Pub is really nice and has a good selection of drinks. The menu was compact and included a specials list. All the food was tasty according the the other 6 diners and I have to agree, solid if not spectacular and at the right end of gastro pricing ie under £12 a plate. Starters were around £6-7 i think they could have easily done £4-6 but no complaints on value or standard of food or for that matter ambience despide sharing the garden with Les Dennis.

I do on the other hand take great exception at the service charge. Now I have seen some inept waiting staff but this girl took the proverbial biscuit.

Firstly she brought another tables order and then told my friend that it must be his food and looked medium rare - how she worked that out I don't know. The best bit was when she brought a plate of tuna out and told another diner that it was chicken - we all of course said that's not a chicken but she was determined and stuck to her guns ... until her waiter friend told her she had delivered the wrong food to the worng table.

She got worse plonking cutlery in front of me when I said I didn't need it - "oh nevermind i'll just leave it here anyway"

I mean is it too much to expect a waitress to tell the difference between a tuna steak and a chicken. The Tuna looked like ... well, like a tuna steak and the chicken, when it did arrive, was unmistakably a chicken.

Rude surly and terrible at her job and then added the service charge straight on. pathetic.

Anyway, aside from the lobotomised waitress excellent !
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Gav
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Monday, October 15, 2007

I went to The Vine and had a really lovely experience. The staff were friendly, the atmosphere was like you were being welcomed in to somebody's home. We had carpaccio of tuna and crespoline finished off by white and dark chocolate mousse and a lemon mascarpone tart and it was all good and the total cost of £45 for two with a bottle of wine i thought was good value. I'd like to say well done to The Vine. The garden the people and the ambience made a lovely evening.
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Martin Hrusc
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Wednesday, August 08, 2007

I'm not sure what has happened to The Vine - we have had brilliant food there in the past but tonights disaster has put me off for good. We had OK starters - goats cheese and parma ham but the mains were horrendous. Greasy pasta with Italian sausage, burnt roast pork and deep fried "roast potatoes" . I exchanged the burnt pork for a cold parmigiano - not a winner. To top it off the wine was corked!
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Natasha Campbell
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 2
Tuesday, December 05, 2006

I have been to this restaurant twice in the last two weeks! We went, en famille, for Mother's Day - my dad, who doesn't go out to eat at all and is in his 80s - wiped his plate clean!! I went again with some girlfriends on the following Saturday eve. Food and service were super, and I love the relaxed atmosphere of the Garden Room (with heaters.) Thank goodness, no noisy music, and we managed to chat very easily................will be back.
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Shirley Isaacs
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, April 04, 2006

I ate at this venue, together with my Husband and Son on Christmas Eve this year.

We sat in the conservatory at the back( a little draughty!) but we were very impressed with the food and service!I had char grilled salmon, which was just delicious. The others with me had Burgers, and said they were the best burgers ever! For dessert I had a delicious pannacotta with fruit inside, every bit as good as a dessert I have had anywhere!

I had been to this venue before, about a year or two ago, and I found the food on this visit to be a vast improvement.
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Diana Partridge
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8
Thursday, January 05, 2006