The Grill at the Dorchester

Very dissapointed with the robotic and unsmiling service that we received at the Dorchester for Sunday lunch. Utterly charmless. Surely even a 'grand' hotel should present a warm and friendly face? The greeting at the desk was fine but practically everyone we encountered thereafter was indifferent and distracted.

Be wary of the Champagne trolley that is presented when you are initially seated. No prices are indicated and 4 glasses cost us £88.00. Fine if you are a wealthy resident but they should offer a simple printed card with prices before your order because I'm quite sure some guests must be shocked when they get their final bill. Especially, if they inadvertantly order a vintage Champagne. God knows how much that would cost!

The starters and desserts were excellent, superb wild mushroom soup and a lovely herrring dish. The chocolate dessert, rum baba and pannecota were great. The Dorchester is famed for its roast beef which was good but the dish lacked body because the jus was underpowered and vegetables artfully arranged but random. For me, the plate lacked the essence of a good roast. Basically I'm just not a fan of jus, a decent sauce or gravy with body and meat juices is needed to hang the plate together. The fish dish of brill was good but the portion looked rediculously small, especially in contrast to the beef.

We wanted to try the Dorchester for the experience but the 4 of us agreed that we wouldn't go back. In comparison to the Athenaeum and Dukes hotel, it was poor.
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Carl
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 4
Sunday, December 06, 2009

Where to have a decent sunday lunch?

Well of course at home - but when in the mood to be waited on and avoid

the washing up there is Browns - very good- The Goring ditto and the

Dorchester .We have found the Dorchester Grill to be the best by a narrow margin

the service is excellent the roast beef cooked as you want well done or rare etc

vegetables good, smoked salmon starter perfect,and dessert pretty good

as well and its a deal at £35 for 3 courses.

The room of course is notorious we used to go when the place was a must on a Sunday there David Lean , over there Michael Caine etc then the management

had a brainstorm and changed the setting the murals on the walls of

dancing Scotsman etc , the ceiling probably they could nt touch- but its still

a handsome room in essence and with the good food and service one can

ignore the flying scotsman.

Its still nice to be going to the Dorchester.
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alan fowle
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Friday, September 18, 2009

I recently went to the grill with my girfriend to celebrate my birthday, it was a real treat and provided at almost every level. We went early to sink a cocktail at the bar before dinner, it was an exceptional couple of drinks. We were taking advantage of the 5 course tasting menu as I have always wanted to try one of these and never have. Our first course of scapllops and chorizo was probably the best, then followed some noodely oyster dish that I liked but wasn't crazy about, Emma didn't really like it. Next to our suprise came the main. They had forgotten the third of the 5 courses! This was a suprise as I know the Dorchester is renound for it's service. There were many appologies once the Maitre d realised their error and we were offered the cheese course as a free alternative. Pudding was delicious and we were both full. I forced some delicious cheese down out of principle more than anything else (yes a bit off greed too).

Wine was wonderfull we shared a bottle of Gruner Veltliner and each had a glass of Pinot Noir with our main. Jason was very helpful and humble. It's refreashing to have a somelier who avoids all pomposity! In fact all the staff were great at making us feel as relaxed as possible. We ended up a little too relaxed and found ourselves the last to leave!

ALthough the evening was really special I hoped to spend less than we did especially with the £50 menu, but with one bottle (£60) two cocktails and two glasses of wine we somehow ended up spending a grand total of £270. A sting but this isn't an every day dining haunt, unless your very fortunate.
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Jazzfiddler - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 7
Monday, September 22, 2008

My girlfriend and I went to the Dorchester Grill room last night for her birthday. We had the 5 course taster menu with glass of Champagne and I have to say it was superb. The staff were very attentive and explained each course and were so friendly. The food was great and I was full by the end of the meal. Great kitsch surroundings.
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Andy
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, April 30, 2008

On a rainy Saturday night last month we six ventured into town for a much anticipated meal at the Dorchester. The service was really good, the room

is lovely, the food was awful....... strange combinations the duck starter, turned out to be ducks tongue...... not a great, the main course was no better, the lamb was just not very good. My fellow diners all felt the same, I recommended it so felt really upset, when the bill arrived for our two courses, three bottles of medium priced wine, two bottles of water, service charge slot was left empty for gratuity even though there was £70.00 added automatically. The final bill was just under £700.00, which if we had enjoyed it would have been fine. Would only venture back for afternoon tea.
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Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 2
Saturday, April 12, 2008

This was our first visit to the Grill Room and one which lived up to all our expectations for food, service and value for money. We chose the two course special, which at £25 per head represented exceptional value, and the complimentary amuse bouches further enhanced the experience.

We both chose the Aberdeen Angus Beef which was cooked just as we like it - well done (medium also available), and the yorkshire pudding was superb. Our dessert was the chocolate marquees, which was simply sublime in taste and texture.

The choice of freshly cooked bread was an added delight. The service was first class, and the waiters very friendly and attentive.

We will certainly be repeating our experience very soon.
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Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Viisited on a week day evening for the £25 set menu with a free glass of champagne. You can not fault the value for money, although the set menu is limited it did include such dishes as scallops.

The service was extremely good and at no point were we treated as less important customers or hurried to finish. We finsihed with a hot drink which we asked to be served in the lounge area and the waiter duly obliged.
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Sam
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Wednesday, February 06, 2008

We booked for the same evening for the 2 courses and a glass of champagne for £25. We were given a decent table and offered the standard menu du jour, which is £25 two courses and £27.50 for three. So the champagne was the bonus, and a nice start to the meal. The set menu has only two choices per course, and is very understated: the starters were described as chicken and macaroni, or white onion soup with foie gras. In fact the food was superb and a real act of creativity. A delicious amuse-bouche to begin. The soup was beautifully done, creamy smooth, with a floater of frothed potato which carried tiny chips of smoked duck, and served with toast generously covered with foie gras. The macaroni was equally far from its simple description. We followed with wild salmon-trout cooked in red wine. A kind of zabaglione/sorbet followed before the excellent suite course. The service was warm and courteous, and never were we made to feel that we were poor relations. The wine list has several decent wines in the £20 - £30 range so the whole bill with service was under £100. You could easily spend double if you went a la carte, though with such an interesting set menu, you'd be mad to do so.
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NCS - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Thursday, June 28, 2007