Hoxton Apprentice

This was the first place my boyfriend took me for a meal nearly 3 year ago and I loved it.

Well I used to and the place as surely lot to improve now. We took friends out for a dinner and it was a total disaster.

The food was good, not amazing but good, although I could have made my starter at home quicker, better and for a third of the price.

The service was atrocious, probably the worse service I ever had in a restaurant. Waiters completely useless, no attention what so ever to customers and in specially that lady with a gum that pick up our order in a arrogant and patronizing way and kept chewing on my face.

The starters arrived 40 minutes after we ordered and we had to wait for the one plate to arrive before we could start.

The main was even worse with 2 plate served , than another one, than another one and at the end I nearly went to the kitchen myself to get the vegetables.

And the price was far too much for how we were treated.

Very very very very disappointed
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Mauro Spagnol
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 2
Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Well we went there with a booking which seemed to not be there! LOL No problems though on it. Sat down nicely in the centre of the room. Waitering staff acme over as professional, very nice and welcoming.

This is one of those times I call into doubt people saying this is a training restaurant and it's great value for money. For the prices charged it's average, nah in fact (very) well portion controlled would sound more prudent. I'd read many remarks of large portions served and the 2 of us went with that in mind. Beautiful food by the way and reviews are sometimes hard like this. It's the people behind the scenes who pull the strings who need an update! In fact when we left we pondered as to who was going to make the opposite remark to the latter sentence.

All in all a nice experience and as someone who once was involved long ago in this kind of operation shall we leave it as 'You call it training but we could call it marketing under that guise'. We'll probably not revisit but would certainly mention others to experience it. Nice staff, should move up the ladder well and very professional so compliments to them on that.

As for the basics of the menu, well neat and small and sounds a heck of lot more appertising albeit perfectly presented (but could have been twice the size!) food. For just short of £80 for a pint of lager, a glass of red wine, bottle of water and without frills 3 course dinner a little below average.

Michael
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TwoForFood - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 3
Wednesday, February 06, 2008

We visited the restuarant for a friends birthday. The atmosphere was awful, the waitresses could not have been less helpful and literally threw the food on the table.

A few of us chose scallops to start which were fresh enough but served with an untasty guacamole and limp salad.

The mains of steak were fatty and could have been hotter. The chicken and macaroni dish again was awful. Undercooked chicken which was more skin and bone than meat with macaroni served in a watery gravy.

All in all awful i would never eat here again.
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Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 2
Sunday, January 27, 2008

I highly recommend this place ! The food is absolutely superb, the staff is very friendly and the place is laid back and welcoming. Try it !!!
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Julie B
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Thursday, November 01, 2007

I visited the apprentice last night with my frind who got married next door in St.Monicas 40 years ago, and was being taken on a nostalgic trip, as a birthday present, by her two daughters,and I joined them. What a different place Hoxton is now.

We had not booked, but were greeted by a cheerful and helpfull front of house young lady, and offered a choice of two tables.

Two of us ordered chicken, which to my taste was a little underdone, but tasty, with macaroni, and extra vegetables. The other two diners had the rib eye, which they were very pleased with,we had a good wine with our meal and the desserts were also pleasant. Our only slight complaint was our main dishes could have been served hotter.

As the name conveys this is staffed by apprentices, and I for one expect them all to do very well when they have establishments of their own.

Good luck, and keep up the good work.
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Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Sunday, September 09, 2007

We were a party of eight that dined there last week, what a brilliant place!!! the restaurant was very busy, but it didn't seem to have a knock on affect to the service or the food. Now as for the food we all agreed given the fact that it is a training / functioning full on restaurant, we only really expected to dine to an average meal with nice wine, how wrong were we!!! by far one of the best meals, I and my guests have eaten in a long time. They even gave us a little "apitizer" (minature taster) of a beautiful light celeriac soup with a little parmasaen scone, aparently this was just to buy the kitchen a little time as the restaurant was so full, we all thought that was a lovely jest from the Chef. The service was good and timed perfectley to each course, particular thanks to a south american waitress who charmed us through a memorable evening. Will be back!!!
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James.
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, July 02, 2007

Probably the worst service I have ever come across, we were served by a youngish genltleman who by the looks of things, has confused his work vocation from being waiter to garage machanic. our starter was placed down on to the table as if it was a dead battery. As for the food it was outstanding!! (thank the heavens!!) great value for the quality you recieve on the plate, just a shame the floor couldn't match.
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Darren Hodginson - baylis
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Monday, June 04, 2007

Well What a wonderful evening!!! dined there with the family last Saturday truelly superb food, considering the concept. Myself and my husband have been dinning over the years in London prefering the West End dinning rooms to any other part of London. But how refreshing to come across such a gem of culinery splender,in the heart of the east end.

We all simply loved the divine porkbelly and scallops, with little trace of fat, (which so many Chefs get wrong!!) along with a very light carrot puree. Mains are equally good, but for the whole table, we thought the tasting plate of desserts was simply out standing!! all the components were tasty but combining seven textures, and probably the best thyme sorbet I have ever tasted.

Great Value, great service, great place.
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Martine.
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Tuesday, May 08, 2007

What a true gem for the East end I carn't tell you how good the food is!! best Rabbit I have ever tasted, my partner had the Bream steam cooked to perfection, very light and fresh, desserts were a little simple in comparison to the mains, but the kind waitress had explained to us that the Kitchen is part staffed with apprentices. Great cause, great place, along with Bacchus the two best dining rooms in the east end. Will be back for more!!!
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David Metcalfe
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Thursday, May 03, 2007

I like the quirkiness of this place. It's trying to be in an area that feels itself so hip it seems to fight not to, but I think what really sets it apart is the warm and genuine nature of the staff.

In case you don't know (though they will tell you when you arrive) and as the name suggests, The Hoxton Apprentice is run as a charity and profits ploughed back in, to give folk - who might otherwise not have - the training and chance to succeed at a level way beyond flipping burgers or a life on the dole.

Now I don't know how they vet the staff or where they get them from but somehow, you just now that they really value the situation they find themselves in and, whilst their attention might wander in the quiet times, you do, as a punter feel particularly cared for.

Swiss finishing school perhaps never featured in the early education of the waiting staff but somewhere along the line they've certainly flicked through the book and a combination of street smart wit and modern manners coupled with delicious dishes make for memorable dining experience.

Certainly beyond the front line, the folk in the kitchen are deserving of commendation, having been now on three occasions and tasted most every dish that came to table I can sing the praises of the artichoke hearts in particular, the venison, the fish and chips (with presentation deserving of Park Lane) and, tying for my cheap and cheerful award for the year, the sausage & mash or the risotto.

Though the dessert manu could I feel, use a bit more attention and choice, sharing just one summer berry panocotta proved too much of a challenge on our last visit and we had soon sent for another - but with our bill still coming in at less than a decent seat at Covent Garden paying was neither a grudge nor painful.

I would heartily recommend this restaurant, its design is one of understated quality which is a theme that runs through & permeates its menu and staff, the place is a real five star treat on a three star budget.

.
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rightcharlie - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Saturday, February 17, 2007