Kew Grill

I live and work nearby to Kew Grill. the first time i went was when i was taking the staff out for lunch.

We had a very long wait (about 60 mins) between ordering and recieving.

The staff lacked enthusiasm, and were annoyed with the slightest question deviating from standard ordering from the menu.

Having waited so long in a half empty restaurant, we were expecting a memorable meal. But it was memorable for the wrong reasons. The lamb i had was not what i would expect to get at these prices, and the rest of my party were fed up with the wait.

The second time i went the place was empty and i was beggining to realise why. in a reasonbly small and intimate restaurant, staff rapport is very important, this was sadly lacking. on this occasion i asked for ribeye steak - medium. It was raw.

Also, i have never known staff being so physical when removing the cutlery, i was in conversation with my companion and pushed aside.
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Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Wednesday, November 07, 2007

I've been here quite a few times over the past few years, as I live nearby, and I've found the service and food deteroriating each time.

Last time I went will definitely be the last time I go.

I ordered a medium-rare rib-eye steak and got what tasted and looked like a well-done minute steak. Given the prices they charge, they are just taking the mick.
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Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 2
Thursday, October 18, 2007

Having enjoyed a great meal a month ago at the Barnes Grill,my wife and i were looking foward to a similar experience last night at the Kew Grill.

Oh how let down we were !

This time both our steaks,fillet and ribeye, were distinctly average at best.. Lumpy mashed potatoes and overcooked chips.

Always easy to make excuses for a busy saturday night but to pay top money for a poor quality meal is not on
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M Jacobs
Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 3
Sunday, September 02, 2007

Visited Kew Grill for a family Sunday lunch. Its a small and relaxed restuarant on the edge of Kew Green. We booked 2 hours before and found the restaurant half empty - which made it pleasantly buzzy. I can imagine its uncomfortable when full. There was a mix of families and couples.

The service was efficient and friendly and polite throughout. We got a bit parched at one point but that was quickly rectified.

Portion size is good but in the words of Simon Cowell the food is 'distinctly average'. Against the pricing it isnt value for money. My (18 yr old) son’s sea bass was so heavily salted we sent it back. My son then chose a cheese burger – medium rare. The burger was quite undercooked. Medium rare is one thing but the centre of the burger was cold and the pattie separated easily into grounds of raw mince beef. It was more a steak tartare for the most part.

When it came to paying the bill we were charged for the burger but told that my son's dessert was taken off the bill. I thought this was very cheeky to try and reduce the bill by the smallest amount when we clearly had an issue with the main course. I asked the waiter and he returned with a modified bill. Not happy at this approach and the faffing around with the bill I decided to reduce the service charge from £15 to £10 despite my wife wanting to waive it all together. I think she had a fair point.

Overall, dispointing but with some effort it could justify the prices and live up to the celebrity brand.
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Ben Cartwright
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 5
Monday, August 13, 2007

I have been the the Kew grill 3 times now, and not been dissappointed. The greatest difficulty I've had is getting a mid evening booking at short notice. I have mostly ended up with 6:30 pm bookings witha two hour limit, but they seem to apply this rule politely and discreetly.

The food has always been good, with the steaks a particular highlight, and the mixed grill exceptional. I am really, genuinely puzzled by some of the other reviews that appear here. I have eaten at some of the best restaurants in the world, and while this is more of a local restaurant than a flagship, it does provide all the things I want. I look for a well balanced menu, high quality ingredients, and most of all it has to be cooked in such a way that I really want to go into the kitchens and ask how they did it! Kew grill does all that.

Downsides are: it's a bit on the cosy side, prices are on the high side but not excessive, hard to get a booking.

Upsides are: Very good food, good qine list, good service that is friendly but not intrusive.
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Rob
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 7
Tuesday, August 07, 2007

We visited Kew Grill one Saturday recently ,we found the welcome and service excellent.2 of us enjoyed a first rate steak and one was vegetarian so various salads were enjoyed.

A pleasant venue to relax and enjoy a good meal,will certainly revisit.
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erica black
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 8
Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Went along on a mid- week evening and had an enjoyable time. I found the waiters fine and the maitre'd a delight. Ordered the chilli squid and fillet steak both of which were very simple, well prepared and of excellent quality - nice not to be in a restaurant that feels the need to over complicate things.

My gripes are : 1. That the place is VERY compact with tables close together - not the site for a confidential chat or a romantic evening. 2. Even though the quality is great - the pricing is pretty steep and its the extras (Bread olives , water etc ) and the 12.5% "optional service charge " that really racks it up - ended up paying £100 for 2 and that for only 2 courses and 2 glasses of wine each.

Still there are plenty of places in London where you pay this much and don't even have decent food - so not really a major moan.
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Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 7
Wednesday, June 13, 2007

The last hanging for daylight robbery in public was John Proudlove in 1829, after Saturday's meal I for one know who would be next !
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Derek Gardner
Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 0
Monday, June 04, 2007

A disappointing experience. Food mediocre. Air-con freezing. Staff impatient and charmless. Suffice to say, we will not be returning. The company of our friends who had invited us made the evening enjoyable, certainly not the food. As local residents of Richmond, it would have been a real find had the restaurant been even average.
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Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 0
Saturday, June 02, 2007

Booked in for a Sunday lunch with my parents. I had to wait for the previous guests to finish up and for my table to be set up. There was no room to be seated while I waited.

I was quickly seated, but urged that I had to order fairly swiftly as bookings were running on into others. Not really the standard I had expected.

Food was generally well prepared and I enjoyed my steak! Waiters were informative but service was slow. I believe the prices are excessive and prehaps disproportionate to the level of service that I received that day. My parents were divided on the issue, but have decided not to return.

I however may give it another chance.
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Virgil Levy
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 3
Wednesday, May 30, 2007