$ Grills and Martinis

It's a real shame about this place. I have been here a few times and the food is good but the service is nothing short of a joke.

We waited nearly two hours for our meals and consistently had to wait half an hour or more for our cocktails. The manager is appalling and doesn't appear to know what he is talking about. When we were there, he blamed the owners for trying to pack too many people into the restaurant when it couldn't handle the capacity - however, when we later disputed the mandatory service charge (which the manager also said was discretionary????, another sign that he doesn't know anything about running a restaurant), he claimed that he was the owner.

In my opinion, we heard nothing but lies and excuses all night for the awful service we received and missed out on the only good thing about the place (the tasty food) because we were way past the stage of being hungry by the time the food arrived.

I would strongly advise people to stay away until these people learn how to look after their customers.
Comment on this reader review

- View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 4
Monday, December 04, 2006

Difficult to find fault. The steak was better than the Gaucho Grill steak I'd had earlier that day for lunch. The wine was gorgeous. Side dishes need a bit more thought. Service was polite and efficient. When I saw how achingly trendy this place was, my heart initially sank. Trendy normally equals dire service. But not here - waiters were really very pleasant. Downstairs bar may not be to everyone's taste - I felt very old amidst a lot of Hoxton poseurs. But I can recommend. Only problem was I could still remember when this place was a very daggy boozer ten years ago.
Comment on this reader review

Ross Todhunter
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Tuesday, October 24, 2006

First impressions were very good. The décor is funky and the cocktail list is excellent. However having been asked if we would like drinks straightaway, we asked for a few minutes to check out the cocktail list. 20 mins later and no sign of the bar man it took 2 attempts to order at the bar before it was taken. Having been the only 2 people in there, a large group appeared and before making our cocktails he went to get their orders too. So it took an additional 15 mins to actually get a drink - lovely as they were.

We hadn't booked a table upstairs but decided to ask and were told they were full and had some large groups - no problem. So we asked for our bar bill and prepared to leave. The manager then came over to say if we gave them 15 - 20 mins there would be a table for us. Again, no problem as it seemed a nice place and we wanted to try it out so we ordered a bottle of wine which he brought over straightaway. 30 mins later still no one had told us anything about the table so we asked a member of staff who finally took us upstairs, seating us at a dirty unlaid table. The manager then came and wiped down the half of the table we were sitting at leaving the other side as it was. We had to ask for cutlery, napkins etc.

The burger when it came was cold so was sent back. The pasta was ok but a bit too creamy for personal taste. When the second burger arrived it was without the guacamole as stated on the menu but we couldn't be bothered to point it out as it appeared to be "one of those nights". Having been asked if we would like condiments and parmesan shavings, we only received 2 and the other 2 never arrived.

When we finally tried to pay the bill, which was being split between us, we were told we would have to pay for the drinks downstairs separately to the food. C'mon how about providing a service and making customers lives a bit easier?

There seemed to be an ample number of staff "floating" round but not particularly doing anything fast or productive although they seemed quite pleasant but defensive of their actions. Overall a lot of niggly things that just need a bit more care, attention and awareness from the staff.

The place itself is lovely as are the cocktails and the food was ok but the service was a joke. They could increase their bar sales significantly should they give people the opportunity to buy more, instead of just 2 cocktails in 2 hours. The good intentions are there but it just doesn't deliver, which is a shame as we really wanted it to.
Comment on this reader review

FM ES & JB - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Thursday, October 19, 2006

Overall I was not impressed. I felt the service was poor and the food a little chewey. I only managed to get my hands on a couple of warm beers that at 4 pound a pop were well expensive.

I will stick to my regular haunt going forward the NEw Moon in Leadenhall Market is much more my scene
View/Add comments (1)

Mark.Hutchinson
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 1
Wednesday, September 06, 2006

What a great find! Had a surprise birthday for my boyfriend here, with 20 guests. Brett the manager made sure everything ran smoothly and nothing was rushed too much.

The las Vegas theme although over the top works really well and helps creating an interesting atmosphere, loved the kitch chandeliers!

We were given a set menu; which they had called to discuss beforehand and had kindly added on some extras at my request. ( Two courses £17 and three courses @ £20.50. The portions were massive, and after seeing the amazing burgers coming out the kitchen, most people opted to go with them. They do know how to put together a decent fresh burger! Others opted for the tuna, salmon, chicken breast or aubergine dishes which were again very well done and no one had a bad meal. On request they arranged a massive chocolate cake which was really good (unfortuantely most people were too full to try any!). Never short of drinks and all in all a good dining experience.

We spent the rest of the evening in the bar downstairs, with a dj playing and cocktails flowing (drinks were not cheap but cocktails never are in London!) it made a great evening, comfortable lounging areas downstairs as well as little "caves" that allow you to have a decent conversation and enjoy the music really helped with a large group!

Overall good food, fantastic manager and hostess, a few staff members could have done with customer service lessons (mostly in smiling) but the rest bent over backwards to make sure everything went great.

The only downside is the unisex bathrooms which were not very clean, they could do with an on duty attendant.
Comment on this reader review

Jessie
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Saturday, May 06, 2006

I was taken to this terrific restaurant, Friday, April 21st and thoroughly enjoyed it. The service was terrific, very attentive and the food wonderful. I had possibly some of the best margaritas I've had in a long while and I had the monkfish with mustard mash & spinach ... yummy. I would highly recommend this restaurant. I live in Toronto, Canada and will be back in London next March & I'll go back for another scrumptious meal.
Comment on this reader review

Gloria Goodman
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Friday, April 21, 2006

I wasn't sure what to expect and was delighted to find a buzzing restaurant upstairs accompanied by a relaxing martini bar downstairs. The bar was comfortable and stylish, which put the pressure on when ordering...be prepared to answer twenty questions when asking for a martini. Vodka or gin? Brand of spirit? Wet or dry? Peel or olive? I was way out of my depth!

The restaurant offered some tasty choices. The waitress apologised up front for the wait due to the large party taking place, which was kind. My burger was large and juicy with great tasting chips. The wine selection was reasonably good, though a bit on the expensive side.

Overall, a very good restaurant, with atmosphere, and not too expensive.
Comment on this reader review

James Edmondson
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Monday, April 03, 2006

Been here about four times; good food, good value, good setting. Burgers are ridiculously large and tasty, but the Argentinian fillet steak here is superlative, better than at most places which cost twice the amount.

You can get a meal for four with wine for around £100 so by London standards its not too bad at all.
Comment on this reader review

Young T
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Friday, February 24, 2006

I took my colleagues (7)out for a celebration lunch on a recomendation from a friend. The food was great and there was plenty of it. Most of the girls had burgers and I had the Mustard Monkfish & Mash which was excellent. Unfortunately, the staff were very unattentive and never came over to see if everythng was okay, I had to get there attention to get more drinks and after waiting quite a long time we had to ask to see the desert menu, which by then was far too late to order. After bringing this to their attention they said "they had been busy",but the restaurant was far from full. on leaving the restuarant we saw a sign on the window "Exerienced Staff Needed"!!
Comment on this reader review

Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 7
Tuesday, January 31, 2006

just had our christmas lunch here - pre ordered over 12 month ago - still had to wait over an hour for each of the three courses. Three hour lunch not always appropriate for work. Portion sizes ranged substantially between ppl and what was the point of pre ordering? will not choose again which is dissapointing because it is so close to work.
Comment on this reader review

tameron
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 1
Monday, December 19, 2005