The Lavender

I went to the Lavender last night with my boyfriend on the way home and was stunned by the rude behaviour of the manager towards us.

The manager kept staring at my boyfriend and then followed this by positioning himself by the bar opposite us and giving filthy looks at our table. I don't know if was the fact that we weren't ordering from the full menu or the fact we were wearing trainers that made him take offence!

Each table had a card outlining 'wines of the summer' which I looked at and when I put down the manager came over and snatched it off our table and put it behind the bar for some reason and even the staff noticed and were talking about his rudeness. I even mentioned it to the waitress before we left who passed our comments on to him but he decided to hide round the corner suddenly. Most bizarre.

We certainly won't be coming back there.
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Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 3
Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Having lived in London for the best part of twenty years, I was amazed that i had not come across this wonderfully quaint and delightfully rustic little resturant until recently. I have been into the Lavender many times since discovering it and have never once been let down by the delicious fresh menu that seems to change on a regular basis. Although the service is occassionally a little less than up to scratch, the food is great and the attmosphere warm & friendly. Thourghly recommended as a really great night out every time!
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Claire Williams
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Monday, February 04, 2008

Haven't been there in years until last night. What a shock that restaurants like this still exist. Although the staff couldn't have been nicer, the food was terrible. Who honestly tries to sell a "Mediterranean vegetable tart" with a defrosted pastry case and a bland veg mash dumped in the middle, nowadays?. The burger was poor but I was starving and the chips were dark brown, soggy and horrid. I'm obviously in a minority as the place was busy on a Tuesday night but I will not be going back
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Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 3
Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Went here there last night and had a lovely evening. The atmosphere is very cosy with dark wooden tables and candle light. My friend and I both had the cod and shared a chocolate pudding, topped with white chocolate ice cream and toffee sauce which was delicious. Loved it so much that I am taking my boyfriend there again on Friday. The staff were all very friendly too, giving it the feel of a great, relaxed local place.
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Hannah
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Thursday, October 25, 2007

Went here to eat recently and was very disappointed. Have always been impressed before but I think they have been resting on their laurels. Service was inatentive-we had to wait 15 minutes for the bill. Food was average to poor-not much flavour, not much originality, and not much in terms of portions either. Is definitely one to avoid which is a shame as I used to love it. The bill for 2 came to nearly 60 quid (2 courses, wine, service and VAT), for poor service, poor food and let's face it, not overly comfortable surroundings. For that kind of money, you've get plenty of other choices in the area. I'm not going to say what they are though-want to keep them to myself!!
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TC
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 3
Sunday, July 15, 2007

We popped in to the Lavender one Saturday evening after seeing a performance at the Battersea Arts Centre across the road. It was very busy and we had not booked but the staff made an effort to squeeze us in. We stayed for only mains and coffee but the food was amazing, my boyfriend said his sea bass was the best he had ever had and served in a very novel way, boned and folded backwards presenting the two fillets perfectly. (I am sure this has a fancy name in the world of cuisine but I do not know it!) My lamb was very tender and the mash was superb. There is an open kitchen which is always a good sign. All in all we were very pleased, the service was fine, although they were busy we were not pressured at all. I am looking forward to visiting again, it is a shame we live over the river otherwise we might get to visit more often!
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Heather Bates
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Tuesday, July 11, 2006

I live locally, and often take visting friends here... Previously its been very nice, but in the last 6 months I've noticed a real drop in the quality of service. Absolutely no P+q's from the staff, they make you feel more of an annoyance than a customer, and occasionally completely ignore you.... one waitress even walked off halfway through taking our order to greet a friend at the door! A different waitress got our drinks order wrong (we were only three people), and then when she'd finished huffing, puffing and tutting, she bought us the wrong drinks again! And somehow made us feel guilty! Despite a previously good record, and good food, I would never risk taking someone I wanted to impress to this place.
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London Chris
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 5
Monday, February 20, 2006