The Square

Marvelous food, wonderful surroundings. We couldn't ask for more with the amazing sample menu with wine.
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Sarah - View all reviews by this user
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, January 23, 2013

We had been looking forward to eating at The Square for a long time and finally made the decision to go for lunch in November. We decided to have the tasting menu with matching wines rather than the set lunch as we wanted to experience the restaurant at its best. The quality of the cooking was exemplary, I can't fault the dishes. Service was pretty good, our main waiter was young and managed to get our knives and forks the wrong way around for one course but no matter, everyone was pleasant and professional. But, I was a little disappointed that the restaurant did not really seem to be set up to offer the tasting menu at lunch. We received none of the canapés, amuse bouche and only a couple of pieces of nougat afterwards rather than the array of extra treats we have seen from various reviews we have seen. We also enjoyed the staff setting tables up for dinner around us as we finished off - it wasn't late - only about 3pm. I know it sounds a little petty but I wish I had known that lunch time was a simplified service (at no reduction in cost I might add) in which case I'd have made other plans that day and gone in the evening for the full experience.
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Ruth
7 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 5
Monday, December 17, 2012

My wife and I were in on Friday 14th September for lunch. This was our second visit (see below) of many more. It was an anniversary weekend in London and the first thing my wife did was tell me how lovely Phil Howard was in person. Still, he did give me the nicest risotto I have ever eaten. A very deep flavoured lobster (broth almost) dish that stopped just short of being overpowering. Each bite was exactly the same until the finish. Top class dining and it was nice to meet the man himself. An as a little flourish they wrote “Happy Anniversary” on our dessert plate. I even took a photograph.
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Kevin McG
8 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 6
Wednesday, September 26, 2012

I visited the Square Friday 15th June 2012 on a recommendation from a friend and seeing Phil Howard on the telly. We simply had the lunch menu as we were eating later that night. I wont bore you with the menu as it changes frequently save to say I enjoyed every morsel. The main course (a VERY clever) take on steak and chips was a dish I “got” from the start. It really made sense and was extremely clever. Our wine waiter Mohamed was a delightful chap and really knowledgeable. I will look out for him next time. I really recommend this place.
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Kevin McG
8 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 6
Thursday, June 21, 2012

What a difference

Back in May I visited this restaurant and wrote a review on the site saying how disappointed I was, I was contacted by the restaurant and invited back, living in Torquay it has taken a while to accept the offer but the wait was very worthwhile.

Offered a glass of champagne on arrival and shown to our table a lovely one in the centre of the restaurant.

The staff were attentive but not intrusive, asked if we needed any help with the menu, gave excellent advise with the wine choice.

The food was lovely, the langoustine with gnocchi a particular delight.

We had a visit from the Head chef who knew exactly who we were and asked how our evening had been.

We had a wonderful evening with delicious food very much a 2 star time. Thank you.
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Penny Goldman
10 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Thursday, December 08, 2011

We went for lunch yesterday, following my sisters wedding and was massively impressed. The service was incredible and we were even greeted with a bottle of Bollinger on arrival, (they were aware of the marriage).

We all had the set menu, which was delicious and only £35 for three courses.

My brother in law had items off the A La Carte menu, but was still charged the set menu rate. They brought along their 2.5 year old and she was treated brilliantly by the staff.

Phil Howard, the head chef, even came out to meet and chat with us and grated my nieces lunch with Parmesan himself!

All in all, we had a fantastic meal and experience, hugely recommend!!!
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10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, August 17, 2011

A disappointment.

My friend and I ate here on Tuesday evening, we had been looking forward to it as we live in Torquay and good restaurants are at a premium.

We were shown to our table and then waited 10 minutes before anyone came to give us a menu or ask if we wanted a drink, the restaurant was full so we put it down to that. We decided not to go for the tasting menu as I find it a bit too much, our starters were good, my main course however was over salty and the pork was tough, I left half of it and was asked why and was told nobody else had complained. The dessert was good. The staff all looked miserable not a smile to be seen, they all looked as if they wanted to be somewhere else.

Whilst some of the food was good nothing was excellent it was not what I would expect from a 2 star Michelin restaurant, all in all a disappointment, they however didn't charge me for my main course which was one consolation I suppose. I would not dine there again or recommend it to a friend.
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Penny Goldman
5 Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 4
Thursday, May 26, 2011

I am fortunate to not only have visited this restaurant on several occasions, but other top restaurants, such as Le Gavroche, The Waterside Inn, etc. Last night, for Valentines I visited the Square again & the whole experience was amazing. Its just gets better. What upsets me with other reviews on this restaurant is that they fluctuate between being the best & the worst restaurant. I cannot fathom the negative reviews, either they are people who have a vested interest in bad mouthing this restaurant or it simply isnt their cup of tea, I can only assume that the food is too sophisticated for their palate. Having been to the 3 Michelin star Waterside Inn on two enjoyable occasions, I can only say that The Square is on par with it. & deserves a third star. For the record, I have no vested interest in this restaurant, other than it being one of my favourites.
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Alex
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Funny thing about this restaurant reviews here. Some are not up to par with the food and service offered there.

We've been to famous places around London, UK, & Dubai. It is our favorite.

This was the third time we visited in early October 2010 it was a bit disappointing compared to the last two visits.

For one, we chose the tasting menu. It was too much for the time of day, we started 8:30 and we were not hungry enough. They also had to replace dishes for our diet (No Pork, No Alcohol)

The highlights were the John dory dish, excellent. The Chicken dish was tasty. The adjusted Souffle was nice.

The low lights were :

-Most of the replacement dishes were not up to par with the rest of the menu.

-The same tasty Chicken dish was over/double-salted. We did not return it; it was too good to return even with this flaw.

-The menu was too much for us that day. Bad planning from us. Should have gone for A La Carte.

This is a restaurant that only needs more consistency to be 3 michelin star.

Can't wait to go back.
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Fawaz
8 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8
Thursday, December 30, 2010

AWFUL. I won't write a bite-by-bite analyis of the meal, as it wasn't memorable enough. All I will say is that my husband and I have eaten in many two michelin star restaurants and neither of us can understand why/how this restaurant achieved the accolade. If you compare The Square to places such as Le Gavroche and Gidleigh Park it is amazing that they are supposedly of the same standard: they're not. The ambience at The Square is bright and noisy, like a Pizza Express. The food was worse than many restaurants without Michelin stars we've been to, and the service was terrible. It took two of us four hours to get through a three course meal on a Friday night, the service was that slow. In the end we went to the desk to pay the bill because we were so bored of waiting to pay. They didn't even ask us if everything had been alright; I guess they were scared of the answer! So, if you're looking for somewhere dark and romantic with impeccable food and flawless service, then please, please go to Le Gavroche instead.
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1 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 0
Wednesday, December 29, 2010