Garlic & Shots

I went here last night with a friend of mine. Having read these very mixed reviews, we had a back up plan but did not have to use it. I eat out a lot. A lot. And this is the best food I have ever had out. The garlic bread is gorgeous, thick slabs of freshly baked bread with turmeric, chilli and garlic. Our mains were brilliant too, the ribs are served on a huge platter with coleslaw, salad and potato skins and the veg noodles with halloumi were so delicious that I didn't stop eating until it hurt. The service was good - polite, conversational and efficient.

The only criticism i'd have is that you get what you pay for so although the food is fabulous, you don't feel like you've found a hole somewhere that you'll visit again and again...Having said that, I would definitely recommend this place and am going back later this week!

Two mains, two drinks, two sides, £55.
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Sophie
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 6
Friday, June 13, 2008

I love this place. It's one of my favourite restaurants in London. Although obviously, you have to love garlic! Literally everything has garlic in it. There's even a garlic beer. It's cosy (in the front part of the restaurant), and good for an alternative date (I saw Amy Winehouse in there once snogging someone in the corner). The music is usually rock, and alot of the staff seem to have at least something pierced. There's also a bar downstairs which attracts people wearing alot of black. So, if you're into that kind of scene, or at least feel comfortable with it, then you'll probably have a great time!
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Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Thursday, May 29, 2008

Went there to try but unfortunately it was disgusting! Staff were extremely rude and do not seem to care about service or attitude just cash! The atmosphere was dismal and the drinks even more so! To be avoided.
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Ellie Griffin
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Sunday, May 11, 2008

Seemed like a fun place to try so we gave it a go. Several of the dishes were off as they had no noodles (in the middle of the west end). Service was very slow and when the food finally came it was very disapointing. We all liked garlic but not to the extent that it overpowers everything else, also the garlic bread and potato skins were burnt.
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Steve - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 0
Wednesday, February 20, 2008

If you dont want to eat you get shuffled down the stairs where the (cool but jaded) barman sold us shots. when i was a kid i used to steal booze from my dad and just stick it all in the same bottle..well these people sell that crap for 2.50 a shot...

Part from the fact that the music was rockin and the barman was well updated with the scandinavian rockscene and played us loads of great stuff, this is NOT a place for rocknroll. But it could have been...But since the 1996 vibe is apperantly very strong with the management who dont have a clue, i suppose that this place will always be the laughing stock of the other rockbars in the are. pity. but bad taste is bad taste...
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Dabhound
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Friday, February 01, 2008

This place looks interesting when you first go in and the garlic beer and shots are a fun and unusual idea. Its full of drunk gothic Swedes. But the real shocker is the food, its beyond terrible and its beyond belief that a restuarant with such poor food remains open in this day and age especially in London. We ate less than 10% of our meal and left as fast as we could.. Even the garlic bread which I thought couldn't be done badly was terrible.. made with garlic from a jar in the most stodgy straight-from-the-freezer bread.. It could all be so nice but they just don't get it... My recommendation - have a shot and leave as fast as you can and go somewhere decent..
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Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 0
Saturday, November 24, 2007

After looking Round Soho for a while and deciding that we really didn't fancy going back to another Italian, Lebanese (although both have always been very good) or Chinese buffet (always very bad), We walked past and decided to go inside 'Garlic and Shots'.

This was probably the best decision We've made in london for a long time! The beer selection is poor, but that really doesn't matter as the main attraction is the shots, the atmosphere and above all the food!

ALthough I have not tried averything on the menu everything I have has been excellent and when I finish I am left wanting to taste more no matter how creakingly full I am. The chilli is especially good and having lived with a mexican family for a while I can say without doubt the most authentic I have ever tasted outside of the that country (very much better than the rubbish stuffed with baby sweetcorn and unedifiable boiled chinese vegetables that you get in all other 'Mexican' restaurants).

This place is VERY experimental in its cookery and not for all. However the food is one of the best in London and the venue is excellent with a perfect edgy, run down feel that is in perfect keeping with actually being in london.
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Michael
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Tuesday, July 31, 2007

We went on a saturday night when every other restaurant in Soho was either completely full or looked overpriced and rubbish. We found Garlic and Shots and were not sure whether it was our sort of restaurant.

We sat in the shabby beer garden and immediately felt like we had chosen the right place. The food was awesome. If you like garlic in your food, you will love this place. The Garlic bread was amazing. I would also thoroughly recommend the garlic and honey baby back ribs. They were cooked to perfection and so so tasty.

Expensive .. not at all, 2 starters, 2 mains and 5 glasses of good house red was £55 including tip

Not big enough portions.. No way, the garlic bread alone fills you up and we left loads.

If you want to eat great food in a relaxing environement check out Garlic and Shots
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AB
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Sunday, June 17, 2007

to everyone who is complaining about there being too much garlic in the food

HELLO! the clue is in the name!

10/10 for everything with this great restaurant!
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foobared
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Thursday, June 07, 2007

I have been to Garlic and Shots a number of times and yes - it's not for everyone.

First of all this place has a heavy Goth/metal theme, and this is reflected in the clientelle on any week night, though the bargoers get more civilian towards the weekend. It has a pleasant front section with candles on each table, a rather run-down 'beer garden' out the back and a downstairs bar normally filled to bursting with the older Goth and metal crowd. Don't let this fool you into thinking this place is full of emo-esque teenagers though, the average age here ranges from mid 20s to 40s, and this is exemplified by the music which is generally 80s rock and metal.

If you choose to partake of the food - expect a lot of garlic - and I mean A LOT. This is not a place where the food is lightly spiced: some of the portions have layers of garlic on top such as you've never seen in other restaurants. If you like garlic you'll really love this place, but for some it's too much. Once a chap next to me said he liked the look of what I was having, ordered it for himself, and couldn't eat his own because it was too strong for him.

I haven't tried everything on the menu here but it wouldn't surprise me if some dishes were not up to scratch. However. the garlic bread is fabulous, and I had a steak with red wine sauce a few days ago which blew me away it was so good. G&S is not a 'serious' bar for the swanky London punter or roamng tourist, it's quite a gritty place but with great atmophere and food - as long as you like it intense.
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deep silent complete
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 7
Wednesday, May 23, 2007