Goring Dining Room

A very disappointing lunch on Sunday 26 September. We requested very rare beef but were told that none was available other than the “rump end” of the joint on the trolley before us. Reluctantly we accepted it but it was far too well cooked for us to eat. Moreover, within minutes, a new joint appeared on the trolley, so, had we been asked to wait a few minutes, we could probably have had beef cooked the way we wanted it.

In addition, the sommelier was quite unco-operative.
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5 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 4
Tuesday, September 28, 2010

The Goring is a place that you should only go to if you really like that sort of thing. If you are on a limited budget, or don't like service that is formal and can be perceived as distant, or are looking for somewhere with modern decor, don't even consider going. Its strengths will always be weaknesses in your eyes.

However, for a delicious lunch in the elegant dining room, or a light snack at the back of the hotel (outside if you are lucky with the weather), overlooking the beautiful private garden in the heart of bustling Victoria, it is almost peerless.

I would describe it as old-style but never as pastiche. Be prepared to revel in it, or go elsewhere.
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James - View all reviews by this user
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Friday, May 28, 2010

I took my family to the Goring for afternoon tea for mothers day. It came highly recommended and we checked in advance that it was child friendly. To be honest i was totally underwhelmed by the service and surprised at just how indifferent they were towards the kids. Despite advertizing that they provide colouring books etc they provided nothing what so ever. Further to this we ordered x2 apple juices and asked for some kids sandwiches. They served a tray and we were charged £25 each (£50 in total!!!) for my 2 year & 7 year old girls. Add to this the £38 each that myself and wife were charged + 12.5% service charge and you have an incredibly expensive afternoon snack.

The Goring definitely has something special / nostalgic to offer its customers but its staff and management need to understand the importance of providing better value for money and care for families.
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mike
5 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 3
Sunday, March 14, 2010

My family and friends had dinner here a few nights ago. We started off with drinks in the bar which has a good cocktail list, but very uncomfortable chairs. From the bar we moved to the far-too-dark dining room. Our starters included a good parsnip soup, Eggs Drumkilbo (sp?) which benefitted from the addition of some Tabasco, and a really vile venison tartare which had a horrid consistency. Mains included a tiny portion of guinea fowl, pleasant halibut and an ok jugged hare. Our puddings were a disappointing plum tart accompanied by yummy gingerbread ice-cream, a very rich chocolate mousse and a passable mango parfait. We had a selection of veggies with the mains as well - the roasted artichokes tasted good, but the kitchen had left on some very long, straggly root-type things on the tubers which were quite unpleasant.

Like the food the staff are so-so. The maitre d' was all Gallic charm. However some of the waiting staff were really quite sloppy - literally! Sauces were spilt on the table cloth, red wine sploshed here and there and twice the waitress dropped food on the floor - one time we noticed that our side-order of spinach was being scooped-up off the carpet. Also the waiting staff didn't seem able to give the correct dish to the person who ordered it.

The restaurant has zero atmosphere and is very quiet. Coffee in the bar afterwards was fine - the herbal tea for one person comes in a very generous giant tea-pot.

We had a good evening - but that wasn't due to the food or the staff.
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V
4 Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 3
Thursday, October 15, 2009