Bistro 1 (Southampton St)

excellentttt
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dino
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Friday, April 06, 2007

This place is perfect for pre-theatre eating. You can't beat the value for money and the service was as swift as you need it to be when you've got to be at the theatre for 7.30.

The food is simple and unfussy but fresh, tasty and well prepared.

Service was efficient and friendly and the atosphere was pleasant enough.

Yes it can get cramped but at £10 per head in Covent Garden you can't complain - I've certainly paid far more for much worse.

Highly recommended - we'll be going back to this restaurant next time we are taking in a show.
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James
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 10
Sunday, March 04, 2007

I have booked to go again this Friday (22nd December),to take out my staff, as I have found it to be of terrific value for money and have visited several times prior to Theatre. The tables are a little close together and you do get smokers nearby, but this is what you would expect in France or Spain anyway. The quality of food is top notch and I tend to recommend the place to friends who are visiting London, with the proviso of what to expect (just in case) will write again after Friday
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Robin
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Monday, December 18, 2006

Fantastic range of food, great atmosphere and friendly staff, all this and a two course meal for less then £10.
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Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Saturday, November 18, 2006

This is my standard meet-friends-for dinner-after-work restaurant. It is super-cheap, and the food is good with a good selection. A good serving of smoked salmon for a started followed by lamb cuttlets all for £10. The service is normally really friendly - there are one or two waiters who are a bit abrupt but don't let them put you off as most of them are lovely and they atmosphere is buzzy!
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Elaine Sweeney
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Friday, October 20, 2006

I booked a table for about 10 of us to eat here a few weeks ago. We were all very impressed with the amazingly low cost!

The quality and choice of the food was outstanding for the amount of money and location.

The service was friendly and helpful. The atmosphere was buzzing but not manic.

We would all recommend going there again.
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Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, June 27, 2006

Don't bother with the Covent Garden branch, the staff are rude and abrupt (not to mention aggressive). The food is of a good standard for the price, but the staff were so rude that i felt like walking out after only a few minutes.

Walk ten minutes to the Soho branch (off Lexington St) as they know how to keep customers!
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Stuart
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 6
Tuesday, June 13, 2006

I have visited Bistro 1 only twice but both I have fallen in love with the place a little bit more... the atmosphere is great even with the close tables and they were doing 2 courses for £15! An absolute bargain as the food is delicious! I tell people all the time you talk about London about Bistro and I just hope it doesn't get taken over by a chain in the future.
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Caroline Evans-O''Brien
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Thursday, April 20, 2006

I have now dined in this retaurant twice and will inevitably be returning in the near future.

The meals are the best value for money, meaning that you end up having the full three courses and a nice bottle of wine.

As a student this restaurant naturally appeals. It has a great atmosphere, excellent service, top quality food, with a great variety of dishes and comes at a price which is easily affordable and totally not expected within the realms of Covent Garden.
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James R
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Saturday, April 15, 2006

I have been eating at Bistro 1 now for many years. It has always been a very cheap and cheerful venue, and excellent value for money. The downside has always been the close proximity to other diners, but the value-for-money has always won the day for me. HOWEVER, on visiting on Friday last week, the service was curt, rushed and not in the slightest friendly. On requesting a move to another table because our neighbouring diner being a smoker (and tables were available) it was dismissed with a quick "it is a smoking restaurant" as if to say "what do you expect?". The toilets, which have always been basic to say the least, are now at the stage where they need demolishing and rebuilding. Come on Bistro 1 - up your standards or you will start to lose valued customers.
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Shirley
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 6
Tuesday, March 14, 2006