Bistro 1

Went to Bistro 1 in Covent Garden for a celebration meal. The food was really nice and the price was very resonable. The only thing that spoiled it was the waiters had no personality and looked like zombies and the irritating constantly being asked to get up so another diner could pass you to go to the loo. It seems they have tried to cram as many tables into such a small space that they have sacrifice the comfort of the customer for as many people they can get in for profit. Such a shame that because of that, i will be eating somewhere else where thay have enough room for you to sit comfortably and enjoy the food served to you. Sorry Bistro, but think of the customer a bit more than profit making.
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Steve Bartlett
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 9
Friday, August 22, 2008

I was sorry to see such a terrible review for my favourite London eatery. Each time I travel to London for a theatre trip I visit one of the 3 Bistros, Beak Street, Southhampton Row of Frith Street. My friends and I have never been disappointed and always take advantage of the special mid-day offer of 2 courses for £7.95 or evening offer £9.95. What excellent value! The waiters meet and greet in a friendly manner and the atmosphere, though a little restrictive space-wise, is cosy. The food is of good quality and well presented. We have never booked in case our transport is late but would advise booking if you want to guarantee a place. Can't wait for my next trip to London!
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Jo Davies
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Saturday, August 09, 2008

I can only say that DA must have been very unlucky with his experience at Bistro 1 because I have been eating regularly at all three of the Bistro1restaurants in London and always been very happy with the quality of the food and also the service. Whenever I have had the sea bream it has always been excellent and there has only ever been the occasional bone, which I would expect in any piece of fish. The other reviews on your site would seem to confirm that most customers are very satisfied with this normally excellent restaurant.
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Tony Locantro - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Thursday, May 15, 2008

No complaints about the food or value, but this restaurant is let down by such despicable service that I will never return, and advise others to avoid. Rather than offering a "fillet of sea bream", the menu should've read "fillet of sea bream infused with said sea bream's bones. In fact, this isn't really a fillet it all". We questioned this to both the manager and his assistant and were told that it was still a fillet. He then argued with us, picked up my partner's fork to poke at the fish and prove how few bones there were (even though she'd found about 6 or 7 in only a few seconds). I told him he couldn't do that and he told me "why can't I do that? I've been in this business for 20 years". When we refused to pay for the other main course, which had been allowed to get cold whilst this debate continued, we were told we "had" to pay.

Add to this the fact we were rushed to order our starters and mains, told to keep either stop eating our starters or put them to one side because are mains were ready (and couldn't be kept under the grill), together with the fact that my girlfriend's request for condiments was met by a sigh, and you have the Covent Garden equivalent of Fawlty Towers. Thankfully this wasn't a hotel as well.

Oh - and one last suggestion for the "experienced" manager - don't ask your waiting staff to hurry the customers up, if you're going to be so indiscreet about it, they actually see it happen. Truly dire - this place should be renamed "Bistro Glum".
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DA
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 3
Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Cheap and cheerful. No frills and no snags. Get what you pay for.
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Roderick Spode
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 7
Tuesday, December 18, 2007

A great place to eat cheaply in Covent Garden. Can't go wrong.
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JMD
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Monday, November 12, 2007

I dined here with a group of 10. The restaurant had a good atmosphere and the food was quite nice and filling. Great value for money. If you like it hot, ask for a spoonfull of chilli sauce with your main, hot stuff!
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David - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 10
Friday, June 08, 2007

It is the first time i visited this resturant and did not know what to expect as the prices were so low. But i was delighted at the exceptional quality of my meal. It tasted great no different if not better than the much higher priced resturants. I will always go back and recommend this place to everyone and anyone. The staff is very friendly and the service is great. I give it a 5 star rating.
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Angie
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, May 02, 2007

Loved it!!!

The service was great, food was delivered fast and tasted great!!

Great value for money too!
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sammy
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, April 11, 2007

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