Refuel

Total dissapointment. Yes the place was buzzing and very trendy, very clean, but the food.... I had a starter of spaghetti with crab meat and tomato sauce and the pasta was so overcooked and tasteless plus couldnt really taste the crab due to overloading of tomato sauce , my main was the Veal and again so dissapointed as it was chewy and tasted of fried butter . All my friends starters and main courses were also rated as 5 , Service was good and prompt though. Will not go again maybe just for a drink at the bar.
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5 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 2
Sunday, March 20, 2011

I love the atmosphere in this restaurant and the staff are also very friendly and professional along with great service.

My main issue is with the food and drink prices. Examples - I ordered two bottle of water at £5.50 each total £11.00 !!!!!! for a mineral water (At this price it feels like you are taking the the mickey out of your customers)

The temperature of the food is luke warm and too heavily seasoned.

Steak is £35.00 but doesnt come with anything. Add on two side dishes and its nearly another £10.

The food doesnt warrant the prices when you can go to Claridges and get a much better meal.

All in all a great hotel and good atmosphere in the restaurant and bar but poor food and value for money.
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6 Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 3
Monday, November 01, 2010

After seeing 'The town' in town on Saturday, I met a friend for a late lunch at Refuel.

The restaurant is part of the Soho hotel and to me the menu reads as if catering for everyone. There must have been 10 - 15 starters and the same amount of mains. Starters were tiger prawns with lentils and pasta with guinea fowl and bacon. My friends prawns were fine but a little bland and my pasta was also lacking in seasoning and also the bacon that was promised on the menu. Mains were a little better with the quality of both the halibut and the beef being good but again everything seemed a bit bland, And at £22.50 and £28.50 each without sides they were not worth the money.

Service was a little slow and although freindly it seemed rather lacking in some of the basics.The wine list was fine, a little on the expensive side but we found a bottle of Montagny 1er cru for less than £35.

Overall and nice looking place but all rather average for the prices. To many other places to try than to return.
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Chris - View all reviews by this user
6 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 5
Monday, October 11, 2010

I've given this place a few chances now. The service can be slow although the staff is polite. The food is ALWAYS dissapointing and the prices are simply not justified.

There is a buzz in the place but value for money- this is not.
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Lola Brown
3 Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 0
Tuesday, September 21, 2010

The second time I've visited Refuel recently and had the set menu. Again, it was an excellent experience and super value for money.

It was a Friday evening, so the place was buzzing, but we were quickly seated at a a very good table. Service from then onwards was attentive, freindly and informal. Importantly, we were not in any way treated as second class citizens for not going a la carte.

At £42 p/p, my group all agreed the food, venue and service was spot on and great value for an evening out in W1 (this included two bottles of wine, water, bread, a couple of additional side dishes and service).

Highly recommended.
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ADL - View all reviews by this user
9 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Monday, October 19, 2009

My first visit to this pleasant modern Soho eatery last week. Its quite an interesting, buzzy environment and the food is certainly decent.

The one thing that would stop me visiting again ( and as I've said, i enjoyed my food) is the very high prices for anything "extra" . £5.50 for a bottle of mineral water for starters. A wine list that starts over £20 and with higher than average mark-ups. £4 for a portion of spinach--- comeon folks, these prices are beaten by places affering food much more exciting and innovative than yours. Surely you can't expect people to fall for the "good value menu, horribly expensive add-ons" routine for ever, even if the food was competent and tasty - which it was .

Service was pretty good throughout , and pleasant too, though to be honest the place wasn't heaving and so it wasn't much of a test from that perspective.

Would I visit again? Well theres a lot of competition in this area, and when you consider that I can walk to Arbutus, Hibiscus, Semplice within ten minutes- all Michelin starred and all much better value, you have to wonder. And if I do I'll ask for tap water, have a glass or two of the best value house wine, and avoid side orders.
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David Henderson - View all reviews by this user
6 Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 3
Thursday, February 19, 2009