Coopers

This is ideal for a business lunch but not a romantic evening dinner. It's very efficient. The food is no-nonsense French cooking and very tasty. The chef isn't trying to be too clever - it's what it says in the menu. Wine never disappoints. I would try and go upstairs though as the downstairs part of the restaurant is a bit bleak and dimly lit. You want to be able to see the trees in Lincoln's Inn Fields while you dine. There are swankier eateries in the area - particularly round Aldwych - but this place is more reasonably priced, easier to get a table and just gets on with it if you have to keep lunch brisk. It almost became our staff canteen for a while. But as I say - not for special occasions. This is where you clinch a business deal not celebrate your wedding anniversary.
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ross Todhunter
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 6
Sunday, September 30, 2007

Turned up on spec as our meeting place had changed.

Not busy on a Friday evening, but upstairs was fairly full.

Liked the menu as it had a good selection without being over long and it had lots of choice for my fusy other half.

The parsnip and coriander soup was a triumph and I almost wished I had gone for it, but I had selected the mackerel pate. This was a very large portion of pate (so much there was too little bread so I had to ask for more) but absolutely delicious. Apparenty the asparagus was equally good.

A little boring but we all went for the rack of lamb. However, none were disappointed and each person got exactly what they wanted - two medium rare, mine a little rarer and my other half a little less rare. I woldn't generally expect this, but it was a nice touch.

The desserts were also good, but I adored the selection of French cheeses. I was slightly disappointed by the crackers, but they weren't as bland as a cream cracker and they allowed the cheese to shine.

Can also recommend the house champagne - not too dry and a little nutty - and we had a couple of bottles of McGuigan's Shiraz. It wouldn't have been my first choice, as I fancied a Burgundy, but it was excelelnt and good value at under £25.

All in all, it was a great night out and I'll definitely go back.
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PSAF - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8
Monday, May 14, 2007

Nice cosy atmosphere and reasonably adept service.

The crab starter was good but not amazing. However, the main course of sea bass was delicious.

The stale coffee served at the end of the meal was a little disapppointing.
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Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 6
Tuesday, March 20, 2007

I have been to Coopers a number of times both for business lunches and evening meals and cannot recommend the place highly enough.

The staff are pleasant, knowledgable and highly efficient.

Most importantly, the food is made up of fresh, simple ingredients skillfully cooked with a touch of flair. Modern European cooking at its best The fish is a speciality. Also, there is a great wine list to suit all pockets.

The restaurant is a little out of the way but is full of discerning business lunchers on most day - a recommendation in itself
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Simon Posner
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Friday, March 16, 2007

We dropped on this restaurant last Friday (Dec 1st) night. After a busy afternoon in Oxford St etc our party (4) decided to venture a little away and found this on a corner.

Like another reviewer we found that the menu displayed outside was different to the one presented inside. The initial disappointment was soon gone with the arrival of the starters. All four were excellently presented and cooked to perfection.

Our main courses were the same - I had a simple haddock over concannon potatoes with poached egg - what a lovely, simple dish but extremely tasty.

All our mains were delicious, we couldn't fit in a dessert!!!

It was quiet so we were dealt with attentively by staff so can't comment on a busy night there.
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s66blade
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 7
Tuesday, December 05, 2006

Went to the restaurant on Friday evening after looking at the menu outside. Inside the prices were £5 more than that stated outside. I did not query at the time as I thought I had maybe misread and that it was the lunch menu outside. No. Prices were £5 more. Also, there was a specials blackboard outside but none of these were on offer in the restaurant. Good food but ... I like to know what I am going to pay before committing to ordering.
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Jane Thorne
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 6
Friday, December 01, 2006

Went to Cooper's for lunch and left rather disappointed. The service is good but the salad starter was straight out of a supermarket tin: figs were rock hard and overcooked, artichoke hearts and lettuce did not taste fresh at all.

The main course of lemon sole was ok, nothing more. Average restaurant with average food from my experience.
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Ruudi
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 3
Tuesday, July 18, 2006

We went to this restaurant on a Friday night with a party of 7. When we entered I was surprised how emtpy it was, although it was getting busier the later it got. Overall the evening was rather enjoyable. The food was rather good and so was the recommended wine. When we wanted to pay, however, an incident happened that nearly ruined the whole evening. To start with we were charged 12.5% service charge which was not displayed on the menu. As far as I am aware this is actually illegal. When we then short-payed the service by £3 the staff started an argument, literally forcing us to pay the outstanding amount. I can never understand why restaurant staff start to argue. In the end it is always them who lose out. This issue was very disappointing and is unlikely to make us return. Coopers is, in fact, a rather nice restaurant and the food was very well cooked. Shame about the service.
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Tim Sander
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Monday, March 20, 2006

I loved this restaurant. The place had a nice feel, the waiters were very polite (and put my coat on as I was leaving; this has not happened to me at numerous restaurants).

I went with a group of 5 and we were all very happy with the food and I will definately be returning. The food was not only tasty, but also very well presented (particularly the desserts). There is a good variety of choice and not one thing seemed unappetising.

Altogether the price came to approximately £20-25 for each of us.

The chocolate dessert took a while to arrive (approx 20 mins), but the chef apparently was making it and when it arrived it was definately worth the wait.

I would highly recommend this place it's a little jewel in manic Central London.
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Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Wednesday, March 01, 2006

We attended Cooper's for a business lunch which lasted for over 3 hours. Service was discreet and well timed. Starters included a simple but well done rocket and roasted shallot salad with parmesan or grilled goats cheese salad. Main courses centre around fish dishes, including lemon sole, sea bass (with mushroom fricasse and spinach) and salmon. Vegetarian options tended to focus on cheese or mushrooms but were substantial and tasty. The menu is fairly standard (eg chocolate brownie and vanilla ice cream for dessert) but the food is good and it is a suitable place to take people who are unadventurous diners but who appreciate good food and good service.
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kate brook - View all reviews by this user
Tuesday, November 08, 2005