Babylon

I went here for a Friday business lunch as was looking for somewhere that offered al fresco somewhere near central London. Unfortunately, you cannot book the outside, it's allocated on a first come first served basis. Whilst I can understand the logic of this, I think there should be tables you can book with an non-returnable deposit. Fortunately there was still a table free and we sat outside which was great. Nice leafy views of the west of the city and not so nice views of Stamford Bridge! A la carte is expensive but there's a decent set menu on offer which is only around £17 from memory for 2 courses. Although the set menu was not the best i've seen, it was good value. The best part of the meal was the service and especially the head waiter who was excellent. We were on a tight schedule and he took the time to find out how long we had and the speed of the service was altered accordingly. Further more, when we ran out of wine, he offered excellent advice for a wine which accompanied the beef. It was a great choice. This guy ran the shop and it showed how service can turn a decent experience to an excellent experience. Still overpriced but I wasn't paying :-)
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Phil - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 5
Wednesday, June 06, 2007

A group of nine of us booked dinner at Babylon and because we were over 8 people we had to choose from a party menu which was very limited. Everything about this place is average, which is not what you'd expect for the price. Our white wine was room temperature and the food was tepid. One of the main courses had to be sent back because it was not hot enough. Not a great wine list either. My starter of crab cake was probably the best course and then it went down hill. Followed by duck which was just average and then followed by cheese and biscuits which must have been the most uninspired selection I have ever had in a restaurant. The bill at the end was then messed up when it was divided for each credit card. I thought the whole place was overated and excessively overpriced for the quality.
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Ms J Adams
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 2
Friday, April 06, 2007

Odd place this. Amazing views and food is ok - but blimey its explensive. We are very used to top London restaurant prices but this really seemed too much.

We were greeted on arrival and giving a seat in the bar, which is actually more akin to a dentist waiting room. Really not a great place to chill out - so go and have a walk around the gardens which are amazing.

Asked for a gin and tonic which they got horribly wrong. Some obscure (read cheap) gin and draft tonic water - and £10 for the priviledge!

Have to say on balance Id give it a miss. Incidentally, I gather the place has a public right of way over it so provided there isnt a private function on you dont have to eat there to get access to the gardens...
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jerry
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 2
Friday, March 23, 2007

My boyfriend did me the surprise to book a table in thsi restaurant and this is the best food I ever ate in London! Tasty, well presented, nice portions (you are not hungry at the end of the Dinner)

The view is terrific : you can see all London illuminated!

Then, the service was awesome. Ususally people of 25 years old get served very badly, when they should think we are thei future!!! But in this case, the sommelier was very helpful, let us taste the wine before to make our mind on one of them... Found out the translation of some dishes for us.

If you do like tasty St Emilion, strong, we recommend you the "2004 Step Road Chardonnay, Adelaide Hills, Australia £27.00" : a pure delight!!!

Only the receptionist was really disapoointing! When she saw my boyfriend (to whom she talked taking the booking) she did hide her disrespect in regards to our age. She just took our coats, did not say nothing else than "This way"... Sorry if we do not look like millionaires...?!!!

Anyway, it was a marvelous evening.

£90.00 per person for a full dinner

aperitif

starter

main course

wine

dessert

breads

coffee

+entry for the club downstairs

Book at leats 2 weeks before!

Enjoy

Helene
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Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Friday, December 15, 2006

Had dinner at Babylon recently. Service excellent, although we were made to wait mysteriously for 20 minutes in the bar area before our empty table was made ready. Food was very disappointing - we had two fish dishes, both of which were very overcooked and the pork was unexceptional. Much better food available elsewhere for the price (which was £135 for 3 main courses only and an average bottle of wine) - would not recommend it.
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Nick Saunders
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 2
Tuesday, November 21, 2006

When we arrived i thought WOW this is gtoing to be amazing. When we came out of the lift the restaurant looked great and the staff were polite. After carrying my coat around with me for 1/2 hour i finally gave up and asked for them to hang it up. The menu was very limited and it was a struggle to choose something that i didnt particuarly want, however the salmon i had for starter was really tasty. When it came to the main course they had run out of cod so they offered trout as an alternative but it was far too rich with the sauce so i ended up leaving most of it. The whisky brulee for desert was far too strong and the first mouthful made me choke as it took my breath away. Not enjoyable. The chablis white wine they serve is a must though. Overall, not impressed and it cost £100 for 2 of us. (the was even using the special offer of 3 courses for £26 each)
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Jwilson
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 2
Tuesday, November 07, 2006

I recently visited Babylon restaurant with three friends and was pleasently surprised by how good the food and service was; what a venue too! We all chose dishes from the new menu which uses dishes from the other Branson restaurants across the world which were exotic and to die for - what a novel idea! The restaurant feels really exclusive as you are tucked up away from the crowds down on High Street Ken and the three courses we had for under £20 were totally delicious. I must admit we spent a lot more on drinks but we were enjoying ourselves so much that the lunch lasted for hours; my friends were sufficiently impressed and we all went away happy individuals. I would definatley go back and recommend this restaurant to anyone!
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GSK - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Friday, October 20, 2006

We went here for my partners birthday. We eat in exclusive London restaurants regularly and so our demands are high, particularly on a special occassion.

This restaurant offered a wonderful menu, exceptional help with finding me appropriate food as I am a coeliac and the chef even sent out a specially made appetizer, compliments of the kitchen, because they did not have anything wheat free already made.

The portions were perfect, the side dishes are huge so don't over order! and the food really was value for money - cheaper than i have paid in the past.

The best aspect of Babylon for us, as well as the views, was the staff - they are wonderful!!

It's a must!!
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Dani
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, September 19, 2006

It was a last minute decision to visit Babylon, after hours of phone calls on a Saturday night I managed to get a table at 10.00. With reasonably high expectations we arrived at the grand entrance hall. When arriving at the 7th floor the art deco lift and entrance hall is far behind you and you feel like you have arrived in your local wetherspoons pub. Excluding the terrace the resturants decor is very bland with no clear theme. We started with guespatio soup which was reasonable but nothing out of the ordinary. For our main course we both had the fillet steak (£26.50) which arrived promptly and was well presented however the meat was overcooked, cold and tastless. I expained to my waiter my dissapointment and promptly called the manager who agreed to remove them from the bill. Overall my feelings about my meat are very similar to the whole resturant. Mutton dressed up as lamb! This resturant is a torist trap and Londoners should stay away if you are looking for an atmospheric resturant with good food!
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Russell Collins
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 0
Tuesday, May 30, 2006

I visited the Babylon roof gardens on a Sunday for lunch with two friends. It was one of my friend's birthday so I wanted to go somewhere nice. We were not disappointed!

The restaurant itself was laid out very nicely and the views are excellent across London. The service was very good and the waitresses and waiters were all very friendly. There was even an entertainer (a magician when we went) who comes to your table. He was not intrusive at all and was very funny.

For lunch we had the 3 courses for £21 and each of us enjoyed our meals immensely. Between us we had the Creamy potato soup morels, with leek foam which was really light and tasty, and the Lemon & herb crusted organic goat’s cheese red chard & broad bean salad, sumac dressing for starters. For mains we all had Roast beef rib eye fondant potato, French beans, Burgundy jus & garnish, which was lovely. We were given lots of beef and the potato was really creamy. Then for dessert we had the Baked apple strudel with calvados ice cream, brandy snap, and anglaise sauce; the Pistachio crème brulee with kirsch marinated cherries and biscotti; and the White & dark chocolate parfait chocolate shortbread & berry compote. Each of our desserts were absolutely delicious.

The food, service and entertainment were wonderful and I would definitly recommend this restaurant. I would definitly return, and would be happy to take both family and friends to Babylon. Needless to say both of the friends I took were impressed and my friend had a lovely birthday!
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Sara - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, May 01, 2006