Konstam at the Prince Albert

I ate here a few Sunday's ago with a few friends I hadn't seen for ages and had a really delicious brunch. I had been two years before but had a terrible cold and couldn't enjoy myself fully. I had vowed to return! So when i finally got round to it i was delighted that it met all my high expectation. It was reasonably busy but with enough space for us to settle into our own little area and spend most of the afternoon there! I know everyone goes on about having 'the best eggs benedict in london' but i really think i might have found it. I asked the waiter about it, who told me that the ham is cured on the premises and sits downstairs gathering all sorts of wonderful flavours over a few months. Curing your own meat seemed like a wonderful example of the way that the restaurant takes a more hands-on approach with the ingredients. To sit looking at pickling jars and January's marmalade on shelves on the wall is a real pleasure in an increasingly predictable and 'playing-to-type' restaurant scene.

anyway, i'm rambling on. My boyfriend had some potato cakes that i fought him for, and one of my friends had the devilled kidneys to which we are all now converts! A lovely afternoon spend in an attentive yet relaxed environment. If you want to learn about food and local ingredients, i can't recommend it enough. my one complaint in an otherwise great meal was that the restaurant was rather hot, but considering it was one of the hottest days of the year i think we can forgive them!
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Jeremy
8 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8
Friday, July 23, 2010

I would most definitely NOT recommend this restaurant & this is despite being reasonably satisfied with the food & environment.

The food would have been reasonably priced if we had been allowed to use our Taste London card however as we were not permitted to do so our dining experience was overpriced in my opinion.

My main complaint regarding this establishment though has to be the staff & in particular the chef (who is apparently also the manager/owner) as having requested the bill & displayed my Taste London card; I was informed that I would not be able to use it.

The reason for this was because I (apparently) needed to give a few days notice if I wanted to use the card. I enquired why this had not been explained to me when I had called (only 20 minutes prior to our arrival) to make a booking & primarily to inform the restaurant that I wanted to use my Taste London card (as the website states).

The waitress “ummed” & “arghed” failing to provide an answer before informing us that she would get the chef/owner to speak to us. The chef, when he eventually came to discuss the situation with us, explained that the reason we could not use the card was due to the fact that we had not mentioned that we had a Taste London card when we made the booking; an explanation (or dare I say excuse) which differed from the waitresses.

I explained that I lived locally & was aware that the restaurant was very rarely full & that I would have simply walked in if I wanted to eat there without using my card; but that I had called ahead in order to comply with the websites & restaurants policy; so that I would be eligible for the discount.

The chef was dismissive & suggested that we use the Taste London card on our next visit but when I informed him that I would not be returning due to my experience he ‘threw his toys out of his pram like a child’ & became aggressive.

Both myself & my girlfriend remained calm, respectful & reasonable throughout the discussion; did not create a scene which we would have been entitled to do & agreed to pay the bill in full (which did not include the Taste London discount) & we agreed that there was no need for such a reaction.

Having paid the bill we departed the restaurant to discover the chef waiting & holding the door open for us. We expected him to apologies for his irrational outburst but instead he continued by ranting & I quote “don’t come back we do not want any Taste London cheap-stakes here anyway”. Charming!

My girlfriend & I went for a drink afterwards & laughed at the extent of the chef’s over-reaction. We vowed never to return to the restaurant (understandably) & decided to write to Taste London suggesting that it be removed from their website.

Apologies for the long-winded review but I wanted to share our experience with any diners that are considering visiting the restaurant in future.

Anyway, in summary the food was adequate, as was the environment; albeit it was lacking somewhat in atmosphere; however the staff leave alot to be desired as they are either liars or very forgetful & as for the chef, it would be a major understatement to say that he was severely lacking in terms of customer care.

The novelty factor of serving food that is locally sourced may prove to be a draw for some future diners but my advice would be to avoid the restaurant. There are many local alternatives (around Kings Cross, Angel, Brunswick centre) that offer more in the way of food, atmosphere & an overall dining experience & which are much more conveniently located in terms of transport & places to frequent before or afterwards.

Finally if you do have a Taste London card & the restaurant has not been removed from the website as requested, do remember to call ahead, re-iterating on numerous occasions that you want to use your card & it would also be advisable to note down the name of the person to whom you spoke to; in order to ensure you aren’t falsely accused of lying like ourselves.
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3 Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 3
Thursday, July 22, 2010

AMMAAAzzzzing!!! From start to finish, staff were attentive but not too attentive like coming up to you all the time asking questions like some restaurants do which can be most annoying when you're having a converstion or just want to eat your meal in peace. We were recommended wines that would compliment our meal and seated at a table that wasnt near a very annoying noisy family gathering...which the staff sensed we didnt want to sit near.

The starter, chicken livers were very tasty and cooked to perfection, and my main course lamb was so lovely to eat, really enjoyed the roasted beetroot. What is great about the place is you can see the chefs cooking, and you can see the hard work and passion when theyre cooking.

apparently majority of the ingredients are sourced within the M25 which is refreshing to know.

Decor a bit odd though with the metal strands hanging from the ceiling.

Definitely recommend this place, and can someone please take me there again!!
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9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Wednesday, June 16, 2010

I first found this delightful restaurant only a few short months ago and, since then have been there half a dozen times. I have been very well looked after by the young and friendly staff and it is fascinating to be able to watch your dinner being prepared by the chefs! Last week I was served the best pigeon starter and lamb main I had ever eaten...both from Amersham. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Konstam which has developed quite a loyal and well deserved following. Good on Oliver Rowe for coming up with the idea for good old proper, unfussy English food. It's about time someone did this!
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Rachel
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Thursday, May 06, 2010

We dined here one Monday night with a 50% off deal.

The restaurant lacks atmosphere, it was very quiet and we felt they should have had music playing. You could hear everyone else's conversations at the other tables.

The waiting staff were "boring". Putting our meals down and just walking away without even saying "enjoy your meal" or making any comment at all.

The food is good, not excellent just good. It's very plain, home cooking for very expensive prices. £18 for a main course without any inspiration is just too expensive in my opinion. The food I understand is good quality locally sourced produce.

There are many other places I would go before returning here, even with a 50% off deal. It needs a good shake up of staff and a menu with more pazazz for the prices it charges.
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Karen
2 Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 1
Tuesday, March 23, 2010

I remember this place when it was a cafe (albeit a few shops down the road) and served the best soups and salad I had ever eaten - i did not know how a restaurant could mantain that balance between amazing flavours (with complex twists) in essentially basic or simple dishes. The first time i came to the restaurant a couple of years ago I was a bit disappointed - the stregnth of flavour and the simplicity seemed a bit lost in restaurant fare. However last night i had the best dish I have ever tasted. Seared pigeon with a parsley, bacon and onion salad and a fantastic walnut sauce. Really phenomenal. The other dishes lamb with barley and beans, plum custard tart as well as my companions' soup, peirogi and duck were all very good as well - if not earth shattering in the way the pigeon breast. The food gave the impression of being thoughtfully composed and cooked yet somehow relaxed and unfussy. My only complaint would be the decor which is a little overbearing and noisy and perhaps the meanness of charging two pounds for filtered tap water when the restaurant is not exactly cheap (although worth it). Will definitely go again and would advise everyone else to give it a second try as there is some very clever cooking.
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Harriet
8 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 9
Wednesday, August 05, 2009

Excellent excellent excellent! I went for Sunday lunch and was so impressed. The beetroot soup was absolutely delicious, the lamb and barley well cooked and imaginative and the orange and lemon tart terrifically tangy. It tasted even better knowing that the ingredients had as few food-miles attached to them as possible. (The service was great too - everyone was very friendly.)
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9 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Monday, March 02, 2009