Konstam at the Prince Albert

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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Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Monday, March 02, 2009

I had a really lovely time with some friends here the other night. It was great to be so close to the open kitchen and even had a little chat with one of the chefs. The food was great, in particluar a jerusalem artichoke salad that I had was really wonderful - the dressing was amazing. A friend had the pork and said it was the best bits of pig he'd had in ages and considering his father is a pig farmer that was pretty cool. (Him and one of the chefs' went on to discuss different pig breeds). We had a great time...
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Georgia
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Sunday, January 11, 2009

I've been to Konstam a couple of times and it's always been excellent. The wine list is small but perfectly formed, and the menu is always inventive without being pretentious - like the poached egg with blue cheese, spinach and walnut. The jugged hare was superb, and the chicken was just fantastic. It was crisp and autumnal outside, and a perfect autumn menu inside.

I'm really surprised about the comments on the service in some of the other reviews here. We were met with a really warm welcome, the waiter offered to let us change the wine after tasting it as it was his recommendation (we didn't need to - it was a great choice), and they insisted on comping our desserts because they were late, even though we had neither complained, nor noticed the delay. The staff were friendly, efficient and attentive, without ever being fussy or intrusive.

An excellent restaurant, highly recommended.
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Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Saturday, October 18, 2008

What a disappointment.... I heard good things about this place so decided to book a table for a special occasion, three weeks in advance. I spoke to a man who said no problem - everything was booked and I said I was looking forward to coming along.

We arrived, however, to a less than friendly reception. Apparently we had not booked and, what was more, their "electronic reservation system" was fool-proof! It was our mistake! If we were not on the computer we must not have booked and that was that. I tried to explain that I had nothing to do with the "system" and that I had spoken to a human on the phone who had confirmed that the table was booked... "But you're not on the system was the reply."

Despite pleading that we did not know of anywhere else to go to in Kings Cross we were met with a firm "we're booked and we're full". I suggested maybe they could put up an extra table near the draughty door where there was some space, but no. Alternatively I was asked if I wanted to look at their electronic system myself - to show I had never booked and that it was all my fault. Thanks...

There was no interest whatsoever in trying to keep us happy. Not even have a drink on them in case there were any no-shows later in the evening. It may be trendy but unfortunately I never got to try the food that night and on their customer service alone - and refusal to accept any responsibility - I feel I have to give a negative review.
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Martin
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Saturday, September 20, 2008

We went to eat in Konstam last week and though I had booked a table in advance, the table was not ready for us. The waiter then just pushed two tables together right next to the entrance. It was ok but made me ask myself why do I bother booking a table when it is not taken seriously.

The food was home-style and good (but no more), specially the tomato soup.
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Rea
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Tuesday, September 16, 2008

We had a great meal here recently. The staff were lovely, food service was a little slow but the food was so tasty it didn't matter. The area around Kings Cross lacks good restaurants so this is a gem.

I would recommend this restaurant.
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Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Thursday, August 21, 2008

I have eaten here three times and I have been delighted every time.

The food is original, tasty and very well priced. I love that that menu changes every day according to seasonality and best offerings. The decor is brilliant and original and I have found the staff to be consistently helpful and polite (with the exception of one waiter, but I have not seen him since the first visit)

The wood pigeon breast is amazing (my friends one even had bullets in it). I love this place.
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Sarah
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Thursday, July 17, 2008

We had lunch here with high hopes form all the good reviews, here and on other websites. Good menu for lunch, many options. Portions were good, wines were really great!

Although the food was very nice, we expected more. The chef and his helper looked right bored and even a bit scruffy in the open kitchen, Oliver Rowe himself nowhere to be seen. The maitre d' definately did not have his day; he didn't greet us in a friendly way and seemed to be very busy and stressed, even with only 10 people in the restaurant. Oliver Rowe may be the star of this restaurant, and we really love his philosophy, but the rest of the concept was really disappointing. From a place like this we would expect to see people with the same passion as the owner/head chef has for food!

(Oh, and the decor was HIDEOUS. Why would anyone choose the dark green and weird metal string lamps voluntarily? Lighten the place up, e.g. show pics of the places the ingredients come from and the place would look more appealing...)

Since the prices are fairly high and it's right out of the way of the 'centre', this place needs some TLC before we come back. Despite the great quality of the food and wine.
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Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 6
Friday, July 04, 2008

Went there with my husband for lunch a few weeks ago and had a lovely lunch. Food was excellent, very fresh and beautifully prepared. Service was friendly and attentive. Will definitely return.
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TF
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Thursday, April 24, 2008

My wife and I went with another couple on a Saturday evening and really loved Konstam. As a child from M25 suburbia, the thought of pork from down the road was an exciting prospect, as were my hopes of hitching on the small-holding/Fearnley-Whittingstall bandwagon.

Put simply, Konstam was excellent. The local version of kir with rosehip was a sweet treat to get things going, if a little expensive, and the bread was fresh and firm. The rillette of pork was rich and spiced, the pigeon breast was rare to the point of near-rawness (in good way), while the squid was the highlight, soft and sweet with endive.

The mains were similarly good. While some found the slow-cooked lamb a little fatty - but that's what lamb can be - my wife's dish of pork belly was well cooked and served with plenty of mashed swede. I did something I don't usually do in ordering chicken in a restaurant (just to widen the variety, as I wanted the pork) and it was the stand-out dish of a high-quality spread. The tender and moist chicken, with its crispy skin, stood up well against the risotto-like barley served with it, rich with Jersalem artichoke.

English cheeses followed, with a good crumbly blue and firmer choices, while the apple sorbet with bison grass vodka and Somerset brandy was also very nice, although the treacle sponge we all wanted had already run out, which was the only disappointment.

The English wine we chose was also good, though a drier French white might be better. But when in London, as they might say. Its floral tones were carried through with an elderflower taste without much sweetness, which added to the freshness of the meal.

While originally drawn by the gimmick of the Konstam's theme, it's the quality of the food, the knowledgeable and witty staff and the funky decor that will pull us back.
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Endymion
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Monday, March 31, 2008