Menier Chocolate Factory

Just returned from disappointing dinner at the Menier. T bone lamb steak was mainly bone which might have been why it was completely covered in sauce to disguise that ! so was still hungry afterwards- particularlty as sides consisted of a handful of bulghur wheat and tzatsiki- disappointing considering price £15/16.

My friend does not eat pork and had requested beefburger minus bacon- it came with bacon!- so burger came back- looked like the cheese that had attached to the bacon when it was removed was not replaced so burger returned minus much cheese- burger was also dry and tasteless.

It was post theatre so very quiet - service was disappointing despite there being so few diners- we had said we would have a break after mains- but thought someone would come back sometime later to see if we wanted anything- didn't happen so had to go find waitress to ask for dessert menus -then after dessert, had to go find waitress again to ask for some hot drinks- ordered but never turned up- so had to ask another waitress where they were - she seemed a bit put out- seemed that thay had forgotten or else had made them but forgot to bring them out- which would explain luke warm hot chocolate- I asked for it to be hotter- it came back scalding- think it had been blasted in microwave- didn't taste ot chocolate or even milk- though waitress said otherwise-she took it away to remake- my friends said that they'd had enough and should leave the drink- went to tell waitress- think she was having a whinge to other staff about it when I approached.

I was a fan of this place and ambience-my friends have always found food here a bit disappointing- and more so on repeat visits- and likewise the service -I used to stick up for this place but these deficiencies have started to become more apparent on each visit - difficult to pin down quite what it is about the waiters/waitresses that we have come across at this restaurant over the years- but always slight hint of standoffishness / elusiveness / slight unfriedliness / never insight when needed even on quiet night.

Anyway my friends have said that this was the final visit here- I have now condeded that they are right - I am sad as it is a lovely looking restaurant that has a nice ambience- but neither food nor service upto scratch- and for the prices charged- so will now only come here for the shows and eat elsewhere as luckily London bridge does have better value restaurants with better food and service.
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Disappointed diner
4 Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 3
Saturday, March 23, 2013

Sunday 4th Sep @ 13.00 I went to eat @ the Menier Chocolate Factory with 2 friends before the show, I've been there several times before and my experience was always been good .Unfortunately this time was appalling , I've never had such a bad experience in a restaurant before.

My friend called this male waiter for the order and he ignore it completely , it was so obvious.

The worst came when i asked for another paper napkin ,the same waiter told me if I wanted to open a napkin shop as he said that we had enough napkins on the table .I asked him if he had a problem ,and he asked me if I was a stand-up comedian , all this was done in a nasty rude vicious way and he was going on and on ,he didn't let it go.

I was so upset that I couldn't enjoy my food,this all happen during the main course,after that i couldn't eat anymore so i passed dessert an coffee.

This is a really shame that an obnoxious waiter can spoil your day when the rest of the waitresses were very pleasant , the food was also nice and good value for money.

One can forget a bad meal but never a dreadful service,this is the reason I'll never go back there.
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lorenzo gelmi
3 Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 7
Sunday, September 04, 2011

Ate there on a meal deal ahead of seeing the great production of Sondheim's 'Roadshow'. We've visited this fantastic theatre many times before and have always thought the restaurant was an added bonus. Not any more. Very poor, near tasteless food: A caesar salad of motorway service station quality, a chicken dish that tasted of nothing but managed through its gloopy texture to be peculiarly unpleasant, and hugely marked up wine. It just felt that quality was being driven down to boost profits from a captive audience. What a shame. Fortunately it is possible to get great food near Waterloo (The Anchor & Hope, and Bangalore Express to name just two), and still make show time at The Menier. That's what we'll be doing in future!
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2 Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 0
Sunday, July 10, 2011

What a shame, a great venue but the food was disappointing and the staff were unfriendly and didn't return our smiles. We had a squid starter which smelled terribly fishy and was completely overcooked and had the consistency of rubber. it was inedible and we left it uneaten but the waitress didn't ask how it was or why we hadn't eaten it.

This was followed by vegetarian pasta which was swimming in oil.

It was very hard to get anyone's attention to even order a drink at the beginning, despite it being very quiet.

We agreed that we will go to see a show again but eat out before we go, rather than the pre-show meal.

It really was the worst meal I've eaten in years and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
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4 Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 4
Friday, May 27, 2011