Banners

Poor, Poor, Poor.

Bad service, over priced food and the menu rarely changes. I sadly have been dragged here several times by friends who have little taste of food and have not traveled much outside of the UK and think this is quality. Why does everything in this place cost more than any other average place in Crouch End? They are trying so hard to be American in this place but fail on every account, namely the extra slow service and the boring dishes, do they really expect tips for this? This place wouldn't last a week in the States. Next time I am asked to go here I will offer to buy everybody lunch at one of the other fine places and still save some money. The only thing it does have is a good atmosphere
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Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 1
Thursday, April 24, 2008

went on speck to Banners arrived at 5.30 on a Friday and was greated in an empty restaurant with 'have you booked? and then we where offered a table that we had to give up after 90 mins

when we said we wanted something longer we where given a table at the back.

one peson had sausage and mash and another person had chowder and the meze; the sausage and mash went down well. The chowder was thin not very flavoursome as well as not many ingredients in the bowl.

We found the service OK but we where asked to leave our table after we stopped eating, where digesting our meal and finishing off our drinks; as we where no longer spending we where moved off and out; I think that someone should experience the French who will hail you for ordering an expresso and staying three hours if that is your desire, Banners desire for money will not get poeple returning. Oh and this silly water tax seemed ridiculous when a homeless man came in for a glass of water and couldn't drink 'cos he didn't have the money.
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Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 4
Saturday, February 02, 2008

Great for breakfasts - big fat slices of bacon, homemade hash browns and perfect fried eggs with thick gloopy "proper" maple syrup- or scrambled eggs with chorizo and thick slices of brown bread- the food is top notch- mixing English gastro classics with a latino/ Caribean twist. Allday breakfasts, Big Burgers, Jerk chicken with rice n beans, fried Plantain and a regularly changing blackboard.

However something is rotten in the state of Denmark...

I went on recently and had a great brunch but simply paying the bill was all too much for the staff. The bill came after 3 requests- however the girl serving vanished before she could take my card... then ignored us! In fact all the staff there seemed determined to ignore us despite asking several times to pay my bill - one waitress snapped "In a minute!" as if scolding a 5 year old demanding attention. Then ignored us. I ended up taking the bill to the counter, thrusting it into the hands of the person nearest the till demanding to pay.

All a real shame cos the food is brilliant, but waiting over 20 minutes to pay a bill in a fast turn around breakfast joint was fairly daft and cost the waitresses a decent tip.
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Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Sunday, November 25, 2007

Banners is fantastic. Lively atmosphere, great friendly service, and they say its quality over quantity - at banners you get both! I travel a fair distance to get to this restaurant... its worth it. And yes, the Jerk Chicken Rice/Peas is amazing! :)
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Jeet Padaruth
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Wednesday, October 17, 2007

I like banners. Best resturant in the area... Not a cheapo place - think we did £50 for 3 people. But not silly money either. Just good grub! I have to stop ordering the Jerk though.
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Music Towers - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Went to Banners last night for my 30th b'day celebrations and they were excellent. Fantastic service and the food was wonderful, especially considering there were 20 of us. They made my night really perfect.
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Jo Brown
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Sunday, June 10, 2007

Banners is a very nice restaurant. down sides: the staff can be rude, but i think you get that from the other reviews. also, they do the most amazing steaks, but i've never had one cooked properly. i usually ask for medium, but thenj changed to medium well, because it comes out still rare. but that doesn't change anything, it still comes out rare. i would say out of 15 steaks, 14 of them were rare. 1 was well done (to death) another downside is the smoking, roll on july1st

positives: if you like spicy potatos, then banners potatos are to die for ! the steaks are yummy. the kids food is fairly simple, just what they like. milkshakes are nice.

over all, it's a nice place to eat. but don't go if you've had a bad day. it willl possibly confound it.

it could do with being a little cheaper.
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Che
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 6
Sunday, June 10, 2007

I've eaten here twice over the last month. Banners' reputation goes before it so it had a lot to live up to in my mind. On both occasions, it's reputation was justified. The food was of a very good standard and we were all (4 of us both times) suitably impressed by the standard of food. It is not a gourmet restaurant but offers a great range of international food. The range of specials was highly impressive and the portions are more than generous (the jerk chicken doesn't even fit on the plate). Banners sometimes get criticised for less than friendly and helpful service - not in my experience. Knowledgeable and attentive would be a better description. The atmosphere and community feel is probably it's forte. There's a definite buzz in the place without it being so noisy that you can't hear the person opposite you. Do expect kids mixed in with the odd celeb, it all adds to its somewhat random and unique charm.
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Phil
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, June 06, 2007

Have been going to Banners for about two years now and I must say, have never had a bad experience there with either the food or the staff. I admit they are insanely busy at times but all of the waitresses are always polite and friendly. As for the food.....oh happy days. The jerk chicken is as good as any I have ever eaten and the curries and burritos are blinding to say the least. Have sat at the bar with my wife and in the restaurant with 8 people but it is always an absolute winner.
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Mark Butler
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 7
Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Banners is fab!!!! Since moving to Crouch End 3 years ago we've been to Banners many times. I've celebrated my birthday there twice and I'm on first name basis with most of the staff. Never had any problems of rudeness or lack of interest with staff at all. The food's great, nice portions and they always play weird and wonderful music.

Great drinks list as well. I have always seen lots of moms in Banners so It can't be too child unfriendly. It's easy to spend a fair bit there if you order Magaritas and their fantasitic cognac. Any restaurant that gets their wine list right is worth checking out. Two thumbs up for all the Jessies, Tash and the Boys. Keep up the good work.
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Vanessa & Paul
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 6
Wednesday, May 02, 2007