Galvin

Had lunch there with my father for the first time. I must say that I was pleasently surprised. I have never been keen on french food, frogs legs and all that, but there was nothing like that on the menu.

My father had the roast lamb and I have the sea bream. Both were out of this world. To accompany our meal we asked the friendly sommelier who recommended a gorgeous red corbieres which complimented the meal brilliantly.

The atmosphere was lively with no music so I didn't have to shout across the table to my father to be heard.

The best part was the bill at the end. Such good value for money for a restaurant based in central London.

I have rebooked again for next week.
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Mr Finton
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Thursday, July 12, 2007

I have been to Galvin Bistrot de Luxe on seveal occassions. Each experience has been excellent.

Everytime I have entered I have been greated by a friendly hostess. The atmosphere of the restaurant has always been full, especially since they do not have any music there.

Waiters have been pleasent and very attentive, especially when the wine waiters are concerned. Each recommendation always accompanies my dish brilliantly and is never at a price which is jaw dropping.

Once the food arrives the experience then turns from enjoyable to excellent. The presentation, the portion control and most of all the taste is absolutely to die for.

When the bill arrived, I was pleasently surprised that something so delicious was at such a reasonable cost.

All in all, Galvin has to be one of the best restaurants in London for its time. The price, then decor and molst of all the quality. This is a true gem in the heart of central London which I have luckly found and will continue to visit again and again.
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MT??
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Sunday, July 08, 2007

Sort of french food, not great at all. The restaurant manager should be softer with the client and listen instead of speak, the client has the right to don't have the same point of view as him on wines!

We had a table for two in a corner, the table was fine, they just forgot us after the main course. We had to ask for the desert menu (not great), then reminded that we were wainting to order coffee as we didn't want desert, tried to have someone attention for the check. They gave us the check and came back right away with the credit card machine! And didn't forget to charge the optional 12.5% .... On the credit card, optional for who? When a client is leaving they should not forget to thank him for his visit and at least say goodbye, it seems to be the minimum.

One more thing, it was very noisy.
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SYLVIE MESLE
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 5
Saturday, July 07, 2007

Had lunch there on Friday 22 June - first time having heard good reports. Happy to say I wasn't disappointed. The service was excellent so find previous reviews a little bewildering although I do realise you can get off days; the food was exceptionally good and the very sweet Spanish wine-waiter (who looked about 17!) recommended excellent inexpensive wines to perfectly accompany our delicious food. Going back this week!
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Dom LK
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8
Tuesday, June 26, 2007

I am local; I love the food. BUT the place is a shambles. I cant recall a time I have turned up to find my table ready. The last occasion we eventualy got our table 50 minutes after our booked time. The head-waiter offered us a drink, profuse apologies etc, but all we really wanted was to eat. We didnt need free drinks-we can afford to pay - and though the gesture is appreciated, it's not the answer. We were told the reason for the problem is that people turned up late for earlier tables, causing a back-log. Fair enough but they should be told the table is needed at a particular time and it is they who should be inconvenienced, not the later booking. This is basic good managment. Weak management, as we have here, results in chaos and dissatisfaction.

Then two of the dishes were not available. That just will not do. I know about ordering, portions, waste etc, but lettuce, cheese and nuts - hardly a mammouth task to have these!

This will not do, for a restaurant that presents itself as something special.
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Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 5
Thursday, June 21, 2007

Great food, they recommended us are good bottle of wine, service was spot on until the bill.... It came to £100.30 including 10% OPTIONAL service. I gave the waitress £100 cash. She then had the audacity to come back and say our bill was short!

After that I refused to pay any service so ended up saving myself a tenner.
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doof
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Friday, June 01, 2007

I was there around 2 month ago. I agree with other reviews, the staff need really a very good training, the same for the gentlman with the suit,He goes around telling people what to do but I believe He doesn't have any clue of what is going on!!
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G>P>
Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 2
Sunday, May 20, 2007

Lovely food, and good value (for the food), but the service was soooooooo slooooooow. Our finished starters were left on the table for a long time, then after another long wait, the main course arrived. We ordered some more wine halfway through the main course, but by the time it had arrived we'd finished eating, so it was sent back.

All the staff were very friendly, but it's such a shame the lovely food was let down so badly.
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Cormac - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 6
Tuesday, May 01, 2007

My husband and I went there on Saturday for our 10th anniversery( we were on holidays from Canada). It was very disappointing, again as many other people stated they could not find our reservation. They kept checking, asking me several times for my phone # and saying are you sure it was booked at our location. When they finally gave us a table it was in the middle of the entrance really terrible!! I said to the girl at the front desk that it wasn't suitable and they proceeded to give us a different table. Bottom line is, it doesn't matter how the food was the staff need to check their attitudes....and start being more diligent with booking reservations.
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morag
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 4
Monday, April 30, 2007

I read the reviews here, and was expecting good food, poor service and a poor atmosphere.

I was wrong - everything was near perfect for this visit to Galvin. I'd booked dinner fairly late, so when I was shown to an awfully set table (too near the door in the middle of the room), I was a little disappointed, but wouldn't have complained. However, the maitre d' noticed I was looking at a much nicer table nearby, commented "sorry, that's going to be made into a table for 6 in five minutes, but I'll see what I can do for you" - and five minutes later, gave me a wonderful table in the heart of the restaurant. So full marks for service (the other staff were polite, helpful and knowledgeable)

And the food did not disappoint, my companion had a quail's egg salad for first course followed by a monkfish selection that she loved. I started with a fois gras salad (so so) with a gorgeous pig's cheek main course. Absolutely wonderful. The wine list was acceptable, and fairly priced as well.

As for the decor - hardly a date venue with the panelled walls and the older clientele (I'm in my early twenties), but comfortable and unassuming nonetheless.

For £50 a head or so, it's good value, and I'll definitely be back . . .
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Chris
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8
Sunday, April 29, 2007