Roast

I've eaten here on two occasions, both for dinner and breakfast. On both occasions I was happy with the food, it's fairly simple, sort of posh gastropub but well prepared and good portions. The breakfast isn't so different to what you'd get in a good greasy spoon but the jams that came with the toast were excellent.

I think it's overpriced but the restaurant is really pleasant - light and airy and the service was good - I'd say it's nice for a treat if you're down that way and want to get a relaxing breakfast before braving Borough market on a Saturday morning but I wouldn't make a habit of it.
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Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 3
Wednesday, May 30, 2007

The entrance (via stairs or lift) is great, but the front of house staff let Roast down a little. The Maitre d' attempted to chat up my girlfriend (who had arrived before me), telling her she was 'really cute' and asking her for her number. Happily he avoided us for the rest of the meal.

Foodwise it was not especially memorable. I made a mistake in ordering the steak and kidney pudding, which was completely conservative, very boring and massively overpriced. However, my friend's beef was delicious and the wine (from an extensive and well chosen list) excellent.

In short good, if pricey for meateaters, but not worth the high price.
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Tim
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 5
Wednesday, May 09, 2007

We fully enjoyed our visit. Arrived at 12.30pm and our table overlooked directly the market by the window so that was nice.

The food was of of excellent quality. Yes, it is a little bit pricey but no more than restaurants in the same category in london. I was a bit concerned after reading the bad reviews here but what I would say is, form your opinion yourself...

The only downside is that the desserts are quite stuffy after 2 courses.
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elisse
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 6
Wednesday, April 11, 2007

The place is amazing, but the price for what you get is not nearly worth it. It was incredibly expensive and the roast I took was ok, but far from being great! A little rip-off I must say....
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#### - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 6
Wednesday, March 28, 2007

We went to Roast for Saturday breakfast with great expectations based on the sample menu available on the website and its impressive location in Borough Market. However we were severely disappointed. The service was atrocious to start with. A lot of waiters/waitresses standing around seeming to be busy yet we found it difficult to get their attention even to place an order.

Despite the fact that the restaurant was half empty, we were seated at a table that was merely a few milimetres away from the adjacent table. We politely acknowledged the presence of the people seated next to us, and felt somewhat embarrassed when we were served way ahead of them (depsite the fact that they had been arrived before us). To everyone's dismay, the food we ordered was served to the couple seated next to us, who were now quite bewildered and possibly famished having been ignored for so long. The food was very basic, nothing out of the ordinary.The breakfast menu, which Roast seem to be marketing heavily, was extremely limited and lacked variety (in comparison with the sample menu on the website).

Generally the guide menu on the website was misleading. Despite its location, the ambience lacked comfort and style. The waiters/waitresses were neither friendly nor attentive. The food was hardly inspiring and to top it off, when we collected our belongings from the cloak room, the lady at reception was quite willing to hand us a motorcycle helmet which did not belong to us, could not locate our bags and finally found them stored in the disabled toilet adjacent to the walk in cupboards!

This is a restaurant that is in need of some good management! Not recommended.

p.s though we are well aware that the restaurant prizes itself on their meat selection, I found it difficult to image anyone not eating pork (but enjoying meat ) being able to choose from a variety of dishes from their main/breakfast menu
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sacha and julien - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 2
Saturday, March 24, 2007

I went to Roast on a Saturday in February with my parents. It started well, the staff seemed attentive but then it all went a bit wrong. My Dad ordered a side of potato mash as he was informed that no veggies came with the dish. It then arrived on a bed of mash! We then asked for cabbage twice instead of the side of mash and were intially charged for both. Also had to ask repeatedly for ketchup and my scrambled eggs tasted very fatty.

At the end of the meal when I paid with my card, the tip was automatically included rather than being given the option to decide how much tip I wanted to leave.

Would not recommend.
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Katy Drake
Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 4
Thursday, March 22, 2007

Went here for Sunday lunch. It is hideously over-priced for what you get. The food is well executed but nothing exciting. The service is bizarre. They are all over you with for the first ten minutes then vanish for several hours with your food order. The decoration and setting are lovely, though.
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Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 3
Wednesday, March 14, 2007

My girlfriend and I visited roast with two friends on Sunday afternoon. The restaraunt was full when we entered around 3pm which I thought must have been a good sign.

As there were no tables we opted for a cocktail at the bar. Contrary to some other readers comments, we did not feel these were overpriced - delicious champagne cocktails, the names of which I forget were served promptly and presented very well.

Although considerably more expensive than any roast I have ever eaten, the meat was fresh, from a good cut of sirloin, cooked pink (as requested) which any chef (and I used to be one) will take great pleasure in. For those who have said the meat was 'too rare' - most chefs do this as it easier and less wasteful to cook the met a little more than to wave a magic wand and reverse the cooking effect - in my experience, asking politely for your rare meat to have a couple more minutes to make it medium has never been a problem. Three of us opted for the Sirloin, one for the calfs liver which according to my highly oppinioated chum (who is a devout foody and awesome cook) was absolutely fantastic - it certainly looked so. Starters were simple yet pleasant, and whilst I thought my duck liver's were a tad on the dry side, these were still cooked well and I liked the accompaniment of rocket and dandelion.

The wine menu was impressive, extensive and catered for all tastes and budget's.

We had no complaints on the service front - indeed we were well looked after in a friendly and courteous manner. The restaurant although expensive had a good family feel with several young children present which was not an issue for us or the staff who seemed to welcome them with smiles and distractions where necessary!!

A pleasant, busy eatery with some soft afternoon jazz made this a memorable, if slightly pricey Sunday roast. Recommended for special occasions
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DC
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 5
Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Appalling. Pretentious. Waste of money.

Went to Roast for a friend's birthday. We booked well ahead. I was looking forward to it. As seems usual these days, we paid a ludicrous price for a drink whilst we were waiting. We were placed at a table which was a busy corridor for wait staff and other customers.

Service was indifferent.

The starters were cold. Soup had the consistency and taste of putrid dishwater.

Mains were a mixed bag. Several couples opted for the shared roast meal. We ordered lamb. Only to be told ten minutes later that there was no lamb left. Strange for a restaurant to not have its signature dish available at 8.30pm. We then opted for the roast beef.

The mains took over an hour to be served. In the meantime, we had no waiters asking if we needed drinks.

Other couples who were lucky enough to get the lamb seemed happy. The roast beef, however, was fatty, stringy and horrendously undercooked, despite the fact that we had ordered it medium rare.

What is it about eating/ordering beef in London? Chefs seem determined to prove how sophisticated and "European" they are by serving raw beef if anybody dares to order anything less than medium-well. Medium rare beef, cooked in an Anglo-Saxon country, should be red, but not raw until, maybe, the very middle. The only part of the meat served to us that was cooked was the very outside. When I go to France, I adjust my order to cater for the fact that the chefs cook beef very rare. In London, it's a lottery.

Very disappointed and will neither be going back, nor recommending it.
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Andrew Murphy
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 0
Sunday, February 18, 2007

I've been regular visitor to Borough Market for years. On many occasions I noticed the beautiful facade of dining room at Roast, so I was drawn in by the exterior rather than the menu...I must point out that this is quite an exception for me, as for me at least, food triumphs over decor.

Anyway, we went here for brunch, and had a selection of their offerings in (as expected) stylish surroundings. I went for the Full Borough (their equivalent of the Full English) and I must say, I was not disappointed. The quality of the ingredients is certainly of a high quality and well cooked too. £12 for this dish is not cheap, but you are getting a good food experience. Fresh OJ was fresh, and do order extra toast - the accompanying confitures were delicious.

Service was a bit slow, but then I was pretty hungry and possibly more impatient than usual! The staff were friendly and pleasant.

I would also like to add that there is something surreal about being up in the restaurant and watching the throngs of foodies swarming along the aisles of food below.

Overall, certainly worth a visit, and yes I do plan to make return trips.
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Harry Dangas
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 4
Saturday, February 17, 2007