Roast

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

Probably one the worst restaurant experiences I have ever had in London. The waiters and bartenders spent most of their time ogly my girlfriends cleavage in a 'way too obvious' fashion, to the point that they would 'hover'. The food was bland and uninspiring, I could have cooked better myself. The service in general was very poor and way too casual. Such a pity as the setting is fabulous. Avoid!!
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Bill - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 3
Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Not a bad meal, pleasant location. Reasonably priced though not cheap. Male waiters helpful and friendly. Female staff very standoffish, no smile, barely a word out of them.
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Redruth - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 7
Thursday, February 01, 2007

Starters were great, waited over an hour for the main to arrive. Waiters had problems understanding us and the food was not to the standard expected. When it did finally arrive, the lamb was very fatty and tough, the calves liver was totally raw in the middle. On the bright side, we were given a bottle of champagne when we complained and no service charge was applied to our bill. I don't think any of us will be returning which is a shame as there was a good atmosphere about the place.
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Nick
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 3
Thursday, February 01, 2007

I went to Roast with a friend on a friday night; we were seated even without a reservation. Service was very friendly but perhaps a little too attentive - at least seven different members of waiting staff came up to pour our wine for us even after we said no thanks - incredibly annoyingly and intrusive. Food was good - highlight was some delicious parsnip mash, but certainly not worthy of the £20 main course price tag. Chips that came with steak appeared to be cooked from frozen! On the plus side wine was affordable (when we requested house red, rather than ordering from the menu) and tap water was offered.
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Emily
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 3
Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Booked online but were restricted with available times for the evening we wished to visit. On arrival, restaurant half empty!! Cocktails delicious but OH SO overprices. Staff all very nice & friendly. Ordered a steak. It came with nil but a butter or sauce! I chose pepper sauce. For £25 I thought it would definately be the best steak over, BUT how mistaken could one be. Blue steak: done grey & flabby. Had to remind staff twice for the sauce. When it arrived the teeniest jug of what looked like dissolved oxo cube cube arrived, and this was to be shared between two of us. Did not look or taste remotely like pepper sauce: I thought the waiter had brought the wrong stuff but he assured me he hadnt! We orderd roast potatoes & a large rocket salad. Potatoes lovely. A £7 large rocket salad was tiny - small cereal bowl & was enough for a dieting stick insect! We didnt bother with puds - didnt want to waste any more hard earned cash. We will not be returning & urge others to give this rip off joint a huge miss!
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Nicky - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 0
Wednesday, January 24, 2007

Must have hit it on a good day. Attentive service, good food and great atmosphere.
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John Valllance
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Friday, January 12, 2007

We went for our Christmas evening out, and weren't disappointed.

Food was unpretentious and plentiful. We both chose game dishes, with roast potatoes (spot on) and red cabbage (delicious).

Service was attentive & polite.

Only down note was that the building was a little cold (it's an atrium, and it was freezing outside, thus difficult to warm), but otherwise a great evening which we would recommend.
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KM
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 6
Sunday, January 07, 2007