The Living Room (W1)

Went last night. Brilliant!

Food was very tasty. Makes you realise what a lot of rubbish is served up in other places! One of the best meals I've ever had. Service good. Bit noisy but atmospheric!
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Vivienne
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Friday, July 06, 2007

Visited The Living Room with my date on an extremely busy Thursday at 8pm. We hadn't booked but luckily they found us a table immediately and without any fuss.

In spite of being rushed off their feet the service was perfect - friendly and extremely efficient (and no faffing around with the bill at the end). The pinot grigio was decent and the organic salmon should be called orgasmic salmon - it truly was the most delicious meal I've had in a long time. My date who had been before told me he can never get brocolli to taste quite like they do! He was equally delighted with the corn-fed chicken.

Because of the busy bar that's attached, the atmosphere was buzzing yet the restaurant was comfortable, with dim romantic lighting. The toilets are a treat if a little confusing at first - you'll see what I mean!

Fantastic food, wine, service, atmosphere.. Yes, I recommend it thoroughly.
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Lisa Beaumont
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Friday, March 23, 2007

Took my sister here for her b-day meal a few weeks ago. The experience was essentailly ok until I asked for the most expensive dish on the menu, the steak (18 quid) which I had to send back twice as it was overdone the first time and practially running off the plate the second. The staff were really nice about the problems, but you expect things to be right when it's something as simple as cooking a steak. It's blimmin' expensive and a bit quiet and stuck up on a Saturday lunchtime..the lovely waitress we had was the only thing worth going for. Not somewhere I'm terribly eager to go back to.
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lotty
Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 2
Tuesday, March 06, 2007

to all the wannabe giles corran's below please what do you think this place is fine dining with a starred chef?....I eat here all the time and have found the service and food nothing but superb they are uncomplicated and simply offer dishes that tast great delivered with the kind of norhern style of service the company behind the venue is known for which when surrounded by the pomp and ceremony which goes along with many venues in the west end and mayfair frankly it is a breath of fresh air.
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johnathon lee
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Fortunately the lunch we had yesterday was on expenses because I would be even more upset had I paid the astonishing £80 myself (for a party of 4 drinking water - the most lavish dish being a burger and chips). The service in this place is dreadful - what use is ketchup 10 minutes after a 'portion' of 8 chips has been brought to the table?

We waited half an hour for our starters to arrive with no apology or communication from staff at all. Conclusion - mediocre food, poor service, bizarre and noisy interior.
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LJ
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Friday, January 19, 2007

We stopped in for an impromptu Saturday Lunch after a hard morning's shopping. Wasn't really sure what to expect as neither of us had heard of it before. The dining room and great bar layout invited us in only to be met by extremely poor service at front of house, she seemed more interested in smoking and talking to her friends. The food in general was on the average to low side. Starters were ok, nothing to complicated the food was fresh and satisfactorily cooked. The plates were another thing though, mine looked like it had been wiped clean with a greasy rag...

The main course, this was a real mixed bag. My girlfriends Pork Belly or ‘Pig’ as the waitress continued to call it was good, excellent mash and nice crisp greens. My Coq au Vin was a massive disappointment, the meat on the legs was on one side delicious and tender falling off the bone. The other side was burnt to a crisp like it had been left on the bottom of the saucepan for days and slowly cooked into oblivion, and again my plate was greasy and looked unclean. On the good side we had a wonderful Sauvignon Blanc which was enjoyed greatly and was very keenly priced. After declining deserts we were ushered to the bar. I believe that this is where The Living Room should aim its market. Yes it was quiet about 20 - 30 people but it was Saturday afternoon before NYE and the bar staff were very attentive, friendly and knowledgeable (especially about the Cognac).

All in all a great bar with an ok restaurant. They should stick to what they do best and at £75 for two for Lunch they are shooting well above their station, especially with the likes of The Wolseley et al just around the corner...
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Patrick
Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 2
Wednesday, January 03, 2007

We had our xmas dinner at the Living Room. If your idea if Christas Lunch is re-constituted turkeyloaf, boiled potatoes, mixed veg and mouldy sprouts, all served up at £30.00 a head + drinks, then this might be the place for you. If you like surly waiting staff insist that the "discretionary" service charge is obligatory under the "terms and conditions", then book up immediatly.
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P Clark
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 0
Thursday, December 14, 2006

Utterly woeful Sunday lunch experience at the Living Room W1. Service was slow and the waiter hadn't a clue about the food.

When our mains arrived, roast turkey at £12.50 was rubbery with a distinctively processed taste. Eggs Benedict were too solid (after specifically being asked by the waiter whether I wanted soft or hard) and the sauce Hollandaise was definitely not made on the premises.

Living Room could do with reducing the ridiculous number of dishes on the menu, focus on simple quality and improve its service. The entire experience has the aroma of a arrogant, pretentious group from the provinces who are trying to play with the big boys in London...but are only succeeding in ripping people off. Perhaps it works outside the M25, but Londoners aren't quite so gullible.
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Alastair
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 1
Monday, December 11, 2006

This was my third time of visiting The Lviing Room but I had only previously drank at the bar - this time I had lunch of a Tuna Steak which I ordered Medium Rare and it came up VERY rare. It was ok though and I ate it all the same. My partner had fish chips and mushy peas which was HUGE and he totally enjoyed it! We drank champagne and then wine by the glass and the service was very good indeed - watching for low levels in the glasses etc. The atmosphere was really friendly and as ever I was impressed with the cleanliness and funkiness of the bathrooms. Carpets on the walls of the booths and Radio 4 piped through!! I wanted to stay in there longer!!
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Jules Murray
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, November 08, 2006

I wasn't very impressed by this place at all. As we sat down we received some stale bread which we sent back and was replaced by more stale bread! I ordered from the set menu and received my food too quickly and certainly tasted like it had just been microwaved - certainly not value for money. However my boyf's steak was fantastic. Also atmosphere and service was good but I wil certainly never be going again.
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Rita - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 4
Thursday, September 28, 2006