Haven Bistro & Bar

I went there tonight and witnessed the owner being so rude to a couple because the guy & his wife wanted to pay with a gift voucher rather than cash! He was so so rude to them and humiliated them in front of everybody! I have never been so disgusted in my life. The staff there are lovely but the owner was foul. Please, spare yourself. I personally think that Al Fresco is much nicer and half the price. This poor couple were really humiliated! I felt embarassed for them.
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Maria
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 5
Sunday, August 10, 2008

Excellent - although rather 'squashed' in the bar, as a 40th Birthday party was in full swing. Food was excellent and service was O.K. Would most certainly return.
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Julie Godden
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Friday, March 07, 2008

Really nice to find a place like this local to my new home. After being briskly turned away from three or four nearby restaurants at 3pm on Mother Day (yeh I know....) we were about to give up and head home but thought we'd try the last place at the end of the High Road - and I am glad we did! The manager didn't sneer or laugh sarcastically at us, as had been the case elsewhere, but gave us a good seat in about two minutes flat. The food was very good, the service was excellent and the owner (not manager) just sat quietly eating his lunch with a friend, occasionally conversing pleasantly with his customers many of whom were obviously regulars.

We had rib eye steak and duck breast both done exactly as ordered and both accompanied by well cooked veg and apple mash the melted in the mouth. The steak may have been a bit fatty but this was 4pm on Mothers Day so I am sure the better cuts were already served. Still very tasty though. My daughter (4) was given exactly what she wanted without the waiter even batting an eyelid. She likes Burgers but without the Burger....therefore she had a burger bun and chips! She is not a big eater and as parents it is nice not to have to waste food and money on the full dish. Being Mothers Day there were loads of young kids in the place and the staff went out of their way to look after them all – well done it must have been hard work! The wine list was excellent and we had a good bottle of Louis Latour Pinot Noir. As you do when dining with a four year old we shared sorbet and ice cream between the three of us so we didn't really ‘test’ the dessert menu but they looked good. Not cheap but the overall experience was excellent - my thanks to the staff for turning a Mothers Day disaster into a day that all really enjoyed.

Having only just returned to London after living in Brighton I had never heard of The Haven but I now have a card and am really looking forward to going for dinner with friends and really giving the wine list a go!

I have read some of the negative comments re the owner and service and they make me smile. I found out that the owner is Swiss and started his career in Austria where I also worked for many years. His style sounds fairly typical and the service too sounds fairly 'Austrian' and could easily be construed as being over attentive. Not everyone's cup of tea for sure but I for one will be back and wouldn’t let it put you off.
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Dale T
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 7
Tuesday, March 04, 2008

The service was far too over attentive and the owner I agree is pretty rude. We were a party of 12 however 3 different waiters were eager to take our order within 2 mins of being seated.

Food ok, would not rush back, would rather pay these prices in a good restaurant elsewhere. Disappointing after reading the reviews.
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Chrisite
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 5
Wednesday, January 23, 2008

I have eaten in this restaurant many many times and on every occasion it has been exceptional. The owner friendly and welcoming, the staff efficent and the food fantastic. In fact myself and my partner then chose The Haven to have our Civil Ceremony in. Julius the owner and his staff organised the whole day we seated 120 guests all of whom commented on the fantastic food and location.

I would highly recommend this restaurant for anything ranging from dinner to getting married.......
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Lucy Robinson
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, October 22, 2007

My wife and I Had dinner at the Haven last night, and.. what can I say. This is the most fantastic restaurant we have been to for a long time. We arrived late and were told it was still fine for us to have a few cocktails in the bar before we sat at our table. They do not do sittings, so the table was ours for the entire evening. The service was perfect, friendly and helpful. The food, outstanding.

And all of this just down the road.

We were informed Haven is a family run restaurant. And we were not surprised as it is hard these days to find a restaurant where the customers are made to feel this important.

We will be back.. again and again.
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N. Segal - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, September 26, 2007

I went here for a family celebration recently. We had a good time but I wouldn't rush back. The food was OK but not great. Expensive for what it is.
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David
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 5
Friday, August 10, 2007

We thought that the food was good but could not believe how rude and arrogant the owner was, especially to his staff. A real bully. Makes for a bad atmosphere and we won't be going back in a hurry. Very expensive too.
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- View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 7
Thursday, May 24, 2007

I went there recently on a weekend lunchtime and the place was more than half empty. It was a hot day so I assume that people were out enjoying the weather. The staff were courteous and the food arrived fast and was completely and utterly gorgeous. I imagine it would be different in the evenings when its busier, but on the basis of the experience I had I would recommend it.
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Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Thursday, April 19, 2007

I ate here along with four girlfriends last Friday evening. We ordered several platters between us which was just as well because eating anything but finger food at these little low tables whilst sat on an armchair style chair would be near on impossible. Food was good, arrived quickly and well presented . Staff however were overattentive, rushing over and clearing away drinks glasses before we had barely put them down.

Bar area was very noisy which meant it was only possible to chat to person sitting next to you.

On the whole we had a good evening and would return again.
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DeeTee
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Thursday, April 05, 2007