Bentley's Oyster Bar & Grill

Friday night, at the Oyster Bar. Pure theatre. Fantastic atmosphere.

Helpful staff who are clearly passionate about the food and helping the customers have an enjoyable experience.

The food was gorgeous. The Fish Pie was stuffed with chunks of tender flavoursome goodies and the traditional fisn n chips was divine.

The cosy lighting and piano player make you feel like you've stumbled upon some private club.

You cant help but leave feeling like you've been spoilt.
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9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Saturday, September 10, 2011

i went to Bentleys for the first time last night, for a tuesday night it was really busy and had a great atmosphere. i hadnt heard of bentleys before so i didnt know what to expect. from the moment i walked through the door the service was outstanding! the front of house team were lovely and the waiters were really friendly. my friend and i werent sure what to pick off the menu as it all looked so good and waiter made some great recommendations for us and you could tell everyone that worked their was pasionate about the place and really knew what they were talking about. also a great touch that the waiter had memorised the specials, its the little things like that which really make a difference. overall probably the best restaurant i have ever been to! i will definitely recommend bentleys to everyone i know and i cant wait to go back!!!
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10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, May 04, 2011

Well, that was pretty damn near perfect. After reading some of the reviews, I had expectations of it being a bit stuffy and up itself, but what a fantastic evening four of us enjoyed at Bentley’s Oyster Bar & Grill.

Couple of scoops beforehand at Momo and Bob Bob Ricard saw us rocking up to Bentley’s at 7 for a 7.15 table. Sort of expected to be whizzed upstairs immediately to commence proceedings but were invited by the ‘big man’ himself to relax and have a drink downstairs first...so enjoyed a bottle of Ruinart Blanc de Blancs perched at the bar. Started to sort of wish we were eating downstairs given the specials blackboard which looked superb. Nice, bustle in the bar with comings and goings and a bit of banter going on with people who were obviously regulars. Really nice, relaxed, convivial vibe.

Without feeling at all rushed we took our table upstairs in our own time. Nice and busy already which gave the dining room a very pleasant atmosphere. Lots of smiles and greetings going on from the waiters and waitresses which settled us very quickly into feeling even more welcome and relaxed.

Menus, breads and canapes were quickly delivered followed by an intro of tonight’s ‘specials’. All chose differently...I’ll just do mine. Bentley’s fish soup, Belly Pork and scallops, trifle, cheese. All superb. Fishy, fish soup with all the bits a quality fish soup needs. Properly cooked belly pork with fat rendered away and topped-off with bubbled up, happy, snappy crackling and two pretty little scallops, that were so lightly seared they might have still been breathing. Boozy trifle and smelly cheese. Price-wise on the high-side of reasonable, offset (or complimented, whichever way you look at these things) by prompt, friendly and efficient service. Could quite easily have stayed all night but Soho beckoned.

A supreme meal of very high quality enjoyed by one and all in a wonderfully busy dining room whilst being looked after by nice people. As I said at the start...pretty damn near perfect.
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9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Monday, March 21, 2011

We booked our family of five for my wife's birthday. Expensive but we expected a high quality of service and food. Disappointing. Most of the waiting staff were courteous, but the head waiter made us feel that he had more important things to do. Most of the food was excellent but the fish pie was less than ordinary with a gimmicky lobster head. Never again.
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3 Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 1
Monday, February 21, 2011

Been to Bentleys for sunday lunch, lovely experience all round.

Would go there again for sure.
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Dereck Thomas - View all reviews by this user
8 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 6
Sunday, December 12, 2010

Had dinner there, service poor with wine waiter "in your face" pushing wine for all it was worth. Meals took ages to arrive and the value was poor. Much discussion re: filleting some of our fish order between the serving staff. Not a happy experience and would not bother going there again. Value for money 3 out of ten.
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Norman Gudgeon
3 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 3
Tuesday, November 16, 2010

I lunch here every 6 weeks or so on a Friday. What's great is that you can't reserve a place at the bar, means that you can walk of the street and get a place - cool idea. I tend to start with oysters - always nice (if a little steep) and have two starters (instead of a main). On recent visits I had grilled mackrel, grilled sardines, octopus - all very fresh and expertly grilled - these were off the changing menu; also have the sole goujons (always on the menu) - and they were brilliant. I like the bread there and also the fact that they give you the option of tap water rather than push some expensive stuff that tastes the same anyway. Sitting at the bar means that I get to read and enjoy the food and the bar staff are on hand at once. Cost is usually about £30 - so not too bad. I enjoy it and return often.
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kkbasza
7 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 6
Monday, October 25, 2010

i finally got the chance to lunch here.

i found the house champagne not very good but did not comment on that as the waiters were already not so friendly. not even an olive or a salted nut with the drink

the appetiser of smoked salmon was good but not excellent and i found the steak tartare heavily overseasoned with a very sour touch

coffee arrived without any single sweet
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londonfreak
6 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 5
Thursday, November 26, 2009

Lunch for 3 - the food was OK but out of our 9 dishes nothing really had a wow factor just competently cooked fish ,we were also told that several of the mains had already finished thus limiting our options ,given that the room was only two thirds full at most it was a bit poor..The main problem being the service - after being hustled a couple of times into ordering food I was told to wait for the sommelier to order the wine,this took quite a while and our pre starter of mixed oysters turned up before he did-once ordered the wine then took an age to arrive,water glasses were filled spasmodically by waiters various and when we asked for another bottle the order was forgotten twice.A few other things grated on us such as the lights being dimmed when there were only 3 tables left in an attempt to get us out and the bill arriving without being asked for,at almost £100 per head for a not too boozy lunch we probably won't be returning or recommending.
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mal - View all reviews by this user
5 Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 4
Thursday, November 12, 2009

One of the best places I can think of for solo dining or if you are with a friend who just wants a drink but you fancy a quick bite.

Grab a seat at the bar, order a nice carafe of something cold and white (we had a nice picpoul de pinet) and order a couple of dishes to snack on. The home smoked salmon with blinis was great as were the simply poached langoustines with the best mayo i've had in a lond time.

Service was smart and quick and at £70 for a couple of starters, some good bread and butter, and 2 carafes of wine not bad value at all.
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Chris - View all reviews by this user
7 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 7
Saturday, November 07, 2009