Cottons Islington

Went here last Friday without reservation with a party of five. We should've as the place was packed. We were told we could have a drink in the downstairs lounge (Rhum Jungle... with all their rums a good name) and had a few cocktails while waiting for a table to come available. Serious cocktails!!!!!

The manager came to tell us after a while he had a table for us and we were promtly seated. Another cocktail and food was ordered.

Starters were great, mains were even better (Jerk like it should be and the curry goat is full of flavour). Try the Boston Jerk Pork!!

The music they play is sumtin else (even got a copy of a cd as we asked what was playing), service very friendly and good vibes. It was very busy though, so staff did have their hands full (also with some very demanding customers...).

Finished off the night back in "da jungle" were the DJ was playin till 2am.

Great night out, to be repeated regularly I say.
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Janice
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, June 03, 2008

Went to Cottons Islington on Saturday 24 May with a Party of 6, due to word of mouth and mix feelings about this place, we had to try it.

We had booked a late seating, and we were received and shown to another table temporarily until our table was ready. My party started on the Cocktails, of which I must say was enjoyed by all.

Hard dough bread was placed on the table, Yes hard dough bread, not warm bread or Rolls, Big slices of dry hard dough bread, not presentable.

Starters was nice, Soup of the day (fish soup), and Saltfish Fritters was ordered and all enjoyed. The Main was not so nice, the Fish with King Prawns was on the specials list, of which was ordered by two of the party, Fish was not tasty, the Prawn was Dry and not edible, and I say Prawn, because yes there was only one. No one questioned if we enjoyed the food when they removed the half empty plates from the table, then again they never did ask if we had finished. Plantin with skin on,,, come on be real, peel them for us eating out should be enjoyable.

The Service was not professional, a specific water was removing the dishes and glasses from the table without asking if we had finished, Our party then decided to move downstairs. Now things started to go right downhill,,, can someone please tell the Management about the Toilets, it was shocking and disgusting, the smell was awful, I have seen public toilets cleaner and smell better than this. The conversation now started by the men, and was overheard by the women, who also admitted that the ladies was not much better.

This experience is one to remember, and to pass on to others who like myself enjoy fine dining experience, Cotton's is not one of those.

Send your waiters and waitresses on courses, Sack the Cook, and refurbish the Toilets, too late to clean. Keep the Bartender, great Cocktails,,, Rename as Cocktails, not Cottons.
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BBB
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 1
Sunday, May 25, 2008

Had a great meal here. Atmosphere was superb, food was sublime and servive top notch. Curried goat was tender and rich, boston jerk pork melted in the mouth and was perfectly spiced. Very reasonably priced too - just watch out for the house scotch bonnet pickle!
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sfbs
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Thursday, May 22, 2008

The food was average, the service was terrible, the waiter seemed to ignore us. we were kicked out shortly after we finished our mains, the mens toilets were disgusting. Oh and it is expensive for what you are getting, This is not recommended.
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Snake
Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 1
Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Four of us booked a table last Friday night. We had read other reviews on this site, but had previously really enjoyed their Camden location that we decided to take a chance.

How right the other reviews are! The food was adequate, but nothing more, and all of our dishes were served lukewarm, not hot. The service was, at best, chaotic. It took four separate requests to get two beers, and our second round never did arrive, despite two requests. The 12.5% optional service charge is insulting.

They then informed us that our table had to be vacated at 9:30, despite being seated at 8:00PM, and not informing us of this until the main courses plates were taken away. More bizarrely, the restaurant was half empty at this time. By now, we were very happy to leave.

In summary, avoid this restaurant at all costs. But if you want some good Caribbean food, try the Cottons location in Camden!
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Martin F
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 5
Sunday, March 30, 2008

Myself and my partner was craving for traditional west indian cuisine, became frantically excited about cottons with their mouth watering menu from beyond the window, outside. We both said "shall we", so we did,.

we ordered a mix grill platter consisting of various meats and she had curry goat, rice 'n' peas and additional side orders of Plaintain and roti's.

well well well my partner is from Barbados and just couldn't believe the taste

the roti was so bitter we had to send it back to the kitchin,

the curry goat was just bones,the rice and peas was like mash and

the nicest thing was the plantain which we had to peel the skin off ourselves (umm random)

it was really disappointing, not good value for money and the customer service wasn't good at all, should of had good old fish and chips from the local chippy.
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tequila
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 0
Friday, February 29, 2008

Recently went to Islington branch of restaurant

Credit card wasn't accepted as machine not working and didn't take cheques which got meal off to bad start

Food nothing to write home about unless you are very hungry, in which case it fills a hole - though not a very big one given the small whole red snapper

so poor value for money and "voluntary" service charge of 12.5% not justified standard of service

No intention to go back to this caribbean restaurant given alternatives in london

PS special menu currently shown on internet only apply tp parties of 7 and every day 2 4 1 Happy hours on hand-out cards ( still being given out )only applies Mon to Thursday
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wyn
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 2
Monday, February 18, 2008

Booked a table of 5 last Friday for the late seating. As we were early we were told by the manager we could have a drink in the downstairs cocktail lounge and he would come and get us as soon as the table was available. There was a great selection of cocktails available so our party promtly ordered a few. Well made! Specially the Reggae Rum Punch... for once you can taste the alcohol as you are supposed to.

5 min after our original booking time tthe manager came to get us to be seated. He told us they were running behind because there was a large party that completely disregarded their booking time but Cottons was nice enough to accomodate them.

The place was full, the atmosphere was great and the service was fast. Our starters came in about 10 min! The fish fritters were nice and fluffy and the chickpea & pumkin curry was to die for! As mains we had a bit of a selection and it all tasted great. The lamb was cooked perfect, the grilled snapper tasted very fresh... all in all a very well done and served with a smile!

After dessert (try the apple and mango crumble!) we went downstairs to have an after drink, but by that time the lounge had turned into a club! We partied till closing time to the sounds of reggae, soca, ragga, R&B... Even had an unexpected female MC taking the mic! Definately going back!!!
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Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Cottons Islington:

We were a big table and some of us arrived a little late. The food was decent although we were only given the choice of the set menu, which leaves little choice if you are vegetarian! 1 starter choice and 1 main course, but over priced and undersized compared to the meat dishes, as we veggie's were left very hungary! The service was appalling and totally embarrassed our host who had booked for her birthday, we were rushed through the meal and desserts were brought out whilst some were still eating their mains. Also we were charged service on individual drink orders, which we were not aware of from the drinks menu, when we suggested going to the bar ourselves, this was disallowed as we had a table, yet we couldn't add the drinks to the main bill! Even if the food wasn't bad, the experience was ruined by the service and pushy staff.
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mark
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 3
Monday, December 31, 2007

I went to Cottons for my birthday, a party of 8. We had to wait a while for our table but waited in the bar so we were happy. When we did get served, the curried goat was too salty we could not eat it, my friend's boyfiend who ordered the baby chicken said it was too hot. There was a big gap between the courses by the time we had finished we onlt had one hour in the bar.

There were bottles of water on the table, so we opened two before we realised they were going to charge us for them. The restaurant suddenly got hot and we got thursty from the salty food, hot food and hot restaurant. When the bill came thay had charged us for all 4 bottles of water assuming we had got too thursty. They then proceeded to charge a service charge of 12.5% without asking us why we didnt eat our food.
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Charlotte
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 0
Sunday, November 11, 2007