Galvin at Windows

My girlfriend and I have just had an amazing evening here. The food was fantastic, the service attentive and friendly. Overall exquisite and amazing value.

We took a 3 course offer, including aperitifs, and a glass of wine. We found the set menu delivered a more than adequate choice of fish, vegetarian, and meat options. We finished the meal with coffee which was extra.

It really was food and service of the highest quality. It is in a hotel, yes, but so what, the décor is modern and classy, with floor to ceiling windows looking out over London.

If you want to add a bottle of wine it will set you back another £40/50 for something decent – however we didn’t and the bill came to less than £100 which says it all.

You are not going to get better value for money than this full stop.

DP - Richmond
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Daryl P
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Thursday, April 26, 2007

I absolutely love this restaurant and have been here about three times. Twice we had a seat by the window making the evening really great. The food is tasty and the service just right. This is one of my fave places to dine.
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Amanda Joseph - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, April 02, 2007

We ate at Galvin at Windows on Friday evening and I can honestly say I was truly disappointed. The service was apalling and despite our complaints (which were completely disregarded) continued to be. Two of our main courses were greasy and got sent back to the kitchen uneaten.... the view is fabulous but completely obscured by the strange parapet which surrounds the main dining area. All in all, as far as value for money is concerned it was overpriced and the food was not up to the standard expected at the prices they charged. I will certainly not be eating here again.
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Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 0
Monday, November 13, 2006

We would agree with everyone about the quality of the food. Exceptional. Up there with the best in London (and that's saying something these days!!).

However we were totally underwhelmed with the atmosphere and the service. We were told when booking (a month in advance) that window tables couldn't be guaranteed, fair enough. BUT, when we arrived some were vacant but we were'nt allowed to sit there. How can this be, unless someone has reserved one? Even more galling one remained vacant for close on 2 hours!! The tables described as 'just back from the windows' do give you a sort of view but one's shoulders are up against the wood panelling for the raised platform in the centre of the rsetaurant; most claustrophobic and cuts one off from the rest of the restaurant.

As an aside, unless you are over 6 feet tall the tables will feel that they are half way up your chest; either the chairs are too low or the tables too high.

The way that our complaint was handled to begin with was desultory at best. (In fact, the lady who saw us to our table would have let us leave, losing £250, rather than act on our complaints.) Although a more senior person tried to make up for it later. Overall a very disappointing evening (especially as it was meant to be a special occasion for us). We think that we will stay with the restaurants that give us fine dining without us feeling that we are in a hotel dining room. If others feel the same that will be a shame because the kitchen brigade deserves much better.

Friday 20th October 2006
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Frank and Margaret Smith
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 6
Friday, October 27, 2006

Opting for the 6-Course Menu Gourmand I have to admit to being overall unimpressed. The general quality of the dishes were acceptable but below average given the prices and quite unimaginative. I am sure this resturant will continue to tick over due to the location but will never be taken seriously as a foodie restuarant. It just doesn't 'wow' enough.
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Christopher Jeffrey
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 3
Friday, September 15, 2006

My boyfriend took me here for our anniversary and it was amazing. Very friendly yet professional service, loved the goat cheese mousee amuse bouche, and the crisp Sauvignon Blanc as recommended by the sommelier. We had a wonderful meal, it was so romantic watching the sun set over Hyde Park. Will definately come back for another special occasion.
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ulrica ljunggren
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, September 11, 2006

We had very poor service. The food was unexceptional. The prices were stratospheric (as befits a restaurant on the 28th floor !). The view was great however, overall dissappointing. We wouldn't go back and think Galvin in Baker Street has a better atmosphere, better food, and better value. Only they need to do something about the view over there
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D Thompson
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 1
Sunday, August 27, 2006

Dinner for two here this week, a celebration for some very good news. Not unimpressed at all - the staff were delightful, very friendly. The table we were given was set back from the windows but we could still see the view. The food was very good indeed: he had scallops followed by grouse. I had salmon with a very delicious crab remoulade followed by salt marsh lamb - the salmon was very good and the lamb amazing although not quite enough of it. The choice of wine was made slightly difficult by the very large prices, which also deterred us from asking the sommelier for assistance, although our eventual choice was very good indeed. I couldn't really fault the restaurant apart from the size of the tables (the tables for two are not terribly conducive to being close to each other) and the chairs are so deep we felt as if we had tumbled into a scene from Alice in Wonderland (and we are both tall). It's not cheap - £180 for two course, plus wine and water, plus service - but a very good place for a celebration, or if you have deep pockets, or an expense account ...
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Emma
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Friday, August 18, 2006

Two of us dined here and we were not disappointed with the food or ambience, both of which exceeded expectations.

Starters of seared foie gras and scallops were perfectly cooked and flavoured. Main courses of Angus beef tournedos were cooked precisely and as requested, with some well-judged accompaniments of sweet onion, bone marrow and pomme puree.

The view of course is spectacular, and the restaurant space very pleasant and well designed. Get a window seat if you can, but the central stage is almost as good.

There were of course some minor niggles. Service was professional, but somewhat cold and joyless. I always get off to a bad start when, five seconds after planting myself at the table, I'm immediately asked what I'd like to drink, before even being offered a menu or wine list. It really doesn't hurt to let customers reflect on what they'd like to start the meal with. How about "And how are you today Sir?", followed by the menus, then a five minute gap before asking for drinks?

Common to many British restaurants, and Galvin unfortunately is no exception, is the habit of asking customers if they want still or sparkling water without putting a jug of complimentary water on the table first. This always irks, and is an all too obvious way of eeking another £10 or £20 out of diners (£4 for a smallish bottle of mineral water, plus of course service).

Another minor criticism was the rather expensive and very limited choice of wine by the glass - if memory serves, just two choices of red wine were on offer, for around £11 per glass. The wine list was small but offered a fair range of wines from round the world, and offered far better value by the bottle.

But overall, a great experience. If they can get service (which was, despite my nitpicking, good) to match the food and place, it will become one of the best dining experiences of London this year.
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Vince Porter
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, July 12, 2006

Was here for Sunday lunch. Unfortunately found the food a bit uninspiring and a disappointment esp given all the good reviews here and elsewhere. Starters: Chicken terrine with foie gras; slow cooked mackeral with onion pickles - both dishes lacked strength of flavour. Mains - Angus beef - flavoursome but on the tough side - the sort of beef that would have been better slow cooked. Desserts: melon with sorbet (could have been shop bought) and cherries with almond cake (the cake was excellent!). All the courses we sampled lacked intensity / depth of flavour! Good service - although there could be less chattering with customers (anything over 3 minutes that's not food related is surely obtrusive / intrusive??) and less calling across tables between waiters. Lovely views - and yes - you can see straight into HM's backyard
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london
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 5
Tuesday, July 11, 2006