Arbutus

I am underwhelmed by this restaurant having dined there last night with friends. The service and restaurant do nothing to convey the quality of a Michelin starred establishment and after three unremarkable courses I was completely bemused by the reputation that led us to eat there. I completely agree with an unstuffy approach but there is no sense of occasion at all and great food deserves better than this. That is assuming the food is great - it isn't. I don't make a habit of reviewing restaurants but an establishment of which so much is expected and disappoints deserves the bad to be told along with the good. Of course anyone reading this will read other reviews and make their own mind up but if your expectations of Michelin star dining is the same as mine then there are plenty of other fine restaurants in London to choose from. I for one won't be returning.
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Jonathon
5 Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 5
Monday, October 11, 2010

Saturday lunchtime and I'm on my own. Some restaurants make you feel awkward when you're dininig solo, but this is certainly not the case in Arbutus. I was warmly welcomed by attentive and very well informed waiters. The food was impeccable. I chose from the short lunch menu, which offered pig cheeks or kale soup to start, gurnard with risotto or lamb with gnocci to follow. I went for the pork and was rewarded with two lightly seared discs of piggy loveliness on a bed of lentils, scattered with baby chard and bitter leaves. A very well balanced and satisfying start, which was accompanied by a carafe of very good pinot noir from their extensive list. The highlight of my meal was the gurnard. A spankingly fresh fillet of perfectly cooked fish on a light herby risotto. I overheard a fellow diner saying this was the best piece of fish he had ever had. Things continued at this high standard with the pud. I opted for the clafoutis of english pear, which is cooked to order so there is a 10 minute delay. It was well worth the wait, being moist, light and sweet. The vanilla ice cream is the perfect foil to the rich cake batter, with a pear puree round the whole dish out. To accompany this I had a glass of muscat which was ok, but it was a bit "hot" (at 14%). Next time i would have the Sauternes. A great meal at a great price, I would highly recommend.
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Shappo
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Sunday, October 10, 2010

Great, great Michelin starred restaurant. Go for the squid burger (seriously) and enjoy some well priced and selected wines by the carafe. Their lunch / pre theatre menu is a steal
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Grumbling Gourmet - View all reviews by this user
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Sunday, April 04, 2010

As it was a bright but chilly day on saturday I decided to treat my lovely wife to a proper lunch out. We had previously dined very well at "Wild Honey" so I was really keen to try it's sister restaurant Arbutus. We booked our table without issue the same day and wandered in for lunch. The look of the restaurant is more contemporary than "Wild Honey" but there was a nice hubub on entering and numerous diners seemed to be having a fun time. We were shown to a table in the main room which was certainly nicer than the back corridor.

Though hungry we were mindful of our efforts to keep the weight off so we straight for mains hoping to leave room for some desert. We decided to share that day's special of black leg chicken with risotto which is a perfect dish for a couple. It was lovely, succulent soft checken breast, leg and wing accompagnied by a seriously tasty risotto. Simple yet elegant and beyond what I could manage at home. I washed this down with a lovely deep Syrah that they recommended.

After such a nice main we felt we need to see what dessert offered. Again we shared the house tarte tatin which was sublime the best I have ever had. They bought us a whole tart in the pan, covered in perfect caramel and made from succulent english apples. Again the enthasis was a great tasting food rather than clever combinations. I washed this down with a lovely recetto. This was a very nice lunch indeed.

I was very impressed with Arbutus, the food was top notch like "Wild Honey". It was good to see that they could put as much effort into the classics as the more adventurous dishes. The bill was £110 for two which was going some for lunch of two courses and with only myself drinking. However we did really enjoy it and the restaurant had a nice relaxed atmosphere, helped by some relaxed but confident service. I'd say I prefer the decor in "Wild Honey" but the food here was top draw! Well worth visiting for a treat.
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david ginsberg - View all reviews by this user
8 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Monday, February 22, 2010

I went for a friends birthday recently. The food was nice, the service was bad.

Arriving about 5 minutes early, we waited for 45 minutes before being seated. We did not receive an apology. At the end of the meal, we asked to take off the service charge at the end, and were haughtily shown out.

Don't know how it maintains its Michelin rating with this kind of treatment.
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Matthew Barker
6 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 6
Monday, February 15, 2010

I ended up at Arbutus late last night purely by chance. I was greeted nicely and not made to feel awkward for dining alone. I thought the food excellent and the service could not have been more professional or friendly. I was surprised to read some adverse comments about the food previously posted on this site. I too had the mushrooms and polenta and, though not a vegetarian ( I started with tete de veau!), thought it was a masterclass of perfectly cooked quality ingredients that married perfectly together. I also appreciated their wines which allow you to drink very good quality wines by the carafe. My bill was £55 including service which I thought was terrific value. I left a cash tip purely for the friendliness and attentiveness of the staff which I do not do very often. I've just discovered that they have a Michelin star - it is very well deserved and I'll certainly be going back with friends soon.
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Graham
9 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Thursday, November 26, 2009

I ended up at Arbutus late last night purely by chance. I was greeted nicely and not made to feel awkward for dining alone. I thought the food excellent and the service could not have been more professional or friendly. I was surprised to read some adverse comments about the food previously posted on this site. I too had the mushrooms and polenta and, though not a vegetarian ( I started with tete de veau!), thought it was a masterclass of perfectly cooked quality ingredients that married perfectly together. I also appreciated their wines which allow you to drink very good quality wines by the carafe. My bill was £55 including service which I thought was terrific value. I left a cash tip purely for the friendliness and attentiveness of the staff which I do not do very often. I've just discovered that they have a Michelin star - it is very well deserved and I'll certainly be going back with friends soon.
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Graham
9 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Thursday, November 26, 2009

For the price it's not really good enough.

The food was very hit and miss. Three of us dined, and I would say half the dishes were interesting and expertly executed (pig's head and onion ravioli, 'pieds et pacquets' and floating island being the stars of the show). Other dishes such as the polenta with wild mushroom and the partridge were unremarkable 'gastro pub' fodder at fine dining prices.

Service wasn't great. Though staff were friendly, they kept trying to push dishes that weren't selling in quite an aggressive way (once is quite enough, thankyou), and ignored my (very clear and polite) request to have my carafe of white wine brought with my fish main, meaning it was room temperature by the time I wanted to drink it. I also wasn't offered the choice of tap water, which I find irritating. A tip seemed to be expected for storing our jackets. I have worked as a waitress in the past, and I know that all these small things are tricks to get the customer to spend more, which I can accept for many restaurants, but for a place with a Michelin star, it feels a little vulgar.

The room gets incredibly noisy thanks to its' hard surfaced hotel lobby stylings, meaning we were shouting across the table to each other by dessert. Put some drapes up, guys. It would really help.

If the meal had been cheaper, I wouldn't feel so disappointed, but at £45 a head, the service and food should feel more elevated.

I would be curious to try their prix fixe menu, perhaps the lunch service runs more smoothly.
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claire
6 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 6
Wednesday, November 18, 2009

First time to the restaurant and i can honestly say it was my last.

I have no idea how they still have hold of their michelin star. The service was awful, so much for service with a smile. Bread came out didnt get asked if we would like some just got the basket of bread shoved in front of our faces. Food was dissapointing had the porchetta serious over kill on the parmesan. looked boring on the plate, which also hadnt been polished properly. I had the plat du jour which was a roast chicken ballotine chicken was dry, chickpea puree was like eating sandpaper, veg was over seasoned. dessert well didnt bother save being dissapointed for a 3rd course. They were not very busy id say 10 people max including us. I expected a lot more. wish i had taken my money elsewhere maybe to wild honey.
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rara - View all reviews by this user
0 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Monday, November 16, 2009

I posted this on the Time Out site and I thought I'd add it here in case anyone is interested.

The website (same layout as sister restaurant Wild Honey) makes the place look really nice and once you get there it is. But then sadly it goes wrong. (I can't comment on WH but from below you'll see that I'm not too enthusiastic about trying that one now).

I wish I had taken heed of Sarah's review (A Time Out site reviewer). It has a Michelin star (not sure why, considering the overall experience) but I guess it is now struggling to hold on to it with the poor level of service in the evenings.

The food was OK, but not much more than that and certainly not special. But the service, well, all I can say is that with so many places to choose from in London I wish I had taken my money elsewhere.

Even the staff in Chez Gerard on a busy night are pleased to see you.

Good luck if you really need to try this place but if you want a smile with your dinner try other places first.
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D.
3 Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 4
Tuesday, November 03, 2009