The National Dining Rooms

Tried the yogurt & smoothie there, very yummy, but a bit pricey. Nice view from the national gallery.
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Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 4
Tuesday, December 09, 2008

Had the rather expensive set lunch here on July 29, 2008. We paid more so as not to dine in the adjoining cafe, which had more noise and children. My cucumber soup was rather tasty but very thin, with a small pile of crabmeat in the middle. My husband and I both ordered salmon fish cakes. We each got 3 large round fish cakes and a bit of yellow, stringy, uneatable "garnish". I spoke to the young manager and complained about such a boring meal. Who wants to eat 3 large fishcakes with nothing else. He said that we should have paid extra for one or two side dishes. We had paid abut 54 pounds for 2 appetizers and 6 fishcakes. He also suggested that we should have dined in the cafe. The chef here showed very little imagination on this dish. We were offered coffee but the manager did not make it clear if it would be free. We did not want to spend a pence more here so we left, not leaving much of a tip, which was, by the way, not included in the set lunch price. We did not donate to the National Gallery Sainsbury wing either.
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daph
Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 2
Monday, September 29, 2008

We went for lunch last Friday, 25th.. The food was OK but not great. The other half had a " heritage" tomato salad which was pronounced alright, she followed this with " Sussex cob chicken/lemon/carrot & rocket, which she said was very good. I had London dry gin marinated smoked salmon which tasted, well, just like smoked salmon. I followed with Grilled Farmer Sharp's aged sirloin ( how much more pretentious does it get ) It was OK but I've had better, without a fancy name. Having watched Oliver Peyton caustically dismiss some good chef's dishes on TV, I felt that his restaurant would be beyond reproach.It is not and indeed far from it. Oliver, there's a lot of glass in your restaurant, stop throwing stones.
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Gerry Fergus
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 4
Thursday, July 31, 2008

I met some friends for drinks after work yesterday at The National Cafe. I didn't even know this place existed. What a find.

My friends and enjoyed great cocktails and bar food. The place was beautiful and the atmosphere buzzing

I will definitely go back !!
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Sheriden
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Thursday, April 24, 2008

Oliver Peyton should be admired for pioneering great British food and this is certainly reflected on an excellent fixed price menu at The National Dining Rooms. In showcasing what is good about British food ,the restaurant also showcases what is bad about the restaurant industry in London. Whilst it is perfectly fine to charge £29.95 for 3 courses of this quality it is not acceptable to serve one roast potato with a Sunday roast and offer side orders of roast potatoes at £3.25. I don't think Mathew Fort would have been too impressed with his one potato. Have words Mathew!
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PaulH
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 5
Tuesday, October 09, 2007

I’ve been to the national dining rooms a few times, but tried out the national café (at the other end of the gallery and open till 11). What a disaster! It was the worse dining experience I’ve ever had. Atrocious staff. The charm of French surliness did not last. Ordering took several minutes while we had to repeat everything, as the waiter had no idea what was on the menu. I had a fish cake that was in reality a huge potatoe cake with a few flakes of haddock pressed into it. Mayonnaise was a bizarre emulsion that tasted of nothing. When I asked for the ‘chive butter’ that was supposed to accompany the fishcake I was presented with a bowl of something with the consistency and appearance of beaten egg. All in all, a fowl and tasteless meal, served with a complete lack of interest. Thank goodness Browns is down the road and we could decamp there for dessert. The national dining rooms have charm and tasty lunches, but please, please avoid the national café for dinner!
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Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 0
Thursday, July 26, 2007

Had lunch here on Saturday and were really impressed.

Ate at the Bakery - a delicious chicken pie with a salad perfectly dressed.

I wasn't sure what to expect from a three quid sherry trifle, but was amazed. I would have paid even three times that it was so delicious.

I will certainly go again - the service was friendly and fast too. A great place to have lunch after visiting the best art gallery in the world.
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George C
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Sunday, July 08, 2007

Went to the National Dining Rooms today on our way to a matinee. A very pleasant experience, but....

The waiter had great problems remembering which of the two of us had ordered which drink or dish - he got it wrong every time. He was pleasant, but clearly untrained - you can tell when someone can't clear the table French-fashion with all the plates neatly stacked up their arms but has to make several trips.

And - though I know Oliver Peyton is hot on ensuring adequate and proper seasoning - both our main coursesn (lamb and rabbit) were realy over-salted - my wife's in the sauce and mine in the hash brown (which seemed to have been rolled in salt!). And I speak as one who normally ladles on the salt to compensate for decades of smoking a pipe. This is a real fault which requires attention.

But underneath that the food was distinctly good. My wife's parsnip soup and my smoked salmon for starters were exemplary. The next course could have been fantastic but for the overdose of salt.

Yes, perhaps we should have complained. But the flavouring was otherwise exceedingly good and we hope ithe Gallery Rooms attain a balance which will help those who cannot cope with heavy salting.
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John N L Morrison
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 5
Saturday, March 31, 2007

Had lunch here last Saturday. Five of us, three adults two kids. Nice room, tables by the window have a good view of Trafalgar Square. Service was attentive and friendly. Food good, I had belly pork and clams, then a nicely cooked piece of bream. Drank rosé and prosecco, found the house white a bit insipid. Ordered three chesses from the very excellent cheese list. Bill not extortionate.
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Boz
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Our Sunday lunch at the National Dining Rooms, with a view over Trafalgar Square on a sunny day, was a delightful way to conclude our visit to the Velasquez Exhibition. After reading some good reviews of the restaurant, it lived up to our expectations - and our reaction was very similar to that of the Sunday Times review we read on the train back to Sheffield ... we'd even had the same desserts (called a 'trifle' and a 'blackberry jelly' but hardly what you'd remember from your childhood!) The service was friendly and good, if unhurried - not the place for a rushed lunch but this seemed to be assumed with the menu being a fixed price two or three course one rather than a la carte. (I assume it's different during the week.)

Overall, a very pleasant experience, and we'll certainly be going back.+
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Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, November 22, 2006