The Red Fort

Despite some unfavourable reviews with regard to value for money, we decided to try the Red Fort for Friday lunch. The décor was very smart and up market and there were several European girls in severe black suits handing out menus and taking orders. We felt the restaurant lacked atmosphere. The food was an agreeable surprise, we chose the set menu at £12 per head and received papadoms, followed by starters of Tandoori chicken, salmon and a roasted mushroom kebab which were all very good. The main course consisted of a spinach dish, a dall and more chicken, all of the same quality as the starters. We discussed the food in terms of value for money and felt that it compared very favourably with the Sunday buffets that we get locally, usually for about £9.95. The sting was in the tail, when we received the bill we found that we had been charged £17.50 (service included) for 4 very small Kingfisher draft beers. Given that we had just come from Wolfe’s Cocktail bar and Grill in Great Queen Street (not a cheap establishment) where I had paid £1.90 for a small draft Stella Artois we thought that this was totally outrageous. We just might go back, it would be interesting to see their reaction if we asked for tap water with our meal.
Comment on this reader review

G & T - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 5
Friday, August 03, 2007

Despite some unfavourable reviews with regard to value for money, we decided to try the Red Fort for Friday lunch. The décor was very smart and up market and there were several European girls in severe black suits handing out menus and taking orders. We felt the restaurant lacked atmosphere. The food was an agreeable surprise, we chose the set menu at £12 per head and received papadoms, followed by starters of Tandoori chicken, salmon and a roasted mushroom kebab which were all very good. The main course consisted of a spinach dish, a dall and more chicken, all of the same quality as the starters. We discussed the food in terms of value for money and felt that it compared very favourably with the Sunday buffets that we get locally, usually for about £9.95. The sting was in the tail, when we received the bill we found that we had been charged £17.50 (service included) for 4 very small Kingfisher draft beers. Given that we had just come from Wolfe’s Cocktail bar and Grill in Great Queen Street (not a cheap establishment) where I had paid £1.90 for a small draft Stella Artois we thought that this was totally outrageous.

We just might go back, it would be interesting to see their reaction if we asked for tap water with our meal.
Comment on this reader review

G & T - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 5
Wednesday, August 01, 2007

Living in London one expects to pay a little more for the finer things in life. However Red Fort really does take the biscuit. My wife and I both enjoyed some of the food such as the lamb biryani and the paneer but found them overpriced (18 pounds for the former!). Other dishes were either expensive for the sake of it (plain rice, naan) or tasted bizarre (duck with mango). Overall not worth the price and topped off by the staff's refusal to pack any of the dishes to go (due either to 'having no containers left' or due to 'no take-away licence'). The fact that all we could hear all night was thumping music from their bar downstairs really did not help matters...
Comment on this reader review

Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 1
Saturday, July 07, 2007

I am really surprised by the negative comments about the Redfort, I went there with 6 friends a week ago and had a fantastic time. I thought the food was divine- a great variation in style and taste, all really well cooked and presented. We werent harrased or hurried in any way- (maybe that would be different if you have the set menu?)- staff were polite, thier attention was pitched just right, as was the atmosphere- really surprised by the likeness to a 'canteen' comments.

I guess it was a bit pricey- but thats no great surprise for central London, it was a special occassion so we didnt really mind.

One thing they did mess up was our booking of a table in the bar afterwards, but they soon put it right and the cocktails were superb. Perhaps the scene there was a bit young for the late 30's/early 40 somethings -but a very nice young trendy asian crowd welcomed the oldies to the dance floor!

(oh and we're not tourists but proper London diners!)
Comment on this reader review

Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Sunday, June 10, 2007

Let’s be fair, it’s not a restaurant it’s a canteen. No complaints about the food as such, but the way they rush you is insane. I spent the time allocated for the table of two hours telling the staff that we are not ready for the next course etc and please come back later. They still managed to deliver all courses, wine and water within one hour which left us perplexed, I complained to the management and they did try to offer us with free drinks in a very crowded bar downstairs. We declined and I asked for the service charge to be withdrawn from the bill. Conclusion: They got their table back after one hour and we’re going for an English tonight
Comment on this reader review

Geoff Kite
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 2
Thursday, March 22, 2007

This restaurant is trying to be something it isn't. White table clothes and silver with jazzed up decor (although they forgot to do the floor which is old, cheap and nasty) but absolutely no atmosphere, severely overpriced (£4 for one portion of boiled rice, and not even well cooked).

My main of red snapper was tiny for £17 (£21 with rice) and my partners duck curry left a horrible taste. They ruined the Raita by adding a load of chili (!). A main meal at a 2 Michelin star restaurant in Mayfair costs the same and there is no comparison. The bill was £82 for 2 with no alcohol, no dessert and tap water and we left hungry. If you want a posh Indian, run from this place and go to Veeraswamy.
Comment on this reader review

Lorraine
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 0
Thursday, February 01, 2007

I booked for 8.30pm on New years Eve (2006) a couple of weeks before then received a phone call on Dec 29 seeking confirmation and to advise that we would have to vacate the table by 10.30pm - not a good start!

We decided to arrive earlier at 8.00pm and overall it was an enjoyable experience although we felt rushed - the main course was delivered to the table about 10 secvonds after we finished the starter so I sent it away. After the main course I requested that we had a 10 minute break before coffee (we had loads of time before the 10.30pm deadline) and within 3 minutes two members of staff asked us what coffee we would like! At £142 for two we should have been able to enjoy a relaxed meal without being hassled to vacate our table.

The whole restaurant is "smoking" - a disgrace in the day and age.

I would say that a reasonable price to pay for the level of service, quality of food etc. would be £40 to £50 max. and we didn't even have a desert for our £142! Water at £6 a bottle (imported from Norway - very "green" and the cheapest wine at £24 sums the place up.

We will struggle to go back!
Comment on this reader review

Ian Stoner
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 3
Tuesday, January 02, 2007

We went there for a set pre-theatre menu. The food was good, the service excellent, and the ambience acceptable. The prawn starter were great, other dishes were good but not spectacular.

The pre-theatre deal is very good value. A la carte prices are exhorbitant, and not really worth it. As mentioned in a few other reviews, the drinks and water (!) prices are at levels not seen in even more upmarket restaurants
Comment on this reader review

Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Tuesday, January 02, 2007

I went with a group of friends on Saturday and was really disappointed. I thought the food was very average and poor for the vegetarians in our party who were restricted to vegetable side dishes. In my experience your average High Street tandoori serves better quality food and has a more varied menu. The final insult was the bill, what a rip off - £45 each. Thats a lot of money for a ruby and a couple of beers!! I won't be going back....
Comment on this reader review

Jason Simpson
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 0
Friday, July 21, 2006

We went to the red fort two weeks ago and had a great time. We started off in the downstairs bar with martinis and then made it upstairs for a bottle of wine and some great food. It started off a little rocky as I had to check twice if our table was ready and when it finally was It was a table in the rear near the kitchen which detracted from the ambience. Luckily we were not in a hurry. Everything was made right as soon as the apetizers were brought out. They were amazing. Everything was made well and made fresh. The monk fish was incredible as well as the prawns. I have since eaten at Veeraswamy (?) and Red Fort was definitely better. I think Red fort is solid choice a great great night out
Comment on this reader review

Michael- London
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 7
Monday, April 17, 2006