Blue Elephant

Have been to the Blue Elephant Fulham many times, for Sunday Brunch and evening meals. What a disappointment! The decor isn't a scratch on the Fulham Restaurant and the staff outfits-what part of Thailand did they come from? I find it hard to beleive that the owners could think that this was an improvement on the Fulham restaurant. The place was almost morbid and devoid of any atmosphere and the food was atrocious. I agree with some of the other reviewers, cheapness seemed to be the order of the day. At Fulham you could have Tom Yum Goong obviously with prawns, seafood dishes, different ice creams, fruit carving etc but at the new restaurant, the food looked so tired and also as if they had used off cuts from other dishes. I like my food at least warm but practically every dish was almost cold and just simply looked a mess. £4.20 for a Singha beer quite honestly is taking the ......! I cannot tell you how disappointed we were with our trip but I can say with all certainty, we will not be going back.
Comment on this reader review

Norman Smith
1 Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Went with friends to the Blue Elephant Imperial Wharf! used to go to Fulham and wasn't sure what to expect . First of all the location is superb , a majestic view over the Thames river . Second the new decor from the jungle , Blue Elephant really took a face lift ... an elegant Thai home with beautiful teakwood and each room you walk in has a different atmosphere! so much style and character!

The new menu ,I love the new concept of the menu cooking from the past , present and future! the food was so interesting and I tasted Thai dishes that I have not eaten in any other Thai restaurant in London for instance the yellow lamb shank curry or the betel leaves with Thai herbs. such a feast for the palate! I know it's expensive but trust me so much worth the price when you see the decor of the dishes , the quality of the food. The staff was soo friendly they really want to make an effort to make your time in the restaurant as a magical trip or moment in Thailand! You have to go and explore the menu and the restaurant ... they mentioned that soon they will open a cooking school as well ! how exciting!
Comment on this reader review

Victoria Hemmingway
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Friday, May 11, 2012

We recently dined at the Blue Elephant which, over the past few years, has become our restaurant of choice for our anniversary. Although they have now relocated and no longer have the well known stream that flows through the restaurant, it was still a very pleasurable time. The food was fantastic, although my partner was quite disappointed that the Tamarind Duck dish had disappeared from their menu and their staff could do no more for us with several waitresses attending to our ever need. The restaurant manager even passed by throughout the evening to ensure we were having a great evening. We would and have, highly recommend this restaurant and can't wait until we go again.
Comment on this reader review

8 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 7
Sunday, February 26, 2012

We recently dined at Blue Elephant and went there to try the Sunday Buffet.

When we went in the atmosphere was quite busy with lots of people coming in and out so we had to wait a couple of mins however a very well mannered member of staff showed us to our table which could not have been more perfect, it was a table to one side with a coat stand in the corner for coats! We were given our drinks menu straight away and when drinks arrived we were then shown where the starter and main course buffet was being served. My daughter has a severe egg allergy and when i explained this to the waiter he knew exactly what she could eat even getting the chef to come and talk to me, i thought this was excellent considering some of the top london restaurants i have dined in and been disappointed when staff have not known what people with allergies can eat!!The Starter, Main course and Dessert was excellent, food tasted so fresh exactly what you should expect! I found it excellent value for money considering you have excellent choice and variation of food , good surroundings with beautiful views! Even free face painting (to one side) for the children and the staff who all seem smiley and happy! look forward to booking my husbands birthday party here!!!

There is also free parking outside on a single yellow only a 2 min walk away!!
Comment on this reader review

Julie Hanif
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Friday, February 24, 2012

We recently dined at Blue Elephant. Service was attentive with friendly staff. However we were placed at a side table for two people which was rather squashed. We asked if we could locate to another table which was laid for four people and remained empty throughout the evening - to be told quite severely - NO!! Out table rocked from side to side, the chairs were off balance and it was in a draught of cold air.

This was meant to be a special celebratory dinner but because of our table the evening was not as enjoyable as we anticipated. We are residents of Imperial Wharf and I think it will be a long time until we return to The Blue Elephant!!!
Comment on this reader review

Liz Strachan - View all reviews by this user
5 Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 5
Wednesday, February 15, 2012

We went there for Sunday buffet brunch at the new location.

From the minute we walked in the door we had a bad feeling. Somebody held the door open and said go through. We then waited at the desk and were ignored and finally were asked if we had booked a table. We had. We were then shown to the furthest table from the food in the restaurant. And wedged between whinging children and a crying baby (the baby got louder BTW). We were handed drinks menus and it then took another 10 minutes before anyone came to take our order - a young waiter who was charming. I explained that we were not happy with the table (I had already said that to the meeter and greeter who said there were no other tables available.) He came back and said that we could have a table in the centre of the restaurant which was a lot better. The previous table felt as if we were being shoved into a broom cupboard out of the way.

The decor: nothing exciting and in fact dull. No longer the wonderous pools of koi carp. Frankly nothing wonderous about the decor.

The food: the buffet is down some stairs and the area is far too small and crushed. Also the selection has been vastly reduced. There were only two items from the mains that were not vegetarian - duck red curry and stir fried squid. It seems to be catering to mostly vegetarian - is that due to vegetables being cheaper to serve. Frankly the food was mediocre at best.

The service: given that it is a buffet the staff do not have to do much but nobody replaced cutlery - we had to ask five times. We had to ask to have our water glasses filled and we had to ask to have our wine glasses filled.

The bill: for what we had it was a rip off. No way did we get value for money for the £30 a head buffet. I refused to pay the service charge as I said that we had not had service.

As we left nobody bothered to say goodbye. Frankly they deserve to fail. Even the staff who used to be so charming at the old venue were not. The only time our waitress smiled is when we asked for the bill. Oh and the new uniforms look like some tribal get up and as for the meeter and greeter - we think it was a woman but not sure as she was dressed in an ill fitting black trouser suit and surly.

DO NOT BOTHER TO EAT HERE - IT IS NOT AN ENJOYABLE EXPERIENCE - AND IT IS A RIP OFF.
Comment on this reader review

GoldfishWoman - View all reviews by this user
1 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 0
Tuesday, January 24, 2012

The food was mediocre and the manager was very rude. We ordered the King Prawns and although they were tasty they were very overcooked. We called over the waiter and after the meal told him that the food wasn't great. The manager didn't even bother to come over and ask why or even apologise. We then called over the manager and he had the gall to say to us that "this particular dish requires extra cooking." We were starving so we ate most of it but there were only 4 pieces and we had left one. It is a shame because the prawns were beautiful but were like rubber.

The green curry tasted like a ready meal from a super market. Generally we never complain at a restaurant but at almost £20 a dish you think that you are getting quality. How wrong were we! Not even very good service.

It is quite surprising that the place is always so busy.
Comment on this reader review

Masood Pagnier
2 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 0
Friday, November 11, 2011

Really bad. Have been to places before where there is a feeling of "that'll do for them, they won't know the difference" born from a complacent assumption that hungry londoners have low culinary standards and are easily pleased and I'm disappointed to say that exists at Blue Elephant. Difference is, I've never had to pay so much for the privilege.

I've been to a few Thai restaurants before and have to say i've never really had an unsatisfactory experience at any of them until now. As you go in, you're met with nice decor with a nice novel coy carp pond , but i'm afraid it lulls you into a false sense of security. The food is well presented, but masks a significant lack of care in the preparing of the food. The fishcakes are like rubber and were not freshly made (they are £7 a pop). Siu mai dumplings were okay and £7. Fried rice (£6.00) was tasty and lamb was nice but not worth £16.50 for the portion size. When the lobster came to the table, my partner instantly remarked how burnt it was at the top. I called the waiter and asked him a little facetiously if that's how it's supposed to be, and was a little perplexed when he said yes. He then offered to take it back and then a different waitress returned and put the SAME plate of lobster on the table with the burnt seasoning scraped off the top. Lobster is such a beautiful meat that it's actually really hard to get wrong, but this one was tough as old army boots! It had clearly been left under the grill for far too long, but yet they still decided to serve it, which is NOT the attitude of a quality conscientious kitchen and the audacity of returning the same plate says it all. By the way, the lobster cost £30.

The waiter was pleasant, but the attitude of the restaurant to customers is all wrong. The cost is high end (£100 for 2 inc drinks and lobster, but we were probably a dish short) so the food needs to be served at an appropriate standard.

I really wanted the critics and reviewers to be proved wrong, but please be aware, they're not.
Comment on this reader review

Lucky11
3 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 1
Monday, October 31, 2011

Me and my partner went for the Sunday brunch. Had a lovely time! I had been before when i was a child and always wanted to go back.

The service was great. Everyone was friendly but also didnt seem like they were trying too hard as they do in some places.

The food was great a huge variety of things to try.

Cannot wait to return.
Comment on this reader review

Ashleigh Yu - View all reviews by this user
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 5
Tuesday, September 27, 2011

I should have read TimeOuts review before going there yesterday and I would possibly have avoided the great disappointment it was! Decor nice but a bit dated - doesn't look like it's changed since the 80s... Staff friendly and helpful and nice spicy wholemeal prawn crackers for nibbles but here stops the praise I am afraid and it all went downhill from there... We had booked via lastminute.com for a special deal, however, when we got there there was some confusion and we were given the ordinary menu but when we questioned them about the special deal they pulled out another menu - a lot less exciting really - to give us so we were struggling with choice as nothing on the menu really jumped out at us and so was taking a long time to decide and one of the waiters joked 'before the kitchen closes please', which I didn't really find amusing... At this point I would normally have left as the mood was spoiled and already left with a bit of a sour taste in our mouths, however, was my friend's 30th and so we thought we better stay put and make the best out of it... Wrong decision!

We proceeded to order from the standard menu as had our hearts set on seafood and nothing much available on the special set menu, unless you're a vegetarian that is, as seemed quite a few options available - a few meat options too but as I don't eat meat and we already had decided on fish not much for us... Ordered a non-alcoholic 'cocktail' as I was driving but just seemed like a non-freshly squeezed juice in a fancy packaging for which I was charge £7... Squid, Scallops, etc nice but tasted a bit tired and quite blandly spiced and nothing special... Worst was a shredded coconut starter, which my friend described as tasting of bran flakes... AND to top it off we had to ask two waiters and wait 10 minutes to get our extortionate bill!

Ultimately if you don't mind paying over-inflated prices for average food in a dated fancy setting with nice waiters then this is the place for you. I guess you are paying for ambience and the service but for us what really mattered was the food and this was a big let down. Perhaps you should have gone there in its heyday - I bought the cook book about 15 years ago - but as for me I wish we really hadn't bothered making the extra effort of going there and should just have gone to one of the many cheap nice Vietnamese places on Kingsland Rd instead - certainly won't be returning and felt it spoiled my friend's 30th so all in all very disappointing experience that I would not recommend to anyone...
Comment on this reader review

Karina
4 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 1
Monday, July 11, 2011