All reader reviews by James

San Remo

San Remo has been going for over twenty years in the same, relatively cramped, location, and it is consistently full and buzzy, which is a good indication of its quality. It makes no pretensions about being modern or chic, it is an old-fashioned trattoria (rather like San Frediano was) with tables closely packed and the walls covered with old photos. It is not dissimilar to La Famiglia, but more chaotic and cramped.

The service is excellent but I am afraid that the food presented to me last night was poor. My wife loved her veal, even though she had asked for no wine sauce and it came dripping in it. But her pretty poor selection of vegetables were running in water and had to be sent back. Instead of providing more, they simply draiined off some of the water and returned them to us, accompanied by a silly reason as to why there was still juice at the bottom of the dish.

My tortelloni with sage and butter was effectively not very nice pasta in a soup of water and butter: the pasta was swimming in sauce. I sent it back, and again, they drained some of it so I got left with squidgy and tired pasta. Ah well, the tiramisu was good.

It is local so I would like to go back. However, it is no cheaper than better places, so I can see no reason to do so. One doesn't want to ruin a good time by spending the evening complaining to the excellent staff, so the restaurant gets away with this sort of sub-standard cooking.

Sunday, January 22, 2012
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 2

Cote (Kensington)

The family went for a celebratory supper there recently, and it worked out very well. Everyone enjoyed what they chose, the atmosphere was buzzy without being oppressive and the service coped pretty efficiently with a full restaurant.

The price is what you have to pay these days in Kensington for a mid-range restaurant, so overall, I would recommend it - I have eaten breakfast, lunch and supper there, and this branch, at least, hasn't let me down yet.

Friday, December 16, 2011
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8

Le Pain Quotidien (Kensington)

Noisy with young children and yummy mummies, expensive and slowish service, but otherwise, a pretty good place for a cup of coffee if you are in that sort of mood.

Friday, December 16, 2011
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 5

La Famiglia

I have reviewed it before, and little changes, so if you don't like it, you never will. But it reminds me of the Chelsea of my youth, so I feel at home there.

The food is good but never cheap, the service can be chaotic but is fine if you are in the right mood but I could quite understand if you didn't feel that it was as special as the price you will pay. I prefer the front of house, but the tented area at the back always seems busy, which also means rather noisy for the older of us!

It is always full of people speaking Italian, which I take to be a good sign.

Friday, December 16, 2011
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7

Feng Sushi (Notting Hill Gate)

This appears to be a chain primarily focused on take-aways, but the Notting Hill branch has a small and simple room upstairs with big windows that suits what I imagined would be a relatively inexpensive lunch.

I am not particularly used to Japanese food, but everything that my host chose was delicious, so we ordered more, which I am told is not uncommon, as plates are relatively minimalist! The cost should not have surprised me because good seafood is expensive, but £80 including tip for a relatively quick lunch for two seemed a lot. Luckily I was being treated!

I had mistakenly gone to the branch in Kensington Church Street first. This was minute, with two small and cramped tables behind the take-away counter. Not somewhere that I would recommend for a first date!

Friday, December 16, 2011
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 5

Scott's

I went there with business colleagues, and, surprisingly for me, came away without a strong opinion. I am sure that it was close to £100 per head, and it was all OK, but it seemed to me to lack character.

Full of Mayfair chavs, business people and tourists, it left me rather cold. Food perfectly OK, and perhaps I am influenced by never normally choosing fish, as everyone appeared happy with their food and the wine.

My apologies for a rather useless review, but not really my type of place.

Thursday, September 01, 2011
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 4

Carluccio's (South Kensington)

I had bacon and eggs with coffee there for breakfast recently, and it was pretty good. A bit noisy, the tables too small and close together, the chairs not that comfortable, but the staff were good and the location is easy.

A perfectly fair price, too, for what I ate. I will go again, now that poor Dino's has disappeared.

Wednesday, July 06, 2011
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7

Dino's

Sadly, this is the last entry for Dino's, one of the original Italian tratts, that has closed its doors and given way to some sort of expensive delicatessen.

You will be sadly missed, thank you for many happy times over the past forty years.

Wednesday, July 06, 2011
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10

Rowley's

I was taken to lunch there, having suggested it to my host, and was really appalled (and not a little embarrassed) by the price that he had to pay.

£110 for two starters, two steaks (at the cheap end of the price range), tap water, two cokes and a glass of beer, plus two side plates of vegetables (at £5 each!). The chips were OK but certainly no better than McDonald's (which are supreme).

The staff were good, but it was pretty empty, which does not surprise me. It is not just the exorbitant price, but the increase since I last went, probably two years ago.

I won't be going again until the owner begins to understand value for money.

Wednesday, July 06, 2011
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 0

Al Duca

We had lunch there yesterday, and it was perfectly OK but really rather average. There was nothing wrong in particular, but the food was not special and the service just about held it together. The tables were very close together.

For an ordinary Italian restaurant, it was not cheap, but this is the West End. The place was full, so mine is probably a lone voice, but I think you can do better.

Thursday, June 16, 2011
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 5

Dino's

Michael Winner in the Sunday Times recently slagged Dino's off big-time, as do some of your reviewers. I cannot tell whether they have a point during the day, but you cannot beat it for breakfast.

Great location, good staff, old-fashioned look that I like (it is definitely not part of a chain), and delicious bacon, eggs, tomatoes and the rest.

At least for breakfast or coffee, don't let these reviews put you off.

Friday, November 26, 2010
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8

The Table Cafe

I went to the Table for breakfast this morning (there is a Boris-bike docking station right outside) and was very impressed.

Buzzy atmosphere, long wooden tables Wagamama-style, and delicious fresh food served by super staff. My eggs, bacon and tomatoes on toast were excellent and my colleague's eggs benedict will be my choice next time. Coffee, fresh mint tea etc - lots to choose from, and you can check in advance what you want on a good website.

Not particularly cheap (my plate cost around £8.50) but well worth a visit. There is an outdoor sitting area, but it was not being used today with the temperature hovering around zero!

Friday, November 26, 2010
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8

Chez Manny

We had a very nice evening at Chez Manny. I booked it without having been there before, which is always nerve-wracking, but all was well.

The food was delicious, there was an excellent choice of wines, and the service was attentive.

The restaurant was not very full, in spite of the 25%-off-the-entire-bill offer that is available fore early starters on Monday to Thursday evenings, but it has enough atmosphere, some interesting pictures on the walls and a comfortable seating area for a pre-dinner drink.

Chez Manny is tucked away in a semi-pedestrian area, which is a plus, and parking was not a problem on the night that we went.

Vaux la visite.

Friday, November 05, 2010
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10

Leon (Strand)

Leon in the Strand is a wasted opportunity. It is a good sized room, and there are tables to sit at that are decently spaced, so you should be able to have a much better meeting there than in the small and uncomfortable surroundings of, say, Caffe Nero opposite.

But what do you get?

Staff who do not seem to have been properly trained (do they bring the coffee to your table or do you have to come to pick it up? Who knows?), and who don't give the impression of working very hard or focusing on pleasing their customers. You arrive at 8am to find your senses assailed by dreadfully loud muzak (turned down when requested, admittedly, but who could possibly have thought that it was appropriate in the first place?), and the food and drink is simply overpriced.

Even when the kitchen staff have little to do but serve a few customers in the morning, they do not appear to have been given the latitude to sell you a bacon roll without tomato ketchup. As for lunch, the boxes of food that I have tried have been expensive, not very large and not very interestingly made.

The menu may hint at exotic treats, as it has been created with full designer input, but the reality is a great disappointment. With decent management, it could so easily be so much better, .

Monday, August 09, 2010
Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 2

Wagamama (Mansion House)

Previous reviews will suggest that I love Wagamama's - simple, quick, well made, great service, no fuss, good tastes. There is nothing wrong with a chain if they get the format right, which this one does too. The difference at Mansion House is that every time a Circle or District line train runs under the ground, the place shakes a bit.

It's good to be reminded that the City never sleeps!

Monday, August 09, 2010
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8

Riva

Irrespective of what previous reviewers have written, I think that this is a very good restaurant serving high quality ingredients in pleasant surroundings.

Having said that, you need to prepare yourself for a large bill, and you might find the staff almost too friendly. But the warm welcomes and embraces between the proprietor and regulars suggest that I am alone in that sentiment.

My advice would be that you should not go on a hot summer evening, when they usually open the glass doors at the front. Outside the restaurant has to be one of Barnes's least attractive pedestrian areas, and the less you see of it, the better. I spent the evening with a huge Londis articulated lorry parked on the road outside, directly in my line of sight, which inevitably detracted from the sense of occasion that a visit to Riva should engender.

Friday, August 06, 2010
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 7

Wagamama (Tavistock St)

It is simply a great place to have a quick and delicious lunch with a good friend.

Friday, August 06, 2010
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9

Tossed (St Martins Lane)

The reviewer of May 2010 exactly captures my opinion: lovely staff, even the customers are friendly, the food tastes great (to me) but it simply isn't as efficient as the Vital Ingredients that I used to frequent in Mansion House. I went to Tossed when it was very quiet and it was slow - goodness knows what it would be like if it were as busy as the City.

I suggest three simple improvements, even though management may feel that implementing them will make Tossed more like Vital:

1) all base ingredients (cous cous, rice etc) should be offered in the big bowl-shaped plastic containers - they are less mean-looking and much nicer to eat from than the small round ones, where everything must be crammed in.

2) the individual ingredients of each 'house salad' should be set out clearly on the boards hanging from the ceiling so that you don't have to refer to the complicated (and tiny) menu, which is not near you when you need it.

3) the pricing of the extra ingredients should be simplified, so that you do not have to be given a slip of paper to take to the till.

Many others in my office love the place, so overall I am going to give it a good score, but will keep the place under scrutiny and on probation.

Friday, August 06, 2010
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 7

Paul

I went with a friend for a quick early lunch. 75 minutes later, we emerged into the sunshine having spent £24 excluding a service charge, which we refused to leave.

The bread and butter were nice, the Coke and fizzy water tasted of Coke and fizzy water, the omelettes and salads were very good, but the service was dire. Slow to produce menus, slow to produce drinks, slow to take orders, even slower to produce food, and then slow to generate a bill.

No wonder we were the only 'business types' in there.

Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 7

Sonny's

All the positive comments from my review in February still stand, but there were some hiccups last week that meant that we had a slightly disappointing (no more than that) evening. However, this remains the best restaurant in the area, and well worth a trip from further afield.

Friday, May 28, 2010
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 7

The Wolseley

There is no value in simply repeating my standard super-complimentary review after a lunch with three ex-colleagues last week. The restaurant was as good as ever, the service was on the ball and caught exactly the right balance between formal and friendly, the atmosphere bustling, the managers calm and courteous amidst the hubbub.

A previous review of mine had commented unfavourably on my hosts’ oysters. Suffice to say that this time, I was assured, they were perfect. I thought May was out-of-season for oysters, but what do I know?

Since the sad demise of St Alban, and now the news that Messrs Corbin and King’s planned Covent Garden eaterie may not proceed, the Wolseley sits pretty well alone at the top of the London restaurant heap. Please keep going.

Friday, May 28, 2010
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9

Goring Dining Room

The Goring is a place that you should only go to if you really like that sort of thing. If you are on a limited budget, or don't like service that is formal and can be perceived as distant, or are looking for somewhere with modern decor, don't even consider going. Its strengths will always be weaknesses in your eyes.

However, for a delicious lunch in the elegant dining room, or a light snack at the back of the hotel (outside if you are lucky with the weather), overlooking the beautiful private garden in the heart of bustling Victoria, it is almost peerless.

I would describe it as old-style but never as pastiche. Be prepared to revel in it, or go elsewhere.

Friday, May 28, 2010
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8

Pheasantry @ Pizza Express

Another good lunch here. The food is simple but consistent, the staff across the Pizza Express chain are probably the best in the UK and everything works really well. Congratulations.

Friday, May 28, 2010
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10

Brompton Quarter Brasserie

I had breakfast with a colleague here, and it was good. The service was attentive, the food came exactly as ordered and, while not cheap, you are choosing to eat in one of London's more expensive areas.

Big windows and a large open restaurant make it feel rather less atmospheric than some alternative venues, but this is breakfast after all. It is perfectly suitable for a business discussion, unless yummy-mummies and their screaming children come in later than we did.

Certainly worthy of a visit in the early morning; I will leave others to report on the evening trade. Howver, I would probably choose the neighbouring Brompton Bar and Grill for dinner, which has more character, is smaller and provides equally good food and service

Friday, May 28, 2010
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 7

High Timber

This restaurant was new to me, and if you are offered or book the right table, you get a river view, if you don't mind being stared at by passing pedestrians. The space is airy, and overall the food was tasty and well presented. The City is not an ideal hunting ground for decent restaurants, so this was a welcome find.

However, we suffered from being served by a member of staff who, frankly, gave us the creeps; he was also neither pleasant nor efficient. Eventually, I had to tell the manager, who acted promptly in replacing him from serving our table. She told us that he had worked there for a number of years, so perhaps we had an unfortunate experience. Certainly the rest of the staff were fine - efficient yet friendly. However, I did not expect the manageress to be so insensitive as add a service charge to our bill, but it was deducted when drawn to her attention.

Would I eat there again? Probably, but I would try the other restaurants in the vicinity first.

Friday, May 28, 2010
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7

The Little Square

I had lunch here with a business colleague recently, and we had an excellent meal. It is difficult to find anywhere in the West End where one can have a relatively simple, quick and unpretentious lunch without paying the earth, but this is certainly one such. We ate upstairs but the service was attentive and relaxed; they even turned the indifferent piped music down when asked to.

There is a lot of choice in Shepherd Market, much of it good, but this restaurant is particularly worth trying.

Friday, May 28, 2010
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10

Cote (Kensington)

Since my last review, I have been as good as my word and had breakfast here twice, most recently yesterday.

It is relatively inexpensive and quite delicious; had the weather been warmer, we could easily have eaten outside, but the interior is perfectly nice and the staff are charming and efficient.

My only criticism is that they had no orange marmalade yesterday, only apricot. The chain may have a french name, but this is England - what do they think they are doing?

Friday, May 28, 2010
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9

Cote (Kensington)

I had never been to this restaurant or any other from the chain before a lunch for five of us on Friday.

We had a very nice meal in a well located restaurant (pedestrianised outside) at a price that did not break my host's bank. The set lunch was excellent value, the water was provided free (although in irritatingly small, heavy earthenware pots, so that you never knew if one was empty by looking or holding) and the a la carte steak that I had was delicious and cooked as requested, with high quality chips.

My only criticism is that the most of the staff on duty that day had a relatively poor command of English, but they were pleasant and helpful.

I am told that the restaurant serves the best breakfast in town, so I have planned a visit during April, with luck when the sun is shining and we can eat it at a table outside, undisturbed by traffic.

Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8

The Botanist

This is the obvious replacement for the sadly missed Oriel, so two of us had coffee and toast there one morning last week. It was fine, no problems and friendly and efficient staff.

Let's hope that the breakfasts are up to the standard that your other reviewers suggest.

So far, so good.

Monday, March 22, 2010
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8

Byron (King's Rd)

We have been to this Byron and the one in High Street Kensington more than once, and it is a good chain. I have no complaints on atmosphere, food, service, but you do need to watch what you spend.

Four of us managed to end up with a bill for £140, which is a hell of a lot for a hamburger joint. We weren't conned or stupid, but perhaps not concentrating as hard as we should have been, so it will pay you to be careful. Our wine turned out to be £21 a bottle, and by the time you have added an onion ring or two, some chips and olives, bottled water and a couple of puddings, you will find that you may have spent more than you had bargained for.

But we had a good evening nevertheless. I cannot criticise Byron for lack of value for money because we chose what we ordered; simply that we could (and probably should) have dined there marginally less well for considerably less money.

Monday, March 22, 2010
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8

Vito's

There were five people in the restaurant at lunch time, so obviously there was little atmosphere. The service was slow, inattentive and inefficient, but friendly.

The food was not special. The avocado and tomato salad was chilled and dull, but OK. I ordered the chicken off the decently priced set menu, but can only report on the liver and onions, which I was given: too much sauce, too many onions, generally wet. The vegetables were a reminder of poor pub meals - a melange of boiled broccoli, carrots and green beans, with roast potato: not Italian, anyway!

Other reviewers. and my companion, have given Vito's great praise, so it is not for me to do more than assume it was an off-day. The owner is a local favourite, and has been there for a long time. Perhaps the restaurant picks up in the evening, and the service improves as it gets busier; I hope so.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 6

Pizza Express (Richmond)

I am always full of praise for the Pizza Express chain, and was looking forward to a quick supper before going off to the cinema close by.

We tried the new starters that they have introduced, and they were delicious, but unfortunately very slow in coming. A further twenty minutes passed without a main course, so we had to pay and leave, still pretty hungry and dispirited after a frustrating wait for nothing. As we left, we were told that the kitchen was saying to the waiters and waitresses that everything was taking at least half an hour, but this was never relayed to us; we were simply palmed off with 'it's on the way'. If we had known, we would have gone somewhere else.

Unusually for Pizza Express, too few staff both front-of-house and in the kitchen, and poor customer service. It won't stop me going there, but I will be less generous and forgiving in future when it comes to leaving a tip if things go wrong.

By the way, 'A Single Man' is a strange film; I didn't enjoy it, but that may be my poor taste. Directed by Tom Ford of Gucci fame, it was beautifully photographed/ staged, but felt completely unreal.

So not a great evening overall!

Thursday, February 18, 2010
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 1

Sonny's

It is, in my opinion, the best of the Barnes eateries because it serves its market by providing good quality food in pleasant surroundings, without pretension, in the morning, at lunch time and in the evening. It is well run, with an excellent and experienced owner, and on a cold winter evening last week provided welcome warmth and sustenance for four of us, with its glowing fire at the back of the restaurant and excellent food.

I had to complain because we were charged for two wrong dishes, but this was relatively painlessly resolved, and the rest of the evening was a success. Service is good, the food is simple but well prepared, the room is welcoming and the cost is appropriate.

If Riva is your idea of heaven, then Sonny's may not be your second choice; for me, it is the other way round.

Tuesday, February 09, 2010
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9

Oriel

I checked yesterday - their last day is 26 February.

Tuesday, February 09, 2010
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8

The Thomas Cubitt

Perfectly adequate for a cup of tea and a coffee in the afternoon, and it was busy and seemingly cheerfully so. From this, I suggest that you keep it in mind if you want something to eat in the area. The best thing about the location is that it is next to the Poilane bread shop - now that really is worth a visit.

Saturday, February 06, 2010
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7

Oriel

If it has closed, which I suspect it has by now, it will be missed.

I understand that there may now be a void there for 18 months, which seems a strange way to operate, even if you are a very wealthy landlord. The other places in that vicinity are not as good, but we will probably become accustomed to them over time.

Saturday, February 06, 2010
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8

St Clements Cafe & Bar

This is a well kept secret overlooking the lovely Inner Temple Gardens, and therefore primarily frequented by barristers, solicitors and their staff, providing eat-in and take-away goodies.

As described by others, it is canteen-style (but tables are cleared by the staff), but we did not find the portions mean, which has been mentioned previously. The tables are spaced widely apart, and the eating areas large and welcoming.

Soup and a sandwich is provided for £5 (£6.50 to eat in), and appears wholesome and popular. Main courses and salads are between £6.00 and £10.00, with a wide range of tempting puddings. The restaurant serves alcohol as well as everything from fruit juice to tap water and coffee.

I am told that, in the summer (or on sunny days, which is not the same thing), you can eat outside, which would be a treat, as the setting is peaceful although between the Embankment and Fleet Street.

This is definitely worth a visit if you are in the area, and much better in every respect than the chains of sandwich shops that litter Fleet Street and its environs.

If you are a large party, you can book ahead.

Thursday, February 04, 2010
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9

1 Lombard Street (Brasserie)

Three of us had lunch at the bar last week, my second visit.

It was pretty empty, but it is a nice room in any event. The food was adequate without being special, but it is well run, clean, airy, uncramped and hospitable. As places in the City go, these qualities make it unusual.

I would go there again happily - the bar is fine to eat at, but the tables are preferable if you are on expenses.

Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8

La Famiglia

My wife and I had a very enjoyable new year's eve dinner here, with attentive and friendly service (only one cocky Italian waiter, which I count as a good result), delicious food and a friendly atmosphere. I have eaten here intermittently over the past twenty-five years and it has had its down periods, mainly for poor quality service.

However, it remains one of the few Italian restaurants in Chelsea that you can rely on, and it has an atmosphere that is authentic without being over-the-top or precious. I prefer the restaurant proper to the tent at the back, but that is always busy too.

One major plus point - they lent my wife a pair of reading glasses, as she had forgotten hers. All good restaurants should do this but surprisingly few do. Maybe that's because, like us, the customers take them and, unlike us, don't return them!

It's not cheap, but I was not expecting it to be. I specially commend the vegetables, which were delicious and among the most reasonably priced for this class of restaurant.

Saturday, January 02, 2010
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8

Strada (Parsons Green)

We had a family supper for eight here, and it was a great success. The staff were efficient and pleasant, the food was enjoyed, the ambience busy without being noisy, the location easy to get to (and park nearby), and the menu was varied, simple, well produced and not particularly expensive.

This is not to be confused with a smart restaurant, but it does the job it sets out to do very well, and this branch, at least, is to be commended.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8

Smiths of Smithfield

If you judge a place by how busy it is, and how long the queues are to get in, Smith's is stellar, in spite of its dreadful website.

The place is confusing to a newcomer, with four different restaurants on four different floors, not particularly clearly signposted. The IT system was unable to keep up with the internet booking, and the receptionist on the ground floor unsurprisingly struggled to keep up with the weight of customers and the broad range of her duties.

Each floor appears to be more expensive than the one below. The prices on the menu are written pretentiously (eg '4 1/2 pounds') but that is not a life-threatening criticism. I was told that the ground floor is first-come, first-served.

I visited to the top floor, which has a balcony and a nice view, and seemed calm, helped by white tablecloths. We ate lunch on the floor below the top floor - a hamburger and today's fish - and the food was fine. The sparkling water was home-bottled and therefore, I hope, free (I wasn't paying), which is a major plus. The service was friendly and pretty efficient, considering how busy they were.

I have no complaints (although I was glad to have missed the canned music on the ground floor), and, if you are looking for a lively time, it is definitely worth considering. I will try the top floor next time.

But I gather that you have to plan ahead, although Christmas is doubtless particularly frantic and therefore possibly unrepresentative of normal noise levels.

Friday, December 11, 2009
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8

The Wolseley

I had an excellent lunch there this week, albeit on a tiny table that did not fit three people and two trays of oysters.

For future reference, my guests raised doubts about the provenance of the Colchester Native oysters which, in spite of reassurance from the staff, did not convince them as to either taste or shape. Knowing nothing of oysters, I can cast no further light on that particular matter, but I have scored the food as a seven for that reason.

For my part, the fish soup, steak tartare and chips were as delicious as ever.

Thursday, December 10, 2009
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8

Dino's

For those of us who have been born and brought up in London, Dino's is one of the few familiar names left from the 60s and 70s, like the Chelsea Kitchen before it moved and Picasso until, sadly, it closed down recently.

DIno's holds a great location, is run by a friendly owner and staff, and produces food that hasn't changed much for years, but is none the worse for that. Think Carluccio's down the road, and then go to the other end of the scale - cheaper, quieter, better service, easier to get a table, more space but not as 'trendy', so you will find fewer yummy mummies.

The breakfasts are delicious, the pizzas and pasta always satisfy, the menu of the day is excellent value, especially if you like puddings, and it's a nice place to spend time: not for a first date, admittedly, but for a relaxed and simple meal with friends or work colleagues, and especially good if you are with a group.

There is a bonus if you are trying to improve your French comprehension: it's next to the French Lycee and full of its compatriots.

Friday, December 04, 2009
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9

Valentina (Sheen)

If you don't mind lunch in a creche, it's your sort of place

Wednesday, December 02, 2009
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 6

Elistano

The food is excellent and the set menu is relatively good value for money in the area; the staff are friendly and efficient, if rather informally dressed. However, the ambience lets the restaurant down - the large windows onto the street make it feel cold and exposed on an autumn evening and table cloths would add a sense of occasion and make it warmer. It was pretty empty on the night we went, whilst the more expensive Pellicano next door was humming - perhaps there is a lesson there.

Wednesday, December 02, 2009
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 5

Oriel

I have had three breakfasts and one supper at Oriel in the past two months, and it ticks most of the boxes for a brasserie that doesn't have to work too hard for custom.

The first of the breakfast visits started inauspiciously, as they had no bacon and, refusing my offer to go to buy some, added other choices instead. However, the plates were cold and the food comes from deep in the bowels, a bad combination: my complaint drew exactly the right response, namely 'please have this one on us'.

If only more restaurants realised what a powerful relationship builder that offer is: I have been three times since. On each successive visit, the food has been good, the service adequate-to-good (often not dependent on how busy the restaurant is), and the ambience suits both early morning and evening. As another reviewer mentions, it is pretty busy by 6pm, as punters prepare to go the Royal Court (give 'The Priory' a wide berth, by the way).

My two suggestions for Oriel's improvement are (1) always serve hot food on hot plates, and (2) wake the staff up so that at 8AM, when the place opens (why not 7.45AM to catch more customers?), they don't hang around gossiping rather than serving their busy and time-deprived pre-school-run businessmen and headhunters.

Friday, November 27, 2009
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8

Le Cafe Anglais

My first visit, for lunch, was a great success. An excellent dining room, enhanced by large windows, is situated on the first floor, so that you avoid the somewhat depressing ground-level view just off Queensway.

The menu was extensive, but full of variety and interest, without being pretentious. Crab and avocado salad, followed by pheasant, were of a high standard and my companion's partridge received rave reviews. Service was attentive, professional and knowledgeable, and informal without being over-friendly.

The restaurant was hardly half-full, so I cannot judge the atmosphere and service when it is busy, which others have mentioned, both favourably and unfavourably.

A good spot for a business lunch, but perhaps a trifle bland for a more social meeting, unless it is with granny.

The prices are on the high side, although about par for the course for this type of restaurant: still, I wasn't paying!

Thursday, November 26, 2009
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9

The Wolseley

Still the best restaurant in London, even when not sitting at one of the best tables. Faultless and seemingly effortless - all present and future restaurateurs should be forced to have a meal there to see how it is done.

Thursday, November 19, 2009
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9

Pheasantry @ Pizza Express

Whatever you may think of the food (I love it), the service at nearly every Pizza Express that I have been to puts most good restaurants to shame. When will restaurateurs realise that the food represents only ahout half the pleasure of eating out. GOOD SERVICE IS WHAT MATTERS. Pizza Express excels in this respect, and is justifiably successful. The Pheasantry site is terrific.

Thursday, November 12, 2009
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8

Ebury Wine Bar

Had an excellent quick snack supper there last night. Busy and buzzy, nice staff and good food, efficiently served. Everyone seemed to be enjoying it, and the price was perfectly reasonable. Good to see a place thriving after all these years, well done.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8