All reader reviews by Kentishwanderer

Quo Vadis

High expectations were generally fulfilled on our first visit to the Hart brothers' latest venture. It's an attractive space as others have noted, but I wouldn't want to eat at one of the tables in the small bar area.

My courgette flowers and saddle of lamb were exemplary, wife's crab likewise but a "fatty" piece of veal did not find favour. Daughter raved about her Dover sole. Desserts were of course of high quality, but I thought they lacked inspiration. Maybe our choices were not the best and others may have better luck. Service couldn't be faulted.

The first measure of our experience is whether we would go back. Most definitely, but if you want a drink at the bar and a bottle of wine on the table, be ready to pay £70-£80 per head.

Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 7

Fino Restaurant and Bar

If like me you're happy to pay Fino's full prices as an irregular treat, the current half price deal is simply not to be missed. The choice is from a shortened but still very varied menu and the quality and service are as good as ever. The food tasted even better with a £41 discount for three of us.

Tuesday, August 05, 2008
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8

Northbank Restaurant & Bar

Just returned from a lunchtime meal at which I was a guest, so I can comment without reference to the cost. It was also my initial visit. First, service was prompt and polite at all times and there were no delays or glitches.

Food was nicely presented and tasty. If I have to criticise, my server "warned" that the lamb dish would be pink but it was hardly that, and sticky toffee pudding was hard to pull apart, suggesting to me that it had been reheated.

The location is superb, but less attractive on a wet winter weekday and can't attract much, if any, passing trade. I mistakenly dined at fish! before a performance at The Globe (see previous review) and this would have been a ten times better choice, and no greater distance from the theatre.

I have no idea what this particular meal cost, but I would certainly go back.

Thursday, July 31, 2008
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 7

The Red Fort

The staff seemed a little too eager for us to spend more money with a pre-meal visit to the bar downstairs, but once seated things were fine and the service was good and friendly. For general ambience this restaurant doesn't match upmarket places like Tamarind or Benares but probably offers a more authentic "Indian" experience.

However, it certainly follows their lead in terms of pricing, and this is where I have concerns. We were very happy with all the food we tried but the prices were considerably more eye-watering than the spices on our plates. I think £150 for three people, including drinks from the bar and water, but no wine, is serious money for this kind of dining.

Ours was a time-constrained pre-theatre experience and I would like to return with more time to relax, but I'll need to look out for a special offer on sites like this before making a booking.

Monday, December 31, 2007
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 4

Skylon

Our early evening visit restricted us to the pre-theatre menu, which was very limited, and it was made clear we could not see the a la carte list. I was happy with my choices but my wife "made do" with things she wouldn't normally have picked and would certainly vote down any wish of mine to return. It's a lovely location but a missed opportunity as far as we're concerned.

We enjoyed Skylon's former incarnation as the People's Palace on several occasions until a poor experience put us off. Perhaps it's an unlucky site for a restaurant of this kind.

Friday, November 23, 2007
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 4