All reader reviews by NT

La Poule au Pot

Love this place. Superb French country quisine, and even if the 'Frenchness' of the place is so overstated it feels like you've walked onto the set of 'Allo 'Allo, every meal here has been a delight. Have always found the staff to be genial and helpful, perhaps even too much so for that genuine French restaurant experience...

Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8

La Boheme

Everything here was distinctly average. The service was pleasant enough, just a long way from what you might call polished. The food was a little disappointing and, although it was 8pm on a Saturday in Covent Garden, the place was empty and so lacked any atmosphere. One particular gripe was that despite service being included in the bill the chip-and-pin machine was handed to me with the request to enter an additional gratuity.

I visited this place about 4 years ago and had good memories of it, but this recent visit will be my last.

Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 5

Rowley's

The food and service here are fine, but my bill (for 2 people) was as follows:

£35.00 for 2 mains

£22.00 for a bottle of wine

£7.13 for the 12.5% service

£3.90 "cover charge"

£0.49 for 12.5% service on the cover charge!

So basically £57 for the meal and £11.52 for service. Does this place (or indeed anywhere) warrant a 20% service charge? No. In these days of included gratuities I find it outrageous restaurants have the nerve to add a non-optional cover charge.

So my advice: until Rowley's scraps its cover charge, go to 'Old Express' in Shepherd Market: it's the same menu but significantly less of a rip-off.

Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 0

Fino's Wine Cellar (Mount Street)

A gem of a place just off Berkeley Square. Friendly italian staff make the place so unstuffy and informal that the great food comes almost as a surpise. Highly recommended.

Monday, July 31, 2006
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 5