All reader reviews by Claudia

One Moorgate Place Restaurant

I have just returned from One Moorgate Place having had lunch with my husband. I had been a number of times previously when it was still Esca but not to One Moorgate Place.

When we arrived at 1230 it was still fairly empty and we were offered a choice of places to sit. Very spacious table with comfortable chairs, elegant yet comfortable restaurant.

We were attended to immediately and a choice of bread was offered. We had raisin bread and granary bread both were dense and full of taste and flavour.

We both started with roasted duck breast with fig and black pepper which tasted amazing and was presented beautifully. This was then followed by Fish and Chips (I am not sure if they are on the menu but they are available in the restaurant on Fridays.) They arrived beautifully presented in a miniature chip frying basket. We both love fish and chips and know that really good ones are not that easy to find in London but believe me, the ones at One Moorgate Place are outstanding. The fish (today it was cod but it changes) was firm and full of flavour, the batter delicous crispy and not at all soggy. The chips tasted amazing. Tartar sauce and mushy peas also divine. All accompanied by two chilled glasses of Pouilly Fume.

We had to pass on the sweet course as the portions are big and ended with two double expressoso delicious biscotti.

The service throughout the meal was very attentive, efficient and friendly.

A wonderful lunch we definitely will be back.

Friday, September 02, 2011
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10

Dotori

My friend and myself visited Dotori yesterday. We have been going for some years, the food is always delicious and the restaurant is always full. Service usually very friendly and efficient.

Last night however we were not impressed. We ordered, as always, one of the set meals. All dishes arrived practically at once (normally you will get them one after another). Only the bibimbap which is the last course came separately. After the meal we always order a pot of sake to share and did so yesterday. We ordered, waited, but no sake arrived. However, what did arrive at our table was a waiter telling us that we need to leave since they had a booking for our table. We pointed out that our sake had not yet been served and that we would drink it before we paid our bill (there was nowhere else to sit if you vacated the table, all the seats at the bar were occupied). When the sake eventually arrived we poured it and once poured a film of fat globules formed on top – obviously the bottle had been washed in dirty water. We pointed this out and asked for a new helping of saking. This arrived together with the bill which was slammed on our table – unasked!

Has Dotori become too successful?

Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 5

Chiswell Street Dining Rooms

I went for dinner with my husband to one of the “soft openings” currently run by the Chiswell Street Dining Rooms before the official opening on the 14th June.

The site is a former pub which has been derelict for years so the opening of a new restaurant is most welcome in the area (we are Barbican residents).

The restaurant has a very nice layout with a cocktail bar at the front and spacious tables throughout with a simple yet tasteful décor. The room was overheated and after I pointed it out the staff tried to put this right but it did not really help.

The entire staff was very enthusiastic and nice, service was absolutely faultless, the manager came and talked to us which left a very good impression.

We started of with foie gras on brioche which I liked but my husband thought it slightly too soggy. For main course we both had breaded veal with a duck egg with a side order of chips. Very tasty but I feel that both the chips and the batter should have been crisper.

We shared a sticky toffee pudding with salted caramel ice cream. The ice cream was delicious but the sticky toffee pudding was boring and dry.

The wine list has some really interesting wines on it and is reasonably priced, a pleasant surprise in the City.

No doubt when the restaurant opens the minor niggles above will be sorted out and no doubt it will be very successful.

Best of luck to them – we had a very nice evening.

Wednesday, June 01, 2011
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7

Bistrot Bruno Loubet

My husband and myself used to be regulars at Bistro Bruno in Soho and loved the food and the amazing winelist. We were therefore very excited to see that Mr. Loubet he re-opened in the Zetter Hotel which is very close to us as Barbican Residents. We had a table reserved for Saturday 27th at 20:00. The restaurant was extremely busy when we arrived at 1954. Nobody offered to take our coats, we were told that we are early and should wait at the bar. And there we sat - and sat. By 2020 nobody had come to say anything to us by way of apology or offer us a table. We then decided to leave since our business was not wanted and the area is full of good and friendly restaurants. Upon leaving we told this the maitre d who did not feel it necessary to apologise but just shrugged his shoulders.

We eat out a great deal in the area and have not come across such amazing rudeness. They obviously had too many good reviews to care but if I were would I would not bother.

Monday, March 29, 2010
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0

Rivington Bar & Grill (Shoreditch)

Have just been for the first time to Rivington Bar & Grill for lunch with my husband under the financial times offer i.e pay full price for one meal and £5 for another.

What a pleasant surprise. The restaurant is light and buzzy with a lovely atmosphere. Staff is extremely efficient and friendly. We both started with Salad of Rabbit with black pudding which was divine. For main course we had fish & chips which were perfect. Light batter and very tasty chips. Portions were big. Ended the meal with two double expressos, also very good, because even though the deserts did sound great we would not have been able to eat any more. Definitely will be back!

Friday, February 06, 2009
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10

Clarke's Restaurant

My husband and myself went to Clarke's last Saturday with two friends under a special offer deal advertised in the Financial Times. With vouchers you pay the price of one full meal and the second is £5. We thought with this offer in mind it would be fun to visit Clarke's. We were seated upstairs, nice table and very attentive service. Two in our group started with the terrine, which was fine but not special and the portion was small. I had Eggs Benedict which were ok but did not justify to price. Main course all of us had the Fishcake which arrived with approx. 5 potato chips. Again, nice but very standard brasserie food and nothing to justify the price. For sweet two of our group had cheese - fine but not exciting choice of cheese, two had the buttermilk waffle which apparently was nice. What really did shock all four of us was the bill: with service AND the special deal (so two full priced meals and two for £5) the bill came, after adding service, to £200. We had two bottles wine but both on the reasonable side and nothing excessive. We left the restaurant with a feeling of being ripped off i.e. being charged ridiculously high prices for not particularly special food. Expense accounts only, I would say.

Tuesday, February 03, 2009
Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 1