All reader reviews by mightyparsnip

Green's Restaurant & Oyster Bar

A business lunch before Christmas.

Busy restaurant with attentive staff, but the food was..... bland.

Needs a refurbishment too!

Thursday, December 30, 2010
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 3

Bombay Bicycle Club (Balham)

Great decor but expensive, awful food. Who has destroyed this once shining beacon?

Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 0

Smiths of Smithfield

Took a client to the top floor restaurant and had a fantastic meal coupled with attentive service.

Left feeling I got value for money.

Monday, June 08, 2009
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8

Caraffini

This restaurant came recommended and I looked forward to my meal.

What a disappointment.

The tables were the length of a bottle of wine apart and the food was distinctly average.

At £100 for 2 people, I was expecting something a bit more special

Monday, June 08, 2009
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 2

Indian Moment

Pretty average and nothing special - which is a shame as the location is top!

Friday, March 06, 2009
Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 2

Quaglino's

My first meal at Quaglino's and not my last.

Great food and attentive service - although the waiter did resemble Mr Bean!

The set menu is also very well compiled.

Friday, March 06, 2009
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 5

The Cinnamon Club

We opted for the £22.00 3 course set menu on a Wednesday evening.

Unfortunately the set menu was somewhat limited in variety (3 of each course), however the overall taste was superb. Couple this with attentive service, and one has the recipe for a good night out.

Would definately return and risk the 'damage' to the credit card by going a la carte!

Thursday, November 13, 2008
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 7

Lamberts

Came here for a friend's birthday.

Fantastic food and attentive service. Luckily I didn't have to foot the bill, however a really good meal is (in my opinion) never expensive

I will definately return

Friday, October 31, 2008
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9

Franco's

Great location and lovely decor, albeit noisy

I did however find the food to be mediocre, at best.

Paying top dollar for a decent meal is fine with me, but Franco's falls way short.

Friday, October 31, 2008
Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 1

Atami

My first and last visit to Atami...!

The food tasted ok, but the portions were tiny, the meat was tough and the bill excessive (£100 for two excluding the wine - ouch!)

Thursday, October 16, 2008
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 0

Holy Cow (Balham)

I think the chefs from the Bombay Bicycle Club have moved here.

The food at the Holy Cow takeaway is identical (if not better) than the old Bombay Bike (i.e. before the change in owner)

Have changed my allegiance for good!

Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 6

Gaucho (Chancery Lane)

The food was only "OK".

We were however crammed-in like sardines and I must agree with the previous reviewer, the lighting made it difficult to see what was on the plate!

Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 4

The Grove

It's such a shame that this beautiful gastro pub does not deliver a rewarding experience for diners.

The decor is fantastic but the problems start when you order the food.

I think there must be a "problem" in the kitchen as we were told to hurry up eating our starters as the mains (which had been cooked at the same time as the starters) were getting cold!!

We did however get our money back when we complained.

Friday, September 26, 2008
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 2

Thai Garden

I always find myself coming here on a Friday evening.

The food is always tasty and the service attentive. The tom yum goom is to die for!

The price is pretty reasonable too

Friday, September 26, 2008
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 8

Bombay Bicycle Club (Balham)

Oh my God! What on earth has happened to the Bombay Bike?

I have been frequenting this restaurant (and the takeaway service) for 10 years and have always been amazed at the high quality of the food. To be honest, the dining experience was so good that the restaurant has been regarded as as a bit of a Mecca for myself, friends and family!

That was until last the 2 visits in September 08. During the first visit, the food was bland, tasteless and took an eternity to arrive. I put this down to the restaurant simply having a bad day. The second visit however confirmed the worst, it was shocking.

If I want to eat bog-standard indian food, then I will go to my local curry house and pay 1/3 of the price.

I think the new owners have made a big mistake with their strategy for this once fine restaurant.

Friday, September 26, 2008
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 2