All reader reviews by London Gourmand

Hawksmoor

I ate here with a work colleague midweek.

Properly cold beers served in ice cold glasses got things off to a good start.

Adequate starters - I had scallops, my colleague had shrimp. Extremely good toothsome steaks with excellent chips washed down with a bottle of very drinkable Argentinian Malbec.

Highly recommended - please move it further West tho!

Friday, September 07, 2007
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8

Benihana (Swiss Cottage)

I ate here on a Thursday evening.

The decor is extremely "tired" and does not appear to have been updated since the restaurant opened in 1986. Dirty carpets and loos that looked grubby.

The food is expensive for what it is and the presentation dated.

I would not return in a hurry.

Friday, September 07, 2007
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 2

1 Lombard Street (Brasserie)

I ate here on a Thursday lunchtime. As ever it was packed with the usual overload of suits.

Our table was right by the bar (not in itself a problem) however the Barista was particular noisy when knocking out the grounds which did rather detract from the experience.

Food was good and well executed and there was a very good list of wines by the glass. The staff coped well with what was a very busy service and were unfailingly polite.

Not cheap but brisk without being brusque - a restaurant that understands its market.

Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8

Bank (Westminster)

I ate here with two colleagues on a midweek lunchtime.

The restaurant was pretty full but a table was found for us with minimal fuss. Good breads and well executed starters. Main courses were a bit disappointing - a side order of chips failed to be delivered and colcannon mash was cold and a little lumpy.

Service was a bit on the slow side and the waiters didn't appear to know their way round the menu particularly well (no knowledge of what the different types of bread were and not drawing diners attention to the fact that veggies need to be ordered separately).

Lunch was enlivened by a work of art situated above the next door table crashing to the floor. Luckily no one was sitting there at the time!

In conclusion - adequate but not brilliant

Friday, October 27, 2006
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7