Rate the last restaurant you went to

Rate the last restaurant you went to

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GruntyDC5

388 posts

167 months

Monday 25th February 2013
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We went to Jamie Oliver's Italian that has just openend in Aberdeen. My other halfs choice.

I wont be rushing back. The service was poor bordering on shambolic. Our table and the table next to us both had wrong meals delivered. When the correct meals did arrive a side dish we had ordered didn't arrive.

When the food did arrive it was on the bad side of average and everything was over powered by the taste of rosemary. I could still taste rosemary a good half an hour to 3/4 of an hour later.

The restaurant is quite nice and well decorated, the music playing was rather strange, it was like slowed down techno and really rather loud. We were also very cold but I think that was just a problem with where we were seated rather than the whole restaurant.

After the initial excitement of it being new I dont think it will pull much business from the other, far nicer in my opinion, Italians in Aberdeen.

Output Flange

16,802 posts

212 months

Monday 25th February 2013
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I went to Goodman on Maddox Street on Friday night.

Stuffed myself with a wing rib of Belted Galloway cow, truffle chips, truffle mac & cheese and copious amounts of red wine.

Twice now I've had the Belted Galloway there, and they're the best two bits of steak I've ever had, ever.

Ever.

Jonathan27

694 posts

165 months

Monday 25th February 2013
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The Jugged Hair, Chiswell Street, City of London.
Went in for an impromptu lunch with a college, didn’t book, so they could only seat us at the ‘Kitchen Bar’. The menu was excellent and at times a little odd (you could order half a pigs head!).
Can’t remember what I had for starters, but I had a lovely rib eye as the main, followed by trifle. All washed down with a couple of pints of real ale, a bottle of red, and a bottle of desert wine, with coffee and Brandy to finish.
So in summary the food was excellent, but it did kind of make the rest of the working day a little challenging.

kiethton

13,917 posts

181 months

Monday 25th February 2013
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Big Easy - Kings Road, Chelsea

Very busy on a Friday night and struggled to get a table when booking 5 days prior.

The portions are huge and very tasty (fresh calimari (1/2 lb) and mussels (1 lb)) whilst the mains are presented in dishes that would make all those in the 'dirty takeaway' thread rather jealous. Although sizeable (we got 2 racks of ribs each) its all very nice and the BBQ beans are lovely although not appreciated by the gf the next day.

Although its Chelsea the prices are keen (mains are about £15) there is plenty of food and it is of good quality. Well reccomended (especially on the 'all you can eat' nights or steak and lobster for £20 nights), although can be a little noisy with live music.

9/10

Sarkmeister

1,665 posts

219 months

Monday 25th February 2013
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Last place we went to was French Living in Nottingham (for Valentine's Day):

Been once before and really liked it. We turned up a bit early and had to stand in the doorway for 10 mins, would have been nice to sit at a bar. We were then given a table that was right next to the door, and other people stood waiting.

Thankfully, the menu (5 courses) and food was lovely, especially the duck I had as a main. Not bad value as well.

Ignoring the first 10 mins was a good experience.

WCZ

10,537 posts

195 months

Monday 25th February 2013
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wijit said:
We went to a place called "Tops" in Manchester city centre.
I read a few good reviews and it sounded ok. By a huge distance, it was the worst experience in any food place I have ever had (and I include the usual fast food joints in that). The staff were the most miserable bunch I've seen in a food place, the food was, at best, luke warm with no signs of real control over allergens or temperature control. Don't get me wrong, I don't expect visible records to be on display, or multi-coloured tongs for this, that and the other. But barely warm chicken, nut products directly next to allergen free is simply unacceptable.
If you want to go somewhere after a funeral, with the intention of going to another funeral in the near future, then go there.
you mean the buffet place?

NormalWisdom

2,139 posts

160 months

Monday 25th February 2013
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kiethton said:
Big Easy - Kings Road, Chelsea
Went there years ago, loved it - May make a trip there in the fext fortnight, good reminder

Legend83

9,986 posts

223 months

Monday 25th February 2013
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Went to Galvin at Windows on Saturday night - 28th floor of the Park Lane Hilton.

A very rare treat indeed.

Service was exemplary and we were seated by a window-table as I had requested when booking.

Wow. Basically overlooking Buckingham Palace and the Mall at night. It was a stunning and very romantic setting.

Food was superb - French. Wine list very large. Clientele obviously flush but not stuffy, decent atmosphere.

Only downside (and not aimed at the restaurant itself) was the hordes of rich Arabian children running round the Hilton lobby and trying to trip everyone up!

9/10

dazco

4,280 posts

190 months

Monday 25th February 2013
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Legend83 said:
Went to Galvin at Windows on Saturday night - 28th floor of the Park Lane Hilton.

A very rare treat indeed.

Service was exemplary and we were seated by a window-table as I had requested when booking.

Wow. Basically overlooking Buckingham Palace and the Mall at night. It was a stunning and very romantic setting.

Food was superb - French. Wine list very large. Clientele obviously flush but not stuffy, decent atmosphere.

Only downside (and not aimed at the restaurant itself) was the hordes of rich Arabian children running round the Hilton lobby and trying to trip everyone up!

9/10
I went in there for lunch when I was last in London. It was amazing.

3 courses and champagne for £30 through Toptable.

It is at the top end of my price range, especially for lunch but it was so wonderful that we will do it every time we were there. They even had two postcards that you write out and they will post them for you.

There was no snobbery felt, even though we doing it on the cheap.

The food was just fantastic.

Legend83

9,986 posts

223 months

Monday 25th February 2013
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dazco said:
I went in there for lunch when I was last in London. It was amazing.

3 courses and champagne for £30 through Toptable.

It is at the top end of my price range, especially for lunch but it was so wonderful that we will do it every time we were there. They even had two postcards that you write out and they will post them for you.

There was no snobbery felt, even though we doing it on the cheap.

The food was just fantastic.
I thought it was reasonable value for a Michelin star joint.

We had a glass of champagne, a bottle of Orvieto, 3 courses each, bread, an amouse bouch, coffee and chocolates.

£220.

Agree the lunch offers looked even better - 3 courses for £29 I believe.

Of course, you could throw a grand at the place if you were so disposed!

paul0843

1,915 posts

208 months

Saturday 2nd March 2013
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The Italian at novikov..London.
Amazing.. Best Italian food I have had outside of Italy..
Not cheap at approx £100 per head,but massive portions
and amazing quality food..


dapprman

2,328 posts

268 months

Sunday 3rd March 2013
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davek_964 said:
sherman said:
Monteiths - on the Royal mile in Edinburgh.
Went there last spring - by accident really, since we couldn't get in anywhere else. Was very impressed - good food and good service.
Good to see it's improved - I ate there in 2007 while in Edinburgh for work and was far from impressed, describing it else where as a place to avoid. I hope it's well lit now as previously it had been too dark, which had been one of the issues - hard to tell if the food is fine if you can't differentiate colours.

dapprman

2,328 posts

268 months

Sunday 3rd March 2013
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anonymous said:
[redacted]
If that's the one in Middlesex Street then next time carry on down, away from Liverpool St Station, and on the elft you'll see a pair of red pillars - it's the entrance to My Old Place - a superb and authentic Szechuan restaurant - I worked in the area for over 5 years and still go back to this place occasionally. Few words of warning about it though - their credit card machine has not worked (or they don't want it to work ) in over 3 years so cash only, it looks tatty, staf are surly, you can't book, you might have to queue outside, and it's service chinoise - which means food arrives as it's cooked, not in classic soup->starters->main manner. Food is superb, menu is extensive, and costs are cheap for the area - about £10-12 per person if no alcohol. It's also (due to the way the food arrives) a place to share dishes rather than each person having their own. Oh and they do by far the best gun bao chicken (kung po) I've ever tried - even if post the last menu printing it's become Chicken with Peanuts in Chilli.

Oh - also try the Dry Fried Green Beans (think it now actually tells you it's with pork fat) - moorish as hell.

TwigtheWonderkid

43,407 posts

151 months

Sunday 3rd March 2013
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Homage at the Waldorf Hilton, Aldwych.

3 course meal, very good indeed. Lovely setting and the lamb was superb. Could have been a bit hotter (temp, not spice) and not huge portions, but very nice.


jules_s

4,291 posts

234 months

Sunday 3rd March 2013
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San Carlos (Bristol)

Faultless....as ever

bennyboydurham

1,617 posts

175 months

Sunday 3rd March 2013
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Bistro 21 in Durham, for my mum's birthday meal out. Big fan of this place usually but tonight they were off the pace. The restaurant was far too warm, the music was too random (60s rock n roll) and too loud at times for a cosy bistro like this. Service was patchy, dishes ordered but not delivered, mains portions rather stingy (especially the £24 Dover sole, I've seen more meat on a scabby horse!) and a general sense that they had too many covers to keep on top of. Not a good show. Out of the dozens of times I've been there it's a shame that tonight's showing is the one that will stick in my head next time I choose a restaurant for dinner.

Hoover.

5,988 posts

243 months

Sunday 3rd March 2013
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Gaucho at Bell End Yard........ waited 1.5hrs for a table, we were running ten mins late so they gave our table away despite phoning ahead and letting them know in advance

The steak was nice... had ribeye...... the starters I can't remember what it I had, so a bit of a non event.

They did ply us with free bubbly until a table was available though.........

would I go back ? No... I think there is better, and they are a victim of their own success.

Miguel Alvarez

4,944 posts

171 months

Thursday 7th March 2013
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Frankie and Benny's in Camberley. The staff were really friendly and made you feel comfortable. The ambience of the place is nice for a chain. The food was bland and read as much nicer on the menu then the reality. Not expensive in the scheme of things but compared to other chains I wasn't impressed.

To sing a place's praises. I've not been for a while but The Devil's Inn on the A4 just outside of Knowl Hill. Everytime I've been there the food has been delish and you get proper portions. I need to think of an excuse to be in that area now. Mmmmmmm nom nom.

sherman

13,356 posts

216 months

Thursday 7th March 2013
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dapprman said:
davek_964 said:
sherman said:
Monteiths - on the Royal mile in Edinburgh.
Went there last spring - by accident really, since we couldn't get in anywhere else. Was very impressed - good food and good service.
Good to see it's improved - I ate there in 2007 while in Edinburgh for work and was far from impressed, describing it else where as a place to avoid. I hope it's well lit now as previously it had been too dark, which had been one of the issues - hard to tell if the food is fine if you can't differentiate colours.
the lighting was not bright by any means(if you want that go to mcdonalds). I would say the lighting suited the type of restaurant it is. If Im spending over £100 on a meal I like the restaurant to be a bit dimmer giving a more intimate atmosphere. There is nothing worse in my opinion than a candle on a table that is there for no purpose other than to clutter the table up. A candle should be casting light on the table helping with the lighting if it is there.

princeperch

7,931 posts

248 months

Thursday 7th March 2013
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off to the wapping project tonight

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2012/sep/28...

Looking forward to it. I like industrial buildings and I like food.