Hix

Its the Emperor's new clothes!

Are you kidding me?! I cannot believe the audacity of Mark Hix selling what is blandest food on the planet at these prices; this really was a case of selling his name rather than selling anything new, different or even tasty. While Gary Rhodes took traditional British cuisine and put his little quirks to it, Hix is just taking basic British food and charging us a fortune for it. There is no imagination and no originality, dont expect the dishes on the menu to come with any nice suprises; hell, its the first burger Ive ever had that doesnt even come with a bit of lettuce such are the shortcomings of his food. Our mains were the worst culprits: fish fingers wtih mushy peas was well, just that, my mum could make these. The Fishermans spelt was too salty so that I couldnt even tell you what different fish were in there, and as for the aforementioned burger, its a meat patty on a bun with a couple of sauces on the side. Exciting stuff. Dont expect the ubiquitous chips; how else could they sell you their version of chips: greasy, tasteless, tempura style potato slices. It was hard to get the waitresses attention and we found ourselves waving for the host instead. The room is one step up from the office canteen; a couple of oddities on the wall there to make the distinction. Overall, this is one of the most disappointing dining experiences I have ever had, you can get a lot more for your money elsewhere. If you eat here, then you really are the Emperor in the age-old story.

We visit Hix in Brewer street on sunday 20-01-2013
Pleasant en friendly staf . Poor decor and seats nice modern art .
Verry cheap Wine and water glasses.
Good wines even by de glass.
Food, the starters where the cured meat and salmon verry good ,but it came 1 minute after we order the cocktails.
Main dishes ,I had the hanger steak with bone marrow, the steak was like shoe leather but de bone marrow was like heaven.
The side dishes he had where 4 verry small potatos en sprout ops (leaves) 4 pence of material ,but we had to pay 4 pounds for it.
Nice sweet wines with deserts and the cheese.
But 230 pounds is verry verry overprized.
For that prize you can eat in a michelin star restaurant like Gauthier Soho (our favorite).
I thinks that Mr Hix wants to get verry rich in a short time but never again from my wallet
Robert v d lingen
Belgium

Interesting mix of reviews on this one. I booked for two at the last minute and the very friendly receptionist could only offer bar seating immediately which we took, or a 45 minute wait for a table. Sitting facing the same way doesn't work for more than 2 people but we made a good choice, it created a more relaxed feel and i have to say the bartender was a legend – friendly, amusing, welcoming, fast and efficient with a few tricks to keep us amused, a top man and it did soften the blow of the price list. Atmosphere – buzzing and lively but not raucous so almost perfect, some great artworks (a few Damian Hirsts) make for some cool talking points. A food menu with most tastes catered for, there were some more complex dishes but mainly a lot of seasonal, good quality food just prepared quite simply. We both had a burger with different toppings and shared some french fries – the burger could not be faulted, both cooked medium rare to perfection although the chips were a little pale and flacid for our liking. We then shared a pineapple upside down cake – moist and delicious. Cocktails are the order of the day here and there are some great offerings – we had a bottle of Hermitage but due to the enthusiasm of the bartender we felt we couldn't go without allowing him to choose a cocktail for us to end the evening , which was great. But here's the slight rub – the bill was touching £140…for two people to have a two burgers, one fries and one cake. Yes i know there was around £75 of alcohol but is that really justifiable…I would go back because it was a great evening and the staff were great but they need to be on top of their game every single night for every single person for you not to come away from here feeling just a little bruised in the wallet.

I've been to Hix of Soho 4 times in the past and always left with a smile given the great food and service, unfortunately this wasn't the case when I visited yesterday evening. I booked the pre theatre set menu deal via Square Meal and we arrived 10 mins late at 18:40pm, when we where seated I asked for the pre theatre menu and the Australian manageress informed me the offer stops at 18:30pm and I had to place my order by then, I informed her that I had booked my table for 18:30 and when I booked it via Square Meal it didn't state I had to arrive and place my order at 18:30pm sharp, her response was “Don't worry, you have more choice on the normal menu anyway so just order from there”. 10 minutes pass and we finally get our water and some bread, another 10 minutes pass and they come over to take our wine order, 5 minutes pass and they then take the food order. Food was good but very over priced for what it is, service and attitude of some staff was the worst I've experienced and I will not be going to another Hix venue as there is better value out there.

Ate here on a Tuesday night for a work do. Ok so sometimes eating on company expenses sweetens the blow of the amount of money you're about to spend but I can honestly say the meal was excellent. I would have been happy spending that myself. The dining area is a weird mix of canteen type seating with Damien Hirst's odd art suspended from the ceilings. I like art and have my opinions. Anyway, the food? Starters were my colleagues Heaven and Earth (A Hix staple) which is their black pudding and mash potato starter which was very good. Mine was the Steak Tartare – which was also very nice. The beef had been hand chopped coarsley and garnished amazingly. Ok enough abou that – the main was the show stopper. A Whole Farm House Roast Chicken with Wild Garlic Sauce, bread sauce, shoe string fries and chestnut and thyme stuffing. Ok it's roast chicken, anyone can make it .Not like this. Hix know how to turn this into a spectacle as they bring the whole chicken to the table which has been speared on a verical skewer and it's carved right in front of you. This is food as advertising as it got other people in the restaurant talking and observing. The chicken was amazing and melt in the mouth! That is something I would easilyclassify as a death-row meal it was that good. So good, I ate myself into a food coma and was pretty close to asking them for a doggy bag to take the rest home. Unfortunately there was no room for desert. Had to be rolled down stairs to Mark's bar (amazing decor by the way) for a post dinner Amaretto on the rocks to help with digestion.

Our overall experience at Hix restaurant was very average. Driven by disappointing food and lacklustre service…but hey, the bar is cool.

We arrived for a 9:30pm booking, and we could already see by the line of people that they were overbooked. They were running late and asked us to have a drink at the bar while we wait for our table. The bar is very cool, small and intimate with an art deco feel.The music was also laid back and jazzy. But with no seats left we stood standing in the middle of the room, twiddling our thumbs wondering what to do. We eventually got the attention of a waitress who took our orders. The cocktails were decent, the atmosphere great and environment nice (if you can get a seat.)

Our waitress finally called us up into the restaurant, and we finally got seated at 10pm. We ordered an entree to share which was the special, the dumpling prawns; which sounded nice, but after waiting 30 minutes for it, we were disappointed to see that it came out as deep fried prawns, with batter so thick and lathered, that's all you could taste. It's the kind of grub you would get at a takeaway fish shop. We were starving by this stage so really hoping that the mains would be great. My goose salad was incredibly average, and my fiancés steak was good and cooked well, but came with nothing else. The highlight of my food was the side dish of cauliflower cheese…

All in all, this restaurant was ok, certainly not worth the reviews it has been getting. More style then substance. If you go, I recommend the bar instead or stick to the steaks. But if you want great british cuisine with loads of flavour and good value for money go to Tom's kitchen! By far the leader in this british genre of restaurants.

I enjoy my last visit to this restaurant, it has an intimate decor, interesting windows that allow for privacy in this particular area of town, not too snazzy, but interesting art exposed. The bar downstairs is very nice, it has a dark presence contrasted with mirror panels. It has somehow a decadent Parisian feel to it. The service was good and the food was good English food with a modern twist.

Have to say, went to Hix last night after reading many raving reviews and was very disappointed with the quality and delivery of the food. The food is overpriced and in my opinion overrated. Load, shouty atmosphere as if I were in wagamama. Ordered crayfish which had no flavour added to them at the fillet steak of £40.

London is full of amazing restaurants and I would advise you go to one of them but not here!

When I arrived at Mark’s bar in the basement of Hix’s my friends had already been waiting for half an hour. At the time I assumed that they were waiting for me before ordering. I didn’t look at the menu but just decided on a gin gimlet (gin & lime cordial over ice) and my friends ordered their cocktails from the menu. The room is beautiful with a lot of thought having clearly gone into the height of the bar and chairs. I thought the NY style ceiling was particularly attractive.

Everyone had tap water and glasses on their table which was a good thing as it was the hottest day of the year and after twenty minutes our drinks had still not arrived. We asked about that and were told that it was a ‘complicated’ order. After a further ten minutes (I know because our table upstairs in the restaurant was held for us) we opted to go up and order food. Our drinks followed a few minutes later. I think that if your menu is so complicated that three built cocktails and one shaken cocktail take 30 minutes then a redesign may be in order. I could have ordered, gone to the pub next door, had a pint and returned in the time it took to get a drink at Mark’s. And I would have done that if I had known the wait we had to endure.

The menu in the restaurant is clearly designed by someone who wants the world to know how clever he is. I’ve worked in catering for ten years and still had a few questions. If your first thought on reading the menu is ‘I feel stupid’ perhaps that’s not the most welcoming message.

Overly complicated descriptions aside I opted to start the meal with a plate of heritage tomatoes with crab and chives. It arrived looking beautiful on the plate and tasting wonderful. As for the main course I decided on simple grilled mackerel with broad beans and tomato relish. It’s nice to see that the overcomplicated quality of the menu was not carried through to the cooking. Perhaps what they really need is just a good proofreader.

My friend ordered a medium steak with chips and a salad. What could be simpler? Unfortunately it was well past medium when it arrived at the table. I encouraged my very unhappy friend to send it back. Surely it was just a slight oversight in the kitchen that could be easily remedied. It did take a good few minutes to get the attention of a waiter but soon enough the problem was explained and the steak was sent back to the kitchen. The waiter duly appeared a few moments later to apologise and informed us that the steak would be rushed through and back on the table as soon as possible. I’m not sure exactly what happened next but a very helpful waitress arrived to say that the steak was not on its way back and would my friend like something else instead. By this stage the rest of us had nearly finished so she declined. A few minutes later the apologetic waitress arrived with more chips and salad. She said that the chef felt bad that my friend had not had enough to eat. I thought it a kind gesture. Unfortunately that was ruined by what happened a few minutes later when another steak arrived. It looked quite sad sitting alone on a big white plate and when it was cut it was even further past medium than the one that had been sent back. Was this poor cooking or spite? Having worked in many kitchens I can imagine the conversation that took place in the back. I could tell from the waitress’s attempt to hide her shame that this was not her first disappointment with the kitchen staff.

The end result was that we certainly no longer felt welcome and decided to go elsewhere for pudding. We asked for the bill. At £175 for one bottle of wine, four starters and three main courses it was not cheap. I can just imagine what it might have been had we been asked to pay for four cocktails and a well done steak.

Such a good atmosphere at Hix Soho, and no demur from the waiting staff as we faffed about working out table we wanted to sit at. I like a banquette, but my dining companion doesn't, so for once I compromised and we sat where he wanted. Drinks came promptly (and this was after 3 delicious Hix Mix cocktails downstairs in the bar – and on a school night too…) with fresh, warm bread and salted butter. Again, the staff were charming when we couldn't decide what to have – because there were too many excellent combinations from the short-ish but well put-together menu. Oysters, with spiced sausages, then veal with sage butter? Steak tartare followed by a Hix take on fish fingers? Girolles, followed by one of the cuts of steak or veal that you are shown, set out on a wooden board, befrore you order?

I went for the girolles and then fish fingers – a very sophisticated take on a tea-time treat. One was a straight fish finger, albeit with the kind of crisp crust that my kitchen could never produce. The other was a sort of deep-fried, battered piece of fish (gurnard, I think – but I had had 3 cocktails and a glass of fizz by then) inside fluffy mashed potato. Truly scrumptious. I could have ordered chips as well, but got side-tracked and didn't and just as well, as I was waddling out of the door as it was. My companion went for the oysters, then the sole with clams. Neither of us could manage a pud, or even coffee.

The service was charming, friendly and unobtrusive, the wine topped up efficiently, and the whole experience, on a dull Monday evening, very very enjoyable.