Tom's Kitchen

Tom's Kitchen at Somerset House currently strikes a great balance. It's easy-going enough for a leisurely weekend lunch with friends – especially suitable for out-of-town visitors due to the beauty of the venue and the views – but also serious and professional enough for a working lunch (not client entertaining though, mind you…). The food is very well executed and although the menu includes many gastro-pub favorites, the execution lies way beyond most such places. Also full points on constistency. The service is friendly and very efficient and value for money is good as well, especially considering the locaiton. Keep up the good work!

Had high hopes. Interesting venue, great view, shabby chic decor, child friendly. Tick.
Hopes dashed.
Service lackadaisical at best; rude at worst.
Disinterested waitress who never smiled. Even though only 2 others in the restaurant it took too long for our order to be taken and for the food to arrive. The drinks were prompt.
Medium rare steak was medium. Medium one was medium rare. Had they go them the wrong way round I asked? Waitress did not know and headed off to ask. By then too late to swap as half of one had been eaten. Asked for mine to be re cooked. It arrived when all had finished. Spinach side was cold and unevenly cooked. Chips were great, but man cannot live on chips alone. Puddings looked great and generous. Profiteroles were hard – over refridgerated? All in all, expensive ordinary. £270 for 5 people.
Crowning glory on departure. Could not find coats which had been taken by waitress. Waiter gestured to hooks with many coats on. Couldn't find coats. Asked him to help. He said “Just look”. When I said I had but couldn't find them he shrugged. I said that was not great service. He said “Don't come back then”.
I won't.

Staff were attentive, friendly and polite, but the food overall was disappointing.

I had pork belly, which was tasty but not it was clearly re-heated from the previous day, so quite heavy to digest.

For dessert I had chocolate hot pot, which was very dry and nowhere near what it's supposed to look like and taste.

Ambience is minimalist to the point that it feels like eating in a school canteen

Having booked to eat with a work associate at this restaurant for lunch today we arrived to find it empty barring two other tables. The staff were pleasant and polite and suggested that we instead eat outside on the terrace.

What a mistake.

To summarize succinctly, the food was of poor quality and overcooked, the service inept at best and indifferent at worst with the staff more interested in conversing amongst themselves than waiting table. There were at times moments that could only be described as Pythonesque. Needless to say my enthusiasm to return is slim to none.