Portrait Restaurant & Bar at the National Portrait Gallery

Undeniably offers a great view out over Big Ben but the whole experience was a bit of a let-down due to the service. We were seated at our table, but as we were waiting for two people to join our party who were coming separately, we were just left alone without even a drinks order.

The restaurant closes quite early and even at only 8pm we felt like it was the end of the night and the staff had given up. General drinks service, order taking, plate clearing was quite lax. I had to remind the waiter to bring my tea which I ordered instead of dessert, but even then they brought the wrong one.

The food however was a different experience entirely. Excellent presentation, seasonal food, perfectly cooked and seasoned. Not wanting a large dinner I ordered a vegetarian quiche which was really flavoursome. Food envy got the better of me however as my fellow diners tucked into the confit duck leg and guinea fowl which were equally spectacular.

I will go back for another try – but perhaps at lunchtime when staff are hopefully a little more on the ball.

Pre theatre dinner for two with a great view over London to Big Ben. Service was excellent as was the food and atmosphere. I had a crab mayonnaise followed by a smoked haddock fishcake; both were excellent, fresh, flavoursome, straight from the kitchen and well presented. I need an excuse to go back.

This is a tricky restaurant to find. Up the escalators, round the corner, up another lift. The views are pretty good, funny listening to an american couple state “how wonderful, you can see St Paul's and Big Ben!” Not quite in the same vicinity really. Whilst there were no complaints about the food being underdone like the previous review, I did think it was extremely overpriced. Sure, it's quite acceptable and very nice, but the prices are up there with some seriously better restaurants. So, go for the view and enjoy a cocktail or two, but I'd give dinner a miss. My other complaint would be the toilets – there is nothing else on the top floor apart from the bar and restaurant – however the toilets were pretty dire, much like public toilets.

Great views across london and good service failed to make up for the poor quality of food delivered, together with a rather restrictive menu that concentrates heavily on fish dishes. Myself and my friend both ordered fish and in both cases it was undercooked with the centres being practically raw whilst the outside skin at least looked well cooked. We were then rather quickly ejected at 10pm (closing time) despite the fact that I hadn't quite finished my wine – unfortuantely one of the most disappointing retaurants I have visited in London for quite some time.