Wapping Food

First time back at Wapping Food after quite a long gap thanks to the joys of the East London Line refurb! It’s much the same as it ever was – food is delightfully unpredictable; sometimes the menu can offer you a huge range of options where you'll want everything, sometimes it’s hunting though to find an option, and don't think you'll be allowed to mix and match e.g. veg from one dish with the meat or fish from another as “the chef wouldn't be prepared to do that”. Having said that the food is generally a high, if not exceptional, standard. It's fairly pointless commenting on particular dishes as the chances are when you go it won't be on the menu in its current form given the regular changes. Bread is very nice and seems to turn up without too much prompting and there is no Oliver Twist moment when you ask for more!

Wine and drinks have a wide selection all be it you won't get European ranges; options by the glass are limited but affordable and perfectly acceptable, bottles can get quite expensive quite quickly, but overall food and drinks are reasonable value for money and much the same as you'd pay anywhere else these days e.g. £40-£50 per head.

Service is erratic – but at least we haven't ever had the experience that some diners report (Google Wapping food+owner for a selection of quotes not suitable for a family newspaper), but generally the staff do take some catching in order to place orders, pay etc – they circulate in a beautifully choreographed formation without ever looking at you or approaching you, but once you've finally got one they are perfectly polite and helpful.

The venue itself is quirky, or dare we say Marmite – you'll love it (as we both did) or hate it; the old power station generating machinery and high ceilings are in place and candles are everywhere but tables and chairs are plastic and its got bare concrete floors and music that will either bother you, or in my case you won't have even noticed as the company was delightfully tall, blonde and Clare shaped.

There is private parking, which itself is a novelty in London, although the car park is full of potholes deep enough to lose a Mini in!

Worth giving it a try – expect that you might be disappointed around 1 in 5 visits, but that’s a better hit rate than a number of venues in a part of London that is fairly devoid of decent options.

I have to say I am baffled by yet more effusive reviews for a typically mediocre ‘destination’ London restaurant. I can only think that like a lot of London ‘trendies’ the previous reviewers have more money than sense!. So the venue is an old power station – so what? So its got an old Greenhouse out the front where you can smoke tabs – so what. Get a grip people! The food is strictly mediocre and the vegetarian option that I had featured a woefully misconceived dish billed as pumpkin and butternut squash gnocchi which had somehow morphed into a solid, glutinous and monolithic cake as if all the gnocchi has been sucked into a compactor and spat out as one lump. It was inedible and I sent it back. I am still shivering from the thought of it.

Credit though for the charming and efficient waiting staff, the nice bread and olive oil on the tables, and the reasonable Australian wine list. The food though needs a serious make-over.

A fabulous place to take friends and family for lunch or dinner. An amazing space with a real energy. Only let down is their weekend breakfast, which feels a bit laboured by the artistic staff.

The food, drink and service was brilliant – the atmosphere was odd! Lovely but odd! The owner is, I agree, eccentric! Have only been once in January and at night so am looking forward to going back in summer and during the day!

The Wapping Projecy is a wonderful space.

Excellent food served in an a unique environment – with the chance to wander off to the cavernous galleries (empty or full).

A fine choice of rose wine.

A rare chance to eat fine food and look at machinery … at half the price of the West End.

Eccentric owner.

We always take family or friends visiting from out of town to Wapping Food. It is an amazing space with a strong energy. The food and drinks are sublime and there is nothing better than checking out the latest art exhibition with a post-dinner scotch.