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Bentley's (∗)

Address:11-15 Swallow Street, London W1B 4DG
Tel:020 7734 4756
Email:
Website: Visit Bentley's website
Price: £60.00Wine: £19.95 Champagne: £53.00
Opening Hours:Mon-Sun 12N-3pm 6-10.45pm

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Richard Corrigan’s steady hand still guides this 94-year-old stalwart, which the Irish chef revived in 2005 & has kept spanking fresh ever since: ‘if you like your fish, then Bentley’s is as good as you’ll get,’ declares one fan. Unfussy dressed crab mayonnaise or seared scallops with peas, beans & girolles showcase first-rate ingredients skilfully cooked. Otherwise, there’s an indulgent lobster macaroni, one of London’s best fish pies, & a handful of not-to-be-ignored meat dishes, including splendid seasonal grouse with all the trimmings. True, Bentley’s hasn’t the celebrity cachet of Scott’s, & its arts & crafts-style first-floor dining room appeals to older diners (‘perfect for treating your mum’); it also suffers from close-set tables, occasionally slow service & high prices (though there’s a £16.95 set lunch). The livelier street-level oyster bar, where ‘French chaps provide platters of natives with charming banter’, offers a more casual experience, likewise summertime tables in traffic-free Swallow Street.

Chef: Richard Corrigan

Since leaving his native Ireland at 17, Richard Corrigan has made quite an impact in the capital. His first restaurant, Lindsay House, opened in Soho in 1997 & gained a Michelin star two years later. He has also revitalised seafood insitution Bentley's & teamed up with caterers Searcys to help shape the food at top contracts such as the Gherkin & the St Pancras Grand. Following the closure of Lindsay House in 2008, his reputation was further enhanced when Corrigan's of Mayfair opened in the newly refurbished Grosvenor House hotel. Corrigan has also re-kindled his links with Ireland, teaming up with Ryanair founder Tony Ryan to open the Mill at Lyons in County Kildare, & - more recently - launching a second Bentley's site in Dublin.

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Reader reviews of Bentley's:

Sarah J.

Sarah J. ( 20s, Female, United Kingdom )

Great food, lovely place – staff are shocking. Rude, un-attentive and un-professional. We were left sitting for over an HOUR between main course and our plates being collected in time for dessert. Even after excusing ourselves on several occiasions to our waitress (and other peoples waitresses) and requesting the dessert menu we were just ignored. Actually got up, left and complained to Maitre'D who was confused when we came down to front door and asked for our bill. We were given a discount and an incentive to visit again but we do not plan to. Service ruined a fantastic meal – not idea what dessert's are like but can highly recommend everything we were served!

10 June 2009
Overall:5
Food and Drink:9
Service:1
Atmosphere:7
Value for Money:6
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Cindy T.
Reviews: 1

Cindy T. ( 30s, Female )

I found Bentley's very satisfactory and would highly recommend it. If you are looking for hearty and satisfying food within luxurious settings, Bentleys is for you.

29 April 2009
Overall:10
Food and Drink:10
Service:10
Atmosphere:10
Value for Money:10
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Jack F.
Reviews: 1

Jack F. ( 20s, Male )

This was a disappointment, after looking forward to the meal. The service was snooty, the food was seriously mediocre and very over-priced. We had booked a table at the oyster bar and we moved to the restaurant with no notice; the night we went there was a special menu that we had not been told about when we booked. It was so disappointing we left before coffee or desert and went somewhere else.

We had 6 oysters to share which were the best thing, but took about 30 minutes to arrive.

I had the monkfish en croute – the fish was fairly tough and the sides – broccoli, creamed poatoes – were unimaginative and entirely bog-standard.

My wife had the lobster fish pie – although the lobster was tasty the whole thing in general was bog-standard.

I would like to go to the oyster bar ( which is where we'd wanted to go in the first place) but based on my experience in the restaurant would not go there again.

February 2009
Overall:4
Food and Drink:5
Service:4
Atmosphere:5
Value for Money:4
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Olly S.
Reviews: 1

Olly S. ( 30s, Male, United Kingdom )

Tucked away on the aptly named Swallow Street this comfortable old landmark was rescued by the Michelin-starred Richard Corrigan in 2005 and has won high praise ever since. Whether impressing a date, catching up with good friends or treating your mum, it consistently delivers the goods.

The Grill upstairs offers unobtrusive service in non-crowded surroundings, while the French chaps behind the Oyster Bar downstairs serve up platters of natives and charming banter. Two-course set lunches with very drinkable house wines begin at £22.50, while the a la carte runs all the way up to market fresh (market price) Dover sole. Show-boating with the huge shellfish platter won't disappoint, but then neither does the humble fish pie, generously filled with prawns and chunky salmon.

It seems unfair to single out dishes when the kitchen produces such well judged and lovingly prepared food. Seabream and nice specials stand out, but it is hard to go wrong here.

The well-chosen wine list is good at all prices and knowledgeable staff happily offer helpful advice. Admittedly it's reassuringly expensive and getting a table can be tricky, but Bentley's deserves its admirers who clearly know when they're on to a good thing.

November 2008
Overall:8
Food and Drink:8
Service:8
Atmosphere:7
Value for Money:6
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Jan D.

Jan D. ( 50s, Male, United Kingdom )

Something has gone very badly wrong here. When Richard Corrigan took this place over and revamped things, it was a roaring success and qucikly became our London fave, especially the downstairs grill/brasserie area. It had a great atmosphere, good value food and friendly efficient wait staff. However, our last 2 visits (once upstairs and once downstairs) have been disappointing in the extreme, and were marred by sloppy, disinterested and inattentive service on both occasions. The most recent visit (early October) my chosen dish was so oversalted as to be inedibble (both the Dover sole and the spinach) and had to be sent back. Our guests from abroad were not over impressed. The restaurant did not charge for the returned food, but by then the damage was done

It all smacks to me rather of complacency. Start off well, get the punters coming in and then relax. At these price levels there are certainly now better alternatives in London. Bentleys needs to either pull its socks up or drop its prices or else people will start going elsewhere Caveat emptor…

October 2008
Overall:5
Food and Drink:4
Service:4
Atmosphere:7
Value for Money:4
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Robert B.
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Robert B. ( 40s, Male, United Kingdom )

If you like your fish, then Bentley’s is as good as you will get. Upstairs is formal and a bit stiff, downstairs more casual and a little more lively, but not buzzy. The food is very good, oysters terrific and cod is a guilty pleasure these days but here a fat juicy one! Wine list terrific and there’s a very knowledgeable and approachable sommelier. Your fellow dinners are likely to be ‘mature’ but this is a place to enjoy what’s on your plate.

September 2008
Overall:6
Food and Drink:7
Service:7
Atmosphere:6
Value for Money:7
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