The Spread Eagle

We had high hopes for our evening meal here but were left extremely disappointed. We began by having a glass of Lanson champagne in the bar area which was, as others have noted, nicely decorated and atmospheric. From this point on the restaurant was a disappointment. We opted for the ‘prix fixe’ menu – i.e. two courses at £22, or three for £26.50. There was no a la carte alternative – surprising for a Saturday night meal – only the £55 tasting menu. Following a £5 supplement scallop starter that was fine but heavy on the fennel seed (a cheap alternative to fresh fennel, and too overpowering), I had a measly portion of cheap gurnard fillet, swamped in dark brown “bouillabaisse” sauce that arrived topped with a semi-congealed film. The “saffron potatoes” immersed within were reheated and tasted exactly like the cheap airline variety. There were three julienne carrots. My partner had a stone cold white mush to start (supposedly salt cod) and a cassoulet to follow (which was dry and tasteless). We should have been warned off by the anaemic looking bread-basket: two small pasty white rolls and two pale ‘granary’ rolls that tasted exactly like an economy aeroplane variety. The waiter forgot our spinach and ‘pommes frites’ sides – which arrived ten minutes after our main courses. By this point – a decent bottle of Brouilly notwithstanding – we were fed up and wanted to leave. A conversation with the manager resulted in a £7 deduction from the cost of our tab, but we were still left with a bill totalling £97. It was, in retrospect, unsurprising that there were only sixteen people in the restaurant on a Saturday night the week before Christmas. In sum: save your money. The food is distinctly substandard and not worth the fine dining prices.

Good food shame it was so overpriced, I suppose they had to charge so much as we were the only people in the place. Which isn't surprising considering it is such a rip off and how rude and unwelcoming the staff were. We won't be going back.

Lunchtime. A less than effusive welcome and we were led to a window seat with bright sunlight coming through to blind us and heat us up. No one offered to reseat us or draw the curtains as it was easier for them to concentrate the very few customers together.
Worse was to follow. Three of us ordered fish and chips and were served with what looked like Findus childs
micro portion fish , each being served with four small chips. My wife ordered poussin and was served with a soggy ,colourless half a small chicken which looked as though it had been microwaved, as did the teaspoon of limp ex-frozen vegetables which formed its garnish. I had a steak which was delivered well done although I had asked for it to be medium rare and was tough and tasteless.It was accompanied with the obligatory four small chips.

The wine list was home to some horrendous mark ups and water retailed at the price of champagne.

Whoever runs this place should give up the pretence that they know how to run a restaurant and let someone else provide the quality and value of dining the interior and ambience deserve. Until then, stay away!

We lunched at Cafe Rouge the following day for twice the value at half the price. So you know where to go.

The worst restaurant experience I've had in a long time. Poor service, food served luke-warm on cold plates and overpriced for the minuscule portions served up. How is this place still in business?

My third visit to this restaurant, the previous two were exceptional I last went about three years ago. My last visit yesterday will not be repeated. It was poor value for money, freezing cold conditions inside the building, spotlights and lamps not working and had to ask for some heating to be turned on. Our celebration meal on a Monday evening was held in an empty restaurant apart from one other couple that turned up at around 9.30pm. Food was average and uninspiring.
The service was good,the decor never ceases to be of interest it was a pity that the food does not match the surroundings.

I organsied a re union meal at this place..BIG mistake. The starters in general were ok. However, the tiny portions caused some amusement on the table. It then appeared that we were forgotten about for the rest of evening. We ended up serving ourselves the wine until it was finished. I then had to go out to the main restaurant to ask for more. This was brought in and served to us. This was the last time wine was offered to the table for the whole evening and we had to look after ourselves. After 20 minutes the plates from the starter were removed with an apology from the waitress. Shortly afterwards the mains were served. Again there was general amusement at the tiny portions. Several people had pigeon. This came on a large white plate with the pigeon in the centre with what can only be a drizzle of something, nothing else. One of the party found their pigeon too rare i.e. bloody. When we called the waitress back she said that it was meant to be like this and the guest then requested that she would rather it be dry and not bloody red and sent it back. Her plate was removed by the disgruntled waitress and within 5 minutes a fresh pigeon was given to her. I kid you not it was rarer than the one she sent back.

Needless to say she did not want to create a scene and therefore left it. When eventually the plates were removed the same waitress took her plate with the complete pigeon and made no comment.
Dessert came…average and minimal. We served ourselves the last of the wine, ordered coffee and left.

No-one enjoyed the food and everyone thought the service was awful.

I and 2 others ate at the Spread Eagle on Friday 12 Feb as it was my husband's birthday. We both had the scallops, steak and several portions of vegetables each. The service was pretty good, the wine again good but vastly over-priced. Overall for this part of London and the standard of cooking, we didnt feel it was value for money. The worst part of the whole experience was that later that night I was violently ill and in the early hours of the morning my husband too. We called our gp out we were so bad and clearly it was the scallops being returned! I've had food poisoning before so I know the signs but believe me, it wasnt something we expected from this restaurant! we called the Spread Eagle to tell them but were re-buffed and were rudely and coldy told they'd ''never had any complaints of this nature before''. Both of us were ill all over the weekend as a result of this awful experience and for our trouble were offered £20:00 in compensation when they were quite happy to fleece us of a sizeable sum for poison. Please be wary of this establishment is all I can say. DONT EAT THE SCALLOPS!!

I visited this restaurant yesterday and enjoyed their Sunday lunch. The food was lovely and the wine list excellent. Service was friendly, professional and attentive without being overbearing. The restaurant is attractively decorated and is a pleasant place to spend an hour or two.

My husband and I ate here last year for our anniversary. The whole experience was truly awful from the appalling service, incorrect orders being delivered and the icing on the cake, food poisoning. I will not be returning and most certainly wouldn't recommend it.

My partner and myself dined here on Friday 23rd January 2009, after spotting it on this website. The restaurant is beautifully decorated, which i felt had a slight living room feel to it, with paintings on the walls and a warm glow. The upstairs window seat we were given only gave us a view of the street outside, but pleasant none the less.

The staff were friendly and helpful, our coats being taken on entry, and full compliments must go to our waiter, who was attentive without being on top, and pleased to answer our question on the menu.

So to the food. What can i say, delicious. I had quail to start and beef sirloin, and my partner had fois gras and duck for her main. Everything was cooked to perfection.

The deserts we had were also beautifully prepared.

The bill was £101 was not too bad, although neither of us had alchololic drinks, but the dining experience was worth every penny and will see us return very soon.