Bluebird

Could do better

The crab linguine and burger were good but the chips were very average. We didn't have dessert because they wouldn't do one off the set menu – even after a waiter spilled a drink all over me.

Bluebird Cafe

Consistent standard in an area that lacks decent modern cooking with quality ingredients. On this occasion slightly marred by under par service. That won't put me off as I rely on Bluebird as my default when meeting clients in this area.

A lovely venue on Kings Road in Chelsea, Bluebird is rightly an institution in this area. My last visit before now was six months ago and in truth I was wholly disappointed with the previous experience. Food was very average, with lukewarm soup and stale bread in a club sandwich. This time around however the food has improved markedly, seemingly much fresher in ingredients and cooked with more care and attention.

I wish the same could be said for the service however – atrociously awful is being kind. The waiting staff were totally disinterested in serving my table, to the point where after twenty minutes I walked over to the service stand to order some drinks and discovered two waiters busy playing on their Blackberries. Even after my pointed remarks to them, service was apathetic with plates of food thunked down on the table without an ounce of finesse.

It is such a shame that our experience was sullied by these members of staff. Had it not been for them, I would have given Bluebird an overall score of 7. There are in truth better British/European restaurants in the local area (Medlar and The Penny Black being two notables), which whilst not having the same location cachet, offer more substantial food with vastly superior service.

i've been to Bluebird several times and one thing is always certain – a good time. When it's quiet and you just want a relaxed meal or one of the bars amazing cocktails- it's the perfect solution. Or a busy Saturday night there is nowhere more socialable in Chelsea. The bar really works it's magic when there's a good buzz in the air, and the cocktails really are second to none. Food in the restaurant is honest food done well, and on a sunny afternoon in the outside area – sitting back with a nice bottle of champagne and imagine you're on holiday.

Bluebird is really an establishment. A great destination because of the beautiful interior and the people to match it. Good mix of 20s/30s people, all dressed up.

It feels glamourous, fun and upbeat, the perfect start to a night out. Service is great, drinks are perfect.

I particularly like lunch outside during Wimbledon season- something about it can't be matched!

A complete destination & falls under my “Best in Chelsea” category.

I've eaten at Bluebird a number of times and am never disappointed. The food and wine are always sumptious and it's usually a buzzy atmosphere. From the choice of bread in the bread basket to the extensive wine list, there is plenty of choice so I never leave wishing there was more to choose from. Recommended. You can find offers on lastminute.com for fixed price menus which are great and still lots of choice.

We were happy when we first walked in. The decor – lights, plates on wall. We ordered 2 dishes to share between us. But the food took forever to come, arrived cold, cold chips blurgh, bland burger, the bun of my egges benedict was cold. not cutlery on our table when the food was brought so we had to wait while they were brought. Hmmm. We were genuinely disappointed. We will never go back, what a shame as the venue is super beautiful.

Lets be honest here, a party of 12 must be difficult to cater for in any restaurants main dining area. It was clearly tough for the Bluebird who struggled with who had ordered what dish and getting all the starters and mains out within a 10 minute window. I did however, find myself routing for the staff, hoping they would deliver jewels of modern European cooking that was unfussy and of a high quality (especially as the prices for this type of food were on the high side). The kitchen let them down. Prawn cocktails were over vinegared and contained prawns that were tough and too well cooked. The mains were all average apart from the chateau briand which was good but not a patch on Smiths of Smithfield (where we had a party of 20!). Comments around the table didn't justify the prices here – there are better restaurants in the area for the money.

I had my hen party dinner in one of the private rooms at the Bluebird this weekend and I was delighted with it. The room was large & smart with a bar area and a separate dining area, our own cloakroom and a private entrance. The food was excellent quality and value (3 courses with 3 choices for each course @ £37) and all very seasonal.

I didn't notice at the time but apparently the service was the only issue which let the restaurant down slightly; the waitress poured more drinks than were ordered without checking with the host and the table was one seat short. However the manager smoothed both issues over very easily and I don't think any of the guests noticed either.

All in all I would definitely go back and would recommend it to others.

A few months ago I was invited to a business dinner for 50 people in the private rooms of the Bluebird. That might sound nice enough, but the reality was the following: the private rooms looked and felt like a small 1995 hotel dining room, that can also be hired out for meetings. Impersonal, uninspiring and cold. The service was almost non existent. We had to ask for the canapes – which tasted as if they had been prepared in the morning and had sat in the fridge ever since. We had to ask for the drinks – the barman kept disappearing, I guess they were understaffed. Once we were seated we had to ask where our starters were – considering their ice-cold temperature, they were sitting in the fridge for hours alongside the canapes. By the time the lukewarm main course had arrived, I (and a few others) had had enough. We excused ourselves and left, stopping at Maroush on our way home.