Robin's review of Butcher & Grill

The Butcher & Grill took over from the dismal Cafe Rouge and was a breath of fresh air when it opened a few years back. The guy behind it, Dominic Ford, used to run the food and restaurants at Harvery Nichols, and he also owns a couple of other restaurants, Binchi Yakitori & Tamesa at the Oxo Tower. The concept here is admirable, there's a butchers shop and upmarket deli at the front, with the restaurant and bar on two levels behind. The rear opens out onto Ransome's Dock, which sounds glamourous but it's not much of a view as the Dock is mostly full of sludge and litter plus a few bockety old boats. The food has always been good, they serve well-sourced meat of most descriptions which you can pick from the butchers if you so wish, and it has remained popular with locals. There are little touches that work like chips that come in a terracotta flower pot and the ketchup etc are well made. It has a special menu for kids who can have their choice of a limited 2 course menus for around £5. The only problem for me is the service which has been decidely ropey on a number of occasions (we've been here alot as a family of 5). They're well meaning, but it always takes too long for the food to arrive which is puzzling when they're never rammed. I've never been in the evenings, but I doubt it's any different. We will continue to go but just wish it was a little quicker.