Does not meet the billing....

Four of us took advantage of one of the many offers currently available at this establishment, lured in by the prospect of a “quintessentially British experience”, taking [its] “inspiration from classic British gentlemen’s clubs” as the blurb on their website would have you believe. Oh dear…

The bar was, at first glance, not too bad with a clubby welcoming vibe catering for both those lounge lizards who like to perch on stools at the counter and those of us who prefer a more comfy sofa. Service got a bit slow as the clientele increased, and prices were on a par with other similar hotel bars (i.e. ouch!) What really let it down was the quite unnecessary thumping soundtrack of 60/70/80's dance music which went totally against the feel and ambiance the decor creates. As such, we quickly hot footed it to the restaurant, in order to escape into what we anticipated would be a more rarified, genteel atmosphere…oh dear again…

The blaring soundtrack unfortunately followed us and that, coupled with the darkness of the dining room, made for a pretty awful eating location. The food was ok-ish – we were on the steak or lobster burger offer; everyone gave the thumbs up to the accompanying chips, but mains themselves were so-so. A posh filet-o-fish my friend remarked and she had a point. I just found the darkness, noise and general crampedness of the dining room, somewhere that I needed to escape from fast.

Despite the offer our bill came in at a whopping £160 and I'm still trying to work out how on earth we managed that, given that our main courses and wine was already paid for up front. Having had a great run of truly remarkable restaurant offers for some while now, I guess it was time that our luck ran out. A shame as on paper Reform sounded really good, but clearly their interpretation of a “gentleman's club” and mine differ wildly…

All a bit underwhelming to be honest. Five of us (including one veggie) arrived with relatively high hopes only to have them somewhat dashed by lacklustre service and food ranging from sublime to sub-optimal. Evening did not start very well when we were only asked for our choice of water (again another restaurant that only asks, “still or sparkling” with the brave punter obliged to proffer “tap”) and no-one appeared to want to take orders for aperitifs (handily probably saving us around £50 or so in the process!) This did however mean that we ate our amuse-bouche and pre-starter (both in the sublime territory) with nothing bar Thames Water's finest.

Starters were a mixed bag – I particuarly loved my beetroot baked in salt and balsamic but from my companions, no real noteworthy comments and between us we covered a good few of the dishes on offer. Mains were somewhat better received although those choosing the turbot and sika deer complained of the relative small portions. I on the other hand had a plate that looked like the kitchen sink had been thrown out with the hogget…

Desserts were delicious and very pretty to look at, but given the lack of atmosphere and indifference of the waiting staff, we were not unduly saddened when the time came to leave. “Did you say it has a Michelin star” himself asked on the way home in a somewhat disbelieving tone and I have to admit to sharing his disbelief…

Food and service were excellent but would query the “gastropub” tag as on the early Saturday evening we visited, it was more akin to a loud sports bar that serves great food. We were only in the area for the weekend, but if we found ourselves back there, think we'd try a lunchtime slot when perhaps the crowd and music are lighter!

So many reviews, so many comments, what more can I add? Perhaps just a rave about the dessert bar – genius way to turn tables and for a non-dessert fan, I was converted if only for the night. I don't usually enjoy chef's tables. but the team made it an absolute pleasure to watch them at work and you couldn't help but feel carried along by their enthusiasm and encouragement to just try another morceau…

Loved the food, the service and the relaxed buzz of the place – definitely on the “must return” list.

It started so well…the door flung wide and “good afternoon” rained down on us literally as we set foot on the bottom stair leading up to the restaurant (good job we weren't in two minds about going in!) Alas, it gradually went downhill from there on …

We were a party of three during a busy Friday lunchtime; two of us took advantage of the current D&D/Evening Standard restaurant offer, our third sticking to her lunchtime salad regime. We were provided with both the offer menu and the a la carte, but no pressure to chose the dearer option. The starters arrived after a noticeable wait, or perhaps it just felt lengthy being that food arrived before the wine! This faux pas was swiftly followed by another when the starter salad arrived fully dressed…despite the request to have the dressing on the side. The two offer starters were pretty good, my squid was excellent with a real chilli kick but why serve it on a wooden board making it difficult to stop pieces going everywhere?

Main courses were, sad to say, a bit of a let down. The chicken and vegetable pie arrived with no garnish nor side vegetable to liven up its appearance, and worse was to come when the “vegetable” element comprised just two slices of carrot. My mussels were plentiful but individually very small and it felt more like an exercise in eating than anything more enjoyable. Must be the first time in this country that I have ever left mussels for Mr Manners…

Despite only ordering one dessert, this was clearly too much for the staff and we ended up having to cancel the order due to the length of time it was taking. Whilst staff were apologetic, there really is no excuse for this type of oversight. True it was a very busy lunchtime and the tables are certainly rammed in, making it difficult for waiting staff to move around freely. At one point, I had to give two of them one of my “looks” as they stopped right next to our table and then had a very loud discussion about where to sit waiting diners…

Given its proximity to our office, I daresay we will revisit, but perhaps just for drinks and seafood – the outside area looks very inviting once we get the weather to enjoy it. But having experienced and thoroughly enjoyed D&D offers in sister restaurants, I have to conclude that this is currently the poor relative.

I rarely return to any Central London restaurants being that with so much choice and new places opening (and closing!) all the time, together with the nigh on impossible chance that a truly great evening can ever be repeated, why take such a chance? One place where I'm more than happy to break all those rules howwever, is L'Escargot. We first went there just over a year ago and last Friday saw our third visit, each one steadily improving on the previous experience.

Whilst the initial welcome at the reception desk is not what you could ever term “warm”, once you enter the wonderful room, everything is charm and elegance personified. Every individual member of the team greets you as you are shown to your table and service throughout the evening is of the highest standards; professional but friendly with nothing being too much trouble.

We're probably not the best to consult on the menu as in all visits we have never made it beyond the snails for a starter, although himself learned from his initial politeness and now steams in straight away with the full dozen. We've tried a few different mains, each of which have been well executed, beautiful to look at and taste fantastic. A constant has to be the side of gratin dauphinoise; it always looks a bit dry and unappetising but once you slice into it, it really is one of the best we've ever had (outside of that of himself's own making of course!) This time we came very close to ordering two portions but in retrospect are glad we didn't as it would have undoubtedly meant missing out on dessert.

Special mention has to go to their wonderful sommelier, Fabrice. Has a knack of asking the right questions (and remembering previous answers!) and his suggestions have always hit the spot. On the rare occasion his suggestion didn't work (on a glass of dessert wine) it was quickly exchanged with no fuss whatsoever.

It may not be the trendiest place in this part of town, but for old style glamour that delivers on the plate too, it has become an absolute favourite and we look forward to our next return.

As the August weather was not exactly conducive to a pre-theatre picnic in Regent's Park (Midsummer Night's Dream meets Big Fat Gypsy Wedding…hmmmmm) a decision was made to take advantage of the current Evening Standard offer (3-courses, glass of fizz, £30) at Orrery instead. Whilst the staff did their utmost to accommodate our tight timeframe, we were on a bit of a hiding to nothing and I certainly would not put Orrery on my pre-theatre supper listing. This is food that even on an offer, needs to be savoured and not rushed and it was close to sacrilige to wolf it down in just over an hour.

Our group of 6 pretty much got through all nine choices on the menu – I can't say I had any particular plate envy; my asparagus veolute and poached seabass were spot on. If I have any criticism it would be the apparent lack of knowledge of the waiter serving the cheeseboard; this may have been just due to command of English but even so, I would expect more than, blue, hard, goat and brie as an explanation on what was quite a large selection.

That said, the staff really made our evening, even packing up takeaway boxes of chocolate truffles for us as we did not have time for coffee. Be very surprised if they do not see some of us back there for a non-rushed meal in the not too distant future.

Courtesy of a Groupon bargain (5-course tasting menu, plus glass of fizz, £49 for two!!) we found ourselves embarking on the mission that is actually locating Quartier. Fortunately there is now sufficient advice available on line from previous trail blazers so that you have some idea of what you're looking for (entrance to number 8 Dysart St not number 1, head for glass lift, patch of artificial lawn, no signage) so that by the time you reach the restaurant reception area you can regain your poise and cast all previous doubts (is this really where we go?) aside.

First impressions were not great; there was no warmth in the welcome, the voucher demanded abruptly and a somewhat empty dining room with jarring muzak did not bode well. We were shown to our table without ceremony but the included glass of fizz was brought over immediately, and fortunately the evening then picked up immensely. All dishes were presented beautifully, the menu was very well balanced with each course complementing the other perfectly, the only criticism would be the speed at which we were served. However our request for a bit of a pause before the dessert was noted. Stand out dish was definitely the artichoke tortellini served with a luxurious and silky artichoke veloute, although the beetroot cured smoked salmon with a fiery wasabi sauce also deserves a mention. Our initial fears for the wine list (no prices published on their website) were allayed with a limited, but reasonably priced selection.

Service was a little cool at the beginning but thawed throughout the meal at our obvious appreciation of the food given the empty plates and positive comments after each course. Would we return? Am keeping a careful eye on the menu and as soon as the pasta dish makes an appearance, I'll be back!

Taking advantage of their current 3-courses and a glass of Prosecco for £25 offer, a girlfriend and I met up for one of our all too rare catch ups in the very elegant enclave of the Royal Exchange. Whilst I've spent many a time in the ground floor bar, this was my first “upstairs” experience and if last night was anything to go by, it certainly will not be my last. We were greeted warmly and politely and then shown to a perimeter table with a fab view of the aforementioned bar. The set menu for this offer provides three choices for each course and even that caused a decision-making challenge; eventually my friend went for the smoked mackerel, I opted for the ham hock and pea salad and we both chose the fillet of hake with mussels, creamed potato and spinach as main course. All dishes were beautifully presented, perfectly seasoned and resulted in very empty plates being returned by both of us. Dessert was another difficult choice and I will admit to a touch of plate envy at my friend's Madagascan chocolate and poached pear ensemble. Whilst my strawberries with cheesecake ice-cream rounded off my meal nicely, there was something very indulgent about her plate. She did suggest that I have a taste, but it disappeared at such a rate of knots, I didn't get a chance – ah well, maybe next time!

A nigh on faultless evening, despite the room being half full at the Saturday evening peak. The staff were absolutely superb – nothing was too much trouble and their knowledge and enthusiasm made us feel truly welcome. Imagine dining with friends who own a fabulous, huge, country house! The food was wonderfully fresh, beautifully cooked and presented, with generous portion sizes – again, another place where we did not make it to dessert! Of particular note are all the vegetable sides – absolutely bursting with flavour (almost) enough to make you turn vegetarian… A minor comment would be the hushedness of the room at times; could easily be remedied with some discreet background music or a pianist. That said, it is definitely on our return list.

What it lacked in clientele on our visit, it more than made up for in character and service. Could spend hours in there and still not tire of all the conversation starting objects and pictures on every space (including the ceiling!) Is not the cheapest bar in the world, but the premium included for enticing snacks, huge range of drinks and superb staff, makes every pound worthwhile.

I've been to the Delaunay twice in the space of about 6 weeks. First trip was abruptly curtailed when my friend was taken ill (not related to the food, I hasten to add!) But I was so taken with the place, that on leaving, immediately booked a pre-theatre dinner a few weeks later. Whilst I would probably not go again pre-theatre, I certainly would return when time is a bit more relaxed. It may not offer the best food (although personally I think it pips the Wolesley) it is such a wonderful room, with an atmosphere to savour, and the most unobtrusive but attentive staff – no glass refilling issues with the out of reach wine bottle here! The portion sizes are generous, so much so, that on both occasions, I've never managed to reach the patisserie delights, so a visit just for coffee and cakes is also on my “to do” list.

This review has to be read in the context that it is written by an ardent cheese lover, so impartiality has taken somewhat of a back seat…! Despite working nearby for some 2 years, I did not know of Androuet's existence until fairly recently, which given my current struggle against middle-aged spread, is probably no bad thing. Trouble is, I will undoubtedly be making up for lost time with regular visits from now on.

We had a table on the outside terrace which abuts Spitalfields Market, so great for people watching. Whilst the menu does cater for non-cheese fans, and we were briefly tempted by the “Slow Menu” (asparagus followed by lamb), we quickly came to our senses with two of us opting for the most unctuous tartiflette ever and the third choosing a proper croque-monsieur with chunky chips. We then shared a cheeseboard, which initially I was a tad disappointed with as the portions were not huge but as a supplementary course it was fine – whether it would suffice as a stand alone meal without a hefty price tag, I'm not so sure. The “create your own board” menu is great as it incorporates a good selection of both well-known and somewhat lesser known cheeses, all grouped into specific groups to enable a balanced choice. There are also charcuterie options and accompaniments, but to be honest, the cheese is so good it stands alone (although the charcoal biscuits were fab).

Staff are charming, pleasant, friendly and willing to proffer advice if required. A visit to the shop afterwards made me feel that I was with kindred spirits and a return visit will not be too far away. I took a point off for the portion size on the cheeseboard (given that each individual cheese comes it around £4 a pop), but that aside it was a wonderful lunch. All fellow turophiles should, if not already done so, make a beeline for this little piece of heaven on Spitalfields…

All a bit underwhelming to be honest. We went here on a Telegraph offer – 3 courses plus a cocktail, £69 for two. Despite making all the usual pre-notifications during the booking, there was a distinct reluctance to accept the voucher on arrival, something that I've never experienced at the likes of Petrus, l'Escargot and even the Savoy. They then carved out all the bone-in steaks on the menu (the voucher only mentioned 3 of the 5) and didn't even suggest they could be ordered for a supplement. They then did not bother to bring over the cocktail menu so we missed out on that too…

As mentioned by a previous reviewer, there is so much competition in the steakhouse genre in Central London, that this would have to be amazing to even get on the same page. Unfortunately, it does not. The substitution of individual Yorkshire puddings in place of a bread basket was interesting but not sure they needed to be stuffed with cheese at the beginning of the meal. The starters were granted very good but portion control was somewhat haphazard. The crabcakes were bursting with flavour and there was enough to (begrudgingly) share a forkfull; the scallops were tiny in size and limited to just three – himself thought they may have been cut from the same mollusc but even then it would have been a very small one at that. The steaks (ribeye and fillet) were ok but nothing out of the ordinary. Sides of triple cooked chips, bubble and squeak and spinach were again ok, but suffered from portion control. Too much bubble not enough…chips! Whilst waiting staff seemed to be in sufficient numbers, they certainly lacked on the attentive-ometer. I lost count of the times we had to ask for wine and water top ups – this is fast becoming my biggest gripe in restaurants. If you cannot be bothered to refill empty glasses, at least leave the wine and water within easy reach of the diner! On the upside, it did save us the expenditure of another bottle…

The bar is lovely and if I had cause to be in this neck of the woods on a more frequent basis, I'd certainly be making it a regular haunt. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same for the restaurant and the likes of Gaucho, Goodman and Hawksmoor have little to be concerned about.

I first visited Albannach a few years ago just for a swift drink, but had always earmarked it for a return visit, probably with a whisky loving friend in tow. Instead of which it was a special offer courtesy of Telegraph Selected that enticed me back last Friday evening.

On arrival, the welcome was not exactly warm and as we were a wee bit early, it was suggested that we had a drink in the downstairs bar, being that our table was in the ground floor area. I don't think I have ever done a u-turn quite so quickly. The lower level bar was, even that early in the evening, a shrieking mass of young people with the air of a somewhat seedy club (if my memory serves me correctly – such days are well and truly behind me now!) We quickly retreated to the other bar where the service was somewhat better than the initial welcome. It still is a whisky drinkers paradise, but I'm not convinced that the surroundings truly reflect the ambience required for true whisky appreciation…

The menu is somewhat limited, but for once, this is a restaurant that does what it does, well. I could not fault my smoked salmon or steak, both in terms of quality or portion size, but neither represent a particuarly exciting choice. The restaurant does however, have quite a “tired” feel to it, reflected perfectly in the way the menu pages were all somewhat curled, well thumbed and quite grubby. Must be one of the first restaurants I have been to in this price level that had no daily specials or additions to the menu, and overall, the restaurant just feels like an afterthought to both bars. Without the Telegraph offer we would have been looking at a total bill of around £150 – not excessive for central London, but I can think of many other places I'd rather pay that to…

A word of warning, they turn the lights down very low as night falls – I then managed to miss my footing stepping down from the slightly raised platform where we were seated. Fortunately I just suffered some bruising to my knee, hands and pride, but this just added to my overall indifference to the place.