Robert's Reviews

Great shame…the views are great, the room lacks soul but when it's full it has s real buzz. But…and it s big but, the food is very average especially for the money you pay. We ate in the restaurant, the menu promises a fine dining experience, but what was delivered was something that fell well short of that. Won't be going back.

I got engaged at the Seaview, several years and at least one owner ago, so for as long as I remain married to the current Mrs B it will have a special place in our culinary hearts. The Seaview has a formal restaurant and a bar that operates on a first come first serve basis; I have more often than not eaten at the latter. The bar has a short unpretentious menu majoring on fish, its a small and very lively bar much loved by the yachting fraternity. I have never had a bad meal there. If you don't know the island well, don't expect a view of the sea, you can hear it but you can't actually see it.

Returned recently to the formal restaurant sadly before the new man from The Savoy arrives, not good on any level. Food dull and over cooked, service wilted under the heat, decor now looks jaded, bill much too large. Should have stuck with bar?

As a local I want these people to succeed where several others have tried and failed. Great room, as a good friend of mine observed, sat at the right table and facing the right direction you feel like you are in Manhatten not Kentish Town!
Thoughtlfully put together menu, emphasis on local and independent suppliers, nothing spectacular or different, more family favourites. Service is attentive and knowledgeable. Nice touches like they smoke their own fish, plays well round these parts. Execution of a couple of things slightly off, cheese souffle was a bit collapsed and soggy, salmon a little oily, and a red cabbage salad tasted too much of sesame oil. all of that said, mostly good, my youngest said fish, haddock, and chips were as good as Toffs, praise indeed.
We went for Sunday early supper and it was very busy which made for a great atmostphere.
Will be back

Been several times now, the best chicken and french fries in town. Like many good things, its a simple idea well executed. French bistro style, simple menu, good wine list not long but carefully selected and reasonably priced. Serving staff I would say have been recruited more for their visual appeal than their experience but they are enthusiastic, friendly and keen to learn! Atmostphere is as you would want it to be for a restaurant situated in the most vibrant part of town. I think its fabulous value for money, you would be hard pressed to source and cook ingredients of this quality cheaper yourself.
Great for chicken lovers of all ages, not so good for those who would be just as happy with a KFC.

Would now revise my view of staff, went last week ( Nov 2010 ) and was served by a very knowledgeable young lady. What they do they still do very well indeed, whats not to like about very good chicken and chips!

An institution revered and loved by the great, the good and the rich. Uniformed man opens the door and welcomes you in. Coats and bags are taken from you in a small reception area, a well dressed man will tick you off and hand you to another member of staff you will guide you to your table. All done very smoothly. The room is fabulous, stylish, open yet intimate and big. You feel that you are “somewhere” .
The whole point of Scotts, if you didnt know, is the fish, the menu is very similar to J Sheekey's but more expensive. The food is beautifully cooked and presented, there is nothing terribly imaginative going on, its not The Square, but it's done very well. Whether its worth £100 a head by the time you have had an aperetif and a bottle of decentish French burgundy and paid the service charge, I am not sure.

Another local. It has been a fixture in North London for many years and it still delivers. The menu always offers something interesting, and the food is well cooked and presented. Sometimes the service comes with a little attitude, but overall a very good gastro pub with a great atmosphere.

Update Feb 2010

First time back since the refurb. Have never had a bad meal here.

“Sutton its only 30 minutes on a train to some of the best restaurants in the world!” and until this restaurant opened that would have been Suttons only gastranomic claim to fame. But when Malcolm John opened up Brasserie Vacherin in November last year that all changed.
Think Cote with a wider menu and you're on the right lines, very good french brasserie. The lunch at just under £15 for three courses is staggeringly good value. All the right touches, freshly baked bread on arrival served with heavenly anchovy butter, tap water in jugs. Service is friendly, well informed and attentive enough.
I have been here more times in the last three months then anywhere else. Fabulous local restaurant that almost makes you wish you were local!

Haven't been in years and went last week after seeing Dominic West at the Donmar. The staff look like they have all just come of the set of Mad Max or some other equally apocolyptic film. They also communicate via walky talky which for reasons I cannot fully explain, added to my sense of unease. If you haven't booked then you are held in an area which they call a bar, but believe me feels more like a holding pen. Credit where credits due we were told the table would be ten/fifteen minutes and it was five.
Downstairs is long benches and cages full of bottles of beer. Their thing is mussels and frites and I wanted to be impressed with both but sadly wasn't. Too many very small mussels and frites that just weren't very tasty or crisp. The service was brisk but not terribly bothered. It was very busy and its a young crowd, lots of people sharing stuff which is nice.
Good for taking teenagers and students who haven't eaten for a while.