Find and book great restaurants
Book with us & collect points to spend on fantastic rewards. It is that simple.Learn more »
Do you find listings for chains such as Pizza Express, Strada and Zizzi's useful when looking for a restaurant on squaremeal.co.uk?
London’s most comprehensive guide to restaurants and bars
It always seems to have customers at the Wharf… always busy at weekends… It does what it does well. …It's the standard menu…Service relatively efficient…and it seems to please the general public… We're not talking 5 star here. In relaity it's a glorified canteen…but if you want a soup , plate of pasta and a glass of wine… this does the trick.. I Mainly use it as a lunch/in between shopping stop… or in summer it's nice to sit outside and people watch… It gets my thumbs up
Was this review helpful to you?
Previous reviews a bit harsh… Mind you they are old ones…perhaps they have new chefs now !…Gauchos…it;s a chain ..We ALL know about them …so when I read a complaints re the prices…?? One knows what one is going to Gaucho's for and the price..?…So why the shock ?…,,,,A steak is going to be £20 minimum …No..it's not Goodmans or The Palm …but you go there knowing what you are going to get ?… This one is local to me… Bar area is ok… ( better in summer when you can sit outside)…Service is always ok…and always polite..It's like a ‘no brainer’ …I want a steak now…ahhh Gaucho !! …It maybe one of many…but from what I see at the Wharf it's doing very well still…No…I dont go there that regularly …but its always OK when I do…It's like other restaurants…sometime things go wrong..When I have had a steak there that has not been cooked to satifaction…they have done me another one …They have their usual wine list which yes…it's a bit over priced …but good enough… Don't really know what more to add…Gaucho..it does what it says on the tin !
Well it does what it says on the tin…it's a canteen. This is a place people stop off at in between shopping or that have kids. It's not brilliant …All day breakfast in good if you're hungover…eggs benedict good… They attempt to offer home made Pies…(they may well be so…but they sometimes forget to put the filling in )… The do cater for kids which is good… they do fish n chips…and sandwiches etc … .Service is good .. it's clean and It;s not that bad…but it's not a proper canteen with proper canteen prices…
Very mixed reviews. We all have different tastes/ideas//views…but I'm going to be as honest as I can. La Figa is the sister restaurant to Il Bordello. They like to stick to their sittings… 07.30 – 9.30pm…and then the late shift. …but it's not LAW . You do have to book though . .It's a busy vibrant place …for me that isn't a bad thing. .It's not a tinkling of cutlery or quiet conversation type place, .Contemporary design to the place and as you enter you see this long bar that caters for the pre dinner drinks..(some prefer to actually eat at the bar..) I think table cloths would be nice…but that's a me thing. .They are Italian to the core…warm smile …very busy aura about the place ..rushing here…rushing there. They like to sit you , serve you and then move on. But it's all done very politely and with good heart… thats the way they are. Quite an extensive menu with a specials one attached. They serve all the pasta dishes you can shake a stick at. …cooked anyway you want it…and yes…they are LARGE portions. If you have 3 teenage sons then this is the place to go haha ! We have always been greeted warmly and with a smile. The one time the table wasn't ready..it wasn't an issue… a free to drink always helps a 20 min delay .. If I have any pasta dish I always ask for a 1/2 portion..I literally cant eat the protions they serve. Hey …big portions you can leave…small ones you can't change. So when you sit and see the food that is served at the table next to you… ask for the size you want. …simples ! Last visit I asked for a child portion of arrabiatta and then had the claves lives for main …bof of which were cooked freshly and served piping hot. My partner had grilled fished with lemon and garlic sauce ..again not bad at all. If something isn't right…they'll change it for you.. Waiter service is fine…A quick raise of a hand is soon approached. The manager is constantly walking and observing. I personally don't mind the place. No I wouldnt go there every week…but once in a while,,,or with people who have big appetites it's a good deal. Yes it is very good value for money. . yes it is worth a visit…yes I will go back …
I was just going to update my reviews and then as I clicked on to Jamies I saw the previous comments. Enough said Jamie… you,ve cocked up big time with this one son !… It's a shambles…I dont get this wait / inability to book a table lark. …As a cook how can you employ people who really can't cook a plain pasta dish ?…and let's be honest ..that is what ALL the pasta dishes are here…PLAIN ! ..Service is hit and miss. If you are caught in a busy period your food will sit under the heating lamp… Servings aren't that big…ambience isn't all that … and to cap it all … It's not that good value for money. Don,t go down the Ramsey route and get too big for your boots J !
It's local for us..We used to frequent it a lot…but not so much lately… And when we do go it's more because we have a ‘feel sorry’ sentiment towards this place rather than going out for a good meal . It used to be an OK place…It used to be our nearest italian,,,,..The staff used to be Italian …They used to be rushing around…They used to be busy…they used to cook a decent bit of food…you can see where I'm coming from ? The cooking standards have gone downhill. The menu needs changing..The staff need educating about the menu and they need to speak English. All in all it's a crying shame. There is roon at the Wharf for a good Italian. ( no Jamies is not ! ) Perhaps it has got oo comfortable with the expectant lunch runs and the good location ? .. But for weekend dining it's needs to sort itself out ..I'd love to see the returm of the old restaurant that was…sonner rather than later…or else it will lose more and more customers.
I was not keeping my hopes up too high… Spanish tapas has room in the UK eating market place but good ones are few a penny in my view. Camino has prime location next to Gauchos on the waterfront near the Four Seasons hotel. Divided into 2…nice open roomy bar as you walk in and the eating area on the right. Bar was spacious and lively. The clientelle seemed to range across the board in age…and there was no evidence of sillly loud drinkers . We booked for 8.30 pm…warm welcome…escorted to our table…again a nice atmosphere…lively buzz in the air … I'm going to get the negatives out of the way first as they were my initial impressions after all . It did take a while for them to get to serve us and ask us for drinks. We could see they were stretched from the onset…and by the time we sat to actually getting our food was a good 1 hour 15 mins…My first impression of the food menu.?… Not a lot of choice… Now I have that out of the way.We move on. We had a couple of decent bottlles of Tinto…not too expensive… the food we did order was pretty good. Lovely meat platter for 2 which consisted of a sliced up steak…spanish black sausage…chargrill quarter of chicken and some spicy pork salami/sausage. ( a bit expensive for what it was…£30 ..one hungry man could have done it ) …lovely Langostines in garlic n butter…ration of fried Croquettes with jamon ( they were nice ) … plate selection of hams and salami also touched the spot.,,,ration of baby fried squid. For 4 of us…round of pre dinner drinks…2 bottles of red…and the food… £235…Hhmmm …not that cheap. Will I go there again ?.. Yes..I definately will…Lovely staff…but perhaps next time I can see myself actually sitting in the bar area and having a more traditional stand up wine and tapas eveningl. The slow service I'm sure was a one off…and I'm sure when we go back we will be recognised and will be forgotten. I still think they could add a few more bits to the menu…Definately worth the visit… Can see this place being very popular in summer.
Well I doth my cap to Goodmans. Mid week evening meal. We booked for 7.45 – 8 pm…Warmly greeted on entry. Great little bar to the left as you walk in that was buzzing …but not too loud !. We had a booth and were escorted immediately to our table. We were presented with the board of meats and the waitress described each cut in turn , gave recomendations and answered all questions. We all ordered different cuts of meat. I had the ribeye ( which is always a gamble in the UK ) Well it was the best ribeye I've had in a long long time. …and tasting eachothers cuts I can safely safe everyone's meat was TOP NOTCH. The wine list was extensive enough and had some quality bottles. The service was perfect. Not too intrusive ..but then not that distant. You only had to raise you head away from your guests and someone was there…even with it being fullto capacity ..the staff were very attentive. I will not hesitate to book here again. Downside ? . Like The Palm… this place is not cheap. …but worth every penny. It is without doubt ‘up there’ with the best steaks Ive had. Just go…try it for yourself…you wont be let down !
The place is very small and the tables are very tightly packed.. much like previous reports…we went with high expectations. There was obviously problems with over-booking but we got our table. Without so much as a hello we had the menus thrust in front of us, simultaneously being asked what drinks we would like. Menu was limited and they had run out of a few things such as the soups and crab. One menu was an old one that had meals and wines that they no longer served. So we ordered the belly pork starters and some steaks for mains. Once ordered the meals came quick and fast… as the starters left there was no more than 5 mins gone before the main course came along. …still masticating the pork we moved on . Steaks were ‘ordinary’ to say the least..the mushroom and tomatoes I think were equal in size to the meat …they forgot one portion of chips ( came as we were finishing )…and the veg was cold On completion , the main plates were taken and we were immediately asked what deserts we would like. With 1 1/2 bottles of red yet to be drunk we asked for more time. ..we got 10 mins before we were asked again…still 1 bottle left…10 mins later again… so I ordered 2 more bottles to put a conclusiosn to it. We had not even been sat more than an hour at the stage when we realised that the place was packed to the rafters and the VERY small bar had at least 8 people waiting to be sat. From the comments and people walking out it was onbvious they had over booked and the pressure was on to get tables cleared. Well I wasnt going to pay good money to eat ,gulp and get indegestion ! They now sussed out that I wasn't going to be rushed. The waiters then got very worried when everyone kept asking for the menus thinking they were going to ask for more food…but it was purely to FAN ourselves..the temperature of the restaurant got so hot .. More arguments ensued with people not being sat. …you get the picture… Marco has been sitting on his reputation for as long as he has had that overcoat of his ! Similarly to Lanes inthe City …his restaurants are begining to thin like his new Gravy stock ! He needs to get the level of food and attentiveness of staff UP to the dizzy heights he beleives he holds! .If he would only change the menus as much as he changed his women and perhaps removed one or two tables, people would be able to eat with the persons they came with and not the guests at the next table. Get it sorted Marco ..there is a lot of good competition out there… you'll be joining the ranks of Gordon Ramsey soon at this rate …
It is very hard to disagree with the previous 4 -5 reviews. I've been in and out of LB for years…yes the food quality has gone down hill massively … yes the service has somewhat deteriorated … yes they cant hope to cling on to the old reputation … yes the menu needs to be changed … yes the clientele has somewhat gone down hill… Would I go back ?.. well I always end up dining there during the course of the year … do I go out of my way to go there … no…but if someone else pays or has arranged it …I'm back to square !… Come on guys !! Something HAS to be done … Bring LANGANS back to where it should be !! if you leave it like it is …it will not only fall off my radar screen …but will end up closing own …which would be a great shame !
Skylon is divided into 2 parts …one massive room with the biggest windows that overlook the Thames …one side is the brasserie…bar in the middle with seating area for drinks and bar snacks…a la carte on the other side. It is without doubt a vibrant place… and it has a decent decibel level…but we did not find it at all problematic…in fact it added to the energy of the place. Downsides for us …just 2 spring to mind .. being the popular place it is, the bar is far too small and crowded. Hard to get served if busy. . There is seating by the window and around the bar for drinks…but there seemed to be an endless supply of people ‘ hovering’ for the slightest hint of someone vacating a seat ! Again not a biggy…but in the busiest time…you will be standing for a while… 2nd was the toilets… It was outside the restaurant and available for general public use as it was in the first floor Foyer area. …so we had the progressive problem of cleanliness as the evening went along. Now the good bits ! Vibrant atmosphere…Both young and old mixing …a genaral good crowd …Great river view…Staff service and politeness was exeptional…food was good and there was a decent selection of wines. The food portions I personally found were not the biiggest in the world but well presented . well prepared and tasty. We settled for Veal kidneys and pork cheeks.. both perfectly cooked and flavoursome. All in all a good night out that can cater for all tastes…young…old…romantics… Eat in the brassierie area then have after dinner drinks … just go to the bar area and drink and have some snack food…or go all out and sit in the al la carte area and watch the boats go by and be pampered a bit. It's a place you have to go to…and a place that will always be in the back of your mind to return to as well !
I'm sorry … I think this place is just great ! I will agree 2 things … it is VERY expensive… and yes.. Europeans just don't eat plates that big ! .. But regardless I enjoy my visits there … I love the staff there … the long dark wooden American bar is just made for ME !…the welcome and general service has always been excellent… I… It just works for me ! I tend to sit in the main restaurant rather than the booths. I've yet to have a bad bit of meat there ( and at for £40 + I'm grateful ) … last visit my partner tucked into the lobster ,…superb …and again was of a decent size ! .. We love the side dishes such as the asparagus tips fried in butter…the squid .. and the fries…hmmmmm !…Let's not harp on about a healthy balanced meal that's good value for money and where the number 28 stops right outside.. That is not what this place is about.. It's about indulgence ,,,nice wine ( again restricted to wallet size as the older vintages can be brutal ) …great service… good decent steak,,, No good complaining about the price afterwards… you know how much it's going to be before you go .. so go with an open mind and empty stomach …enjoy …just make sure you have a few after dinner drinks to dampen the shock of the bill when it lands !
You got to know what this place is about before you try it … It;s all about getting there at a time so you dont have to queue… eat…drink and leave !… if that is the timetale you are on …done deal !.. quite simply…it's French …it's steak and chips with their special sauce …it's red wine .. it's pay and go ! The staff are fine… yes they are not there to have a chat and compliment your tie or blouse !… they are all about turnover… but not to the degree they will ask you to leave ! But its not a 3 hours over a meal job . The steak and chips idea works for me … house red is just fine… This one is far busier that the one in the city ..bit if I am hungry and I see a spot…i go and enjoy…others times I can't be bothered to wait for a table.. …but you have to give it a go !
It feels all very good from the off !.. a lift for the restaurant …nice staff at reception .. very big and open.place which is split in 2…the bar / brasserie as you enter …and then kitchen lies in the middle…with the a la carte on the other side… Lovely huge windows on one side overlooking Canada place and modern decor gives you impression that good things are to come … Bar area pleasant enough…great offerings of drinks…you can either sit on a stool …comfy chairs or stand until you get called. I always find an open view of a kitchen a good start. After a few aperitifs we sat down. Again the a la carte side had an original seating plan…Traditional tables along the windows and tables that seem to be placed along 2 semi circular sofas… it's weird …but it sort of works. Service was in general OK. Food in all honesty I think was overpriced for what you get .. i.e 4 asparagus as starters £7 ?.. …The bill with a couple of aperitifs …3 courses and a bottle of wine was £185 …Menu wasn't outstanding,,,Nothing jumped at me…standard meat – fish – veg dishes … unfortunately for me it has '' been there done it ''' written all over this place. Nothing keeping me away from there…but nothing necessarily pulling me back in …
We happen to live nearby…so the ER is very convenience but that doesn't mean we go regularly… saying that we are always recognised and warmly greeted with a smile. Sitting next to the river overlooking Greenwich Cutty Sark it is a great spot. The restaurant is divided into 2 …separated by a great horse shoe shaped bar. There is a seating area where you can relax , drink cocktails and have snack food…and then on the other side there is the main restaurant with many tables catering for 2 to a private booth to a long table for 20 people …The atmosphere is invariably good … especially Thurs Fri and Sat nights. Friday and Sat they have someone either playing the piano or guitar…singing on and off during the evening which is nice to have. The bar has an array of locals… to regulars… to passers by…and the staff do work tirelessly to make everyone happy. Food is always fresh…I don't think I have ever had a ''bad meal'' .. The ER has a decent selection of Thai food…from stir fries to sizzling dishes to their red, green and yellow curries… The one negative I could give it ?.. They could change their menu …( hence why we go once every couple of months ) The cooks however can be seen doing their thing through massive windows which run along the walkway as you enter the ER .. …which is always a comforting thing. .In the summer months all the door are open and tables are placed outside for alfresco dining which is always VERY popular…as is the Sunday buffet…You pay a straight fee and help yourself basically. Give it a try .. It;s not the cheapest place out there…but it has a nice pleasant atmosphere …I'm sure you'll like it …