The Botanist Sloane Square

Not happy about the service at all. The Botanist's reputation is sinking. Years ago it used to be the pearl of Sloane Square...now it's the place where you DON'T want to be. Locals and regulars are usually the ones who bring the good vibe (as well as the money) but we are not treated as such so we prefer go elsewhere now.

The Botanist is as close to its competitor Colbert as it can be without becoming a tube station. Colbert buzzes indefatigably morning, noon and night. I like Colbert, and very much too as my increasingly dated review shows. But I also like The Botanist as it is in keeping with one's more restful moods. The Botanist does not buzz. It hums. It is pleasantly full without ever feeling crowded and noisy. The food is very good indeed if in a dependable kind of way. It could do with a more differentiated menu, perhaps with odd Los Angeles-type ingredients like fennel pollen and such. In short, I would like it to live up to its name with odd green things in it. That would also set it apart. The wiener schnitzel pales somewhat by comparison with its neighbour's - it is ever so slightly soggy - but the sea bass in sauce gribiche is nothing short of outstanding. As with the hum so is the service. I have reviewed Colbert separately and written of its tendency for service to verge on the hysterical. No such handicap for The Botanist. Service is impeccable, quick and attentive but relaxed, even if the restaurant is full. If you are lucky to get Victor you will receive all of those traits and more. Victor is a wiener Holstein of a waiter as you get a great sense of humour on top. In short, Sloanes and everyone else, go to The Botanist. It has every right to stand proudly next to Colbert and, unlike Colbert, you needn't book your retirement lunch when you are only twenty one.

I go here very regularly! Always a great buzz, food is good, drinks are good, staff are friendly and you will always meet cool people here.

The two of us both chose the roast beef. It was excellent. I particularly liked the selection and amount of vegetables which are so skimpy in many restaurants. Despite my misgivings I also enjoyed the lavender ice cream with the cheesecake. The staff were attentive but patient when we kept failing to address ourselves to the menu. This was much appreciated as the two of us hadn't seen each other for at least two years and had a lot of catching up to do! The restaurant had a good buzz but not so we couldn't hear ourselves talk – another bonus. Will definitely go back.

Good food and good ambiance, Slow service which could be improved upon.

Poor quality meat wasbadly cooked – it was tough and unappetising. I had to leave it. Really poor value for money and quality. Staff have no awareness of different types of coffee and lacked training. Couldn't wait to leave and have no intentions of going back

Hungry after having been to an inspiring play at the Royal Court Theatre on the Sloane Square, the Botanist on the corner seemed like a good idea for dinner before we were to retire for the evening. As you enter, there is a chic drinks bar and restaurant, each with its own specific areas and both buzzing with activity I must say on this Friday evening. Though we did not have reservations, we were courteously shown to our table for 2 and quickly settled into making orders and enjoying the slick ambience of this restaurant. We just had a single course each this evening, and for my friend it was a dressed crab in main course portion, whilst I chose to try the confit de canard. We shared sides of broccoli which were tastefully done in a white cream sauce. Food was good to adequate, whilst the service was helpful and polite without being too intrusive. We spoke of course about the play and replayed some of the dynamics of how it took such real excerpts from our modern day life, and how it was really rather realistic and thus foreboding. The Botanist certainly scores not only for location but also its buzz, and though food was probably more adequate to good, we would certainly not be weary to turn up again after any other activities we might have finished with on the Sloane Square in future.

Ahh the Botanist…we have shared many great evenings and indeed, mornings, together! Having lived just down the road from the Botanist it became my local and I must say now it isn't on my doorstep I do miss it. This is the place for an evening of cocktails, canapes and laughter with friends. The champagne cocktails paired with chilli salt squid, steak tartare and Spanish olives is just divine. The salmon fishcakes are also incredible and to be honest Ive eaten so many I'm surprised I didn't turn into one of their delicious fishcakes myself! The food, even the bar food snacks, are all exquisitely cooked and exceed expectation. Surprisingly I've not had a formal sit down meal in their restaurant before, in my mind it hasn't ever seemed the place for that, I much prefer snacking by the bar as it suits that laid back feel. And besides, just to get a table in the restaurant seems quite an act of skill! The bar area does get incredibly busy, I always found the best approach was to act like a German with a sunbed and get in there early and don't move! The Botanist has been a venue of choice for many a breakfast though! I have yet to find a breakfast to beat it. I also have never spent more money at a breakfast before but thats another matter. I viewed it as one of life's luxuries that needed to be indulged. The scrambled eggs with Scottish smoked salmon and toasted English muffin are to die for! This followed by the fresh fruit platter and one of their wonderful fruit smoothies or milkshakes made it into a great morning! Yes this place gets busy, and yes maybe some people come here to be seen, but really, try to get over that and enjoy good food and fine drinks!

I recently visited The Botanist on one of my friend's recommendations, she told me to be prepared to fight my way through some perfectly described ‘Sloane rangers’ sipping cocktails in the bar to get to the restaurant. She was right, with fighting gloves on we patiently navigated our way through the beautiful crowd to get to the dining room. We didn't make a booking but were lucky enough to be shown straight to a table. The menu was different to the one that my friend had described to me but our waiter explained that it had recently changed to keep up with seasonal ingredients, something they do every two months. We were spoilt for choice and decided on each having different dishes so that we could share. The wine list was impressive and not as intimidating as they often can be, with the help of our waiter we chose a bottle of Argentinian Malbec which was very pleasant. To start we had cod cheeks and tongues (something i'd never even heard of before!) and a beef carpaccio. Both delicious. For mains we chose the lamb saddle and the venison loin. We congratulated ourselves on such a fine choice, and left our plates clean. We ended up finishing the evening with a wonderful selection of British cheeses. Service was great, attentive but not intrusive and we felt very looked after during our meal in an obviously busy restaurant. The bar started to die down later on into the evening so we moved into the bar for a nightcap. The bar is very impressive feature at The Botanist and the bar team were busy making cocktails for the glamourous men and women who had perched themselves in front of them. It's definitely somewhere where i would recommend to my friends, i will be visiting again soon for cocktails with the girls.

The Botanist is a charming place- dinner is a bit sedate, but lovely bar. I liked how the crowds are boisterous & dress to impress. A scene of Chelsea girls, boys & wannabes, a great destination for summer drinks. I've also had tea there & it was a good choice. I liked how it was a bit eccentric, yet traditional. Somehow I always feel like I've had a good night after visiting there.