The Delaunay

Arrived and were offered the option of sitting at the booked table or having a drink at the bar. We chose to sit at the table and have a drink. We weren't rushed at all, which is what you want from a good restaurant. My friends and selected our starters and chose to share amongst ourselves. The staff offered us additional plates so that we could share the starters. We each chose one. We chose the Monkfish as a main. This was very well cooked and tasted really good. The waitress wasn't ofay with the wines we were asking about and offered us the opportunity to taste one of the two wines. The wine we tasted didn’t seem the right fit for the food so I took a punt on the other wine which hit the spot. Ideally speaking to a sommelier would have been useful but we weren’t offered that option. Over all food good, service good but a little pricey. Highly recommend the Monkfish but drink red because of the pesto and garlic sauce not white.

I have been to the Delaunay previously did not have a good experience (sea bass food poisoning that was subsequently blamed on the norovirus)!! However, I was willing to give this restaurant another chance and I am glad that I did. For starters we tried the mushroom soup - which was absolutely delicious, right texture, full of flavor, my only criticism was that it was a tad too hot. We then tried the paprika chicken for two which was worth waiting for as the chicken was tender and again full of flavor - the vegetables were also nicely cooked. Overall the food was good, however the service was something that stood out for us. The door man was very polite, the check in girls were friendly and took our coats with minimal fuss. A quiet table was located for us - which is quite difficult as the restaurant was full and very noisy. The waiter was very knowledgeable and keen to assist us with our choices, he was friendly and service was relatively quick. The price was reasonable for two courses, including coffee and a glass of wine - £45 per head which was definitely good value for money for an enjoyable dinner.

Our first visit to a busy restaurant at lunch today. Disappointingly our table wasn't ready when we turned up on time for our reservation, and we were pointed in the direction of the bar ( we didn't want drinks pre-lunch) so we wouldn't get in the way. I did have to remind the greeters of our presence which seemed to arouse some sarcasm. Fortunately after that the service we received was uniformly decent. Sadly we both found the food well below par. I left part of my wild mushroom soup which had little flavour and a gloopy texture. The main course of beef stroganoff was quite unlike any version of this dish I'd had before and again was very short of flavour. My wife's plaice goujons /frites weren't at all exciting either. The place itself was pleasant apart from the fact that it was extremely noisy as some others note. Our bill for 2 courses each and a pleasant bottle of Luberon from the lower end of the list came to £102. We don't think that was good value because the food was uniformly mundane. I think this Brasserie will appeal to people who want a particular sort of buzzy ambiance, and prioritise this over well-cooked and interesting food. Certainly the place was packed to an extent that it's apparent that some people like it. But neither the ambiance and especially the food were to our taste and its unlikely that we 'll trouble them again.

When a dessert is served to the table by a woman in a white coat, it is clear a restaurant takes their craft seriously and it is wise not to skip this course. This was certainly true at The Delaunay where the Austrian influenced desserts taste as delightful as they look. A Black Forest gateaux filled with luxuriously rich chocolate mouse and a light sponge soaked in just the right amount of kirsch. I could go on but I’m not Paul Hollywood. The staff at The Delaunay match the wow factor of the desserts. My husband considered the dish of the day but didn’t like the sides and the waiter instinctively knew what he would prefer, Friendly, fun and considerate, nothing was too much trouble. We were celebrating a mile stone anniversary and The Delaunay was the perfect setting; dark wood panelled walls reminiscent of our honeymoon on the Orient Express, crisp white linen tablecloths, champagne glasses straight from the set of the Great Gatsby. The food is the impeccable quality expected from Corbin & King restaurants, simple, elegant and packed with flavour. Chicken Kiev bursting with garlic butter, plump mackerel fillets contrast with a citric salad. Thank you to The Delaunay for a memorable celebration.

The Delaunay is named after the prestigious French automobile marque of the early 20th Century that carried the proud name of Delaunay-Belleville. These cars were the epitome of luxury and craftsmanship in their day and among proud owners were the King of Spain and the last Tsar of Russia. They were not showy machines but ones that purred with efficiency and grace. This restaurant lives up to the name in terms of both craftsmanship and excellence. The food is not dependent on culinary contrivance but on high quality produce. Natural flavours are enhanced and not hidden under unnecessary spices or pretentious sauces. The Delaunay lives by the axiom that simplicity is at the core of true elegance. The dishes are those solid and timeless staples of a Europe to which Britain belonged and always will: pot-roast guinay fowl, lamb, roast cod, kedgeree, sea bass with kale, goujons of plaice, sausages, schnitzels, beef stroganoff. All are wonderfully cooked and nurture body and soul. The Delaunay is a large restaurant and is invariably busy and full. This makes the outstanding service all the more remarkable. The staff could not be friendlier and you will feel warmly welcomed from the moment you come through the door. The staff always finds time for conversation, for a funny remark, for an expression of personality. One is cocooned in an atmosphere of relaxed, warm-hearted and competent elegance. I have been to The Delaunay for breakfast, lunch, dinner and after the theatre. I have done so frequently over the years. I have never had any but a very enjoyable experience. This is a restaurant that lifts the spirits and speaks of a courteous and kind Europe of unpretentious good food and great style. Long may that Europe, and its very representative Delaunay, continue to thrive.. Bravo!

We enjoyed a very long leisurely lunch here on Saturday. The table was booked for 1.15pm and we finally left at 5.30pm, but the lengthy stay didn't seem to bother any of the waiting staff at all. They were welcoming and at no point indicated that they might need the table for other guests (as happens in other places). We were served by 2 separate waiters (the first was able to take his break and come back to find us still there!), both of whom were very professional, but we built some 'banter' with them as the afternoon wore on. The food was excellent - well-presented and arrived quickly after ordering, despite the restaurant being full. We had: Chicken Kiev, Eggs Florentine, Cod Fillet and Beef Stroganoff. All were excellent. The side orders were generous (watch out for the pickled cucumber salad though - it's delicious, but very spicy!). We can also highly recommend the Strudels for dessert! The waiters looked after us really well, keeping us topped up with water and wine, without trying to get us to buy more. The atmosphere was 'buzzy' - a real mix of the smartly dressed and those in jeans (us included). Lots of chatter and no background music, which our group appreciated, being of a more 'delicately-eared' age! It isn't a cheap restaurant, but I think you get what you pay for - it's a lovely place, great food and attentive service. The overall experience was really really good. I love this place and am looking forward to the next visit already!

A Christmas catch up with friends, and the place was busy and noisy, so noisy we had to shout to hear each other. The staff seemed harassed and perfunctory. The food is mostly familiar, is mostly good and generous in size. Three of us had prawns and avocado with sauce Marie Rose, all fine, no surprises. The chopped chicken salad was OK. Three of us had the Tuesday special - paprika braised short rib of beef, which was a bit chewy and the sauce more like a sweet barbecue sauce than expected though still enjoyable. The goujons of plaice with tartare sauce and fries were good, the sea bass with fennel, artichokes, and saffron dressing was said to be delicious. As it was Christmas we all went for dessert, though not really needed after those substantial main courses. The Franz-Joseph Kaiserschmarren with plum compote was new to us, a sort of fluffy pancake served chopped up with the fruit and sour cream, there was plenty for everybody. Cranberry & apple crumble with custard, and apple & cinnamon strudel with ice cream were as expected. The ice cream coupes were large with plenty of good ice cream and topped off with plenty of whipped cream. This place used to be quietly glamorous, but now it seems over filled and over rushed, with wine and water splashed into the glasses rather carelessly. It may well be better at other times of the year but I think I'll steer clear of it in mid December in future.

Although we didn't go into the onsite restaurant, we ordered some food at the bar a few times and it was delicious. The bar area and lobby were nice and open, good place to relax and meet friends.

To sum it up... Good food, slow service and very noisy. Quite expensive and expected more in the way of speedy service and ambiance.

Really loved the atmosphere here. It was a small group of us catching up and it was quiet enough to have a good conversation but without being too quiet. Food was delicious, and would definitely recommend to friends.