What a wonderful place we found while in London! We came…read morefor tea and sweets yesterday and loved the service and food so much we decided to come back for dinner! Amazing food and ambiance ! Our server Marcus was outstanding !! Very nice place!

Excellent food, service, and ambiance. My family is visiting London from Phoenix, AZ, we were…read moredirected to St Katharine's Docks for multiple food options by our hotel concierge. Côte sat our group of 8 at an outdoor table and we received our drinks very quickly. I really wanted something local so I ordered the Breton fish stew and was so happy with how it came out, we all shared bites with each other so we got a taste of everything - I have to say my choice was my favorite but the beef cheek and duck were also excellent in flavor and tenderness. We found out they do breakfast and will be back to try that menu too!

In London over the Christmas holiday and took our brother-in-law's advice to try a British staple,…read moreThe Jugged Hare. They are located just outside downtown London and near the financial district. After a long underground ride, we arrived at a classic looking British pub. We were seated downstairs in a very busy dining hall that looked like a proper hunting lodge kitchen. For Christmas eve, the place was packed with large groups celebrating the holidays. We ordered the sea snails with garlic / butter and sourdough, and deer tartar with game chips, mustard, bone marrow and toast. These were good and had a very rustic flare. For dinner, I ordered the red legged partridge, spelt, njuda and kale. The partridge was tough and not much flavor. The spelt and njuda was fantastic and a real flavor bomb. My first spelt encounter but definitely not the last. The kale was fine. The meal was solid but nothing to write home about. The atmosphere and setting was good along with the service. I'm glad we tried a standard English pub but not impressed by the food. Regardless of the meal, it was still a great family memory.

Came here for pre-theater fare before a show at the Barbican. Its proximity to it is a big plus…read more But service was a bit lackadaisical. We arrived with plenty of time and finished our main course with time too but then dessert inexplicably took a while. No servers came over to help and we had to get up to express the fact that our show -- again we ordered from the pre theatre menu and told them of our plans -- started in 15 mins. They finally came over with the dessert which we had to scarf down instead of getting the refund of dessert. Wasn't worth the fight but ruined an otherwise good meal. The burger was terrific for example. They also sat us at a weird table in the back that was difficult for the servers to get to and had sound reverberate so the loud table next to us just dominated the sound in the room. Just shows that a meal needs to have more than a good food to be enjoyable.

I bought a Groupon for afternoon tea here, as it was close to the hotel where I stayed…read more The things I remember about this tea service were that the food we received was plentiful and delicious (finger sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and jam, and desserts). This is no Harrods tea service but it was very nice nonetheless. The tea itself was excellent quality, so much so that I wanted to find a box of it for myself to take back with me. The views are pretty stunning if you are lucky enough to sit near a window, which I did. The restaurant had a few other patrons nearby having afternoon tea as well, and was pretty quiet. It was a nice relaxing meal. The service itself was very good, and I would recommend getting the deal and coming here if you have the opportunity.

This applies to Vicinity, one of the restaurants at this hotel…read more Great view and location but food was average and service poor. Waiter brought two drinks swiftly but not water that we'd requested at the same time. That didn't happen till after our meals arrived and I went to the bar. The bangers and mash didn't include the mushy peas, but the waiter insisted upon taking away the entire dish instead of just bring the peas on the side, as I'd tried to insist upon. When he returned with the new plate, after 10 minutes, I had no cutlery and had to go fetch my own.

Food was decent . Kind of bland. Not as good as the NYC…read morelocation Service was painfully slow and it's a shame. Great location inside the Ned hotel with live music but it can be annoying bc you can't ever have a quiet dinner. So you will love it or hate based on that. Food and service need to be a touch more elevated.

Had 8PM reservations at Cecconi's last night. Restaurant was pretty empty, asked to sit in a corner…read morebooth and the hostess said there was a party of three reserving that spot but no one ever came the entire night we were there (we left around closing). Took them a while to come to our table to take our drinks orders. When they did come we ordered espresso martini and a vodka martini. Definitely regretted the espresso intake last night, heart was racing. Two is more than enough. The espresso martini was sooo good we ended up ordering seven of them. The vodka martini was very different compared to what we are used to; not bad but didn't order again. For our starters we ordered the San Daniele, Gnocco Fritto, Focaccia bread w/ olive oil, Buffalo mozzarella, tomato and basil pizzette, and the Beef Carpaccio. The focaccia bread tasted a bit stale so we ended up telling the waitress and she was kind enough to take it off the bill. The beef carpaccio was good but needed some more dressing, and tasted a bit plain. The pizza was very very tasty. The sauce and mozzarella on top were delicious. But the SAN DANIELE WAS TO DIE FOR. My boyfriend and I were so obsessed we were going to go again for dinner to just order that. It was fried dough almost like zeppolis with thinly sliced prosciutto. SOOOO GOOD!! For our meals we got the Veal Milanese and the Cacio e Pepe. Both tasted amazing. The veal could have been a little thinner and needed salt but when we squeezed extra lemon it tasted good. I asked for the cacio e pepe with less black pepper and they listened. Cooked to perfection and tasted sooo good. The pasta was al dente just how I like it. For dessert we got the Profiteroles, amarena ice cream. Looked so good on Instagram pictures but when we tried it, it wasn't for us. The ice cream in the middle tasted icy and the profiterole itself was hard. They came to the table and poured hot chocolate sauce all over, very nice but still didn't help with taste. They were kind enough to also take that off the bill since we both only took one bite. If we are ever in London again we would definitely love to come back. Romantic vibes with dimmed lighting and live band. Loved it!

Darwin Brasserie is located inside the Sky Garden, and one of the biggest perks of dining here is…read morethat it's a convenient way to skip the Sky Garden line. We were expedited straight to the front, which made the overall experience much smoother. The food itself was okay overall. They were running a January lunch special with entrees priced at $19.50, which felt like decent value considering the location and views. My husband ordered the burger, which was pretty mediocre. The patty was overcooked and it was essentially a standard burger you could find anywhere, nothing memorable. I ordered the salmon fish cake, which was a pleasant surprise. It was nicely fried on the outside, tender on the inside, and paired with a creamy sauce that complemented the fish well without overpowering it. This was definitely the standout dish for us. The views were fine, but the building's arch can obstruct part of the scenery. Our food came out fairly quickly, and the pricing felt reasonable for a restaurant located at a major tourist viewpoint. One thing I appreciated is that you can book a window table directly through their booking portal, which helps set expectations so you're not disappointed if you don't get a window seat. Overall, it's a decent option if you want a smooth and convenient way to visit the Sky Garden while having a meal, but I'd keep expectations modest when it comes to the food itself.

April 7, Darwin Brasserie…read more Our family of four with two kids ages 9 and 10 had dinner here with reservations. We had high expectations due to the location, but the experience was mixed and did not fully deliver on value. Arrival and First Impressions Reservations are critical and were made months in advance. The restaurant sits inside Sky Garden; the views from the dining room are partially blocked by the ceiling structure and do not compare to the open views from Sky Garden itself. The Highlights Service was solid. Our server Papa was kind and attentive and helped guide menu choices. He recommended the pork chop (for me), which ended up being a good call and one of the better mains of the night. My wife originally ordered the chicken pie but was served the steak and ale pie instead. It turned out to be a pleasant mistake, and she enjoyed it. Dessert was a fun moment for the kids. They ordered the brownie with ice cream and chocolate sauce. The presentation was great, with a rich chocolate topping over the ice cream. The brownie itself was very rich, almost too rich for them, but still enjoyable. The Challenges The food overall was inconsistent. Both mine and my wife's mashed potatoes were cold. The salad was fine but nothing memorable. My daughter's pasta with pomodoro sauce was the biggest miss, with a very bland and simple flavor. My sons fish and chips were also a miss- the fish came with the skin on it, which immediately turned my son off. Small details like that made a difference. For the price point and the effort required to secure a reservation, the food did not live up to expectations. The biggest drawback is that you are paying for the location, but the best views are actually outside in Sky Garden. Kid Logistics Manageable, but not ideal. The menu is not especially kid friendly, and some dishes did not land well. Would We Return No. The experience did not justify the cost, especially with better views available outside the restaurant. Final Thoughts Darwin Brasserie benefits from its location inside Sky Garden, but the food and overall value fall short. It is worth visiting Sky Garden for the views, but the restaurant itself is not a must.

This is an interesting place. The location it's within is iconic - the Royal Exchange, located slap…read morebang in the middle of the City of London, London's financial capital. A beautiful, historic building with high ceilings and an awe inspiring open space. The cafe is located in the middle of the building but also on the second levels around the room. It serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Today I just grabbed a coffee and had a meeting. The place was busy, I couldn't even get a table SO had to sit at the bar. It was a good coffee but definitely pricey. I wouldn't say that it's somewhere I would instantly return to but it was pleasant and the staff were friendly and attentive.

Had a decent lunch here in a lovely building. Waiter and waitress were attentive helpful…read more We enjoyed the Haddock & Chips with mushy peas. Very pleased they had the default Sarson's Malt Vinegar. Burger was cooked medium and the added bacon & cheese was tasty. All in all an enjoyable lunch for a reasonable price, especially considering the location

Visited this small Italian restaurant while visiting London. We were greeted by a host and seated…read moreright away. The interior art decor was gorgeous, lighting was a little dark for me. Average noise level during lunch time. We ordered: MEATBALLS CALAMARI BLACK TRUFFLE & MUSHROOM PIZZA AGNOLOTTI DEL PLIN PASTA TIRAMISU the food were good but not outstanding. My pasta was just slightly warm - wished they served it hot. Service was good and fast. Friendly waiters. If I come back to London again, I'll try Cecconi's Mayfair- I read good reviews about that branch.

A good place for team dinners and large gatherings! Their pre fix set menu included a great variety…read morealthough quite pricey for the amount you get. COST $75 USD/ £55 SERVICE Excellent service, seated immediately FOOD Their pasta was mediocre, but their salmon and steak was delicious! We had a large party so there was a piece of salmon for each person. When it came to the steak, it was the most tender and perfectly salted, but everyone could only get 1-2 pieces for there to be enough for everyone. DESSERT The vanilla cream puff was refreshing and we each got our own tiramisu square. I really enjoyed the cheesecake as well (which was also shared). DRINKS Their hot cocoa was decent, nice to have it with your dessert. OVERALL Enjoyed my time here but don't think the $75 price tag was worth it given how little salmon and steak as the main entree you were given. It was also weird to me that we were given 1 slice of cheesecake for like 4-6 people when they should've just cut them into smaller cubes and individually served everyone. Everyone was breaking this one slide with their own spoon which didn't feel classy at all.

Ohh good ol' reliable Brass Roc. During my London UBS days, we used to go here at least once every…read moretwo weeks. For an afterwork unwind or for someone's leaving drinks or to gossip about the latest work news. They take reservations and serve some "fancy" pub-y food to snack on. Brass isn't as expensive as some of the other haunts in the area and is a stone throw from the office. What else could you ask for?! Just be careful not to drink too much. Chances are your boss's boss's boss is around somewhere, but hopefully he/she has no idea who you are ;-)

A great bar in Broadgate Circle, very close to Liverpool Street station. A brilliant location for a…read morenight out after work or a small celebration as this area is usually buzzing in the evening. The drinks are reasonably priced around £12-15 for a bottle of wine. You can reserve an area if you are planning a small party but be sure to book well in advance as the bar gets VERY busy most evenings. The restaurant has a variety of nice dishes on offer, including some delicious salads, which make it a great place to go at lunchtime.

Recently our team of 25 chose to enjoy dinner at One Lombard Street…read more Upon entry, the restaurant is elegant, open seating, high ceilings, with a bustling and busy atmosphere. When you eat here you know you're in the heart of the London financial district as the ambience and high brow feel vibrates inside the restaurant. In other words, it feels expensive and it's loud, obnoxiously so. This is not a quiet hidden gem but is a victim of its own open floor plan and music choice some manager deems. The service and food: When you find yourself at such a hip yet sophisticated place, you're right to set your expectations high. Sadly you're about to encounter the first preventable issue - the service. Our waiter was a busy and quick talking man who moved briskly darting here and there reminding me of the player in "whack-a-mole". Like the game, he reacted but rarely caught a pattern on how to best succeed at his job. For instance, we have multiple tables. The first couple received water, wine, and cocktails yet our table was ignored for twenty thirsty minutes. When I say ignored, I mean he knew he was missing us he just decided to focus what limited time on what he could control, and who would disagree if been in his shoes? This is one of the fundamental reasons we will not return as a team. The service was poor and underwhelming. The food did not help. It was small portions, complicated, aiming for a higher experience only to be missing the basic elements of what most would define as good. It was bland. I was "issued" a beet salad, even though I said I did not care for beets. The chef seems to think I would convert upon tasting. He is mistaken as were everyone who ate his beets in my group. Main course was a small chicken breast and potatoes. (Side note: my friend had the same dish only his potatoes were boiled and mine mashed, no one could explain why we had different dining experiences yet ordered the same item). The chicken skin was rubbery, an avoidable failure easily remedied with a salamander in the kitchen. One of the yanks at our table pointed out he had better rotisserie chicken at Costco - ouch. The cocktails and wine selection were the shining stars of the night. Sadly our waiter moved bottles of wine around so much we often found ourselves thirsty and frustrated, and dodging droplets of red wine has he carelessly dripped near our jackets and slacks. Overall I'd recommend you try One Lombard Street. Why? Simply because a restaurant should not be judged by one groups experience. I suggest you enjoy the good wine, make great memories and leave the restaurant with your own opinions and observations. Will I go again? Yes, simply because everyone deserves a second chance. Will I go a third if Groundhog Day repeats itself, no.

Had lunch with a group of six. The atmosphere is ok. It's a large airy place with a traditional…read moredecor that fits the financial district. The food was very good as well. We all enjoyed our menu selections. The service was slow and a little chaotic. It did impact how quickly we were able to get in and out. Overall a nice place, but could use a little improvement on the service side of the house.

My husband hates seafood, but he liked the risotto and as long as I cleaned the appetizer prawns…read morefor him, he ate them. I had the octopus and he even like that., and of course, so did I. He went so far as to have the blue cheese ice cream and liked it. Good service, nice atmosphere, on the water and close to our hotel.

Love this hidden little spot right on the water at the St Katherine's marina. If you're in the mood…read morefor seafood this is the place to go. I went by myself on a Sunday buggy and was seated immediately. Got the octopus and french fries (or chips, i am a yank ya know). I'll be returning at some point to try the rest of the menu. Great spot for low key intimate conversation with your table