Easily one of the loudest restaurants you'll visit in London, it has the noise level of a pub on a Sunday night at peak times, mixed with the poshness of a 5-Star restaurant situated in one of the city's most expensive districts. It is usually always crowded after 5PM, and being that it's the after-work drinking spot for the local business people, simple conversation is a no-go.
I was always drawn to this place for it's fancy atmosphere and clever marketing touting the unique and enchanting cocktails, as well as its top-quality food. I am sad to say, however, that none of it lived up to the hype. If you're planning to grab a bite to eat for dinner, reservations are a MUST, and highly recommended at least a day in advance. Given that the Google reviews were warning me against the burgers, I asked the waiter for his best recommendation and he suggested I get the Buttermilk Fried Chicken Burger with Chipotle Mayo, and an order sweet potato fries thrown in for good measure. It was all good; nothing to write home about. The flavor in the burger mostly came from the chipotle mayo, which could hardly be called spicy. And true to the reviews, the fries were on the softer/ soggy side.
The cocktails, while interesting on paper, were hardly above standard-quality. The Espresso Martini was "meh," the 'Art Gallery,' while perfectly sweet and creamy took 15 minutes to make and less time to drink- even when taking really small sips. The 'Good Night Out' was the fanciest of the bunch, with Tanqueray 10 Gin, Crème de Mûre, lemon, and gold shimmer; also not as enchanting as advertised, but a good refreshing way to finish off a heavy meal.
The one good thing I'll say about this place is that while packed and overly-noisy, the food and drinks aren't as expensive as they could be, given that this joint is in one of the priciest parts of the city. And, what better way to end your evening after catching a free mass at St. Paul's Cathedral next door? You do, however, get what you pay for, so don't get too excited.
The final downside: Due to the high volume of customers, the service tends to be pretty slow; however, that doesn't stop them from limiting your table time to 2 hours, despite taking forever to take your orders. In short, don't get too comfortable. read more