I agree with Katie's "secret, exclusive club" comment. We showed up at 6:15pm last Thursday and quietly asked for three seats at the Servery, suffered a mild panic when asked to wait so they could check remaining spaces, and then sweet relief when we were ushered up the narrow stairwell... through the Servery kitchen, into the Roast Room, as there were only two seats left at the kitchen counter. I was a bit sad, but also a bit relieved for my vegetarian dinner companion.
The Roast Room ("R. R." emblazoned in gold on the door) houses one large, chrome-topped table. It's dimly lit, with piles of brightly-coloured fruit in the middle of the table, so even in here it's best for small groups of no more than four, preferably seated around a corner so you can all converse. We had this set-up for the three of us and it was great. Because of the way the room is arranged, it's very easy to converse within your little group and not feel rude to the other guests seated around the table - but it's also very easy to come out of your conversation and ask for someone to pass the olive oil!
I suppose we must have looked a bit too comfortable with the situation, because the waiter assumed we'd been before and knew what the deal was. We had to nicely correct him and ask for the rundown! He also assumed that all three of us were after the Beast & Beaujolais, so it's a good thing my vegetarian friend spoke up. Apart from that slight confusion (and a bit more confusion over the bill at the end of the night), the service was absolutely charming - and it was also a nice surprise to find that the matched wine stretched out to "two and a bit" glasses.
Our "beast" for the evening was goat leg (spotted as we walked through the kitchen), served with a stew and a bit of rich mashed potato. The slices of meat were quite gamey and chewy (not surprised, because... goat) but the goat stew was absolutely divine, as was the fresh bread and butter that was served as an appetiser. It was perfect stew weather, too, with light rain falling outside. Very French Provincial romantic. Dessert was a pistachio and quince tart. What a lovely evening. read more