Bresaola
Bacco Restaurant & Wine Bar

Bacco Restaurant & Wine Bar

25-26 Red Lion Street Holborn London, WC1R 4PS, United Kingdom

Wine • Bars • Pasta • Dining


"Booked a table on Saturday for a simple dinner for 2 before a birthday party. On arrival to the almost empty restaurant, I was promptly given a table by a fire exit, (which I asked to change to a table away from the door and in a more pleasant part of the restaurant). The chair at the first table had also seen better days and sank down as soon as I tried to sit in it, which was another reason I asked to move. On being seated at my new table I was given 1 menu, even though I had booked a table for two. The waiter seemed disinterested frankly. When my partner arrived she was left to sit at the table for quite a while without a menu until we requested one. We ordered our meals and drinks, then had to ask again for bread, instead of it being brought to us. The first course of fried calamari was tasteless and bland, with more breading than squid and at £15 a portion it was not good value at all. When asked if I enjoyed my starter, I told the waiter that I didn’t like it as it was very dry. My £16 spaghetti crab was smothered in tomato sauce and it could have been any kind of protein in there, tuna, sardine, it’s impossible to tell. My partners seafood orecchiette was adequate, but was still £18 Desert was a dark pannocotta which was ok. £8, we asked to share one and two were brought to us, so 1 was sent back. The bill came to £115 (including an obligatory 12.5% service charge), and with a top table discount on the starters and mains knocking £30 off that total to make it £85, I really don’t feel this place is either good value for money or worth visiting again. The food was bland and indifferent, much like the waiting staff and the decor. I feel this is a tired West End restaurant, knocking out overpriced and sub standard food to people on business or shopping. If you are going to spend £100 you should expect a great meal and considerate service. This was very far from that."

Humble Grape Islington

Humble Grape Islington

11-13 Theberton Street, London I-N1 0QY, United Kingdom

Wine • British • European • Vegetarian


"For my main course, I had the Rump Steak, which was cooked rare as per the butcher's recommendation on the menu. This was truly the best steak I can recall. It had an incredible smokiness, as if it had been grilled over coal. I suspect they use a grill capable of reaching very high temperatures, providing a steak that's far superior to anything cooked at home. It was served with hearty chunky chips, a few sautéed green beans, some unsweetened arugula, and watercress, accompanied by a delicious herb butter. I didn't taste my companion's hake fillet dish, but it looked wonderful. It featured crispy skin and a lemon-butter emulsion with fresh mint, along with pan-roasted cucumber. For dessert, I ordered the dark chocolate fondant, which was beautifully executed with a gooey center. It was topped with a crispy mix of nuts and crushed pralines, adding a delightful crunch. My companion had the crème brûlée with fresh berries. The rich custard was sprinkled with some celestial flakes beneath the caramel top, which was caramelized to a rather dark shade. Personally, I prefer the complexity of a dark caramel that possesses a slightly bitter edge. We enjoyed a bottle of rosé Grenache, which was excellent and fruity. I also ordered a glass of the house red to accompany my steak. We took advantage of some discounts at the beginning, but at full price, our meal including service would have totaled £97—and it was worth every penny. Don’t forget to check out the stylish restrooms, complete with artistic cork designs that align with the overall theme."