"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."
Crispy Squid
