Mixed Leaf Salad Mixed Leaf Salad
Cucina Cafe

Cucina Cafe

Unit 3j-3k Belvedere Road, SE1 7GH, Lambeth, United Kingdom

Cafés • Pizza • Pasta • Asiatic


"We visited on Saturday, the night before the marathon. We booked a table. Came in, seen it was busy, so thought this is going to be good. We were seated late which was fine, no problem. We sat next to another couple, (tables were close) we ordered some drinks then our meal. Drinks arrived on our table, weren’t ours, it was the next table. We waited an hour for our starters, tables were coming in and getting served. A table of 6/8 came in and got their starter and mains before us. There was a lot of cross words at the boy in the hair band which I thought he was doing all the work and was very kind if I am honest. Garlic bread came was so dry. They kept going by saying have you eaten? Have you ordered? Have you had mains? Our mains came out an hour later and they didn’t know who it was for. The table next to us actually had to point out it was our food they heard our order. Being a restaurant manager I would like to say… 1. Don’t argue or talk to staff badly, anywhere, but especially not on the floor, I actually think it was maybe husband and wife, it’s not good in front of customers and I know it’s hard and frustrating work, but I don’t even think any of the customers were being rude, the people I heard ask where food was were all being polite. 2. We understand it was busy and every business needs money but don’t take in more people than you should. 3. When you sneeze please do it into your arm and not your hands then don’t wash them, I genuinely couldn’t believe it, hygiene is huge, especially in catering. I’m genuinely shocked I still ate my food after the person touched my plate later on. as they didn’t go anywhere near a sink or a sanitizer. Our mains were lovely. I hope the famous athlete who was in the restaurant at the same time got his food on time and amazing service. But, I do genuinely believe on a normal busy night this restaurant would be fine, just a few tweaks needed. 2 stars lost due to my hygiene comment and how they were openly arguing with one another."

Gables

Gables

14-16 Newgate Street Village Hertford, Hertfordshire SG13 8RA, United Kingdom

Steak • Pasta • Italian • Seafood


"Firstly, I am somewhat amazed at the reviews theis venue has based on our visit on Saturday evening. We arrived 45 minutes early for our table for 4 persons at 7.30pm as I had called ahead at lunchtime asking if they had a bar area that we could sit and select from the menu in advance of being seated in the restaurant. I was given the impression that they had a lavish area for this purpose. However, this was not the case and we were shown to our table on arrival which was probably the worst location in the restaurant that was sparse of diners at that time. I will elaborate on our table location as it made for a negative night. It was a circular table placed in a “gap” between the original restaurant area and what appeared to be an extension to the restaurant. This gap did have curtains that could have been closed which would have curtailed guests and staff squeezing between the wall and one of our chairs but when asked the Owner said he would not close them……. In fairness, “Theo” the Owner did offer the choice another two alternative tables but both were in no better location! We sat and ordered drinks and were provided with menus. The drinks arrived in a timely fashion and were made fine. I also ordered some wine which was decanted and allowed time to breath before being served. The wine was an Amorone but the year did not warrant the price he was charging but nonetheless was quite good. We placed our food order and in doing so I asked if chef would add a simple fried egg to top the steak I had ordered. I was told by Theo that he was down a number of staff on the evening shift and could not provide the egg. How many people would we have needed to fry an egg???? To be honest the whole experience was not worth almost £500.00 even though the food fine. We also found it disturbing the way Theo tried to control the waiting staff this may have been because they were young or new to the role but we felt that the staff did a good job and didn’t need micro managing! I am always curious when a front of house individual, who gives the impression he is in total control, loses the plot mid service. I did tell Theo I would give a poor review and he pretty much dismissed me so I dug a little deeper and it would appear the restaurant has suffered financial issues in the very recent past…….. this information is in the public domaine through Google. All in all we were so disappointed with a venue that appears to have a wealth of happy diners from their reviews……. It’s NOT that good Guys!!!"

Heliot Steak House

Heliot Steak House

10-14 Cranbourn Street Leicester Square London, WC2H 7JH, WC2H 7DW, United Kingdom

Steak • Drinks • Seafood • American


"Steak was seriously impressive. There were some oddities in the service though. I thought it was the kind of place that you wouldn’t usually go to unless someone else is paying. A lot of thought has gone in to the presentation of the food. It’s inside the Hippodrome casino so perhaps the customers want flashy, over the top presentation. The restaurant delivers that with beautiful bowls and dishes that come frothing with with dry ice. The Ocean Plate was nice but came with the wrong kind of soy sauce IMHO. Sushi is usually paired with a much lighter soy sauce. I had the 350g ribeye and it was some of the best steak I have ever had. Chimichurri sauce was nice. There are many steak options on the menu but most of them were unavailable (supply chain issues? . The side of chips and the side of carrots and peas were slightly dry. For dessert I went for the Mango Baked Alaska. It turned out to be a somewhat deconstructed variant that looked like something that had been run over by a motorbike, smoke still streaming from the box it was served on. The restaurant occupies three or so steppes overlooking a gaming floor. The spaces are narrow and loud and chaotic. Staff did a great job considering the environment but this is not somewhere you would want to go for a romantic evening. The service is oddly rigid as well. We had made two separate sets of bookings and it would have made sense to combine them into one booking but this didn’t happen. At least we got both groups sitting in the same area. You also aren’t allowed to order starters for your group and then decide on mains later. All food must be ordered at once by the whole group (they made an exception for one member of our group who was arriving later . There was no particular explanation given for this. The restaurant did not seem understaffed; there was an army of waiting staff on hand to deliver food and open bottles of wine."