Selection Of Ice Creams
Spring Restaurant

Spring Restaurant

Somerset House, New Wing Lancaster Place London, WC2R 1LA, WC2E 7EN, United Kingdom

Italian • British • Vegetarian • Contemporary


"The space is really lovely. While we waited for some of our party to arrive, we sat in the tree lined atrium, which has a sky light and beautiful tactile plasterwork resembling leaf veins. The main room is also light and airy, with charming installations of drifting porcelain leaves along the walls. We came for lunch, and I imagine both rooms to be at their most attractive during daylight hours. While waiting with drinks we were served good olives and outstanding smoked almonds sprinkled with fried rosemary and coarse salt. I started with gnudi with spinach and sage butter. Nice simple sauce of lemon and butter, but I would have preferred the sage to be a little more fried so that it lost a little more astringency. Buttery sauteed spinach was delicious. My main was panfried sea bream with turnip greens, jerusalem artichokes with a garnish of cooked tomato and olive salsa. The fish was perfectly cooked with a crispy skin. The sweet sauteed jerusalem artichokes were my favourite part of the dish. Lunch was pleasant, and all the cooking was very well executed. However, besides the smoked almonds at the bar, nothing about my food was particularly exciting. Perhaps I am starting to suffer from a jaded palate. Service was knowledgeable and gracious. Although we did sense a touch of disdain when some of us ordered downmarket limoncello at the end of our meal instead of dessert."

The Stamford Public House

The Stamford Public House

The Firs, WA14 2TG, Trafford, United Kingdom

Pub • Vegan • British • Vegetarian


"Considering your post what a shame that your manager chose to shame my girlfriend and I on a recent visit for a meal because we are exempt from wearing masks. On two occasions we told staff we were exempt and had it shouted across the establishment that we need to have a mask on as we waited to be seated. Also then for a member of staff to ask us to wait whilst they ask their manager if we are able to be allowed in. Upon being seated the manager, who I have to add has been great on previous recent visits and always welcoming and friendly, then came over and again asked why we didn 't have masks on and that we needed letters as PROOF and that anyone can claim to be exempt . This was done with zero discretion and in front of other customers. There is no legal obligation to provide proof and that is on the official government website, my girlfriend checked this after the manager walked away. We both felt totally embarrassed to have been asked further in front of other customers and to have to be told we have to provide proof of our exemption. The dealing of the whole situation was disgusting and to be spoken to in such a manner for having an exemption. My girlfriend felt we should have said something after the meal but we chose not to. I fully understand this year is a testing time for everyone and especially the hospitality trade at the moment with curfews also but of all days please show some understanding and awareness that people have good reason to be exempt from wearing a mask and beyond a visible reason. I just hope you are more welcome to future customers regarding the wearing of masks and don 't choose to belittle and shame them in front of other customers. There are several reasons for being exempt of wearing a mask, one being them causing distress and anxiety, with relevance to today and your post, so I hope you can please show more understanding in future."

The County

The County

The County Hotel, NE46 1PS, Northumberland, United Kingdom

Steak • Pasta • High Tea • Bar-lounge


"My wife and I have been to the County Kitchen a few times for their Sunday Carvery. So why, you may ask have I only given the County Kitchen 3 stars and entitled my review as lacks consistency? Well the title does say it all, it isn 't that the food and service and surroundings are bad its just that as a complete package it...........lacks consistency. Perhaps I should explain rather than repeating myself Our table was crammed in with others in the small conservatory/veranda area. It felt cramped as we were against a pillar and so close to at least 6 other diners that it felt uncomfortable and unwelcoming, especially as the rest of the restaurant was empty. Moving on to our food. We opted for starters, followed by the carvery. My wife 's starter crab haddock fishcake, with chive hollandaise was presented nicely and according to her very nice but lacked flavour . Mine was pork belly terrine and chutney my comments mirror those of my wife 's. Lacked seasoning and flavour, but looked nice. I echo Greg Wallace 's thoughts on Masterchef the other day..... ...would rather have something that tastes good rather than a dish that just looks pretty... Now the carvery you have a choice of at 3 roast meats plus vegetables and if you feeling really hungry there isn 't a limit to the number of times you can go back. But for most appetites 1 visit is enough. Being a little greedy I had a couple of slices of port with yummily crisp crackling) and some beef. The carver described the beef as medium rare my preference) but it was more like medium to well done so it was a bit tough and chewy shame as it looked a fantastic joint of beef). That finally put an end to our meal, we paid our bill £59.95 incl bottle of wine, and starters) and left. I have to say that this hasn 't been our experience on other occasions, so perhaps its was just an off day. Will we go back? Probably, but we won 't be rushing back. Its not a bad place, it just.....lacks consistency!"

Walkers of Whitehall

Walkers of Whitehall

15 Craig's Court Whitehall London, SW1A 2DD, United Kingdom

Pubs • Wine • Steak • Coffee


"My booking was for a pre-theatre meal for myself (mum and 2 kids (age 14 12 during the Easter school holidays. I made an 18:00 booking online via the pub 's website, which was straightforward enough, and received a confirmation email on booking also a reminder email a few days prior to the reservation. We arrived on time, but there was no staff around, so we followed the 'dining ' sign made our way down to the second level to the area that said 'wait to be seated '. We stood and waited for a member of staff, and then saw a table with our name on it, so we seated ourselves. Unfortunately, there was a large group of men standing by our table. No big deal- it happens, so I got up to find someone to let them know we were there and also to ask if we could possibly have a quieter table. There was still nobody around at the 'wait to be seated ' area by the kitchen, so I popped to the bar downstairs. The bar staff were friendly but said they would need to check with the dining team. After a few minutes, a guy with a beard arrived. He said he hadn 't seen us come in. I asked if we could move to one of the tables on that level as it was much quieter, and there were free tables available. He said that we could but that it is always loud at the pub and it is likely to get loud downstairs, too, once the other group arrived (there was a reserved table set for 8+ . I still saw this as the better option, because at least the next group would be seated, so we wouldn 't feel as hemmed in. He didn 't make an effort to re-seat me, so I went back up a level to get my children, and we moved downstairs. We then chose one of the 3 empty (no-reserved tables and sat down. We waited for someone to come and take our drinks order give us our menus, but again, no one was around. I was starting to worry that we 'd be late for the theatre, so I went online to their website to view the menu, so we could make our decision and have our order ready for when someone eventually came, but there was still no sign of anyone! Not wanting to get up again to try and find someone I decided to ring the pub on my mobile to remind them that we were downstairs. The person on the phone said they couldn 't hear me and hung up. Shortly thereafter, the man with the beard came to the table, but instead of taking our order he told us that we would have to leave because they don 't allow under 16 's after 6pm! It was like one thing after another! Thinking it might be because they like to keep it adult only and they don 't like kids running around, I motioned to the empty tables around us. Even though my kids weren 't exactly little children, they are very quiet mature, and certainly better behaved than the group of adults on the middle floor! He then proceeded to argue that he would lose his liquor license if he allowed them to stay. I don 't know if this is true or not, as we didn 't stick around to argue the case, but if this is true, then they should inform you of this beforehand. But there isn 't any such detail about this rule on any section of their website. There was also no mention of it on the booking system/booking confirmation email. As an aside- all of the reserved tables had a time slot on the sign that had already passed- meaning they had multiple no-show reservations. Yet we turned up on time only to be asked to leave! This left us right in the lurch because we needed to be at the theatre by 7:30pm, and with no booking for anywhere else, I feared we may end up at Macdonalds, which is annoying given I made these arrangements 2 weeks in advance! Fortunately, we managed to get a table at the pub next door, where we got our meals quickly, and the atmosphere was warm friendly. I would definitely recommend AVOIDING this place if you have kids or teens, as they are NOT family friendly. It was a frustrating experience all round."