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The White Swan

The White Swan

108 Fetter Lane, City of London,Westminster, United Kingdom

Fish • Meat • Steak • Cheese


"In the middle of a busy week, I decided to be a little naughty by jumping off the work for a few hours. A quick text to my friend and a finished customer meeting later, I was on my way to a lazy lunch. We had heard about the recent White Swan at Chancery Lane. Mr. Flavour and I were once regular and could not wait to see the new version. Unfortunately for him, he was gone in business, letting the ladies explore in his absence. This former irrigation hole was historically a popular hunt for the Fleet Street press brigade before turning into a Posh pub and dining room. Now again opened as a pub and cophouse, the locals are already coming in the queue. At the entrance we served the delicious flavors from the dining room on the upper floor. However, rule number one of boozy lunch dictates a freky G T must be consumed before eating one. Gin is something the white swan has in abundance! Our sophisticated bartender led us to a Hendrick's gin, served long and chilled with a cucumber band. That's the point! The new chophouse theme was certainly well preserved. The white tablecloths and wallpapers are replaced by trendy exposed brickwork and deep stained wooden tables. This beautiful room is available for private rentals and would be a great place to impress your friends or colleagues. The menu consists of pub favorites, cuts of British finest meat and fresh fish from South Coast Day boats and British fishing ports. If Mr. Flavour had been here, he would have made a hive for the 45-day White Park Sirloin with Béarnaise and big chips. We believed something easier. The salad baked Celeriac, Blue Monday cheese and Kale salad with chestnuts was divine and flavored with a beautiful earthy seasonality. My friend ordered Iron Age “Pick and brawn”, Pickles and English Senf, who came in the form of a terrine. I couldn't resist helping me to a greedy disaster. The Albarinho was certainly a suitable partner for the fish nets to follow. Fluffy fish cakes with peas tomato relish were mouth-watering crispy and burst with horror. I had never ordered Gurnard before and his fleshy texture was beautifully complemented with braided fennel. The big chips were absolutely smashed and made us dessert without room. As much as I enjoy a maid lunch, it's time like this when I miss my pretty man and his inexorable appetite. A quick espresso later I was returned to the office with a spring in my step and a very satisfied belly. I can't wait to introduce my customers to this wonderful new venue, available 7 days a week."

The Allegory

The Allegory

1A Principal PlaceWorship Street, London, United Kingdom

Casual • British • European • Vegetarian


"Dear [Restaurant Manager's Name], I hope this message finds you well. I wanted to share my experience at your establishment, The Allegory, located at 1a Principal Place, Worship Street, London, EC2A 2FA. Unfortunately, my partner and I found our meals to be quite disappointing. My partner's chicken skewers arrived lukewarm and seemed stale, as though they had been sitting out for a while or were reheated. I ordered the vegan taco as a starter, but it was unbearably spicy, making it difficult for me to enjoy the meal afterwards. I question whether it should have been that spicy. For my main course, I chose the vegan curry, which was also lukewarm and unappetizing. I managed to take a few bites but felt embarrassed to leave most of it uneaten, so I requested to take it with me. However, when I exited the restaurant, I was still hungry. Given the total of £42.75, I felt the price was quite steep for a meal that we did not enjoy. I have heard wonderful things about your restaurant and wonder if our experience was just an off day. We were genuinely disappointed in our culinary experience and I felt it was important to provide this feedback. Additionally, I would like to inquire if there might be a possibility of a reimbursement. I attempted to fill out the feedback form on your website, but encountered an error stating, "failed to send your message." Thank you for your attention to this matter. Best regards, Carmel Farquhar Phone: 07817 620 414"

The Refinery St Andrew Square

The Refinery St Andrew Square

5 St Andrew Square, Edinburgh, City of, United Kingdom

Steak • British • European • Vegetarian


"Vegetarian Options (Vegan upon request) WHAT WE HAD (3 Pax): 5 A Day £4.75] – Mint, Blackberries, Blueberries, Raspberries, Greek Yoghurt and Apple Juice; Radiant Roots £5.95] – Apple, Carrot, Ginger, Celery and Fennel; Golden Mango £4.50] – Mango, Tumeric, Yoghurt and Almond Milk; Full Veggie (Specially Made Vegan) £8.95] – Beans, Spinach, Mushrooms, Avocado, Grilled Tomato and Toast; Buttermilk Chicken and Waffle £8.95] – Avocado, Sour Cream, Jalapenos and Chilli Maple Syrup I came here for breakfast with my friends as they wanted to try the Buttermilk Chicken and Waffle. I did know that they have vegetarian options from the menu we saw the day before, but wasn’t sure if they had anything vegan. It turns out that they did not have any specifically vegan items on the menu. However, the waitress and kitchen was very accommodating and made modifications to the full veggie breakfast for me. It was your typical full breakfast made vegan that was simple and cooked well with fresh produce. I really appreciate how helpful and accommodating the staff were, especially in answering my questions in assuring me it was vegan. Really made me feel at ease. My friends enjoyed their Buttermilk Chicken and Waffle too which was a good portion too. We all loved the juice and smoothies we ordered as well! We also had a look at their cocktail menu which intrigued us. Excellent customer service, good vibes with the bright and fun décor that is still classy, good food at reasonable prices, I do see myself coming back here for dinner/to try their cocktails if I find myself in Edinburgh again."

The Stratford Brasserie

The Stratford Brasserie

20 International Way Queen Elizabeth Olympic ParkE20 1FD, London, United Kingdom

Juice • High Tea • Cocktail • Bar-lounge


"The experience was marred from the start by the service. We were left standing at the wait here to be seated position. At least four members of staff stared straight at us and ignored us. No one came over to advise that a hostess would be along shortly. When a hostess did arrive, she told us we would have the table for one and half hours, which directly contradicts the booking terms on Open Table, which state two hours for a party of four.On being seated, when we asked what the composition was of the cocktail of the month Pornstar Spritz, we were told: is Champagne and some juice. Ignoring that the Champagne reference is incorrect, why can't waiters simply say that they don't know and fetch someone who does?After we replaced that waiter, the service improved, although a request to have roast beef cut from the rarer part of the joint was met with a look of complete confusion. Eventually, having been given a choice of medium or well done, I went with something else. The food was for the most part good, although my baked eggs were added to the dish too early and were consequently hard and the roast beef ordered by another member of the party was so well done that a cobbler would have rejected it. Ambience is good, in that the space is reasonably tasteful, but it is a cavernous hotel lobby space, so if you're looking for something intimate, look elsewhere. Prices are fine.The Riedel glassware is wasted this is never going to feel like a tasteful outing in the West End.The house Champagne is Perrier Jouet, which is better than most"

Shepherd's of Westminster

Shepherd's of Westminster

Marsham Street London, SW1P 4LA, SW1P 4LB, United Kingdom

Pubs • Steak • British • American


"I booked a meal at Shepherds Restaurant because it was convenient for an event we attended before having lunch because we were attracted by the offer of 25% discount on the whole bill. On balance the food was expensive for what it was. Shepherds pie for instance was priced at £19 or £19.50 came literally as just a small bowl of shepherds pie with no other accompaniment other than a small bottle of Worcester sauce. I found that bemusing because the shepherds pie should surely be tasty moist enough to not require additional Worcester sauce. The shepherds pie did not look very moist a small jug of gravy would have made a good accompaniment the dish. We all had potted shrimps to start but these did not arrive potted but had been turned out on to a slice of toasted brioche. The shrimps were not especially tasty or inspiring. I thought the brioche was too sweet did not pair well with the shrimps. The bread on the table was very tasty would have been better with the shrimps. One of our group ordered the Barnsley lamb chop which arrived with a sprig of rosemary on top but was otherwise totally unaccompanied by sauce, gravy or anything else. The service was a little rushed my friend’s empty wine glass was taken straight from her hand as soon as she had finished drinking without any enquiry as to whether any more wine was wanted. When paying their bill the table next to us who had the same 25% discount offer found their bill was for the full price although it was amended when challenged. The same thing happened to my table being charged the full amount made a difference of £70 ! We challenged the bill it was duly amended, but my dining friends I were not impressed by this. We got the impression that they were trying it on if you were not quick enough to spot that you had not received the discount, you could easily pay the full price. Overall it was a disappointing experience I would not return or recommend Shepherds."