Fino's Wine Cellar, Mayfair

It's like a second home to me, and has been for the last 20 years (OMG that's how long I've been working in Mayfair!). Marco and the boys always provide an extremely warm welcome and whether eating at the bar or in the restaurant, good food is always guaranteed.

22 Mar 2011 10:41

The Pottery, Kingston-Upon-Thames

Two girlfriends and I went here on Saturday night and I have to say I was extremely disappointed with the service. Firstly, they got the number of guests wrong (3 people at 8pm turned into 8 people at 8pm) and they therefore assumed we were in party mood and put us right next to the DJ. The flashing disco ball was irritating and the music prevented any conversation. The waiter, who we subsequently found out had only been there one week, didn't take our order properly and, in fact, didn't even ask me for my order. One starter and one main course arrived 15 minutes later and when we explained what we had ordered, the main course was taken away yet one person was left with a starter. Another starter arrived five minutes thereafter and eventually my starter turned up approx 15 minutes after the first one had been left. Credit to the female manager? (Maitre D'?) who was extremely apologetic and in fact asked us if we wanted to move to a quieter table away from the DJ, and the party of 20 who were just getting up to dance.

Anyway, this is all probably irrelevant, as this site is for pubs and we didn't experience the pub, just the restaurant - and although the food was edible it was nothing special and I certainly wouldn't recommend it.

22 Mar 2011 10:36