gave it another shot....still pretty lacklustre sadly. gave it another shot....still lacklustre!
after a few years of saying no i decided, after reviewing the new menu and beer selection, that another try was warranted-a big mistake.
- no parking. an issue almost anywhere near the core in london but it is especially expensive and sparse in this area it seems. the pay parking rates are now $10 if you want enough time to sit and have a relaxed meal without fear of a ticket so be ready for that.
- menu/food. i was excited to see gone is the same tired old pub menu, replace by decent appetizers and mains which was nice to see but failed to impress. my girlfriend made the mistake of trying the lamb vindaloo. yes, its a pub but that doesn't mean they can't make a decent indian dish right? wrong. all the pieces for a great vindaloo were there: loads of lamb, vegetables, potatoes, spices and naan bread but....no sauce. sauce, the essence and entire point of this dish and it was dry!!
- service.servicewas pretty base model but what was really the kicker is that when we mentioned(politely, in a conversational tone) "this is good but really dry unfortunately." the server answered "well you should have ordered more sauce" seriously?! before i could even answer that she then added "this is more of an 'americanized' vindaloo" what is an "americanized vindaloo"?! we weren't looking for a freebie or an apology we just wanted to give a little feedback but what a gong show.
in conclusion, there are far better places with a better menu and prices that offer the same range in local beers to tempt your palate. due to the hotel trade this place will always have a first time customer base but as for recurring visitors i for one will not be bothering.
a little effort and courtesy go a long way.....