This was our third visit to Black and Blue on Wigmore Street, a restaurant which seems full of…read morepromise (hence our multiple return) but unfortunately for them, we weren't third time lucky.
I and three friends sat down, ordering drinks and then food. Once it arrived, after a forgotten side dish, we began eating.
The food in itself was very tasty, it was cooked well, satisfying and not overly expensive given the location of Black and Blue. I was not disappointed with the quality of the food or the preparation, although the complimentary salad was distinctively "complimentary".
The restaurant has a nice ambiance, but the booth tables are far too small for 4 guests given the large and multiple accoutrements given.
The service at Black and Blue is what really disappoints. After completing our main courses, we were kept waiting with empty plates for 20 minutes. During the meal, the waiting staff are intent on staring directly ahead, avoiding any eye contact so no spurious requests are asked of them. Once our table had been cleared, we decided to order a desert, but a further 15 minute wait changed our minds.
Presented with the bill, and a further wait, we asked the waitress to remove the optional 12.5% tip from the bill. A harsh remark was instantly uttered, It is not a tip, it is a service charge! We tried to remark back that, had it been a 'service charge', one would've had to actually receive service, but she had turned upon her heal and briskly walked off. She, unbeknown to her, gave the only sense of urgency and speed we had encountered at the restaurant that evening.
Overall, the general quality of Black and Blue on Wigmore Street seems to have gotten worse over the few times I've visited. The food is good! but they need to drastically improve the service.
