First off, I would like to commend Haxells for hiring so many magicians to work on its wait staff. I mean, I'm assuming they were magicians because they disappeared quite often.
The Strand Palace is too nice and classy of a hotel to have such a mediocre restaurant on its premises. The first thing one notices, hotel guest or otherwise, is the number of disheveled, unbussed tables as you approach the restaurant. I counted SEVEN tables piled high with dirty dishes and this was during a lull in the afternoon, not the morning rush. No excuse for that.
The staff/management seems to match these tables in that they are somewhat confused by who is working which table, which customer has been waited on, or a general understanding of how restaurants work, in my honest opinion.
Once seated, it took about 10 minutes for a server to take my order (again, it was a slow time) and about 15 minutes to receive my club sandwich. So, while the service may be lacking and the restaurant's appearance may be unkempt, at least the food is bad to mediocre. My club sandwich was dry; there were NO condiments on it, nor was I offered any. But the servers where so scarce and I was hungry, that I started eating anyway. Dry and as flavorless as biting into a stack of gloves and napkins!
Well, I'm sure you're thinking that at least I only suffered through it once, right?
Sadly, no. I was a guest at the Strand Palace, a hotel I adore, and I received 7-pound coupons to use at either Haxells or The Gin Palace. My plan was to buy a cocktail or two my last night London at The Gin Palace and use these coupons but since my last night was Monday and my beloved Gin Palace was closed, I was determined to get my money's worth so I used the three coupons I had collected for the breakfast buffet, determined to get my full English.
Again, the service was off because nobody seemed to know what to do. And even though it was breakfast, it was not terribly crowded. I asked for coffee, a coffee pot was set upon my table by one server, then another server picked it up and took it away! I ended up going to Costa around the corner for my morning coffee!
Haxells looks good from the lobby (when the tables are bussed, that is) but the food and service simply do not even live up to standards set at the following restaurants, where I have had much better service: Applebee's, Olive Garden, Longhorn Steakhouse, Denny's, Chili's, and, yes, even Waffle House!
The Strand Palace deserves better than what Haxells has to offer. I will stay at the Palace again but I'm saving my coupons for The Gin Palace. Plus, since The Wellington is two doors down (amazing Sunday roast) and there are TWO Pret a Mangers across the street, save yourself the hassle and avoid Haxells! read more