On my London layover enjoyed steak & chips & a pudding platter delish! Orig Post 8/2/13 #dodrinkdine read more

Villandry - 28 day dry-aged Galloway #steak fillet béarnaise sauce with #chips tossed in #Parmesan & white #truffleoil - French Near Me - London, XGL

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First night in London and my party of 6 decided to try Villandry. We arrived around 6:30 pm and were seated immediately. We ordered a variety of starters including the salt and pepper squid, mezz platter, watermelon feta salad and shrimp. For dinner, most ordered the fish and chips, but I had the fish cake. Overall the service was excellent and the wine selection was great. Although the food was good, I wouldn't consider it out of this world. Nevertheless, the ambiance is great for a group and the dessert display is amazing. Worth a try! read more

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Second time coming to this place. It was booked by my friends who wanted a decent restaurant to celebrate thanksgiving. The service was great but the food wasn't awesome. Particularly the main dish (Turkey), which should have been the highlight. The turkey turned out really dry and the the meat looked slightly dull. The meat portions were huge, but some of the sections were slightly cold. Surprising. The starters and desserts were good though. Ordered the shrimp cocktail and chocolate mousse. Those were probably the best two things aside from the main course. Shame. I should have gone for the halibut instead. My friend ordered that and was surprised how tiny the portions were, but apparently it tasted extremely good. Overall, I wouldn't say it was a horrible experience, but I was quite disappointed with how the turkey turned out. I guess it's a give and take. Still having mixed feelings about this place. read more

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Hmmmm.... now I can decide if I want to give this place 5 stars. it's good, really good, but has silly prices attached that make it a little less special that it could be. Great quality food, from a simple freshly varied menu with a side of snobbish customers. Okay okay I did have fun and it was more chillaxed in the "cafe" area that we ate in but seriously, still silly priced. Apparently if you get a tastelondon.com card you can get 50% off here so that's what we did and lunch for 2 came to £20, great value for money. read more

Had lunch with my husband at Villandry today and I must say, it was almost perfect. Ambiance is great - it's a bit on the noisy side but overall the decor is great and the restaurant is spotless. The crowd is beautiful, and for those that are into Instagram, this place and the food is definitely Insta-worthy. Service is excellent. Our waiter was friendly and food came out fairly quickly. Food is excellent too, although portions aren't very large. -- Poached eggs on top of avocado and sourdough is delicious. I know this particular dish isn't exactly difficult, and even I could probably replicate it, but somehow it was just perfect. I highly recommend it. -- Chicken sandwich - Husband didn't like the focaccia but he did love the chicken. (There was too much bread for the size of the filling I think.) -- Sweet potato fries/chips were amazing. Not greasy, with a ton of salt - just the way I love them. -- Tomato salad was nothing special - I wouldn't order this again. -- Chocolate souffle cake with salted caramel ice cream. I didn't try this but my husband devoured it. Which is a great sign. Overall we really enjoyed our lunch and I'd return in an instant. I 100% recommend giving Villandry a try. read more

Went to Villandry for the first time last night and enjoyed the restaurant portion of it. Was a bit confused at first since had to walk into the bar section, through the kids section, past the deli section, and then into the restaurant section. The menu is simple - 1 page and the back is the wine list. The crudites starter came with warm anchovy cream sauce that had a little tea light under the wee copper pot to keep it warm. I had the chicken paillard entree and was pleased with the strong herb flavor. First time I'd ever had an "Eton Mess" for dessert and found it was too sweet for my liking but then again I'm not a schoolboy! Would go back the next time I'm in London. read more

This deli is chic and an everyday place to stop over for a cup of coffee. They have a restaurant and bar as well so be prepared to be lured by creative french cuisine done very tastefully. Most of the basic food is imported and then its cooked up to make an array of interesting new dishes. Villandry sits in a part of London which is a residential and office mixed used of space. Marylebone high street is quiet a close walk from here. They have free baking lessons for kids; Little People's Cookie classes every Saturday at 1:00pm, but call to check in first. Saturday gets perfect when you wake up and crave for freshly baked bread with coffee, uuumm Villandry it is then. They have a great selection of baked breads mostly french........but fresh! So if you love your food and ambience, drop in to this very chic gourmet place. read more

Villandry - French Near Me - London, XGL

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I cannot recommend Villandry enough. My friend and I enjoyed ourselves thoroughly when we recently visited the Villandry Charcuterie for lunch. We enjoyed a cow's milk cheese platter, an Italian charcuterie plate with a leafy salad and a lovely bottle of wine. Absolutely fabulous. It was a chilled out afternoon where we sat for perhaps 4 hours catching up and enjoying the atmosphere. No one bothered us, they let us sit there enjoy out food and wine. Villandry is a foodstore, bakery and bar all in one. There meats are really fresh and tasty. Next time I will try the Steak and Old Speckled Hen Ale Pie. I will let you know how it goes. read more

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As an American in London, I thought this French restaurant quiet good. The staff was friendly and polite. I would highly recommend this place. read more

Villandry - French Near Me - London, XGL

The Croque Monsieur is my jam. Anytime. All the time. Every time. Served with a fresh, green, leafy salad and a sparkling water --- really, it's the meal of champions on Great Portland Street. read more

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Not quite sure I "get" the Villandry concept- a restaurant and a coffee shop (small) and a food store( small, pricey, and not, strictly, any different from scores of other delis) and a bar.Is there another bit I missed ? That aside, the layout of this place is somewhat labrythine - organising a breakfast meeting and trying to corral all participants into the right section felt a bit like doing air traffic control into a fogbound airport. By mobile phone. In fact, not wholly unlike the relevant bit in Die Hard II. I can't comment on the food. Coffee was fine, service was OK ish ( oh-so-slightly condescending - perhaps because they "got" the place and I didn't), but I did rather object to the charge ( £2 or so) to cater for one guest's request for a cup of hot water with a slice of lemon. But of course, maybe the staff deserve to look a wee bit smug, since we paid up. read more

Villandry is a warm breakfast place in a very convenient location in the area. Their menu is simple, more simple than I initially thought, and they have tons of fresh baked goods. My friend ordered a bacon sandwich and I ordered an English muffin and a croissant. We were surprised to find the bacon sandwich was literally ONLY a few cooked strips of bacon between two pieces of white bread. I couldn't believe it. It was good, though. This is one of the more awkward dining experiences I've had. My waiter was simply an awkward person and we never knew what to do next. He staggered the delivery of our food in a weird way. He gave me my English muffin first. Then he brought our drinks. Then after I finished my English muffin he brought my friend's sandwich. At that point I thought he had forgotten about my croissant order but to my surprise he brought it well after my friend had finished his sandwich already. I asked him for the check a few times and he never heard me, until he eventually brought it later. The English muffin itself was extremely good. Though a small portion, it was one of the best I've ever had. As was the buttery croissant which melted in my mouth. The prices, however, were a bit excessive and the whole experience didn't seem worth it. read more

Villandry - The middle section of Villandry. - French Near Me - London, XGL

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London Wine Week: Villandry, St James's Street - If you have not heard, it is London Wine Week from 18th May - 24th May. To participate in the wining and dining scene with London Wine Week (LWW), buy a wristband for GBP 10.00 and you will get a free London bar guide, GBP 5.00 wine taste flights in participating wine bars, bespoke discounts in restaurants which include a small dish paired with wine and with independent merchants there are a series of wine tastings, masterclasses, meet the maker sessions and discounts on bottles of wine. Gladly, my introduction was with Villandry at St James Street. This is also available at their Great Portland Street branch. Villandry's offer: 3 chorizo sliders and a wine flight - GBP 15.00 3 mini fishcakes and a wine flight - GBP 10.00 a dish of salt and pepper squid and a wine flight - GBP 10.00 Villandry's wine flight offers four types of wine by Adi Badenhorst; two white and two red from the Secateur and Family (a blend with over a dozen grapes) blend range. The chorizo sliders were delicious, slightly spicy but mildly tamed by the mayonnaise spread. Three of them were plentiful and at GBP 15.00, it was definitely a bargain. With more than 100 venues across London participating in the LWW, it is time to make a strategic planning for your wine tasting week! read more

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Having read reviews about the restaurant, perhaps my expectations were set too high. Seems like a place for business deals. Nonetheless, great range of reasonably priced, fabulous food (breakfast, salads, pizzas, main courses, desserts)...BUT service was slow. We had gone for a late lunch, by the time the place was emptying out. The waiter who served us seemed distant, making it a little awkward to summon his attention. Altogether, a prominent place which I will be happy to try & visit again. read more

Villandry - Tasty - French Near Me - London, XGL

Great food, nice atmosphere. The service was a little slow but well worth the wait. Each dish was better than we expected. read more

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What: The Villandry Where: Portland St Value: £35pp Food Review: When choosing from the menu, the options were limited. The specials consisted of half a lobster or a whole, upon which I ordered whole, and am glad I did. The lobster was not very meaty and came with either a small portion of salad or chips. This was quite expensive and was not worth it. The cocktail was pretty good, refreshing and fruity. The dessert also redeemed the meal, although it was shared, it could have been for one. Settings Review: Upon entrance, we were given a variety of dining arrangements with comfortable seating. The room was dimly lit which made this hard to see the special board which was tucked away in the corner. Apart from this, the room was created for a cosy, warm, relaxing evening. Positives: great ambience Negatives: overpriced 3 word reviews: expensive, british, ambience read more

Villandry - Half a lobster with chips - French Near Me - London, XGL

Is it a meat shop? Is it a cheese shop? Is it a perfume shop? Or is it a soap shop? Honestly, I have no idea. I have been to Villandry twice now and I still haven't a clue what their main area of retail sale is. I came in here around Christmas Eve hoping to score some meats and cheeses for a little get together we were having at our flat. After looking around and seeing one measly little slice of brie and no meat at all, I was quite confused. Isn't this a place with cheese and Charcutterie plates? I asked and they looked at me as though I had just asked if Goats make better lovers? Very confused and empty handed I left and just went to Sainsbury down the street. Then today, I met my friend here for some food in the back and it started to make more sense. Ahhh, so it's a restaurant with a gift shop? Maybe? Hmm. I ordered some pasta and a glass of Chilean Sauv Blanc and as I perused the menu further I saw it... Meat and Cheese!?!? What the hell? I thought they didn't carry that. Point being, don't ask me the reason for this store because I really don't understand. Oh well. read more

Villandry feels just like my first time on Space Mountain... I had no idea what was going on, and I LOVED it! (You'll be pondering whether or not that is a euphemism for days, now won't you?) Anyway, there's wine, there's rare French collectibles, there's tables, there's free wi-fi, there's chic french food, there's some amazing lighting fixtures made out of collections from an apparent trip to Sherwood Forest, there's cooking utensils... and this stylish hodgepodge goes on throughout a maze of rooms. All I know is that when I got off the ride, I wanted to get right back on and do it again. I'm assuming this is a good sign... read more

I would never go here if I didn't work nearby. It's way too posh. But seeing as though it's almost next door to my office, I'm here all the time. Lucky me! Now, just to be clear - this place is split into about 5 different sections with the shop, bakery, restaurant, bar and charcuterie (spelling?). I've only been to the takeaway section and the charcuterie - which I'm assuming is French for "the cheaper bit". :) The takeaway section is an office workers dream. They have cooking stations where you can have the daily noodles prepared freshly for you, a choice of fajitas and a "choose your own" salad section. If you sit down, you can have any of the above plus a choice of fresh salads, sandwiches and meat or cheese plates. It's not cheap and when it's great quality food like this, you don't mind paying for it but £2.50 for a can of diet coke puts a bit of a downer on it all for me. read more

Came here for lunch the other day... it's quite rustic looking inside and for a moment I forget that I am in London. I came here for a take away lunch and had a falafel wrap ... although I was expecting something AMAZING ... It wasn't amazing ... BUT they have Really good soup ... and also have some really good treats. I would def come back here, and it's probably the nicest place to come for lunch in the area :) read more

The first time we came here was on the taste card, and so it was purely a value for money experience. I went again very recently with work colleagues, and came back equipped with a better sense of what this place was really all about. I entered through the stunning foodstore (and you will too), however unimpressively and unattractively priced. I would recommend spending a few minutes here to glance through the gastrospectrum. The first thing I noticed once I walked into the restaurant, and surprisingly so, was that the restaurant didn't seem like a popular place for a Friday evening (or that it was Jan 6, and the vacationing patrons of Villandry were not back from their respective sojourns.) Either way, that seemed like a note of caution. The last time around, I remember that the place was buzzing with chatter. The wine list is impressive, but dear. That can never be fun. With the least pricey main at £14.20, Villandry is not the best bargain in town, but I suppose it could be worse, given the location of the place. Starters - the ham hock terrine is a definite order, and supremely memorable. The beet/goats cheese is a great nibble (and turns out it works fairly well if you try it out at home as well). The chicken breast main was nice; juicy and succulent. Definitely fresh, and clearly speaks about the chef's attention to prep detail. If you can make me eat chicken, I can tell that you know what you're doing. There were two people on the table who got the steak - of whom one returned it, and I can swear I saw the other, sneaking a lick off the plate. The other knows her steak, so I'd say it was good meat. The scallops were delicious and soul cleansing, but at £30, and with an empty stomach, it might be something of a hard sell. If you're on a date with a millionaire, however, go ahead and order two of those babies. Skip the dessert. Go pick up an ice cream tub from your local Waitrose. read more

Having now eaten at Villandry, I can understand why the reviews are such a mixed bag. This place is definitely trying to be all things to all people - there are at least three different restaurants (the formal dining room, the casual bench tables, and then the bar, plus a take-away counter), a grocery, a dry goods shop and then what I think was a kids' clothing section. The result is more than a little chaotic. I wasn't aware of this schizophrenic set-up when I arrived for a business lunch, and my immediate challenge was checking all five potential places my host might be. Finally I just called him to find out where he was. We ate in the formal dining room by the windows, which was quite pleasant. Unfortunately the service was as chaotic as the rest of the store / restaurant / deli: ignored us for the first 20 minutes, had to return to double check our order, and then expressed overt surprise when we passed on coffee and dessert. The food was good, but not worth writing home about. I had the mushroom soup (poured tableside, an unnecessary flourish for such a crowded space in my opinion) followed by the plat du jour which happened to be salmon pie and French beans. Good but not particularly special, and I was glad by the end of it that the meal was going on an expense account. read more

Technically I don't think I can review this restaurant as I haven't eaten here but I have encountered with this restaurant (as well as a friend). There is a story behind it... I always walk past Villandry and it's always busy in there so my friends and I wanted to see what the fuss is all about and whether it lives up to what we see. A while back I booked a table for 4 for dinner with my friends only to find out that they haven't reserved a table for us... although they said they can offer us a table in some corner of the restaurant, hidden in some tiny room where no one could really see us and it wasn't a private room, it was just a corner. As it was a very hot summer evening, we asked to be sit elsewhere (since the restaurant was empty) and they said they're all booked. So we gratefully walked out and never looked back. Another friend had a bad experienced recently and ended up walking out again (so it didn't only happen to me). She was pregnant and when she ordered a full breakfast, the sausage arrived RAW! She told them that it was raw and she's pregnant so she can't eat it raw but he insists that this restaurant serve raw pork sausage. She found that very strange (and so did I when I was told). The waiter was rude and unhelpful. He didn't even give her other suggestion. It was basically eat or get out kind of attitude. They were extremely unhappy with their customer services, paid for their drinks (not breakfast as they couldn't eat it) and walked off. From this 2 experiences, I don't think I can ever go back there to try their food and I don't think I'm missing anything out. read more

When it gets sunny in London, it could become difficult to find a nice place to sit outside. However, a few days ago, I managed to secure one of the few sunny spots at Villandry. The service staff are very friendly, though not always the quickest. But for me, waiting a bit in the sun was no issue at all. I ordered the chicken sandwich and I must admit it is perhaps one of the best chicken sandwiches in the world. To be fair, for that price, they really have to deliver an excellent sandwich. Altogether, I greatly enjoyed my break in the sun at Villandry and am sure I will be back. read more

So, I guess you can say...I'm a fan, with at least 5 visits per month. Pro's - French staff ( they are funny snobs) - Bread!! Veeeery good French bread! - Healthy stuff - The cakes...no but really.. - The pizza, take away or stay - It's an easy place (for me, just around the corner: i'm soooo biased! - Family hangout - Business hangout - Breakfast hangout - Dinner is simple, good, what you need. Con's - French staff (they are funny snobs!!) - Bread!! ...it's so good, doesnt fit my diet... - The cakes and the pizza and well... Real Con's - Not cheap, but not too expensive - The house wine (not so great) - The other clients can sometimes be very snobby - They sometimes make the pizza way to heavy on cheese So: I like me some Villandry, too much!! read more

So let me start of by saying we ate at what I think was the bar which was fully functioning as a restaurant. We originally walked into the marketplace area and someone had determined that the restaurant was pricey for lunch. The bar didn't feel like a bar--it felt like a restaurant, so it was annoying that there was a massive TV broadcasting BBC on the wall. The tv should have been a clue as was the poor service. As far as food goes, I think the thing to get here are the burgers. The ones that my friends were eating looked great!! Warning--they come ala carte, and the chips that my friends ordered didn't look that impressive. I made the mistake of ordering the chicken club. NOT GOOD. So much bread, so little chicken (mostly dark meat which was weird) and not much ingredients at all. Don't order this! Order a burger or something else!!!! Service was poor....fyi. I will eventually try the official restaurant and I will be ordering a burger. read more

Went in a group of twelve for a boozy birthday brunch. Food was overall good. I had the Sunday roast, which came in very healthy portions and was solid. The pastries both before and after the meal were great too. Last but not least, they were generous with the proseccos, topping up our glasses promptly as we drank. Ambience was also very good. We had a table in the restaurant area, and it was the perfect balance of casual and fashionable. Service was so-so. They were generally prompt and got the job done, but our server error was a bit rude and condescending at times. All in all, was a good experience, and I would go back to give it another try. read more

Unlimited prosecco brunch for £30 - this is perfect. We came here for my friends hen do and it was lovely. The service very quick and always topping up the prosecco. You get croissants and orange juice prior to your food and they offer cakes after. This is a worth while meal and super full. The service was perfect and friendly. A must visit read more

Villandry - French Near Me - London, XGL

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Lured in by the 50% discount with a tastelondon card, Villandry provided a lovely relaxed atmosphere for a casual dinner, which just happened to be darned tasty. Lots of French being spoken around us in here, which was a nice touch, and the bar room is pleasant enough to while away an evening. The beetroot and goats cheese salad was excellent - as was the bread we opted for to start. I had myself a decent burger in a tasty brioche bun. Nothing out of this world, but tasty and well cooked. I would probably grumble if I had to pay 100% in here, but for what we paid, it was a great deal. I'd certainly drop in here again for a drink or two. read more

Villandry calls itself a "French restaurant". I beg to differ. It's more of a mixed bag of fusion Asian-European inspired dishes with a few French classics sprinkled throughout the menu. Last time I checked "grilled lemongrass prawns with mango, cashews and coriander" is far from French! I have no idea why in hindsight, but I chose the crispy and crunchy salad with cashews and apricot dressing (£7.20 - take note of the price). I wanted something light, and nothing else on the menu appealed to me, so I went for the salad. What I got I would describe as more of a slaw...shredded carrots, shredded cucumber, shredded beetroot, shredded lettuce. Rabbit food. Portion was big, dressing was already slathered all over my salad, and it was quite unmanageable to eat. My main was a £16 steak tartare. I'm a huge steak tartare fan (best ones I've ever had were in Paris and Berlin), and I still can't find a place in London that blows me over. Do let me know if you know of any. The tartare arrived and there was a subtle greyish tinge that worried me...matter of freshness and all. I tasted it, it was fine, but stodgy and really unappealing. It came with these melba toast 'breads' to go with the steak tartare which didn't help. I wanted some nice chips, fries, something substantial to go with it! £25+ for rabbit food and stodgy tartare. Service was slow, bill took ages to arrive, and I spotted a fly that kept hovering around the table. Not to mention we stood around for 10 minutes waiting for them to grab our coats. Left Villandry stuffed to the brim, but not in a good way at all. read more

Having read reviews about the restaurant, perhaps my expectations were set too high. The food however, was enjoyable and the menu varied. The service on my visit was poor. The waiter who served us seemed distant, disorganised but strangely pleasant!! The food is expensive but you can get 50% off the a la carte if you search on a popular table booking website. Perhaps it's better to eat here at lunchtime? read more

I have never had a sit down meal at Villandry but this is my got to place almost every morning/ when I can afford it! That is most definitely not to say that that the breakfasts or coffee are expensive, in fact they have a fantastic deal every morning! £4.90 for a breakfast sandwich, options including scrambled egg, bacon, sausage and Portobello mushroom, AND you get a drink! Whats not to love!? read more

It was close to the hotel, seemed promising, and I was in a mood to judge a book by its cover so I let my hunger pangs and the Frenchy-sounding name make the decision for me. Mistake #1. After taking an initial look around the attached market and noting that the take-out selection kind of sucks, I gave up and decided to have breakfast on premises. Mistake #2. Chose the most innocuous looking item on the menu, which was the yogurt, banana, muesli concoction. Mistake #3. It got worse as the dish came in what looked like an old-fashioned soda fountain-looking cup. It was impossible to mix the ingredients together - the banana came in a different smallish condiment bowl - and given the weird shape of the cup I kept spraying muesli all over the table like some spastic American tourist (oh shit, wait...). On top of this they fuc*ed up the yogurt to muesli ratio (not enough yogurt) and hence it was super dry - after a while I gave up as it felt like I was munching on tree bark. Oh well, I'm sure the other items on the menu are just perfectly fine. It's not like the service is excruciatingly slow even when there's 3-4 wait staff hanging around the dining area catering to less than 10 diners...oh no, not at all. I ended up going to the Pret down the street for breakfast. read more

I love this place if not for the ambiance and decor alone! In the summer time it's really nice to sit and have brunch outside. There's fresh squeezed juice and awesome coffee. I've sat here catching up with friends for hours and the staff have been really accommodating. Inside is really spacious and it's never been really loud or crowded on of the occasions that I've been here. I've had lunch and dinner here as well and that is expensive but its convenient so can't complain. It's a nice place for a date and the location is great! read more

It is a bit of everything in there- a deli, bookshop!! food supplies, sweets, bar, bistro and proper restaurant all under same roof so nothing turns up to be special no special food, no special drinks, and certainly nothing special about the service, in fact you are treated like it is a favour that they can give you a table to eat there !!!! oh please give me a break and drop the attitude !! read more

Popped in here for a quick breakfast with friends and while it's nothing spectacular, it definitely gets the job done. I had the avocado and bean toast, and for 7.50 quid I got exactly that. Presentation was...non-existent but I enjoyed it and the coffee there was also very fresh. Right now if you go and download the app "Cake" for the first time you get 10 quid of credit to apply to your balance so I basically had a free breakfast! I loved the space though, very bright and airy. They do a champagne brunch later on in the day, so if you're looking for a boozy brunch option this may be it. read more

I was wavering on three stars; Villandry might have skated on mediocrity alone, but at this price point, that's just not acceptable. Service was incredibly spotty: the young man at the door was bored, inattentive, and distracted; one of our waitresses was fantastic; another botched a simple order; two separate men fumbled simple etiquette. Really odd. Menu options were surprisingly slim, but then, we came at an odd time--early dinner. We ended up with two different sorts of fried calamari (one regular, one "spicy") and beef carpaccio as starters, pumpkin ravioli and a lemongrass shrimp dish as mains, several drinks, dessert. For a French restaurant, everything felt oddly Italian--from the Italian waitress (the good one) to the dishes. The calamari were clunky, floury, overly-breaded, and bland: sort of like drywall wrapped around each piece of squid, which is an unfortunate thing to do to a tasty animal. The "spicy" version had a few Thai red pepper slices tossed in along with them. That and the dipping sauce were the only differences between the "regular" and "spicy." The carpaccio was fine, but it lacked any hint of acidity, brine, or bite: without vinegar, capers, or just a dash of sea salt, the meat just tastes bland, and the arugula and Grano Padano couldn't make up for the lack of basic seasoning. Again, decent base ingredient, botched execution. I can't comment on the shrimp, though they looked plump and the portion was ample, but the pumpkin ravioli felt like a "fresh" pasta dish from a shop. If the pasta was made in-house, it certainly wasn't made today (or yesterday, for that matter). The filling was bland, but had some adequate pumpkin flavour. However, aside from a tiny handful of barely-oily arugula (the same from the carpaccio?) and three sun-dried tomatoes, there was no sauce. And that's fine, but how about some olive oil, at least? A spoonful of pesto? Anything? No? No. Just dry ravioli on a tepid plate, with a small handful of arugula on top. At least the "Aspen" fries (frozen fries tossed with grated Parm and a drizzle of white truffle oil) were good, though they were served in a shallow, slippery bowl which meant none of us could get at one with a fork without sending another flying. Awkward. Cocktails were boring but there was nothing essentially wrong with them. Dessert fell short, as well; my partner's sea salt caramel and walnut tart was in a stodgy, hard crust (is this place seriously claiming to be French?) and had a tinny flavour reminiscent of stale caramels left in a box with no hint of walnut aside from the single walnut half pressed into the thick caramel topping. My creme brulee was fine, though it came out fifteen minutes after everyone else had finished their dessert because my waitress thought "creme brulee" meant "crumble." Unless you think I'm pronouncing crumble "crumble-lay," I'm not sure how you mess that up. I shouldn't be surprised; this was the gal who didn't know what a cafe au lait was--French? What French? We finally settled on an Americano with milk for that guest. Despite the espresso machine at the bar, the espresso wasn't made with fresh beans and the particular bitterness hinted at significant over-extraction. As is the norm with such exercises in futility, it was an overpriced afterthought made by someone without a clue. Nothing about this place, aside from its veneer, spoke of a fine dining experience. The only good part about this meal was that I didn't have to pay for it. Avoid. read more

OK is about the best I can do. It's trying to very hard to be an upscale posh restaruant but when you've come in for lunch and you need to get back, it's hard to justify the 45 min wait from ordering to delivery for mussles and mac & cheese. Ya it was posh and the mac & cheese came in a fancy copper pot thing but really, it's mac & cheese for goodness sake! I'd say it's good for lunch meetings where you have 3 or 4 hours but not for lunch. read more

Excellent bistro, bar and gourmet shop fusion. Even though their "gourmet" shop disappointed somewhat with their poor selection, their attentive staff and incredible kitchen did definitely not. We hade a nice selection of tapas starters and classical Belgium Moules Frites. I will definately go there again! read more

Some venues do one simple thing really well - others spread themselves too thinly and do everything pretty poorly. Villandry, however, seems to be a rare example of a place which manages to do lots of things extremely well. I was treated to a wine tasting which tied in to a product launch - and for this the venue was ideal. The place is vast and our hosts had picked a corner which seemed secluded, though the restaurant was busy and bustling on a Thursday evening. The wines served were truly excellent - this would be a perfect place to come if you're after a special bottle, whether you're drinking in or taking away. Canapes were pretty and scrummy and beautifully coordinated with the wines - though my fave was the mini dessert tarts and they went with nothing except each other and a slightly dizzy head. I'd really like to come here for dinner, drinks or a bit of both - there's great street seating, lots of media types, great decor and it seems fun in the summer. Perfect! read more