Chelsea Brasserie — Restaurant in Cheltenham

Overworked Staff, Over-Sauced Main Courses, Under-Flavored Food

The décor is sharp and modern, but the food, sadly, does not “keep up” with the expectations set by the design of the restaurant. The starters were OK, but not spectacular. I had the battered-and-fried soft shell crab with sweet chili, and my husband had the salmon and cucumber tartare. Each dish was adequate, but not particularly inspiring.

For the main course, I had what was described as “horseradish and herb-encrusted rack of lamb on a bed of spinach and creamed potatoes.” I did not taste the horseradish, and any herbs encrusting the dish were not visible. The “lamb” must have been on its way to full-on adulthood because it was tough and not very flavorful. The dish was smothered in some unidentifiable yellowish sauce. My husband had the “marinated steak with new potatoes, risotto, and chef’s special au jus.” The chef’s special au jus was the identical, unidentifiable sauce that I had on my lamb; the steak was very tough; and it seemed odd to serve two starches: potatoes and rice with a main course.

My dessert, however, was delicious: sticky toffee pudding with vanilla ice cream. My husband’s dessert, described on the menu as “banana with sultanas, Baileys liquor and cream baked.” Basically, it was a soupy cream sauce with Baileys Irish Cream liqueur, some raisins, and a few slices of banana.

There were only two front-of-house team members who were madly trying to serve as greeters, servers, bartender, assistant servers, and phone-answerers. On a Thursday evening, there were relatively few occupied tables, but the two workers, though desperately trying to be attentive to all diners, were vastly overloaded by their tasks.

All-in-all, the best that I can say about Chelsea Bar and Brasserie is that the décor was nice; the servers were friendly; and the sticky toffee pudding...

4.5 really.

7.00 PM on a Wednesday eve

It was just us two, and another couple. We arrived promptly and I was shown to the table of our choice. I am not a big eater, so we only had starters and main course. This restaurant seems to specialise in fish, though there are a few other options such as duck, or steak. One thing I had noticed before was the “accent on side dishes”, but not on addition to the main item. That said to me that we would be needing side dishes, and I was right. But to the starter, crab meat, which was presented as if it had sat in the dishes that are normally used to provide tomato sauce, so not a lot, and a little garnish, and toasted bread. It was very tasty, and well presented. Main course I ordered the Bream, note there is only sea bream, not bream from the river, so it’s just Bream. Same with Bass (not sea bass). Beautifully cooked, and the sides of truffle chips and mushrooms (in a cream sauce). TBH I thought the mushrooms were tinned, not fresh, but they had flavour. The truffle chips (which were french fries), I couldn’t taste the truffle, sad really. I’ve had truffle chips, and they are to die for. Waiter was good, though I would say he checked the main meal too promptly, not giving us time to check the various. But in all a great meal (hey, I wasn’t paying). A little steep, but if you want McDonalds prices, then go to McDonalds. I think the meal was worthy...

Came here for a quiet 30th birthday celebration. Unfortunately, it was the same day as the Cheltenham races, there was a booking in the same room as us with about 16 people who had clearly been at the races all day and were very very drunk. Given this was meant to be a nice relaxing restaurant, I am not sure why they let in a really obnoxious and drunk group. The group were shouting and chanting and standing up and making 'toasts' every 2 minutes and also going into the kitchen. They were also walking around and being rude to staff and other customers and taking ornaments of the shelves. One of the group told me he would take me outside (I assume he meant to fight?). Staff continued to fuel them with 'extra' strong cocktails. Completely ruined the evening, and we got out of there ASAP. Considering I almost paid 40 quid for two beers and a small plate of pasta, you would at least expect a nice relaxing evening. Obviously, the restaurant can't control the behaviour of the group, but I'm surprised they didn't say anything about their behaviour/ask them to leave. Guess as long as they are spending money they...