All Bar One Victoria — Restaurant in London

To begin with I was pleased when we arrived at the venue, with a nice and clean cut appearance and some outdoor seating, it was nice. However that's where it went downhill, as soon as we reached the door, we were greeted initially by a very smiley and friendly young man, however he was quickly pushed aside by what we learned was the manager. Immediately this place didn't seem as nice. We asked if we could sit outside but as there were no tables we would have to wait, which was fine, however we were seated right by the bar (with no other options given), with staff constantly moving to and from the bar making noise that honestly did ruin the atmosphere. Anyways, as we had heard about the cocktails from all bar one (and heard good things) we decided to order some. When we received our order, they looked okay, not amazing though, quite underwhelming (not something you want from a "cocktail" even if it is cheap). We had also ordered some hummus and chips, which I thought would be a quick snack to have with the one drink we initially intended to have. However, we waited for more than half an hour, for something that was not made fresh, and that literally came from a container and was plated up. We were hesitant to even accept the food as we were waiting so long, however we decided to try it anyways, this too however was extremely underwhelming, and did not need 40 minutes to cook. When we asked earlier about the food and where it was, the "manager" came and told us that we would have to wait even longer as there was a ticket for two deserts in front of us? I don't think the preparation of the dishes that came before ours warranted a wait that long. Having worked in kitchens and bars before I cannot begin to express how disappointed I felt having a beverage and a snack, especially at a place in central london! (Backtracking) When we were finally moved outside, we decided to have another drink while we still waited for the hummus, we did not even receive these, and when we decided to grab the bill as we had already ordered the drinks, waited, finally received the food, and then gotten impatient, the drinks still had not arrived, there was no sign of anyone making them, and they were still present on the bill. Luckily the man who tried to greet us at the bar earlier was incredibly helpful, we talked (he calmed my frustration) and he had the drinks that we had not received taken off the bill. And for the first time, someone at your bar greeted us with their name, and it was only as we were leaving when Ahmed got us the bill that we felt welcome at your establishment. With a team so large, and not as much floor space as other places that are much busier, your management, team, and customer service really let you down. I was fuming when I left your establishment.

TO SUMARISE: the drinks are okay if you are willing to wait a very long time, and personally I wouldn't touch the hummus with a barge pole, unless you have lots of spare time and like being served mediocre sharing plates. We were never apologized to for this from the manager, except for from Ahmed, and from our perspective he was the only part of your business we enjoyed this afternoon. We Will not...

If you search for "wine bar" on Google Maps, All Bar One shows up in many locations, with a solid rating. It was around 9PM on a Saturday, and we were in Westminster. I was "lucky" to snag the last of two available reservations and we briskly walked over. It was really disappointing. Highlights:

-The burratta and charcuterie were good.

Highlights of the lowlights:

-Even before we went in, we could hear the DJ's blaring, uninspired mix. It's a "wine bar", yeah? It's not a club. None of the customers are dancing. They're at tables, shouting at each over the music, desperately trying to hear and be heard. What, exactly, is the idea here? We should have left at that point, but as it was already getting on in the evening we asked to be seated in the quietest table they had. They moved us out of the earbleed section, but just barely. I later noticed that there were quieter tables further back. I suppose they didn't seated us there because...??? I have no idea.

-The wine list is sad. Some especially mediocre wines at high prices.

-My wife wanted a hot tea, which was on the menu. The waitress took the order, and shortly after came back to tell us "we're not doing tea tonight". Nonplussed, I asked "so you don't have hot water?", and she responded "no". Uh , yeah, sure, OK. As it happens, I was sitting facing the open kitchen. They appeared to have water, and pots, and burners. I guess the chef lost the recipe for boiled water? I don't even want to think about what they use to wash the dishes.

-We asked for the bill. The waitress brought it over with a handheld payment terminal, punched in the total, put it front of me with a screen offering mev3 options for the gratuity amount and asked "you want to leave a tip"? I didn't see a "no tip" option. Even if that option was offered, it'd be terribly awkward for me to select it with her hovering over me.

Bottom line: It's not a wine bar, or if it is it's a terrible...

Fantastic Christmas Party at All Bar One - Victoria!!

I recently had the pleasure of organising my work Christmas party All Bar One - Victoria truly exceeded all expectations! From start to finish the experience was nothing short of amazing, the mezzanine level created the perfect balance of a dedicated private space, whilst still overlooking the main bar atmosphere.

Thanks in large part to the outstanding service provided by the manager - Scott, who made planning this event a smooth, simple and enjoyable experience. Scott provided clear information, kept in regular contact and laid the foundations to ensure everyone had an amazing night!

From the moment we arrived, Scott made us feel welcome and ensured that everything ran smoothly throughout the evening. He was friendly, professional, and attentive to every detail, which made the event feel extra special. Not only did he take the time to check in with guests, but he also went above and beyond to ensure our needs were met - whether it was serving drinks, ensuring the food was served at just the right time, or offering suggestions for additional drinks that would pair perfectly with the festive menu. My personal cocktail recommendation is the Watermelon Picante for all the tequila lovers out there. 🤌🏼🍸

The atmosphere at All Bar One - Victoria was warm and inviting, and it was clear that the staff had put a lot of effort into creating a cozy, celebratory environment. The Christmas decorations were tasteful, and the music was the perfect backdrop for a fun evening. If you're looking for a venue to host a party, or just grab dinner and/ or a few drinks, I couldn’t recommend All Bar One - Victoria enough!

For us, Scott and the team truly made the evening unforgettable, everyone had a great time (and a sore head the next day)! Thanks again, for such a fantastic...