Bar Douro London Bridge — Restaurant in London

I wanted to give a zero rating but this is not an option so I gave 1! I had been to the branch of this restaurant at Liverpool Street and it was nice, so I decided to come back and tried the London Bridge branch with a large group of friends today (29 May at 2pm)!

I had the most horrible experience with a staff there called Erica who was the first to greet us when we arrived. Because of the auto-filled function when I made the booking online, I mistakenly put a wrong name under a booking 5. She told me there’s no booking under my name in a rather unfriendly way. And I said I knew I had the booking (because I had an email confirming that) and then we realized it was under a wrong name! She then seated us in an area and a moment later, I realized I’d have two more people joining. I asked if we can extend the seating to 7 and then she responded, again in a very cold and unfriendly way, that we’d have to take the set menu but not a la carte because it’d be too much for the kitchen to handle with different orders from 7 people?! Seriously?! I thought to myself what difference it makes if we are actually 7 customers from two different groups, coming at the same time, but seated separately in two tables? Anyway I didn’t understand her logic but chose to express no dissent. Instead we said we would be seated in two different tables (one with 5 people & the other with 2) and order differently. She then pointed to the bar table behind us and said it’s where the two people would be seated. We said yes and it was fine (for that moment).

Then a moment later she came back and said, with a very rude attitude, “so you will have two people sitting there at the bar table?” I said yes again (and wondered what’s wrong with this person?) and then she left.

And finally when I made the order with another waitress, the most unbelievable thing happened- This woman came back and asked (yet again) if we have 2 people and 5 people seating arrangement, which I thought was highly unnecessary. When I said yes (coldly this time) , this woman then started to blame me to be rude?! I couldn’t believe a decent restaurant will do this to a customer!

She then continued to scold me in a very rude way and when I said I’m being served by her colleague and asked her to please leave us alone. She insisted to stay there and continue to scold me and said I was rude.

So we as a party of 7 have had enough and decided to leave! I thought all restaurants love to have more customers! The more the merrier, right! What’s wrong with Erica who chose to pick a fight with someone who brought in more customers than planned? I hope the management of this restaurant could review this case (and the waitress who served me witnessed the whole saga) and do something to improve their service. And, more importantly, spare other customers from this most...

During my visit to a charming establishment nestled beneath the arches near London Bridge, I discovered a culinary gem that exudes traditional Portuguese charm. This small space, adorned with exquisite azulejo decor, features an open kitchen where skilled chefs work their magic, accompanied by a seating counter that provides a front-row view of the culinary artistry.

Upon entering, I was pleasantly surprised to find a unique barrel table with two cozy seats, setting the tone for a warm and inviting dining experience. The staff, exuding friendliness and expertise, immediately put me at ease.

To accompany the ambience, I indulged in a 33cl bottle of Superbock beer, satisfying my craving for a taste of Portugal. The menu presented a delightful array of Portuguese delicacies, and I embarked on a culinary journey that began with the Salada de polvo. This dish featured tender slices of boiled octopus, expertly paired with finely diced pickled onions and peppers, bathed in a delectable combination of vinegar and olive oil.

The Pão com azeite, a hearty wholemeal sourdough bread, was accompanied by a smooth olive oil for dipping, providing a satisfying prelude to the main course. I then savored the Bacalhau à Brás, which showcased thin, grated, and perfectly creamy fried potatoes with a delightful crunch. While I enjoyed the dish, I personally longed for a higher ratio of cod to elevate the flavor profile. The salted cod itself was satisfactory but did not offer anything extraordinary.

The grand finale of my meal was the Abade de priscos, a dessert that truly stood out. This rich egg yolk pudding, exhibiting robust flavors and a subtle sweetness, was expertly prepared and complemented by a high-quality lemon sorbet and a delectable crumble. It was a delightful symphony of tastes and textures, making it an excellent choice to conclude the dining experience.

Overall, my visit to this establishment left a lasting impression. It undoubtedly ranks among the best Portuguese restaurants I have had the pleasure of experiencing in the UK. The combination of authentic flavors, warm ambiance, and friendly staff made for a memorable dining adventure under the train arches near...

I visited this restaurant for a late lunch, so it wasn't very busy. The menu offers different types of "tapas", some of which very typically Portuguese.

There are plenty of options, to suit every taste, but there is a lot of room for improvement for both the service, the quantities and the quality too.

We ordered about 2-3 dishes each and no drinks (there were three of us, so definitely nothing overwhelming) but one of them was forgotten, despite having been called out by the waiter upon ordering. Not a problem, these things happen, but as we waited a very long time even after we flagged that we were missing a portion (after already waiting to see if they'd bring it), we would have expected an apology or some form of gesture (a coffee, a dessert, or a drink, anything really). We ended up being late, so we wouldn't even have taken advantage of it, but it's just common courtesy. No one even came to check on us, neither before or after the missed order and eventually we had to enter the restaurant - we were sat outside - to pay the bill.

The food portions were variable. The "cheese selection" was three ridiculous pieces of cheese that looked like it had just come out of a canteen (see photo) and you could barely see any octopus in their "salada the polvo". The "pataniscas de bacalao" were very tasty and quite filling. The "arroz de pato malandrinho" was instead a larger portion (and a more expensive item), but we didn't particularly enjoy its taste.

I feel that overall it wasn't good value for money and the whole experience - despite loving the outside area for a sunny, warm day - was not particularly pleasant, neither from a service, nor from a food perspective. I wouldn't avoid it in future, but I personally would definitely look somewhere else first.

(I posted this review on other...