Clarke's Restaurant — Restaurant in London

Clarke's Nottinghill Review Clarke's Nottinghill, established by Sally Clarke in December 1984, is a London restaurant with a rich history and a loyal clientele. Known for its simple, seasonal cuisine and welcoming ambiance, Clarke's has long been a staple for artists, writers, and local residents. However, my recent visit to Clarke's for a birthday meal presented a mixed experience that left me questioning the value and service quality.

Atmosphere and Setting The dining room at Clarke's is elegantly decorated, with light sage-colored walls, woven bistro chairs, and pristine white tablecloths, creating a comfortable and inviting ambiance. Paintings by renowned artists like Hockney and Freud adorn the walls, adding to the sophisticated yet homey feel. The table spacing was just right, ensuring a cozy but not cramped dining experience. However, the fair ambiance was overshadowed by a disappointing service encounter that set an unfortunate tone for the evening.

Food and Presentation The menu at Clarke's features a blend of British and Mediterranean influences, celebrating seasonal ingredients with a simple, no-nonsense presentation. We started with Scottish smoked salmon with crème fraiche and rye toasts, and burrata with flat peach, pistachio nuts, and garden rocket. Both starters were fresh and flavorful, though unremarkable in presentation. For the main course, we had the roasted Scottish halibut fillet with datterini and red peppers, and the grilled Correze veal fillet with sage and broad beans. The halibut was well-cooked and complemented nicely by the wine we chose, a Sally Clarke Touraine Val de Loire Sauvignon Blanc. The veal fillet was tender and accompanied by perfectly steamed spinach and potato mash. We concluded our meal with a selection of British and Irish cheeses, affogato, Peche Melba, and Eton Mess. The desserts were enjoyable, particularly the Eton Mess, which offered a delightful mix of textures and flavors.

Service Despite the pleasant setting and decent food, the service was a major letdown. The manager on duty rudely moved our plates to another table after they had been sitting on ours for just four minutes, without offering any apologies. This experience marred the evening and made it difficult to fully enjoy the meal.

Value for Money Considering the high price point, the overall value for money at Clarke's was disappointing. The food quality and taste did not justify the cost, especially when coupled with the subpar service. While the restaurant has a storied history and many glowing reviews, my experience suggests that there are better dining options in London for the same price range.

Conclusion Clarke's Nottinghill may have a long-standing reputation and a loyal customer base, but my recent visit did not live up to the expectations set by its history. The ambiance and food were satisfactory, but the poor service significantly detracted from the experience. Given the high prices, I find it unlikely that I will return to Clarke's, especially considering it was meant to be a special...

We SO enjoyed our visit last night to Sally Clarke's restaurant - it was my first ever time but our host's returning umpteenth experience of this shining gem of an establishment. Having heard endless recommendations and rave reviews, we approached with eager, certainly high expectations. From the sheer courtesy and attention of the staff on arrival to our reluctant departure (was it really?) three hours later with joyous hearts and stomachs, we had a ball!!

We'll leave😄😄 you to match our nouns with our sincere and carefully chosen adjectives. Simply massive congratulations from every member of our roundtabled, windowed, party. Each of us is madly in your debit!

Our honest impression, experience and treatment? We attest the....... to have been ...... :

• cuisine .... warm and attentive • staff .... subtle and charming • ambience .... thankful, well satisfied, glowing, wanting to return asap • winelist .... reassuring and heartwarming • value for money .... totally delicious and creative. • feel good factor .... no idea (menu detail seemed reasonable as I glanced) • table and plate presentation. .... not a chance, they were on to it • menu choices .... restful yet stimulating • left my umbrella ☔ behind? .... undoubtedly the best, and I'm a seasoned diner • dining-out experience this month .... comfortable, uncluttered, yet artistic • surrounding clientele near abouts .... brilliant, all tantalising: wanted to try them all! • left feeling what? .... sufficiently short, varied and well stocked.

Again - a very big Thank You to Sally especially, but to you all as well - for a concerted and impressive team effort and a truly wonderful experience with you, last night.

Dr N H...

I am sorry to say that my experience at your restaurant was really bad. I came with two friends on Saturday 15th Nov. the starters were ok. However, as main course, one of my friend chose a large smoked salmon, but only had 3 medium slices of fish! I chose pork and it was given to me RAW as it was beef !! I have never eaten raw porc, as I know it is dangerous for one's health. The waiter took the meat away for a minute and brought it back, just slightly more cooked, but when I started eating it, I could clearly see it was still uncooked inside. So, I just left it. I didn't complain any more or make a fuss as I didn't want to spoil the evening with my friends, and I wasn't charged for the pork. However, I have been feeling unwell since Sunday morning, with a very upset tummy. I am still not well, and if this continues, I will have to go and see the doctor about it. I hope your cook will now understand that it is absolutely necessary to cook pork thoroughly. Raw or pink won't do!...