Hawksmoor Bar Wood Wharf — Restaurant in London

Went here on a Sunday night with a couple of friends to have a casual catch-up.

There were maybe three other tables dining and four people at the bar, so very quiet naturally given the space and the time. There was an unusually large amount of staff just looking like they needed something to do or just chatting with each other. Two people on front of house, three people at the bar and about three-four people working tables.

The attitude and friendliness of the staff varied massively, unfortunately the one member of the team who served us just seemed like they didn’t want to be there or was not having a great day. They seemed exhausted at the questioned we asked (definitely not the standard of service you’d receive at a normal Hawksmoor) and refused to tell us they were out of key items like the triple cooked chips, served us standard chips and thought we wouldn’t notice? Again, this was just casually brushed off as soon as we questioned it, like having a lower cost substitution was just normal. This was food that ended up being returned since we refused it after, this also happened with a scallop dish that had been mistakenly ordered.

Other members of staff seemed more happy and invested in helping but it took three asks over fifteen minutes to just get some ice. At no point did anyone ask how the food was, if there was anything else that we wanted etc. a basic level of service expected when dining out.

The food itself was okay, I had the tartare, poutine and fried chicken. It was of a good standard, seasoned and hot. Nothing to rave about but good enough for a business meal.

Would I go back? Unlikely. I’m sure it’s a lot better during the week but I’d rather go to a Hawksmoor if the service is going to be a lot better...

This is a review of a booking made for 03/02/2024.

My partner and I were celebrating our four year anniversary and wanted to go here for dinner, following the really positive experience in last year’s anniversary in another Hawksmoor branch.

We ordered the creamed spinach, vegetables and individual steaks. The chips were added as part of the steak. The steaks were cooked to perfection, medium rare, and everything was delicious.

The decor was excellent. Dark, which added to the atmosphere, but lit just enough to create a personal feeling with the person in front of me. Everyone was lovely and comfortable to be in.

The service was excellent. The receipt doesn’t have the server name but shout out to the lovely woman with the Goku tattoo, you helped add to a fantastic day and evening and I just want to say thank you very much for everything. I hope the Master Roshi addition goes well!

I have already recommended this place and Hawksmoor branches to my friends and colleagues, one of whom was also in London over the weekend and went to a branch in the SOHO area and said he and his partner also had a great time. There’s now interest in checking out the branch in Dublin, where we’re based, to see.

The food was delicious, the service was the golden standard and the decor was great and the price reflected the quality and experience of the meal and time spent.

I would happily come back again and make further...

Excellent Sunday lunch at The Lowback, which is part of Hawksmoor, and located underneath (I’m not quite sure what the difference is - it’s the same food and menu, and I booked through the Hawksmoor website, but they didn’t have any record of my booking at the Hawksmoor restaurant bit and sent us downstairs to the Lowback bar). The bar is described by staff as more relaxed than the restaurant - and we weren’t disappointed.

It’s very beautifully decorated, in a lounge-bar style (padded leather seats and booths), and the staff were very friendly and attentive.

We ordered the sharing rump roast for two (£26 pp) and it came very quickly, displayed in a roasting dish with medium/medium-rare beef, 2 enormous Yorkshire puds, carrots and cabbage, roast potatoes, two half bulbs of garlic, roasted shallots, and a jug each of bone marrow gravy jus. We also ordered a side of creamed spinach which was delicious and herby. The cauliflower cheese looks excellent too!

It was incredibly filling and delicious. Cocktails were superb too with really interesting ingredients and flavours. (The Tommy Verde has tequila and green tomato, and the Fat-washed Old Fashioned with Woodford Reserve bourbon and tonka bean). It was a very relaxed lunch and very pleasant looking out onto the water side.

Booking recommended! Bathrooms / facilities were in immaculate...