London Apprentice — Restaurant in London

The location is great but the pub isn’t what it was. I’ve not been here for years and the pub’s gone downhill. We pre-booked a table for 7 of us and were told on the confirmation that it would be table service. When we got there, we were made to order food and drinks from the bar and that there was no table service. Bar staff took an order for 7 drinks and didn’t even offer the use of a tray. We asked for one but by the time it arrived one of us made 2 trips and grabbed the drinks. When it came to ordering food, I was shocked to be told they had no chicken at 1pm! Running out of menu items so early on a weekend was pretty poor. The food arrived and was ok. It was nothing special just pretty standard pub fare. At one point we asked for a spare teaspoon to share our dessert, the staff gave us a disgusting spoon, stained with coffee. When this was pointed out, the waitress simply took the spoon, no apology or nothing.

The pub claims to be family friendly but there was a bunch of lads in their 30s on the next table swearing loudly during their conversation. We had a toddler with us and this definitely wasn’t the family friendly atmosphere we expected.

When it came to paying the bill. There was a 10% service charge that wasn’t made clear until after payment was taken. We asked them to refund this as quite simply the service fell well below expectations and the waitress did nothing apart from bring the food when it was ready. We had to give the orders ourselves at the bar. The initial transaction was refunded (we’re still waiting for the money to arrive back in the account) and a second transaction without the service charge was taken. We await the return of the money from the first transaction although we were told it may take 3 days.

It’s a real shame that the pub’s standards have fallen like this over 10 years or so. We definitely...

Having heard so many good things from family and friends about this place, after my visit today, I am disappointed and won’t be returning. I made a online booking for 3 people @ 2pm today. When we arrived I asked where I needed to go for booked tables and the gentleman just stared at me blankly. Then he took my name and walked off. Do we follow or not follow? Another guy came out and we followed him into - I presume, the restaurant area. I gave him the reservation name and he went from table to table looking for it before giving us a small table for two in a corner which wasn’t our table. Someone else’s name was on the reservation. He scrunched the paper up and put it on another table. And then we waited. And waited. 20 mins went past and we asked if we could order. The guy working there said we needed to go to the bar to order. When I said it would have been nice if we were told this, he just laughed. Laughed. We did end up moving tables thankfully. Anyway, ordered the food at the bar and did mention we were not happy and the lady serving apologised. We had asked for a jug of water for the table, when it arrived the jug and glasses were slammed onto the table. 20 mins later, our food turned up. It was a mixture of lukewarm and cold. We advised this when asked how the food was. We asked for extra gravy so at least that would be hot and it turned up in a TINY jug. For three people. I burst out laughing. A few minutes later a normal gravy boat showed up but by then our food was inedible. The guys serving the area walked past our table several times and could see we were done but after half an hour still didn’t take our plates. We left and we will never return. I can give people the benefit of doubt for bad customer service - I appreciate people have off-days but the food turning up the way it did...

They could have done a lot better to be honest. I booked a table a week and a half prior for a birthday lunch. When we arrived the table had not been reserved I was advised by staff that as there were only two reservations for lunch in the day they decided to revert to a first come first served basis. Luckily there was one table outside as the weather was lovely that day all other tables were full. We sat at a table which was actually reserved from 17.00 onwards and sure enough we were asked to vacate the table at 16.50, which I found a bit of a nerve. It was a nice spot sitting adjacent to an array of gas cylinders just randomly placed on the floor and seating!! We ordered at the bar, starters and mains, I was advised that as it was a birthday lunch they would arrange a piece of cake with a candle just as a gesture of goodwill. Whilst waiting for the food we were asked if we wanted the starters and mains together we clearly said starters first then mains. Guess what? it all turns up together as that what the ticket said - er wrong! we sent the mains back. Once we finished the starters I had to go back to the bar and state we were ready for mains, I strongly believe that the mains were either left on a hot plate or just reheated. It did not taste freshly cooked needless to say I didn't really finish my main. The quality of food ok but not great, poor when reheated. Oh and the cake with the candle never materialised either nice piece of customer service there then! - so all in all a pretty poor experience. Having spent £115 I would have expected far better, thus nor will I recommend...