No 32 The Old Town — Restaurant in London

First Valentine's Day since my wife has beaten cancer for the second time so we were looking to have a lovely lunch and the decor convinced us to give it a try as the place is stunning to look at.

Huge bar, open plan kitchen, it has all the ingredients of being a smash hit for the Clapham crowd.

It took us almost 20 minutes to get any sort of attention but the female waitress seemed lovely enough. I went for the signature burger and my wife wanted to go with the pancakes with syrup but the waitress mentioned there was a special and it came with chicken tenders and syrup. My wife asked for these to be seperate which didn't seem a problem. We also ordered crispy squid.

Food came very quickly to be honest and the burger I watched for almost 10 minutes sat on the pass while the other food came together, which set alarm bells ringing and as the food arrived it became ver apparent my worry was not an over reaction.

The first bite of my burger was nothing but bun and meat (which shouldn't be a problem as it was supposed to be a rare breeds beef burger, so should be dripping with flavour) it was absolutely tasteless, almost cold and had zero seasoning. The most alarming part of the burger was the firmness of the burger, which can only mean one thing. That this is not freshly prepared. The burger would be medium (which would be perfect by the way) but this was grey on the outside with almost no sear and rock hard fully cooked in the middle. Which is impossible as it had been sat chilling waiting for its food buddies on the pass! I ate about half before giving up and refusing to eat another mouthful.

My wifes pancakes. The one that had been changed due to the waitress recommendation (her description was chicken tenders with syrup and pancakes) well the pancakes were slathered in kimchi slaw which if we had known would have been a deal breaker. The chicken was cooked in dirty oil. Or it was cool reheated because the batter wanted nothing to do with the chicken and fell off

The only reason it didn't go straight back was because my wife was trying to make the best of the situation. So didn't want a fuss on her first outing back from surgery.

The squid was fine. Tho the batter was very powdery. Flat white decent and the can of coke was exactly that. A can of coke for £3.80

We waited almost 20 minutes with no one asking how was everything? No one cleared the plates. In fact there was absolutely no one. So I had to go and find someone which is not ideal missing a leg. But no matter how many limbs you have shouldn't mean you have to go on an expedition to find someone. This member of staff could not have cared less. Mumbled sorry for no one coming over and gave me a bill with 12.5% SERVICE! He even gave me the card machine the wrong way round so I could add a tip.

First and last time. Just a shame I had to waste £50 on Valentine's Day to...

I was genuinely shocked by the level of service I received during my visit on 22nd March 2025 around 9 PM at the ground floor bar. I was simply ordering two drinks — one for myself and one for my girlfriend — when one of the bar staff, a shorter man with brown hair and glasses, behaved in an incredibly rude and unprofessional manner. He was visibly miserable and unapproachable.

At one point, he began banging the card reader aggressively to get my attention, like a madman. It was completely unnecessary and deeply inappropriate — I was genuinely shocked by his behaviour. He then tapped the card reader without saying a word, as though I wasn’t even worthy of basic communication.

To make things worse, he furiously pulled the drinks away from the bar so we couldn’t have them — it was childish and completely unjustified. He then walked away and appeared to complain to the manager about something unclear, before we were abruptly told to leave without any explanation.

I felt like the barman was a coward — rather than having a conversation with me to address any perceived issue, he escalated the situation by involving security. A large Black security guard then approached and asked me and my girlfriend to leave, without any context or explanation. For reference, I am of British Asian appearance, and the way the situation unfolded made me feel targeted and humiliated.

The manager — who I believe is Italian or of similar background — was equally rude and dismissive, showing no willingness to listen or handle the situation professionally. Frankly, based on how poorly the situation was handled, I would seriously fire the manager, not only for his own conduct but also for the extremely poor judgment in hiring staff who clearly lack the most basic customer service skills.

It was also extremely difficult to communicate with the rest of the team, as they didn’t seem to speak or understand English well. This raises serious concerns about the standard of service and professionalism being upheld at this venue.

After sharing my experience with a friend, he suggested the possibility that this may have happened because the bar staff were racist. I sincerely hope this was not the case, but the thought alone is deeply troubling and adds to my sense of discomfort and disbelief over how we were treated.

I am genuinely disappointed by the experience, and it left me feeling shaken and embarrassed. Depending on how this is addressed, I am seriously considering taking legal action, as the way we were treated felt discriminatory and entirely unacceptable.

I would strongly advise others to avoid this place until there are significant improvements in staffing, communication, and...

A Breakfast Masterpiece with Service That Shines. Thank You, Gio!

I recently had the absolute pleasure of visiting this lovely establishment, and I felt compelled to share what an outstanding experience it was. From the moment I stepped through the doors, there was a welcoming warmth that set the tone for what was to be an exceptional meal.

My primary reason for visiting was to try their much-anticipated new breakfast menu, and let me tell you, it did not disappoint, it is absolutely amazing! Every dish that passed by looked incredible, and what I ordered exceeded all expectations. The creativity, the freshness of the ingredients, and the execution of each dish were truly top tier. It's clear that a lot of thought and passion went into crafting these new offerings.

As someone who appreciates inclusive dining options, I was particularly thrilled to see their emphasis on "Vegan Optional!" This isn't just a token gesture; it speaks volumes about their commitment to catering to all dietary preferences without compromising on flavour or quality. It's fantastic to see a menu that truly embraces modern dining needs and ensures everyone can enjoy a delicious breakfast.

However, beyond the stellar food, what truly elevated my experience was the service. My staff member, a fantastic individual named Gio, was absolutely above and beyond. Gio possessed that rare blend of professionalism, genuine warmth, and attentiveness that makes you feel incredibly valued. They anticipated needs, offered helpful suggestions, and handled everything with a friendly demeanour that made the entire visit exceptionally pleasant. Gio is a shining example of what outstanding customer service should be, and they truly made my day.

In summary, if you're looking for an incredible breakfast experience with truly innovative and delicious options (including excellent vegan choices!), and service that will make you feel like a VIP, then you simply must visit this establishment. And when you do, be sure to keep an eye out for Gio, they are an absolute gem! I cannot recommend this place highly enough and I am already planning...