Novikov Restaurant & Bar — Restaurant in London

It was honestly a pretty appalling experience. They have no interest in their customers, proven by the fact that I emailed them to pass on my feedback and this was completely ignored.

My friend and I had a table booked for 2 of us for lunch on Sunday at Novikov Italian. We were seated and not offered the set menu despite this being advertised.

Within 5 minutes of sitting down, we had at least 4 different members of staff approach us to ask us what we wanted to order - we’d barely had a chance to look at the menu. To some this could be viewed as being proactive but it’s not when none of them are communicating with each other. We were even forced to order our water twice - we told the man we’ve already ordered it and he said I know but tell me what you want and I’ll get it instead? Why not speak to your colleague and find out what we ordered? This is made worse by the fact that no one was to be seen whilst we were eating - no one once checked if our food was ok. I even witnessed the staff asking customers whether they had anymore food coming when they were clearing the plates - surely it’s their job to know that and if they don’t, go and check the till??!

We had to wave someone down during our main courses to alert them to the fact that the seafood pasta was full of bits of broken shells. She advised that this is normal, picked up both plates of food and simply said do you want something else or the same again - didn’t offer for us to see the menu. My friend then requested the same but without the shells (obviously!), which she was charged £7 extra for, and whilst waiting for it we were offered desserts! Please don’t tell your customers that it is ‘normal’ to receive / eat a dish full of broken shells - the only thing that is going to cause is a broken tooth!

My friend was then forced to eat alone after all my food had been cleared away - without asking whether I had finished, let alone whether I had enjoyed it. To clarify, I didn’t enjoy it. It was their version of a cacio e Pepe - a 3 ingredient dish which is probably the easiest to get right, however, it was overwhelmed with salt, pepper and nutmeg. I’m sure they do it to make their customers drink more (or their chefs can’t actually cook). I suffered with a salt induced headache for 2 days after.

We were shown the set menu with our bill - why is this menu advertised but not offered to their customers when they enter the restaurant? It’s advertised as being served Monday to Sunday, 12:00-17:00, so having a reservation at 14:30 on a Sunday should mean that I should’ve been offered this menu surely?

Anyway, the final nail in the coffin was after leaving the staff a nice 15% tip, not a single member of staff bothered to say goodbye as we left - not even the reservations lady at the door. The only friendly and attentive member of staff was the lady who took our coats when we initially entered.

For a business that demands customers dress smart and elegant, and leave staff a 15% tip, I’d expect a lot more in terms of food and service.

That was a first and last. I definitely won’t be back, but somehow, I...

I went to Novikov Italian for my graduation meal as a table of 8. Whilst the atmosphere and decor were amazing, and the food was tasty (but not blow your socks off/anything to write home about, it was just good), the service was appalling. Having eaten in the Asian version of Novikov a few times and had faultless experiences, I was really embarrassed to take my family to the restaurant I’d been raving about, and they had never been to, to have such shocking service. We all ordered starters, sides and mains, as well as drinks. The starters came as ordered and fine. The mains all came as ordered and fine. However, after 15 minutes of sitting there with our mains waiting for our sides, they never showed. We had to ask/remind the staff twice before they said they were coming. The sides did not arrive until all of our mains were eaten and gone. Not only did they come after we had finished the mains, they were not what we ordered. We obviously explained this was not great as who eats a side of mash on its own, or a side of greens just by themselves after a main dish is done? When they arrived we explained it was pointless now and it we didn’t want them, the waitor dumped them on the table as if to say well you’ve ordered them so you’re having them. My fiancé had to go up to the waiters to complain, then had to complain an additional 3 times before anyone apologised or even offered a solution. The solution also didn’t come until we said if the bill arrives with a service charge on the bill, the bill will not be paid at all, as no one knew how/wanted to deal with the situation (we had already paid a £500 deposit). The service alone ruined the meal and the food wasn’t amazing enough to recover the experience on its own. In addition, when they took the drinks order they didn’t even ask 2 people on the table for their order, so we were left trying to flag someone down after the fact to try to order wine. We explained how disappointing the experience was as it was my graduation. Only 1 person ordered dessert (not me) and when their dessert came, they decided to pipe “congratulations on your graduation” with a sparkler in her dessert, but deliver it to me, then when the sparkler went out, they pushed the plate over to the person who actually ordered the dessert (who indeed did not graduate) - we were all just left confused by this and it was really unprofessional and slightly rude. This would have been a nice touch had they delivered my aunties dessert normally, then piped on a separate plate with something very small to stick a candle in if they were hell bent on doing the congrats plate, but to put it on someone else’s dessert? Really tacky! Really really disappointing from an alleged top class restaurant. I really do hope this was just a one off bad...

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An exceptional dining experience at Novikov – Pan Asian Cuisine in London! From the moment we stepped in, we were captivated by the chic ambiance, the stunning interior, and the vibrant open kitchen, where chefs crafted each dish with precision.

The service was flawless—attentive, knowledgeable, and ensuring every detail was perfect. The staff was happy to recommend dishes and pairings, making the experience even more enjoyable. We got fresh coconut water and my favorite drink- pomegranate ginger juice

Now, onto the star of the show – the food! Every dish was an explosion of flavors, beautifully presented, and cooked to perfection. Here are some of the highlights from our meal:

Quail eggs, wagyu beef soiders,yellow tail carpaccio, tuna carpaccio, crab leg, Besudes the other things we ordered as follows-:

🍣 Sushi & Sashimi Platter – The freshest cuts of tuna, salmon, and yellowtail, delicately sliced and served with premium wasabi and soy sauce. The presentation was stunning, and the flavors were just as impressive.

🐠 Miso Black Cod – A must-try signature dish! The cod was buttery soft, perfectly caramelized, and infused with rich miso flavors, melting effortlessly with every bite.

🥟 Dim Sum Selection – A delightful mix of truffle mushroom dumplings, wagyu beef gyoza, and prawn & scallop shumai—each bite was packed with fresh, well-balanced flavors.

🔥 Crispy Aromatic Duck – Served with warm pancakes, hoisin sauce, cucumber, and scallions, this dish was crispy on the outside yet incredibly tender inside.

🍜 Wagyu Beef Stir-Fry – Cooked to perfection, with tender slices of wagyu beef tossed in a fragrant garlic-soy sauce, served with seasonal greens.

🍛 Thai Green Curry with King Prawns – A rich, creamy coconut-based curry with just the right level of spice, served with fragrant jasmine rice—comfort food at its finest!

🥭 Mango Sticky Rice – A sweet ending to a perfect meal, featuring perfectly ripe mango, creamy coconut sauce, and warm glutinous rice.

Everything was flawlessly executed, from the quality of the ingredients to the exquisite plating. Novikov never disappoints! Highly recommended for anyone looking for a luxurious Pan-Asian dining experience in London. Will definitely be coming back!

#NovikovLondon #FineDining #PanAsianPerfection #FoodieHeaven #LuxuryDining #MisoBlackCod...