Th@51 Restaurant and Bar — Restaurant in London

I recently discovered this restaurant with is actually in a hotel (We found out when we arrived). To access the toilet, you have to cross the entire restaurant, enter the hotel, cross all the reception, go through a hallway with several rooms and pray to not get lost when you go back. The lady at the reception was very nice and looks passionate. She led us to our table and gave us choice because, the place was almost empty.

We started by choosing cocktails. The waiter had no idea what was in the drinks so he had to go ask the barmaid. Especially for a specific drink with "umami" with literally mean "taste". I was confused and ask if there was a drink that I didn't know that is called “umami”, he went to ask the waiter and came back to me to tell me that it's just a type of taste (I know that..). So basically, it was a shot of Gin, sold 15 pounds!! Because you cannot pour "umami" inside a glass.

We ordered Korean barbecue and also turbot that was supposed to be served with potatoes and vegetables. Turbot is a flat fish with white flesh.

When that dishes arrived, I was surprised to see the "Korean barbecue". It was a baby chicken covered with barbecue sauce and fried frozen potatoes. The chicken was harder than old turkey. The poor animal must have suffered so bad when it was killed that you could feel the tension while chewing the meat.

The "turbot with potatoes and vegetables" turns out to be ONE salmon skewer, covered with the same barbecue sauce (They probably buy it in bulk) and the same fried frozen potatoes.

When I called the waiter to tell him that this was NOT turbot, he went (again) to ask the "chef" who told him to come at the back of the kitchen. He came back 5 long minutes later to tell me that they had changed my order because the catch of the day was not fresh. I’m probably d. enough to believe that. He then propose to offer me a dessert, which I refuse and then he proposes me to not pay or the fish and that it was on him. I do not like to waste food so I accepted.

He came back 10mn later, after the cook called him to speak with him, to propose to change my plate for another one with prawns. I refuse and said that I do not like the waste of food that was going to happen and that I was fine with the salmon.

At the end off the meal, we received the bill with the price of the Turbot that I never saw and a 10 pounds discount. When I refused to pay for the fish (because that was what I was offered as an apology), the waiter came back to explain that he never said that we were not paying because he proposed to replace my meal with prawns. It’s me who refused. After way too much talking for nothing, they came back with an updated bill without the turbot. Of course, I refused to pay the "service charge".

Here is my conclusion: This restaurant serves cheap food and bad quality products while trying to pass it for fancy fusion cuisine. I am used to eat to restaurant with stars, Michelin restaurants and gastronomic restaurants all over the world. The food here isn't even at the level of a cheap bistro. Moreover, this place is also very dangerous because the food they serve is NOT what is written on the menu, and even worse, they decided to change what I have ordered for something else, WITHOUT telling me and they kept lying about it. What would have happened if I was allergic? – I'd suggest you to...

London is one of my favorite cities in the world (I’ve been there six times thus far and I am constantly thinking about what I would like to do during a future visit!). I have great memories of my visit to London in December 2022 as it was my first time visiting the city to witness the Holiday festivities. My dad booked a junior suite at the St James and this was our first time staying in a Taj property outside of India (I have stayed at the Taj in New Delhi and the Taj Holiday Village in Goa during previous trips to India in the past); the hospitality in Taj properties is always great and it was interesting to experience this in London (e.g., the staff would come and knock on hotel guests' doors in the evening and offer chai and Indian snacks).

During our six-night stay, we did our regular rounds of sightseeing and saw the Christmas decorations in different parts of the city (the decorations at Harrods look amazing at this time of year); we also visited Buckingham Palace quite a few times as our hotel was nearby.

For our second to last night in London (which was NYE), I purchased tickets for the NYE party that was held at TH@51; the event included a plated dinner, live entertainment and a dessert buffet for GBP 150/person. There were many other families at the event (most of them were Indian and were staying at the hotel). While the overall party was a dragged, I am glad we bought tickets for this event; for me, the highlights of the evening were the dessert buffet (which I loved because there were a ton of different Indian desserts) and the small firecracker display in the courtyard area of the hotel which took place at midnight. Filial piety is a big deal in Indian culture and while the party was a bit of a drag, it was good to be surrounded by other families (who also looked like they were slightly bored up until the fireworks show..). The crowd seemed like the type who isn’t into any form of debauchery - they are the types that would rather get bored with their families on NYE than to go out and party (these are the type of people my family and I limit our social interactions to). The NYE decorations were tastefully done and this was a nice way to end off the year.

While London may not always be at the at top of the list for many people as a place to spend their vacation during Christmas week, I highly suggest you consider looking into visiting during this time of year as the city is beautifully done up for...

This place is/was hand's down the worst run business I've come across in London. We made the terrible mistake of continuing in, after two ladies warned us on their exit.

We simply came in for a drink, so we figured "how bad could it be?" For those who want the cliff notes... TERRIBLE, flashing warning signs Do not waste your time or money.

Now, on with the story...

Sat at the bar immediately. Great start. Asked for drink menus. Received dinner menus. Ok... Five minutes later, we're finally graced with a pair of cocktail menus. Then we wait...keep in mind, it is NOT busy, the bartenders look like it's their first day on the job, and their snacks and bar stock are everywhere. It feels like a soft opening gone wrong. We finally get cocktails ordered and it's been roughly 10 minutes. The order: 2 Old Fashioneds, a whiskey on the rocks, and a Negroni. 15 minutes passes...2 bartenders seem to be lost. Bar manager seems lost. Floor manager... absolutely confused. Everyone with seniority appears to be learning on the job tonight. It feels like a hidden camera show things are so disorganized. Cocktails arrived. 2 watered down Old Fashions, a whiskey that was luckily ordered on the rocks, and some version of a simple Negroni. We have a birthday in the group, so we ask for a dessert menu. We're presented with a dinner menu again...no desserts. We kindly remind him. He acknowledges and continues a cocktail in progress. No cocktails and ten minutes of chatting with management later, I look for a menu. He notices, apologizes, and finds a drink menu. We're definitely waiting for the cameras at this point. This MUST be a TV skit. Finally, the oblivious manager type comes with a dessert menu. She's nice...but clueless. Five minutes more, we're ready to order. Cue clueless manager lady...we think she's taken the reigns to steer the ship back on course...nope. She's brought us dessert menus....again. We now have 5 dessert menus, 3 drink menus, and 4 dinner menus. Bravo...and tab please.

I'm not sure how anyone who owns, runs, or is associated with this establishment could ever hold their head high in public, for this is a house of shame. Five minutes of training a team of squirrels, and you'd have better, more keen heads running it...and in such a highly...