The Gate Islington Reviews Summary

Price

Pros:

• "The food was also reasonably priced."
• "Given the food is pricey this set menu is quite a good deal."
• "The selection of foods were great and the prices were reasonable."
• "It was affordable, it was indulgent."
• "The quantity of food was just right and the price reasonable given the top notch quality."
• "Most reasonable for what you get anywhere these days, and the portions are huge."
• "Overall it was a positive experience and well worth the slightly higher price compared to chain restaurants and displayed vegan food at its best."

Cons:

• "It's very expensive for what it is."
• "Not worth going back to at £60 a head (cocktail, main with a side, shared bottle of wine and dessert)."
• "Cocktails are great and the polenta chips are a winner! Slightly too expensive."
• "Way too expensive for average food."
• "Extremely expensive and minuscule portions."
• "Drink prices are really quite high. (£5 for a small bottle of Peroni, for example)"
• "It is on the pricy side at £7-8 for a starter and £13-£18 for a main course."

Service

Pros:

• "Staff were very accommodating, attentive and professional."
• "The staff attentive and friendly."
• "The staff were incredibly attentive and friendly and made us feel really welcome and looked after."
• "Service was excellent, good choice of beer and wine."
• "Service was excellent I have no problem recommending."
• "The staff however were extremely friendly and nothing was too much trouble."
• "The food was delicious & the service was warm & friendly."

Cons:

• "Slow service. Staff don't understand you/mishear."
• "However the service was really terrible, slow, not very welcoming."
• "Service is absolutely LACKING!!! No smiles or friendliness."
• "Service was also really slow, we were in the corner so no waitstaff ever passed by."
• "The biggest disappointment are the staff. I found our waitress quite rude."
• "Staff not very attentive."
• "Very slow service. We've been waiting over 50 minutes for a portion of mixed olives and bread."

Food Quality

Pros:

• "Best food I've eaten I'm recent memory. The miso maple aubergine was delicious!"
• "The food never disappoints at this place."
• "The food was all delicious, which for a committed meat eater like me is pretty impressive."
• "Outstanding vegan food, the cordon bleu was one of the best dishes I've had in years."
• "The food is very nicely presented and very tasty."
• "The food here is delicious. A really good place to come, even if you're not vegetarian or vegan."
• "The food was amazing, tasty, beautifully presented, very quick to arrive, and the restaurant is lovely."

Cons:

• "The food was bland and I could only say that everything seemed pre-prepared and reheated."
• "One salad was drenched in a dressing that annihilated all other flavours, the tortillas were a little burnt."
• "That mushroom risotto was bland and salty."
• "Food was not great - not a lot of plant based protein on dish, they were pretty oily/fatty."
• "The food was just as it had been on my first visit; unremarkable, average at best if not bland."
• "The raw pad thai is BAD. There are no rice noodles as advertised. It is just dry, undressed vegetables."
• "Food mediocre."

Ambiance

Pros:

• "It's also LGBT friendly, which is really good too."
• "The restaurant itself didn’t look like much from the outside, but on the inside it was really nice and fancy, but not too fancy either."
• "The restaurant looked meticulously clean, the waiters were well presented and you can see into the kitchen if you wish."
• "The sleek and modern decor creates a welcoming and sophisticated atmosphere."
• "The restaurant atmosphere was so welcoming - lovely and warm on a cold winters night, beautifully lit."
• "The interior was wonderful, I absolutely loved the light, big windows and how the space 'breathed', very enjoyable."
• "The staff was wonderful and friendly, and the building is an oldie but lovingly and tastefully restored."

Cons:

• "Ps - go to the toilets before you get there, the ones at the Gate are unpleasant at best."
• "The tables have been increased, so you can forget about an intimate dinner, its more like a cafe."
• "The atmosphere here is a bit strange; and the toilets downstairs smell strange!"
• "The acoustics are insane, very very loud restaurant."
• "But the acoustics of the place were terrible. We couldn't even hear each other considering how low everyone sounded."
• "The atmosphere was ok, but thought it would have been much nicer with the lights dimmed and not as bright."
• "The toilets weren't as clean as they could be, and a couple of cubicles were closed because the Thames had backed up and blocked the toilets."