Pollen Street Social Reviews Summary

Food Quality

Pros:

• "The food was perfectly cooked and beautifully presented as expected, from appetizer to dessert."
• "The food here is beautiful - every dish is an intricate work of art."
• "Every dish was simply a work of art, the attention to detail outstanding and the flavours delicious."
• "The food was jaw-droppingly good (as was the presentation.)"
• "Food is absolutely delicious, credit to the amazingly talented chefs."
• "Everything was perfectly seasoned and cooked, especially the lamp rump."
• "All executed beautifully & a joy to the eye, nose & mouth: the turbot was perfectly seasoned & cooked."

Cons:

• "The soup I had was really so dull I didn't eat it."
• "The food was cooked beautifully, scallops and halibut were great, but the sauces were poor, odd flavours that frankly did not work."
• "Although the food was good, it wasn't exceptional as we've had more interesting dishes at other restaurants, whether starred or not."
• "Also there was an over-use of lemon verbena and over-powering herbs in all the dishes, which was unfortunate."
• "The fish and chips course was underwhelming and overly greasy."
• "The whole duck we ordered for two, whilst huge, was inconsistently cooked, and mainly overcooked starting with an almost burnt glaze."
• "I ordered the John Dory it was dry, chewy and they poured some white wine sauce which did not go with the fish at all and was very bland."

Service

Pros:

• "Service was faultless. Very attentive but not in your face."
• "Staff are impeccable, the sommelier was incredibly knowledgeable and easygoing."
• "Service friendly and impeccable throughout."
• "The staff really knows how to do their job and what they are serving, good knowledge of the food and wine."
• "Lovely atmosphere and buzz, perfect service."
• "Friendly welcome, attentive, professional and world class service."
• "The service was attentive and understated."

Cons:

• "The service was awkward, the only staff members that smiled was the lady who took my coat and the guy who gave me the bill."
• "We were sat down an hour after we had booked with no apology."
• "Service was exceptional until after our desserts... The ending really was a disappointment."
• "The staff seemed overwhelmed by the number of diners, and the place felt and looked blatantly overbooked."
• "But really for the money they are charging the service should not have dropped off the way it did."
• "The experience was ruined though by the snooty staff we had who spent the evening actively ignoring us."
• "The waiters did not stop by to check how our food was and did not ask why we had left half of our mains."

Atmosphere

Pros:

• "The place has a calm, cosy and romantic environment."
• "The atmosphere was warm and inviting."
• "The ambiance was just right."
• "The atmosphere is dynamic at the same time very relaxed."
• "The whole restaurant had a nice vibe."
• "Ambience was just perfect, light and open."
• "The service here is top notch and the food fabulous."

Cons:

• "The place is very crowded and rather loud. I wouldn't go there for a romantic tête-à-tête."
• "The decor was okay clean bright and simple but with really drab flowers which looked past their best."
• "The decor is also not the most inspiring; it's got a bit of a hotel lobby vibe."
• "We were unimpressed by the atmosphere, which was loud and noisy."
• "The restaurant area is a little noisy and not suitable for intimate dining."
• "The main room has lots of hard surfaces and not much to deaden the sound."
• "Restaurant was cold."

Value

Pros:

• "Absolutely worth to experience fine dining for only £37 per head for lunch."
• "They have a generous vegan menu, and the staff are highly conscientious of dietary requirements."
• "Set lunch menu is affordable and well worth the money spent."
• "The set menu, which is a steal considering the quality and richness of the dishes."
• "We ordered the set lunch menu, which was very value for money!"
• "Not cheap but definitely value for money."
• "Lunch offer in the week or on a Sat is GREAT value for money."

Cons:

• "It is very expensive though, I think the lunch menu is probably better value."
• "On this occasion we had one of the additional courses for a hefty supplement. It wasn’t very good and not worth the money."
• "Portions were tiny - we were still hungry when we left."
• "Avoid the vegan menu! £95 per head was a very high price for the quality we were served."
• "At £500 for four including two cheaper bottles of wine, you'd expect better."
• "The price tag was steep."
• "Overall nowhere near what one expects of a Michelin star restaurant and for a £250 dining experience."