Blackfriars Station

The Ivy Asia St Paul's

We visited Ivy Asia St Paul’s for an early Christmas Eve dinner with friends at around 6:00 PM. As the restaurant was not very busy at that hour, they kindly accommodated us earlier than our reservation, which we appreciated.

The décor was charming and festive, and I was genuinely delighted to find a Christmas cracker waiting on the table — a small but thoughtful touch that immediately set a celebratory tone. The overall ambience felt lively yet comfortable.

The food itself was excellent — flavourful, beautifully presented, and with particularly strong menu options for vegetarians, which was a real highlight of the evening.

Unfortunately, the service significantly detracted from the experience. Our table server was slow and unorganised, leading to multiple mix-ups with our orders. From the end of our main course to settling the bill, the process took an astonishing 45 minutes — a time frame that included an unreasonably slow arrival of dessert.

When we requested takeaway boxes for our leftovers, we were told none were available, which was disappointing for a restaurant of this calibre.

The manager, however, deserves recognition for being prompt, decisive, and effective in addressing the issues caused by the service lapses. That said, it was frustrating that throughout the meal I repeatedly had to request managerial intervention just to keep things moving. Eventually, service was progressing so slowly that I had to get up myself to make payment.

While I understand that the festive season can be demanding for restaurants, the lack of efficiency and basic service training was difficult to overlook. Except for the service, the entire experience was wonderful — however, for me, service is a fundamental prerequisite when choosing to return to a restaurant.

Not worth the price. We went for lunch at St Pauls as a date and that was a mistake, it’s full of business people lunching and you are sat close together. I got the rib eye steak medium and it was verging on well done.
There was nothing particularly wrong with the food but at £180 for 2 people with one soft drink each and 3 courses it’s way too expensive for what you get.
Also the one in Mayfair is better for a date.
The menu has a good selection for vegans however.

I had an amazing experience at Ivy Asia St Paul’s. The ambience was stunning, and the food was absolutely superb. Service from Matthew was exceptional — he was kind, attentive, and truly went above and beyond our expectations. His expertise and recommendations were spot on; the seared beef and chicken teriyaki were both outstanding, and the cheesecake dessert was super delicious.

Thank you so much for a fantastic dining experience! Highly recommend.

The restaurant is absolutely beautiful and very authentic, with an incredible view of St. Paul’s Cathedral — that alone makes the visit worthwhile. The food was good and enjoyable, but not particularly memorable; I would describe it as solid, well-executed Asian cuisine rather than something truly outstanding.

Unfortunately, the service felt quite flat. All of the staff, including the managers, seemed very serious, tired, and not very welcoming — no smiles, and at times they even appeared a bit irritated. It was noticeable that they were understaffed or overwhelmed by the workload, which clearly affected the overall experience.

I would still recommend the place if service is not your top priority and you are mainly looking for a beautiful setting with a stunning view rather than a culinary revelation.

Tip: there is a corner table by the window in the corner of the dining room with the best view (shown in the last photo) — if possible, try to reserve that one.

This is our daughter’s favourite restaurant, and one of our favourites too, so what better place to come and celebrate her graduation! It is a beautiful venue that simply never disappoints! The service is perfect, and the staff are very friendly and professional. The food is exceptionally good, very well presented and tastes great too! We also had a great view of St Paul’s Cathedral , which was an added bonus! Will we come again? Of course we will, and I would highly recommend that you do too! 😀

The Ivy Asia

Tas The Cut

I've been to Tas a few times, most recently for a casual dinner with friends. It's a straightforward restaurant serving fresh, simple food—nothing fancy or experimental. The service was adequate. It's a reliable spot if you're in the area and looking for a simple meal.

One of the worst meals I've ever had. Drinks came after the starters arrived.Houmous was bland and had a weird texture, bread was dry,lamb and chicken shish were dry,sea bass was overcooked,potatoes had a horrible taste and no seasoning and I don't know what to say about the veg..no taste at all.Didn't realise  the mains didn't come with rice or salad because we weren't told and in our experience
living in an area with a huge Turkish community, their hospitality and sides are second to none.Desserts were tasteless and chewy. Prices were to be expected for what I'd now call a tourist trap. Plus we were placed by the stairs and there was the most foul smell coming from what I guess were the drains. Such a shame as we love Turkish food.

Delicious and comforting food that satisfies your tummy and taste buds. The hospitality is amazing, the warm staff gave excellent service. The ambience transports you to Turkiye. Wish i could give 7 out of 5 stars because it was that good!

Nice restaurant with a large variety. Food was very tasty and the staff all professional and polite. A bit more expensive than other Turkish places but cannot complain about the quality.

I visited this restaurant last week as it was my friend’s birthday. We had calamari which was delicious the fatter squid rings and light batter the best type. My mate said he has not had this kind of momma cooking in a long time a he’s right the food was banging. Would go there again.

This restaurant has been reported to be halal by our readers but is still unverified.

website:zabihah.com:(https://www.zabihah.com/biz/0zrm9WyUrR)

Deliveroo UK

PizzaExpress

The restaurant uses the same pizza oven as the Kebab store on my street. When we ordered a pizza Bianco, we got served a regular one - the answer of the waiter was that "it tastes better". Pizzas are small, thin, and unimpressive. The prize is outrageous for the quality. Mac and cheese sauce was runny and tasted bland. All in all, a really bad experience for a high price.

We visited on a busy evening and the restaurant was absolutely packed. The team managed to squeeze us in at a small table near the kitchen, which we were just happy to have! The manager was clearly leading by example, with her 'sleeves rolled up' helping the team take orders.

What really stood out was the proactive service. The manager noticed a more spacious table opened up and immediately offered to move us, which made a huge difference to our evening. Despite the rush, we were served by the manager and two different waiters, all of whom were attentive, friendly, and seamless in their service. Even the team member who originally seated us came by to check we were settled in our new spot.

The food was excellent as always, but this was easily one of the best Pizza Express experiences we’ve had because of the people. It is wonderful to see such a cohesive team working so well together. I thanked the manager on the night, but wanted to put this in writing too. Thank you for a lovely evening!

Delicious food and excellent service! The lovely lady who took care of us was incredibly sweet. She even told us that our table and another one were her favorite customers that day! I wish her all the best!

Really great value with my taste card and the revival of this chain has been remarkable , the venues are always tidy and modern and service consistent and of course food quality very decent. This particular branch faces St Paul’s which is awesome and has a great atmosphere. What you will get with pizza express is good atmosphere , decoration and consistent quality , price point is just about right for me as a middle income earner who is also budget conscious

Not bad, not the greatest but an enjoyable chain experience in a lovely location. Great fir large groups and reasonably priced

Pizza Express

Great British burgers and homemade rosemary chips

Honest Burgers Waterloo

I am vegan and I don't like beyond meat in general, but the whole thing from Honest Burger was incredible! It is a lot of food, so the price is worth! Only the onion rings could be less greasy, but they are for sure deep fried. The fries were delicious! The staff is amazing, the manager Adam is indeed a really nice guy. We went there because my omni friend works for Honest Burger (but not this unit) and we were invited by her, and the staff and the place were really accommodating! A few vegan options, but I hope they have room to improve it 😊 happy with the results!

We went there last week and waited in line for about half an hour, as it was very crowded. We ordered one Honest burger and one smash burger. The Honest burger was tasty, but the smash burger was overcooked and didn’t taste very good. Our little one accidentally broke one of their cups, and the staff didn’t make a fuss at all and kindly brought us a new one.

Overall:

Food: Burgers

An honest review for Honest Burgers. I’ve been to several locations from Hammersmith to Chiswick via Notting Hill and always really enjoyed the experiences. Waterloo has let the team down- solely on service on a not particularly busy Saturday night.

We all know hospitality is on its knees and this is the time to step up and look after your guests spending their hard earned in your restaurant. Make people feel welcome, smile, don’t check your mobile phone every five minutes - we see you. Instead check on your customers, make sure their food is all delivered and items aren’t missing and even then still charging for things which didn’t turn up.

Know your products - when asked what type of red wine you serve don’t just say ‘it’s red’! And on that note - the 125ml serving should be an embarrassment at that price point. Your burgers are good but small yet we still give you our custom when we have a lot of choice.

The managers need to manage their staff and double check customers are all happy. It starts at the top. If the managers don’t particularly care why should those serving you?

What a disappointment.

What I liked:

• Nepo beer
• Rosemary chips
• Smash burger

What I didn’t like:

• Worst service of any Honest Burger location
• Portion sizes are small
• Would be nice to see some less processed options for non meat eaters in the group.

Do I recommend going? NO (Not to The Cut, Waterloo)
Will I go again? NO (Not to The Cut, Waterloo)
Was it good value? YES
Price Point: $$

We were absolutely satisfied. Team took great care of us and made sure we felt very comfortable. They ware cheerful, helpful, and the service was super quick. We really enjoyed food, meats ware prepared as we request and onion chutney was really delicious. 👍

Overall the food is good and the atmosphere is young and cool. There's music in the background and the service is always available and friendly.
The hamburger dishes are pretty good and there are some interesting options.
On the down side the hamburgers are not very big and might not be enough if you're a big eater. Furthermore the rosemary salted fries are a nice touch but they were way too salty for my taste.

All of the chicken in our restaurants is halal. If you would like to see our supplier’s halal certificate please ask your server when you arrive. Halal products are stored separately with strict processes in place to stop cross-contamination. Halal chicken items are handled with separate utensils and gloves. Fried halal chicken burgers and wings do not share fryers with any non-halal items. Grilled halal chicken breast burgers are cooked on a reserved area of the grill separated by a grill divider. We do not offer halal beef at any of our restaurants.

12 of our restaurants (full list below) offer a halal Buffalo fried chicken burger. We will be rolling this out to more restaurants in the near future so watch this space. You can find our Buffalo fried chicken burger at Bank, Cardiff, Finsbury Park, Liverpool St, Manchester, Portobello, Reading, South Kensington, Spitalfields, St Katherine Docks, Tooting and Watford.

Honest Burgers

Eat-in and takeaway restaurant, part of small chain, serving soft, filled tortillas and burritos.

106 Southwark St

Chicken is halal. Pork and alcohol served.

Tortilla

Hola Guacamole

Absolutely incredible. Yum yum yum. Can’t wait to try more of these dishes. We had chicken nachos, a chicken burrito and beef naked burrito.

You can choose the spice level too. And the staff were really friendly and attentive.

Ate at their truck at the Tower of London. Best chicken tacos we have had in a while. The brown sauce would make a napkin palatable!! Great spot any time of the day while sightseeing!

Today, I had a great quesadilla here at Hola Guacamole in Gabriel's wharf market. I was served by Marcela and her colleague, they're very friendly and I felt welcomed.  The food was delicious and I recommend this place to everyone!

3 tacos for 15 quid, I tried one chicken, one pork one beef,  it if I go back I’d just get 3 beef, the slow cooked beef is incredible! Chopped tomatoes very fresh and great guacamole!

The food was good, I ordered the beef quesadilla, and it was very very tasty. I would definitely go again when I’m back in London.

The service was amazing as the staff were very friendly.

UberEats UK

JustEat UK

Ev Restaurant

Delicious food served by friendly attentive helpful staff in a splendidly designed railway arch space all for a fair price.
The entrance is through a garden of large potted plants that is ever so welcoming in this central London venue.
Easy walking distance from Thames, tube and Waterloo station.
Recommended.

The restaurant and its food are Excellent . I strongly recommend fine dining or dine there with beautiful outside garden, delicious grill and taste the beer and smoke. The restaurant is consist of 5 different big units and you can see that non stop big gathering, fundraising and charity campaign and events take place. There is unique Anatolian food with Turkish Raki.

"Nice Turkish place with lovely decor and a cozy vibe. The lunch set menu is great value with big portions and tasty food. The menu is small but well picked. Self-service, and the staff were really friendly and helpful!"

5* food at this restaurant featuring re-invented Turkish classics. The aroma of fresh bread is recognizable by walking near the venue, which is hidden behind tall flowerbeds. I loved the Iskender: lamb pieces were juicy and tender, portion is generous but not excessive for one person, limited butter which is good for your health.

Service charge includes complimentary homemade bread and olives. The restaurant has many covers to serve, so be patient about service, although the wait was more than reasonable on Sat lunchtime. Highly recommended for tourists.

Excellent Turkish Mediterranean food under the bridge. Love the place ambience music food and the service.

Bala Baya Restaurant Bankside

Been on several occasions, including once during Covid restrictions. The team are always friendly and helpful, a welcoming environment set over two floors in the arches.

Food is outstanding, big flavour small plates with a changing seasonal menu. A tad pricey, however considering the area it’s somewhat to be expected. Quality and innovation get top marks, as well as a range of tasty cocktails. The cocktails push the overall price up of course but they’re very tempting 😁

We had a great dinning experience at Bala Baya.  The food was delicious with a beautiful presentation.  The service was great and we enjoyed a nice glass of Israeli wine.   For food we had fried cauliflower, roasted cabbage with goat cheese, spiced pumpkin hummus, kabob dumplings.  All of it was so delicious!

We had a wonderful time. The food was delicious, we were really looked after. It was a lovely relaxed environment with attentive service. We could have sat there for hours soaking up the atmosphere of the open kitchen. I will absolutely be back.

This restaurant is a real standout. The staff are warm and professional, creating an atmosphere that feels both relaxed and refined. The food is the real highlight - every dish feels carefully thought out, full of unexpected flavors that actually work together. It is the kind of place that surprises you in the best way possible and leaves you wanting to come back soon.

Great food, wonderful atmosphere and brilliant and attentive service! Food is superb and very delicious. I love that the dishes are creative and well presented. Tapas style is a wonderful idea and allows you to taste much more of the menu. I’ll be back soon for sure! Cannot wait to try the other dishes.

Bala Baya

Chilango

Tasty, quick, convenient and a nice enough setting. Docking a star because my sweet potato criss cross fries were cold, but the burrito was mighty fine and filling. Feedback from my dining partner was that the ‘hot box’ left much to be desired and was a tad skimpy on the contents.

Really tasty Mexican food. I absolutely love their hotbox. But if you planning to get lunch from there, plan accordingly as it might be crowded.

Always great food and quick service. The speed at which the queue move is a great way to show efficiency. Top class

They have beer! Modelo, Corona, Pacifico. Essential to battle those hot sauces

Best Burritos in London. Fast, efficient and packed full of flavour. The staff are helpful and friendly and even when it's rammed at rush hour, the queue moves like a slick conveyor belt.

The seasoning they use on the chicken is amazing. I ate here every day while I was working on Fleet Street.

Thanks guys - keep up the good work!

Minimal-waste menu revolving around chicken

Paradiso Burger & Cocktail Bar Southbank

We held our office summer party at Pardiso Burger & Cocktail Bar in South Bank, using the terrace and top floor private area, and had the best time! The setting was beautiful, overlooking the Thames, and the atmosphere was perfect for a celebration.

The staff were absolutely fantastic, friendly, attentive, and even went out of their way to take a group photo for us. The food and drinks were amazing, with great rates that made the whole experience even better.

Highly recommend this spot for any group event or casual night out. We’ll definitely be back!

Friendly staff, delicious food and nice coffee.
We had an outside table, served by a very genial server Andrew V. He was so friendly.
I had the spinach, brie and apple salad. It was DELICIOUS!
The iced latte was good too.
We got a bottle of tap water for the table too.
Nice riverside seating, lovely for watching the world go by.

I booked a bottomless brunch for me and 2 friends. I arrived first and felt like I wasn’t welcomed as the person who “greeted” me felt unapproachable and like I wasn’t in the right place. We got our drinks and food order. The food was okay but the burgers felt like a tough steak and was a bit hard to eat. The two of us who had this ended up having to disassemble the burger in order to finish it. The drinks were really nice. However, whilst still eating, we finished our drinks which no one came over to ask if we wanted a refill or even ask how the food was. I had to try (a bit too hard in my opinion) to get another drink. The third time, I had to try even harder to get someone’s attention and had to get up for someone to even notice that we needed service. The fourth and final time, I tried to get the attention of who I believe was the manager (the person who greeted me) but he kept disappearing off elsewhere. I again had to get up to get some service. What is the difference between me having a bottomless brunch or just having a regular meal with drinks not included? It just felt like a waste of time. It was a lot of effort to get the bill as well. If we were not having a bottomless brunch, I feel like we would’ve got better service. It felt very intentionally that no one asked if we wanted a new drink etc. When we finally got the bill, which was just as hard to get as the drinks, I did mention to the same person that I didn’t feel as though we needed to pay the service charge as I felt like we were not taken care of during our hour and a half we were there. He just gave a smile and said it was optional. We did not even get an apology. I was happy to pay for everything but just a bit of acknowledgment to how we were feeling would not have gone a miss. There was a really lovely lady who was very helpful when the umbrella that was up had almost hit us so we wanted to pay the service fee for staff like her who actually cared. I would avoid this place at all costs.

This location seems to have placed "location" over  "quality" in terms of food offerings. Let's start with the basics:
1) All the chicken choices, while coated in a fabulous buttermilk batter, are dark meat. Perhaps this is the preferred cut of the chicken for the ethnic vibe this location is attempting to replicate, one quickly loses the flavour of the batter once eaten.
2) Timing: now this is a bit tricky to explain, but I'll try - the meal choices are what one would expect in a great location such as this...a bit on the high side, but within reason. What surprised me was how quickly the meals arrived at our table after our server took our order. Maybe some like this quick service, however for me, this mirrored closely to getting my order at a fast food location...it didn't match... hopefully, this makes sense 🤔

For all of the offerings available along the South Bank, I'll be taking a pass the next time around.

I went last Saturday with my friends for a birthday bottomless brunch! It was absolutely brilliant. I was nervous because of the location, but the staff were 10/10 and the food was actually so good. I had the chicken pile, and I also tried the fries - all excellent. I can't wait to come back again! xxx

Blackfriars Station

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