Joe Allen

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Brasseries

13 Exeter Street

Mid-range

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Time Out says

Fri Oct 12 2012

Joe Allen changed ownership at the end of 2012, after 35 years in the same ownership.

The review below refers to our review visit just prior to it changing of hands.

An old trouper that is much loved by thespians and theatregoers, Joe Allen is sadly showing its age. Not on the surface, mind: the classic brick-wall basement rooms hung with show posters look as good as ever. But the quality of the food now lags far behind what is available elsewhere in London, and the prices aren’t particularly cheap. Barbecue spare ribs, served with basmati rice and black-eyed peas, and a (tasty) corn muffin can be bettered at any number of places, and the famed (off-menu) house burger was a mean, overdone portion; a generous pile of chips kept hunger at bay. Also strictly portioned was a crab and avocado starter; more substantial was a comforting bowl of black-bean soup. Baked cheesecake proved the final straw: claggy in texture, and tasting mainly of cheese. The short wine list comes on a laminated sheet. Staff range from on-the-ball to can’t-be-bothered. One for loyal fans and night owls only – at least until the kitchen ups its game.

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2 course £16 with a glass of house wine

or (3 courses £19.50) from a set menu. Choose a glass of house red or white. Includes VAT, excludes service.

Offer valid until Jul 11 2013

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Address:
Joe Allen 13 Exeter Street
London
WC2E 7DT

Phone:
020 3641 7956
Website:
www.joeallen.co.uk
Opening hours:
Breakfast served 8-11.30am Mon-Fri. Meals served noon-12.30am Mon-Fri; 11.30am-12.30am Sat; 11.30am-11.30pm Sun. Brunch served 11.30am-4pm Sat, Sun
Transport:
Tube: Covent Garden tube
Price:
Main courses £9.50-£22.50. Set brunch £19.50 2 courses, £21.50 3 courses incl drink. Set meal (noon-3pm Mon-Fri, 5-6.45pm Mon-Sat) £16 2 courses, £18 3 courses
Map
1. Joe Allen
  - 13 Exeter Street
    London
    WC2E 7DT
  - 020 3641 7956
  - www.joeallen.co.uk
  - 51.511704,-0.120323

Facilities:
Eating and drinking facilities. Restaurant and bar facilities. Reservations required. Brunch. Entertainment facilities. Entertainment. Outdoor facilities. Tables outdoors
Occasions:
Business. Late night. People-watching

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Comments & ratings

(5 ratings)

I agree with the Time Out review. The food is so tired and way behind what else is on offer in and around central London. The atmosphere however is always buzzing and the restaurant remains busy. The crowd is as old as the menu but like they say if it aint broke...

Mark Thu Mar 14
Rated as: 3/5
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Shocking. Sparsely populated on a Saturday afternoon, but service was extraordinarily slow. The "off menu burger" is now listed on the menu, but wasn't actually available (I've had it in the Paris branch and it was fine). Instead I had a chicken salad the like of which I haven't had since the dark days of the 80s, when London restaurants were a joke. Utterly vile. Couldn't tell which elements were chicken and which were potato. Horrible dressing. Our dishes sat waiting on the kitchen counter for a waitress for 15 minutes. But the chicken in the salad certainly hadn't been cooked that day, so it wasn't in a hurry... My dining companion ordered a second glass of cranberry juice "without ice this time please". The second juice arrived in a far smaller glass to compensate for the padding that the ice offered in the original. They really have their eye on the bottom line here. London is absolutely jammed full of great pre/post theatre dining options. This is a pathetic anachronism. Someone should put it out of its misery.

Mark Sun Feb 17
Rated as: 1/5
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Went here at the weekend, great restaurant, great food and polite staff, nice atmosphere and not pretentious one bit! like a lot of places in Covent garden. I wanted to spend a bit more than usual and wasnt dissapointed so was willing to spend the money. Loved that it was hidden away a very fashionable place, great place to know about before going to the theatre! will be going here again.

Rosie Tue Jul 31 2012
Rated as: 5/5
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Terrible menu, so limited I had to resort to a Chicken caesar sald, nice enough but I can prepare that myself at home. It used to be such a fun place with a good burger menu, but now you have to ask for a burger off menu and what they bring is so minimal and boring, it is grossly overated and over priced, it is relying on its past and has become complacent.

Cari Wed Feb 8 2012
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Liked it very much. The (off menu) burger was one of the best burgers I've had in London, fries were great and there was some nice innovation on the menu (the green beans served with black beans were a lovely touch), while the selection of great imported American beers (Sierra Nevada, Goose Island, Sam Adams, Anchor Steam) was great. Recommended.

Sean Wed Sep 21 2011
Rated as: 4/5
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Truly appalling food considering £18-20 for a main course... I've had better tasting, better quality food for £5 at my local pub, what a waste of money, Waiters slow (but overworked... there were three for a sitting of well over a hundred... so not their fault really) food sitting on pass for over 15 minutes, completely ruined veg and just tasteless, cheap produce. We're never eating here again and would recommend you give it a miss. Highlight of the evening was swinging open the door as I was leaving and nearly breaking Derren Brown's nose as he was arriving... he didn't see that one coming!

cs Fri Aug 12 2011
Rated as: 1/5
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Joe Allen

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