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Flâneur’s two sides – restaurant and food hall – complement each other beautifully. Ceiling-height shelves packed with neatly arranged tins and jars provide the restaurant with a novel backdrop, while diners inspired by lunch can pick up ingredients on their way out. At the set-price, multi-choice lunch or dinner, charcuterie or cured fish might be followed by roast breast of Barbary duck, or fish stew. The top-notch full english and veggie breakfasts we tucked into at Sunday brunch required a chef of exacting talents to construct. Mushrooms, tomatoes and bubble and squeak were flavoursome, fried manouri cheese was a break from the veggie-sausage norm, and the cumberland sausage, bacon and black pudding were clearly carefully sourced. Our only complaint concerned slightly overcooked eggs. A side order of unnecessary but delicious chargrilled sourdough meant we failed to try one of the much-lauded desserts (pineapple upside-down cake, chocolate tart, poppy-seed cake) served with lashings of cream. Flâneur has a relaxed, slightly otherworldly feel – created by Goldilocks and the Three Bears-style giant chairs and dim lighting – that also works well for lunchtime escapes and foodie romantic dinners. Service was efficient and helpful.
Time Out Eating & Drinking Guide 2008
London's best review, food and drink news
Never in my life have I experienced such rudeness - so much so I was reduced to tears - and I'm still reeling!!
20 minutes after ordering the wine I got up and asked the bar man if it was on it's way - he told me to "ask him" (the manager). The wine finally arrived, and quite a while later so did our starters, which were very nice.
However, when the mains arrived that is when it rapidly went down hill. I had ordered a steak, to be rare - however it was not rare when it arrived. I waited to try and get the waiters attention (the manager), but to no avail. So I got up to go and speak to him and took my plate with me. When advising him that I had asked for my steak to be rare he said it was. I said that it's wasn't and politely asked if I could have another one - he then told me to stop being rude. Since when was it rude to ask for something the way you like it when you are paying for it? Eventually another steak was brought out, however I refused it and went without the rest of my dinner, had I not been with friends for a birthday dinner I would have left the restaurant. The service was appalling and the attitude of the staff - well it leaves alot to be desired. Flaneur could be a great place but the staff really let this place down.
There are plenty of alot better, and cheaper restaurants over this one so don't waste your time here.
I haven't had such a terrible meal in a long time! the food was very bland, a had to ask for black pepper to make my risotto taste of something and the "moist chocolate cake" was as hard as a brick. The staff were unattentive and for such a bad meal it was expensive- £100 for 3 people without any wine.
I wont be coming back!