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National Dining Rooms
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The death of Shaun Gilmore in a motorcycle accident in March 2008 deprived London of one of its brightest young chefs. However, the restaurant over which he presided, winner of the 2007 Best British Restaurant gong at the Time Out Eating & Drinking Awards, remains in fine shape. Housed in the National Gallery’s Sainsbury Wing, the Oliver Peyton-run operation offers a variety of eating options. You can choose from a bar menu, sample an array of tempting baked goods, or even (a real Peytonian touch, this) a cultured, cheeky afternoon tea. But the real attraction remains the main menu, which offers an enlightened update of British staples and delivers them with skill and efficiency. Chilled cucumber and ginger soup came with subtle Dorset crab and a hint of melon; a chicken liver mousse was a one-note starter tuned to a pitch-perfect concerto. Mains were just as impressive: gently poached trout served with spring greens; and a wonderful melt-in-the-mouth ox cheek, braised with great patience, making a lovely match for a side of creamed spinach. Desserts remain a weakness, but this is otherwise excellent cooking, far more impressive than its institutional location might suggest.
Time Out Eating & Drinking Guide 2009
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Time Out reviews restaurants anonymously and pays for meals. Of course, we cannot guarantee the accuracy or independence of user reviews.
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Details
- Sainsbury Wing, National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, Trafalgar Square, WC2N 5DN
- Area: Trafalgar Square
- Tel: 020 7747 2525
- Website
- Book online
- Category: British
- Travel: Charing Cross tube/rail
- Times: Bakery Snacks served 10am-5.30pm Mon, Tue, Thur-Sun; 10am-8.30pm Wed. Restaurant Lunch served noon-3.30pm daily. Dinner served 5-7.15pm Wed
- Price: Restaurant Set meal £17.50 1 course, £24.50 2 courses, £29.50 3 courses
- Credit cards: Restaurant AmEx, MC, V
- Services:
- Child facilities: Babies and children welcome: children's menu; high chairs
- Disabled: lift; toilet
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this has been the WORSE experience ever! incredibly long waiting before being seated despite booking and 60% of restaurant beinf full, atrocious service - 2hours to be served a two courses menu.... WRONG BILL - £20 on top of what we consumed!! and..the card machine didn t work and had to sign some odd paper bill. Food was average but not worth going there!
I had a wonderful experience at the National Dining Rooms - their County of the Month menu was delicious and great value for money. The staff were attentive and knowledgeable, and the ambience is relaxing and friendly while still maintaining that special something... Would definately recommend.
A poor dining experience. Took 20 minutes to get a drink and then the waiter had to be pushed into explaining that none of the red wines served by the glass were available apart from the house wine. Several of the food options on the menu were also unavailable. Smoked salmon starter was poor quality fish. The main course of roast chicken for two was not hot and there was far too much meat for two people with little in the way of vegetables. Altogether disappointing.
The National Dinings Rooms is a disgraceful restaurant. Staff are unable to take bookings correctly, starters take over an hour to be served, main courses are cold and are of such small portions, one wonders exactly what you are paying for. The staff overall do not care at all. I would suggest that a meal at McDonalds would be much better value