The Modern Pantry

Bizarre and overpriced: I took my boyfriend to Modern Pantry for his birthday after I had been recommended by a friend, who had also been recommended by a friend. I now know not to trust restaurant reviews I heard through the grape vine. Firstly, it was very difficult to even get a booking so I assumed the restaurant would be very busy. When we arrived the hostess took us upstairs and sat us at the least desirable table in the somewhat shabby dining room - right in the corner beside the staircase door with a draft and even worse right in front of a group of 8 squawking 30 something women getting tipsy on Prosecco and comparing stories about engagement rings and upholstery. The entire front of the room was empty including every seat by the windows. Why we were put in this awkward spot I'm not sure. The drinks and the first course came out in a timely fashion but it was 20 minutes after that until our main courses came. I ordered an omelette and for 10 pounds it was very basic. 2 dry pieces of toast and no garnishes or sides. Now, for the bizarre: after suffering through the sub-par treatment, trying to converse over the liquid infused hens next door, out of the speakers (which had been turned off the entire time we were there) blasts Britney Spears: Oops I did it again. Although at this point in the ordeal it did make us laugh, we won't be going back again (I'm not that innocent).

Bizarre and overpriced: I took my boyfriend to Modern Pantry for his birthday after I had been recommended by a friend, who had also been recommended by a friend. I now know not to trust restaurant reviews I heard through the grape vine. Firstly, it was very difficult to even get a booking so I assumed the restaurant would be very busy. When we arrived the hostess took us upstairs and sat us at the least desirable table in the somewhat shabby dining room - right in the corner beside the staircase door with a draft and even worse right in front of a group of 8 squawking 30 something women getting tipsy on Prosecco and comparing stories about engagement rings and upholstery. The entire front of the room was empty including every seat by the windows. Why we were put in this awkward spot I'm not sure. The drinks and the first course came out in a timely fashion but it was 20 minutes after that until our main courses came. I ordered an omelette and for 10 pounds it was very basic. 2 dry pieces of toast and no garnishes or sides. Now, for the bizarre: after suffering through the sub-par treatment, trying to converse over the liquid infused hens next door, out of the speakers (which had been turned off the entire time we were there) blasts Britney Spears: Oops I did it again. Although at this point in the ordeal it did make us laugh, we won't be going back again (I'm not that innocent).

Bizarre and overpriced: I took my boyfriend to Modern Pantry for his birthday after I had been recommended by a friend, who had also been recommended by a friend. I now know not to trust restaurant reviews I heard through the grape vine. Firstly, it was very difficult to even get a booking so I assumed the restaurant would be very busy. When we arrived the hostess took us upstairs and sat us at the least desirable table in the somewhat shabby dining room - right in the corner beside the staircase door with a draft and even worse right in front of a group of 8 squawking 30 something women getting tipsy on Prosecco and comparing stories about engagement rings and upholstery. The entire front of the room was empty including every seat by the windows. Why we were put in this awkward spot I'm not sure. The drinks and the first course came out in a timely fashion but it was 20 minutes after that until our main courses came. I ordered an omelette and for 10 pounds it was very basic. 2 dry pieces of toast and no garnishes or sides. Now, for the bizarre: after suffering through the sub-par treatment, trying to converse over the liquid infused hens next door, out of the speakers (which had been turned off the entire time we were there) blasts Britney Spears: Oops I did it again. Although at this point in the ordeal it did make us laugh, we won't be going back again (I'm not that innocent).

I thought the food here was excellent. We were dining off the group a la carte menu and I had quinoa with goats cheese and betroot followed by lamb cutlets. Both courses were faultless. The wine list was a bit unusual but there is a good choice of wines. The service was generally good but quite often we were kept waiting for things for longer than we would have liked. I would go here again either with a group or for a more intimate dinner. The location and building is very pretty. One to try!

I organised a Sunday brunch at the restaurant for 11 people. The occasion was my boyfriend's birthday. Everyone thought the place looked lovely, especially when the morning sun was shining onto the large trays of sweet bakeries on the white tables. Most of the food was excellent too! From the sweet pastries and the granola-müsli to the full English breakfast, it was all delicious. However, the pancakes I ordered weren't really pancakes, but more like sponges, very heavy and slightly flavourless. And my friend ordered a passion fruit smoothie that was more like a milkshake! Luckily she was able to exchange it with a black current smoothie (that had no milk in it). We were served by a number of staff, most of which were very friendly, though some must have woken up on the wrong side of their bed! Never mind, we all had a lovely brunch!

Went to the upper floor for dinner on last saturday and was overall very satisfied with the food - the pork belly was perfectly cooked and compared favourably well with the ones I had at the OXO tower restaurant, Roast or the the Luxe in Spitafields. In contrast to the comments below, our (American?) waitress was top notch: I found the service approachable, helpful and knowledgeable, which suggests that they've fixed any problems that might have been experienced in the past. I was pleasantly surprised, and will definitely return.

I went to the restaurant for a dinner with a few friends on a quiet weekday evening. After reading some reviews, I did not go there with high expectations. We only order main courses and desserts. They were good portion and tasted really good. However, except the reception girl, the service was appalling. Our waiter was very unattentive. Never fill up our water, and was not friendly. I ordered steak and he did not bother asking me how I wanted it. Luckily the steak turned out amazing. The most ridiculous thing was he gave us our bill without asking us! We were actually going to order some desserts and coffee when he passed us the bill! That was more than rude. The restaurant should definitely train their waiters and waitress!

I had wanted to come here for a while but was really underwhelmed by the whole experience. Scatty, unattentive service. Stingy starters and bland dry fish for mains. Not all its cracked to be.

This is possibly the most disappointing place I have been in avery long time. It was a disaster from start to finish and the way staff handled their mistakes was laughable, I suggest a lot more training is needed. We visited on Jubilee weekend on the recommnedation of friends, I thought lets celebrate with a glass of champagne, they served me Prosecco and tried to get away with it, when I challenged the waiter he said he had picked up the wrong glass off the bar, they tried to charge me for a bottle of red wine I did not have, saying it was my fault as I changed my mind, which I had not, our starters to be fair were good, the main courses were something any amateur could put together, it seemed like the chef didn't kow what to do so threw everything in his ingredient cupboard at it in the hope that it would work, sadly it didn't. When it came to paying the bill I asked for service to be removed when I checked my credit card receipt I noted they had left the service on, maybe it was a mistake but to me it seemed like a big con so if you do decide to eat here, then do so at your own peril and make sure you check your bill and ask to see the bottle if you drink anything by the glass.

We visited on Good Friday with high expectations. Unfortunately our whole experience was marred by the service or lack of. 40 mins for an omelette is not really on. Our neighbour was served his breakfast before us even though he sat down after our order was taken. When we asked our waiter if our food was going to be long he replied with ' I don't think so' and continued cleaning tables. So we then had to flag down someone else and eventually got our meal. It was then another struggle to ask for the bill and again to pay, eventually having to wave our card in the air until one of the many staff noticed us! There were many staff on the floor although Im not sure what their jobs were as no one seemed to be paying us any attention. We won't be returning, such a shame.