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Medcalf

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38-40 Exmouth Market, EC1R 4QE Full details & map

Restaurant: British

Time Out says 4 Users say 3/5 Rate it

By Time Out Editors Posted: Oct 13 2011

Bold food with understated execution helps Medcalf to embody the best of British dining. The look reflects the 'reclaimed furniture' chic of Exmouth Market; the only hint of the building's former life as a butcher's is an eccentric wooden carving table and a vintage sign above the door. However, the kitchen's dedication to quality produce would make any butcher proud.

Both oversized Great Garnett Farm pork chop, and an exuberant pan-fried whole plaice in anchovy butter, elicited gasps of excitement - and yet each dish highlighted just three simple ingredients. This is grown-up food with no pretensions, where great produce does all the work.

Service was precise but relaxed, perfectly pitched for the mature, creative types wandering in from Clerkenwell's cobbled streets. Waitresses made astute pairing recommendations, including a particularly cheeky cider whisky aperitif. The drinks list also contains a fantastic independent beer selection.

Medcalf's design is as tasteful as the menu: a slightly ramshackle streetside terrace; refined dining inside, mostly for couples; and cool leather booths at the back, from where groups of friends spill on to the green courtyard. Even the toilets have a minimalist, farmhouse feel. The subtle combination of classy seasonal food with high-end retro style is a winner.

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Tags: European, British, Chilling out, Hip factor, Outdoor : Drinking, Outdoor : Dining, Speciality beers, Central, Clerkenwell, Mid-range, Bar, Restaurant

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Medcalf details

Address

Medcalf

38-40 Exmouth Market EC1R 4QE

Transport Farringdon tube/rail or 19, 38, 341 bus

Telephone

020 7833 3533

Medcalf website

Lunch served noon-3pm Mon-Sat; noon-3.30pm Sun. Dinner served 6-10pm Mon-Thur, Sat; 6-10.30pm Fri

Main courses £12.50-£22

Credit cards MC, V

Facilities

Tables outdoors ( 5, garden; 7, pavement ), Babies and children admitted ( until 7pm ), Babies and children welcome ( until 7.30pm: high chairs ), Booking advisable, Separate room for parties ( seats 18 ), Function room ( 50 capacity ), Disabled ( toilet ), Wireless internet

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Comments & ratings 3/5 (Average of 4 ratings)

By £atOut - Aug 15 2011

2/5

Some significant service issues Medcalf need to sort out. Based on the service, I would definitely not return to this restaurant. We wasted a combined 90 minutes sitting in the restaurant waiting for the menus to arrive and for the check to arrive. In both cases we eventually went up to the bar and had to ask for it. We had good company and were happy to talk, but the waits were ridiculously long and our waitress went completely MIA for extended periods of time. She was new on the job, and that could excuse the fact that she didn't know if one of the items on the menu was lamb or pork (she went back and forth on the issue and got it right in the end). But it doesn't excuse abandoning her table.
The food was pretty good. For apps we had welsh rarebit and tomato soup, and for mains: steak and lamb. The steak was a little tough, but still good.
We are easy-going diners, who go out to eat once or twice a week, but the service stinks here.

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By taitaidiner - Mar 25 2011

1/5

We visited Medcalf in a reasonably large group - 12 - but had a reservation and they were expecting us. Once we arrived, the restaurant was full. We waited at the table for 15 minutes without menus, water, bread, anything. Having failed to get attention by waiving my hands like a windmill, I went up to the bar and asked for menus and was told brusquely that I couldn't take them, they would be brought to the table. 5 minutes later they came. You can practically guess the rest - a full half an hour after arriving before we got our drinks, and hour and ten minutes for the food - one of our party couldn't wait any longer and left without anything other than a glass of water. We had to ask to order every time - not once did a waitress come to our table without us calling her over. No apologies for the late service, no offer of any recompense. And the food was really mixed. The tart and the fish were very poor - the fish almost totally lacking in flavour, but the duck and veal were very good. The chips with mayo, however, were stellar - easily the best chips I've ever eaten. If only they had come 45 minutes earlier. It's only a small place with a small menu, it shouldn't be difficult to get the service right. I spoke to the surly duty manager when we left to explain why we had opted not to the leave the full amount of the 'optional' service charge which was automatically added to the bill (12.5%!!!!). That is, I spoke to him when he was ready to acknowledge my presence as he was preparing a drink and didn't even make eye contact with me although he knew I was waiting to speak to him. He also offered no apology and merely said, it was very busy and it's difficult to deal with a big group, to which I responded, but you're a restaurant, aren't you? Isn't a full house what you want? A sheepish grin was his response. I'll never, ever, go here again, not even for the brilliant chips.