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With its basement location, starched white cloths and faux leather-bound menus, there's a definite air of the old school about O Fado. We were hoping for an evening of Portuguese folk music, from which the restaurant takes its name, but instead our meal was accompanied by an organist crooning Neil Diamond and Carpenters classics. Sadly, the disappointment didn't stop there.
With 365 ways to serve bacalhau in Portugal, we had the misfortune to choose the very one that presents the country's national dish so badly: an unseasoned hunk of salt cod with new potatoes, served with a smattering of raw olives. The mixed grill was no better: a solitary lamb cutlet accompanied by half a chouriço, a tiny spare rib and a piece of minute steak. When Harrods is the local corner shop, it's no wonder main courses hit the £20 mark, but this didn't seem to deter the tables of tourists and couples.
It's a shame our meal lacked lustre, as on our last visit we'd experienced a much better standard of cooking. O Fado would do well to take seriously its status as London's oldest Portuguese restaurant and work to make improvements.
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What is 'following'?020 7589 3002
Lunch served noon-3pm, dinner served 6.30-11pm Mon-Sat
Main courses £15.99-£20.95
Credit cards AmEx, MC, V
Facilities
Babies and children admitted, Booking advisable ( essential dinner weekends ), Available for hireI was at Fado last week, as a Portuguese in London I want to advise people to stay clear.
It´s very expensive, the food is not that good and the staff are average, the venue was cheap and tacky and the decor was a trow back to the 80´s.
The portion sizes were tiny and the prices huge!!!
After a meal for 14 people they wanted a tip of extravagant amount, which they didn´t deserve or work for it.
Not once did they come to the table and ask if everything was ok, they didn´t wish the birthday boy happy birthday or offer a complementary anything.
I am not use to this kind of service from Portuguese restaurants.
I was not the only Portuguese at the table, there were 11 of us and the consensus was that we would not return to Fado again. Stay clear of the filthy toiets!!!
Please go south of the River if you want good Portuguese food and good service.
Had dinner at this restaurant last week to celebrate a friend's birthday. Most of the people in the group were Portuguese and we were sadly disappointed (and embarrassed before our British friends) to witness such a poor representation of our country. We usually go to Portuguese restaurants in Stockwell but we were drawn to this one, despite the steep prices, because they advertised live fado, which is sung by a soloist accompanied by Portuguese guitar(s). However, we were graced most of the evening by a man playing the synthesiser playing Beatles, Elvis, Mexican, Italian and Spanish songs. Only after 11pm did he sing two fado songs accompanied by a common acoustic guitar. When I emailed the restaurant a couple of days later expressing our disappointment I received a very rude reply calling me arrogant and saying they don't need customers like me, and that with my attitude I certainly don't have many friends! Not typical Portuguese service, I can assure you! The food wasn't amazing either. Best avoid.
Visited this restaurant last night, what a sissapointnent to say the least, it was in a grotty basement, badly lit, just about could see the menu, without asking they put olives and bread on the table which they charged us for, I've tasted better olives from sainsburys. We didnt order a starter as the bread and olives were enough. We ordered the Monkfish Cataplana which was more like a soup, I think the mussels and clams had shrunk in the wash, and it really was really bland and boring, they must have put a couple of runner beans in for colour, they should have served this in deep bowls as there was a lot of broth left which you couldn't eat off a flat plate. We decided to skip desert but still ended up paying £74.00 including wine! I definately will not be going back, this restaurant needs a thorough overall re furb.
Decent restaurant, priced as it should being on Knightsbridge.
Food is ok, nice atmosphere, although beware of service charge. The menu stating that ALL prices are inclusive of 12.5% service charge did not keep them from adding it again on my bill. Very unpleasant mistake that makes you feel like you have been ripped off. Will not come back.
About 15 of us went to O'Fados for a friends birthday celebration a couple of days ago and left shocked to say the least. The overall appearance and décor of the restaurant was shabby. The staff were not very attentive and offered very poor service. We waited and hour and a half for our food and when it arrived for the best part was cold. Most of our party did not enjoy the food. We were also very shocked that they charged everyone in out group £2.50 for olives and bread, even though there was only three baskets on the table. Definitely would not go back to this restaurant.
O Fado is happy to let you all know that we now have live music again every Friday and Saturday night. Our new Chef has also instroduced some new delicious dishes to our menu.
Visited this restaurant today for lunch and was terribly disappointed. We had the set menu which consisted of a dull vegetable soup followed by a piece of greasy mashed up cod on a bed of unidentifiable greenery, surrounded by potatoes which tasted as if they'd come out of a tin. The best bit was the lovely olives and bread at the beginning.
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