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Dean Street Townhouse

69-71 Dean Street, W1D 4QJ Full details & map

Restaurant: British

Time Out says 6 Users say 4/5 Rate it

By Time Out Editors Posted: Oct 13 2011

Opened to rave reviews in 2010, this all-day hotel restaurant in magnificent Georgian buildings has effortlessly established itself as one of the places to drink, eat and be in Soho. Many customers (a starry, but not flashy throng) seem to be regulars - they are greeted as such by friendly, professional staff.

A long wooden bar sets the tone: nuts replenished, icy tap water in a jug, any drink from draught beer to a soho mule with a refreshing gingery kick. Country house wallpaper, which on closer inspection has a rather rude motif, sums it up - the best of traditional, but also contemporary, classy, clever. The outstanding art collection of mostly black and white pictures features work by, among others, Tracey Emin, Mat Collishaw and Peter Blake.

The Townhouse is properly British too, with some provocatively retro dishes - it takes chutzpah to put mince and potatoes on a menu, and skill to reinvent a resistible relic as a plate of appetisingly browned, savoury, juicy beef. Summer salad was a riot of garden produce: perfectly seasoned and subtly dressed baby carrots, lightly cooked, thin slices of radish, watercress, beetroot, peas and spring onions. More heart-threatening classics include soft, fluffy smoked haddock soufflé with buttery sauce; fish (juicy inside crisp batter) with chips and marrowfat peas; a glorious trifle of plums and sherry-soaked sponge.

But with everything from roast chicken with sage and onion stuffing, to cod with braised lettuce and brown shrimps, this is somewhere you can imagine becoming a habit. If only such knowing simplicity were a little less expensive.

Tags: European, British, Local flavour, Central, Soho, Expensive, Restaurant

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Dean Street Townhouse details

Address

Dean Street Townhouse

69-71 Dean Street W1D 4QJ

Transport Piccadilly Circus or Tottenham Court Road tube

Telephone

020 7434 1775

Dean Street Townhouse website

Breakfast served 7-11.30am, tea served 3-5pm daily. Meals served 11.30am-11.30pm Mon-Sat; 11.30am-10.30pm Sun

Main courses £15-£24. Set dinner (5-7.30pm) £17 2 courses, £21 3 courses

Credit cards AmEx, MC, V

Facilities

Tables outdoors ( 7, terrace ), Babies and children welcome ( high chairs ), Booking essential, Separate room for parties ( seats 12 ), Disabled ( toilet )

Dean Street Townhouse map

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Comments & ratings 4/5 (Average of 6 ratings)

By David - Feb 13 2012

I had dinner there with three friends on Saturday. Atmosphere was great, busy bar and a great place to have a drink. We were taken to our table, seated and presented with the great menu. Service throughout the evening was good. However, the food was nothing to be blown away by. Three of us had starters, the Ham hock broth was somewhat tasteless. The mains were nothing special either. I had the Braised ox cheek which was tasty but dry and mashed neeps were watery and bland. Other mains included healthy but not great salads.
Id be back but probably only for drinks and the bustling atmosphere!

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By Angela - Dec 24 2011

4/5

Had a lovely breakfast and superb service.

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By Doochilou - May 24 2011

3/5

Bar food was really quite tasty (look on the back of the main restaurant menu). One really rolly-eyed bar staff (Him). The other really friendly and helpful (Her).

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By Steve Hardwick - Dec 22 2010

We spent £380 for a Christmas lunch yesterday, between three of us. We arrived, looked around, liked the look of the place and the atmosphere and were looking forward to a great afternoon.

The food, it has to be said, was delicious. As a vegetarian I had a divinely cheesy macaroni cheese as a starter and an exquisite cheese and leek tart for main (though £13 is VERY steep for a slice of quiche).

What ruined the afternoon was the service. OK, it was only our waiter and others may have had the excellent service that should be expected at these prices. We are far from fussy, but here are a few of the things our waiter did:

- constantly leaned over to serve everyone from the same place, reaching right across my face with his arm, blocking me off entirely when I was speaking to my two friends
- interrupted our starter to remove and replace cutlery ready for the main course
- attempted to take away our plates when one of us was clearly still eating
- literally chucked down the dessert spoons on the table in front of us.

Being typically British, we paid the £40 'optional' service charge, but very unhappily. He really spoiled it for us. I won't be going back, despite the excellence of the food.

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By Mark - Oct 26 2010

I visited Dean Street Townhouse with a group of friends and thought the whole experience was excellent. Great food, good service with staff you could have fun with and overall very good value. The desserts are super good!!

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By islingtoncall - Jun 23 2010

Went for breakfast at the Dean Street Townhouse on Monday. I usually go to The Wolseley for breakfast however I was keen to try this hot new kid in town after reading so many excellent reviews. When booking at The Wolseley you get a 1hr 15min slot and then you have to vacate the table. No such nonsense at Dean Street. I arrived at 8am and left at 11am. I was led to a table by the huge Georgian windows looking onto Dean Street. The chairs are upholstered, modern, and so comfortable you just can't avoid easing into the working week with a smile on your face - and this is even before the food arrives.
My business partner was running 30 minutes late and I was peckish - a round of perfectly browned crisp toast and my first coffee of the day arrived in a flash.
My choice from the reasonably priced menu was grilled Manx Kippers in butter (£7.50). The generous serving of two pairs were grilled to perfection.
The efficient staff managed to create a feeling of calm and be 'just the right side' of enthusiastic and friendly for a Monday morning.
This place may not have the buzz of the breakfast crowd at The Wolseley however for a more relaxed start to the week and the reassurance that your companion running 30 minutes late does not mean you only have 45 minutes left at your table the Dean Street Townhouse is one of the best options in town.