Sarastro

Restaurants Covent Garden
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Sarastro

Musicians from London’s opera houses come here to perform some of the most popular arias every Sunday and Monday. Enjoy a three-course set menu while listening to operatic trills from the comfort of one of the boxes arranged around the walls. It’s a decadent setting, with each box furnished in a different style (rococo, Gothic, Ottoman) and drapes and theatre props in abundance. Food is of the Turkish-Mediterranean inclination, and à la carte is only available when there are no performances. 

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Venue name: Sarastro
Contact:
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Address: 126 Drury Lane
London
WC2B 5QG
Opening hours: Meals served noon-10.30pm daily
Transport: Tube: Covent Garden or Holborn tube
Price: Main courses (Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat) £10.25-£25.85. Set lunch (noon-6.30pm Mon-Sat) £15.50 2 courses, £19.25 3 courses. Set meal £27.50 2 courses, £32.50 3 courses
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LiveReviews|10
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tastemaker

Please don't go here. I liked the interior, especially the idea of having two levels but the decorations were just too much, also it looked old and dark. 

What really disappoint is the food, it's a very average Turkish and so expensive. I guess you pay the area but I will rather go somewhere more special than here. We also had the most strange wine, it was so sweet for what normally that type of wine is (Riesling) so we were disappointed at that as well.

If you want to try a good Turkish and with cheap prices head to Wood Green, authentic restaurant, huge portions and good price


Came for a friends birthday and was a little underwhelmed. Visited a few years ago with family and the place seemed exciting and well considered, but its now looking a little on the unloved side and could do with a refresh. The food is tasty, but expensive for what you get. Its a nice novelty spot if you're a tourist looking for something different but its definitely not the best food for the price range.

Tastemaker

Capturing all the wonderful eccentricity of London, this is an absolute must visit. One of a kind restaurant located within an old opera theatre where you can dine on the balconies and enjoy live music along with delicious, healthy food, it may not be the best menu in London but the atmosphere certainly makes up for it. Full of vibrant character and life, I highly recommend the visit if you are in the area - however if you're looking for somewhere quiet and calm to wind down for the evening, this is not the place for you!

Tastemaker

Wonderful interiors, good quality Turkish food, great performances and the prettiest place on all of Drury Lane in the summer! 

Tastemaker

Okay, the food isn’t going to knock your socks off and you’ll be disappointed if you’re expecting Michelin quality. BUT: it’s perfectly palatable in lavish surrounds covering everything from Turkish to Italian, with good quality decent value wine.


Go here because it’s a little slice of London unlike any other. The food is fine but the experience is outstanding. We enjoyed the most entertaining string quartet then a couple of talented opera divas, all of whom wondered around the tables giving a right good show. Tips: go for a box as the tables underneath are a bit claustrophobic and you do feel sorry for the waiters as they duck and weave out of the way of almost getting brained. If you have young ‘uns with you, make sure they use the downstairs toilet as upstairs is rather *ahem* Victorian, and if you’re friendly with the staff, they will return the favour.


I would recommend this to anyone! I first came here 14 years ago at the age of ten and loved it, although the toilet decor was definitely a highlight in my memory. 14 years later I still love it! The food is delicious, the beef bourguignonn is my favourite! The staff are friendly and helpful, especially as we had a double push chair to fit I somewhere. The decor is beautiful and so different from the chain restaurant dominated market. The entertainment on Sunday lunchtimes is fabulous, such good value for your money to get dinner and a string quartet and opera singers to entertain you!


Interesting surroundings! Food very disappointing though - extremely limited menu. I chose Lasagne for main course (only about 5 choices anyway). Asked what it came with (i.e. chips/salad etc) and the waiter said "....... am.... Lasagne". And that was literally all it was - a slab of lasagne with nothing else!!! He seemed amazed that I had asked for something with it!". My friend had Hummus for starter and it was a small bowl of Hummus with nothing else! Just a spoon! Try Cafe Rouge in Wellington Street instead. Fantastic food!


We were attracted to this place because of the original decoration, but everything else was a let-down. We were offered a table, then some minutes later asked to move to another, less comfortable one. The place has a dirty feel. The food was overpriced, and tasted like lukewarm leftovers. There is an annoying toilet attendant who expects money for what should be a basic service. This could be a fun place if you could dislodge the chefs, waiters, and management.


Just terrible. Absolutely appalling on all levels. The staff were rude and unhelpful right from the start of the evening. Claimed we didn't have a reservation, despite us calling the day before and even providing credit card details. They brought food to the table (and refused to remove it) before we'd even seen a menu, ordered drinks and before even all our party had arrived! Drink orders were missed, wrong and then forgotten (juice was watered down squash). To say the food was bland would be a compliment, it was worse than bad pub food, with grey vegetables and reconstituted potato...just really bad. Table setting was sloppy and non-existent with things just thrown on the table randomly. The table clothes and napkins were tired, worn, and dirty (and crushed-velvet napkins, weird). Decor is interesting certainly, and really could have been fun, if the reality of it wasn't that you are squished in tables unable to move, sitting on uncomfortable benches. For a restaurant with a decent price tag associated with it, it was absolutely a let-down and I would advise people to AVOID. Hands down my worst dining experience of 3 years in London.