please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
No recommendation for two years: little wonder.
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If you just want a beer forget this place,the history with dickens is not in keeping, its more of a restaurant with drinkers treated as an irritation
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No fan of 'gastropubs' many of which seem to follow a trendy formula but this is authentically more gastro than pub. I should have sampled the Adnams but instead had a g+t followed by smoked haddock at lunchtime It was excellent food, pleasant ambience and good value. I would go again. I am an old fashioned beer swiller but I would rather enjoy myself in a place like this than endure a retail unit themed as a pub.
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I walked up the steps to the bar and the only drinks available were Adnams and Bitburger, not that there was anyone to serve me. I looked around at the people sitting at the tables and they were all dining so I decided that I wouldn�t feel very comfortable staying just to drink so I left.
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Bleeding awful!
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The Bleeding Heart has apparently been around nearly forever. It is, on the face of it a pub, however, it is better known as a French bistro cum/restaurant, and, I have to say, I wouldn�t fee all that comfortable sitting there just for a drink at lunchtime.
As you might expect, it�s full of city types at lunchtime. The food is very good, though arguably expensive for a pub (but, as mentioned, if you think of it as a bistro, not so much). The food is good, and the portions are reasonable. They have daily specials on a board - I do try to choose from those when I�m there. I�ve had grilled mackerel there, and it was very good. I�ve also tried the lamb burger, which was also excellent. I�ve also had breakfast here, which, I have to say, was superb. I had scrambled eggs with smoked salmon on toast, and it was beautifully cooked with generous portions. They also have excellent coffee.
The prices are on the high side, but not crippling so - around �14ish for a main course. They have, as you might expect, a good selection of wines, and a decent selection of Adnams real ales.
I would not like to go to the Bleeding Heart just for a drink. However, I�d happily take clients here, and have eaten here with colleagues.
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Great food, great service great drinks. Really lovely place.
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A venue ideal for a sophisticated date, where you can also get good beer. Three Adnams real ales were available, including the delicious Oyster Stout, as well as Bitburger lager.
The staff were very welcoming and the atmosphere relaxed.
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tries to be all three, fails miserably at the first two, succeeds admirably at the third.
stonch.blogspot.com
anonymous - 18 Jan 2007 15:41 |
pub , bar or restaurant???
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I think perhaps this place could do with being removed from the site for not being pubby enough. I have no desire to read reviews which involve wine list comparisons and complaints about side salads.
stonch.blogspot.com
anonymous - 17 Jan 2007 18:15 |
Quite right, none of their venues clustered around the yard can be called a tavern, much less a pub. If that is what you are after, you could go to the nearby Mitre.
However, we have had several office celebrations in the "Bistrot", and food was excellent, and not over garnished.
The wine list in the bistrot has much more choice at the lower end than does the restaurant, and house wines are good, at around �16.
I would definitely go again, in fact I am going tonight.
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My team picked this place for our christmas meal, and we had a charming little table in its own niche by the wine cellar. The food was okay-good. I think the opinions here are a little hysterical. We got a bit drunk which might explain (or not) why the waitress added �10 more than I thought I'd asked to be put on my card (which I discovered about 3 weeks later).
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Went for a meal in the Tavern a few das ago. �35 a head. Nice enough food. Service was OKish for 35 but if I was paying any more I would have found it inattentive. Small portions. also, agree with one of the last posters re: the foliage on the plates. Why put stale salad on a cheese platter? who has salad with cheese?? a few more biscuits wouldn't have gone a miss, but salad? WTF
Anyway, at a reasonable price, in a nice environemnt I can't complain too much. Try it yourself.
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Was surprised at how annoying this place was. Was made to feel very awkward and out-of-place because I didn't "have a table". Agree with previsou comment about the (mis)use of the word "tavern", and also about the type who eats here.
anonymous - 29 Sep 2006 14:59 |
I visited for a pint after work and was rather disappointed. I had heard various good reports and, dutifully, felt I should try out this pub but hadn't quite understood the extent of the restauranty-ness. I went on a weekday at 5.30ish and the atmosphere felt rather awkward, unsure of itself. My Broadside was good but it was over �3, and the place was quickly becoming an office with a bar due to all the pink stripey shirts filing in and scrambling for tables. I hurried out and went to the nearby Mitre for a pork pie, muttering to myself about the word 'Tavern' rarely meaning what it used to.
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There are two ways to look at this place 1) As part of the Bleeding Heart complex, it is fantastic - a great place to meet for a drink before a meal in the Bleeding Heart bistro or restaurant (the food and service in these are awesome, definitely among the best in London). 2) As a pub, it serves Adnams and Bitburger on draught, sells nice wine, and the service is pleasant enough, but it's just not the kind of place you'd spend time in. I think that while they try and run it as a standalone pub, it really is just a meeting place for business people or a feeder bar for the bisto / restaurant. In its defence, a couple of drinks here then a meal in the back is one very pleasant way to spend an evening.
anonymous - 13 Apr 2006 19:15 |
Not in any way a pub - even though this part of the bleeding heart complex markets itself as a "tavern". Very posh and expensive. Good Adnams and Bitburger on draught I recall, but when we popped in for just a beer were made to feel very incomfortable - don't even think of sidling up to the bar for a pint! The waiter promptly sat us down, took our order for two pints of ale, brought them to our table, and presented us with a printed bill for the two drinks on a silver dish! Ridiculous.
anonymous - 10 Feb 2006 11:57 |
Rather pretentious little place that doesn't quite stand up on its merits as a restaurant. The chaotic French staff lend it a certain charm since they are politeness itself even though they are rarely in control on any half-busy night. That said the wine selection is excellent.
You wouldn't really call in there just for a beer, although they do serve Adnams at outrageously expensive prices.
This place falls rather between two stools.
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Excellent food, wine, beer. Very French. Not really a pub more an informal looking restaurant.
Stopped by last night with the missus because we were too lazy to cook. Still very good, though her Diet Coke was flat. They replaced it without a murmur, however. The suckling pig was A*.
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The food is amazing. You have to pay more than other "pubs" this isn't a pub it's a restaurant, but it's well worth it. AMAZING wine list.
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It's a restaurant trying to be a pub, not a pub trying to be a bistro. If you go downstairs, there's a much larger area for seating (but again, only if you're eating). Their main drink is wine, not beer - and they have some very good ones.
The food here is excellent, I hope to go again soon.
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Not the most intelligent management, we were turned away because our group was too large 8 of us meeting up to go to SMWS round the corner.
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I think this a beautiful place to eat- excellent service, fantastic food. A real treat set in a classy pub environment. If you're after a traditional pub meal this is not the place. The food is traditional French and it's beautiful. The perfect place for a business lunch or dinner or if you are looking for a cosy meal in the evening with top service. I've been three times and possibly going again tonight.
Kate Passmore - 5 Oct 2004 11:30 |
Very pretentious, more a pub trying to be a bistro, no cider on tap (so have to spend a fortune on a bottle), won't let you sit down at a table if you're not eating. Won't be going there again.
Vikki - 18 Mar 2004 09:54 |
Just remember it being very old and typical, tucked down a side street. Not far from Hatton Garden.
Deborah - 15 Apr 2003 10:33 |
