please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Sunday lunch - starter of antipasti board was very pleasant. Main - roast beef. The beef was chewy and not medium rare as I asked. Only two roast potatoes, each the size of a golf ball. The veg was good, although a touch bland as was the yorkshire pudding. I couldn't eat the meat as it was too chewy. When I mentioned this as our plates were collected (I sandwiched in a compliment over their homemade horseradish sauce) I was told, 'well you have eaten it', to which I pointed out over half the meat was left. I was then told, 'you're friends have eaten it', to which my friend commented that it wasn't inedible, just rather unpleasant. In fairness I was offered a free dessert but after the argumentative response the mood was soured and it was time to move on......
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Service is appalling! Last week I booked a table for 16 people for dinner on Saturday night. Over the phone I was given the option for us to be seated in the restaurant or the bar. Having been to the Prince Bonaparte before and seen diners seated at large tables in the front bar before I opted for the bar area. Saturday night came around and we arrived at 7pm to be shown to five tiny round tables (for 16 people??) that had been pushed together along a wall and told we could order at the bar. Given this was a special occasion, I spoke to the restaurant manager who simply said all the other tables were fully booked and we would have to deal with it. An hour later after we had all lined up at the bar to order our food and 10 of us could be seated around the tiny tables, I noticed that 6 of our party were forced to stand as there was no room. Then although it would have been nice to have eaten together the food arrived in dribs and drabs over the space of 2 hours. After observing this I asked the restaurant manager if this booking was for 16 people? She said it was and then when I asked where the 6 people who were standing were meant to sit she exploded and told me I was being totally unreasonable! Suffice to say that all 16 of us were extremely shocked and disappointed with the service of this place and will not be returning or recommending it to anyone!
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Sweet! Welcome back to the Bonaparte. I used to drink here in the mid to late nineties and recently heard the guys behind The Masons Arms had taken it over, so i had to have a look.
Three ales on tap, friendly staff ... and i knew there had to be a chandalier or two in there somewhere!
The food was a bit pricey for my wallet but i was assured that a bar menu would be in place shortly. And the prices clearly weren't putting people off, the dining room was packed.
I also saw quite a few familiar faces from 'the Kensals' scattered about the place checking out their old stomping ground.
All in all i think they've done a good job. Its pitched to local spending power but i'll certainly being popping in and every now and again.
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Sweet! Welcome back to the Bonaparte. I used to drink here in the mid to late nineties and recently heard the guys behind The Masons Arms had taken it over, so i had to have a look.
Three ales on tap, friendly staff ... and i knew there had to be a chandalier or two in there somewhere!
The food was a bit pricey for my wallet but i was assured that a bar menu would be in place shortly. And the prices clearly weren't putting people off, the dining room was packed.
I also saw quite a few familiar faces from 'the Kensals' scattered about the place checking out their old stomping ground.
All in all i think they've done a good job. Its pitched to local spending power but i'll certainly being popping in and every now and again.
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Went to the PB last night for friend's birthday. It was particularly busy, but then you expect that for a pub in this location on a Saturday evening. I thought the selection of beers was fantastic - a few friends deciding to get stuck into the pink Fruli. I recommend the food - the 10oz beef burger came with the kitchen sink and even for a big eater - it was a struggle to consume! The bar staff were helpful and attentive in the most part. The patrons were a bit la de da - but not generically too pretentious to cause aggrevation. All in all a decent venue with warm and bustling astmosphere.
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will never go back here. reviewed before. first time i went here was in 1996. It was great! Now the crowd is full of "new Notting Hill" types who wear high heels and jeans on a Sunday, order champagne like it's going out of style (it IS out of style in a gastro pub or pub, save Champagne for a nice meal in a restaurant).
If you want to be surrounded by the new Notting Hill types (real estate agents) then definitely go here and the Westbourne, you'll fit right in. If you're part of the old Notting Hill fun, funky artitistic set (or actually have some style without having to flash cash about), AVOID at all costs.
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Place and staff attitude seems to have improved a ton. Was there Friday 16th Nov and had a good buzz about the place and - shock of shock - smiley staff. Must be a new manager or something.
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The service at this place is really awful. The waitresses are a law unto
themeslves. I was part of a party of 10 people and one of us actually went to the trouble of writing down the order and giving it to one of the waitresses. About half an hour later only 8 meals were served. When asked about the other 2 the waitress who took the order blamed another waitress. When a firm complaint was made to her (which was not in the least aggresseive) we suffered an OTT rude reaction. After a further half
hour of waiting the manager eventually held his hands up and agreed to take a significant sum off the bill.
The food when it arrived was ok and reasonably priced.
The service however lets this place down so much. Pity.
The worst thing about it is that the management do not realise how bad the service actually is. One to avoid until something changes.
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This is a pub for prime bell-ends. The food is a joke, the beer is none too taxing. Full of real-life west-london trustafarian Nathan Barleys. Which is a real shame as it has the potential to be a great Victorian street-corner boozer. Which I'm sure it was once upon a time.
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I won't be back here in a hurry. Skeevy place with couches that look none too clean, a barmaid who acted as if getting my beer was interfering with her work in the back on a cure for cancer, and a fug in the air that was as much about the uncleared plates lying about the place as the smoke and mildew. Others have commented that this place used to be better, and that may be true, but it's a pit now.
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havin lived in the bayswater area a number of years ago this pub was a local haunt, good food, good service, friendly staff etc. i decided to pay a little visit on tuesday as i was in the area. wow what a change for the worst, mis matched furniture every where, rude staff, the member of staff looked like they had just rolled out of bed and into work, not what i want serving me food & drink. everytime she had to serve someone it was as if we were disturbing her. what ever happened to customer service with a smile!! wont be back in a hurry thats for sure!!
anonymous - 14 Sep 2005 19:03 |
Over-priced beer, no telly, food was garbage, and why have 3 versions of Staropramen when they all taste the same anyway (Piss, less than XXXX)
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Too cool for school this place, think it is losing out to other new "Cool" places in Westbourne Park,..losing out,... as it should do! Its a different kettle of fish in here during the carnival though,..mayhem behind boarded up windows.
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I first went to the Bonaparte back in 1996. It was fun, trendy, etc. For some reason though in the past couple of years, the pub tried to get that "hip" feeling by adding in sofas that are too big and trying to "glitz" the place up. Still a fun place to meet up. Why did they get rid of the sausage and mash sandwich they used to serve? It was so good! IS anyone else getting tired of the gastro pub concept?
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Good pub. Nice atmosphere. Attentive bar staff. Food pretty good. And plenty of seating at the rear if you are eating.
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A very solid Notting Hill performer. Youngish crowd of regulars that make the place busy all week. Food more than decent but you're probably going there for a couple to catch up with friends.
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Great pub that is very good for a social drink. Always guaranteed a winner and the staff rock.
Alfonz - 29 Sep 2004 10:49 |
Really good boozer. Good atmosphere, quite quiet early in the evening but get packed with a good lively crowd later on. Service is a bit slow, not enough staff for the size of the bar and mens toilets ridiculously small...
Richard - 8 May 2004 13:15 |
Wooden floors, big tables and a young trendy crowd.
Not bad but a bit pricey:
�3 bottled beers (sm)
�2.50+ draught beers
Pez - 2 Feb 2004 10:36 |
