Wednesday 3rd February, 2010
14 Garrick Street (entrance on Floral Street),
WC2E 9BJ
Estimated price per head: £35
Nearest tube: Leicester Square (Northern Line and Piccadilly Line).
Dinner starts at 7:30 pm
Ali H., Andrew Y., Brian M., Colin I., Gerald B., Gilles C., Jeremy P., Mark B., Mark J., Mark T., Mark W., Matthew S., Noel D., Paul F., Riki H., Roy C., Steven V.
Wednesday 6th January, 2010
57 Endell Street,
WC2H 9AJ
Actual price per head: £30
Nearest tube: Covent Garden (Piccadilly Line).
Not great. The most sullen waiter ever. One diner said of Gusto: “As someone very new to gay life I much apppreciated the informal friendliness and will look forward to next months dinner.”
| House Red Wine | £13.50 |
| House White Wine | £13.50 |
| Mineral Water | £3.00 |
| Soup | £4.50 |
| Tricolore Salad | £5.90 |
| Gamberoni | £5.90 |
| Calamari Fritti | £5.90 |
| Smoked Salmon | £5.90 |
| Bread | £1.30 |
| Amatriciana | £9.00 – What a rip off! |
| Risotto | £9.00 |
| Frutti Di Mar | £9.00 |
| Funghi Pizza | £6.90 |
| Goat Breshetta | £5.90 |
| Mode Special Burger | £9.50 |
| Rucola Burger | £9.50 |
| Sirloin Steak | £12.90 |
| Grilled Chicken | £12.90 |
| Strawberry Cheese Cake | £4.50 |
| Tiramisu | £4.50 |
| Apple Pie | £4.50 |
| Expresso | £2.00 |
| Peppermin Tea | £1.90 |
Adam, Andreas, Gilles C., Ian G., Ian S., John H., Michael N., Peter J., Riki H., Scott S., Steven V.
This is quite nice food but very overpriced at £50 per head for lunch. The beetroot and goat’s cheese salad was first rate.
| Sparkling Water |
£3.25 |
| Prosecco Cocktail (x2) |
£17.90 |
| Tempranillo Pleno (red wine) |
£16.50 |
| Beetroot Salad (x2) |
£17.00 |
| Short Rib Beef (x2) |
£35.90 |
| Fondant |
£6.95 |
| Prunes |
£5.95 |
| Service |
12.5% |
Wednesday 2nd December, 2009
42 Crawford Street,
W1H 1JW
Actual price per head: £40
Nearest tube: Marylebone (Bakerloo Line).
Quite good fun with the attractive Swedes at the next table providing musical interludes. The herring was excellent.
Ali H., Colin I., Fred D., George F., Gilles C., Ian S., John H., Jonathan B., Mark T., Mike A., Paul R., Pete H., Peter J., Phil W., Tom L.
Wednesday 4th November, 2009
140 Newington Butts,
SE11 4RN
Actual price per head: £39
Nearest tube: Kennington (Northern Line).
Good meal in a nice restaurant. Very French. Happy to recommend it, especially the lamb.
Ali H., Andy Y., Brian M., Colin I., Ian S., Gerard B., Keith B., Laurence S., Matt S., Paul R., Peter J., Phil W., Richard U., Rob W., Steven V.
Wednesday 7th October, 2009
55 Shirland Road,
W9 2JD
Actual price per head: £30
Nearest tube: Warwick Avenue (Bakerloo Line).
The meal itself, set in the former Truscott Arms pub – which at one time was featured in Camra Real Ale guides, was of good food quality and presentation. A fair choice on the menu to suit palates and that should be a recipe for success. Less enamoured with the in pub setting, it did not feel like a formal dining room, but more a trestle table out of place. The biggest let down which mars so many places was that there was no one obviously in charge and there were only food servers and not waiting staff.
There were some misunderstandings in food service but swiftly rectified but a sense of disappointment with the sauces to accompany steaks which were a popular choice. The chef knows the ingredients and that was obvious but there are slovenly touches such as finding that the boards that steaks were served on left a liquid residue on the table underneath that could easily have led to stained clothing. The lack of efficiency meant that there was no inclination to linger for coffee as enough time had passed and many travel long distances to make these evenings and did not want to have poor journeys home. Final verdict – Acceptable but not one to rave about.
Ali H., Anthony B., Bill R., Colin I., John H., Mark J., Mark W., Peter J., Paul R., Phil W., Richard U., Rob W., Steven V., Stuart W.
Wednesday 2nd September, 2009
50 Baker Street,
W1U 7BT
Actual price per head: £36
The group gelled well and conversation remained lively all night. The drinks were plentiful. This is a very ambient Indian restaurant with its emphasis on ghee free and butter free food giving us a healthy but still very palatable food with a lot trying out the Thali – mixed platter dish.
The only drawback was a delay each time in delivery from the kitchen, even later when the main restaurant quietened down it took more than 20 minutes to get dessert – very noticeable as the choice there was very limited so easy to plate and serve. As a result although they seemed ready to serve coffee and tea without charge, it became too late for most people.
In a restaurant without much else going for it, this delay would have been catastrophic but this place did well in otherwise attentive service and style so that we overcame the frustration. They – including restaurant director – did at least seem willing to listen to our disappointment and I feel they will take necessary corrective action so that others who go at other times will get a positive experience
Interestingly, some of the group were comparing other dining groups where everyone feels constrained and regimented and there was a general feeling that our group is running well.
Andrew Y., Brian M., Chris S., Colin I., George G., Hernan B., James C., Jamie H., John H., Jonathan B., Mark J., Matthew .?, Michael N., Patrick S., Peter J., Phil W., Richard U., Roberto, Roy C., Royston G., Steven V.
Wednesday 5th August, 2009
134 Upper Street,
N1 1QP
Actual price per head: £32
Nearest tube: Angel (Northern Line) or Highbury & Islington (Victoria Line).
Meal cost £32 per head with all having reasonable amount of wine. Tasty three course with wider selection given to us but they lost out the opportunity to sell us coffee to finish. Good dialogues on table so would count evening successful. The only drawback is they lacked an efficient cooling system so many took odd moments to get fresh air.
Ali H., Brian M., Colin I., Gilles C., Harrie B., Iain C., James M., Jeff C., John H., Kevin., Peter J., Phil W., Royston G.
Wednesday 1st July, 2009
171 Farringdon Road,
EC1R 3AL
Actual price per head: £24
Nearest tube: Farringdon (Circle Line, Hammersmith & City Line, Metropolitan Line).
Ali H., Colin I., Iain C., Peter J., Phil W., Royston G.
Wednesday 1st April, 2009
375 King Street,
W6 9NJ
Actual price per head: £34
Nearest tube: Stamford Brook (District Line).
The meal was well prepared and timely presented. The waiting staff were from Russian Latvia and Poland and we had sufficient attention. The owner arranged a couple of off menu desserts. The bill was reasonable value for money.
Colin I., David R., Harrie B., Jeremy P., John H., Nargit G., Nicholas T., Phil W., Royston G., Steven V.