31 Sussex Place,
W2 2TH

Actual price per head: £39

Nearest tube: Lancaster Gate (Central Line).

Remarks

Expensive house wine!!!

Attendees

Ali H., Andrew Y., Bill R., Chris S., Colin I., James C., John H., Matt S., Roy C., Steven V.

14 Garrick Street (entrance on Floral Street),
WC2E 9BJ

Actual price per head: £30 for those who had set menu, and £50 for those who went a la carte.

Nearest tube: Leicester Square (Northern Line and Piccadilly Line).

Remarks

The set menu was £22 for three courses including half bottle of wine wine plus service charge; about 3 choices per course.

The room was a cosy affair with two tables sitting eight each.

People on each table gelled well and there were a lot of positive comments about the place.

That said, looking across at the set menu food, it did not look fabulous and the a la cartes had very good food even to the point of superior real chips over french fries, but people enjoyed themselves and no one voiced dissent. With these nights the company is as important as the food.

Attendees

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.

57 Endell Street,
WC2H 9AJ

Actual price per head: £30

Nearest tube: Covent Garden (Piccadilly Line).

Remarks

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.”

Attendees

Adam, Andreas, Gilles C., Ian G., Ian S., John H., Michael N., Peter J., Riki H., Scott S., Steven V.

42 Crawford Street,
W1H 1JW

Actual price per head: £40

Nearest tube: Marylebone (Bakerloo Line).

Remarks

Quite good fun with the attractive Swedes at the next table providing musical interludes. The herring was excellent.

Reservations

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.

140 Newington Butts,
SE11 4RN

Actual price per head: £39

Nearest tube: Kennington (Northern Line).

Remarks

Good meal in a nice restaurant. Very French. Happy to recommend it, especially the lamb.

Attendees

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.

55 Shirland Road,
W9 2JD

Actual price per head: £30

Nearest tube: Warwick Avenue (Bakerloo Line).

Remarks

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.

Attendees

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.

50 Baker Street,
W1U 7BT

Actual price per head: £36

Nearest tube: Baker Street (Bakerloo Line, Circle Line, Hammersmith & City Line, Jubilee Line, and Metropolitan Line).

Remarks

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.

Attendees

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.

134 Upper Street,
N1 1QP

Actual price per head: £32

Nearest tube: Angel (Northern Line) or Highbury & Islington (Victoria Line).

Remarks

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.

Attendees

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.

171 Farringdon Road,
EC1R 3AL

Actual price per head: £24

Nearest tube: Farringdon (Circle Line, Hammersmith & City Line, Metropolitan Line).

Attendees

Ali H., Colin I., Iain C., Peter J., Phil W., Royston G.