Palm Court Brasserie
39 King Street
WC2E 8JS

Actual price per head: £40

Nearest tube: Covent Garden (Piccadilly Line).

Remarks

Not bad. Ham hock terrine starter was tasty. Xmas turkey main course was fine. The sea bream was a popular choice and people remarked on the freshness of the fish. The chocolate tart was way too sweet and not chocolaty enough. The brandy sauce which drowned the Xmas pudding was burnt. Those who complained were offered a replacement crème brûlée. The wine was £14.95 a bottle and the three course Xmas menu was £23.95 per head. Service from Vanessa was good so I tipped her some cash on top of the 12.5% service charge.

I cocked up the bill because I did not take into account a deposit I’d paid of £100 in advance, and hence undercharged each of the diners by a fiver so they paid £35 where it should have been £40 a head. Merry Xmas All.

Attendees

Ali H., Andy Y., Cheebs S., Colin I., David H., Gary T., George F., Ian S., John B., John H., Leo H., Mark B., Martin T., Matt S., Paul G., Paul R., Peter J., Ricardo B., Roger T., Steven V.

Sunday 17^th April, 2011

39 King Street,
WC2E 8JS

Actual price per head: £30

Nearest tube: Covent Garden (Piccadilly Line).

Remarks

We ate at one o’clock from the Sunday roast set menu. Very good meal. Very good value. Very good company.

Attendees

Alan C., Alan Y., Benjamin C., Gary T., Gabriel G., George G., Ian S., John R., Mark T., Martin B., Patrick C., Peter J. Roger T.

Wednesday 3^rd November, 2010

372 Strand,
WC2R 0JJ

Actual price per head: £32

Nearest tube: Charing Cross (Bakerloo Line or Northern Line) or Covent Garden (Piccadilly Line).

Remarks

Nice crowd, dull venue. The three course carvery menu at £17.95 is very good value for dinner in this part of London. So too is £12.95 for a bottle of their house wine.

Attendees

Alan Y., Benjamin C., EJ. T., George G., Ian S., James C., John H., Martin H., Martin T., Michael N., Neil O., Peter J., Royston G.

Wednesday 6^th January, 2010

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.

Wednesday 2^nd March, 2005

12 Upper St. Martin’s Lane,
WC2H 9DL

Actual price per head: £36

Nearest tube: Covent Garden (Piccadilly Line) or Leicester Square.

Remarks

I’ll be going back. The set menu is very good. There was an interesting mix of people there tonight with some entertaining interactions.

Attendees

Andy M., Angel P., Bill R., Dave O., David H., Henry L., Ian S., Jeremy P., John H., Luis F., Richard W., Royston G., Scott D., Steve B., Tim B., Tim H.

Wednesday 8^th January, 2003

Waldorf Hotel,
Aldwych,
WC2B 4DD

Actual price per head: £35

Nearest tube: Covent Garden (Piccadilly Line) or Temple (Circle Line, District Line).

Remarks

A very pleasant venue with plenty of room for those dining. When the staff complete their training I’m sure that they’ll be fine.

Attendees

Adrian S., David E., David L., Doug R., Everett B., Ian S., Jeremy P., John H., Karl, Keith M., Richard G., Richard W., Robert J., Trevor