Launched in April 2000, Flaneur Food Hall combines an upmarket restaurant with a food hall full of gastronomic wonders. The main dining area is located towards the rear of the building and is decorated not with plants and flowers as you assume, but with an array of packets, jars and bottles. The restaurant serves a variety of Northern European cuisine complemented by an extensive wine list.
Never in my life have I experienced such rudeness - so much so I was reduced to tears - and I'm still reeling!!
20 minutes after ordering the wine I got up and asked the bar man if it was on it's way - he told me to "ask him" (the manager). The wine finally arrived, and quite a while later so did our starters, which were very nice.
However, when the mains arrived that is when it rapidly went down hill. I had ordered a steak, to be rare - however it was not rare when it arrived. I waited to try and get the waiters attention (the manager), but to no avail. So I got up to go and speak to him and took my plate with me. When advising him that I had asked for my steak to be rare he said it was. I said that it's wasn't and politely asked if I could have another one - he then told me to stop being rude. Since when was it rude to ask for something the way you like it when you are paying for it? Eventually another steak was brought out, however I refused it and went without the rest of my dinner, had I not been with friends for a birthday dinner I would have left the restaurant. The service was appalling and the attitude of the staff - well it leaves alot to be desired. Flaneur could be a great place but the staff really let this place down.
There are plenty of alot better, and cheaper restaurants over this one so don't waste your time here.
I had read many positive things about this place but found it disappointing on two dimensions. First and foremost the vibe. I was there on Wednesday at 8 pm. It was dead! The space is very nice as a grocery store but too cavernous to make a cozy dining spot. Second, the prices were a little high. For a side salad, a first, a glass of wine, and a dessert shared with a friend I paid 40 pounds. I know that's not a crazy number but for a cafe and for this quantity of food it's a bit much. In the wine list they list everything from the most expensive to the cheapest. This to me emblematic.
Having said all of this negative, the food was good. Simple, but very good ingredients.
So if money is no object and you specifically want a (very) quiet place, this would be the spot for you.
One of my favourite places for a morning meeting. The interior is an ultra deli with delicacies stacked from floor to ceiling around the walls. An outstanding selection of pastries, chocolate and cheeses always catches my eye but that is just me. The food is always high quality and tasty if a little on the expensive side and i tend to agree that the staff could do with a little more joie de vivre - overall this is well worth a visit if you are in Farringdon.
A Flneur is someone who strolls in arcades, shops in the market and hangs out in cafs. In this case Flaneur is a restaurant and a food hall. The restaurant offers some very tasty and simple food at a slightly above average price. The ambience in the restaurant is a relaxed and cosy one. You can enjoy their quality wines throughout your meals. Within the restaurant is also a food hall that sells high quality products from vegetables to artisanal products from France, Italy, Spain, and even the UK. If you go there you'll find great French patisseries all served and prepared by a professional and knowledgeable staff.
We needed a nearby location to take a city based friend for a birthday lunch. I remembered this enticing deli front and we wandered down. What a lovely surprise. While it took a while for the staff to notice us, once we were eventually seated everything was perfect. The food was just right, the house wine was inspiring and I remeber that I really should not have had a desert for lunch. But I could not resist the temptation. The chef signed the menu with a birthday wish! And I spent a ridiculous amount on a tub of Spanish Hot Chocolate which I only ration out on those very cold nights in front of a flame fire!
If you go a for a meal....be prepared to go shopping too as the walls are floor to ceiling shelves heavily laden with must have product
This is a lovely place near Farringdon tube station. Its got a food hall at the front where you can get anything from quiche to bottles of olive oil and fresh, beautifully arranged vegs and fruit. At the back is a rather small dining area and it feels like stylish kitchen with jars and fancy pasta and oil tins stacked high all around you. We had a sun brekki there and the eggs were phenomenal. The bread is baked on the premises, or so they told us. Nice sausages and bacon as well. Its very nice although it could do with a bit charm from the staff (not rude just not relaxed) so it feels a bit formal.
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