Babylon at the Roof Gardens

neil_b

WOW! 12th November 2008

2 found this helpful

What can I say about Babylon! From the moment you walk in from the street and are escorted to the lift to the 7th floor, through to the moment you use the stunning loos, this place is class!

We were fortunate enough to visit Babylon through an experience voucher bought by a friend and didn't have to pay a penny but looking at the menu, you could eat there without spedning the earth so long as you don't overdo it on the wonderful champagne mojitos!

I thought it a good time to experiment with some dishes I would not normally ahve and opted for a starter of smoked eel with creamed apple sauce and horseradish. Words escape me when trying to describe how good this was - I can't complain when it's the first time I've eaten eel either!

The main was just as sublime and how anyone can make pork taste so good is beyond me!

Vicki went for soft boiled quails eggs to start and surf and turf for main. She was equally as impressed, particularlyu with the size of the langoustine that arrived on top of her cooked to perfection steak.

The waiter we had was excellent, recommending a wine to suit our meal and providing us with more than our fair share of complimentary boxes of chocolates to take away!

Babylon is a must visit restaurant - particularly if, like us, you didn't have to pay!

Hugo

London at it's best? 28th September 2008

3 found this helpful

Maybe I was lucky and chose my food well or maybe it was the cheery spirit of a friends birthday lunch or maybe it was a beautiful blue skied September day: Kensington Roof Gardens was simply ace.

I have not been here for a while and when it is a clear sunny day, it is a wonderful place to rise above the hubbub of London, have a drink on the balcony and cast your eye across the cityscape.

I had the Eel and Horseradish appetizer - wow and double wow. I would go back for that alone. I also had some soup envy on my right - looked rather winning.

A fun place for a treat.

Niamheen at 29/09/08

I now want the eel and horseradish appetiser, sounds delicious. This is a place I've yet to try, it seems to be a winner!

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QueenB

Take me to Babylon.. 25th September 2008

1 found this helpful

When: a Friday night, 9pm
Who: Me and the boyf
Booked: 2 days prior on the phone
Deal: None

After being ushered into the lift at the ground entrance to the restaurant, we were greeted at the door and offered drinks on the terrace first or straight to our table - hungry as we were we went straight to the table!

It was busy but not overly so that you felt it was chaotic, there was a nice buzz with a mixed crowd.

Our 2 waiters were charming without being over bearing.

Starters:
1 x Dorset Crab and Morecambe Bay Shrimps with pink grapefruit, avocado, baby red chard, dandelion leaves

1 x Seared Scottish Diver Caught Scallops with raw fennel, radicchio and orange salad

Mains:
1 x Grilled Fillet of Organic Salmon with baby onions, button mushrooms, celery, turned carrots, summer truffle and parsley mash

1 x “Surf and Turf” 28 day aged Ballindalloch rib eye of beef, Scottish langoustine, béarnaise sauce, watercress

Desserts:
1 x Chocolate Fondant with pistachio and praline ice cream

1 x Knickerbocker Glory with blackberry, orange

Wine: Shiraz

There was no complaints on any of the dishes, apart from the portion sizes could of been a bit bigger.

The scallops were cooked to perfection. The crab was so sweet and full of flavour - although the grapefruit slightly over powered the dish.

Salmon was a delicate and subtle dish. The prawns were juicy and the steak cooked exactly as requested.

I felt the choclate fondant go straight to my hips, as something that naughty can't be good for you!

We drank cocktails on the balcony, I had a lovely one with a kick of red chilli.

The staff also gave us free entry to the nightclub which is normally £10 for diners.

all i all a top night all round and will def be back!

I do agree on the poor quality of the toilet conditions though - shabby and damaged compared to the rest of the venue.

sparklepants

Beautiful setting 28th August 2008

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A friend of mine hired the Roof Gardens for a garden party, dinner and dancing and WOW, it was absolutely fantastic! The champagne and Pimms with lemonade and fruit was flowing in the gardens (which are huge!) while the band played, we were then ushered into the dining room for what was delicious meal, although not as spectacular as one would expect. A selection of Japanese raw scallops, seared tuna and teriyaki beef to start, lamb (which was slightly too fatty and not pink enough) and a fantastic lemon tart to finish. Service was second to none and the atmosphere was pretty fantastic!

amandaharrison

Great views shame about the loos 17th June 2008

2 found this helpful

A lovely buzzy restaurant. Saturday lunchtime the service is a little slow, but then it was very busy. Value for money with a set menu - two courses £16.95, three £19.95, which is excellent for the quality. Two happy steak eaters, one happy risotto eater and another happy smoked salmon and scrambled egg eater (yes, a bit of an eclectic choice of main course). BUT - the ladies toilet so badly needs refurbishing. Look down to see where the water is coming for the stupid wash your hands in a waterfall that is too far away to reach properly and you can see straight through to the mens' loos, and, ahem, not what you want to see at lunchtime (or anytime for that matter.) And nowhere to put your bag when you do wash your hands, all together very inconvenient. But great for a Saturday family lunch; on this occasion for a 21st birthday.

ilovelucy

Enjoyable evening 18th March 2008

2 found this helpful

Was taken here on my birthday a couple of weeks ago - the restaurant made a lovely setting for a dinner party - don;t know if it was just me but it felt as if we were inside of a boat. Also, it was dark so we did not get to see much of the gardens!

We opted for the set menu at £26 for three courses which had about 4 choices per course. I ordered the salmon to start, roast pork for mains and then the cheese board to finish - all was very delicious and I was full and happy by then end. Bill came up to £35 each which was great as we had quite a few bottles of wine.

A nice addded touch was the jazz singer who made the night even more special.

perinouk

Been before - this time was less good 28th February 2008

2 found this helpful

I have been before and it has been great. This time was a bit of a let down. I was here for business and wanted a great location with superb service. I got great location, I didn't get superb service. Really really bad receptionist forcing us to go to the table if we wanted a table by the window opposed to having us relax (and spend some money) in the bar. Anyway, the remainder of the service was ok, although not great as previously experience. Maybe we were unlucky, but I would have liked to see great - even on a Tuesday night.

sue

Kensington Class with a View 9th March 2007

2 found this helpful

Well, it was Australia Day, and being so far from home we decided to celebrate in style, so we headed to Babylon at the Roof Gardens for dinner.
I had read plenty of good and bad reviews on this classy restaurant, but am pleased to say that we had a great experience here. It is tastefully decorated with great views over West London. The service was friendly and efficient.

The main draw card of Babylon is the fabulous roof gardens…..unfortunately we were there in the middle of winter and hence did not get to enjoy them. Shall have to go back at least for a drink in the warmer months.

On our visit we enjoyed a drink in the small bar area before our meal, and loved watching the colourful tropical fish in the tanks that surround the sunken seating section.

The food was delicious - we both had the Slow-baked Lamb Shank which fell away from the bone nicely, as all good lamb shanks should. A Trio of Chocolate Mousse ended the meal perfectly. We washed it all down with a really nice bottle of Australian red wine - well it was Australia Day after all!

annika

Remember this place for next summer! 24th September 2006

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Ok, Sir Richard Branson just gave away some of his (future) fortune for the fight against climate change, but he's given us Londoners a real 'urban oasis' with this restaurant-club venue on the 6th floor in the heart of Kensington. Think a Spanish-themed garden with palm trees, waterfalls, flamingoes, great cocktails and great live music against the backdrop of London's skyline. Simply awesome! However, there are some downsides to the Roof Garden. For one, it is pricey (guest list only - £15 on Fri and £20 on Sat). Not to mention the cocktails - but they are worth every penny... Secondly, and this really could ruin it for me, it attracts a curious mix of people ranging from VERY young kids with daddy's golden credit card to elderly sugar-daddies. Fortunately, if you go there with a group of friends and stay outdoors you can largely avoid this 'crowd with an attitude'... but it really ruins the atmosphere indoors. A real shame considering just how amazing this place is. Anyway, put this into your diary for next summer and see for yourself!
Just one last thing: You can visit the roof gardens during the day - they are open to the public (ring to check for times).