Latest reviews for Villandry

by lightlines

lightlines — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 14:38:10 +0000

Review by lightlines

Rating: 4.00
Tags:
Great stir-fry takeaway, probably the best value for money deal you'll get in the area. Rest of the food is good but perhaps a bit pricey. No comments on the restaurant as I haven't had that pleasure.

by joslyoung

joslyoung — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 18:19:15 +0000

Review by joslyoung

Rating: 5.00
Tags:
It's interesting to read such mixed reviews for Villandry, because it's one of my favourite places and I've always found it to be of an exceptional standard, both in terms of food and service (the latter seemingly being quite a persistent problem where other people's experiences are concerned). For what it's worth - and I don't dispute the possibility of service being a problem because they're a laid back bunch at Villandry, which could easily spill over into lacksadasical - I've never had any issues and always had a good meal.
The most recent occasion I ate there was only a month or so back, when I went with my partner. I had a really fresh and lovely salad to start, and calves liver with mashed potato and bacon, crispy sage and a light gravy. Very nice, simple food, well cooked. No real surprises, but that's not what Villandry's about, to me: it excels on the quality of its ingredients and their freshness. It also scores points on the relaxed atmosphere in the restaurant and indeed throughout - other areas in the place are great for coffees, meetings and lazy brunches.
It's true that Villandry isn't cheap: you could top Â£100 on a lunch for two without trying too hard, which is steep by most non-expense-account-holder's standards. So I'd say it was a special occasion place, really, one that I always enjoy.

Good but pricey by funki_munki

funki_munki — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 10:16:09 +0000

Review by funki_munki

Rating: 3.00
Tags:
Villandry is a great restaurant if, like me, you opt to go when there are special offers on. If I hadnâ¬"t had a 50% offer voucher I doubt I would be as pleased given the expense. The restaurant is roomy yet intimate with plush surrounding. The service was OK but often to difficult to get attention when you need it. I really enjoyed the food; my Duck cassoulet was tender and rick and my friend moules were delicious, although the size of the potion did make it a little daunting for her!

My only other gripe was being told there was a 2 hour turnaround on my table (not mentioned when I booked!) although this was not enforced at all, so not sure why they felt the need to tell me.

Great for takeaway breakfast and lunch by sokratis

sokratis — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 12:03:34 +0000

Review by sokratis

Rating: 4.00
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Unfortunately I can only comment on the takeaway delights from the Villandry. Stopped there for a quick bite before my dentist's appointement and the pain-au-chocolat was definitely worth the slight detour. It was baked perfectly and the consistency of the dough reminded me of the real thing one gets in Paris.

After being a realtively clean bill of health from the dentist, I decided to make another small detour on my way back and pick up some lunch.
Again, I'm really glad I did. The roast duck and vegetable noodle salad was full of flavour. The duck was of high quality with the perfect balance of crispiness and fat. The vegetables where not overwhelming the just crunchy enough. The noodles were fresh and not greasy at all. At Â£4.95 for the large bowl it is an excellent, quick-lunch choice.

I can't wait to go back and have a proper, sit-down meal

You have been warned... by mizzallure

mizzallure — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 16:30:17 +0000

Review by mizzallure

Rating: 0.00
Tags:
I was sorely disappointed in Villandry, but not as much as my friend, as he was the one who waited 30 min for his English breakfast, and when it finally arrived, they had gotten his order wrong.

Shall I even mention the fact we had to remind the waitress twice about our coffees (and, as we all know, this is a major component to any brunch, especially those who have enough trouble with daylight hours as it is...)

I guess at this point, even mentioning the fact they forgot our water order as well, is redundant. I hope the wait staff were not completely surprised when I contested the 'service charge'. I am not usually this bitter, I just didn't like Villandry. Food wasn't special, it was way overpriced, and if you have been reading this far, you already know my thoughts about the service.

Excellent, if expensive by betageek

betageek — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 15:29:21 +0000

Review by betageek

Rating: 4.00
Tags:
Went to Villandry for a business lunch. The restaurant was crowded (it seems to be something of a canteen for BBC Radio staff - saw various journalists/presenters lunching), but didn't feel cramped, and conversation was possible without straining voices. Good range of food on the daily menu. Starter of pear and bleu d'Auvergne rarebit was really super, and main course of cassoulet was good. My lunch companions both had the fish of the day, which was an apparently excellent bass. Given that the total bill was over Â£100 for three people drinking only fizzy water, I'm glad that I was taken as a guest. However, for a business lunch I'd recommend Villandry, and the attached gourmet grocery looks worthy of further experimentation.

Chaos at the slightest hitch by JehonaGjurgjeala

JehonaGjurgjeala — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 22:35:30 +0000

Review by JehonaGjurgjeala

Rating: 1.00
Tags:
Today the Villandy's ordering system crashed, and it took over half an hour for the waiting staff and the kitchen staff to realise that somehting was wrong! Needless to say we waited for ages for our food which, when it arrived, was just about decent. They took 25% off our bill - which sounds decent, but not when we noticed that they had actually had the cheek to add the 12.5% service charge! Unless you are feeling particularly humorous, might as well avoid it.

Villandry is Amazing by collector

collector — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 21:09:31 +0000

Review by collector

Rating: 5.00
Tags:
I have eaten many times at Villandry. Each time is like the first. The service is great, the range of dishes on the menu is incredible.

Particularly great if the weather is nice, as you can sit outside..

Highly recommended..

by harryp

harryp — Thu, 17 May 2007 13:46:49 +0000

Review by harryp

Rating: 4.00
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Great place, go for the lunchtime noodles, delicious and @ Â£4.95 cheaper than a sarnie and crisps at Pret.

food was hot - service cold by ProfMagellan

ProfMagellan — Thu, 17 May 2007 12:19:45 +0000

Review by ProfMagellan

Rating: 3.00
Tags:
Dinner out for Mrs Magellan and I with some close friends, he a media guru, she a composer of distinction. The media guru, an epicurean
to the core, selected Villandry. The place has changed since it was a small deli and cafe in Marylebone High Street. Now it is a huge food emporium with four separate components: a foodstore, bar, charcuterie cafe and a full restaurant. The media guru had selected the restaurant. First piece of advice: do make sure you are sitting in the right place as the restaurant is somehwhat hidden if you arrive at the Great Portland St entrance. The food was fine - good in fact. Excellent crudites, pea soup, ham hock salad and carpaccio received glowing rports. Mains too worked well: steak tartare, barramundi. The Professor had a bowl of fettucini which was not terribly exciting and was a poor choice. The men consumed their puddings (banana tarte tatin and honeycomb ice cream) with gusto. The wine list was outrageously priced even by greedy London standards. We found a £25 bottle of Maipo which worked well but not much in this range. Chianti Fonterutoli - which is produced by my dear friend the Mazzeis - was on sale for £36 a bottle. In Chianti, you can buy it for 15 euros (less than £10). £36 for a nice everyday Chianti is a bit toppy to say the least. Breads, baked on the premises, wre excellent.
Main criticisms were that the tables are far too close together; so useless for a romantic evening or cofidential discussions. And the service was very slow and very remote. The waiter was quite unengaged. Our happiness was simply not an issue. One curiosity: Mrs Magellan was told that the artichokes were "not good enough to serve". Yet we saw table after table being served artichokes. The waiter claimed that was because there was a late delivery of artcihokes. Mrs Magellan gasped in disbelief as this was 9.00pm in the evening. Finally, the waiter continued to bring bottles of expensive water without asking if we wanted more - this is becoming a nasty London trick which should be stopped. Before you know where you are, there is a £20 charge on the bill for countless bottles of water.
Dinner all in was around £50 a head. Not cheap.
Villandry has potential; but they need to work hard on the service which is well below par and lets down the rather good cooking.

by TrustedBot

TrustedBot — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 18:20:14 +0000

Review by TrustedBot

Rating: 0.00
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Please note a maximum of 6 people can dine with one taste card
Ordered direct from the producers, Villandry´s charcuterie counter boasts the best cured hams and salamis from all over Europe and is delivered to them twice weekly.

Adjacent to the charcuterie counter is an area for relaxed all-day dining the Charcuterie Bar.

Enjoy a plate of charcuterie or a sandwich during the day, or meet friends for a light dinner in the evening.

Great lunch place by SanelaB

SanelaB — Wed, 26 Jul 2006 02:13:13 +0000

Review by SanelaB

Rating: 4.00
Tags:
This is another takeaway deli/restaurant/bar place. I love going here for a quick bite to eat or meet girlies for a lunch. They make lovely soups, and always have a 3-5 hot dishes fish, pasta, quiches etc. There is a wonderful selection of breads and they do pancakes till 6pm (please check as it may vary). To sit down is a bit more expensive but the service is nice and its all beautifully done with thick linen table clots all perfectly clean. There is a restaurant at the back but I never been there.