Atmosphere review insights for England, United Kingdom, Restaurants

Bad food bad vibes

Great food Great waitress Very miserable, unprofessional and unpleasant reception lady Zero atmosphere Good for a quick lunch, not for a pleasant evening

I visited Zima restaurant on Saturday night. While the food was alright, unfortunately the service left a lot to be desired. Throughout our dining experience, the hostess spoke to us in a rather unfriendly and dismissive manner, and the waitresses didn’t seem very welcoming either. Additionally, the cocktails at the karaoke bar were disappointing, and the karaoke staff did not appear attentive to guests’ comfort or safety, allowing overly intoxicated guests to invade others’ personal space. Overall, the atmosphere made the visit less enjoyable than expected. .

*Sigh* this is a tough one to write. My wife and I love Chef Ramsay so much & he’s one of the few celebrities for us that if we saw him we’d be starstruck. Unfortunately, I have to give the experience 3 stars out of 5. We have been to many Michelin starred restaurants all over the world and what separates these restaurants is the service/experience, less so the food. The food here was outstanding. The service, timing, and ambiance weren’t. Don’t get me wrong, the staff was extremely nice and attentive, but there were things that made the visit less than stellar. 1) Timing of the courses was quite inconsistent or delayed. I realize it can’t always be perfect but when the first few courses are spaced out < 5 minutes apart and then it takes 10-15 minutes before the main, you notice the gap. It was also a ~15 minute wait between them taking our last plates away and us receiving the check that we had to ask for. What was most disappointing was that when I’m at a restaurant of that caliber, the last thing I should be thinking is “where is the check so I can leave?” 2) The ambiance wasn’t there. There was only one room for dining and it seemed like there was maybe one too many tables in there. Sitting down at my table I was about a foot away from the guy sitting at the next table and I can tell you every word of their conversation. They faced everyone towards the center of the dining room which I liked, but it was difficult to get out from the table to visit the restroom or avoid bumping the guy to my side at the other table. 3) Service felt frantic. They take the approach of “no one should have an empty glass” and “if you see an empty tray or unfolded napkin, take care of it” - a real collaborative mentality. They take it so far that it’s a detriment to the service. I don’t need my water glassed re-filled every time I sip it and I’d like consistency on who is serving me so I can build a rapport over the meal. After $750 spent for two, I expected more.

A decent dinner but slightly overpriced and over-rated in my view. Positives: Good service, fast and friendly. Decent whisky list and the Old Fashioned’s were lovely. The bone marrow toast for starters is delicious but the caramelised onion dominates a little. Steak was very good but not excellent. Far from the best I’ve eaten. The bone marrow gravy is delicious but the maple bacon was the highlight - absolutely slaps. Downsides: £155 per head. For that money I expect something superb and nothing about the night was superb aside perhaps from the company and the aforementioned maple bacon. The steak was good - I had the large Ribeye - but honestly not excellent. I’ve had substantially better steaks in London and steaks that have matched this one in FAR less lofty establishments. Noisy AF. This is my biggest pet peeve and a major issue with many London restaurants. Having to shout at my friends all night isn’t the vibe I am looking for. Huge dining room and it felt more like a school canteen than fine dining. Had to literally wedge myself into my seat on one occasion because tables were so packed together.

A group of five visited late afternoon for a special occasion celebration. We were seated rather cramped in a cold draughty area from the entrance door opening/closing. I approached a staff member who offered an alternative table at the back of the restaurant which had no atmosphere so decided to stay where we were. Service was quite slow. Drinks - no archers or southern comfort available. Starter - A bruschetta was ordered and burrata was delivered. This was replaced. My main pasta dish was served in a several chipped terracotta bowl! I reported to staff this is a health hazard and spoke to a manager - Jacopo who was very understanding, professional and resolved the situation. Desserts are overwhelming. The waitress from Brazil was friendly and attentive.

Bad food bad vibes

Review rating: 1.0

I booked for a business lunch based on a recommendation from a colleague, I cant fault the atmosphere or service which was efficient and friendly, however, when it came to the food, I was extremely disappointed. I ordered the 'Some like it hot' pizza, expecting the warmth of chilli and the smoky spicy richness of njuda with the kick it promised, what an utter let down, the pizza was bland, no heat whatsoever and total lack of flavour, do the chefs not test their food to make sure it lives up to the description? I have had better tasting pizza from a hole in the wall vendor. Such a shame given the price and reputation of this restaurant.

Review rating: 3.0

Bad food bad vibes

Signal: 0.1%

Great food Great waitress Very miserable, unprofessional and unpleasant reception lady Zero atmosphere Good for a quick lunch, not for a pleasant evening

Signal: 0.1%

I visited Zima restaurant on Saturday night. While the food was alright, unfortunately the service left a lot to be desired. Throughout our dining experience, the hostess spoke to us in a rather unfriendly and dismissive manner, and the waitresses didn’t seem very welcoming either. Additionally, the cocktails at the karaoke bar were disappointing, and the karaoke staff did not appear attentive to guests’ comfort or safety, allowing overly intoxicated guests to invade others’ personal space. Overall, the atmosphere made the visit less enjoyable than expected. .

Signal: 0.1%