Atmosphere review insights for United Kingdom

A family of 5 (adults) sat around a 4 seated table was poor to start with! Waiter was good, had to get his attention a couple of times for drinks. Food was really the let down. Overly seasoned (very very salty), greasy and way over priced for what it was. The restaurant itself looks lovely, very relaxing and warm atmosphere, plenty staff around which always looks good for business. Drinks were fine, George Street prices but we expected that from the "new" St James. We asked the waiter to take the £28 service charge off and handed him £10 tip, we thought that was quite sufficient after a £230 bill for food (mains only) and drinks. (bear in mind 1 person was drinking water, and another had 1 vodka!). Overall it was below average because of the food. We wouldn't come back unfortunately.

As soon as we were going downstairs and saw the old carpets and dated wood, we were apprehensive and confused. The restaurant was empty and did not have any atmosphere. The bar area was unmanned and soulless. Food was ok but the formality put us off. This place is stuck in time and hasn’t evolved neither is relevant anymore. Dining like 25 years ago! Very disappointing.

Atmosphere need to improve

This is a place to have Nepali and Indian food. The food, service and ambience, all were very average. The restaurant played Indian Bhajans (religious songs) and serving non veg and alcohol which didn't match the overall vibe of any of these two cultures. I would not go there again to be frank.

*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.

Food: With over 20,500 reviews averaging a dazzling 4.8, I wondered if the problem lay entirely with my own taste buds. But honestly… it’s hard to put into words. The flavours aren’t bland—there’s plenty of seasoning and salt—but nothing really leaps off the plate. Somehow, the whole affair had a faintly ‘straight out of the freezer’ vibe: perfectly functional, but lacking any soul or spark. Service: Absolutely top-notch. For a restaurant this busy, it’s rare to find a team so warm, attentive, and professional, all while keeping things relaxed and friendly. They run the whole operation like clockwork. Ambience: I’ll admit, I’m not the world’s biggest fan of hard seating. It’s fine for a quick coffee or grab-and-go snack, but for a full sit-down meal, my lower back quietly protested. There are a few padded seats—but the restaurant is always crowded, so they’re hard to snag.

Review rating: 4.0

I write this review to express my deep disappointment and disbelief at the appalling level of customer “service” we’ve just experienced. As regulars who’ve always spoken highly of you - to friends, family, and right here on TripAdvisor - this latest encounter was downright insulting. We received a Virgin Signature Tasting Experience voucher as a Christmas gift and booked a table for 4pm on Saturday several days in advance. In the notes, I clearly stated we’d be using the voucher and asked to swap the cod dish due to a severe fish allergy. After being chased by multiple emails demanding the voucher number and PIN, I then received a voicemail - less than 24 hours before our booking - that can only be described as a lecture. I never even spoke to this colleague directly, yet she took it upon herself to deliver a condescending voicemail *chastising* us for supposedly booking the “wrong” time, insisting we couldn’t attend before 5pm. She went on to say that because we had a voucher, we must eat exactly what’s on the set menu - meaning we’d be expected to eat cod, despite my clear note about a severe fish allergy that could land one of us in hospital. To finish, she smugly suggested we could still come at 4pm and eat from the brunch menu - not as a the to using the voucher, but as if that was an acceptable solution. The entire interaction was rude, dismissive, and completely lacking in professionalism or common sense. What should have been a special experience turned into an infuriating ordeal. I cancelled the booking on the spot and will seriously think twice before ever returning. I’m now asking Virgin Experience Days to transfer our voucher to another venue - somewhere that actually values its customers and understands what good service means.

Review rating: 1.0

A family of 5 (adults) sat around a 4 seated table was poor to start with! Waiter was good, had to get his attention a couple of times for drinks. Food was really the let down. Overly seasoned (very very salty), greasy and way over priced for what it was. The restaurant itself looks lovely, very relaxing and warm atmosphere, plenty staff around which always looks good for business. Drinks were fine, George Street prices but we expected that from the "new" St James. We asked the waiter to take the £28 service charge off and handed him £10 tip, we thought that was quite sufficient after a £230 bill for food (mains only) and drinks. (bear in mind 1 person was drinking water, and another had 1 vodka!). Overall it was below average because of the food. We wouldn't come back unfortunately.

Signal: 0.0%

As soon as we were going downstairs and saw the old carpets and dated wood, we were apprehensive and confused. The restaurant was empty and did not have any atmosphere. The bar area was unmanned and soulless. Food was ok but the formality put us off. This place is stuck in time and hasn’t evolved neither is relevant anymore. Dining like 25 years ago! Very disappointing.

Signal: 0.0%

Atmosphere need to improve

Signal: 0.0%