Jamie Oliver Catherine Street

Visited on a Saturday around 1pm, the restaurant was fairly quiet at first and gradually picked up, though it never got full. The atmosphere was lovely, especially the indoor courtyard, and the interior design was bright, open, and tastefully done. Service was friendly but noticeably slow. We had to flag staff multiple times for basic things like water, ordering dessert, and eventually just to get the bill. That said, they were excellent about managing food allergies, very attentive and thorough in explaining menu adjustments to accommodate dietary needs. We tried both the set menu and à la carte. While the presentation of the dishes was nice, the flavors didn’t quite live up to expectations. The smoked salmon starter (modified to be gluten-free) came with crudités instead of bread, which was completely fine - but they left whipped butter on the plate, which we mistook for a veggie dip. Not exactly appetizing. The steak from the set menu was a bit chewy, though the pickles (nibbles section) were a standout. The chicken and rabbit pie was let down by a tough pastry crust that was difficult to cut through. The biggest disappointment was the Black Forest cake. It looked beautiful and the menu description was enticing, but the execution fell flat. The cake was dry and difficult to eat - when I tried cutting in with a fork, the dense layers dragged the rest of the cake with them. I ended up tipping it on its side just to get through it. Not worth the £12. Given Jamie Oliver’s reputation, especially after his recent feature on Chef’s Table, I had higher expectations. While there were some positives, the experience overall didn’t quite hit the mark.

The mains were nice and good quality. Although not as flavoursome as I would’ve expected I do think they cater to the broader market by not adding too much spice. Price are OK given the location but must say the friendly staff make up for a memorable night. The chocolate mouse was unbelievably good though! I’d return just to eat that

We enjoyed our meal here very much. It is large and roomy with well spaced tables. The menu is not huge but is very well thought out, giving a good choice overall. Service is very professional and friendly. The food we had was excellent, tasty, and well presented. The prices were reasonable, given the area of central London that we were in. We would definitely recommend and will visit again.