RestaurantsLondonSt James'sSW1

survey result

Summary

£96
 ££££
* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

Like a submarine, this famous St James’s basement – a colossal 1929 ballroom rescued and revamped by the late Sir Terence Conran in 1993 – now lurks out of sight and out of mind for most savvy Londoner diners: remarkably, it inspired zero feedback in our annual diners’ poll this year, a sure sign that the smart crowd moved on from its Q-bar, ‘grand-entrance’ staircase and designer-interior well over a decade ago. But, for a glam (if very pricey) night out, tourists and out-of-towners still keep it buoyant, attracted by its regular programme of entertainment fueled by posh brasserie nosh. Top Tip – especially if you hit the steak or caviar sections, à la carte prices here are pretty splashy. Maybe visit for brunch, Sunday Lunch or Mon-Thu pre-theatre, where there are prix-fixe menus for £40-£50 per head.

Summary

£93
 ££££
2
Average
3
Good
4
Very Good
* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

Thirty years ago, this vast basement – a 1929 ballroom which later fell on hard times to be rescued and relaunched with a tsunami of hype by the late Sir Terence Conran – was emblematic of the sweeping improvements in the capital’s dining out scene. Nowadays run under the flag of D&D London, it’s largely forgotten by the locals and most frequented for special occasions by out-of-towners and tourists, for whom its attractions include a large bar and regular live music. Reports on the food used to be awful, but have improved in recent years and although feedback on its posh-brasserie cuisine is limited it’s much more upbeat than it once was. Top Menu Tip – good value prix-fixe options for brunch (£39 for two courses, with bottomless bubbles for £35); and dinner Mon-Thu till 7pm then after 8.30pm (£38 for three courses and a glass of fizz).

Summary

£93
 ££££
2
Average
3
Good
4
Very Good
* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

As one of the late Sir Terence Conran’s landmark openings, this big D&D London basement bar/brasserie in St James’s was the talk of the town back in the 1990s, complete with racily dressed cigarette girl, and signature ‘Q’ ashtrays (a collectible selling for £70 online nowadays). Increasingly left to tourists and business-accounters, it still has fans for whom it’s “exceptional all-round”, but the proportion of disappointments over the years often hinders a more whole-hearted endorsement.

Summary

£88
 ££££
2
Average
2
Average
5
Exceptional
* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

Big, “stylish and atmospheric space” in St James’s – a 1920s ballroom rescued and revamped by the late Sir Terence Conran in 1993, and now run by D&D London – that’s one of the few places in London where you can make a splashy occasion of a meal with live music. Its modern British cuisine steers a middle ground nowadays – avoiding the brickbats of a number of years ago, but seldom igniting passionate praise.

For 33 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).

Have you eaten at Quaglino’s?

16 Bury St, London, SW1Y 6AJ

Restaurant details

Highchair,Menu
43, 16
No trainers
300

Prices

Traditional European menu

Starter Main Pudding
£17.00 £30.50 £13.00
Drinks  
Wine per bottle £36.00
Filter Coffee £5.00
Extras  
Service 15.00%
16 Bury St, London, SW1Y 6AJ
Make A Booking
Number of Diners:
Required Time:
Powered by OpenTable
Opening hours
Monday5 pm‑12 am
Tuesday5 pm‑12 am
Wednesday5 pm‑12 am
Thursday5 pm‑12 am
Friday12 pm‑2:45 pm, 5 pm‑1 am
Saturday12 pm‑2:45 pm, 5 pm‑1 am
Sunday12 pm‑7 pm

Best British, Modern restaurants nearby

45 Jermyn St
British, Modern restaurant in London
£91
 ££££
3
Good
3
Good
3
Good
The Wolseley
British, Modern restaurant in Mayfair
£89
 ££££
2
Average
3
Good
4
Very Good
The American Bar, The Stafford
American restaurant in St James's
£90
 ££££
3
Good
3
Good
3
Good

Best similarly priced restaurants nearby

Maison François
French restaurant in St James's
£95
 ££££
2
Average
3
Good
4
Very Good
Franco’s
Italian restaurant in St James's
£97
 ££££
3
Good
3
Good
3
Good
Chutney Mary
Indian restaurant in Westminster
£98
 ££££
4
Very Good
4
Very Good
4
Very Good