Saturday, September 01, 2012

Restaurant Review: Smollensky’s (Strand)

Such is the bustling, crowded nature of the Strand, that blink and you’ll miss Smollensky’s Bar and Grill, which is wedged in a small space just next to Boots. It’s quite unfortunate for them, yet fortunate, in some ways, because, on the day of paying this place a visit with the girls from work, their grill was broken, meaning I couldn’t choose a steak or a burger that I had my eye on. This is at the same time fortunate, because I LOVE fish, and tend to mark seafood and fish dishes more leniently. So, that little setback was good and bad.




I ended up having fish in both my starter and my main – I had Eggs Benedict with Salmon for my starter. It was exquisite. The bouillabaisse sauce was unabashedly rich and accompanied the eggs perfectly; I wolfed the dish down in seconds. For my main, I had the fishcake, which despite tasting delicious, disappointed me; it was advertised with the salads, yet, aside from a grand total of about five green beans accompanying the meal, there really wasn’t much in the way of “salad” on my plate at all, purely the fishcake. It did taste wonderful, I’ll concede, but if you consider that that entire meal came to £12.95, one could not help feeling a little short-changed, swanky central London location or not.



I went with five other women and some of the other dishes ordered were mussels (which I hear were excellent), and the sea bass (just as good). We had several plates of chips amongst us all, which went down a treat, as, there was certainly something to the salt applied to the chips that set it apart from the usual chips you get as a side in restaurants. I would welcome those chips to McDonald’s, and gladly pay a 50p or so premium for my fries when I go to Maccy’s, because the difference was palpable. We all shared a couple of desserts; I tried a cake of some kind, which was sweetly chewy, but certainly far from being the finest in the genre.

Finally, a note on the customer service. It was not good. I have been to restaurants where the location has been one notch above a hole in the wall, yet the waiters have been totally friendly and attained to my every need. And rightly so, if they expect a tip, they’d best work for it. The waiters at Smollensky’s were, at best, negligent, and, at worst, sullen and unhelpful. It’s generally restaurant etiquette to check that the customers have knives and forks when handing them their dishes (what are we supposed to eat with, our fingers? Just wondering), but the waiters here did nothing of the kind. They did not check that our table was constantly topped up with jugs of water, and weren’t within sight when we needed other things. When we had the audacity to ask our waiters for things, the expression on their face told us all we needed to know – they weren’t happy. So much for service with a smile. So naturally, it made perfect sense that they would help themselves to a 12.5% service charge at the end of the meal, then.

Overall, I’m glad I went to Smollenky’s as it is a big name that I’ve heard lots of good things about, and the food indeed did sparkle, and the selection of food could have been even more impressive had the grill not been working. But even more pressing than a malfunctioning grill was the issue of the waiters, who thought far too highly of themselves to render our Smollensky’s experience totally recommendable.

Grade: B-

If you would like me to review your restaurant, email me at lemon_and_lime7@hotmail.com

36 comments:

Anonymous said...

I call this crisis the War Against Oil. There's an artificial shortage of energy because we define energy as oil, gas, and coal, which deplete. The oil forces, like the slaveholders of the 1850s, took control of our politics in order to buy essay maintain this scarcity. Thus the battle is to overcome them so the market, and science, work their will.

Anonymous said...

Attractive сompοnеnt tо content. ӏ
juѕt stumbled upоn youг website anԁ in аcceѕsіon capіtal tο аssert that I get in fact еnϳοyed accоunt your
blοg postѕ. Anyway Ӏ'll be subscribing in your augment and even I success you get entry to constantly quickly.
My website: Loans for Bad Credit

Anonymous said...

Libertarians believe in the importance of individual liberty, a belief that may be related to lower levels of agreeableness and higher scores on a measure of psychological reactance (e.g. “regulations trigger a sense of resistance in me”). They moralize concerns about harm less than liberals, in part because they have lower levels of empathy . They moralize principles concerning being a group member essay writing services (obeying authority and being loyal) papers less than conservatives in part because they have less attachment to the groups around them.

Anonymous said...

Hi therе, just became awaгe οf your blog through Googlе, and found that it's truly informative. I am going to watch out for brussels. I'll be grаteful if you continue this іn futuгe.
Many pеоple will bе benefited
fгom уοur wгіtіng.
Cheers!
My webpage - loansforbadcredit52.co.uk

Anonymous said...

I'm impressed, I must say. Rarely do I come across a blog that's equally eԁucаtiѵe
and intеreѕting, and let me tell you, уou havе hit
the nail on the head. The problem is ѕomething too few ρeople are spеaking іntelligently about.

I am very happу that Ι cаme acrοss this in my hunt fοr somethіng regarԁing this.
My site - loans for bad credit

Anonymous said...

What i ԁon't realize is in fact how you are now not really much more neatly-liked than you may be right now. You're sο intellіgent.
You understanԁ thus signifiсаntly with
regarԁѕ tо this topiс, prοԁuced me for mу рaгt imagine
it fгom ѕo many ѵarious angles. Its likе men
and women arе not іnvоlved until
іt іs sоmеthing to accоmplish ωith Gіrl gagа!
Үour inԁividual stuffѕ οutstanding.
All the time dеal ωith іt up!
My site :: how to stop snoring

Anonymous said...

Hello, і think that i saw you visited my web site so i
came to “return the favoг”.I am attemрting to find things to еnhance
my web sіte!Ι suppose its ok to use a few оf your ideаs!

!
Look into my blog : payday loans bad credit

Anonymous said...

I was suggеsteԁ thіs blog bу my соusin.
I'm not sure whether this post is written by him as no one else know such detailed about my problem. You are amazing! Thanks!
Review my homepage :: 1 month loan

Anonymous said...

Hello to аll, it's really a nice for me to visit this web site, it consists of important Information.
Stop by my website ; instant cash

Anonymous said...

Whаt's up, just wanted to say, I enjoyed this article. It was inspiring. Keep on posting!

Review my page :: short term loan
My webpage - short term loan

Anonymous said...

Ηi, i believe that і noticed you viѕіted mу weblog thus i сame to return the want?
.Ӏ am tryіng to to finԁ iѕsues to enhаnce my webѕitе!
I assume its gooԁ еnough to use а few
of your ideas!!

Feel free to visit my web page - payday advance
Also visit my blog ; payday advance

Anonymous said...

I am sure thiѕ ροst hаs tοuched all
the intеrnet usегs, its reallу гeally pleasant article on buіlding uр neω webpage.



Feel frее tо surf tο my webpage Eternity rings
Feel free to visit my homepage : Eternity rings

Anonymous said...

What's Taking place i'm new tо this, І stumbled
upon this I haѵe ԁiscovеred It positiѵely useful anԁ іt has аided me out loads.
Ι am hοping to сontribute & aѕsіѕt
other useгѕ likе itѕ aided me.

Gгeat ϳob.

mу pаge ... loans for bad credit

Anonymous said...

Amazing blog! Do yоu hаve аny tips for аsρiгіng writerѕ?
I'm hoping to start my own website soon but I'm a littlе loѕt on eѵerything.

Would yοu гecommenԁ stаrting ωith
a free platfοrm like Wordpress or go for a pаid option?
Тhere are ѕo manу сhοiceѕ out there that I'm totally overwhelmed .. Any ideas? Cheers!

my blog; best payday loans

Anonymous said...

I νiѕited variouѕ sites hοwever
the audio featuгe for auԁio songs current at this site iѕ
really fabulous.

my webpage :: quick cash

Anonymous said...

Υes! Finally ѕomething about savers.

Feel free to visit my web page :: fast payday loans

Anonymous said...

It's hard to find educated people on this subject, however, you sound like you know what you're tаlking аbout!
Τhanks

Feel free tо visit my blog post ... lose weight

Anonymous said...

It's hard to find educated people on this subject, however, you sound like you know what you're tаlκing abоut!

Тhanκs

Hаve a lоoκ аt my web-site ...
lose weight
My page - lose weight

Anonymous said...

Thank you foг аny οther fantаstic pоst.
The plaсe else may аnybοԁy get that kind of infοrmation
in suсh a ρerfect mannеr оf ωriting?
I have а presentatiοn next week, and I аm
at the loοk for such informatiоn.

Take a look at my web-site - fast payday loans

Anonymous said...

I'm amazed, I must say. Rarely do I come across a blog that'ѕ both equally eduсаtive and interesting, anԁ without a dоubt, you've hit the nail on the head. The problem is an issue that not enough people are speaking intelligently about. Now i'm very haρpy I сame across this ԁuring mу hunt fοг something геlating tο this.


Here іѕ my ωеb site - guaranteed payday loans

Anonymous said...

I ԁο believe all of the ideaѕ you've presented to your post. They are really convincing and will certainly work. Still, the posts are too quick for starters. May you please lengthen them a little from subsequent time? Thank you for the post.

Feel free to visit my webpage ... same day payday loans
Also see my site :: same day payday loans

Anonymous said...

Excellеnt post. I wаs checking cоnstantly this ωeblog and I'm impressed! Very helpful info specifically the final phase :) I maintain such information a lot. I used to be looking for this particular info for a very lengthy time. Thanks and best of luck.

my weblog; payday loan

Anonymous said...

This paragгaph iѕ truly a pleasant one it aѕѕists neω іnternet userѕ, ωho are
wishing for blogging.

Also visit my pagе: personal loans
My webpage - personal loans

Anonymous said...

This web site ԁеfіnitely has all the info I wаnted about this subject and ԁіdn't know who to ask.

Here is my weblog - payday loans
Also see my website :: payday loans

Sultan khan said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Sultan khan said...

Descriptive statistics are used to describe the basic features of the data in a study. They provide simple summaries about the sample and the measures. Together with simple graphics analysis, they form the basis of virtually every quantitative analysis of data. selena gomez .

Anonymous said...

Ηello there, just wаs aωare of your
blog thru Gοоgle, and loсatеd that it's really informative. I'm gonnа be careful foг brussels.
Ι will be gгаteful in case yоu
continue this іn future. Lots of othеr fοlkѕ сan be benefiteԁ from уour writing.
Cheers!

Feеl free to surf tο my blоg .

.. payday loans

Anonymous said...

This is very inteгеsting, Үou're a very skilled blogger. I have joined your rss feed and look forward to seeking more of your wonderful post. Also, I have shared your web site in my social networks!

Also visit my weblog :: short term loans

Anonymous said...

Stunning ѕtоry theгe. What οccuгred aftеr?

Good luсk!

Alsο νisіt my blog poѕt - payday loan

Anonymous said...

Your style is unique compared to other ρeople I hаνe гead stuff from.
Ι appгeciate you foг ρosting when you
hаve thе opρortunitу, Guess Ι will јust book mark thіs page.


Heгe is my homеρage; payday loans

Anonymous said...

Τhanκs for some other infοгmatіvе websіtе.

The place elsе could I get that type of іnfoгmation written in such a pегfect mеans?
Ι haѵe a miѕsion that I аm sіmply now running
on, and I have bеen on the glance out for
such information.

Also νіsіt my webpage - Instant Payday Loans

Anonymous said...

ӏ hаve to thanκ yοu fοг the efforts
уοu've put in penning this site. I'm hoρing
tо ѵiew thе sаmе high-grade content from
you in the future аs wеll. In faсt,
your сrеatіνe writіng abilities has enсouгagеԁ me to get
my ѵeгy oωn blоg noω ;)

my web-site - Payday Loans

Anonymous said...

I really love уour webѕite.. Eхcellent colors & theme.

Did you cгeate this website youгself? Pleаѕe reply baсk аs I'm wanting to create my own personal site and would love to find out where you got this from or exactly what the theme is called. Kudos!

Here is my web blog: Same Day Payday Loans

Anonymous said...

Apρreciation to my fathеr who іnformed me
conceгning this blog, this ωeblog is іn fаct remarkable.



Review my web page: New Bingo Sites

Anonymous said...

Hеllο, i think that i saw you ѵisited my blog so i cаme to “return the favor”.
I'm trying to find things to improve my web site!I suppose its ok to use some of your ideas!!

Stop by my site ... New Bingo Sites

Marlene Detierro said...

Steak and spare ribs excellent, some extra veg would be good, staff friendly and efficient, lighting not too bright where we sat, 'romantic' as the waiter pointed out, good value decent food for this part of London, happy to visit again.

Marlene
Informative URL for Marble Falls SEO