Culinaria

Jennifer (14 December 2007)

I would like to point out that, due to a family bereavement in Nov 2007, J. Ward may have found why there was a little 'passion' lacking on a visit to Culinaria at that time. I have always found the Markwicks to be friendly, approachable and passionate about what they do, which certainly reflects in the standard of food and service. I don't necessarily want you to display this 'review' but feel the one I refer to is ill deserved.

J Ward (28 November 2007)

G Ramsey has said that a restaurateur must have passion to succeed. Contrary to GR's opinion the place seems to succeed with a complete lack of passion and enthusiasm. The service is efficient with the paid staff trained to an extremely high degree. The décor and ambience are bright modern French Bistro style. Light and refreshing if ever so slightly clinical, which creates a good lunch time venue, which doesn’t work quite as well in the evenings. The menu is limited to what is easy and least wasteful for the chef to prepare but is absolutely adequate with the quality and quantity being fine. However, despite these positive points there is something missing - the energy and enthusiasm to be found in the most exciting of restaurants nowadays - the places where you feel you must take people often.

Maybe it’s because the people who run the restaurant have done it all very successfully before and it shows. And having made it, are on the very last lap of their exhaustive culinary career. Maybe it is because the place does OK anyway or the owners don't feel they want or need to compete with other restaurants. Who knows, in summary, it’s a quick, clean and very efficient establishment, which makes for a good lunch time venue bit if someone could just inject some passion and personality into the place, it would be an absolutely outstanding place to dine, lunch time and evenings.

See more reviews of Culinaria