Skylon

Roger Rose (2 March 2008)

From the outset, the service from the young and obviously well trained staff was outstanding. We did not feel in the least pushed. We were referred to by name, and menus were given to us promptly. Almost immediately, a champagne trolley appeared, and the delightful way in which this was offered encouraged us to go for something we would not normally have done.

Our order was taken promptly by a waitress who clearly knew the dishes, and when my wife suggested quail as a starter, she advised us that this might take 20 minutes or so to prepare. In the end we chose scallops and tornados from a very tempting menu of about ten starters and ten main courses. A full page of wines by the glass was offered from which we chose a pleasant full-bodied Rioja. We had one dessert between us and coffee/tea.

The food was outstanding, and preceded by not only a taster but also a small introductory dish as a starter for the scallops. These were done to perfection and the steaks were light and juicy and accompanied by little individual pots with delicately sliced potatoes.

Though we were not at all concerned about delay, we were told at one point that our main course would arrive in a couple of minutes, and this was exactly what happened. There was at all times an awareness of what we needed and when. The restaurant was full, and we were therefore glad to be in a part that was carpeted as this kept the noise to a completely acceptable level. There is a superb view over the river from most of the tables.

The bill came to £133 for the two of us including 12.5% service. It would obviously have been less if we had not had champagne and tea/coffee, but we felt ourselves encouraged by the ambiance of the restaurant and its delightful staff to "push the boat out", enjoy the atmosphere and spend more than we normally would. We would strongly recommend the restaurant, especially for the kind of occasion we were celebrating, and consider that it offers good value for money.