Harvey Nichols & Prism Reviews

I was recently invited for lunch at Prism to celebrate my birthday and I have to say it's by far the best restaurant in the area. The food is simply divine (try the wild sea trout!). The service was fantastic too. When I left, I was even given a Harvey Nichols goodie bag as they had found out it was my birthday. Prism is a little gem!

After being a regular diner I was unfortunately disappointed when I went for another of their outstanding bar menu lunches tucked away in their underground bar. The food as per usual was outstanding, however, the day I was there the service was slow and seemed to be very unfriendly. Run by some frantic blondes, who impress with looks, but no standard of service or customer understanding. Less formal than compared to when I’ve been there in the past.

An impressive environment, but I was disappointed in the food which was overpriced considering the quality. Service was friendly but very slow on the evening we visited. Six out of ten.

Excellent food - especially steak - they don't even ask you how you want it done, and it tastes absolutely perfect. Desserts are very, very big - a good idea to share one between 2 people. The decor is rather formal - all in white with tall columns, but waiters make you feel quite relaxed and service is non-obtrusive. All in all - a place I would come back for that perfect steak, but you should not choose it if it is a cosy place you are after.

I visited the restaurant and found the venue to be very impressive on the inside with huge pillars supporting high vaulted ceilings. A modernist (trendy / sparse) interior with modern art adorning the walls (which was tastefully subtle).

The staff were very pleasant, professional, courteous, good humoured and above all else NORMAL!

The food was fine, but my carrot soup was ordinary (even with the Beetroot and Sweet Potato Chips adding a much needed boost from its blandness), a friend’s Pork Spring Roll with Couscous was fantastic however.

The lamb, which we all had, was a little fatty, not hot enough and the garlic mashed potato almost cold.

They redeem themselves with a fantastic Wine List (Petrus '82 was a tad over priced at £2500 but is a £1000 cheaper than Gordon Ramsay's!), cocktails that are both tasty AND full of alcohol, and a fine cigar box.

A nice night out but nothing to shout about.... Cafe Pasta on Monmouth Street (West) is still the Daddy, beating even the mighty Le Gavroche - but hey each to his own!

NB. This review is from the beginning of 2002.