Jan Moir's review of The Wolseley (The Telegraph)
Giles Coren's review of The Wolseley (The Times)
Jay Rayner's review of the Wolseley (The Observer)
Matthew Fort's review of The Wolseley (The Guardian)
AA Gill's review of The Wolseley (Sunday Times)
The Wolseley reviews
Wasn't sure what to expect reading the reviews, but suffice to say all the positive comments applied to our visit for afternoon tea. A wonderful welcome preceded a convivial time - "Hello, Tom Stoppard" - reflecting the warm friendly atmosphere and glamorous surroundings. Our waiter was beautifully attentive and the other staff efficient and helpful. Oh, the tea was scrumptious! See you again soon Wolseley.
by gillesp, 05 Feb 2010
by gillesp, 05 Feb 2010
We visited The Wolseley as part of our golden wedding celebrations in November 2009. The staff were welcoming, friendly, attentive, unobtrusive and efficient. The food was excellent and the atmosphere throughout the restaurant was convivial and cosmopolitan. The staff were aware of the occasion and and made the evening special, including free champagne and several gifts. Our visit was a great pleasure and I'm sure we shall return on many more occasions.
by Geofffirth, 27 Nov 2009
by Geofffirth, 27 Nov 2009
Very busy, but were offered a table without prior booking after a 20 minute wait in the bar. Excellent service, very professional staff. Enjoyed the experience.
by roseannahenning, 05 Oct 2009
by roseannahenning, 05 Oct 2009
I have been here twice before, and last night I went for dinner. The decor is beautiful, the staff are friendly and attentive, and the food is always of a good standard. But the best thing about this place is its atmosphere - it is always buzzing. I was surprised to read of people who had problems with the service here.
by sonalieh, 14 Aug 2009
by sonalieh, 14 Aug 2009
I eat here a lot, and it's pretty hard to beat. It just does everything really well and with consistency. The food is accurately cooked and always good. This place does not have off days. It is suprisingly inexpensive and great value for money (except breakfast, which I think is on the pricey side). Service is always spot on. The room looks great and the atmosphere is buzzy. Just a classy place.
by StuH "top london reviewer" (39 reviews), 07 Mar 2009
by StuH "top london reviewer" (39 reviews), 07 Mar 2009
I really cannot think of a better way to spend a Saturday morning than catching up with a friend over breakfast – a lazy start to my weekend. If you happen to have said breakfast at The Wolseley, all the better. We started with individual pots of jasmine and mint tea followed by omelettes with gruyere, toasted brioche and juice.
The food was fresh and well prepared, the staff super friendly and the atmosphere comfortable. It’s also a good place to stop off for some soup/a quick bite if you want quality without excessive prices. The only fault was that my carrot and ginger juice wasn’t freshly made - it was nice but had obviously been prepared earlier that morning and refrigerated. A minor detail but I noticed...
by Milla "top london reviewer" (46 reviews), 27 Jan 2009
The food was fresh and well prepared, the staff super friendly and the atmosphere comfortable. It’s also a good place to stop off for some soup/a quick bite if you want quality without excessive prices. The only fault was that my carrot and ginger juice wasn’t freshly made - it was nice but had obviously been prepared earlier that morning and refrigerated. A minor detail but I noticed...
by Milla "top london reviewer" (46 reviews), 27 Jan 2009
I was there too, in Nov 2008, and I am glad I was because the staff majorly surprised me from the outset with their extremely careful yet ardent attention to fine detail. The decor and fare transported our whole party into raptures which won’t soon evaporate from our collective memory, especially considering that the place is surely firmly enough imprinted on the map of central London. As such, it is a wonderful location - the best there is on offer, presumably, at the moment.
by rhett2, 18 Jan 2009
by rhett2, 18 Jan 2009
Fran, I had a similar experience with an arrogant member of staff. That was just while booking on the phone. I shall not even bother going there.
by felix flanken, 23 Oct 2008
by felix flanken, 23 Oct 2008
Went for Saturday afternoon tea. I am obviously alone in my desire to enjoy the afternoon tea experience, as the others all had lunch and one didn't eat at all (save the diet for another day darling!). The food was excellent, the service was rubbish. My food arrived as everyone else was finishing theirs. Lots of men in suits standing around doing nothing, avoiding eye contact. Be aware also that the acoustics in this old room make it very noisy.
Anyway, a friend has the mobile number for one of the maître d's here so that she can always get a table when they are full for pedestrians. On her last jaunt, she was followed out onto the street by the maître d', who asked if everything had been OK and then proffered his hand for a tip. All she had was a £50 note, so she felt obliged to give it to him! Tut tut. Not only would I not tip for this restuarant - it ain't that special - it is NEVER for women to tip maitre d's and his behaviour was extremely crass.
by Queenie (2 reviews), 20 Oct 2008
Anyway, a friend has the mobile number for one of the maître d's here so that she can always get a table when they are full for pedestrians. On her last jaunt, she was followed out onto the street by the maître d', who asked if everything had been OK and then proffered his hand for a tip. All she had was a £50 note, so she felt obliged to give it to him! Tut tut. Not only would I not tip for this restuarant - it ain't that special - it is NEVER for women to tip maitre d's and his behaviour was extremely crass.
by Queenie (2 reviews), 20 Oct 2008
My favourite place for breakfast in the world! I love it - staff are so nice and it's just great.
by jaz Grewal 2 "top london reviewer" (14 reviews), 27 Aug 2008
by jaz Grewal 2 "top london reviewer" (14 reviews), 27 Aug 2008
Went with high expectations for a special birthday celebration with 4 friends. First visit. Service was terrible. Attitude was arrogant and food distinctly mediocre. Can't understand what the fuss is about - the place is noisy and resembles a huge school dining room.
by fran1, 16 Jun 2008
by fran1, 16 Jun 2008
I took 5 friends for brunch on my birthday. Some of us ate from the brunch menu while some chose a traditional Sunday lunch. The food was great, service good and the atmosphere was perfectly relaxing for a Sunday get together. I will certainly recommend this place.
by Moo Moo "top london reviewer" (24 reviews), 10 May 2008
by Moo Moo "top london reviewer" (24 reviews), 10 May 2008
If you don't mind booking in advance for dinner or lunch (as it does get booked up), it is well worth the wait. The service and food are both good. Even Sunday brunch!
by Firework (6 reviews), 21 Apr 2008
by Firework (6 reviews), 21 Apr 2008
What is happening at the Wolseley? I go there every couple of months when I am in town, and generally just turn up for afternoon tea or breakfast (even at lunch and dinner I've managed to get in without a booking). However, on my last few visits I've noticed it has lacked polish and a certain attention to detail. Is it because Corbin and King have poached all the best staff for their new restaurant on Regent Street? Are the staff not bothered now they get an automatic 12.5% service charge? Do they even receive the service charge? Who is the manager in charge?...
The food is still reliable, the decor is great, it's still relatively good value, but I really want to LOVE it again.
by stewybabe (2 reviews), 18 Mar 2008
The food is still reliable, the decor is great, it's still relatively good value, but I really want to LOVE it again.
by stewybabe (2 reviews), 18 Mar 2008
Had high expectations but found a noisy, cramped restaurant with the food quality and service of a motorway service station.
by saucyland (10 reviews), 13 Feb 2008
by saucyland (10 reviews), 13 Feb 2008
Birthday breakfast spoiled by order wrongly taken and had to wait. Three times had to ask for water, cappucino was cold and had to ask for butter. Luckily the manageress was taking note and invted us to have the breakfast on the house, after apologising. The Wolseley has gone downhill - possibly changing staff too frequently? A shame.
by colton, 24 Jan 2008
by colton, 24 Jan 2008
Very busy and interesting surroundings; kind staff who were helpful and friendly; fairly easy to book afternoon tea; half the price of the Ritz and I did not have to be dressed like a dog's dinner to eat! Overall, a good experience.
by londonsparky, 17 Jan 2008
by londonsparky, 17 Jan 2008
Great place to go for atmosphere and good service but not more than that. The food is overrated, overpriced, unimaginative and tasteless... a pity that no one bothered to teach the chef how to cook!
by anne mediony, 29 Dec 2007
by anne mediony, 29 Dec 2007
We have had breakfast with our son, lunch with business partners, tea on mother's day and dinner on my birthday, plus a couple of others in between! We are always made to feel welcome, the food has always been excellent and the menu always interesting, well executed and inexpensive. Can't wait to go back!
by Thabo, 20 Jul 2007
by Thabo, 20 Jul 2007
Have we missed a great restaurant in London? Let us know.
