John Walsh's review of Gilgamesh (The Independent)
Terry Durack's review of Gilgamesh (The Independent)
Giles Coren's review of Gilgamesh (The Times)
Gilgamesh reviews
Took three phone calls and two emails to book a table. Then when the food came the chicken was undercooked. Sent in a complaint but no reply received. Need I say more?!
by asha1, 12 Feb 2010
by asha1, 12 Feb 2010
Poor. Went on Saturday, as a group of 18, for the set menu. Food was uninspiring, staff were on the whole disinterested and uninformed. Drinks equally unimpressive - a chilli cocktail made with chilli powder (call me naive for expecting fresh chilli in a 10 quid cocktail) was barely drinkable. The highlight for me was the water waiter topping up my beer glass with water... awesome.
by owen_bullock, 08 Feb 2010
by owen_bullock, 08 Feb 2010
Went there on Saturday. WOW - the place is awesome! They served the best Thai food I've ever had. A bit expensive, but absoulutely worth every penny. A+ recommended!
by ferrada, 27 Jan 2010
by ferrada, 27 Jan 2010
We booked a table for 9.30 on Saturday night. On booking, I had to give credit card details and was told it would be £20 a head if we didn't show. Arrived at 9.25, were told to wait in the bar and they'd come and get us. Bought 3 mojitos - £34! At 9.40 asked about the table (a task getting anyone to talk to you) and they said it would be about 10 minutes; same thing at 9.50; at 10pm it changed to '10 minutes or so'. You couldn't call the staff helpful or apologetic, they seemed to think they were doing you a favour when they spoke to you. Gave up and went to Camden Brasserie just round the corner which was friendly with delicious food - should have gone there in the first place. Don't waste your time with Gilamesh, success has obviously made them think they don't need to bother about service.
by cswash, 18 Jan 2010
by cswash, 18 Jan 2010
Very bad service, cold food and no response to my complaint after 3 weeks.
Yes, the insides are amazing and very pretty but cold food and rude staff is unacceptable. It happened the first time I went there and I let it go, but looks like things don’t change for Gilgamesh.
by JayS, 28 May 2009
Yes, the insides are amazing and very pretty but cold food and rude staff is unacceptable. It happened the first time I went there and I let it go, but looks like things don’t change for Gilgamesh.
by JayS, 28 May 2009
Service was slow. After waiting 20 minutes for our main course we were then told we had to move to the bar as we could only have the table for 2 hours. Then we had to chase 3 times for our desserts to arrive. That took another 30 mins, during which time we were not asked if we would like any more drinks. There were 2 other tables of diners who suffered the same experience. Some of the food was exceptional, other dishes below average. At £90 per head I was disappointed.
Suggest they get rid of the cloakroom attendant who spent all her time on her mobile phone and then flicked a paper hand towel at me, and invest in more kitchen and waiting staff.
Can't say I will be rushing back!
by Josie B, 05 Apr 2009
Suggest they get rid of the cloakroom attendant who spent all her time on her mobile phone and then flicked a paper hand towel at me, and invest in more kitchen and waiting staff.
Can't say I will be rushing back!
by Josie B, 05 Apr 2009
Horrible, horrible service. I have written to Gilgamesh Bar but they have chosen not to acknowledge my complaint. Stay away from this place. Rude (non)service and exorbitant prices.
by perle74, 09 Mar 2009
by perle74, 09 Mar 2009
Absolutely horrible. That's what I can say about the way I was treated by the hostess at the door. We went there on February 1st 2009 (I'm mentioning the date so if the owners of this restaurant read this they can teach their hostess how to treat guests in a restaurant). She made us wait 60 minutes for a table although the restaurant was completely empty. After that, she pretended she'd never seen any of us and wanted to make us wait another 30 minutes to sit in an empty restaurant.
I'm not surprised the restaurant was empty on a busy weekend.
Needless to say, we didn't eat there. If you want good food of a similar type, go to Bam Bou on Percy Street. On the other hand, if you like being insulted at the door by a pompous hostess, I highly recommend this restaurant.
by fsanadizadeh, 01 Feb 2009
I'm not surprised the restaurant was empty on a busy weekend.
Needless to say, we didn't eat there. If you want good food of a similar type, go to Bam Bou on Percy Street. On the other hand, if you like being insulted at the door by a pompous hostess, I highly recommend this restaurant.
by fsanadizadeh, 01 Feb 2009
What an amazing restaurant! I loved everything, from the decor to the delicious Pan-Asian food. Ian Pengelley is a seriously gifted chef and I think this is the best Pan-Asian restaurant in London. Highlights included the Duck and Watermelon Salad, assorted Dim Sum and Chilli Squid. I also thought the service and cocktails were excellent.
by kkutchinsky, 19 Jan 2009
by kkutchinsky, 19 Jan 2009
I would really recommend Gilgamesh, as I had a lovely birthday meal there on a Friday evening. We started with cocktails that were beautifully presented and very unusual. We were taken to our table by a very cheerful maitre d'. Our waiter throughout the evening was diligent and helpful in answering our questions. We ordered quite a few of the gorgeous Pan-Asian dishes and they each tasted delicious, cooked to perfection. I was impressed with the restaurant as a whole and will be going back asap!
by ACNR, 19 Jan 2009
by ACNR, 19 Jan 2009
Fabulous food, wonderful atmosphere. The staff couldn't do enough for us! We enjoyed the Globe Girls cabaret last Monday night and will go back again in December for the Christmas Cabaret. Also booking it up for our office Christmas party. Pan Asian food by Pengelley was mouthwateringly delicious, cocktails were brilliantly blended.
by Joeley, 24 Oct 2008
by Joeley, 24 Oct 2008
Terrible. Everything about the place was awful. No atmosphere - big and hangar-like with trains going past. Staff were rubbish - seating us so close to two other couples that we were practically dining with them, depsite the restaurant being half empty. Wrong food brought to table, then waiter argued for five minutes that it was right. Food itself was very overpriced, bog standard and nothing special at all. There was a magician going from table to table, and a big hen party turned up. Not what I expected at all!
by BarkerA (2 reviews), 29 Sep 2008
by BarkerA (2 reviews), 29 Sep 2008
I agree with all the negative reviews of this 'restaurant'. I won't bother recounting the awful experience I had last night, but if you like good food, good service, not being ripped off or treated like a fool, I would recommend you go elsewhere. This place is for people with more money than sense or style and whilst the food is OK, it does not justify the price or the service you receive from the kitchen/waiters. Poorly managed from start to finish. Don't waste your hard-earned cash. (Ideally, I'd like to give it no stars.)
by TLondon, 17 Apr 2008
by TLondon, 17 Apr 2008
I went to Gilgamesh last Sunday. What can I say, other than 'WOW!' The venue was breathtaking, service was excellent, food was stunning. It was not that busy after the Camden fire but still had a great atmosphere, even for a Sunday. I would recommend this place, although it is quite pricey, because it is a great place to impress people. The photos do not even do justice to its grandeur - truly magical. One of the greatest venues I have ever been to, and trust me I have been to many.
by shab21, 16 Feb 2008
by shab21, 16 Feb 2008
I dont think the chef was there last night, as the food was way below the standard I expected of such a place, and DEFINITELY didn't justify the prices! I went with my boyfriend and we ordered a selection of dim sum, a soup and some fried rice, all of which were greasy and mediocre. My local Chinese take-away does tastier and less greasy fried rice than here (and costs 60% less!)
My advice: if you like Asian food, or indeed just food, go to Busaba Eathai (Soho) or any good Thai restaurant for a much tastier experience at a fraction of the price. Overall, after all the hype and the good reviews, I was horrified that somewhere like this could get away with charging the prices it does for, what was to me, below-standard Chinese food. Maybe they should have spent a bit more money on the ingredients and the cooking and less on the tacky wooden carvings everywhere. What a rip-off!! I want to give NO stars!
by ktkt, 12 Feb 2008
My advice: if you like Asian food, or indeed just food, go to Busaba Eathai (Soho) or any good Thai restaurant for a much tastier experience at a fraction of the price. Overall, after all the hype and the good reviews, I was horrified that somewhere like this could get away with charging the prices it does for, what was to me, below-standard Chinese food. Maybe they should have spent a bit more money on the ingredients and the cooking and less on the tacky wooden carvings everywhere. What a rip-off!! I want to give NO stars!
by ktkt, 12 Feb 2008
Took friends visiting from abroad. Unbelievable experience. Food superb, as was service. Place second to none in all respects. Just try it for yourselves.
by jekl, 06 Feb 2008
by jekl, 06 Feb 2008
I love the atmosphere! Food was amazing, music was fanatastic - reminded me of Momo's harem atmosphere but one step up. It was a bit crowded and the service was slow but hey, it was Saturday. Will come back for sure.
by N.n, 05 Nov 2007
by N.n, 05 Nov 2007
I adore Gilgamesh. Ian Pengelley is the pioneer of Pan Asian food and what better setting to eat his food than at Gilgamesh, a truly awesome place and a total must-see for any visitor to London. The service is very good, laid back and friendly. The cocktails are excellent and there's a great wine selection. The choice of music is very clever too - perfect atmosphere music matched to the food and interior, then more commercial music in the after dinner Babylon bar. Love it!
by S.A.S (2 reviews), 24 Oct 2007
by S.A.S (2 reviews), 24 Oct 2007
I was really looking forward to trying Gilgamesh but it was slightly disappointing I have to say. I think the service lets the place down in a big way - I've had better service at Pizza Express! We weren't offered a wine list, had to ask and after ten minutes waiting for it we decided not to have wine after all. We were also offered the lunch menus instead of the dinner menu. The food came out all at the wrong time - a big gap between my course and my husband's (30 minutes!) - and the place was half empty!
The place looks absolutely stunning and the food is adequate (not out of this world). Shame about such substandard service by young and inexperienced waiters. They were really lovely but clearly didn't have a clue!
by Franz, 08 Oct 2007
The place looks absolutely stunning and the food is adequate (not out of this world). Shame about such substandard service by young and inexperienced waiters. They were really lovely but clearly didn't have a clue!
by Franz, 08 Oct 2007
Been several times, eaten at the bar and the restaurant. The latter, I think, is better value and more fun. Quality of the food has always been good, the service is hopeless.
by robertbr, 27 Sep 2007
by robertbr, 27 Sep 2007
Have we missed a great restaurant in London? Let us know.
