Gordon Ramsay's Boxwood Cafe

Just had lunch here and it was lovely. Being vegetarian I've always shied away from Ramsay restaurants as generally we're not well catered for at his places but at Boxwood I was spoilt for choice. In fact my two meat-eating companions also ended up ordering veggie options as they sounded so good!

Stand out dishes were the leek and pea tart which was light and crisp and the chocolate fondue.

Service was generally good but could have been a little more refined e.g. they kept forgetting to top up our water and wine. However they were more than happy to let us sit for as long as we wished and did not rush us once even though by the time we left the restaurant had closed.

Overall I would definitely recommend this place and would visit again

The set lunch menu is a very good deal however we ordered a la carte and it was expensive, but I think for dinner the price we paid (£55 per person including 3 courses, service, cocktail and wine) worth it
Comment on this reader review

SS - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Monday, December 29, 2008

We ate here last night - a last minute pre-Christmas treat for the two of us. The staff were very courteous on the phone when I booked. The front desk staff were also very courteous. We chose the tasting menu with accompanying wines and what a treat that was. White onion soup to start was creamy and delicious. The salmon ceviche had a wonderful citrus zing and this was perfectly complimented by the Tinpot Hut Sauvignon Blanc. The tuna and the beef both melted in the mouth. Maybe the pudding (a chocolate fondue with marshmallows to dip) was a little less sophisticated than the other courses? The service was attentive and friendly while at the same time the place has a relaxed ambience which is not at all intimidating. A great place for a less formal evening out when you deserve a treat.
Comment on this reader review

Slow Loris
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, December 24, 2008

I had been looking forward to dining at Boxwood for some time, and cannot fault one thing about the place. We visited on a Saturday afternoon and the place was absolutely packed.

From the moment you enter through the doors the service and professionalism of the staff is very impressive indeed.

It's very chic without being too stiff, and the set lunch we went for was fantastic. Food bursting with flavour, and the main course of Steak was probably the best steak I have eaten. The deserts were light and amazing.

I cannot wait to return to this establishment. At last a restaurant that lives up to your expectations for once.!
Comment on this reader review

Marc
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Sunday, December 14, 2008

We went for the £28 set menu and arrive at our early evening booking. As soon as we arrived we were made to feel very welcome and the staff were great. Didn't rush you at all and were attentive without being too much.

The food was out of this world and they give us a free sample of a starter-lovely mushroom soup. We particularly liked the steak which we think is probably the best we have ever had!

Had a fab evening- we were there for more than 2 hours and they didn't rush us out the door or anything!

Great value for money and with a free glass of wine- Would highly recommend!
Comment on this reader review

Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Friday, December 12, 2008

I took my husband to Boxwood Cafe for our wedding anniversary yesterday. We went for the £28 set menu with wine. We were slightly late due to parking troubles but when we arrived there's no trouble with reception. We were made very welcome right when we walked in. The staff were all efficient and professional. Food was excellent. I can't quite believe how good the whole lunch was! We both enjoyed the atmosphere in the restaurant, it's modern and very relaxed. This has got to be one of the best dining experience I've had in London. Definitely will go back there again!
Comment on this reader review

Tammy I
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Monday, December 08, 2008

We visited on a set menu early evening offer. We were first to arrive (6.05) at this very up market location and there was some debate if we should go to the bar or be seated directly, somehow it was decided on the latter without much input from us. The space is on three levels with the bar on the mezzanine level, the decor is subdued, tasteful, green, dark wood and immaculate. We were asked if we would mind moving to the bar if still there at 8 which I thought a bit of a joke as it was a Monday in credit crunch November but by 8 it was packed and we were duly offered a second coffee at the bar.

Back to the meal. Hot bread was brought with butter and lovely taramasalata. (When we were indecisive about a second basket they brought one anyway plus more of the lovely taramasalata). The glass of house wine was pleasant but unfortunately our chosen bottle wasn’t. It didn’t notice in sample tasting but the more we looked at it and tasted it, it was clearly corked dark yellow and musty, quite unlike the house wine. So we took courage that we were right and called the sommelier, who gave a complex explanation of what was wrong with it (I think to avoid any implication it could be poor storage?) and brought a bottle of something similar but different at his suggestion, which was fine.

So, on to the food. I started with a salmon fish cake (which was a last minute substitute for octopus carpaccio) with fresh tartare, followed by a warm salad of herbed endives below smoked haddock and slices of potato and topped with a soft poached egg, (before the starter they had brought amuse bouches of white onion soup with rosemary croutons), I found all of this first class. Carol chose wild mushrooms and baby roman artichokes on toast which was very good. Then, probably made a mistake in her choice of main, as last week she had a dish of pumpkin, ricotta and cinnamon in Rome that she has been raving about ever since, so the generous serving of macaroni, pumpkin and chestnuts gratined didn’t come up to expectations and she was also suffering from over indulging in the taramasalata – so it was the ice cream (roasted apple and caramel, served with almond biscuits) for pud for her! My pudding was a treacle sponge pudding with vanilla sauce and a glass of Sauternes, very English, very November, very good. Although by now I was getting full up and we struggled through the eight delicious chocolates provided with the two rounds of espresso. Service worked like clockwork.
Comment on this reader review

Carol and Mike - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Tuesday, December 02, 2008

My wife and I dined at the Boxwood last Friday lunchtime and thought the whole experience was excellent. I do have one reservation; why do some restaurants deem it appropriate to have background music playing? I don’t like this piped music thrust down my throat, only the good food on offer.
Comment on this reader review

Peter Eldrett, Dorset
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Our experience with Boxwood Cafe was very disappointing; our party of five was looking forward to dining there, since two members of the party had had an excellent time there about a year ago and could not stop raving about the food. Unfortunately, due to the inconvenience of simply booking a table for five (an event which took a total of seven transactions, both via telephone and email, and required credit card information--which they would have preferred via fax, but who carries a fax machine along with them on vacation??) and the frosty reception and service we received, the food tasted mediocre; definatley not worth the trouble or the money.
Comment on this reader review

Robynn Kittoe; Seattle, WA
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 2
Sunday, November 09, 2008

I took my girlfriend hear on 18th october 08, with the purpose to propose to her. we started off by getting to the restaraunt half an hour early, even so we were greated and made to feel very welcome. We sat down in the bar area, and had some very nice cocktails. I went to the restaraunt with very high expectations, even so the staff, service, and food blew all my expectations out the window. I started by having leek tart wich was proberly the best food that i have ever put to my mouth, then the pork. All i can say is unbelivable. Highly recomend this to anyone. It was not just a restaraunt it was a whole experiance, i will do it again! Oh and my girlfriend said yes.
View/Add comments (1)

Michael Richardson
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Sunday, October 19, 2008

My boyfriend bought me here in August for my Birthday. To start I had the most amazing cocktail at the bar which was like eating a blackberry ice cream. We were sat in a corner table which was leather sofa, we asked to move as we were right by a till. This was no problem and were simply moved to the opposite table. As I don't eat meat I was pleasently surprised with the vege options but opted for fish. I had the scallops with truffle butter to start which were out of this world then I had the Halibut for my main course, all so filling! My boyfreind had the steak which he told me was the best has had in a long time. The chips were the best I have ever tasted, homemade and golden. The wine was was a treat and the french waiter was sooo helpful without being intrusive. As it was my birthday we had a tour around the kitchen to meet the head chef, it was smaller than I imagined and rather hectic! Great expereince.

I would love to go back, I'm a fan.
Comment on this reader review

Becka
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Thursday, October 16, 2008