I came here alone around 9 on a Friday night. It wasn’t terribly busy, with plenty of free tables in the back(downstairs). Service was exceptional, relative to previous experiences at eating establishments in London — that is to say it was prompt, succinct, and friendly. I had a starter and main from the brasserie menu. The starter was pita bread with beetroot and guacamole dips. The beetroot dip was quite delicious, while being inoffensive if you don’t happen to be a great fan of beetroot. The guacamole was disappointing. It looked like it had been sitting around for a few hours and tasted mostly of chilli pepper. The risotto I had for my main was flavoured with sundried tomato and goats’ cheese, and, while somewhat more than edible, was also somewhat disappointing. I’m not a vegetarian, but I’m a big believer in the idea that meals containing no meat can be just as delicious as those with meat. Sadly it seems that many places have token vegetable dishes and in this case, there was no exception. I’m confident that I could have made something equally tasty at home for a fraction of the price — and if I wanted to replicate it, I would need only to add copious amounts of Parmesan. Nevertheless, I very much enjoyed the atmosphere, and am still intrigued by the a la carte menu, for which I shall return. Additionally, the wine list was quite varied. I’d go back purely for that.
Ben W.
Rating des Ortes: 4 London, United Kingdom
Patchy service can’t dampen my enthusiasm for this top place. The manageress is a surly, miserable git who barks orders at her rushed but sweet staff and can’t be bothered to raise a smile herself. She either had a raging hangover or she just hates her job. We went for brunch on fathers’ day and I ordered a full English. It was delicious but after I quaffed the lot I spied someone else’s full english with a big fat juicy sausage on it. I had been deprived. Miss Surly took £2 off the bill but promptly added five more on the machine. Luckily we checked the tab. Surly Bollocks mumbled some sort of excuse and corrected it. An apology would have been a sign of weakness or defeat. What else? Butter for my toast came only after I asked three times. And my second pot of tea came without a lid. They simply didn’t have any more! Frankly I can live with all that for an excellent full English. Even without the sausage I enjoyed it immensely — good black pudding is always a sign of real quality. And the milkshakes are A1. Served in dinky little milk bottles and tasting delicious and malty. All served in a place that doesn’t seem to be trying to be cool at all, and is therefore achingly thus. The back room opens out nicely. It’s relaxed and charmingly kitted out with sweet arty bits denoting the local area and its the venue’s music hall history. Ask for a booth, they are comfy and spacious. Just don’t ask the grumpy one. She’ll hurrump and react like you asked for your shake to be served in the Holy Grail.
John M.
Rating des Ortes: 4 London, United Kingdom
The menu was small but promised some tasty dishes. I think this a good sign any small restaurant with a big menu can’t be cooking something fresh just for you. We only wanted a main course, which after not too long wait while enjoying a glass of wine, arrived well presented and we would recommend the monkfish. Personally thought a complementary nibble or two while waiting would have been a nice touch. This place has a good atmosphere, a bit more expensive than other nearby places, but worth it. Left a good taste in the mouth
Peter S.
Rating des Ortes: 5 London, United Kingdom
Bush Hall Dining Rooms is an oasis of calm invigoration amid the pound shops, dry cleaners and carpet stores of Uxbridge Road. From its stylish retro interior to its nude espresso coffee to its relentlessly imaginative delicious and excellent value modern British cuisine, the Bush Hall Dining Rooms excels on every level. Indeed it almost feels out of place in still gentrifying Shepherds Bush. Perhaps the biggest compliment I can pay Bush Hall Dining Rooms is to be able to confidently say that even if it were uprooted and deposited into a more competitive restaurant neighbourhood, say Soho, it’d still qualify for five stars. That’s a small but significant achievement: too often it seems that any outlet that rises above persistent local mediocrity is instantly bestowed with accolades. Not so with BHDR — indeed, my fear is that the excellent head chef here might get poached by a centrally located restaurant once the word gets out, such is his/her flair for crafting strikingly tasty yet good value, locally-sourced food that draws on British inspiration. I’ve explored most of its slowly changing menu now and have never been disappointed. Elsewhere the BHDR scores too: fantastic craft beer(Beavertown, London Fields, Moncada); excellent coffee(Nude Espreso), free wifi, expertly-chosen background music and really friendly staff. All making Bush Hall Dining Rooms my go-to happy place in Shepherds Bush.
Stephane G.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Kilburn, London, United Kingdom
Could nt agree more with the previous review. Dishes are varied, with clever choice of ingredients. I would come back, curious to tried the other offers on the menu. And the restaurant have some good offers on some week days…
R J.
Rating des Ortes: 5 London, United Kingdom
This is one of a handful of reviews which I’m leaving up in full because I truly love this business. — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — - This is the sort of 5-star joint that makes me wonder how I could have possibly given 5 stars to anywhere else. It also makes me incredibly glad to be living in Shepherds Bush. When I was looking to buy, the number of folks who expressed surprise I wasn’t heading east drove me up the wall. Believe it or not, west London was actually cheaper. And with spots like this, I’d argue it’s cooler too. Less gentrification, for a start: if we were in Hoxton, this place would be surrounded on all sides by a record store(«We Only Stock Vinyl»), vintage market and three prohibition-themed cocktail bars. In reality, it’s opposite a Pound Plus store, dry cleaners and unappealing Chinese takeaway. So perhaps Bush Hall Dining Rooms get kudos simply for being the sirloin steak in a sea of kebabs? To be fair, they could easily have stopped at the level of simply existing and they’d already be miles ahead of the nearest geographical competition. But they also offer some truly delicious food(I suppose the style is «modern British»), for extremely reasonable prices, and on each of my four visits to date(one brunch and three dinners), they haven’t put a foot wrong. Juicy and flavoursome pork tenderloin; wonderfully indulgent eggy bread with maple syrup; a couple of gorgeous, creative salads; a very good burger(not the best I’ve ever had, but nonetheless hit all the right spots); fantastic, perfectly-cooked mussels in crème fraîche, sherry and tarragon, a combination I’d never have considered but caused me to shamelessly lick all of my fingers, the bowl, and possibly the table for any drips. I mean really, the mussels and pork would be enough for me to set up camp and never leave but they haven’t stopped there. It used to a greasy spoon and I love how they’ve kept elements throughout, such as the original wood-panelled walls and ceiling, and retro gold sticker writing on the windows. There’s even a vintage«Dining Rooms» sign on one wall which was apparently discovered whilst renovating and coincidentally happened to fit the newly-decided name. The seating is varied and gives options for all occasions: cosy tables for two near the door(somewhat more atmopheric with the high ceilings and low lighting); booths, café-style tables for four, and a long bench for groups(seats 12) in the lower portion of the restaurant near the kitchen. Small details abound; bag hooks under the bar, for those who just want to pop in for a drink(if you do, get the Rhubarb Rhubarb cocktail); funny notes on the back of the menu instructing patrons in the«art of conversation»; cool, regularly-changing music; imaginative daily specials; photocopies of signed band posters from next-door Bush Hall music venue wallpapering the toilets. Service is friendly and fast and prices are great. I think with this and the equally new arrival of BrewDog, Shepherds Bush is truly on the up. Long may the tatty market and exotic veg stalls remain, but for now W12(at least the southern part) may have reached the perfect mix of shabby chic — with Bush Hall Dining Rooms undeniably bringing the latter.