My Dining Room

If I don’t have time to look at blogs for restaurant recommendations, I tend to use Time Out for restaurant references. Time Out is about right most of the time and it is rare that I completely disagree with their review, but one of this rare occasions happened last weekend at My Dining Room in Fulham. I went there on Time Out’s recommendation whose reviewer experienced this restaurant as ‘friendly service and halfway house between relaxed pub and fancy restaurant: think gastropub turned chichi.’ and awarded 4 out of 5 stars.
This didn’t sound bad at all and so I was looking forward to a nice Saturday lunch at My Dining Room.
When we arrived at around 2, the place was virtually empty so our rather disappointing experience might have been due to end of lunch service. Whatever it was, I was not impressed at all by neither food nor service.
The service, although friendly and kind of trying hard, was disastrous. Even though we were about the only customers, we waited. and waited. and waited. The Bloody Mary arrived after some time, but my prosecco had to be vinificated first or something. Apparently the waiter couldn’t find the bottle (I expect he drank half of it himself until fetching me my glass). After 30 minutes or so we were finally had our drinks and were allowed to order lunch. We went for a bread basket to start with (as we were absolutely starving at this point) and then three starters between us.
The bread was quite nice, proper brown bread, but we had to ask 3 times to get some olive oil with it. I mean this is just unnecessary and annoying.
Unfortunately the food did not contradict the poor service. The Chicory, Roquefort, walnut and apple salad (6.5) lacked any distinct taste and would have really benefited from some seasoning and maybe a salad dressing.
I was also not particularly keen on the Tartiflette (6) of melted Reblochon soft cheese on top potatoes, confit shallots and lardons. Again it needed seasoning and even though the potatoes and cheese were quite nice, the shallots were raw and hard and not at all pleasant to eat.
And standards were not raised with the Ham Hock and Pistachio terrine (6?) which I personally really did not like very much. The solid chunk of tasteless ham with a tiny piece of roasted bread was utterly bland and forgettable.
Having said all this, My Dining Room is quite a nice and sophisticated looking place and if I lived closer I would go there for a drink any time. But I’d certainly have my dinner somewhere else before. Do you, dear reader, know any good restaurants in Fulham and around? I need to be better prepared next time I shall find myself in this area.

After no greeting from the staff, we managed to sort our selves out and had to ask what the specials were. The waitress then completed all the orders only for the manager to walk out and advise that they only had two pastrimi plates left, so a change in orders all over again.
The food was good, but cocktails were very average.
But to top it all off, they charged us a £10 cakeage! We bought in a £5.99 M&S Colin the Caterpillar cake, which they did put in the fridge. Then we had to ask for it, they then asked if we wanted a board and it got put on a rather tired looking chopping board and then they put 3 recycled old candles on it. Lit it and we had to carry the cake out ourselves. They bought out some plates after asking us if we wanted any and finally, didn’t bother to bring forks so we had to ask and they only brought out enough for half the table. To have the nerve to charge us is disgusting.
The waitress Sophie did a great job, but the manager (mid 50’s male) was rude and arrogant. I wished I’d made a scene when I paid, but figured word of mouth is better and didn’t want to ruin our birthday girl’s night out. I’m more than happy to pay for service, but only if it’s provided. Do it yourself fees are pathetic and I only hope more poor diners don’t suffer our experience!
Don’t waste your time with this one, there are far better places in London!