The Footman - Mayfair - London

Admittedly we were late but I did call ahead and let the restaurant know we were running late, on our way, and would be there shortly. When we got there we were discouraged by our hostess/waitress from actually eating at the restaurant and to instead dine at the pub downstairs, but we insisted on the restaurant as we had seen the menu and booked on that information. There was another table upstairs so we were not the only ones eating yet it is not like the place was full. We were told the kitchen would close at 9:30pm which I thought a bit early, but we had time and put our starters and mains orders in. We also had not one but 2 bottles of fine wine. Our waitress then disappeared for the rest of our meal. When someone did finally show up. we asked for a dessert menu only to be told the kitchen had closed and no more orders would be taken. So where was our waitress? Why didn't she come to ask us if we wanted anything else before the kitchen closed? We were told we could stay and keep on drinking at the table -but also told if we wanted more to drink we could go downstairs to the pub. We asked how late the pub would be open -to know if we should stay or move onto another place. We were told 11:30pm? (yes 11:30pm) so we stayed had another round. The bell rang for last call and after deciding on our order were told that the bar was closed -at 11:03pm. OK, fine, pub rules, but we were told 11:30pm by the staff. It was a disappointing experience as we really felt the staff clearly didn't want to be there working, didn't want us to be there, they didn't want to serve or help us. The food was good, but that is not how we will remember our dinning experience here. And after all that, our bill was over 300 pounds for 3 of us!!! Which we would have no problem paying had we just had better service. And pudding.

The serving staff were very sweet but the food was disappointing given the reviews I had read on OpenTable. The Yorkshire pudding was hard and the roast potatoes undercooked. The fish and chips were better but didn’t give “gastropub”

Great restaurant and loved the food, but don’t book on OpenTable. We dined there a few weeks ago and despite dining there, were charged a fee for not showing up which we are still disputing three weeks later…

The food was fine. The ambiance felt stiff and the service was uninspiring

Really tasty food at a very good price for this Mayfair location. Lovely old pub just off Berkeley Square. It was quiet on the very hot Sunday we were there for lunch but am fairly sure it’s lively in the evenings. The poached duck egg with pastrami starter was great and the Sunday roast was excellent. The beef was just right: not overcooked and not too rare. It wasn’t drowned in gravy like most pub lunches. And the veg was delicious. Friendly service. Would like to go back for dinner some time. Very tasty own branded lager. Overall, a very good find.