Birthday Venues
Jo asks:
I am looking for a venue for my birthday meal in Greenwich for around 10 people. Particularly looking for somewhere lively and reasonably priced (£20ish a head). Please can you give me your suggestions? The Efes Turkish Place and the San Miguel Tapas Bar look tempting. Any advice you could give would be greatly appreciated!
The Phantom replies:
This question gets asked a lot, Jo, and always gets interesting responses. I like Efe's Meze - and yes, it's a good party place. I have only tried out San Miguel on my own on a lunchtime - which is why I have never reviewed it - I feel I didn't see it at its best - tapas needs to be enjoyed with many people, not by a sad Phantom-no-mates. Maybe someone can enlighten you until I manage to get a group together to visit.
When I was organising a reasonably-priced party booking just before Christmas, I went to Kum Luang. I thoroughly recommend the simple food and attentive service. An alternative would have been the more boisterous (and commercial, of course) Cafe Rouge or even a pub, such as The Vanbrugh Tavern or the Plume of Feathers. Some reckon that The Mogul is a good venue for parties; I have had patchy quality there, ranging from the superb to really rather lacklustre.
There are several higher-priced venues - Inside, The Hill and The North Pole, for starters. If you're looking for an interesting and not outrageously-priced venue for an extra-special party, try the cellar of Davy's Wine Vaults
Any other suggestions, guys?
I am looking for a venue for my birthday meal in Greenwich for around 10 people. Particularly looking for somewhere lively and reasonably priced (£20ish a head). Please can you give me your suggestions? The Efes Turkish Place and the San Miguel Tapas Bar look tempting. Any advice you could give would be greatly appreciated!
The Phantom replies:
This question gets asked a lot, Jo, and always gets interesting responses. I like Efe's Meze - and yes, it's a good party place. I have only tried out San Miguel on my own on a lunchtime - which is why I have never reviewed it - I feel I didn't see it at its best - tapas needs to be enjoyed with many people, not by a sad Phantom-no-mates. Maybe someone can enlighten you until I manage to get a group together to visit.
When I was organising a reasonably-priced party booking just before Christmas, I went to Kum Luang. I thoroughly recommend the simple food and attentive service. An alternative would have been the more boisterous (and commercial, of course) Cafe Rouge or even a pub, such as The Vanbrugh Tavern or the Plume of Feathers. Some reckon that The Mogul is a good venue for parties; I have had patchy quality there, ranging from the superb to really rather lacklustre.
There are several higher-priced venues - Inside, The Hill and The North Pole, for starters. If you're looking for an interesting and not outrageously-priced venue for an extra-special party, try the cellar of Davy's Wine Vaults
Any other suggestions, guys?
Labels: Ask The Phantom
posted by The Greenwich Phantom at
14:16
9 Comments:
If the concept of Greenwich reaches the big white tent on the Peninsula there are several places that might suit from the Inc Brasserie (one of Frank's Places....) to upstairs (much better than downstairs) at Raan (great Indian food) (woops, another of Frank's places, sorry)
Good hunting for somewhere extra special...
If you want lively and reasonably priced, you can't really beat San Miguel. The food is pretty good, service is very friendly and the atmosphere is always buzzing. It's intentionally cheesy but there's nothing wrong with that!
The Mexican on the corner (Desperados?) is also cheap and lively, but they try to churn n burn the tables as quickly as they can so its best if you're in a hurry.
Cafe Rouge is the other extreme - I know it's supposed to be French, but the service can be painfully slow.
Well considering the Vanbrugh Tavern does a brilliant 'two courses and a drink for £10' (in the week at lunchtimes admittedly) - and the food is good - I'd go there.
If you chucked Jo-Jo £20 a head she'd look after you for sure.
Otherwise, agree with TGP, Kum Luang has great food (not sure how rowdy you could get though) or Inside on South Street.
I was massively ill after my one and only meal at San Miguel, so I would recommend avoiding that place! My suggestion would be for the mexican (Owned by same people as Desperados, but different venue/kitchen) - but upstairs next to where Pizza Luna used to be. It's really random but fun and as it's small you'll feel like you're having your hired venue! The food is average but big portions and a variety of meal sizes at reasonable prices (Something I always find needed with my friends!) and did I mention the cocktails? They are INCREDIBLE!
I have had miserable times in both Desperados and The High Chaparal (I think that's its name) but others quite like it which is why I haven't reviewed either of them yet - I feel I should give them another go. The upstairs one was more grim than the downstairs but neither has inspired me to go back again yet. I will, though, at some point, since you like it so much, Lula!
I agree with TGP - I've been to the High Chaparal and the food and service were awful. San Miguel is a great place for a party meal - the food isn't out of this world but the atmosphere is gerat and it's never made me ill so far!
Thanks everyone for your comments. We ate at Efes last night and it was pretty good, looks like it would work well as a party venue. We're going to have a look at some of the other places you have all mentioned next weekend.
Will let you know where we end up/how it goes!
Jo x
A great place to go would be Peter de Wits as they have live jazz, nice food and you can take your own wine. It always feels like a special occasion when we go there.
I did consider Peter de Wits - I was just a bit concerned about the size - though I guess 10 people would be fine.
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