We ate at the Little Social some time ago and thought the food was exceptional so on this trip to London we booked a table at its big sister for lunch. At under £50 for three courses, this Michelin starred restaurant just off Regent Street is great value. Service is very typical of London’s higher end restaurants. You’ll have suited maitre d’s , skilled servers and sommeliers in a relaxed, smart room with semi-open kitchen and pass. Prices for wines etc are typical for London and the wine list is extensive so take your time. Cooking was excellent although we lamented the lack of an ‘amuse’ which we’ve always had in similar places before. Savoury dishes were very well executed but maybe predictable. The desserts ,however, were absolutely outstanding both in taste and appearance - and we’re not dessert people normally. Coffee came with lovely petit fours as well. Our lunch took a well paced 2 hours plus and was a great highlight to our shopping trip. Great to see Jason Atherton present in the restaurant too. Shame that it was about half full at this service. It deserves to have more customers so please give it a try
daisyfifi
Our favourite restaurant in London. It never disappoints. Incredible food - always Great atmosphere Friendly professional staff
Kenneth K
This Saturday I was in a crisis situation with my boy (6 years old). The only option was to go to Pollen, but here they were nice to help! Send big praise to the young lady you had in front last Saturday...
onion1111
This was one of those places where we enjoyed the food very much. Between the 2 of us we had 2 starters, 2 mains and 2 deserts, and 3 of those dishes were totally outstanding, 2 were great and 1 (terrine starter) not very memorable. But we won't be rushing back. For £300 for 2 pax, I would have expected the service to be more polished and friendly. I expected that the dishes will be explained in detail. I didn't expect to be interrupted constantly with a 10 mm top up of our wine. My main issue is with the ambiance, though. It was about 3/4 full and the place was very noisy, it was hard to hear each other at the table. In addition most of the 2 people tables are 'bad' tables, because one person will be looking at the wall constantly. Also, as we were seated near the serving table, waiters and other customers were constantly speeding up and down behind our table, a few times they sort of knocked the chair and in general it made the experience less relaxed. In all honesty, if it were not for the price tag and Michelin star, I would have given it a much better rating. Specifically because the food was exceptional for this kind of "small portions modern British" style fancy restaurant experience. It's just that for £300 it's not enough to have good food.
Frank G
I had been to Pollen Street Special once before for lunch. Its £49.50, 3-course lunch (even on Saturdays) is something of a bargain by Michelin standards. Unfortunately, my experience on this occasion was not as good as last time, based both on the food and the service. Nothing glaring, just several small things that shouldn't be seen at this level. The lobster ravioli (which carries a £20 supplement fee) is still the best thing I've eaten there and was much nicer than either savoury course I had this time. The terrine was nice but not delicious, the poultry with barley was very good but the accompanying vin jaune sauce was served tepid. The dish of the day was the butternut creme brulé (served with mandarin and yuzu sorbet), which was genuinely clever and delicious. While £12-20 for a small glass of wine isn't unheard of at Michelin starred restaurants, I would usually expect them to be good, even at the lower price end; the English wine I had was pretty mediocre. Butter was not served at room temperature and was hard. Service ranged from warm and friendly to functional; one waitress I had (wearing a black suit) always had a smile on her face and was very sweet, while another waitress acted robotic at times and several waiters seemed very tired of their work (the blond waiter, who I recognise from last time, was an exception to this, and he had more spirit than the others). At no point were the crumbs ever wiped from my table, despite this being done for the table next to me. It is also pretty noisy so I wouldn't recommend it for special occasions, more for catch-ups with good food. Again, small things, but I expected better based on my last visit and on the restaurant's accolades. The lunch menu is still a good option and some of the food here is great but they need to make a better effort on the service and need to watch out for small mistakes. I wouldn't rush back.
mrsmiles
An amazing experience. Incredible service and exceptional food. The atmosphere was relaxed & welcoming and every mouthful of the food was a taste sensation. Can’t wait to be back in the UK to return.
vl4781
Booked a table ahead of time for lunch, transiting Heathrow on my way home I purposely arranged a longer stay over to come here to try it out. I booked the table online, and there seemed to be an array of options for lunch and dinner, including the al la carte, the fixed menu, the tasting menu etc. When I arrived I was met by Giacomo at reception, he was friendly and gladly took my carry-on suitcase to the cloakroom and then he showed me to my table. The waitress who served during the lunch service was very friendly, engaging and knowledgeable about the dishes served. I was shown the various menus and drink/wine lists which I was a little surprised about. I have already booked the set menu lunch online it was somewhat unexpected I was shown all the menus including the tasting one and had all of them explained to me. I would have thought if I went for the tasting one, I would have needed to book a longer lunch session instead of the set one, therefore I am not sure why I was asked specifically which one I would book online when it doesn’t really matter when I turn up anyway. I stuck with the set menu due to timing reasons as I have a flight to catch later. I ordered the “Potted smoked ham knuckle, Cauliflower cream, sauce gribiche, teardrop peas, sourdough”, the dish was tastefully presented and delightful to eat. For the main I ordered “Poached North Sea Cod, Italian courgette, Amalfi lemon, Artichoke, Kalamata olive”, the cod was cooked perfectly and I loved the sauce that came with it and finally “Pink lady & Dulcey chocolate mousse, Russet apple sorbet” it looked like a piece of artwork and it was cool enough so it was easy to cut into. Throughout the lunch service, I found the waiting staff very attentive but at the same time discreet. They were regularly topping up my drinks and on hand if I needed anything. Overall, I really enjoyed the lunch I had at Pollen Street Social the service was excellent and importantly the food was great.
Oscar C
Splendid. My new favourite, in fact. I cannot offer enough praise to the team in their entirety - every member of staff back and front of house. This place, truly, is a cut above, and I’m very much of the view that a second star would be right for them. I had the chef’s counter tasting, and enjoyed 13 or so courses of impeccable cookery. Particular highlights include crab with olive oil ice cream, turbot and white asparagus, and beef fillet with truffle. I think, in particular, what comes across so manifestly is generosity here; when more places are cutting back on the quality of their ingredients, the Pollen St team do the opposite. Not to say, of course, that this wasn’t expensive, but I absolutely did not feel cheated or wronged at having spent rather a sum on lunch - far from it. My thanks go to the whole team, in particular Petr, whose service was exemplary. I look forward to returning.
johngD7129HS
This was our return visit to again celebrate my wife’s birthday (although 7 years in waiting). Absolutely everything which we enjoyed the first time (Check out this review of Pollen Street Social on Tripadvisor: was experienced again. This is a fantastic restaurant made all the better by a great team who empathise the customer having a wonderful experience. We’ll be back again and hopefully not as long a gap?
Denise L
I made a reservation for the chefs counter & I really enjoyed watching the kitchen at work; the food was amazing with every course bringing new flavours and experiences. the staff were really pleasant & I was introduced to their own Jason Statham look-a-like; although unfortunately I may be the only person who didn't know who Jason Statham was; I have since looked him up & he really did look like the picture I found. Watching the kitchen was amazing with every plate being taken for the head chefs approval before leaving; even the bread, the attention to detail is amazing to see & taste. I loved everything I had, but the scollop and fish courses were my favourite & the wine pairings were wonderful. As I was on my own I was seated next to other people who were having the same menu and wine pairings as me; to provide individual service we were given the food & wine at slightly different times, but this made me feel a little awkward; and I think it may have been a little more inclusive to serve us together, but that was the only things I'd change from my visit, I loved everything else.
Enjoyable dinner for a birthday celebration… food was delicious as expected although we did sometimes feel a little bit rushed by the waiters ( although maybe they were just being super attentive rather than pushy) We had the beef which was truly spectacular. Cocktails were lovely and strong ( which is good given the £) however they weren’t very aesthetically pleasing / pretty which is what maybe you’d possibly expect from a restaurant of such calibre!! Overall a lovely culinary experience
Harriet B
Modern British cuisine at it's finest. Wonderful food, great service and amazing location. Highly recommend.
FarAway154146
One of the best dining experiences ever, food was fantastic but the service was exceptional. The waiting staff clocked we were in hospitality and went above and beyond to make our lunch truly amazing! Even Met Jason himself and he gave me a book what an experience!
Londontripadviser
Wow, simply wow! The food and service were simply excellent. We had the three course menu, but it came with some many little extras that I thought we were having a tasting menu. I had the aged Acquerello rice, the beef fillet and the Japanese cirtrus parfait. Each course was sensational. The tastes were strong but well balanced and you could see just how much attention to detail and care had been put into the cooking and presentation. What a great evening.
103kimk
The best restaurant in London ! We absolutely love this restaurant, having been a few times now we always leave having had the best experience. The menu is just fabulous, the tomato starter with basil oil was devine, super tasty and looked beautiful. The cod I had for main course was cooked perfectly, flaky and not over cooked which was absolutely delicious. The staff and service is elevated to an exceptional level and we can’t wait to come back. Thank you Pollen Street for an amazing experience as always.
We ate at the Little Social some time ago and thought the food was exceptional so on this trip to London we booked a table at its big sister for lunch. At under £50 for three courses, this Michelin starred restaurant just off Regent Street is great value. Service is very typical of London’s higher end restaurants. You’ll have suited maitre d’s , skilled servers and sommeliers in a relaxed, smart room with semi-open kitchen and pass. Prices for wines etc are typical for London and the wine list is extensive so take your time. Cooking was excellent although we lamented the lack of an ‘amuse’ which we’ve always had in similar places before. Savoury dishes were very well executed but maybe predictable. The desserts ,however, were absolutely outstanding both in taste and appearance - and we’re not dessert people normally. Coffee came with lovely petit fours as well. Our lunch took a well paced 2 hours plus and was a great highlight to our shopping trip. Great to see Jason Atherton present in the restaurant too. Shame that it was about half full at this service. It deserves to have more customers so please give it a try
Our favourite restaurant in London. It never disappoints. Incredible food - always Great atmosphere Friendly professional staff
This Saturday I was in a crisis situation with my boy (6 years old). The only option was to go to Pollen, but here they were nice to help! Send big praise to the young lady you had in front last Saturday...
This was one of those places where we enjoyed the food very much. Between the 2 of us we had 2 starters, 2 mains and 2 deserts, and 3 of those dishes were totally outstanding, 2 were great and 1 (terrine starter) not very memorable. But we won't be rushing back. For £300 for 2 pax, I would have expected the service to be more polished and friendly. I expected that the dishes will be explained in detail. I didn't expect to be interrupted constantly with a 10 mm top up of our wine. My main issue is with the ambiance, though. It was about 3/4 full and the place was very noisy, it was hard to hear each other at the table. In addition most of the 2 people tables are 'bad' tables, because one person will be looking at the wall constantly. Also, as we were seated near the serving table, waiters and other customers were constantly speeding up and down behind our table, a few times they sort of knocked the chair and in general it made the experience less relaxed. In all honesty, if it were not for the price tag and Michelin star, I would have given it a much better rating. Specifically because the food was exceptional for this kind of "small portions modern British" style fancy restaurant experience. It's just that for £300 it's not enough to have good food.
I had been to Pollen Street Special once before for lunch. Its £49.50, 3-course lunch (even on Saturdays) is something of a bargain by Michelin standards. Unfortunately, my experience on this occasion was not as good as last time, based both on the food and the service. Nothing glaring, just several small things that shouldn't be seen at this level. The lobster ravioli (which carries a £20 supplement fee) is still the best thing I've eaten there and was much nicer than either savoury course I had this time. The terrine was nice but not delicious, the poultry with barley was very good but the accompanying vin jaune sauce was served tepid. The dish of the day was the butternut creme brulé (served with mandarin and yuzu sorbet), which was genuinely clever and delicious. While £12-20 for a small glass of wine isn't unheard of at Michelin starred restaurants, I would usually expect them to be good, even at the lower price end; the English wine I had was pretty mediocre. Butter was not served at room temperature and was hard. Service ranged from warm and friendly to functional; one waitress I had (wearing a black suit) always had a smile on her face and was very sweet, while another waitress acted robotic at times and several waiters seemed very tired of their work (the blond waiter, who I recognise from last time, was an exception to this, and he had more spirit than the others). At no point were the crumbs ever wiped from my table, despite this being done for the table next to me. It is also pretty noisy so I wouldn't recommend it for special occasions, more for catch-ups with good food. Again, small things, but I expected better based on my last visit and on the restaurant's accolades. The lunch menu is still a good option and some of the food here is great but they need to make a better effort on the service and need to watch out for small mistakes. I wouldn't rush back.
An amazing experience. Incredible service and exceptional food. The atmosphere was relaxed & welcoming and every mouthful of the food was a taste sensation. Can’t wait to be back in the UK to return.
Booked a table ahead of time for lunch, transiting Heathrow on my way home I purposely arranged a longer stay over to come here to try it out. I booked the table online, and there seemed to be an array of options for lunch and dinner, including the al la carte, the fixed menu, the tasting menu etc. When I arrived I was met by Giacomo at reception, he was friendly and gladly took my carry-on suitcase to the cloakroom and then he showed me to my table. The waitress who served during the lunch service was very friendly, engaging and knowledgeable about the dishes served. I was shown the various menus and drink/wine lists which I was a little surprised about. I have already booked the set menu lunch online it was somewhat unexpected I was shown all the menus including the tasting one and had all of them explained to me. I would have thought if I went for the tasting one, I would have needed to book a longer lunch session instead of the set one, therefore I am not sure why I was asked specifically which one I would book online when it doesn’t really matter when I turn up anyway. I stuck with the set menu due to timing reasons as I have a flight to catch later. I ordered the “Potted smoked ham knuckle, Cauliflower cream, sauce gribiche, teardrop peas, sourdough”, the dish was tastefully presented and delightful to eat. For the main I ordered “Poached North Sea Cod, Italian courgette, Amalfi lemon, Artichoke, Kalamata olive”, the cod was cooked perfectly and I loved the sauce that came with it and finally “Pink lady & Dulcey chocolate mousse, Russet apple sorbet” it looked like a piece of artwork and it was cool enough so it was easy to cut into. Throughout the lunch service, I found the waiting staff very attentive but at the same time discreet. They were regularly topping up my drinks and on hand if I needed anything. Overall, I really enjoyed the lunch I had at Pollen Street Social the service was excellent and importantly the food was great.
Splendid. My new favourite, in fact. I cannot offer enough praise to the team in their entirety - every member of staff back and front of house. This place, truly, is a cut above, and I’m very much of the view that a second star would be right for them. I had the chef’s counter tasting, and enjoyed 13 or so courses of impeccable cookery. Particular highlights include crab with olive oil ice cream, turbot and white asparagus, and beef fillet with truffle. I think, in particular, what comes across so manifestly is generosity here; when more places are cutting back on the quality of their ingredients, the Pollen St team do the opposite. Not to say, of course, that this wasn’t expensive, but I absolutely did not feel cheated or wronged at having spent rather a sum on lunch - far from it. My thanks go to the whole team, in particular Petr, whose service was exemplary. I look forward to returning.
This was our return visit to again celebrate my wife’s birthday (although 7 years in waiting). Absolutely everything which we enjoyed the first time (Check out this review of Pollen Street Social on Tripadvisor: was experienced again. This is a fantastic restaurant made all the better by a great team who empathise the customer having a wonderful experience. We’ll be back again and hopefully not as long a gap?
I made a reservation for the chefs counter & I really enjoyed watching the kitchen at work; the food was amazing with every course bringing new flavours and experiences. the staff were really pleasant & I was introduced to their own Jason Statham look-a-like; although unfortunately I may be the only person who didn't know who Jason Statham was; I have since looked him up & he really did look like the picture I found. Watching the kitchen was amazing with every plate being taken for the head chefs approval before leaving; even the bread, the attention to detail is amazing to see & taste. I loved everything I had, but the scollop and fish courses were my favourite & the wine pairings were wonderful. As I was on my own I was seated next to other people who were having the same menu and wine pairings as me; to provide individual service we were given the food & wine at slightly different times, but this made me feel a little awkward; and I think it may have been a little more inclusive to serve us together, but that was the only things I'd change from my visit, I loved everything else.
Restaurantji Recommends
Enjoyable dinner for a birthday celebration… food was delicious as expected although we did sometimes feel a little bit rushed by the waiters ( although maybe they were just being super attentive rather than pushy) We had the beef which was truly spectacular. Cocktails were lovely and strong ( which is good given the £) however they weren’t very aesthetically pleasing / pretty which is what maybe you’d possibly expect from a restaurant of such calibre!! Overall a lovely culinary experience
Modern British cuisine at it's finest. Wonderful food, great service and amazing location. Highly recommend.
One of the best dining experiences ever, food was fantastic but the service was exceptional. The waiting staff clocked we were in hospitality and went above and beyond to make our lunch truly amazing! Even Met Jason himself and he gave me a book what an experience!
Wow, simply wow! The food and service were simply excellent. We had the three course menu, but it came with some many little extras that I thought we were having a tasting menu. I had the aged Acquerello rice, the beef fillet and the Japanese cirtrus parfait. Each course was sensational. The tastes were strong but well balanced and you could see just how much attention to detail and care had been put into the cooking and presentation. What a great evening.
The best restaurant in London ! We absolutely love this restaurant, having been a few times now we always leave having had the best experience. The menu is just fabulous, the tomato starter with basil oil was devine, super tasty and looked beautiful. The cod I had for main course was cooked perfectly, flaky and not over cooked which was absolutely delicious. The staff and service is elevated to an exceptional level and we can’t wait to come back. Thank you Pollen Street for an amazing experience as always.