Sevendials Restaurant

We used to eat here regularly, and take our clients here, until recently we went in with the 30 or so loyalty card stamps that they had given us and tried to redeem them after our 11 year anniversary meal there. The waitress was extremely rude to us and took away the loyalty cards saying they were not valid. She promised to get the owner Sam Metcalfe to call us and explain why - we have heard nothing and will not eat there again. The restaurant and food is tired - it is all a bit like 'Robin's Nest' including the one armed waiter!
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Mark Camillin
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Wednesday, February 24, 2010

The foor is very good but wine list is poor.
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Visitor - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Monday, February 22, 2010

Ate on the 16th of January 2009, table for 8. We will never go to this over rated restaurant ever again! After being seated we had to wait for 30 minutes without an offer of a drink. Only by stopping a waitress and asking her were we offered a drink. The food was delivered (and I mean delivered not served) after a lenghty wait and was salty and cold. This place thinks far too much of itself and so do the staff. Try 'Due South' - go there instead and enjoy gracious sevcing, good atmosphere and excellent food (at a reasonable price)
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Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 2
Saturday, January 16, 2010

Seven Dials is a comfy, classy restaurant and I'm so glad it's in our neighbourhood. Possibly my favourite Sunday lunch spot in Brighton. The roasts are perfect, meaty, juicy and always served with the most flavoursome vegetables. It has a warm, buzzy atmosphere - feels like the kind of place you'd find in New York or Brooklyn. They always seem to serve a little pre-meal 'amuse bouche' of yummy warm gazpacho and, as I've said, the general quality of food is top notch.
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Karen Cooper - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Thursday, November 26, 2009

I love this restaurant, possibly my favourite in Brighton! I've been there on 4 or 5 different occasions over the last 6 months and it has never disappointed. The service has been a little dodgy on occasion, quite a few servers standing around looking vacant, but when you do get the food it is worth it. I'm not going to go into what I have eaten there (otherwise you might think I'm a glutton) but it has all been delicious, and I love the little amuse bouche served at the beginning of each meal, it just makes things that little bit more special. For those of you who have complained about the 'dine out for a tenner' deal you've had, I do appreciate that you go to a nice place, and expect a nice dinner- but you are only spending £10, spend a little more and you'll be rewarded!
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Laura
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8
Saturday, July 11, 2009

I had to write here after reading the last few reviews. I have been to Sevendials three times over the last year or so.

I always think it's amusing how much detail people put into writing bad reviews of places, but most people who have a good experience don't bother reviewing. I have had three completely different experiences - all of them good.

I went speculatively for the first time with my partner. The place was quiet for a Friday night, but the food and service were excellent. We had a very romantic time and were left alone enough to have our own time, but the service was there when we needed it.

The next time I went was with a friend who wanted something on the menu that came with coriander. When ordering she asked if it could come without the coriander. No problem. When it arrived it appeared to have been garnished with coriander. I was surprised that they had got it wrong and tasted it, then had the waitress check with the kitchen. As my tasting had suggested - it was flat leaf parsley - looks similar to coriander but doesn't have the same (in my friend's opinion) "disgusting" taste. A nice bit of thought there - keep the dish looking the same, whilst taking the customer's wishes into account.

The last time I was there was about a month ago. The place was busy, and the atmosphere was good. The service was - as usual - friendly and discreet. My friend had never been before and she was really impressed. We asked - and were given - loads of time to sit between main course and pudding as we were so full. My friend was so inspired by the pudding that she attempted - and succeeded - to replicate it the week later when feeding some friends.

The best part about that night was that I was sitting next to Gok Wan. He seemed happy enough too.

Maybe these "dining for a tenner" things are not such a good idea if (as it would seem from these bad reviews) places have to compromise themselves a bit.

I'll be back - that's for sure :-)
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alison - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 7
Friday, March 06, 2009

My partner and my 13 year old son and I ate at the Seven Dials last Monday (16th Feb) lunchtime on the Argus £10 deal and I think we must have eaten at a different Seven Dials from the one the previous couple of reviewers went to. We found the food tasty, hot and quite delicious and believe me when my son eats every single mouthful you know the food is good (he is a VERY fussy eater). The staff were attentive and polite. Good value for money...we enjoyed it.
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GayDavidBrighton
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, February 24, 2009

On Wednesday 18th February I went with a party of four other people for a meal at this restaurant. We went with the Argus promotion Dine for £10 . The whole experience was more than dissapointing. The first course we ordered wasn't available to all. After ordering the waiter came back to tell us they only had four portions left. I chose the option of liver parfait. In itsself it was quite palatible but the lack of toast left alot to be desired. two slices would have been adequate.! We were then told the fish course two of us ordered wasn't available but we could have an option of grilled fish. We decided this would be ok. When the plate arrived it was dreadful. We had four scrappy pieces of fish. I couldn't begin to say what they were apart from the shrivelled piece of salmon. I have never eaten such an appalling meal.

The final straw was my son's dessert. He ordered chocolate mousse. I think by this time the chef must have been really "brassed" off as the presentation was worse than disgusting. My son sent it back. We made no fuss but I must say if restaurants are going to participate in Dine for £10 they must put more effort into it. They say bad news travels fast and believe me I have already told many of my friends not to go near Seven Dials Restaurant.
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Carole Villiers
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 1
Saturday, February 21, 2009

Entirely disappointing and uninspiring. Following a brilliant night at the superb Gingerman restaurant last week, I was looking forward to eating at the Seven dials. Upon arriving you are immediately hit by a dull, drab interior, which still resembles the bank it once was. The staff are polite but not particularly competent (my cutlery was removed following my order and placed back incorrectly etc) and the menu was glaringly bland. Both mine and my partner’s starters (cannelloni and pork) were disappointing and although our steaks were fine, at £18 each, they were not exactly ‘fine dining’. Frustratingly and insultingly, either side of us the tables were ordering from a £10 per head menu, yet apparently receiving identical food to ours. Unsurprisingly, we didn’t stay for dessert or coffee. At £75 for a bottle of wine, 2 courses (including an insipid, unrefined tomato soup with half a slice of white bread each) the seven dials restaurant is having a laugh. If you are at all interested in food, atmosphere, attention to detail or quality service, give this place a miss.
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Oliver M
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Very very disappointing, from the moody staff, who did, admittedly warm up as the evening went on to the missing items of food, overcooked steak and inedible pasta, this restaurant, like so many in Brighton, trades on it's reputation.

Service was lackadaisical to start, drinks and other requests taking ages to happen. As an amuse bouche, a little cup of lovely celariac soup arrived with yummy bread - we had to ask for more bread so that we each got a slice though! The starters were good, I had the warm duck salad which had some lovely flavours, friends all commented on how good their starters were too.

Then it all went wrong; pumpkin crumble that had dried out under the heat lamp; hideous seafood tagliatelle which was overcooked with a very salty tin of crab soup poured over the top; over cooked steak with the wrong vegetables and then gnochi with stuffed field mushrooms and walnuts that arrived without either stuffed field mushrooms or the walnuts. Three dishes weren't charged for, which was appreciated, but at such a premium the very least I would have expected.

Deserts were good, with the chocolate fondant really buzzing with dark chocolate flavours.

The food, if you get what you ordered, when you wanted it is good; but this restaurant disappoints with poor execution and a general feeling of lack of care.
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Matt
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 4
Sunday, January 25, 2009