The Tin Drum - Seven Dials

Completely agree with the previous reviewer. My family and I have been loyal customers of the Drum over the years, but the last three times we've eaten there the food has been atrocious, the prices too high and the service bordering on neglectful.

We last ate their in April 2008. It took over 20 minutes to get the attention of a waitress to take our order (even though the restaurant was not busy), and a further 30 for our food to arrive.

I ordered lamb shanks, which were overcooked to the point of dessication and served with what could only be described as bisto, not a jus or gravy (and it's such a difficult dish to get wrong!!). My husband had fishcakes, which had clearly been frozen and then deepfried, as they were bullet hard on the outside and still icy in the middle. They were also devoid of any texture or taste. My children had sausage and chips - one sausage and a handful of chips each yet the children's menu is nearly £6...??

For a supposedly child friendly restaurant there are no steps taken to cater for or entertain children other than a couple of colouring books that are several years old (I know this for a fact, i've been going there a long time) and now full, and a pot of blunt pencils. Staff are not tolerant of children: If the waiters aren't ignoring you, they're rolling their eyes at wiping the table or being asked to bring more bread because the food is taking so long. The children's menu is very limited (really, it's only sausages or chicken 'goujons' - nuggets by another name) and overpriced (compare it to, say, the Garden Cafe at St Annes Wells, Pizza Express or even Tootsies, where you can get mini versions of excellent adult food or specifically catered childrens means for less money.

Added to which, there seems to be a complacency - or is it arrogance - of management that seems to mean that despite polite comments to staff or even complaints (and i've sat and heard other diners be very clear about the quality of the service or food), nobody seems to care enough to make the changes. What a shame - it could have been so good...
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Tuesday, July 01, 2008

Have dined with both Fiveways & Seven Dials for a long time and throughly enjoyed our experiences. We always loved their food but it all seems to have gone to pot!!

We dined on Sunday 20th Jan 2008 and we had such a terrible experience. We had booked a table for 8. This included 3 children and 1 baby. It was my Dad's 65th and we had notified the restaurant at the time of booking and were looking forward to our Sunday lunch! The restaurant wasn't busy as our table was for 2pm. On arrival our table looked lovely but we were left with no menu's and no drinks for approximately 20 minutes. Our order was eventually taken of 4 adult roasts and 3 children's meals. The children's meals all arrived and were the wrong food completely so they had to wait another 20 minutes whilst we tucked into ours. Unfortunately it wasn't long before we all noticed that the roast potatoes and all vegetables were raw! My husband had the roast pork belly which was like a piece of old leather. The restaurant manager didn't actually know what to do and certainly didn't try and offer us anything to compensate, we were avoided until our food arrived again. After waiting another 20 minutes our food arrived with fresh vegetables. Not good. The potatoes were just as raw and my beef and the pork was now also like leather!! This was the last straw so we left.

Unfortunately this seems to be a slippery slope. This restaurant along with Fiveways has slowly gone downhill over the last year. I think complacency is the answer. The price has increased over time, to the point that it is no longer value for money. The service which was always impeccable is now hit and miss!
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Jacqui Holman-Harris
Monday, January 21, 2008

I thought this was a lovely restaurant - food excellent - service excellent - I go to Brighton to take my Dad out and he is 88 and loves it there. The staff are so nice and friendly and polite - its refreshing these days.
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Jane Geaves
Sunday, October 28, 2007

I booked a table for lunch on Sunday 14th.October 2007 to have a meal with my family of 10. The occassion was made very memorable by the excellent food and attentive staff. My wife has already suggested that we both return as soon as possible and not have to wait for a family reunion.

Thanks Tin Drum for an excellent time.

Clive and Pam Williams
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Clive Williams
Tuesday, October 16, 2007

We visited here on Saturday night with a big group of people. We weren't eating but the staff ensured that we (eventually) got a table where all 15 of us could sit together and enjoy our night! Was really busy and the atmosphere was great. For this I would like to say thank you Tin Drum. We shall see you soon.
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Andy Vanner
Monday, July 30, 2007

Busy, friendly atmosphere. Not the cheapest pub food but large portions and nothing to complain about, not a place for a special occaision but fine for a pub type meal, would go again.
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johnj - View all reviews by this user
Friday, July 06, 2007

Love this place!
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Thursday, May 31, 2007

EXPENSIVE!!! Zakuski consisted small pot of each taramasalata & mackerel pate, one rollmop, one piece of smoked salmon, one piece of toasted granary bread, 2 langoustines - main course!! £9.50 from memory.

Don't go there hungry.
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Simon
Monday, May 14, 2007

I must disagree with the comment dated 27th April. My husband and myself have lived in seven dials for over ten years now, and the Tin Drum is still very much our local. The staff are consistantly friendly and we still recieve very good service. Maybe there visit was on an off day?!
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Friday, May 04, 2007

We have been visiting the tin drum for four years and recently the food and atmosphere has gone severly down hill. We had people from the bar area using our table as a place to put drinks and coats. Our drinks order was compleatly wrong, the food seemed to be mainly out of tins and my main came 20 minutes after the persons who I was dining with. This is such a shame! We are saddened by the fact that we will have to find a new local resturant. I do belive that at the prices the Tin Drum charge the food and the service should at least be good.
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Friday, April 27, 2007