Comments on: National Geographic Cafe: Pinch me [Invite to Review]

By: Kang

Kang — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 21:27:39 +0000

Hi Mick,

Very sorry to hear of your bad experience at National Geographic Cafe, especially with the paltry 3mm crispy chips servings. Furthermore the bad service is completely unnecessary. Personally I did not rate the wagyu burgers myself as I found both the portions too small and thought they tasted bland. I will forward your comment along to the restaurant, perhaps they will value this feedback. Thanks for sharing.

Kang.

By: mick

mick — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 20:50:50 +0000

Upon reading about the National Geographic Cafe in London, my partner and I thought it would be good place to take my little sister (12) for lunch. As a reader of the National Geographic for many years, I was looking forward to visiting their flagship London store and cafe. Upon arrival I was initially impressed; the decor and furnishing was interesting and well thought through – the shop area was fantastic, as other reviews comment on. The food, service and bill left a lot to be desired. After waiting a considerable length of time for service, we ordered “mini burgers served with crispy chips” – expecting them to be small, but surprised at a piece of meat around the size of a wine bottle cork arrived (with a fragment of lettuce and a tomato). I thought the “crispy chips” had been forgotten by the waitress, but upon asking I was told I must have eaten them! To my surprise I was then presented with an egg-cup with “crispy chips” ~3mm long and told they were sprinkled on the burger. Three of these dishes and a diet cola totalled £22.50, ramped up to over £25 with a added 12.5% service charge. When I asked for this to be removed the waitress was bad mannered and impolite, slapping the revised bill down in front of me with a glare. We left feeling hungry, ripped off and thoroughly disappointed in the National Geographic Society.

By: Kang L.

Kang L. — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 12:21:23 +0000

Kate – definitely a big no-no for mini burgers, those things should be banned!!

Helen – lol, you caught me there , indeed it shouldnt be cooked all the way through, so reduced marks for that, but overall, even with the fish overdone, I still found it quite tasty – perhaps I was a little enthusiatic with me choice of words!

Kavey – Definitely, its a great place to catch up and for a light meal – agree that its definitely a no go for a full meal.

suzie – thanks! hope you enjoy the write up

Gourmet Chick – Nope, its just me referring to the Chef, as ‘Chef’. I’ve always thought that’s the convention of how the Chef is referred to in a restaurant. Certainly, in most places I’ve been in, the waiters usually refer to the chef as ‘Chef’. At the Ledbury, the waiter overdid it abit, saying to me everytime he spoke of Brett Graham: ‘Chef would like to know your cooking preference, Chef has prepared this in a salt crust, Chef has just turned 29 and going on 30, Chef would be happy to hear that.’

Helen – I think you’ll enjoy a light meal here…. and I’m anxious to read your review about it

By: Helen Yuet Ling Pang

Helen Yuet Ling Pang — Sun, 31 May 2009 07:59:14 +0000

I only had a hot chocolate and croissant here as it was breakfast time when I dashed in here for shelter from a heavy shower, but did get to ogle the food at the counter! I'll definitely return after having read this... Helen Yuet Ling Pang’s last blog post..Second Helpings - May 2009

By: Gourmet Chick

Gourmet Chick — Fri, 29 May 2009 11:25:48 +0000

New lens looks great Kang. Just curious as to whether the chef refers to himself as Chef Miguel or is that your phrase as it sounds very American like how they call Gordon Ramsay, Chef Ramsay on his American show. I think it would be unusual for a Spanish (or English chef for that matter) to refer to themselves in this way? Gourmet Chick’s last blog post..Sjavarkjallarin - Seafood Cellar (Gourmet Chick in Iceland)

By: suzie

suzie — Thu, 28 May 2009 23:42:54 +0000

niceeeeee pic. shall read this review at lunch tmr! XD

By: Kavey

Kavey — Thu, 28 May 2009 14:37:29 +0000

I met my friends for a relaxed meal in the Nat Geo cafe back in December 2008. My friend is the editor for a travel magazine so always hears about travel-related openings and it had opened a few months previously.

We liked the Moroccan lanterns and relaxed decor though the mish mash of table and chairs didn’t quite work for me. Still, we found a little empty corner of a larger table.

The food was good, we had various including something fabulous with aubergines and a selection of cheeses. I forget the rest but all very tasty. And my fondant hot chocolate was delicious – thick and unctuous like the stuff at Caffe Vergnano 1882.

A handy meeting place for catching up with friends over snacks but not somewhere I’d choose for a full meal.

By: Helen

Helen — Thu, 28 May 2009 12:17:53 +0000

Hi Kang – you said the tuna was ‘overall, a nicely executed dish’ – but they cooked the tuna all the way through!! That is a crime against tuna, surely?!

By: Kate

Kate — Thu, 28 May 2009 11:56:04 +0000

Wow, great find! I agree about the burgers – they look cute but somehow lose all their flavour when shrunk…