Donnr's Qype profile

Nervous excitement best describes the feeling that fluttered over me before we walked through the black curtains into the unfathomably dark restaurant.

Right hand on the shoulder in front, as per our blind waiter Thomas’ instructions, we were led into the pitch dark. The blind leading the (temporarily) blind.

With my hand placed on the back of my chair, I fumbled around to find the seat and avoid the early embarrassment of sitting on the floor.

Thomas nimbly assisted us in helping us locate our glasses and cutlery. It took us significantly longer to figure out where we all were in relation to one another.

It seemed incredibly noisy and very difficult to hear each other to begin with. Without being able to see each other’s faces and expressions we had to lean in and concentrate on the words and tone.

Social etiquette can easily be left at the door here….eat with your mouth open, yawn widely, scratch….who cares?! ☺

I had been coerced into going for the 3-course Chef’s surprise white menu (£44 each) with a surprise white wine. This translates into anything goes. Eek.

The drinks arrived together with instructions on how to pour. An immediate spillage of water ensued.

Food next. Figuring out how to use cutlery, how not to lose the cutlery, what the food is and where the food actually is on the plate is all part of the fun. Table manners go out the window and it’s a sauce-spilling, dressing-dripping, finger-food extravaganza. You don’t go here for the gourmet cuisine.

The starter was not quite the plain, meaty fish & salad we thought, but lobster, leeks and rocket salad. Plus caviar on the edge of the plate, which we all missed!

The main seemed simpler - beef, pork, crackling, roast spuds, some kind of fish sauce and citrus dressing. Surf & Turf perhaps?
Oh no…. zebra, kangaroo, crispy Parma ham, roast potatoes and anchovies! Good grief. * feels guilty *

The dessert, the nicest of the courses was a lemon mousse (err, posset) with an ice cream filled chocolate, shortbread and figs (not peaches at all).

Best story of the evening? Apparently Wills & Kate went there one evening, via a side entrance, and dined in perfect anonymity!

You can’t fault this place for the experience. It’s humbling to realise how sighted people take their vision for granted. It was an incredible, one-time experience. And challenging too. Well, aside from the wine pouring. Turns out I can do that with my eyes closed after all.

A good friend took me to the rooftop bar on a Wednesday night (7pm).
So impressed by it, was I - great views, a little bit decadent, good elderflower cocktails, swift service - that I subsequently took my in-town-for-the-weekend friend on the following weekend.

The two visits, in less than a week, could not have been more different.

On the Wednesday, the staff were friendly, efficient & helpful - if somewhat judgemental about the speed of our drinks ordering! There was a small queue to get in but everything was handled well. So all in all, I didn't mind the expense and came away suitably impressed.

On the Saturday we queued for 30mins, managing to just get in before they closed the doors at 9pm, only to get up to the roof and see several tables + chairs free. And to think some people had queued for 90mins and some had left after being told by reception that there was no point in them queuing!!

It became obvious that the downstairs reception rely on a sporadic telephone chat with the rooftop manager, in order to determine availability.
The same manager appears to be doing this whilst dishing out menus, serving drinks, dealing with staff & customers...etc etc

Perhaps they were short-staffed on Saturday?

Unfortunately we were then subjected to service by the unfriendliest waitress ever. I had to ask her 3 times for drinks and then felt guilty for bothering her. And it wasn't just us - a chap on the neighbouring table complained to the manager.

We paid £22 for carafe of Planters Punch. Stick to glasses, else it's a case of "can we have some cocktail with our ice please?"

The waitress toured the tables at around 9.30pm advising all that the kitchen was closing soon. We made a last minute request for snacks, which was a mistake - we got the been-out-all-day, bottom-of-the-pan dregs.
I begrudged the service charge and did not leave a tip.

The views were, of course, great on both evenings.

Would I go again? Maybe. But not on a Saturday.

Like the previous reviewer, I tried this place on the recommendation of friends.

Yes, it's good, but it doesn't knock Monmouth off the top spot, in my humble opinion.

My NZ friends begrudingly agree :)

The Refinery has become a bit of a regular haunt. I've had lunch there, with friends, several times and the food, on the whole is always very good.

I've tried many of their regular dishes and most recently, sampled a gorgeous mushroom-stuffed, mini-pumpkin affair. Nice use of season produce too. Haven't yet moved onto the dessert menu though!

Wine list is good but has no NZ options (my fave), that I recall.

Service is always friendly and efficient. The decor is warm, the space uncramped and it's very easy to spend time there.

Great value for money too.

Reading the recent comments, I'm wondering if there has a been a recent downturn in service?

Having read many great reviews about this place, I was more than happy to try it, when a colleague suggested it for lunch on Monday.

We were seated swiftly - albeit in somewhat uncomfortably - my seat was higher than my companion's meaning I towered over him. Odd when you consider he is almost a foot taller than me!

Presented with our menus. Drinks orders taken, followed by food. All OK so far.

And that's the end of the good news.

We were initially served the wrong orders, then we waited almost 30mins for our sandwiches, after we prompted a waiter.

Lunch was OK, but way too pricey for what you get.

Upon finishing up, I couldn't get anyone's attention to request the bill. My colleague ended up leaving me to settle up as he had another meeting to run to.

Eventually it was chucked onto my table. And it was the wrong bill.

I had to go to the counter to get it corrected, having failed, yet again, to attract a waiter's attention. Till service was brusque, as if the mistake was my fault.

If you've been there, you'll know how small it is, so there really is no excuse for 'not seeing' your customers.

I do appreciate that it was busy, but so are hundreds of other places in London.

Sadly I won't be recommending this place to anyone else.

The folk at Y&Y have worked hard to improve the look of the restaurant. New signage too. It's just off the main drag of Crystal Palace's triangle but totally worth going to.

I've never eaten inside. Although it's clean and well laid out, it just doesn't feel cosy - it's too bright for me. But plenty of people do.

However, I have ordered food to take away / get delivered and it is very delicious - Nepalese and low fat (although I'd question that last claim!)

The house special Momo (dumplings) is gorgeous, Pokheroli lamb (with aubergine) is moreish...or the Chicken Nepal (with mango)...and Saag paneer... day dreams

Delivery service is prompt and polite. Go try it.

Expensive, luxury ice cream in tubs.

Read a few reviews about Freggo - the Argentinian ice cream place - and was keen to try the Dulce de Leche to remind myself of a fab holiday I had in Argentina. It wasn't quite as good as I hoped - slightly overwhelming flavour - but nice nonetheless.

Probably wouldn't of out of my way to go here again but one to store in the memory bank for impulsive ice cream moments in central London.

This is my favourite local pub.

It's had its detractors, as service hasn't always been great but my experience has always been positive.

I'm not a beer expert but the wine choice isn't bad. And they had a cider festival on this summer too.

Food is good, not amazing, but not bad either.

But it's the atmosphere, and cosy nooks and crannies, that I really love. It's easy going and friendly. I've ended up having random conversations with 'neighbours' here!

And there are a selection of things on during the week. Plus a little beer garden to while away summer evenings.

Worth a visit.

mmmmm

Gorgeous coffee, in a normal sized cup, with just the right amount of crema. Really, really good.

Bread & Jam, huge croissants, brownies...this place is fab.

Regulars know the routine...queue to order & pay for your coffee, then join the other queue to collect it.

All this sounds like it should take ages but it doesn't.

Weekends are very busy but if you're fortunate to work nearby, its a week day must - mingling in the mornings with market folk, cycle couriers and office workers.
The service is super efficient.

No tea. No hot chocolate. Just coffee. I love this place.