Albannach

Edit: Feb 2013

This place has really gone downhill in the last couple of years. Today a friend and I went in for lunch and booked a table based on their “Steak, chips & glass of wine for £10” offer. I was running late but my colleague was offered a squishy table so luckily he chose to wait for me.

When we were seated & given menus, we said we wanted the steak offer. The waitress took the menus away and shortly later the manager came up and said that they’d had a busy lunch and had sold out of the steak offer. I asked what from the menu we could have for £10 instead, and she said the offer was only for the steak. I asked her how I was able to book in for an offer and arrive to find it not available, and she expressed surprise, asking “When dd you book?” (even though she’d crossed off the booking as we arrived).

We were left sitting for a while, and nobody had asked how we wanted our steak done, so I beckoned her over and said that we hadn’t had our order taken. 5 minutes later our steak arrived. The waitress came back partway through our lunch and asked if everything was ok and did we need anything else, and I enquired if the 2 glasses of red wine that had been sitting on the bar for 20 minutes now were ours. She rolled her eyes, and fetched them over for us… not sure who she was eye-rolling at, as she was our waitress.

The quality of the steak & the wine was certainly not an issue, but there’s no way these guys are winning any awards for service.

Antler-bedecked Trafalgar Square bar & restaurant Albannach is unquestionably home to one of London’s finest selections of whisky. The food’s great, and due to its central location it makes a perfect place to meet friends for a classy drink & a chat, or to grab some dinner if the occasion’s a little on the “special” side.

The menu tends towards Scottish influenced cuisine, but the whole arrangement steers clear of putting on red wigs & tam-o-shanters & jamming bagpipe music in your ears.

People have described the service experience as variable, although personally I couldn’t fault it. If you’re a whisky enthusiast or a complete newcomer to the drink & want to try some whiskies to see what all the fuss is about, Albannach’s an excellent place to be.

My wife and I were made to feel like scum and made to feel it because we had been given a voucher from travelzoo and we dared to use it… From the moment my wife phoned to being seated it was rules relating to the voucher and what was and what was not included, I was told I had to have the house wine after some discussion I got the wine I preffered. So customer service 0 okay lets move unto the food the food that wasn’t excluded that is.. Starters my wife got 1 mushroom on her mushroom and leek tart and couldn’t taste any leek. I had the fishcakes that came in the shape of small croquettes with a sweet chilli dipping sauce these were okay but could have done with a little more seasoning. Mains I had the half roast chicken served with chips & side salad (veg or sides were excluded) whilst the chicken was very good it came covered in a herb dressing something not listed on the menu and I have to avoid bassil, the chips were more like crisps the salad was a bit dull. My wife had the Salmon on a bed of lentils ? this was very good. Dessert was sticky toffee pudding again good. but I was full by now and wanted to leave due to the fact we were on our 4th metion of the F**** voucher we got tea served in a pot though always a plus… then the final bit we got the bill £3.75 for the salad and £9.53 for the service we handed over £6 and left never to return again voucher or no voucher this was supposed to be a birthday treat it turned into a most uncomfortable ordeal I’ve never been made to feel so unwelcome… Oh PS don’t go on a Friday night if you want to talk and the closest thing to Scotland in the place apart from the most expensive whisky was my Scottish wife…

Contrary to popular perceptions Scottish cuisine does not just centre around a deep fat frier. Those familiar with Mellis’ cheeses or Crombie’s meats know the potential of Scottish produce.
Unfortunately, I have found Albannach to be distinctly clumsy in its execution and more concerned with creating a tartan pastiche in London than delivering dishes of any real ambition.
Food distinctly mediocre and a barman who couldn’t tell that the Deuchars was off.

Took some French friends here at the suggestion of my son, what a great place, they loved it ,I loved it my Scottish wife loved it.
Super roast beef and according to the “expert” the Stuart Grant Haggis was top quality.
The puddings and cheese board were also not to be missed.
Good value ,great location and I will be back

We went to Albannach for a Thursday evening meal. The atmosphere was fun and friendly and the service was good. It became gradually busier the later it got, so I would recommend booking if you want a table. The food was high quality and well-presented - we had beef carpaccio and haggis for starters, followed by monkfish (with asparagus and corn) and a steak sandwich, with mashed potato and vegetables on the side. I was expecting the prices to be quite high (good food at a nice venue in Trafalgar Square!) and the drinks were pricey, but the food actually wasn’t over-expensive, and we used a tastecard which made it amazingly good value for the quality it was. Overall, it was a good experience and the food was lovely.

I visited Albannach for a tutored whisky tasting (they run a selection of these). At first, I was a little apprehensive as the room was very full - there seemed to have been some overbooking. However, once we'd all fitted ourselves around the table and the tasting got underway, I had a really good evening.

We tasted six whiskies - five malts and a bourbon. Our tutor (French not Scottish, but clearly passionate about the drink) was interesting and very knowledgeable. He took us through the history and making of the drink as well as how to taste it. With full measures, there was more than enough to taste! As a whisky-lover, I found plenty to learn, while those who were new to the drink enjoyed themselves too.

The atmosphere was friendly and relaxed. Towards the end, canapes were brought out; these were very good, and provided in generous quantities. I would definitely recommend this tasting, and look forward to trying some of the others in future.

We went here as part of a theatre deal so it was not too pricey. That being said, it was packed and there was some lack of consistency with service- food came out super fast, we were left parched waiting for drinks and then had to down the drinks that came later at the end of the meal. The food was nice but nothing to write home about. I also agree with other comments that the music is way too loud.

Very disappointing. Busy bar downstairs with banging club scene music. Upstairs themed Scottish restaurant (no tartan/stags heads to be seen). Music so loud cannot hear yourself speak. Food just about acceptable but v. expensive unless your on a theatre deal. this establishment needs to decide if its a funky after works drinking hole or a scottish restaurant serving good food, at the moment that are trying to do both and unfortunately failing!

This is a nice large bar/restaurant in a good location. Ideal for corportate events but somehow has a not too exciting atmosphere. I wouldn’t think to go here just for a drink but rather for large social events.

This bar is located just on the edge of Trafalgar Square. The bar is split across two levels with a main bar area and a separate private dining area.
There is a nice Highland theme running through the bar with a stag antler chandelier, heathers, dark wood, and thistle and tartan themed fabrics. The ground floor bar can be booked for larger events of up to 180 people (250 including the restaurant area), while a separate lounge area is suitable for up to 30 guests.
As you would expect with a Scottish theme in addition to the normal range of drinks there is a large selection of around a hundred different whiskys.
I went here for a private party from work and there was a selection of canapés which were OK, but a little disappointing. The staff however were friendly and helpful and smartly dressed in kilts, which is a nice touch.

This is one of londons finest scottish bar,restaurant and for late night drinking venue.They have wonderful selection of cocktails,wine and all sorts of bottled beer.the sitting arrangement is one of a kind,the interior is superb and well furnished.