Navajo Joe

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 16 reviews

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34 King Street,
Covent Garden,
London,
WC2E 8JD

(020) 7240 4008

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Navajo Joe
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Reviewer sarah367
09/03/2012
I went to Navajo last night for the second time and, again, was really disappointed with the food.

My main course came very lukewarm, and just a watery mess (it wasn't supposed to be soup!) with a burnt, overcooked fillet of salmon plonked on top! It was the most boring meal I've ever had- there was just nothing special about it. To cheer myself up I ordered a brownie for dessert and that was another disappointment; it was as hard as a crunchy biscuit, as if it had been made weeks ago!

I think people think it's good food because it's presented nicely, but the food itself is nothing special at all.

Navajo might be good for atmosphere, but don't go here if you want anything better than bog-standard food. (oh and it's not cheap either!)
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Reviewer lolaatlantis
11/02/2012
We went there without a reservation, we were sitted immediately, the staff was really friendly, their margarita was delicious, and the food was great! also they have good prices!

I will definitely go again...
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Reviewer coolstuff567
05/06/2011
Went there when I was younger before I went to the theatre. Fajitas were GREAT, service was quite good and fast. Lovely seating area and waiters were very friendly. Must go there again sometime! =]
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Reviewer Santomania
16/01/2011
It's a hard thing trying to find a good, non-commercial tourist magnet in the West End, and on your recommendation, we decided to give Navazjo Joe a go for New Year's Eve. Wow, wow and another wow - a great night had by all, food was superb, music just right, mood in full swing, and the downstairs bar aptly named 'Joe Below' was the perfect spot to celebrate the start of 2011. We were a group of 12 friends and everyone has similarly raved aboout this place. Well done, View London - well recommended and well done Navajo Joe - well executed.
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Reviewer Kaminari
01/08/2010
My partner and I went to Navajo Joe's for Lunch yesterday as we had a 241 on main meals and have been meaning to go for a while. The restaurant has a cool almost industrial design, we were seated at the back in the somewhat dark corner, atmospheric? It would have been perfect for a boozy night but a little too dark for a sunny afternoon. We were served quickly and my request for a jug of tap water was taken without trouble. We ordered two starters from the "amusements" list for £7.50 which came almost immediately. The only thing amusing about them was the size. The bang bang chicken consisted of two teaspoons of chicken on a mini lettace leaf and the sweet potato fries were about half a handful. Very very small portions especially for the price. We had a forboding about the size of the main but when they arrived our worries were put to rest. My Lime Chicken Chimichanga was very good. The chicken was cooked to perfection. My partners chicken Fajitas came with lots of vegetables and was sizzling hot. The salsa, sour cream, guacamole and cheese came in little sauce pots on the side. These were prepared like this for service and sat until needed as the guacamole had gone brown on top and the cheese had dried out. They were really skimpy on the cheese too as the pot was only half full, not really enough for the amount of fajitas provided. After the meal they were quick to clear the tables but it did take us a long time to catch the eye of a waiter to ask for the bill. All in all it was good. I would eat there again but I would only go if I had a voucher or a code and I would definitely not order the "amusements". It might be better in the evening and more of an experience if you were making a greater use of their cocktail menu.
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Reviewer Johnharrow
14/07/2010
Fantastic atmosphere and even better service.

We just stumbled across this place for a drink and boy did we make a good choice. The margaritas here are out of this world. Everywhere else in Covent garden seems to make theres like a slush puppy but here they were created in front of you to order, as FRESH as you can get.

We were asked if we wanted a table and decided to take them up on the offer. We had a sharing starter of 9 tasters which made every tastebud explode and followed by the most sizzling platter of fajitas ever. Everything was delicious and our server Migel was top notch never fussing but always available when needed.

To top it off they had a downstairs kind of cocktail lounge with a DJ was a great end to the evening. We had intended to go on elsewhere but drinks at the bar, restaurant and then a DJ it had it all here, me and the lady cant wait to go back again.

John Harrow
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Reviewer georgethetee
10/08/2009
I booked a meal and show before seeing these appalling reviews and went ready to walk out and go elsewhere.

But I was made very welcome, often asked if everything was alright, everything was superb especially the food - next time I will be more daring - and my waitress chatted to me as I left about the show I was seeing.

I can only think the anonymous bad reviews are posted by competitors
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Reviewer Anonymous
02/03/2009
handy for a drink after work, but would not reccomend eating there.

Service slow and when questioning as to why, was told "we are busy, you will just have to wait".

Then when the food did arrive it was cold and one of the orders was not even ours, meaning we had to wait another 20 minutes whilst they got it correct.

Guess this place can only handle service simple bottles of beer to afterwork drinkers.
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Reviewer UnitedNotions
30/10/2008
Contender for Worst Restaurant in London 2008 - table and cutlery filthy upon arrival. Drinks - 80% ice. Service - 2 hours for 2 courses of tex-mex slops which could have been bettered by pre-made Supermarket meals. Avoid like the plague - worst restaurant in London I have ever been to
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Reviewer LMTKat
16/10/2008
I was attracted to this bar when a friend and I ended up in Covent Garden quite by accident. It was dark and i think what attracted us in was the lights from inside.

I loved the decor and thought the different levels the bar had gave it a more interesting atmosphere. It was buzzing when we entered and even more so as we left even though it was a weekday.

We didnt sample the food however it looked brilliantly presented and the smells were mouth watering.

The cocktails however were brilliant and with the great bar staff they had always had a smile.

I give this venue a 4 simply because there wasnt enough seating so we were left standing at the bar with our drinks, but the bar staff and variety of cocktails bring it back to a 4!
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Reviewer Anonymous
17/04/2008
The decoration is nice but the food is the worst i have had in London in this price segment and the stuff was the rudest.

We were 6 people in the table 5 of us ordered well done steak. The definition for well done steak is: `Well done - (73.9°C/165°F degrees core temp) The meat is gray-brown throughout and slightly charred. ` But we got black at the outside and all red in the inside. in other words burnt a peace of `steak` when we told this to the manager he took our steaks to chef and came back with his empty hands and told us that the chef is embarrassed. thats it. No replacement, nothing!

Secondly 2 of my friends ordered coke but it came out to be a glass of ice with very little coke in it. one other friend ordered coke later on but it came the same and she told the waitress very nicely `i asked for coke not for a glass of ice can you replace the ice with coke` waitress took the galss of ice and brought coke back but slamed it on the table with the attitude...

It was my best friends birthday I bought a cake beforehand I wanted to made a suprise. We went for a smoke after accepting the appologies from the chef when we came back there was a whole cake on the table no candles etc. but with the steak knife. there was only 2 person at the table during the cakes arival... it all turned out to be a nightmare, shame on me... I am embarrassed to my friend...

In conclusion this place is far below the average in terms of service, food, stuff, but the decoration is good. The decoration cant feed me if it was I would make daily trips to tate modern... 1 over 10...

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Reviewer Anonymous
17/04/2008
I just wish the staff and service lived up to the decor. I've never had such poor service or shockingly rude staff in my life.

My girlfriend ordered a steak well done, and it came out like wood. It went back to the kitchen, then the waiter came back to us with the chef's apology. No offer of replacement meal. I also apparently should've stated when ordering my coke that i wanted a coke and not a glass of ice with a dash of coke. The waitress slammed this down on the table when returning with it.

When I interrupted the gossip and giggle session 2 of the staff and the manager were having, mentioning the above to the manager, i was told by the pompous twit to stop complaining.

It wasn't only us which suffered...
The table beside us had ordered a birthday cake, which turned up, without candles, while 3 of the table of 6 were in the bathroom and was simply left there with a steak knife. Pleasant.

The entire thing felt like we were there to entertain the staff, then pay for the privelage. I'd recommend you spend your money and time elsewhere, where the staff understand the concept of manners, civility and service.
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Reviewer Anonymous
17/04/2008
That was us on the next table! Very similar experience!

I am a quite frequent wining & dining person and I have never had such bad experience anywahere else before.

I went there before and the service was poor but I though it might be just one off and did not even complain but obviously it was just the sign for worse!

We asked for well-done steaks but they came up burnt on the outside and red on the inside. When we complained very nicely to the manager he took them off the table saying he was sorry and came bask saying that the chef was very embarresed...which is ok even though he did not offer anything complementary for leaving us starving to death!
All our Cokes came as a glass of ice with a drop of Coke and when we asked them to be changed, all we got was "Well you have to tell me, if you do not want ice!" with an attitude. We did want ice but wanted to have some coke as well!
Last of all.....It was my friends birthday and we had an amazing cake from Paul....as we went to the loo and some went to have a fag, the cake was left on the table, even WITHOUT a plate and just with a steak knife next to it so we can serve ourselves!
Apperantly the waitress came around with the cake and asked the only 2 people left at the table if we want the cake or would it be better if she took it back but our friends told her that she might as well leave it as she brought it around already as we were walking back to the table! Seriously it is not so difficult to have the common sense that if you are going to ask such thing, you come to the table without the cake and ask when we want it!?

When we complained about all (and absolutely not even being loud at all), all we got from the manager was the schokingly rudest attitude ever and they brought us the bill straight away (without us asking for it) with the steaks that we did not even eat and 17.5%service charge included!!!
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Reviewer Anonymous
19/03/2008
Fab place to go if you get a two meals for the price of one offer - oh and Happy Hour! They do some mean cocktails. Can be a bit loud in an evening and does get busy.

Clean looking inside with bottles of spirits going all the way up to the ceiling
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Reviewer Jodi446
18/09/2006
After a night at Navajo Joe I can't wait to go back again. The drinks list is so big that it would take months to try them all. Didn't have a main meal at Navajo Joe but the amusements were a nice touch. Choosing a favorite is impossible, enough to snack on but doesn't fill you up too much. The atmosphere was so funky and the DJ topped it off. I highly recommend it!
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Reviewer Anonymous
04/04/2005
We found Navajo Joe to be an unusual mixture of a cool and hip restaurant and a bar that attracts both serious drinking connoisseurs and a funky West End crowd. I was amazed by the massive selection of tequila (apparently over 300 different types). I didn't think the prices were too bad considering we were in the West End, but then again the meal I had (Chargrilled peri peri chicken) was fairly bland.
Navajo Joe is worth a visit, even if it is only to marvel at the range of tequila!
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Reviewer Anonymous
30/11/2004
The atmosphere was good (but we did have a rubbish table) and then it got worse...The service wasn't great, food on the ordinary side and the wine (vinegar for £15 a bottle!).


The prices you pay here should ensure a higher level of quality, and adequate staffing to ensure it all flows a little more easily...

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