We went here for Christmas Day with a family party of 3 persons. The food was delicious, especially the mulled wine served as a starter with mince pies. The goats cheese entree was delicious and quite substantial. The main course was excellent, turkey with all the trimmings. The dessert was rather perplexing however. They served very delicious boozy Christmas pudding, very large and to share one between two persons. Strangely, they then served more Christmas pudding, this time, rum and raisin individual puds....too much pudding by far. No cream, brandy butter or custard was served! We had to ask for some cream to accompany the desserts. We did take the pudding home! The coffee was very good too. On the minus side.....this is not a 5 star hotel and they do have know what 5 star service is. Some of the waiting staff were very nice indeed and others were helpful and polite when we asked for crackers for our table, inquired if our table was ready and to take some photos of our group. The kitchen and the chef are to be congratulated at Banyam...some five star training is definitely needed if this place is to survive. We did not receive a friendly welcome or anywhere near five star service. We had a great meal but expected more for Christmas Day. The location is nice by the Thames, certainly not spectacular and best enjoyed after dark. Huge potential here but staff training is urgently needed....some smiles would go such a long, long way...

Impeccable service, delicious food and cocktails, very friendly staff, VERY reasonable prices, welcoming atmosphere, great variety and quality of spa treatments, cosy and clean shisha space (hard to find), beautiful views on the river Thames, clean rooms, luxurious decor, recently built so the latest technologies and trends inside this fabulous hotel.

I went to Banyan for an early dinner on Saturday 12th March 2011. What an amazing restaurant. The service was impeccable and the food was delicious. The waitress was extremely attentive, but not over pushy. There were so many dishes I wanted to try, I will have to go back at least 6 times. We were a table of 4 and we all chose different dishes, I could not fault anything. The owner came and introduced himself to all tables and the complimentary canapes' from the visiting French chef were to die for. With beautiful views and the added excitement of a helicopter taking off and landing whilst we were dining, I could ask for a idyllic setting.

Michelin star quality and service through and through!

A grand restaurant and a fabulous addition to London:
Price to value is a bargain. It is a first-rate setting, I had Fish honey glazed a good recipe and my partner opted for T bone steak, Fish and Steak are not province of any restaurant if it is gastronomically not well prepared for these very difficult preparations; they were quite good in making the preparation the way we wanted.

The steak was very nicely presented with delicate brandy sauce and Fish with honey and spices was heavenly, though something new and was my first experience it tasted very well. Absolutely meticulous arrangement and view over the entire bend of Thames.

We paid half of what we will pay in Paris for comparable food.

I took 17 members of the family their on Sunday 7th November for my wife's birthday. We all had a 3 course meal with a special offer of 50% off. I'd challenge anyone to find a better value for money restaurant serving quality food, full of flavour, well presented with such great views. This turned out to be a day to remember as unusually there was not a single complaint. A huge thanks to all the staff for a great day out.

David, Tania & family

I decided to go by the popular 800 plus ratings on Top Table and ate today( Sunday) at 'Banyan on Thames' the restaurant was lively, vibrant . The bar was alive and serve great Cocktails, the food was striking and of exceptional value even before the discount, with 50% discount it is a bargain. I rate Banyan as one of the best values in London on taste and price, the cocktails at the Rafayel are special and are awe-inspiring .

I have posted this review on Crystal Bar too.

Don't know if we just caught them on a bad night but what should have been wonderful turned into Fawlty Towers type service. Arrived at the lovely looking restaurant. Would have overlooked the river had a large Range Rover not been parked in front of the window. Drinks orders were taken 40 minutes after we were seated. After we had ordered our food we waited a further 20 minutes for the drinks to arrive. After a further 40 minutes I was told that my starter was no longer available. I don't know whether they burned it or dropped it or did not see what I had ordered but it felt a little late to let me know when I was already wondering if we were ever going to be fed. Main course arrived which was beef and was so tough was like leather. I sent it back and asked for the chicken tikka masala. The plates in this place are beautiful but totally impractical to eat off. They give you two bowls on a wooden tray. One bowl is full of curry and the other is full of rice. Trying to mix them together was almost impossible and resulted in taking one fork of curry and another of rice. We had a 50% off food offer which we were glad of as we will not be returning. 3 1/2 hours to serve 2 courses is unacceptable in London. Don't go here unless you have a lot of time to wait and are not very hungry.

Rafayel on the Left Bank has to be considered as the "jewel" of the Left Bank. It is a brand new eco-friendly hotel, located on the Left Bank of Thames River. The hotel has about 50 large noise-free, well-decorated, clean, comfortable with floor to ceiling windows allowing natural light in the room. The bathroom are large and the showers are equipped with Thermostatic Shower and rain shower head. As amenities the hotel offers free internet access (wi-fi and wired service in the room), the access to the River Wellbeing Spa, a well equipped Fitness Club, a Conference Room, a Meeting Room, a Roof Terrace overlooking Thames River and the the London Heliport.

The hotel offers free shuttle transfer to the nearest tube located at Sloane Square, the staff is exceptional from the time that the reservation is made to the arrival to the hotel.

During the stay the staff has been very friendly, warm, nice, inviting and polite. I will definitely will come back and refer the hotel to anybody else. The staff and the owner of Rafayel on the Left Bank has been exceptional during my stay in January 2010 and catered to my needs. Thanks again a wonderful and enjoyable stay at your hotel. Jerry.