Boisdale is a true star of restaurants.
Atmosphere, food, music and staff were all first class.

If you can go on a Friday, Reuben Richards plays- and he is amazing.

I've been coming to Boisdale's for years (8 to be precise). I've always enjoyed the food and the service has always been immaculate. Sadly the dinner I had there with friends on last Saturday has left a sour taste in the mouth and I won't be returning. I had booked a function room for 12 people and on the morning had 5 drop out, for a variety of reasons, having a child taken to hospital being one. Not ideal, obviously but I let the restaurant know and they moved the party out of the room and other people into it.

They did say at the time that they would want to charge us for the full 12 dinners, however when we arrived we asked to discuss this further and this was deferred to the end of the meal.The food was good as usual, and when the bill came it was for what the 7 of us had eaten and drunk, which was of course absolutely great.

I questioned this and the waiter did say that someone would speak to me on Monday but that it was fine, so we split the bill and paid Then today I received a call saying they had reinstated the original 12 meals and they would be deducting this from the card I had made the original booking with.

Apparently this was not to cause embarrassment, although I am now face with the embarrassment of trying to recoup the money myself or swallowing the new raised bill myself. All could have been sorted out much easier at the time, while people were there, especially that I've been a long term customer.

Technically they are correct, however I'd expect more from a restaurant I had supported for 8 years, particularly as I had kept them informed all the way along and they had put other people in the room. Clearly though short term cash is more important than them than long-term custom. For that reason, my opinion is that if you're thinking of Boisdales, don't. They really don't deserve your money (or mine).

Boisdale - one of the few restaurants in which a fastidious and demanding diner such as myself - with all my literary luggage and hatred of puritans to boot - find quite simply: wonderful. The host, the staff, the decor, the ambiance, the soc ial eclecticism and, without any doubt, the food: all bloody first class and at a standard that mocks the nanny state interefering anywhere ever again!

My rating: five stars, if not eight!

Michael Benenson

What a fabulous night at Boisdale last Wednesday!
Family and friends gathered for Mike D'abo - the one time Manfred Mann front man and writer of "Handbags and gladrags" and "Build me up buttercup". Mike sang, the band played and we ate and drank our way through what can only be described as a truly excellent meal.

Fabulous smoked salmon, dry aged steak severed on the bone and one of the best bottles of wine for under £30 I can remember.

In these recessionary times it is rare indeed to go out spend a small fortune on dinner, be thoroughly entertained over a period of hours (no two sittings here!) and walk out feeling thoroughly euphoric.

Great ambience, well executed dishes and a night of entertainment.

If you haven't been to Boisdale, go!

The location near Victoria station is handy if a bit uninspiring, but once inside Boisdales is a real treat. There are nooks, crannies and a well appointed outdoor terrace with blankets, heaters and great chairs.

What really make this place tick is the high quality of the, mostly Scottish, ingredients. The smoked salmon was the freshest and best I have had and makes it into the top ten best dishes I have ever eaten.

Service is good and its reasonable value.

Recommended

Elegant dining and fine cuisine - we will return!