I know it is heresy to knock Rowley Leigh and his restaurant but the food really is variable. My first visit was just after the restaurant opened and I gave it the benefit of the doubt for mediocre service and mediocre food ( really, that rotisserie chicken is not that exciting and is extremely overpriced).

Months later the service has improved immeasurably and so have the appetisers and first courses. The Parmesan Custard with Anchovy Toast and the Pike Bourdin were delicious but my main course of pork sausages with lentils and mostarda - a strange take on two Italian dishes (cotechino and bollito misto con mostarda) -was truly disgusting and I sent it back. Whoever thought that cooking the lentils with the mostarda was a good idea?

To the restaurant's credit, I wasn't charged for the dish but this really isn't like a French brasserie at all but more like eating in an airport departure lounge (that carpet has to go!). Hereford Road, nearby, is far more exciting.

I went to Le Cafe Anglais for a private party. The room we dined in was more like a boardroom, than a dining room, with absolutely nothing personal or decorative in there, and the long blinds over the windows, completely obscured any view there might have been.

Before the food was served, we were served hors d'oeuvres
which consisted of a few cheese straws, and some radishes. We ate from a set menu, which lacked in imagination. There was no choice of starter, just asparagus all round, and for anyone who didn't like asparagus, it was hard luck.

There was a choice of overcooked fish or grey looking beef for the main course, plus a vegetarian option, which I think was aubergine.

This was followed by two plates of cheese and a few biscuits, which was supposed to go round twenty four people?

After the meal, a few of us decided we would like to smoke. We were directed to an outside area, where no ashtrays were provided. This turned out to be their car park. We were supposed to stand out there, inhaling vehicle exhausts in order to smoke and not bother fellow diners with our cigarette smoke. I somehow think the exhaust fumes did a lot more harm than our cigarettes would have done.

All in all, this restaurant did not provide a very good experience at all, and for the price we had to pay, I certainly would not dream of ever going back there.