The Happenstance

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1. DA

   DineAndDash

   1 review

   1.0

   1 review

   Dined on 16 July 2022

   overall1food3service3ambience3

   It is interesting that Open Table is asking for a review. When we arrived for our pre-booked table, we had no reservation. The restaurant was super busy. As they could not find my name in their bookings, they didn't believe we had a reservation. Luckily I had the Open Table confirmation on my phone. They were very surprised and they gave us a table. I was having phone signal problems, and when I returned home the restaurant had left a message saying that my reservation was cancelled. All very curious.

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2. DH

   DanH

   Kent

   5 reviews

   4.0

   5 reviews

   Dined on 14 July 2022

   overall4food5service3ambience3

   A nice setting inside and out, with friendly staff and great food. Service was a little slower than I’d expect however. Overall though it was an enjoyable place to have a meeting over lunch.

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3. KK

   KKandKK

   Seattle

   166 reviews

   vip
   3.0

   166 reviews

   Dined on 14 June 2022

   overall3food4service3ambience2

   Bit of an up & down experience at The Happenstance. First, food was very good. We all liked our meals (Veg Shepherd's Pie, Chalkstream Trout, Cruspy Duck Salad). Waitress did her best but this place was large, full, and extremely understaffed. She kept her smile & professionalism, but had to serve tables indoors and out. Drinks order took 30 minutes and then was incomplete (but quickly remedied). Food took almost an hour to arrive. For now anyway,, don't eat here if you have someplace to be after lunch. Also, this was the loudest restaurant we've dined in in London.

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4. PL

   PeterL

   London

   1 review

   3.0

   1 review

   Dined on 24 May 2022

   overall3food3service2ambience4

   A midweek business lunch. The choice, presentation and cost of the food was all good and noise levels and space around the table were fine for a comfortable conversation. Service however was a bit overattentive, although the restaurant wasn't full it felt as if they were hurrying us to order, finish each course, clear plates, pour drinks etc and when we called the waitress over to order coffee, she arrived instead with the bill and a card machine.

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5. D

   Deedee21

   London

   20 reviews

   5.0

   20 reviews

   Dined on 20 May 2022

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Lovely location Great breakfast menu choice and generous portions Really good experience

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6. AJ

   AndrewJ

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on 19 April 2022

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Couldn't fault the service. Would definitely come again.

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7. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   London

   1 review

   2.0

   1 review

   Dined on 3 April 2022

   overall2food3service1ambience4

   I arrived at the time of the booking and was told by the staff member who greeted me that the kitchen had already closed and that they had called to inform me of this. I had no missed calls on my phone, no new answerphone messages were left.

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8. MH

   MichaelH

   Essex

   1 review

   4.0

   1 review

   Dined on 2 April 2022

   overall4food4service4ambience1

   Food was ok and the staff efficient and polite.The background music was terrible and miles too loud.Whether we would visit again it would depend on the weather as the option would be outside.

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9. KM

   KarenM

   London

   3 reviews

   2.0

   3 reviews

   Dined on 16 March 2022

   overall2food3service2ambience1

   I was disappointed at the noise level for a weekday night. It was very busy and I did not like patrons standing around us behind our table. The service was ok but there was a very busy table by us and the attention seemed to be centred around them. I had to grab staff's attention in order to get some service. It was very loud that I could not hear our own voices. A real shame and really the dining area should be segregated and 'cut off' from the main bar area and not an extension of it. If you are young, out for some fun, it is a great place to go. For a quiet chat and dinner with friends who have serious topics to talk with you about, it was not the right place. Food was great and prices reasonable.

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10. k

    kp100

    London

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on 8 March 2022

    overall3food2service1ambience4

    Busy sunny day so was crowded but service was terrible. Food average

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11. KM

    KeithM

    Columbus

    16 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    16 reviews

    Dined on 11 February 2022

    overall3food3service3ambience4

    The overall atmosphere was pleasant and welcoming. Service was on par but nothing over the top. Our starter the Mezze board was delicious. I got the pork belly as a main, it was just ok. I think they covered it in gravy to cover up how dry it was. My cocktail was all mixer. Very sweet almost like kook-aid. Not pleasant. I would probably try again to see how the experience compared.

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12. EH

    EmmaH

    London

    134 reviews

    vip
    1.0

    134 reviews

    Dined on 25 January 2022

    overall1food1service1ambience1

    Opentable doesn't give me the option not to rate the food or value so I've had to grade them 1 star, i.e. lowest. This is because I booked for an 8.30am breakfast only to find that the kitchen doesn't open until 9am! Whilst this might be blamed on Opentable more than the restaurant (hard to tell), the staff didn't tell us until we had settled in and were about to order! Even then, there was hardly an apology and the service seemed very offhand all in all. If I'm being charitable, things had not long reopened post the Omicron nightmare but I still don't think that excuses poor service.

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13. d

    dinerextraordinaire

    London

    17 reviews

    3.0

    17 reviews

    Dined on 19 February 2020

    overall3food3service3ambience3

    Perfectly acceptable for a business meal without breaking the bank. Everything was very good.

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14. T

    Tuttles

    London

    47 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    47 reviews

    Dined on 22 January 2020

    overall5food4service5ambience4

    A very nice restaurant with friendly and helpful staff....and a pretty good menu. We chose from the 'offer' menu and we enjoyed our food. The staff were attentive (although not overly so). We will definitely return.

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15. JB

    JohnB

    London

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on 5 December 2019

    overall5food1service1ambience1

    our booking was cancelled without noticeprett poor - I won't go there again

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16. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    London

    67 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    67 reviews

    Dined on 22 November 2019

    overall4food4service4ambience4

    Fantastic overnight oats.

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17. AM

    AndyM

    London

    10 reviews

    3.0

    10 reviews

    Dined on 5 November 2019

    overall3food4service3ambience3

    I thought the restaurant was perfect for a reasonably priced light lunch. The food was vey good and the service acceptable.

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18. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    London

    5 reviews

    vip
    2.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on 19 October 2019

    overall2food1service2ambience3

    Staff were lovely but not the most attentive. Surroundings lovely. Food poor quality.

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19. I

    Ilovetodine

    London

    23 reviews

    5.0

    23 reviews

    Dined on 18 October 2019

    overall5food2service5ambience5

    Excellent service but my steak was cold.

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20. R

    Rosebud

    London

    10 reviews

    4.0

    10 reviews

    Dined on 15 October 2019

    overall4food5service3ambience4

    I arrived with 3 friends...they didn't have my booking...even though I had confirmed with you. However we were seated. The service was. Slow, the food was good....so not bad

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21. IS

    IanS

    London

    4 reviews

    1.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on 1 October 2019

    overall1food2service1ambience2

    Service was terrible worst I have had for a very long time. Our waiter clearly did not want us to be there!!! Food ok except they managed to present a normal breakfast and a vegetarian one!!!

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22. c

    clivem

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on 28 June 2019

    overall4food4service3ambience5

    Good food fantastic location and reasonably priced

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23. e

    e2diner

    London

    54 reviews

    4.0

    54 reviews

    Dined on 15 June 2019

    overall4food4service4ambience4

    Met for lunch with a group of friends. Restaurant has seats indoors and out - sadly not warm enough for the latter. Service was friendly and the restaurant was bright and welcoming. Food menu was varied with a nod to Middle Eastern cuisines although not exclusively. All in all a nice place, perfect for a relaxed lunch

    The HappenstanceResponded on 30 June 2019Dear e2diner Thank you for your time reviewing us. We are very happy to read that you enjoyed your visit with us. we are very proud of our little bar :) I hope we will see you with us in the future. Have a lovely Day Team Happenstance

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24. AT

    ATW82

    London

    13 reviews

    3.0

    13 reviews

    Dined on 7 June 2019

    overall3food3service2ambience3

    Loved our waiter who was super friendly. Unfortunately, our food (which were just salads) took quite a while. But the waiter noticed on his own and followed up. Not a place I'd go during a lunch break when pressed for time, but I'd go back again at a different time of day.

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25. S

    Steve

    London

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 4 June 2019

    overall5food4service4ambience4

    Just right for lunch with friends. Menu simple but had burgers and alternative s. I had the chicken with balsamic it was great. And a good price. Very happy

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26. RR

    RR369

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on 1 June 2019

    overall3food4service2ambience3

    My Nan took me to the restaurant near St Paul's Cathedral for my birthday. She began to wonder why the food was taking so long and why it was cold also. I ordered some salmon to go with my grain bowl but didn't get any salmon. The staff apologised to us for the lengthy delay and also for not adding the salmon. These are the moments that can upset a meal. Luckyly I was with my Nan who made the experience less awkward. If it was a date this experience would surely have been a lot worse and dare I might say somewhat offensive because of the attention to detail. However, I still believe this restaurant has great potential and I didn't experience it fully.

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27. GM

    GaryM

    London

    6 reviews

    4.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on 24 May 2019

    overall4food4service4ambience4

    Nice place for lunch. Very reasonably price and quite lively.

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28. CM

    CorrinaM

    London

    6 reviews

    4.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on 9 April 2019

    overall4food4service4ambience4

    Good food, pleasant service and fun ambience. Would happily go again.

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29. O

    Owlie

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on 24 March 2019

    overall2food2service1ambience2

    Waited ages to be served and then food arrived quickly but was disappointing. Tasteless chicken in a tough toast sandwich with a sliver of tomato, chunk of lettuce and a scrape of mayo. Oh well, the chips were nice. Very limited menu with no Sunday lunch option. The service was so slow we had to go and ask for the bill and more drinks - which by then it was too late to enjoy outside on the pretty terrace in that afternoon's beautiful sunshine as we'd hoped.

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30. DD

    DavidD

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on 7 March 2019

    overall3food3service3ambience4

    Nice venue and decent prices but the food was bland (burgers and onions rings), and the service at a lunchtime was disappointing, with the wrong food coming initially, olives being forgotten as an appetiser and only came when reminded with the main course and it taking about 10 mins to get the bill with my colleagues leaving me to it to get back to meetings. OK for a lunch I suppose but I won't be going back.

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31. SP

    SarahP

    London

    7 reviews

    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on 1 March 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Lovely staff and the food was very nice

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32. s

    srah

    London

    81 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    81 reviews

    Dined on 14 February 2019

    overall4food3service4ambience3

    They didn’t actually have my booking but it was pretty quiet so it didn’t matter. Good and friendly service. Ok place, good value. Not sure it’s on my must go to list

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33. h

    helens

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on 11 February 2019

    overall4food4service2ambience3

    the food was good but there were too few staff so that unless we got up from the table and specifically requested attention no one noticed that we were sitting with no drinks, and then empty plates and no offer of desserts or coffee. A slight pause is obviously acceptable and no one wants to be rushed but we sat for a longtime and the one or two staff who were working had too much to do to be attentive yet a 12.5% service charge was added as a matter of course !

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34. RR

    RovingReporter

    London

    5 reviews

    4.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on 18 January 2019

    overall4food5service4ambience4

    Very nice spot for a working lunch. Fast service which is good when time is short. I think it's the best place in the area for informal business meetings.

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35. B

    Benjamin

    London

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 10 November 2018

    overall5food4service5ambience5

    Booked our work Christmas party after visiting for the first time

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36. AK

    AkiraKobayashi

    Tokyo

    15 reviews

    5.0

    15 reviews

    Dined on 2 November 2018

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    I got this restaurant for business lunch around 11:30 am with my customer. Their service and dishes are very good for light business meal. I really recommend this restaurant.

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37. DT

    DavidT

    London

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 27 October 2018

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Last week I left a bad review as we had booked but found the restaurant closed. In response we were invited back yesterday as a guest of the restaurant and they looked after us unimpeccably and we had a wonderful anniversary lunch. As with previous visits the ambiance, food and service were exceptional and we had a great deal of fun. Francesco the relatively new duty manager was an exceptional host and looked after our every need including providing entertainment for us - he is as good a host as we’ve had for some time - anywhere. A small mistake was made last week and Ruadhri and the team have been excellent in rectifying it. If you’ve never been before it’s a great experience and highly recommended.

    The HappenstanceResponded on 31 October 2018Hi David, Thank you for getting in touch. I can only but apologise that you were able to book through Open Table on a day that we were closed. This was personally my mistake as I had not informed Open Table in time. I really do hope that it didn't ruin your day but as a gesture of good will I would like to invite all three of you back in for a complimentary lunch/dinner on us. If you can email me on ruaidhri.obaoill@drake-morgan.co.uk I will arrange this for you. Kind regards, Ruaidhri

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38. B

    Baggers

    London

    3 reviews

    4.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 28 September 2018

    overall4food4service3ambience3

    Business lunch. Food was very good. Service was prompt. However, we were sat near to the door and it was very cold with air conditioning. We had to keep our jackets on!

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39. JT

    JohnT

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on 28 September 2018

    overall3food4service1ambience3

    Service was slow and had to ask a couple of times for drinks. Once ordered food came fairly quick and was good quality

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40. MS

    MichaelS

    London

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 24 September 2018

    overall5food4service5ambience4

    Hector (my Great Dane) and I always enjoy it at the Happenstance - the staff are so friendly and it is a really good watering hole right in the middle of St Pauls - great location and good food reasonably priced. Michael Segen

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