The Old Shades

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1. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   1 review

   1.0

   1 review

   Dined on 4 April 2019

   overall1food1service2ambience2

   Booked as advertised as a gastro pub however they were not serving food on the day. If there was a problem they could have made contact to let their customers know. It was also very busy and noisy with the after work crowd.

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2. E

   Easydiner1

   London

   6 reviews

   5.0

   6 reviews

   Dined on 15 February 2019

   overall5food4service4ambience4

   Just felt like a genuine pub - hard to find these dats

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3. T

   Toni

   London

   1 review

   1.0

   1 review

   Dined on 26 January 2019

   overall1food2service1ambience2

   Arrived at 5pm. No staff around apart from behind bar. Waited 10 minutes. Bar staff said knew nothing about booking & said we were 10 minutes late. Said we had waited 10 minutes to be acknowledged. Said he would fetch another staff member, who also knew nothing of reservation. People were leaving a table. Staff member said "you can have this table" It was now 5.20pm. We asked for the manager. Manager asked "what is the problem?". Showed him booking reservation on phone & how we had been treated. He said " there was a table reserved at the end of pub & Bar staff know how to use iPad for reservations. Considering you are in the middle of Whitehall you should expect to wait for service. We are busy" Told him we hadn't had this problem before. He said "I have been doing this job for 10 yrs. It is normal". We were appalled. He gave us a free drink & then apologised. Also gave free desert. We think he felt he had to do something about disgusting service. We won't be returning again. But as the pub is " in the middle of Whitehal"lI don't suppose the Manager gives a damn anyway. By the way, the pub wasn't even that busy when we arrived last Saturday.

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4. MR

   MRYN

   London

   6 reviews

   5.0

   6 reviews

   Dined on 22 January 2019

   overall5food4service5ambience5

   Staff were lovely. Remembered that we mentioned we needed to get to the theatre by 7.30. They rang in advance to advise a good time to arrive, and our Kiwi waitress made sure we were served in good time despite busy room. She had worked there for two years, her whole visa length, which is always a good sign!! Pie was huge and very warming on a a cold night. Atmosphere is convivial and room is interesting. Atmosphere buzzy but still able to chat easily. Good prices also. Thank you.

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5. IT

   IntTraveler

   Vancouver

   9 reviews

   5.0

   9 reviews

   Dined on 18 January 2019

   overall5food4service5ambience5

   Fantastic, authentic English pub, with great atmosphere on a Friday evening. It’s narrow, but it never got too crowded. Reserving a high top table was a good idea. They have a large selection of beers (including 2 gluten free options), and an extensive bar. We ordered two sharing plates which were sizable and decent. Service was always fast and friendly. A great discovery in the heart of London, 2 minutes walk from Charing Cross.

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6. KC

   KCandDD

   London

   4 reviews

   4.0

   4 reviews

   Dined on 12 January 2019

   overall4food4service5ambience5

   Authentic and friendly pub right in the centre of town, with a good selection of beers and a range of tasty choices on the restaurant menu. We had a pre-theatre supper and everyone really enjoyed their meals.

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7. TL

   ThibaudL

   London

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on 2 January 2019

   overall5food5service4ambience5

   Great pub for dinner and take a beer! Do not hesitate to go at this pub!!

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8. JK

   JohnK

   Washington DC

   1 review

   4.0

   1 review

   Dined on 27 December 2018

   overall4food4service5ambience3

   Nice Pub for before theatre. Staff was excellent. Food was typical (comfort) pub food. Be careful using Open Table for reservations close to the time you want. The communication between the app and the staff takes time - at least two hours ahead.

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9. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   San Francisco

   1 review

   1.0

   1 review

   Dined on 25 December 2018

   overall1food1service1ambience1

   I would have booked in a restaurant in london for the day of Christmas day and while it was confirmed sources in the restaurant and told me we closed! You are the worst company, of course I will not pick you again

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10. TN

    TeriN

    London

    2 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 22 December 2018

    overall5food4service4ambience5

    We had a great time having dinner at The Old Shades. My husband can't eat gluten, and he was over the moon to have gluten free fish and chips! Otherwise, the food was generally quite good, service extremely friendly if a bit slow here and there, and it is just a beautiful old pub. Amazing value, especially considering the location - we went pre-theatre!

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11. JF

    JaneandFriends

    London

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on 18 December 2018

    overall4food4service5ambience5

    Very good food, service and value. Bit noisy but it is nearly Xmas after all!! All our group had great evening and we'd come here again.

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12. F

    Fenmore83

    London

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 15 December 2018

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    The staff were great. A really nice and professional bunch that made the stay great

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13. WJ

    WJLB517

    New York Area

    19 reviews

    5.0

    19 reviews

    Dined on 20 November 2018

    overall5food5service4ambience5

    Gluten free fish & chips was outstanding! My husband enjoyed the burger. Nice atmosphere. If I lived in London, I would be dining at The Old Shades on a regular basis.

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14. The reviews below were submitted before 2 May 2017, when this restaurant changed management.

15. SB

    SeetoBe

    London

    2 reviews

    2 reviews

    Dined on 8 March 2013

    overall3food3service3ambience3

    Needed to grab a quick bite to eat before going to the Trafalgar Studios for a 7.30 pm start. Was glad that we had booked since it was very busy. Good atmosphere and clearly a favoured watering hole for the nearby workers - I would describe atmosphere as loud and good-humoured so not one for a romantic tryst. Not many people eating that early in the evening - we were there at 6.15 pm. Our orders arrived fairly swiftly and represented good value for money. The stilton salad was particularly good. Only down point was that the burger buns were cheap catering buns and hadn't even been warmed but the burger and trimmings were good and triple fried chips lovely. House Shiraz was excellent. Would definitely visit again. Our waitress was charming.

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16. A

    Anon1

    London

    55 reviews

    vip
    55 reviews

    Dined on 24 December 2012

    overall4food4service4ambience4

    I was genuinely surprised at this place. Nice food in an old pub setting. Worth a visit.

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17. S

    Sisabelle

    London

    14 reviews

    14 reviews

    Dined on 5 December 2012

    overall4food4service3ambience4

    Nice local feeling pub - good food, very chilled would recommend

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18. SH

    SirHumphrey

    London

    2 reviews

    2 reviews

    Dined on 4 December 2012

    overall4food4service4ambience3

    Very handy for the theater! The evening went very well starting with an early booking at the Old Shades. Reservation on the table. Attentive service. We went for the Fish and Chips (triple cooked!). Beautifully done. Excellent pub grub. Bit crowded. Prices about normal for that part of London. Would have got 5* if the fish were not from frozen.

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19. h

    hazel

    Chicago

    29 reviews

    vip
    29 reviews

    Dined on 8 April 2012

    overall1food1service1ambience1

    We were visiting from outside of the country--made the reservation, received a confirmation email--arrived at the appointed time----and found out the restaurant was no longer! Unbelievable!!!!!! To say we were left in a difficult situation is mildly put--extremely disappointed in the OPENTABLE process!!!!!

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