We sat and enjoyed a milkshake each in a cafe over the road (refreshing in the heat), and as I was beyond going further afield, we just wandered along Victoria Place and a little further, looking at shops. I decided to try out 'Leon' for an early lunch (extensive GF options) and really enjoyed their Moroccan meatballs. Then it was back to the hotel for a rest, after doing practically nothing! In the end, David headed off on his own to walk to and tour Apsley House (the Duke of Wellington's home on the corner of Hyde Park). He had also hoped to stroll through the parks on such a beautiful day, but I just needed to stay still with my box of tissues. A terrible waste of our last full day in London, but all I could manage.
David arrived back after an hour and a half outing, having enjoyed Apsley House, and carrying a souvenir book so I could enjoy it too. I was feeling a little better but not that keen to make the effort to go out for dinner. But, before we left NZ, I had already booked the two nights for dinner at Jamie's Italian in Victoria, and this was our second night... It had been so great the first night, we looked forward to a repeat... I nearly got us lost getting there, with making a wrong turn leaving Victoria Station...
Sadly, we had a particularly disappointing experience at Jamie's this time - I guess Tuesday's meal reached such a high level, we were on the cards to experience the opposite... We ordered identical meals and drinks to last time. It started with taking nearly 20 minutes just to get our drinks (David was worried that the meals would arrive well before the drinks). We got water right away when requested as we sat down, but it was not cold and had no ice in it (we saw other carafes later had ice in them...). Once the drinks arrived, I wondered what was happening when I kept sucking three giant lemon pips up the straw from my Amalfi Collins cocktail (9 big pips was the total count in my glass). Our meals arrived and right away didn't look as good or as well-presented. David's looked kind of 'flat' and he said the chicken seemed dry and over-cooked, and my pasta was only warm, grossly over cooked and squishy, and the sauce was tasteless and just a puddle in the plate rather than coating the pasta. I had to ask for the additional grating of fresh Parmesan that our waitress had offered last time. The meal was not good! Luckily, the waiter was back in a minute or two to enquire how our meals were, and I told him why mine was not good (and how it had no flavour either - it was very bland) and he said that he too could see it was overcooked. He offered to have another one done in 5 minutes, and that is pretty much what happened. Someone else delivered it, didn't offer the Parmesan, and it still didn't look the quality presentation (limp parsley and still only a puddle of sauce) or even the quantity of my main on Tuesday night - it was still a bit overcooked. But it was hot this time, and had some (slightly salty) flavour (David hoped the chef hadn't spat on it...). It certainly wasn't something I would have returned for if we'd had it the first night. After that, I flagged the idea of having my intended second cocktail and dessert there, and we just wanted to leave. We asked for the bill (which didn't arrive) so eventually stood up and started walking out towards the entrance counter. Whereby our waiter rushed to the till and made up the bill which, thankfully did not include a charge for my main, nor a service charge. He was apologetic, but his service hadn't been great either. He made comments about the barman being busy, trainees in the kitchen... Make your own comparison with my Tuesday post... And other reviews on TripAdvisor indicate very mixed experiences as well...
It was a balmy 23C and we had a pleasant walk back to our hotel. In spite of the disappointing dinner, I was feeling a lot better.
Sadly, we had a particularly disappointing experience at Jamie's this time - I guess Tuesday's meal reached such a high level, we were on the cards to experience the opposite... We ordered identical meals and drinks to last time. It started with taking nearly 20 minutes just to get our drinks (David was worried that the meals would arrive well before the drinks). We got water right away when requested as we sat down, but it was not cold and had no ice in it (we saw other carafes later had ice in them...). Once the drinks arrived, I wondered what was happening when I kept sucking three giant lemon pips up the straw from my Amalfi Collins cocktail (9 big pips was the total count in my glass). Our meals arrived and right away didn't look as good or as well-presented. David's looked kind of 'flat' and he said the chicken seemed dry and over-cooked, and my pasta was only warm, grossly over cooked and squishy, and the sauce was tasteless and just a puddle in the plate rather than coating the pasta. I had to ask for the additional grating of fresh Parmesan that our waitress had offered last time. The meal was not good! Luckily, the waiter was back in a minute or two to enquire how our meals were, and I told him why mine was not good (and how it had no flavour either - it was very bland) and he said that he too could see it was overcooked. He offered to have another one done in 5 minutes, and that is pretty much what happened. Someone else delivered it, didn't offer the Parmesan, and it still didn't look the quality presentation (limp parsley and still only a puddle of sauce) or even the quantity of my main on Tuesday night - it was still a bit overcooked. But it was hot this time, and had some (slightly salty) flavour (David hoped the chef hadn't spat on it...). It certainly wasn't something I would have returned for if we'd had it the first night. After that, I flagged the idea of having my intended second cocktail and dessert there, and we just wanted to leave. We asked for the bill (which didn't arrive) so eventually stood up and started walking out towards the entrance counter. Whereby our waiter rushed to the till and made up the bill which, thankfully did not include a charge for my main, nor a service charge. He was apologetic, but his service hadn't been great either. He made comments about the barman being busy, trainees in the kitchen... Make your own comparison with my Tuesday post... And other reviews on TripAdvisor indicate very mixed experiences as well...
It was a balmy 23C and we had a pleasant walk back to our hotel. In spite of the disappointing dinner, I was feeling a lot better.
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