The Fat Badger, Notting Hill

Couldn't agree more with the reviews of this place. I also encountered the girl behind the bar who likes to think she's a little bit 'crazeee'. She was friendly enough but lacked any kind of prioritisation or professionalism and spent the whole night running up and down the stairs.

The food - oh the food! It was so poor it was laughable. I can laugh because I had a voucher that entitled me to �40 worth of food for �15 but my attitude would be very different if I had paid full price. Surly the point of such offers is about repeat purchase - sell it at a loss to get the punters in on the premise that they'll love it so much they'll be back next time at full price. Not so I'm afraid Fat Badger. I honestly think I could have prepared a better meal � and my best effort amounts to little more than beans on toast. Amateur is being too kind. I assume the aforementioned bar girl must have had something to do with the prices because it sure was 'crazeee'! �15 for a steak that was in effect braising meat with soggy, aged salad doesn�t strike me as being good value for money.

The best thing I can say about this place is that it might be okay for a drink on a quiet week night, other wise steer well clear.

6 Aug 2010 08:12

The Salt House, St John's Wood

I visited to the Salt House today. Went to the bar. Ordered a burger and a coke. I said I'd pay up front. When I came to pay I saw on the computer screen that a 12.5% service charge of �1.50 had been added. Even though I had gone to the bar, placed the order myself and offered to pay there and then. I should also mention that this was not something they were going to mention had I not seen it on screen. I politely asked if this could be removed. My request was greeted by the following reply:

�I�m a barman. My job is to serve drinks, therefore my bringing you food from the kitchen constitutes service.�

I then asked the barman (not waiter you understand) if he seriously considered taking a burger from the kitchen to a seat outside, a distance of no more than 5 metres and a time of less than one minute, to be worth �1.50 he answered:

�Deadly serious.�

Paying for service is at the discretion of the paying customer, not at the instance of the provider. It is not compulsory and should not be applied as such. For anyone considering going to the Salt House be prepared for poor service with an attitude which you will then have to pay for.

29 Aug 2008 13:36