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Londonderry

Europe

United Kingdom

Nestled within the historic Strand Palace Hotel in the heart of Londonderry, Haxells Restaurant and Bar offers a quintessential British dining experience infused with a modern twist. This lively spot is renowned for its vibrant atmosphere, making it a favorite among both hotel guests and locals seeking a relaxed yet stylish venue to enjoy hearty meals and refreshing drinks.

Book your experience now at Haxells Restaurant and Bar

Discover the best British cuisine in Londonderry

Experience the lively bar scene at Haxells

Share your experience at Haxells Restaurant and Bar

Haxells Restaurant and Bar at Strand Palace Hotel

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The breakfast was not worth the wait or the price, buffet style, food not hot.
Go around the corner to Amelia's

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This is the restaurant located within the Strand Palace hotel. I had a voucher from staying at the hotel to use within the restaurant so  I came down for dinner one night. Their menu has a pretty good variety to be able to suit anyone in your party. I opted for the Chicken Burger - it was a large portion of chicken, a nice pickled slaw, and truffle mayo paired with chips. It was a bit pricey for what it was (a burger), but it is a hotel restaurant so not too surprising. All in all, a good option if you are staying at this hotel.

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I came out here to eat since I was staying at The Strand Palace hotel anyway. It seemed like a logical choice and I was starving and desperate for some food STAT. I didn't want anything too too heavy since it was officially my first night in London, so I got their Cesar salad with fried anchovy and had prawns thrown in there for good measure. The salad itself was rather HUGE despite the fact that it was only half size. There was ample amounts of shaved parmesan cheese in it, and it went well very well with the anchovy and prawn which gave it a unique twist. I paired this with the tomato basil soup which gave me a good hearty finish. It came  with the basil oil sitting in the bowl and they pour on the tomato soup over it so it had a very interesting flavor and color to it. Tasted delicious and hit the spot after walking around FOR HOURS. 
Apparently the hotel offers free dessert for each day you do not request your room to be cleaned, which shows that sometimes it certainly does pay to be messy. The first dessert I got was the creme brulee. Normally I would expect it to be in a tiny porcelain pot and practically a few bites. Oh no. This one was HUGE. It was tasty, with generous amounts of creamy vanilla custard, balancing well with the burnt sugar crust. On my second day, I got some salted caramel ice cream. Once again, I was disarmed by how large this was. Four scoops of ice cream. Each bite creamy with just a hint of the salted caramel, so it wasn't overwhelming. A very nice treat, made even sweeter considering that it was free. Well worth paying for  though.

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First off, I would like to commend Haxells for hiring so many magicians to work on its wait staff. I mean, I'm assuming they were magicians because they disappeared quite often.
The Strand Palace is too nice and classy of a hotel to have such a mediocre restaurant on its premises. The first thing one notices, hotel guest or otherwise, is the number of disheveled, unbussed tables as you approach the restaurant. I counted SEVEN tables piled high with dirty dishes and this was during a lull in the afternoon, not the morning rush. No excuse for that.
The staff/management seems to match these tables in that they are somewhat confused by who is working which table, which customer has been waited on, or a general understanding of how restaurants work, in my honest opinion.
Once seated, it took about 10 minutes for a server to take my order (again, it was a slow time) and about 15 minutes to receive my club sandwich. So, while the service may be lacking and the restaurant's appearance may be unkempt, at least the food is bad to mediocre. My club sandwich was dry; there were NO condiments on it, nor was I offered any. But the servers where so scarce and I was hungry, that I started eating anyway. Dry and as flavorless as biting into a stack of gloves and napkins!
Well, I'm sure you're thinking that at least I only suffered through it once, right? 
Sadly, no. I was a guest at the Strand Palace, a hotel I adore, and I received 7-pound coupons to use at either Haxells or The Gin Palace. My plan was to buy a cocktail or two my last night London at The Gin Palace and use these coupons but since my last night was Monday and my beloved Gin Palace was closed, I was determined to get my money's worth so I used the three coupons I had collected for the breakfast buffet, determined to get my full English.
Again, the service was off because nobody seemed to know what to do. And even though it was breakfast, it was not terribly crowded. I asked for coffee, a coffee pot was set upon my table by one server, then another server picked it up and took it away! I ended up going to Costa around the corner for my morning coffee! 
Haxells looks good  from the lobby (when the tables are bussed, that is) but the food and service simply do not even live up to standards set at the following restaurants, where I have had much better service: Applebee's, Olive Garden, Longhorn Steakhouse, Denny's, Chili's, and, yes, even Waffle House!
The Strand Palace deserves better than what Haxells has to offer. I will stay at the Palace again but I'm saving my coupons for The Gin Palace. Plus, since The Wellington is two doors down (amazing Sunday roast) and there are TWO Pret a Mangers across the street, save yourself the hassle and avoid Haxells!

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Leaving one star, as it's not possible to leave zero.  Not too busy, fully staffed and bloody awful service. Waited for 12 minutes after being seated for a waiter to arrive at my table. Ordered a dinner and a cocktail and waited another five minutes for the cocktail to arrive. With so many great options near Covent Garden one should avoid the over-priced mediocre food and poor service.

Haxells Restaurant & Bar at Strand Palace Hotel, London: Great British Cuisine Near Covent Garden

A Quintessential London Dining Experience

Nestled within the iconic Strand Palace Hotel, Haxells Restaurant and Bar offers a classic yet contemporary British dining experience in the heart of Londonderry. Ideal for hotel guests and locals alike, this venue captures the spirit of London with its inviting ambiance and diverse menu designed to satisfy every palate.

Begin your meal with a selection of hearty and innovative starters

Cesar Salad with Fried Anchovy and Prawns

Satisfy your appetite with a variety of British favorites and modern twists

Chicken Burger with Pickled Slaw and Truffle Mayo, served with Chips

Indulge in sweet treats that perfectly close your meal

Cream Brulee with a Thick Burnt Sugar Crust

Salted Caramel Ice Cream, generous four-scoop serving

Explore a curated selection of British classics and signature cocktails

Discover Haxells Restaurant and Bar in historic Londonderry, UK. Savor delicious cuisine in a vibrant setting just steps from the Strand. Book your table now!

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