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Londonderry

Europe

United Kingdom

Nestled in the heart of Westminster, London, Bank Restaurants offers a quintessential modern European dining experience with a touch of historic charm. Located at 45 Buckingham Gate, this stylish bistro is renowned for its inviting atmosphere, sophisticated decor, and a menu that caters to discerning palates seeking quality and innovation. Whether you're a local or a traveler exploring the UK's capital, this restaurant promises a memorable culinary journey that combines classic flavors with contemporary flair.

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If you're short on time i'll be brief: nice location, nice decor, lukewarm food and hostile service.

If you have a bit more time i'll explain myself. This restaurant is situated in a nice hotel complex. Stroll through the fancy revolving doors, past the bright young things in the achingly cool bar and be greeted by a host who will take your coat and lead you through to the (rather dimly lit) restaurant.

So far so good.

We had an enviable table by the window with a view of the courtyard and fountain. it really was lovely but rather cold - ladies, take a cardigan! White linen, nice tableware and bulbous lighting made for nice decor. 

Our waitress seemed stressed and hassled despite the restaurant being at about 20% capacity. Throughout the whole meal she reached over us, crept up, barged in, banged things down, neglected to ask if everything was ok and so on. I wasn't expecting silver service but a lot of the usual waiting staff conventions seemed to be thrown out the window.

The menu was nothing special. Some of the dished were printed in a curly, hard to read script and we couldn't work out why.

Bread was tasty but served with rock hard butter - a nice oil would have been better. 

I went for the asparagus and poached egg in hollandaise sauce which was served lukewarm. The dish was actually quite tasty but would have been much improved had it been warm. My steak Bearnaise and accompaniments were so cold i had to send the dish back. When it was returned they had only reheated the steak. The shriveled tomatoes and rubber mushrooms were still cold. 

My partner went for the mussels which tasted fine, followed by a lamb shank which was also lukewarm. We shared rosemary potatoes which had been oven roasted once upon a time but were a little soggy by the time they were served.

We didn't go for desserts as i didn't want any more disappointments. Other than the assiette of desserts there wasn't anything especially appealing. 

I didn't have huge hopes for a restaurant attached to a hotel near Buckingham Palace, but i found the whole meal disappointing. Other hotel restaurants in the area do far better.

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I was going planning to go watch a play around Victoria Station and was looking for a decent place to have a meal beforehand. 
Looked for some time but could not find other than fast food, high street chains that were not what I was looking for!
till I found this place- 
it was hard to book ... no one was answering the phone or replying to emails ! before heading to dinner someone picked up and booked a table 

the location of the restaurant ( no competition around that area at all) and the quality of food along with the friendly service are of the good aspects of this place
one thing I was a bit disappointed is the toilet- more like a school toilets not a restaurant

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The menu of wines, whiskeys and tequilas is wonderful and the food excellent. The service was mostly good and the wait staff was very pleasant. The only thing that marred the meal was the long wait for the food, both starters and entrees.

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Buckingham Gate is a great work location but compared to other business areas in London it is really not so great for food (and shopping). So Bank is the only quality restaurant in that area and as a result it is quite popular. They used to have a perfect 2-course set lunch menu with a couple of options for £16.99 so I was a great fan of this for quick business lunches. Since they stopped doing this set menu (I expect this to come back in a slowing economic environment) I really think that it is expensive for what it is. The menu is a classic London modern European menu with a vast choice of starters and main courses. The best place to sit is at the end next to the big glass verenda facing a little square with a nice fountain. In a sunny day this is really great.
Note that the bar (at the entrance) is typically quite lively and very very..long (the longest bar in London I hear).

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Very acceptable bistro food here with light open decor. Ive only lunched here so cant be sure of atmosphere at night. Food well executed and well presented too. Not cheap but worth it.. 
Did seem a bit bustly even though not full

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This is a great restaurant tucked away in St James. It is the restaurant of the Crowne Plaza St James hotel, but you wouldn't belive you were in a hotel restaurant ( although on saying that hotel restaurants are getting better and better! ) 
It is a very light restaurant with a beautiful courtyard. There are also 2 small private rooms for small parties and the Zander Bar is a very long and busy bar for after dinner drinks! 
Bank Westminster was ideal for a pre theatre Billy Elliott show dinner - just 5 mins walk from the theatre

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I went here a couple of nights ago, and on a summer evening the conservatory style restaurant is very light - almost like dining outside. The menus a strange mixture, with sections for tandoori, pasta, and steak. We shared a mezze platter (£14) and then I had tandoori king prawns (£18). The mezze was a nice assortment, and very tasty, with crispy baked pitta bread. The prawns were a generous portion (as they should be at that price) but while nicely cooked, the prawns themselves were tasteless farmed ones. So, expensive, but a pleasant evening. Service was impeccable. I also had a couple of drinks in the Zander bar. Very buzzy, but again, pricey (small bottle Peroni £4).

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Waaaay too expensive for the food quality. My steak was like shoe leather and the lobster was so small, I needed a magnifying glass. That being said, the service was great. Lousy being sat by a door when the restaurant wasn't nearly full.

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The summary: horrendous service, terrible, overpriced food. 
The detail: This was perhaps the worst service and worst food I've ever had. The waiter was not interested in taking care of us despite only three other small tables when we arrived. The butternut squash and goat cheese tart contained large amounts of cooked spinach which was not listed on the menu. I do not like cooked spinach so I would have never ordered it if they had mentioned it was the primary ingredient. The waiter shrugged his shoulders when I mentioned it to him; he just didn't care. I ordered the carrots as a side which were overcooked and tasteless. My husband tried to order the muscles but ten minutes after our waiter took our order, he returned to angrily tell us that no one informed him that they were out of muscles. He thrust a menu at my husband and then told him to pick something else. He hovered over him so I asked him to give him a few minutes to decide. He seemed irritated but left; eventually he returned to take his order. We ordered dessert since we were both still quite hungry because our meals were terrible. The apple and almond tart was completely tasteless and dry. The brownie was pretty good but a bit dry. Trying to get our bill was over a ten minute process. I literally had to beg them to bring our bill. It's shocking how expensive this terrible meal ended up being. Still hungry when we left.

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Lovely open eating area with glass roof adding to the feeling spaciousness. A number of Indian style dishes on the menu.... We had the tandoori fish special which was absolutely delicious. Substantial portions of salmon, tuna and king prawns were cooked to perfection.

Bank Restaurants Westminster: Modern European Bistro Near Buckingham Palace

Indulge in a selection of tempting starters, from the fresh asparagus with poached egg and hollandaise to a vibrant mezze platter filled with crispy baked pitta and flavorful dips. The tandoori fish special offers a hearty taste of Indian-inspired cuisine, featuring salmon, tuna, and king prawns cooked to perfection.

For the main courses, enjoy dishes like the classic steak with Bearnaise sauce, tender lamb shank, or a variety of modern European options. The menu features substantial portions designed to satisfy and impress, whether you're craving a hearty steak or a delicate seafood dish like tandoori king prawns.

Conclude your meal with a selection of desserts, from the chef's assiette of sweet treats to a classic apple and almond tart. While some past offerings like the brownie have been appreciated for their richness, the dessert menu is varied with options to satisfy every sweet tooth.

The beverage selection is impressive, featuring a wide array of wines, whiskeys, and tequilas to complement your meal. The Zander Bar offers a lively atmosphere for after-dinner drinks, perfect for relaxing and socializing.

While the menu offers a variety of classic European and modern dishes, be sure to inquire about any seasonal specials or chef's recommendations, which often feature fresh, locally sourced ingredients prepared with creative flair.

Discover Bank Restaurants in Westminster, London — a chic dining spot offering exquisite cuisine and a vibrant atmosphere. Book your unforgettable meal today!

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