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Joes at Fenwicks, 63 New Bond Street London W1A 3BS


63 New Bond Street London W1A 3BS

020 7495 5402

A light lunch late on a Saturday afternoon proved tempting in Fenwick's. Joe's compact cafe restaurant looked just what we were looking for after a wet slog round the shops, and we didn't have long to wait until we got a table for two by the window. The food was good quality. A dish of grilled vegetables, including some very late season asparagus, with salad and parmesan was delicious. Well-presented, crisp yet cooked vegetables, and not too much oil. A glass each of house red accompanied it well. Unfortunately, a customer at the table beside us lit up with a pipe. Our meal's appearance and taste disappeared in his smoke. (He hadn't even waited to finish his meal before lighting up). We looked around for no-smoking signs, or at least the no-smoking section of the restaurant. Nothing. At another table two customers lit up on their cigarettes. Mmm. Maybe the chargrilling of our food was meant to continue outside the restaurant's kitchen. No sign of much air-conditioning either, so the smoke just mingled with us and the other customers. We asked the manageress. If she had any choice yes, she would ban pipe-smoking and create a no-smoking area, but no she couldn't do that. We also ordered chips with our lunch. They didn't arrive. We asked a waitress to check if they were coming. She never returned, and nor did the chips. So, if you like the 1960s approach to food served with cigarette and pipe smoke, mixed in with poor service, you know where to head. Also, if you like buying good quality clothing with that extra whiff of cigarette and pipe smoke, head for Fenwick's. The restaurant is part of the open-plan sales floor. Don't worry about waiting: the queue will be shorter by two people - permanently. Rejected. Q Tips