The Alan

The lamb fat cabbage was sublime, a real showstopper. I only ordered it out of curiosity, but we agreed we could eat it every day. We were told it might not be on the new menu, which is a shame. Please reconsider, it could be your signature dish. I’d love the recipe! Bradley looked after us and was a perfect gent. We sat at the counter and watched our food being cooked. Ed the chef was amazing, very chatty, and told us about the food and its provenance. Fanni his assistant was amazing too. It was a wonderful experience from start to finish, and we loved our memorable lunch. Thanks x

We fitted in a quick meal before our comedy show, and the food and service were lovely. The small plates are unusual and really tasty, so I’d definitely recommend eating here. The restaurant was empty and we appreciated being squeezed in, but the manager needs training or should stay in the back office. Everyone else on staff was friendly and knowledgeable. The ladies helped us choose food and wine. Thanks, ladies 😁

Service was good, but the food at The Alan’s restaurant seems to have slipped over the last quarter or so. It used to be excellent. The prawns’ sambal sauce was unevenly heated and tasted too much of tomato, with none of the dried shrimp flavour I expected. I even briefly thought about going to a restaurant in nearby Chinatown for a more authentic version. The steak came out closer to medium than medium-rare, and when we raised it, we were told steaks that size could only be cooked one way. At a hotel named after the father of computing, we found it hard to believe a meat thermometer couldn’t help get it right. The meats also seemed under-seasoned.

We’re back after reviewing brunch at @thealanmcr, and this time tried dinner. The vibe is great for date night, though it would also suit a relaxed meal with friends. The staff were really friendly, and we got a lovely email from the head chef thanking customers for visiting, a nice ‘VIP’ touch. The steak was cooked just right at medium-rare. The outer edges were pretty fatty, but the rest was juicy and almost fat-free. The halibut was fresh, though the citrus was strong and surprisingly orangey, so avoid it if that’s not your thing. The babaganoush was delicious and full of flavour with warm, fresh flatbread. Dessert was the star. If you see ‘snickers’ on the menu, order it. We’d have it every night if our jeans let us 😋 Insta & Tiktok: UKFOODBESTIES Yumminess 💖💖💖💖🤍 Instagramability 💖💖💖💖🤍 Service 💖💖💖💖💖 Vibe 💖💖💖💖💖 Price £££