5 /5 Ishan Issadeen: I visited for dinner on a Saturday. The redeveloped Whiteleys complex is almost unrecognisable versus before, with Nela taking up a large space at one end of the building. I had mixed feelings on the venue. It’s massive and the decor somehow got lost in the cavernous space, but on the plus side it was great to get a table with plenty of space and seating was comfortable.
Between the 4 of us (2 adults and 2 kids) we ordered the lavash bread (free), frena bread, fior di latte dip, scallop, beef tartare with langoustine, crispy mushrooms, potato Mille Feuille, sea bream, chicken wings, short rib and the ribeye. For dessert we tried the basque cheesecake, tiramisu and the chocolate cake. It sounds like a lot of food - and it was - but portion sizes are generally quite small and we did get through it all. The food was really good. Favourites were the frena bread, crispy mushrooms (kids loved this), chicken wings and the short rib. The steak was solid too. Desserts lagged the rest of the meal, both the cheesecake and tiramisu were just “ok”, but the chocolate cake (more like a fondant) was more enjoyable.
Service was quite friendly and attentive. We also enjoyed some of their cocktails / mocktails for which the selection was extensive. The bill for our meal came to £421 of which £96 was spent on drinks. Fairly punchy especially for a place in Queensway which is known for good value eateries. But with a comfortable venue, high quality food and efficient service, we left satisfied and I wouldn’t hesitate to return in future.