3 /5 Taste Notes by Ali: We popped into Ollie’s House in Chelsea and the food really delivered. I had the Beef brisket miso hollandaise crumpets: the brisket was tender and well seasoned, the hollandaise was rich without being heavy, and the poached egg was cooked perfectly. The rest of the table were also very happy with their dishes, and overall the menu feels fairly priced for the area and portion sizes.
Where the experience fell down was the service. Our table wasn’t properly cleaned before we were seated, and our server seemed unsure about the menu, including simple details like how many eggs come with a dish and what can be substituted. There was also an awkward moment when they tried to charge us twice (for one order), even though one of our guests had already paid their share, and it only got resolved after the person who served us, spoke with the manager.
On top of that, we asked for room temperature water and were given ice-cold water instead (Yes, it might be a small issue). I fully appreciate that working in hospitality is demanding, but I would expect staff to be confident with the menu, attentive to their surroundings, and accurate with the bill. For that reason, I’d give the service 2 stars, but 4 stars each for the food and atmosphere.
Overall, I’d still recommend giving Ollie’s House a try for the food and vibe, with the hope that the service catches up to the kitchen.