Darwin Brasserie - (Near City of London, South East)

4 /5 Uland Wong: A great experience overall, but the food quality could be slightly improved, given the expense. When we got here for 5:30 dinner, there were lines wrapped around the building of people waiting to access the Sky Garden observation deck. Fortunately, a reservation at Darwin gets you to the front of the line. You can pay an extra 10 pounds/person for a window table during reservation and we ended up with basically the best table in the house for the view. Very dramatic views of the Shard, London bridge station, and the south bank. The night we were there, they ushered everyone out of the observation deck (other than diners) for a private event and turned down all the lights. This gave it the perfect romantic ambiance and photo opportunity. The food here is decent overall with good portions, but nothing award winning. They made a big show of my partners cinnamon allergy and how they would specially make the steak, but since when is that an actual ingredient in steak? We asked for one steak medium and the other medium rare, but there was no difference in doneness between them and both were a solid medium. The sirloin was tender but a little underseasoned, which the gravy helped with. They forgot to bring out our side spinach initially, but ended up comping us the dish, which was a nice gesture. Even with the freebie, the price was still 115 pounds, not including the reservation fee, so there is definitely a premium. The drinks had the biggest markup, with water and 2 teeny tiny sodas costing 13 pounds (i.e. 18 bucks!).

4 /5 Glen Bertram: Paid for window seat and felt like free money to the restaurant but view was nice. Got noisy due to large numbers and especially from large groups, crying baby etc. Starter of Pork terrine was fine but one small slice of sour dough bread was mean. Pork chop was a good portion and had a great taste. Added chips and salad and both were needed and good. Chocolate mousse was sublime. Partner had cheese cake and excellent. Cheapest Red wine was good and breathed just about right. Irish coffee was strong (coffee element) and a good finish. Cost had 20% added which wasn’t expected. Service was right side of attentive but felt a little rushed to get us in and out. Total £182 and was it worth it?? For the experience and taste, maybe but…. Had better for less and also worse for more!

5 /5 Franklin Ng: I visited with my girlfriend, and while the directions to Darwin Brasserie from the Sky Garden entrance could be clearer, we eventually found it after asking staff at the Italian restaurant. Overall, the experience was great. We were initially seated at a corner table, which meant I wasn’t facing my partner. When I asked if we could move to a table where we could face each other, the waiter was very accommodating and made the change without any issue, which we really appreciated. The food was very good, although we both felt it wasn’t entirely worth the price on its own—it felt more justifiable for the view. We started with the parsnip soup, followed by the chicken supreme and the sea bream for our mains. The service was excellent throughout, with the waiter checking in regularly to make sure we were enjoying our time. We had a wonderful time taking in the view while enjoying some excellent food, though it was slightly on the pricier side for us. We also tried the cocktails—there really isn’t a wrong choice. I finished the meal with a cappuccino, which was very good. Overall, it was a very pleasant experience, and while relatively expensive, it felt like more of a special experience than a casual meal.

5 /5 Jack MacNelis: Our recent visit to Darwin Brasserie was nothing short of exceptional, thanks in large part to the wonderful service we received. our waitress, Lin, made us feel incredibly welcome. Her service was the highlight of our evening—attentive without being intrusive, She checked in on us with perfect timing,and her dedicated manner made the experience feel special. Please pass on our sincere thanks to her. The food matched the quality of the service perfectly. Every dish was amazing—flavourful, expertly cooked, and using clearly fresh, high-quality ingredients. The presentation was on point. Combining incredible food with service of this calibre is a rare find. We left feeling thoroughly looked after and already planning our next visit. Highly recommended! Rating: ★★★★★

5 /5 Dang N: Location, location,location! This spot is all about the views. Be sure to reserve a window table to maximize the overall experience. While not cheap, it’s well worth it. The food is excellent and the service is top notch. We opted for a lunch visit and enjoyed every bite of our meal. Our server was exceptional as well. The Sky Garden is definitely a tourist stop but we’re so glad we visited.