The Ned Sunday Buffet
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Discussion

Nicetobenice

Original Poster:

1,114 posts

5 months

Monday 20th July
quotequote all
Has anyone been?

I am faced with organising a lunch on a Sunday following a family party.

It needs to be in central(ish) London.

I was looking at the Ned as it will be a mixed group of (mostly hungover) people so I wanted something informal and half decent.

The principle looks good but the reviews are mixed which, given the price, isn't great.

any other ideas?

I'll be getting towards the end of a three day family event and I will almost certainly be totally out of small talk. Hence looking at a posh buffet.
I also don't drink anymore so I can't even just sit in the corner in deep conversation with a delicious bottle of red.

TIGA84

5,569 posts

258 months

Monday 20th July
quotequote all
I haven't, but I know a few people that have.

Depends on your budget and how big your appetites are to get the full value, if your smashing a dozen oysters for starters and going up 2/3 times then fine, if you're not, then its not worth it.

Some enjoyed it, others (mostly) were fairly indifferent food wise.

However, all said it was too expensive and they wouldn't do it again.

Go to the Harwood Arms and be served like a human, especially if you're hungover, for half the price and for 2 courses.


C5_Steve

8,491 posts

130 months

Monday 20th July
quotequote all
I've been. If you don't eat seafood, it's probably not worth it cost wise. There's only a certain amount of food I can consume and I didn't feel I was making my money back in Yorkshire puds biggrin

I will say that all the food was of a very high standard and the selection was excellent. You can also order pasta/pizza off the menu which is nice. The selection does vary though it seems as when we went certain items I'd seen weren't there.

chazwozza

958 posts

213 months

Tuesday 21st July
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Oooh, interesting, I'm going in a few weeks. Heard good things is all I can say!

ChevronB19

8,746 posts

190 months

Tuesday 21st July
quotequote all
Having family from Glasgow, a ned buffet has an entirely different meaning to me smile

craigjm

21,097 posts

227 months

Tuesday 21st July
quotequote all
It’s not as good as it used to be and much more expensive. As said only really worth it if you’re going to gorge on lots of lobster etc. The quality is OK to good on most items as you would expect for the money but it still suffers from the usual “buffet quality”

Personally for a good Sunday lunch in London I don’t think you can beat the all in at Blacklock.

John D.

20,767 posts

236 months

Tuesday 21st July
quotequote all
ChevronB19 said:
Having family from Glasgow, a ned buffet has an entirely different meaning to me smile
I thought this was going to be a Toby Carvery thread.

omniflow

3,746 posts

178 months

Wednesday
quotequote all
As has already been said, it's a lot more expensive than it used to be. We went once and I saw a guy with 5 or 6 lobster halves on one plate. That's one way to get VFM I suppose.

The food is pretty good and the setting is amazing. They also have a live Jazz trio in the middle of the main space.

If you judge it on the cost for what you ate, you'll probably think it was very expensive. If you judge it on the overall experience, you'll still probably think it was very expensive but possibly just about worth it.

Nicetobenice

Original Poster:

1,114 posts

5 months

Wednesday
quotequote all
In the end they didn't have enough space, so given the size of the place it's obviously popular

Ended up booking St John Smithfield - pre-ordered "summer feast"


craigjm

21,097 posts

227 months

Wednesday
quotequote all
Very different to the ned. Have you been before? I cant really see how they managed to get a star and the dining room feels like a slightly upscale cafe to me. We had the whole pig with a starter each and didnt bother with dessert because we had to buy so many sides to go with the pig over what you go as part of the price.

Nicetobenice

Original Poster:

1,114 posts

5 months

Wednesday
quotequote all
craigjm said:
Very different to the ned. Have you been before? I cant really see how they managed to get a star and the dining room feels like a slightly upscale cafe to me. We had the whole pig with a starter each and didnt bother with dessert because we had to buy so many sides to go with the pig over what you go as part of the price.
Yes it was practically my work canteen when I was down there regularly

I've always absolutely loved the place but was bit worried about the menu for a mixed group
Anyway the summer feasting menu seemed suitable and they were able to fit us in after a bit of persuasion




MarkJS

2,122 posts

174 months

Wednesday
quotequote all
craigjm said:
Personally for a good Sunday lunch in London I don t think you can beat the all in at Blacklock.
I was just about type exactly the same thing. They’re brilliant and I’m looking forward to visiting the Manchester one soon.

craigjm

21,097 posts

227 months

Wednesday
quotequote all
Nicetobenice said:
craigjm said:
Very different to the ned. Have you been before? I cant really see how they managed to get a star and the dining room feels like a slightly upscale cafe to me. We had the whole pig with a starter each and didnt bother with dessert because we had to buy so many sides to go with the pig over what you go as part of the price.
Yes it was practically my work canteen when I was down there regularly

I've always absolutely loved the place but was bit worried about the menu for a mixed group
Anyway the summer feasting menu seemed suitable and they were able to fit us in after a bit of persuasion
Fair enough was just making sure you knew what you were waking into. Enjoy

GliderRider

2,898 posts

108 months

Wednesday
quotequote all
ChevronB19 said:
Having family from Glasgow, a ned buffet has an entirely different meaning to me smile
Likewise! With Mrs GliderRider being Govan-born, I was expecting a Ned Buffet to look like this :



Otherwise known as a 'munchie box'.

Mobile Chicane

21,934 posts

239 months

Thursday
quotequote all
GliderRider said:
ChevronB19 said:
Having family from Glasgow, a ned buffet has an entirely different meaning to me smile
Likewise! With Mrs GliderRider being Govan-born, I was expecting a Ned Buffet to look like this :



Otherwise known as a 'munchie box'.
Now that's the kind of 'buffet' I could get behind, especially after a few drinks.

No rubbery lobster for me.

Renegade Master

87 posts

6 months

Thursday
quotequote all
The Ned's Sunday feast at £190 per person for the unlimited champagne option actually doesn't seem that bad. I went for lunch with a colleague to their steak place (Lutyens) a few weeks ago, and it ended up being £430 for the two of us. The steak was absolutely amazing though.

paulwirral

3,803 posts

162 months

Thursday
quotequote all
GliderRider said:
ChevronB19 said:
Having family from Glasgow, a ned buffet has an entirely different meaning to me smile
Likewise! With Mrs GliderRider being Govan-born, I was expecting a Ned Buffet to look like this :



Otherwise known as a 'munchie box'.
Ned , non educated delinquent for those south of the border

nikaiyo2

5,911 posts

222 months

Thursday
quotequote all
Not been to the NED in an age.

Does the Electric Bar still do the best Bloody Mary?

blueg33

45,860 posts

251 months

I find the NED way too noisy. My autistic daughter would have an instant meltdown in there. If you are taking a group of people I would want to be sure they could all deal with it.


Maxym

2,943 posts

263 months

paulwirral said:
Ned , non educated delinquent for those south of the border
Thanks. I was wondering.!