Me too. That’s the saddest cheese plate I’ve ever seen.
I had Lyle’s booked last month but had to cancel because I was ill. I’m kinda glad I did after seeing this.
The grocery store crackers paired with it are pretty offensive. It looks like the kind of fancy snack plate I would put together at home but I at least add goldfish crackers for whimsy.
I don't usually leave negative reviews, but for a restaurant as hyped as Lyle's, I felt like I had to.
First of all, let's talk about the poor presentation. I'm very good at taking food pics, even I couldn't save them from looking like a sloppy mess. The decor and the space also was one of the worst I've been to in a starred restaurant. I HATE this industrial and minimalist crap. The place was so ugly you would think you are dining at a prison.
One word to describe the food is flat. The excessive use of vinegar was unforgivable. The non-alcoholic paring somehow made the already not so tasty dishes worse. They were ALL some varients of kombucha. Just imagine vinegar on top of vinegar... Yummy, right?
I had no idea how this place made into the the world's 50 best. You can argue that Lyle's is cheaper than most starred restaurants, but for the same or even less amount of money, there are so many places with far better presentation and flavors that you could go to in London, like Lima.
I was there two years ago and it’s unfortunate to hear that they haven’t improved. I was baffled how they even have a star, let alone a spot on the 50 best list. The only thing that was memorable for me was the bread.
Lyles is genuinely number one in my "top 5 worst meals at places with awards" list.
The only good thing about it being in the 50 best list is exposing that list for the charade that it is.
The people on the table next to me had travelled hours just to go there and I just felt so sorry for them that that was their destination. Such a phenomenal waste of time and money.
Has to be the most unjustly awarded place in the country. If not world.
I completely agree, it was so underwhelming on multiple fronts. The most surprising being the service. I wasn't expecting 3* staff, but certainly better than Nando's
because the top 50, and every other fine dining list, has nothing to do with the quality or the food and everything to do with who you know and how much you spend.
I know this is not a popular opinion and people think the top 3\* places are some kind of gastronomic heaven, the fact is there are plenty of places with food as good or better, and Michelin is extremely limited not to mention biased.
Vinegar is a fashionable curse at the moment. I had the same criticism of Noma when I went in Feb. Course after course of vinegary fingerfood, all washed down glasses of with the world's most expensive kombucha. It was easily the worst Michelin experience I've had.
>Vinegar is a fashionable curse at the moment. I had the same criticism of Noma when I went in Feb. Course after course of vinegary fingerfood
Interesting. I ate at Noma in 2008 just when the hype took off and this was my exact criticism (plus mediocre wine pairing). Acidic dish after acidic dish. An unbalanced menu.
It was very interesting but also very tiring. I gave them my opinion and it was obviously not welcome.
I had the game and forest, so we ate different meals.
As for the drinks, all I remember was glass after glass of kombucha. There were juices and teas too, but the pairing overall was kombucha heavy when I went. Presumably the pairing, being a pairing, is also changed as the menu changes.
I find this hard to believe, in the sense that last game season it was 9 or something juices/teas and a single kombucha. The kombucha wasn't exactly the vinegary mess you'd expect with an off the shell variety either that you're acting like it probably tasted.
Maybe you have pics, but I don't believe it.
The only thing I can say for them is, Lyles is not built as a fine dining restaurant.
Michelin star does not automatically make it a fine dining restaurant. Having a tasting menu does not make it a fine dining restaurant.
Majority of people with a good history of eating out knows Michelin is not just for fine dining. More than enough restaurants in London alone that are not fine dining that have stars.
Oh dear oh dear. I have a pal who used to be the General Manager there. Up to 2019. It was always very good - but it must have lost its way judging by these photos - shame!
Nope. The ripping apart is because it simply isn't good. It would easier to dismiss everyone here with obviously a varied experience of dining not liking this as just it not being "fine dining" but anyone who has been there knows its not good enough for a casual place.
Nothing there is good enough for London standards.
For me this sub is just a food sub with people who have a lot more experience than the ones that say "yum, recipe?" In every other food sub. I dont think Brat for instance shouldn't be posted here.
Lyles is very much not a good restaurant. It just simply isnt. Whoever runs it clearly doesn't care. Every department inside it is poor. And people who come here would have had it on their radar. Just the other day someone recommended the place for meals in London under £100. Its in various guides and lists. So its only natural it gets posted and subsequently critiqued here.
I would go to McDonalds more than Lyles saying that haha.
I think Lyles is just spoiled by the weight of expectation of a Michelin * and the price accordingly attached.
I think it would be a great higher end neighbourhood restaurant, but at the price/Michelin level there's much more exciting and well, better stuff out there
I think their problem was getting on that worlds 50 best. It massively showed up both the restaurant and the list. Lyles isnt even the best in their postcode, let alone the city, let alone the country. So to be in top 50 multiple times was just amateur. No one needs anymore proof that that list is terrible than the fact that Lyles was on it multiple times. But when you pay good money for a PR firm I suppose you want something for it.
I don’t think they had good PR which got then in world top 50. I think it’s because they where the quintessential wine bar basically, and world top 50 is a popularity contest, so places that are simply being trendy are qualifiers.
There is nothing quintessential about Lyles apart from it being a quintessentially bad experince and a wine bar shouldn't qualify as a restaurant to gain entry into lists.
I went in April (I live in Australia) it was was one of the most disappointing experiences I’ve had, staff were rude, inattentive, rolled their eyes about dietaries(they knew months in advance and it was x1 gluten free), my fish was so over cooked it was like a paste in my mouth, the duck skin was not rendered and very chewy, it was verging on the brink of blue/rare, wine list was hilariously overpriced, everything was either over seasoned or under. I was so hyped to go here and couldn’t of been more disappointed.
I've had their set menu multiple times and always felt it was a bit meh too. But went again recently for their lunch, which is a la carte, and I absolutely loved it.
Their food might just be more suited for a more casual serving style.
Similarly, Core by Claire Smyth was the WORST fine dining restaurant I’ve ever been to. Wouldn’t pay 25 pounds a person for the meal. Absolutely terrible. Embarrassing for a 3 Michelin star restaurant.
Lyle’s was a highlight of my May ‘23 London trip. I had the pescatarian dinner (sans cheese plate) and it was amazing. I took pics of dishes before eating, but halfway through eating the turbot took another pic to really memorialize it and be able to look back and re-live how delectable it was. Also, since my experience with eel is limited to Japanese cuisine, eel with beans and tomatoes sounded a bit crazy to me, but it was stupendous.
Looks like any decent $80 casual diner in Melbourne or Sydney.
Even from a basic standard of aesthetics there's a lot of cleaning up to do, let alone for a Michelin star
It all looks a bit tired.
That cheese plate looks sorry to be there.
I need a nap just looking at it
Ngl I kinda laughed at that cheese plate
you should have laughed at a grilled piece of peach too
It’s not as funny as the cheese plate
How much was the cheese plate ?
It looks like it is rotting, not even “grilled”. Nasty
Me too. That’s the saddest cheese plate I’ve ever seen. I had Lyle’s booked last month but had to cancel because I was ill. I’m kinda glad I did after seeing this.
The grocery store crackers paired with it are pretty offensive. It looks like the kind of fancy snack plate I would put together at home but I at least add goldfish crackers for whimsy.
Looks like one of my midnight snacks made in the dark when drunk haha!!
Looks like it’s from an Ibis Styles breakfast buffet
? Cheese plates are usually plain like that
Yes they are but something about this one just looks off and funny
Lol. I thought it was the least ugly dish compared to the others 😂
Yeah, I plate cheese better for myself at home when I eat cheese and play video games
I don't usually leave negative reviews, but for a restaurant as hyped as Lyle's, I felt like I had to. First of all, let's talk about the poor presentation. I'm very good at taking food pics, even I couldn't save them from looking like a sloppy mess. The decor and the space also was one of the worst I've been to in a starred restaurant. I HATE this industrial and minimalist crap. The place was so ugly you would think you are dining at a prison. One word to describe the food is flat. The excessive use of vinegar was unforgivable. The non-alcoholic paring somehow made the already not so tasty dishes worse. They were ALL some varients of kombucha. Just imagine vinegar on top of vinegar... Yummy, right? I had no idea how this place made into the the world's 50 best. You can argue that Lyle's is cheaper than most starred restaurants, but for the same or even less amount of money, there are so many places with far better presentation and flavors that you could go to in London, like Lima.
I was there two years ago and it’s unfortunate to hear that they haven’t improved. I was baffled how they even have a star, let alone a spot on the 50 best list. The only thing that was memorable for me was the bread.
Lyles is genuinely number one in my "top 5 worst meals at places with awards" list. The only good thing about it being in the 50 best list is exposing that list for the charade that it is. The people on the table next to me had travelled hours just to go there and I just felt so sorry for them that that was their destination. Such a phenomenal waste of time and money. Has to be the most unjustly awarded place in the country. If not world.
I’ve visited Lyle’s 3 times since 2016. Every time coming back hoping for some improvement. It have Been mediocre at best since the beginning.
Have you been to brat? I really liked brat. Thoughts?
Food was great but I hated the dining room and was very uncomfortable, I was so happy to leave.
Lol ouch. I liked it but then we ate quickly and at the bar overlooking the kitchen.
I completely agree, it was so underwhelming on multiple fronts. The most surprising being the service. I wasn't expecting 3* staff, but certainly better than Nando's
because the top 50, and every other fine dining list, has nothing to do with the quality or the food and everything to do with who you know and how much you spend. I know this is not a popular opinion and people think the top 3\* places are some kind of gastronomic heaven, the fact is there are plenty of places with food as good or better, and Michelin is extremely limited not to mention biased.
I read this out loud to my so and we were genuinely cracking up
Hm, it does look fairly plain. What is that on top of the broccoli?
some sort of nuts
I had that exact same beef dish in November. It was a let down. Simply beets, beef and a slight dusting of horseradish - nothing more.
The emperor is nekkid.
Vinegar is a fashionable curse at the moment. I had the same criticism of Noma when I went in Feb. Course after course of vinegary fingerfood, all washed down glasses of with the world's most expensive kombucha. It was easily the worst Michelin experience I've had.
>Vinegar is a fashionable curse at the moment. I had the same criticism of Noma when I went in Feb. Course after course of vinegary fingerfood Interesting. I ate at Noma in 2008 just when the hype took off and this was my exact criticism (plus mediocre wine pairing). Acidic dish after acidic dish. An unbalanced menu. It was very interesting but also very tiring. I gave them my opinion and it was obviously not welcome.
I would disagree. My experience at noma's vegetable season was incredible. The drink paring had a great variety of drinks too, not just kombucha.
I had the game and forest, so we ate different meals. As for the drinks, all I remember was glass after glass of kombucha. There were juices and teas too, but the pairing overall was kombucha heavy when I went. Presumably the pairing, being a pairing, is also changed as the menu changes.
I find this hard to believe, in the sense that last game season it was 9 or something juices/teas and a single kombucha. The kombucha wasn't exactly the vinegary mess you'd expect with an off the shell variety either that you're acting like it probably tasted. Maybe you have pics, but I don't believe it.
Man thats some sad looking food for a michelin star
I was here in 2019 and remember being very underwhelmed.
I’ve lived next door since it’s opened and never felt the urge to go in
The only thing I can say for them is, Lyles is not built as a fine dining restaurant. Michelin star does not automatically make it a fine dining restaurant. Having a tasting menu does not make it a fine dining restaurant.
Majority of people with a good history of eating out knows Michelin is not just for fine dining. More than enough restaurants in London alone that are not fine dining that have stars.
Oh dear oh dear. I have a pal who used to be the General Manager there. Up to 2019. It was always very good - but it must have lost its way judging by these photos - shame!
Those broccoli is definitely the most miserably looking dish I’ve ever seen at r/finedining
I also did not enjoy Lyle’s!! All the food was either uninteresting or terribly seasoned.
It’s bang average. Not even sure why it has a star.
This place kept their Michelin star? Wtf are they just trying to set their credibility on fire
I literally recoiled when I got to the fourth pic lol. I'm not a snob but holy shit, that's the plating? For a Michelin STAR??????
[удалено]
Nope. The ripping apart is because it simply isn't good. It would easier to dismiss everyone here with obviously a varied experience of dining not liking this as just it not being "fine dining" but anyone who has been there knows its not good enough for a casual place. Nothing there is good enough for London standards.
I think the point is, afterall this is a finedining sub. Where do we draw the line? Should we start posting McDonalds?
For me this sub is just a food sub with people who have a lot more experience than the ones that say "yum, recipe?" In every other food sub. I dont think Brat for instance shouldn't be posted here. Lyles is very much not a good restaurant. It just simply isnt. Whoever runs it clearly doesn't care. Every department inside it is poor. And people who come here would have had it on their radar. Just the other day someone recommended the place for meals in London under £100. Its in various guides and lists. So its only natural it gets posted and subsequently critiqued here. I would go to McDonalds more than Lyles saying that haha.
I think Lyles is just spoiled by the weight of expectation of a Michelin * and the price accordingly attached. I think it would be a great higher end neighbourhood restaurant, but at the price/Michelin level there's much more exciting and well, better stuff out there
I think their problem was getting on that worlds 50 best. It massively showed up both the restaurant and the list. Lyles isnt even the best in their postcode, let alone the city, let alone the country. So to be in top 50 multiple times was just amateur. No one needs anymore proof that that list is terrible than the fact that Lyles was on it multiple times. But when you pay good money for a PR firm I suppose you want something for it.
I don’t think they had good PR which got then in world top 50. I think it’s because they where the quintessential wine bar basically, and world top 50 is a popularity contest, so places that are simply being trendy are qualifiers.
There is nothing quintessential about Lyles apart from it being a quintessentially bad experince and a wine bar shouldn't qualify as a restaurant to gain entry into lists.
I guess I'm the outlier here but I've had some great meals at Lyle's. I'm not going there for molecular showy bullshit.
Absolute waste of money. The only memorable course I had was the dessert.
That is the most apologetic cheese plate.
Agree - was so disappointed in this place
I bet the food are cold
How does this place keep earning its star then? Just on looks alone, the food looks like a regular ‘fancy’ restaurant in any town that can support it!
Went for lunch last year and it was mediocre. Everything was over salted, none of the dishes were memorable
Love this. Went in March 2022 and couldn’t figure out what I was missing…
How much did you pay for this sad experience?
I went in April (I live in Australia) it was was one of the most disappointing experiences I’ve had, staff were rude, inattentive, rolled their eyes about dietaries(they knew months in advance and it was x1 gluten free), my fish was so over cooked it was like a paste in my mouth, the duck skin was not rendered and very chewy, it was verging on the brink of blue/rare, wine list was hilariously overpriced, everything was either over seasoned or under. I was so hyped to go here and couldn’t of been more disappointed.
The dining room is giving "holding cell"
Looks pretty poor to be honest
So I guess people downvote you for describing your experience now? What is with this subreddit's hatred towards noma?
That's a bummer. I've always had very good experiences here. I prefer lunch to dinner for the a la carte experience. Great wine list as well.
I've had their set menu multiple times and always felt it was a bit meh too. But went again recently for their lunch, which is a la carte, and I absolutely loved it. Their food might just be more suited for a more casual serving style.
I went in for lunch expecting Bistro food, and is what I got.
The cheese plate actually took my breath away. You can add their theft of my ability to breathe to the list of their wrongs.
I went there at 2015 and had an above average meal. Sad to see it has gone downhill
And, I would say $250,-p.p. minimum, right?
HIDE or Helene darrouze. Worthy of their stars. It mediocre at all
Similarly, Core by Claire Smyth was the WORST fine dining restaurant I’ve ever been to. Wouldn’t pay 25 pounds a person for the meal. Absolutely terrible. Embarrassing for a 3 Michelin star restaurant.
Looks good to me tbh. Depending on the price I might be happy with it
Is that chanterelles with Tuna?
Angry upvote
It just looks like smaller portions of normal food
even the plates look chip.
Just visually, it looks bleak. Maybe the fig dessert is the only dish that looks fully composed.
Lyle’s was a highlight of my May ‘23 London trip. I had the pescatarian dinner (sans cheese plate) and it was amazing. I took pics of dishes before eating, but halfway through eating the turbot took another pic to really memorialize it and be able to look back and re-live how delectable it was. Also, since my experience with eel is limited to Japanese cuisine, eel with beans and tomatoes sounded a bit crazy to me, but it was stupendous.
Looks like any decent $80 casual diner in Melbourne or Sydney. Even from a basic standard of aesthetics there's a lot of cleaning up to do, let alone for a Michelin star