Drunken Butler in Islington

We went to the DB a couple of years ago and it was wonderful. We went a couple of nights ago and it was a massive disappointment. I believe they have had some sort of strategic shift in style/purpose and this will probably explain the difference. My partner and I are happy to spend on a good meal but in this case we felt completely duped. Like the restaurant must have been having a really good laugh on us! Average food, small portions, ‘blind’ wine pairings that were hugely over-rated, lots of ‘extras’ and outrageous, truly outrageous prices. I cannot remember ever feeling I had received less value for money from a dining experience.

The restaurant is very pleasant. Service was good and you are not rushed. There was plenty of food which whilst decent had no real wow factor to it. Our bill was £235 a head with wine which was a little expensive relative to other restaurants in London for the standard of food and drink. Whilst we will probably use again it wont be one of our regular restaurants,

First: the staff are very friendly, and service is very good. The food is good, if overpriced for the quality and quantity. The wine pairings are mediocre and unjustifiably priced. The restaurant forgot to serve our table (3p) the first dish on the tasting menu, which is three individual snack bites pp. When I pointed this out at closing, we were offered a round. One in our party wasn’t drinking and the two of us remaining had drunk enough, so we declined. We were told we’d be comped the coffee/tea. I honestly assumed that the first round of cocktails would be comped, because we all know what coffee/tea costs a restaurant. Nope, that’s all we got. The following day I called to clarify questions about the bill - I was surprised that 3p, one having had only one glass of champagne - could spend over 820£ on what we got. I brought up the forgotten dish, and that we hadn’t wanted more alcohol but could have had the original round comped. The owner told me that “the snacks are not part of the menu, they are a gift to the guest.” I’m not sure if the owner thinks that his guests are incredibly stupid, but at that moment I was holding the menu print out, which clearly listed the snacks as part of the course list. The snacks are quite literally *part of the menu*. I also pointed out that, as the paying guest, I pay for the produce, the chefs’ cook time and the time spent in culinary innovation, so, yes, I definitely paid for this dish, and it was not “gifted” to me. Nothing was done.

Uno de los mejores menús que probé en mi vida. Excelente combinanción, equilibrada, combinada, y sin llegar a parecerte mucho. Postres excelentes y la calidad humana de Yuma y si gente, inigualable. Un sitio de 10 , total!

We had never heard of The Drunken Butler and we eat out a lot so it was a bit of a surprise to find such an enjoyable restaurant. It's small and intimate and we sat on the chef's table which is directly in front of the kitchen. The tasting menu is amazing with some innovative dishes which includes scallop noodles, chicken in the egg and venison, prune and chocolate to name but a few. The service is fantastic and very knowledgeable across both the food and wine.

We paid £240 for absolutely NOTHING!! The cancellation policy is super strict and not negotiable, I don't recommend you to book this place, especially during COVID time. The cancellation policy is 3 days and they charge you £120 per head if you cannot make it. Our babysitter had to go to hospital, we called the restaurant, the person were very rude on the phone, and they were not able to help such as changing the time, or have take away (I know it's difficult for this type of cuisine but i would have appreciate at least a few ingredients or a gesture for £240). This is the worst dining experience i had in my entire life. We end up having to buy our own Chinese noddle take away with the few pounds we had left.

My other half and I are huge foodies. This is one of the best meals we have had in years. We went for the tasting menu (having previously loved the Persian Sundays and fearing that the tasting menu couldn’t possibility be as good. It was). The food was sensational: lots of dishes, every one one superb. The amuse bouches at the outset were fantastic (a truffle, chicken liver, crispy potato one was particularly scrumptious) and we knew we were in for a good night. Nothing else disappointed. There was a ‘chicken in the egg’ which was a mouthful of heaven, an inventive take on ramen with scallop noodles - amazing - and probably the piece de resistance was an incredible BBQ monkfish that took our breath away. I’ve seen other reviews say that portions were small: I have to disagree, they were perfect and the number of courses is generous. We were certainly not hungry afterwards! The wine flight was fun, unusual and always delicious. And the waiting staff and proprietor Yuma were delightful, attentive without being intrusive in any way, excellent company and really added to the enjoyment of the evening. I cannot recommend this restaurant enough. It is not a cheap night out but for a special treat, I doubt you could do better anywhere in London. If I could give it six stars, I would. It is just a matter of time before Michelin pays a visit.

This place seems to have two kinds of reviews: very positive and very negative. I went there with an open mind. The ambience is nice, nothing great but pleasant. Jazz playing in background. It is a multi-course prefix with wine pairings and several attempts to sell add ons at extortionate prices. The drinks were so paltry my wife thought that the glass only had ice in it. 40 ml at full prices. The food and wine were good, but nothing spectacular. Nothing Persian about it. Basically, an assortment of very, very small tasting menu items that never amounted to anything more than a tasty morsel. The main courses were monk fish and duck which were good but tiny and hardly served to satisfy anyone with a normal appetite. The wine was OK but overpriced, and again minimal quantities. The dishes were attractive and the rather weird "everything but the kitchen skin" approach to composition was sometimes savory and interesting but never amazing. They kept trying to push additional food--tempting for those still looking to get something substantial to eat--but at outrageous prices. In the end, 4 people, the basic tasting menu with wine pairing was 800 GBP. I left angry and hungry. This is a total scam. The positive reviews are most likely planted. AVOID THIS AT ALL COSTS.

Incredible experience - we went for the Persian Sunday lunch. The food is authentic (I am Persian) and of a very high standard. A lovely and very personable team of staff who will make your dining experience one to remember.

We had a pleasant evening here - most of the dishes were good and there were some unusual flavour combinations. But the turbot was over cooked and the veal was a bit tough. Most disappointing was the complete lack of Persian flavours. Perhaps they need to stop marketing their Persian ness and manage customers expectations. It was a nice meal but it did feel a little like they focus too much on the theatre (serving 2 of the courses in little trees) rather than focusing on achieving amazing flavours. The mark-up on the wines was also one of the highest we’ve ever experienced - I understand it’s how restaurants make their money but this was excessive. Service was great and overall it was a pleasant evening with friends but not sure I’d go back.

Do not waste your time or money here. I am Persian and the food is NOT authentic. The owner is a disrespectful man. This was the second time we came, we liked it the first time and I wanted to take my sister back but boy did I regret this decision. They didn't give you any extra food than they would have for just having two people, and when we asked about this the owner was extremely aggressive and said "I do what I want, if you don't like it don't come" which seems to be the same attitude other's have experienced in other reviews. They also overcharge - £400 for dinner adding £50 for service charge extra. The food is also BLAND, it lacked taste. He has photos of himself everywhere it's so cringe. They also claim to have a sommelier who is actually the other owner and knows nothing about wine - it's a joke of a place. Please please please don't waste your precious time giving someone like this your money, these people are what's wrong with the world. :(

Very basic Persian cuisine. Nothing was authentic or special. Came as 2 couples but could not have been more disappointed. Portions were pathetic, prices are outrageous and when we questioned the service bill the owner told us “if I want to give you one dish at my discretion, that’s my choice” - for £335 for 4 people. This guy needs some training in manners and also needs to take the Narcissistic portraits of himself down. I think he needs to work on the restaurant decor also. When a man complained, he quite literally shrunk into himself; when a female did, he proceeded to tell them they weren’t raised properly...he needs to read the reviews. The restaurant staff kept taking half eaten dishes away and the prices don’t match the quality of the food. All in all, horrified by this terrible experience

Absolutely incredible food and interesting flavours. Really unusual, special tasting menu, with not only top quality ingredients, but incredibly unique flavour combinations. The owner and staff made us feel so welcome and their expertise and knowledge of their suppliers, ingredients and history of their recipes made the experience so special. There were additional courses and new recipes on top of what we were expecting and the whole evening was wonderful. The decor is beautiful to top it off. Can't recommend dining at the Drunken Butler highly enough.

Quality of food is average. The concept behind it would be interesting, but the portions are so insignificant that you can barely guess what was in the chef’s mind. The staff is polite but not warm, and more importantly they do not wear masks. The selection of drinks was accurate but very limited, and the price you pay for it is not worth it. Overrated and below Michelin standard.

This is a brilliant restaurant and I can't recommend it highly enough. The owner, the staff, the welcome, and the best quality food and wine pairings make this an outstanding place to eat with friends. The portion sizes are just fine and the chef really looks after you. It is an intimate venue so you see everything is cooked fresh. I have been here three times and constantly recommend it to friends. Jay Rayner or Giles Coren should do a review. Every time I am in London I will go here.

I attended with a friend and unfortunately it was the worst experience of my life. The quality of food was poor, the owner was rude. The portions were sooo small and to make things worse I had to share this with my friend. The taste...

Extremely poor and awful service .Extremely poor attitude and arrogant staff , we surprisingly being overcharged for very poor food , the quality and quantity was very low , avoid this restaurant like the plague as it was disgusting experience and extremely poor , I...

We were warmly greeted and escorted to our table. At face value the tasting menu was vague and non descriptive, however once the dishes started to arrive, the fun began. Each dish carefully thought out, beautifully presented and the flavours working in harmony - what...

We went for our anniversary dinner and it was perfect. Beautiful looking and tasting food. And interesting wines to go with the food. Very warm staff. Looking forward to trying the Sunday feast next!

This is not the first time dining at this restaurant & it certainly won’t be the last. Mostly due to the high quality & consistency of food & service. The recent addition of the Sunday Persian Feast, is brilliant & a different experience to their...

We ate there on a quiet Wednesday night. Homey atmosphere. Service was well-informed and attentive. We went for the 9-course and wine pairing. Some dishes were excellent, all were good. Pairing was interesting but as always with some “misses” as well. Overall, innovative food combined...

We ate here with friends on Saturday night, and I am gald to say that we're already looking forward to our next visit. Food was DELICIOUS, the service was well informed and attentive, and the setting although simple, but had a homey atmosphere. Yuma (owner/chef)...

One of best meals I have experienced. Wonderful staff and owner involved. A culinary delight. Highest of recommendation. Only downside I wish they sold T-shirt’s.

It was a quiet mid week night so the restaurant lacked a bit of atmosphere. However, it is a pleasant space and you can watch the kitchen team at work. I thought the tasting menu had some good elements but it's a fact of life...

Went for a birthday dinner last night with two other couples. Beautiful restaurant with big wooden tables, high ceilings, and warm soft lighting. There’s not that many tables so it feels intimate, but at the same time spacious and relaxed. The tasting menu was incredible!!...

Came here for dinner and was impressed with the quality and presentation of the food. We had the 5 course tasting menu at £49pp. In order of ranking, our favourites were the oysters (in pistachio and in raspberry) followed by the duck (perfectly cooked), the...

A culinary adventure...well worth it. Excellent service. Exquisite food to excite and tantalise every palate. Book in advance. Tables are shared but big enough not to feel crowded.

I went here last week with my mum, and had a genuinely wonderful meal. The staff members were incredibly lovely, the restaurant itself is lovely and unpretentious with views of the kitchen so you can watch the dishes being plated, and most importantly, the food...

Ресторан подает только дегустационное меню. Цены высокие, но оно того стоит. Большая коллекция вин. Очень дружелюбный персонал. Индивидуальный подход шефа.

We had the pleasure of going to The Drunken Butler on Sunday night, where Yuma and his team do a Persian set menu - and it did not disappoint. The ambience was great, the food was superb, and Yuma was even kind enough to give...

We had the French tasting menu on a Friday night and it was the best tasting menu we’ve had in a long time. Better than some of the more ‘established’ tasting menu’s in London. The oysters, scallops and slow cooked egg dishes were our favourites...

First time in this restaurant tonight and OMG, it was amazing! We sat at the Chefs table and were given an experience to remember. Each course from the tasting menu was superbly presented and announced to us as it arrived on the table. The Head...

I have been there twice, both for the French menu and the Persian Sunday lunch. The French one was just ok however I do not think they should promote the Persian Sundays at all as not only that the food is not tasty but it...

This restaurant is becoming a bit of an addiction... 3rd visit in as many weeks...why, because it’s different & it’s delicious. Whether indulging in the set menu, grazing on yummy taste-bud sensations or lingering over the Persian Sunday feast, the fusion food is exquisitely presented...

My mistake not notifying the restaurant of not being a big fan of fish. Got the chefs selection - 5 tasting courses with wine. Notified staff I wasn't a big fan of fish so they did their best to accommodate. Nonetheless, was presented with scallop,...

Yuma is an amazing chef and host and he deserves the upmost plaudits for his work. His pairing of food and incredible wine makes the experience an event. For me coming back to London from abroad this is the best up and coming restaurant in...

This is the second time I’ve been here and it’s just as amazing as I remembered when it first opened. Yuma Hashemi knows flavour. French / Persian inspired these flavours are well combined, each mouthful carefully thought out and cooked in the open kitchen to...

Magnifique restaurant dans un cadre particulier mais cosy (table "collective") 2 Menus découvertes avec le wine pairing adapté Très bonne...

Although the meal was OK, I was extremely disappointed by the service. The chef recommended a bottle of wine after we had finished the first one. When we got the bill, we realised he had given us one of the most expensive wines on the...

All was going well with our visit - nice ambience, friendly waiters, good food - right up to the point my stomach decided to reject their offering! I suspect it was the oysters. Yes, I know you should avoid oysters from May to October but...

Was taken by friends for dinner and had a wonderful time. Nothing was too much trouble and even the cake my friend had baked and brought with her was served up at the end with some lovely flourishes. The four of us had the 7...

A super place for something different. More Persian than French. food was fantastic and very different from the norm. Great flavours. Remember to leave some room for their pistachio baclava!

A high-end restaurant with a tasting format from 5-9 courses. Wine pairing with each course, which had some surprises, Iike a Merlot with a pork dish. It worked! The food had some intriguing combinations of French and Persian.This restaurant may not be for everyone (if...

We enjoyed an absolutely fantastic Sunday lunch here for my milestone birthday. Yuma was a great host and cooked the group of 10 adults and 3 children a delicious and wonderfully authentic Persian meal. Everything was perfect and all my friends loved it.

C'est par hasard que nous avons découvert ce restaurant près de notre hôtel. Et qu'elle découverte ! Tout d'abord l'endroit...

Fantastic tasting menu. All courses were excellent and wine pairing was perfect. Had a really in evening and would highly recommend.

Not a cheap place but great atmosphere and beautiful open kitchen. The chef is very cool and took time to explain all the plates. Food looks amazing, tastes very good as well. only thing to really improve is the wine, i went for the degustation...

Food and service was oustanding from start to finnish. We will deffinatly be visiting again. Amazing!

The first start oyster is the best and amazing! Then it all got a bit feeling watered down , 3rd - 4th course down the tasting menu I have to downgrade my 4 star impression to around 3.2 stars. I hope they can try to...

Enjoying the tasting menu with wine pairings here is one of the best ways to spend an evening in London, a totally unique experience that I'd recommend to anyone.

We went for the 9-course menu, which surprisingly did not feel like too much, as the cooking is quite light. The dishes ranged from ‘so-so’ (a monkfish) to brilliant (oysters, scallops) with most being very good. The talented chef took pain to explain each dish...

We dined as a party of four on a Friday evening. It was our first visit. We arrived at 7:30 PM when there were a few diners but by the time we left at 10 PM, the restaurant was packed with enthusiastic regulars. That enthusiasm...

Interesting menu with small plates which focus on lovely fresh flavours and texture. Eclectic wine list from small French and Austrian/German producers making wines biodynamically / organically. Some better than others and worth a conversation before you order. Yuma is a generous and welcoming host...

Went on a Wednesday night as a party of 3 and unfortunately we were the only ones in there; so the atmosphere was a little flat. Had the 7 course taster with wine pairing; absolutely stunning! The menu had a fish and white meat bias,...

Absolutely great! Food was superb and the fact you can watch the chef preparing it made it even more special. Very personable chef Yumi, great intimate atmosphere and good to die for. Perfect date!

We had a four course menu, every course was delicious, thoughtful and beautifully prepared. The pricing seems reasonable. Was wonderful to watch the chef in the open kitchen, and he actually presented most of the dishes to us personally. Wonderful new discovery!

I never really write reviews- but this time I had too! Every few months me and my girlfriend go hunt down a cool new fine dining place- Our favourites include the Ledbury in west London and the Clove Club in Shoreditch But this place!! It’s...

What a surprise. Had not heard about this place. Booked because looking for a restaurant that was fairly local to Islington. Was not expecting the awesome food. Tasting menu only on the night I went. Six courses, perfectly paced. The flavours were wonderful, with each...