Sarastro in City of London, Westminster

There is not a single restaurant in London that has a more enchanting, fun, romantic and exciting atmosphere than Sarastro. The quirky decor combined with highly professional staff, great menu and highest quality food and live singer. - I literally cannot go anywhere else when I am in the west end. When you discover this place for yourself '- you will say like me " I've finally found it". Amazing place xxxxxxx

Food was great, brilliant atmosphere and something special. Adult toilets were very amusing. Recommend for a diffrent experience.

Bhanu did an amazing job with her service. It was really enjoyable to eat there and the food was really great. We took the mixed grilled plate. The tiramisu, the crème brûlée and baklavas for dessert. Recommend

A very quirky setting that offers a very different dining experience. The food is Turkish focused and we enjoyed starters and mains. We did hear someone comment that the baklava was very sweet. The staff were very friendly and the service was quick and efficient.

Sarastro is a great legendary Restaurant But the Atmsphere on Thursday Nights you can't top it with Colin Roy singing the old Skool, Soul ,Motown and some club Classic etc etc if you ask me this night should be available at weekends also so more customers can enjoy

One of a kind restaurant. You always see something new because of the extravaganza of props and decor pieces. Reasonably affordable food, tasted very good. If we are ever back in London we will come back here!

This is the place to enjoy both the atmosphere and the mediterranean style cuisine. The food is good with comparable service. The decor and atmosphere is vibrant opera style as there are two rows of seating, one directly above the other. This isca place for entertaining and, on weekends, dancing to live music. I have been visiting this restaurant for more than 20 years and it has never failed to satisfy. This is not the place for a quiet romantic dinner.

This place makes me want to live here permanently. The food was fantastic and the place’s interior is like nothing I’ve ever seen. The service was super friendly and helpful with recommendations for food and drink. I’m there is one place I could recommend in all of London it’s here. A must visit.

We had our lunch there, seabass, all starters, chicken, and boodrum kebabi. All were very nice, especially the chicken. We had baqlava for dessert but I wouldn't recommend it. Minez served us. She was nice and helpful. Explained the menu in detail. All of us enjoyed the meal.

Good food but the service was not as good, had to remind the staff several times in order to get our drinks after we received our food. A special restaurant nevertheless.

TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE. WE BOOKED USING THE NUMBER ON THE BUSINESS CARD AND THEY REFUSED to take us!! Even tho it was completely their mistake they treated us terrible at the door. Why do you put the number on the business card if then the person on the phone does not know how to take reservations??? Very rude and terrible experience would never come back- there are better restaurants out there!!! Been there before the food is mediocre but the place is nice however the service is terrible and their booking system is just a failure! They admitted the mistake but still were very rude, big no. Furthermore we had a disabled person in the group so we spent over 45£ of taxi to get there with a reservation but were turned away.

It was OK, food good, expensive for what we actually had. It was a bit strange that the server came out with half our order, then served other tables and then came back to us after 5 minutes. It wasn't that busy. It was ok-ish, just a little odd. Nice and quirky place to go though.

Absolutely amazing restaurant!! Gorgeous food, very friendly staff!!! Coming back there every year!!!

Wonderful OTT decor, fun ambience, charming service and delicious food. Best mousaka - great flavour and not at all oily. We’ll be back on a live music night! Recommended.

A place with a very surprising decoration, with live performances and where a great atmosphere reigns. The delicious food. The only bad thing for me is that at 11 they already invite you to leave. You don't even have to have a drink there if you go to dinner a little late as we Spaniards usually do.

Amazing atmosphere. Great decorations and design. Italian and venetian decoration elements make the incredible environment. Great live music performance.

This restaurant was awful. Food was shocking. Food portions would bearly feed a weaning baby and totally overpriced for what you get. We left hungry and very disappointed.

I liked the vibe of the place, but the food and cleanliness wasn't up to part. We had the seabream dish for two and the beef kebab dish - overall, too greasy and not seasoned enough. We also felt that the prices didn't reflect the quality of the offering - and £5 for a small tap-poured, bubble-less "coke" is extortionate. Finally, there were discrepancues between the bill and the prices listed on the menu; apparently, they had mixed the old menus with the new ones. The waitor was kind though and offered us a 10% discount to make up for it. We won't be returning I'm afraid, mainly because we simply weren't impressed by the food.

The place looked promising… online. The decor is lovely however needs a deep clean. The music was nice but the ceiling was leaking near the tables, which were themselves unclean and full of crumbs. The menus we were given were old ones with lower prices than the new ones. The waiter was kind enough to give us 10% off the total bill as the actual prices weren’t reflected on the old menus. Unfortunately, the food was absolutely overpriced for what it was, it was bland and oily. Perhaps this place is better at night with entertainment. It felt like a tourist trap for us.

First visit here but it rounded off a great visit to London. Food & service were excellent. The music & dancing was really fun. Happy to recommend this place for a fun night out.

Throughly enjoyed this eclectic and fun restaurant! Unlike anyplace we have ever been! The food and service providing by a charming Bhanu were both excellent. We ordered a bottle of red wine, Akcabat Kofte and Bodrum Cokertme Kebabi (an amazing tasty dish!) Highly recommend dining here while in Covent Garden.

Super service and a very Nice place ( art déco style) with live music ( good singer) and good plates ans desserts. You can dance downstairs.

What a fun and truly unusual atmosphere! Unlike any place we have ever dined at. The food was excellent and the service (provided by a very charming Bhanu) added to the overall experience.

What can we say about your restaurant just that it was the perfect Saturday evening experience ,meeting up with Aussie friends who are quite the wining and dining aficionados .So glad we chose you to come visit.We were so welcomed by the manager and staff .Their attention and commitment to diners was exceptional and the food was delicious as was the wine.Thank you so much.The decor both inside and out is sensational in many ways,not forgetting the rest rooms!,They are a work of art to say the least.Look forward to seeing you again soon .Not forgetting the added extra of live music too. Perfect relaxed spot tucked into the hustle bustle of Covent Garden.Well done everyone.

Quirky, fun for the experience and great quality food.

The best thing is the performance of the singer who livens up and animates the room, grab a table with a view of the center so you don't miss anything. We ended up dancing.

Is the most beautiful restaurant, the staff were amazing and the entertainment was fab. The mediterranean food was very tasty as well. I went over a year ago now but my evening there was still very memorable

Bhanu our wait staffer was excellent! Very high level of customer service.

Went on a Tuesday night. Completely dead. Food was not good and seemed hurried. Before 9 pm they told us Kitchen is closing in half hour. The waitress kept coming back asking for order after 5 mins we had been there. It seems they're only worth going to at weekends.

had a very nice meal here but was very shocked and disappointed to be told by our waiter that if we left a card tip it would go to management instead of the lovely staff who were working extremely hard to ensure us a pleasant experience. I will therefore not consider returning here until a fair tipping policy is introduced. If you’re considering this restaurant ensure you bring cash to tip.

The place is beautiful because it has spectacular decoration but the food is very expensive and not abundant. I wouldn't repeat

completely incompetent waiters at 10pm they bring you the bill without asking for anything. shameful

Didn’t like. The staff seemed very knew. Maybe it will be better in the future but the crowd was pretty old and lacked diversity in my opinion

My experience was very bad at this restaurant. They didn't let me order any dishes a la carte. I was only given the option of ordering a starter and main course for £44. The service was terrible. The waitress with a terrible attitude. Additionally, the food portion was very small. I definitely wouldn't go again

Beautiful place, very special. The prices other than the quantity of food.

Average Mediterranean cuisine with a dated & uninspired menu / cocktail list, which looks like it hasn't changed since the 80's. Bit of a novelty / gimmick, but the decor is phenomenal, and the live music is very fun.

Sarastro is a restaurant serving Mediterranean cuisine. The decor is absolutely stunning and theatrical. It reminded me of a king's tent in an Arabian desert with vibrant colours and artefacts. The service was attentive, but the taste of the main dishes was, unfortunately, not satisfactory. The lamb shank I ordered, which was very tender, was very salty, and I eat a lot of salt, so for me to find it too much is telling. My friends agreed. Meanwhile, their food of moussaka and tortellini required seasoning as it was quite bland. The starter of scallops was very delicious, though, and cooked to perfection. The chocolate fondant dessert was also lovely. Overall, a lovely dining experience but let down a bit by the main course.

My sister in law and I had a very special birthday dinner here. Bhanu was a delight and made sure we had everything we wanted. The food was sublime, special mention for the mezze starter and the sirloin which was cooked to perfection. Highly recommended for a fantastic meal in quirky surroundings which only adds to the overall experience. We will be back.

Amazing venue, check out the decor !!! Great atmosphere, The service was adequate but the food was rather average yet still at London price. Bits of the "salad" had started to go brown. Lamb shank was fine but not the best I've had. Glad I went but I wouldn't go back. Maybe I was unlucky.

Love this after theatre experience .. ambience is very unique.the staff are excellent specially the lady bano and head of staff.

Dinner was delicious. Service was efficient and friendly. The atmosphere was great.

A fabulous restaurant in the heart of London's West end and Theatre land. The restaurant today serves a mouthwatering array of Turkish and Mediterranean food, accompanied by a full list of wines, beers, and spirits. The service level is excellent with attentive customer service from the waiting staff.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 '𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰' 🍽 Hidden behind a charming array of botanical foliage, this restaurant, in the heart of 'theatreland' is not just about the food. Step inside and it's like walking onto the backstage of one of London's many theatres. Vibrant pieces of material swagged generously between dramatical props and lavish statues. We visited one early Sunday evening in the summer, and on arrival were surprised with how empty the place was. This was perhaps due to the fact the musical entertainment for the evening had been cancelled. They did call me in advance to warn me. It was nice that it was so empty however, it gave us a chance to admire all the dangly puppets and over-the-top statements of grandeur. The menu was Mediterranean style, with us opting for a moussaka and meat Kofte. Both were delicious and oozed flavour. The portion sizes seemed small but we weren't hungry enough for dessert. All in all I'd recommend if you're looking for something a bit quirky in this part of town. Especially after the theatre. Be warned if you're going with kids though - there are naked people plastered all over the place in the toilets....this appealed to my immature sense of humour, but if there were people in your group of a 'sensitive nature' they might not be so amused. Top tip for Rosé Wine drinkers.... The only rosé they served by the glass was sweet.....so if you like a rosé dry like me, then I'd suggest just ordering the bottle of the Pinot Grigio Blush 🤣 To see more, I also made a video review of this which you can find on the channel somewhere 'The Wanderlust Way' #restaurantreview #london #foodie #theatre

Classical music was beautiful and set the mood, opera songs quickly became monotonous. Interesting decoration, also on the toilets (nude paintings); You have something to look at almost everywhere. The menu is mixed, not much for the picky. Unfortunately, drinks are very expensive and portions are also relatively small. Can't recommend the vegetarian dolma, unfortunately it smelled and wasn't particularly appealing in appearance. Waiter nice, nothing unusual. I would recommend it if you are open to new things and don't have a problem with sensory overload. In addition, the size of the wallet should be right. Have fun.

Love this restaurant, been a few times when in london, never disappointed

I attended Sarastro on Monday evening with a large group to have a special celebration dinner to commemorate our friend's retirement after 50 years. We received exemplary service from Bhanu and Vinay, both of whom stayed late by over an hour as they didn't want to rush us to finish our celebration. We are grateful to them for a lovely evening.

The fish was delicious although I ordered meat

One of the best evenings ever! Amazing food, great and friendly service, music, dancing… it was so good. Would love to go back!

What a great place! Outside has a lush green canopy, inside is very theatrical, including balcony seating, excellent service, gorgeous food and Colin Roy was an added bonus entertainment -what a great voice!

Great food, amazing atmosphere and service.

I would say that the atmosphere, the decoration, the place overall deserve to spend an evening there. Because for the rest, we found it quite disappointing (especially for the price) - we took the grilled meats - the meat was relatively good but a small portion of fries (and impossible to get some more because the kitchen was closed), mini portion of salad (without any originality) - an average aperitif and no dessert (although reservation at 7:30 p.m.). In summary, I would say a place to discover but a restaurant that is not worth the detour.

Bhanu is our waitress and she was amazing!! Absolutely great service and food!

Thanks so much for this amazing experience. Bhanu and Minez was especially great, really enjoyed the food and service.

It is a wonderful place, unique in so many ways. We had a box that was like being in a balcony box at the theatre, the food was fantastic, staff, helpfull and friendly. If you get the chance to visit this restaurant, do so.

Went for dinner before attending the theatre. Our waitress Banala was lovely and attentive. Food was okay but small portions and all arrived extremely hot so conscious it was microwaved.

Great service, very friendly staff, superb décor, toilets not child friendly as they have Kama Sutra paintings covering the walls

Great eve celebrating a special birthday with family. Lovely table, good food & nice to have live singing & a bit of a boogie.

Had a fantastic evening celebrating my Birthday. It was excellent !!! The food was delicious the lamb Shank was perfectly cooked. The portion size was perfect. The waitress was friendly the music was great the singer brought the whole restaurant together and the whole place joined in. It is really worth a visit there. You will not be dissapointed. The decor is Amazing a real gem of a restaurant. Thank you for a wonderful evening.

We discovered this place on a previous theatre trip and were all looking forward to eating there. The aesthetic is very unusual and suggestive of a great atmosphere. Sadly, we were hugely disappointed. We ordered the mixed grill to share and a chicken main. The mixed grill came with a tiny bowl of fries, it stated chips on the menu, and a small bowl of tomatoes and cucumber that was classed as salad. The quality of the meat was good, however, there was not enough of it. We asked for more fries as we got about 15 each, and were charged an extra £4.50. The waiting staff didn't offer us any condiments and never checked our food was OK. It was hard to get their attention and it appeared we were interrupting their evening and we were an inconvenience. We come to London regularly and have various restaurants that we frequent, we were hoping this would be added to our list. Sadly, it will not. This place has huge potential to be a real draw. The aesthetic is unusual and we expected a great vibe. Unfortunately, we were hugely disappointed.

Pre Tina Turner theatre dinner. Restaurant has way over the top decor but food good - my steak excellent. Bhundu our waitress was brilliant - lovely lady eith great sense of humour. Well worth a visit.

Our waitress bhanu gave us great service and made our time in the restaurant really special. Will definitely come again!

We had an amazing evening. The food was delicious, the service excellent, thanks to the lovely Bhanu, who was cheerful, helpful and bubbly, the entertainment with Colin Roy, was brilliant. It was like being at a party, we even did the Conga out into the street!

Sjov oplevelse! Bhanu er den fedeste tjener! Det var god mad, søde mennesker og fantastisk musik under maden. De gør meget for at få gæsterne i god stemning. Kæmpe oplevelse:)

Bhanu our waitress was nothing short of amazing. The food was fantastic. Cannot recommend enough. We had a set menu and a main. Both were outstanding

Quirky deliciousness with live music.

Really good entertainment.One of a kind..!

Nice people, friendly waiting staff, food ok. Didn't try the whole menu kinda felt like going elsewhere after starters, seasonal vegetables were bland

Nice to take photos at, but not to eat.

What a gem of a find this place is 💎 Lovely Turkish food and be sure to check out the over-18 toilets 😉

Definitely recommend this place! Lovely food!

Quirky and fun with good food. We were served by Bhanu and she was great!

I recently visited an opera-themed restaurant in Covent Garden, hoping for a unique dining experience. Unfortunately, it was more of a disappointment than anything else. The menu is quite limited, which isn't necessarily a problem if the food is exceptional. In this case, the food was just okay. Nothing stood out as particularly memorable or worth recommending. The decor is where the real issues begin. It feels like it hasn't been updated in over 20 years, and it shows. The once charming opera-themed ambiance now feels tired and dated, desperately in need of a refresh. One of the biggest practical problems was the lighting. It was so poor that most diners, including us, had to use the torches on our phones to read the menu. This not only made for an uncomfortable dining experience but also detracted from any potential charm the restaurant might have had. To add to the disappointment, the prices are quite high, even by Covent Garden standards. For what you get, it certainly isn't worth the expense.

Lovely ambience; certainly quirky and the decoration in the gents loo is memorable! The food was good, as was the service. A memorable reunion lunch.

We had a reservation at Sarastro on 6/29/24 at 5:30pm. Upon making the reservation, a notification appeared stating that we needed to leave the restaurant by 7pm as children under 16 are not allowed after that time. Although I found this rule peculiar, I appreciated the advance notice. Sarastro offers Opera box seating with gold drapes, Turkish cuisine, and an extensive drink selection. As a fan of themed dining, I was looking forward to the experience. However, I realized that it may not have been the best choice to bring children here, as their preferences for chicken nuggets and mac and cheese were not met by the menu. Sarastro is a fantastic spot for a romantic evening or a night out with friends, where you can enjoy a meal in a sophisticated atmosphere. I would definitely return, but perhaps for a date night with my husband rather than a family outing.

Lovely eccentric setting. Great food and service. Really close to theatres

Pasta linguini was really delicious and Bhanu was our very sweet and friendly

A fun and yummy place to have dinner before a show at The Duchess Theatre. Food was excellent! Service was a bit slow, but they seemed to lose an employee half way through our meal. It's decorated in a theatre theme. Hummus appetizer, tortellini and baklava were all excellent.

There was an issue with gas which meant off the whole menu we could only have 3 of the mains. 2 of which were stuffed aubergine. Only 1 starter was available. We asked for a balcony which we got but the space was so small. At first the waitress was a little rude but she got better throughout the evening. Same with the speed of the drinks. The main was quite good although not hot. Overall I had an OK time but think that was more to do with the company. On the plus side we did get a discount due to the issue but this wasn't offered we had to argue for it. Understand it was not their fault but don't think it was handled very well. We could have been informed as one waiter said it happened an hour and a half prior to our booking.

Visit with my wife, and what a quincy little place, theatre theme with eccentricity, visit the toilets and be amazed by the erotic art. Food was above excellent, as was the service.Fantastic +++++

My family came here for dinner and were wonderfully looked after by Bhana! My mum has severe allergies (anaphylaxis) to multiple allergens, and our lovely server was incredibly attentive and went out of her way to ensure that my mum could relax and enjoy a safe dinner. We are very thankful to Bhana, and definitely recommend!

Definitely worth a visit if you’re in the area! Such a unique place & the food was so tasty. I put on the booking that I was visiting for a birthday (which I’d forgotten about) & before they brought the bill they gave us a nice little birthday plate! I will say that the toilets were eye opening to say the least haha but overall a great time & I would highly recommend. We visited during the day & it was pretty quiet but I’ll definitely be returning to watch a show here for sure!

Great place for a party celebration, upbeat vibes, good live music, dancing. Food pretty good too but unremarkable.

Excellent food, the chef responded well to my request for dairy free dishes. Air conditioned dining room most refreshing and waiting staff attentive.

incredible interior, food was lovely and our waitress Bhanu was very attentive and so sweet!!

Overall decor is outstanding a real experience and feast for the eyes. Food really poor , very small, poor quality and overpriced by a country mile.

What an amazing quirky place this is. The food was exceptional and service friendly. The menu is unusual and the food expensive but it is definitely worth a visit for a special occasion

The food was amazing, the service was a little slow but I understand that the restaurant was a bit busy a the moment. Very nice theme, just a bit disappointing that was no live music on that Thursday

Great resraurant. The interior design is amazing. The food is good though a bit pricy but worth it.

Great location in heart of theatre land. Quirky place with reasonably priced set menu

Was an amazing restaurant 10 years ago, the only plus is it’s very close to the theatres

The meat are not fresh and price of food is above ranges.

A last minute discovery after a theater performance. Place, environment, staff, singer, atmosphere, food and drinks in a place that travels you in the amazing culture of Turkey.

With all the old theatre objects, the interior design was so beautiful. Food is delicious, staff are friendly. We enjoyed the live music on a Sunday evening, with classic opera singers and violin players. Strongly recommended!

Great food, service and atmosphere..

Had dinner here and though we did not have a reservation they were very accommodating. The chicken and rice dish we got was cooked well and very flavorful. Pita and hummus weee really good as well. The bathrooms are funny, but could be a little overwhelming if you have a conservative disposition.

Absolutely delicious. I don't typically enjoy this cuisine, but I was wrong. We only had the spiced lamb hummus and the falafel (two of my least favorite things), but they were both good! The lamb hummus was excellent, actually. And the baklava was so good-- soft, not too sweet like most other baklavas. The environment was also very fun. Food came quickly and the servers were diligent.

Very quirky place. Good food. Always a fun experience.

Great restaurant to go to before or after the theatre! We sat in the balcony table, which set the atmosphere before the show! The meal was superb, the staff great and the musical entertainment was brilliant!

It's not a restaurant, it's an Aladdin magic cave with treasures that are impossible to praise enough. If you'd like to have a memorable night in London, this is the place to go to.

Very mediocre food but fun decor