Octave Restaurant & Jazz Bar London Review
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Was it something you eight?
I’d eaten at this address, in the heart of London’s Covent Garden, when it had previously been an Italian restaurant. It was dire and overpriced. Thankfully Octave, launched in September 2004, is now here and though it’s still pricey it’s a massive improvement.
A long brushed-steel bar packed with spirit bottles dominates this large space with raw brick and red walls, a high vaulted room with silver ceiling fans and chocolate brown banquettes. Cheesier features include purple uplighting behind the bar and lots of those light bulbs shaped like flickering flames.
From Thursday to Saturday there’s live jazz at Octave, however, when I went down on a Tuesday it was pretty subdued with the main crowd being provided by a speed-dating event. Asides from them, the clientele comprised of a gaggle of girls and a bloke (who looked like John Lithgow) reading a paper.
The barman was sweet though a tad dizzy, serving me a white instead of the red I asked for (it turned out to be far nicer than the house Merlot which costs £3.60) and also waving back when I waved to get his attention. Chilled glasses are a cool touch (as well as being cool to the touch). There are also over 70 cocktails to choose from.
On days when live jazz isn’t on it’s low-key, very peaceful with just a few bods rattling round in this huge room; I’d be very interested to see whether on the days when music is played whether it raises an Octave.
Sophia Wong (20 03 2005)
Octave Restaurant & Jazz Bar London Description
Octave is one of a kind being a restaurant, cocktail bar and live music venue based in Covent Garden. Their executive chef, Greg Blampied (ex sally clarke) produces Modern European food that the critics have hailed as near perfect. With mellow live jazz 5 nights a week along with great wine and over 70 cocktails Octave is the perfect one stop night out.
Customer Reviews for Octave Restaurant & Jazz Bar
The following customer reviews are not endorsed by Fluid London and are simply those of users who wish to publish their independent experiences of Octave Restaurant & Jazz Bar.
“I love the bar, i keep coming back its well done up great jazz, and they make some of the best cocktails you can find in london.”
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aaron mifsud, upminster (10 months 5 days ago)
“Me and my boyfriend went there for a birthday last weekend. I was a bit worried from all the reviews I had read online but some had been good. The music was mediocre jazz for which everyone has to pay a £5 charge for - whether you're dining or not. I can easily say that this is the worst meal I have had in a London restaraunt in 10 years. The steak was approximately 150g, chargrilled to death and very dry. There was no seasoning on it. The waiters did not even ask us how we wanted it cooked. They had obviously made the steaks an hour before eating and put them in a warming oven. The accompaniment - supposedly "sauteed garlic and rosemary potatoes" were cubed and so dry that they literally flew off the plate when I attempted to put my fork in them. Unsurprizingly the house red wine was appauling. This is a total tourist trap and gets away with it because of its location. I strongly advice you avoid if you want a decent night out in London.”
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[ Unknown ], London (1 years 19 days ago)
“We went here for my partners birthday and were very disappointed. Two of the starters were not available. When the main courses arrived they brought my partner fish instead of the chicken he had ordered! I had finished my meal by the time my partners meal eventually arrived! By thie time it came to pay the bill the Live Music still hadn't started (probably because we saw them take the unwanted fish meal over to a member of the band). We asked them not to include the cover charge onto our bill because we had not seen any live music. The waitress 'rolled' her eyes at this request. When the bill arrived they had added a 12.5% service charge which we elected not to pay (since the service we had received was appaling - and the restaurant wasn't busy) - more 'rolled' eyes from the waitress. After paying the bill we retired to the bar area and waited for the live music to start - and yes, we were again disappointed. We left early. A very disappointing evening. I do not recommend this restaurant - especially for a special occasion.”
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Grace Kay, Liverpool (1 years 7 months 12 days ago)
“My husband and I wanted to celebrate our anniversary in style yet without the pretentiousness some over priced and over rated venues seem to advertise. This was one of the best night out we have had. The venue had class, it had warmth and the food which not only looked good, it tasted great. Add to this a bottle of wine, a few cocktails and great company (or on your own) with live Jass at just the right noise level, and you have the perfect night out. Attentive and polite staff. Not living in London, we read previous reviews and we were not disappointed, in fact we loved Octave. It's a secret we just have to share with our friends!”
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Lydia, Bedford (2 years 6 months 4 days ago)
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“This is my favourite place in the West End. My sister and I meet up here when we get the chance, and spend lovely relaxed evenings chatting over champagne cocktails... yes I know it's very indulgent, but it is well worth it to us for the chilled out atmosphere and the jazz. We keep this our own little secret though, we wouldn't want to spoil our fun! You can't fault the service either, Abdul has to be one of the best waiters I have ever had the pleasure to have met.”
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Nicky Scully, London (2 years 8 months 15 days ago)
“The nights at Octave get better and better. Love the Jazz man!”
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Ben, London (2 years 8 months 27 days ago)
“A friend of mine had her birthday party at Octave last week and it was one of the best nights out that I've had for a very long time. She had hired the sofa area in the bar and had arranged a load of gorgeous nibbly bits (sticky prawns, mezze and some fabulous chunky fries with melted goats cheese) which were topped up as the night went on and were the perfect antidote to the wonderful kick-arse cocktails, i'm hooked on the Grenadas. The live music was great fun and the restaurant on the other side of the room just beyond the bar was packed with some very content looking people, the food looked amazing and portions very generous. I'll definitely be nagging my husband to go back for a romantic dinner for two. A really great night out in London catering for a sophisticated crowd looking for something a little different.”
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Paola Nutt, London (3 years ago)
“Absolutely fantastic venue. I can't express how much London needs a place like this. Whether going specifically to hear the city's finest jazzers, meeting friends for well earned cocktails, or sampling the chef's delicious menu, you will have a great time, as we so often do. (The venison and creamy mash is something to behold). Wonderful service and friendly atmosphere provide the (Don) Cherry on the cake.”
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Jeff Shadley, London (3 years 4 months 4 days ago)
“Is this a club? Is this a restaurant? It looks pretty much like a club that pretends to be a restaurant to me.
Everything was actually quite okay.
Starter: Seared scallops on a dill potato cake. Like many dill seasoned dish, it was quite over-dilled and despite the quality of the scallops themselves, all the taste buds were having was dill with the oily texture of the fried potato cake.
Main: venison on mash - that’s where it clashes! Well, I admit it is not easy to cater for group meals, but after all, when one is a trendy hence not cheap central London hype Club/Restaurant, you would expect them to listen to their consumers. And the consumer (Me), got some terribly overcooked grey shoe sole served as venison. Obviously, I tried to get it sent back to be replaced for some less carboniferous texture, but they were having none of it: ’as this is a group diner, we cannot send this back to the kitchen, this is not easy to cater for groups’. Except that I explicitly demanded a very RARE piece. Well, there was still the mash and crunchy steamed vegetables to satisfy my hunger.
Dessert: Bread Pudding – Looked good, tasted good. Saved the day.
Overall: Is this a club? Is this a restaurant? It looks pretty much like a club that pretends to be a restaurant.”
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ben levy, london (4 years 2 months 26 days ago)
“Agreat place to eat or drink. friendly staff and a relaxed atmosphere. the food was nice and the prices are reasonable. you have to try the cocktails...mmmmm....”
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Natalia, London (4 years 9 months 8 days ago)
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