Plateau Restaurant

Amidst its jungle of skyscrapers, Canary Wharf has many dining options, but few high-end ones. Plateau is therefore a welcome relief, even if the formula is a familiar one. This is perhaps unsurprising given it is part of the D&D restaurant group (which now numbers 30+ venues such as La Pont de la Tour and Le Coq d’Argent). Even if the food pleased and service could not be faulted, it still did not take away from the fact that places sorely lacks atmosphere, or even a sense of joyfulness. All the diners were almost identically dressed in business outfits. Were they to look up from their meals between debating matters of high finance or similar, they would be forced to take in a depressing view from the large floor-to-ceiling windows of very similar-looking tall buildings interspersed with scaffolding and diggers. This is not New York (where such a vista might be considered cool), but just a small part of London, distant from the real heart of the place. Dining here means you may have made it by Canary Wharf standards, but give me Mayfair, the river, or just about anywhere else for some ambience. Enough griping, and £25 for a two-course set lunch (or £30 for a pudding too) represents distinct value given the quality of the cooking on offer. A La Carte options are pricier (~£15 for starters, ~£30 for mains), but this probably doesn’t matter if expenses accounts generally cover the bill. My comrade and I stuck to mains, but I had no complaints about my roast venison haunch, parsnip, red cabbage and juniper port dish. It was presented beautifully; the meat was tender and the flavours combined harmoniously. There were plaudits for the baked cod from my comrade too. One of the best venues that Canary Wharf has to offer, even if the praise is somewhat relative.

Very good european cuisine. Excellent location, decor and fabulous customer service.

The restaurant is visually beautiful. It is a glass box four stories high, decorated with restraint (their floor lamps are from the Museum Of Modern Art, though) – so, nothing detracts from the view. We were there on a rainy night and the effect was simply stunning, somewhat like being inside an aquarium (minus fishes peering in). Food was good, complex and tasty, and prices are reasonable. Risotto and wood pigeon starters were both excellent, duck (trio of filet, confit and foie gras) good and lamb – just OK, but then I am a spoilt Australian. Wine list was extensive, with any number of reasonably priced bottles; for me, though, exciting stuff started from around 50 pounds. Fair enough, too – and they even had a half-bottle of Quinta dos Malvedos 2001 on the menu for forty pounds! Service was very friendly and efficient, but not at all intrusive. I will be back – gladly.

Despite reading previous reviewers comments and hearing of some negative experiences from friends (all over a year old – and the restaurant has installed a new head chef in the mean time), I decided to book Plateau to catch up with some friends midweek. Having arrived early, we took some drinks in the bar, and my friend was delighted with her Grey Goose cocktail. The bar was busy (considering it is small) and noisy, and I can imagine that eating in the bar area would be a far noisier experience than the restaurant. The decor of the whole restaurant is very impressive, minimalist and modern and the views out from the full length glass windows helped to set the scene. The restaurant is not overly noisy, nor overly quiet, and conversation was natural and easy to follow. As for the food, two of the party had the set menu and I chose from the a la carte options. Having worried that portion sizes for the set menu would be small, my friends were delighted with their meals in both size and taste. My crab raviolo was a little bland, but by no means unpleasant but the duck breast, petit endive tatin & seared foie gras was exceptional and of a very satisfying portion size. We shared a very nice, reasonably priced, bottle of red wine, recommended by the sommelier. With two set menu options, and an inexpensive wine, the overall bill was not extortionate, but it is by no means a cheap meal! We all had a great time, and I will go back.

It feels all very good from the off !.. a lift for the restaurant …nice staff at reception .. very big and open.place which is split in 2…the bar / brasserie as you enter …and then kitchen lies in the middle…with the a la carte on the other side… Lovely huge windows on one side overlooking Canada place and modern decor gives you impression that good things are to come … Bar area pleasant enough…great offerings of drinks…you can either sit on a stool …comfy chairs or stand until you get called. I always find an open view of a kitchen a good start. After a few aperitifs we sat down. Again the a la carte side had an original seating plan…Traditional tables along the windows and tables that seem to be placed along 2 semi circular sofas… it's weird …but it sort of works. Service was in general OK. Food in all honesty I think was overpriced for what you get .. i.e 4 asparagus as starters £7 ?.. …The bill with a couple of aperitifs …3 courses and a bottle of wine was £185 …Menu wasn't outstanding,,,Nothing jumped at me…standard meat – fish – veg dishes … unfortunately for me it has '' been there done it ''' written all over this place. Nothing keeping me away from there…but nothing necessarily pulling me back in …

Noisy with slow service and attitude. Don't bother.

If your ever in Canary Wharf and in need of a venue for a business lunch then Plateau will be a natural first choice, especially if your out to impress. With cool views over the wharf at a great height and an uber futuristic interior, Plateau certainly stirs up the senses. My visit, though primarily a business lunch, was also to see if my recent dire experiences in a string of D&D London restaurants could be reversed or somehow salvaged. I was in luck, the first thing that impressed me was service which I usually approach with cynicism – expecting the level to drop significantly after the orders have been taken – it didn't. The level of attention and care waiters took was faultless and I found myself wondering if this is where D&D London had been hiding all of its really good waiters. Food was served in good time despite being in a larger group, though there were one or two reservations on the starters I had picked. The scallop ceviche with almonds, capers and dried cranberries was drizzled with a rather too acidic oil dressing which was off-putting enough for me to put my knife and fork down in just four mouthfuls. Luckily the main of monkfish in a nut broth helped to even that out but was served warm rather than hot. Overall an intriguing place but I'm still waiting for the day I can have the golden triangle of dining (service, food and ambience) all in one at a D&D restaurant and at this point in time I'm not sure it exists.