Duke of Wellington vs. Great Queen Street

[sylviag]

I just found out that the Bond St. Tube Station is under construction and that buses running eastbound won't be stopping where we usually pick them up. (We will be staying on Welbeck St.)

We were planning to go to Great Queen Street on the day we arrive in London, but now it seems to be more difficult.

Is Duke of Wellington comparable? My husband really enjoyed Great Queen Street.

Again, thanks for your help.

[greedygirl]

Bond St station isn't closed though most of the time - only before 0600 and after 2300.

[pj26]

Greaedygirl, I think they mean the buses aren't running. BUT Sylviag, you can get on the Central line at Bond St and get off at Holborn, cross Kingsway and you are at Great Queen St.

[sylviag]

What had me concerned was the notice that escalator service might not be working at the Bond Street Tube Station. I don't mind a few steps, but my knees give out if there are many.
Does anyone know the escalator situation?

Walking to the Baker Street Station could certainly be an option.

The Duke of Wellington I had read about says Crawford Street.

[zuriga1]

This might help you make a decision... not that these things are always accurate.

http://www.london-eating.co.uk/33111.htm

I'm pretty sure the escalator at Bond St. is functioning, although it's been a few weeks since I used it.

[sylviag]

Zuriga, this certainly did help me make a decision.
We will find our way to Great Queen Street!
We can check out the escalator at Bond St. earlier in the day, and if there's a problem, we'll go to the Baker St. station.

Thanks again, everyone. You are very helpful.

[Scruffy The Cat]

I don't think those reviews are really fair. The reviews are anywhere from one year to 3 years old and do we really know who "Foodie" or "Paul" is? Maybe they have an axe to grind. I will say that I was there last week and my food was delicious. Everything was full of flavor as one would want in August, so it hadn't travelled long or far for sure. I found the flavors to be clean and let the freshness of the ingredients shine through. The combinations were simple enough- no wild head-to-tail stuff, rather good ingredients, simply prepared. See a sample menu here: http://www.thedukew1.co.uk/menus/dini...
It was not inexpensive, but what is? I was there exactly a year ago and it was delicious as well. Service both times was very good- friendly and approachable, but attentive.

I had a delicious quail and my husband had lamb which he loved. I didn't try his lamb but the quail was crisp on the outside and savory but moist on the inside. Both teenage boys had steak and fries and the quality of the meat was outstanding. The greens on the side were lightly dressed and super fresh- one was a mixed spring greens, and the other was watercress with a lemon vinaigrette. Everyone's dessert looked good but my sticky toffee pudding was outstanding. Perfect balance of sweet with a hint of caramelly saltiness. I would have gotten it anyway but the server said it was her favorite, too.

Downstairs in the pub area it looked close and hot and too busy. We had originally booked there but were happy to move to the lovely dining room upstairs. Be warned there is a short flight of very narrow and steep stairs.

I am very picky about my meals when we were on vacation and it says something that I have wanted to return to the Duke. If we return to the area next year we will go again- for a lot of reasons but mostly because I need to have that sticky toffee pudding again.

If I had to ding them on something it's the reservation process. Both last year and this year we reserved by email and both times ended up with a little confusion. Last year we wanted the Pub menu but they ended up seating us upstairs (a better option for us actually) and this year I had also forgotten the crush in the Pub and reserved downstairs and they us at the last table near the door- too tight a fit. But they happily put us upstairs and my teenage boys were still able to get items off the grill menu and everyone was extremely pleasant about it so I had no problems ultimately. Next year though I'm just reserving upstairs.

[zuriga1]

Is this Duke of Wellington on Wilton Crescent?

[Scruffy The Cat]

I haven't been to Great Queen Street but have been to the Duke of Wellington (first floor) twice and enjoyed it thoroughly both times.

That being said, from your hotel you could just walk up to the Baker Street station and hop on from there to go to Great Queen Street. It's only 3 or so minutes longer walk, but in the opposite direction and one more change but not too bad. For reference, when we visit, we stay in an apartment around the corner from your hotel on New Cavendish Street.

Or else you can hop in a cab- we didn't find them terribly expensive when we were visiting last week. That's figuring 4 people in a cab.