So I’ve finally trooped down to White Rabbit – something which I’ve wanted to do for a long time to check out the interiors / décor more than anything else. Obviously food was also top of mind, given the mixed reviews both on this website as well as mainstream media. Secondary was the service, where it seems that White Rabbit has almost become synonymous with “great interiors, so-so food, patchy service”.

The interiors did not disappoint. It was heartening to see that even for a Tuesday lunch the place was almost full. This is obviously one of those places to see and be seen, and already at today’s lunch sitting I spotted a few familiar faces. Once I walked in I already began to wish that I’d come with my regular group of girlfriends as the place was flushed with so much natural light and oh so pretty.

Food wise, there were hits and misses – but the misses outnumbered the hits. Before our dishes arrive I have to say I really enjoyed their warm ciabatta breads and the butter they served there. My friend and I shared the raw oysters, but we were immediately hit by how salty they were – there was just so much salt water in the oysters. I had the foie gras and this was good – competently done, and if I ever went back to White Rabbit I’d order it again. My friend’s duck confit salad was also good. My mushroom cappuccino however was too salty, too diluted, lacked punch and mushroom flavour (despite the fact that it contained porcini powder, per the menu) and was forgettable.

I ordered the White Rabbit Mac & Cheese because I’ve read so much about it (and it seems to be their signature dish and so much has been written about it in mainstream media) and can I just say it was really a bit of a disaster for me, evidenced by the fact that I could not even bear to finish even half of it. Yes all that black truffle and truffle sauce sounds sexy and fancysmazzy-sounding but the reality is that does nothing for the mac & cheese, which, let’s face it – is a rather plebian dish in the first place (even if they choose to brand it as an “old world classic”). The result was a dish that was too rich and had too much going for what is essentially a very simple dish. I don’t know what it is but I really did not dig the resulting clash of flavours in the dish, with the cheese coming off as rather sharp rather than creamy and homely (as it should be). Simply put, I think this dish is a victim of overhype, and I’d personally advise you not to order it – try something else. We skipped dessert, as nothing on the menu appealed (Mars soufflé? No thanks).

I also had the Bamboozle cocktail – a fruity berry-based cocktail - which was pretty good and very easy to drink - definitely lacks the potency of those served in Klee (as an example).

Service was indeed patchy – service could indeed be improved to do the place more justice. Staff were lifeless (some vivaciousness on their part could not hurt) and service could definitely be more refined, from simple things like how they even serve the plate on the table. It just seemed all rather detached, curt and it would help if the waiter maintained eye contact while taking orders. Thankfully I was spared nightmarish incidences which seemed to have hit a few HGW reviewers. So I notice there was a restaurant hostess to welcome guests – but really I’d rather they did away with that and improved the service of the wait staff.

On a side point, it was a little slightly unnerving dining in what used to be a chapel – from where I was seated there was a little basin/bowl which I imagined used to contain holy water fixed to the wall, adorned with a cross and all. Which made me a little unconscious everytime I said a swear word – “oh work is such a fking pain” – followed by me silently going “sorry sorry” in my head…But don’t get me wrong. The whole restored chapel setting makes for a charming site for a restaurant and I thought the Loof peeps really got location right.

I’m not sure if I’d return to the White Rabbit, and that’s mainly because of the food. Unless there’s a change in menu and I’m reading from reviews here that there’s been a bit of a sea change in their offerings, based on my experience today I don’t feel a compelling need to return – great interiors notwithstanding.