The Waterway

I had a lovely Sunday lunch at the Waterway a couple of weeks ago.

I ordered the lamb and a friend went for the duck, both of which were just perfect. Our other dining companion chose the risotto, which was only ok, but then again ordering risotto is always is a bit risky... especially getting it right for an Italian.

The staff were very helpful and made sure we were well looked after, specially the Italian waiter Vito who entertained us with his sharp, dry humour.

Thea's profile     Other reviews by Thea     Thea likes    

Many years ago I used to walk along the canal and, if with friends, would stop at the Waterway on the way back. This was a pub along the canal with the most phenomenal patio. Unfortunately it was also populated with drunken yobs galore."Tonight I returned, and was shocked."Yes, it has been.. you guessed it, gentrified."But you know what? It was lovely."Still had the huge patio overlooking the canal, but now had a wonderful combination of clientele, a wonderful selection of wine, and a fantastic outdoor kitchen for fantastic burgers and the best fries I've had this side of the Atlantic."I'm loathe to submit this review, you will all rush there and I will no longer get a seat on the huge patio, but at least I will be standing with a better bunch of people than I was 10 years ago! (Gosh, that sounds awful, but trust me, its true.)

Meghan's profile     Other reviews by Meghan     Meghan likes    

For an affluent urban area, Maida Vale's not teeming with quality bars and restaurants. So it comes as a welcome surprise that the folks behind Golborne House bring us The Waterway, and what a pleasing addition to the gastro scene it is. A chic, Scandinavian-inspired bar, that sits on the banks of The Grand Union Canal, along with that other favourite of the W9 maseef, Woody's, we can predict that this joint's set to have real staying power. One of the main draws of the venue is the 120 sq ft decked terrace which sits on the water itself, while the floor to ceiling sliding glass doors that lead to the bar are striking indeed, though something of 'a potential death trap'. Their Brit-Med menu is rich and inspired and best washed down with London's new favourite drink 'Seriously Pinky', or one of the many other suitably decadent, though reasonably priced, cocktails shaken up by one of the resident mixologists. What's really pulling the crowds, however, is the atmosphere. Maybe it's the location, maybe it's the crowd, maybe it's that feeling of having escaped the city for a few hours, but it seems that the Maidavellians/Little Venetians have been crying out for a venue like this for a long time.

"Eight of us went for lunch in the Waterway barbecue last Friday. We arrived at noon (when the exterior was relatively empty) and booked burgers and squid as main courses. After waiting over an hour for the food, the burgers arrived and were undercooked (with raw middles). The two squid salads each consisted of three small (but tasty) pieces of squid and a small pile of Rocket - a joke for ?7 pr portion and very poor value when compared with the burgers which at least include chips for this price. To add insult to injury, the staff were fairly rude and the manager agreed to deduct the service charge (which still appreared on the bill).. I noticed we were not the only people to complain. Feels to me like the staff are in need of some training and portion sizes need review. A real shame given the lovely setting and popularity of this venue."