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PRICE RANGE
£32.00 – £322.00
CUISINES
European, British, Contemporary
Details
PRICE RANGE
£32.00 – £322.00
CUISINES
European, British, Contemporary
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4.5
1,238 reviews
Excellent
766
Very good
235
Average
135
Poor
59
Terrible
43
WelshDragon33
Castle Donington29 contributions
Sept 2021 • none
Very good but could be so much better. First time visiting world service, it’s been on the list to eat there for years. There was nothing fundamentally wrong, it just did not live up to my expectation or the restaurant experience I was hoping for having been so excited to go. Staff were welcoming and professional. The drinks menu is limited and old fashioned. The decor inside and out is very dated, I’m sure in a couple of years it will be classed as quirky but it screams 1990’s taste. I will say it’s clean and well cared for.
A choice of warm bread was offered before the meal with a flavoured butter which included sea salt, who doesn’t love salted butter but blimey it was so salty.
The starters were lovely, I had scallops, they were big and succulent but served on a cold plate which meant they were just warm when they arrived at the table. Such a shame all the chefs hard work just to be let down on a crucial attention to detail.
We had beef for main, plenty of beef, cooked perfectly, great Yorkshire, the veg was cooked nice, there just wasn’t enough of it. The let down was the gravy, I love plenty of gravy but on this occasion I was pleased there wasn’t much, it was so salty, it seemed like it was all stock, really concentrated which really let the meal down. It was a this point the waiting staff seemed to disappear from our side of the restaurant, no offer of horseradish or to ask how the meal was, by the time they reappeared we can eaten more than half the meal.
Due to the hit and miss of the starters and main we opted not to have dessert or coffee, such a shame, not the experience we were looking for. Good but not great.
Written 30 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
practicepacker
United Kingdom128 contributions
May 2021 • couples
We took advantage of the voucher we received for ordering one of the meal boxes during lock down and were blessed with sunshine on the day we had lunch. Aperitifs were enjoyed on the patio and we chose to dine inside. The food was incredible. And the service up to the very high standards we had enjoyed before lockdown. We love eating here as the chilled, unstuffy atmosphere makes it a true pleasure to dine - unhurried - so that you can enjoy every mouthful & your fellow diners’ company to the full.
Written 5 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Danil Pheonix
Nottingham12 contributions
Feb 2022 • couples
I’ve been to world service before and it has never disappointed but on Thursday was honestly one of the best dining experiences I’ve ever had. The service was impeccable, the atmosphere amazing and the food out of this world. We had 3 courses for £38 which for the standard of meals you receive is a bargain and each one was utterly incredible. They were all works of art with some beautifully balanced flavours and unusual combinations. Really want to thank John and his staff we will be back soon.
Written 18 February 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ExaminerladyT
Nottingham79 contributions
Oct 2020 • none
What a damp squib this turned out to be.
Our friends had promised us a great experience and we were keen to try it out.
The welcome was hardly warm, ( although the staff were fawning over several other guests), we were quite surprised to be handed a ‘Sale’ wine list, we clearly looked like we couldn’t afford to be there. This attitude seemed to be the theme of the evening, service slow, disinterested staff and the food, well, mediocre at best. A very ‘safe’ lacklustre menu.
The couple we came with were quite surprised by the price hikes and admitted that the food really was nothing special.
There are Far better restaurants in Nottingham.
Written 10 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ollie
Nottingham30 contributions
May 2021 • couples
Having living in Nottingham for many years, we had longed to dine at World Service.
The evening started well with drinks on the terrace, where we were able to look over the menus. The mojito we ordered was lovely however the gin and tonic was an incredibly weak measure and seemed watered down. However the canapés were excellent.
In terms of the food we had really high expectations with World Service being a Michelin star venue. We are really big foodies and have visited Michelin star restaurants all over the world. However we were really disappointed with the food and taste at World Service. I’d question the freshness of the produce with my lamb tasting bland and was both chewy and fatty. I understand the concept of quality over quantity in terms of portion control at Premium restaurants, However the taste was genuinely lacking. For £25, I simply expected more in terms of taste for a dish comprising two small pieces of lamb. The jus and sauces simply did not seem to go together or compliment the palette and the dish seemed clumsy and a bit of a mess.
The £5 side bowl of steamed greens we ordered was tasteless and reminded me of the bags of veg on offer at Tesco which you would typically put in the microwave. The veg itself was not even seasoned.
My partner’s monkfish was a lot more edible, however again lacked any real taste which made us question the freshness of the produce. For dessert, the pana cota was excellent however the chocolate delice was not what was described on the menu and was incredibly rich and did not seem home made (it reminded us of the type of pudding you could purchase in a pack at any supermarket).
The service was overall sluggish and tables seemed to be quite close together in the main dining room. The decor and interiors seemed tired and are definitely in need of renovation.
Unfortunately will not return, despite the high hopes we had for the evening. For the prices you pay (which you fully accept prior to dining) including a 12.5% service charge you expect a Michelin star restaurant to really set the bar high but sadly it has a long way to go to meet this pedigree.
Written 13 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bryan R
United Kingdom31 contributions
Sept 2020 • none
It was a surprise to my Wife on our 34th Anniversary. I wish I hadn`t bothered. I`ve longed to go to this restaurant after various friends had sung its praise. Disappointing. The food was of a good standard, however the menu was misleading at best:- The Treacle Tart was in fact a cake and the pear "Crisps " were totally absent, however the taste was good. My Wife`s Pineapple upside down cake was "Dough", not cooked properly. The decor is tired with damage to the walls and ceiling and the toilet was "disgusting" the floor had various pieces of tissue scattered all over the place. The Waiting staff are NOT trained in etiquette(reaching across whilst eating), and frankly were rude. We will not be visiting again. AVOID...
Written 20 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lu4472
Nottingham11 contributions
Aug 2020 • none
We went for sunday lunch, was absolutely lovely, as we arrived we sat outstide were offered a complimentary drink as it happened to be the 20th anniversary of the restaurant. We perused the menu before ordering and going indoors, the staff were brilliant and the food was really lovely.
We had the beef roast dinner which was just enough (although you always want more roast potatoes)
Hopefully it wont be to long before we are back again.
The social distancing measures in place were really good and overall we had a great experience.
Written 10 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
5*Holiday
Nottingham4 contributions
Nov 2021 • couples
After many a good meal at World Service in previous years, we went expecting great food and service. How wrong we were! It took at least 10 minutes to bring us menus which was fine, we were in no rush. We ordered our starters and mains and were already discussing desserts but then the most appalling experience happened. I ordered the soup for starters and when it came I did think it looked very hot. I waited a few minutes, blew on my spoon before it entering my mouth and I am not kidding, it literally burned the back of my throat to the point where I was in tears. We asked to speak to the Manager who obviously apologised and sent the soup back to the kitchen (why he did that I don’t know as the damage had been done). I thought that restaurants were not meant to serve soup over a certain temperature. The Manager asked us what we wanted to do - I just didn’t know, I was hungry but also in pain. We decided not to continue eating but my husband had ordered a bottle of wine so they moved us to the bar area for him to drink it. I just continued to drink lots of cold water. Nothing more was said and we were still charged for drinks. I am so disappointed as I really would have expected them to be more considerate and bend over backwards to do more. Hasten to add, we will not be going again in the future and to others reading this - check the temperature of the soup!!
Written 14 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
couple5761
11 contributions
Jun 2021 • couples
Belated, birthday celebration. Made very welcome, the service and food are service are at another level. Everything on the menu feels like a creation, specially for you.....if you don't want to spend too much, there is a set menu.....or you can just treat yourself. Easy parking too. If you are looking for a great meal in Nottingham, you have found it !!
Written 7 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vicky
United Kingdom5 contributions
Jun 2021 • friends
My daughter has just turn 15 (unfortunately during lockdown) so her godfather and I decided to do something extra special and treat her to her first fine dining experience.
She ordered her first drink (the Orchard Rose non-alcoholic cocktail) and was simply blown away!
We ordered the Pork dish and it was simply beautiful - The cheek was so tender it simply fell apart on the fork and the potato element was delicious.
She was simply blown away by whole experience, including the exceptional service they alway offer, and finally understood the difference between dining out and fine dining.
I would like to thank all the staff for their exceptional service, food and making her first experience relaxed and inviting. We can’t wait to do it again!
Written 14 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Steve R
Norfolk103 contributions
Apr 2022 • none
We ate with our family at World Service to celebrate my wife's birthday, all of us thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience. The pre- dinner drinks in the Courtyard, the dining room ambience and of course the excellent standard of dining. All courses were thoroughly enjoyed and everything was cooked to our requirements with no complaints in any way. The level of service & knowledge of the waiting staff concerning the dishes and any queries were faultless, we have eaten at some very fine establishments including The Waterside, Maze Grill, Mortson Hall & the Hand & Flowers and would rate World Service as a match for these.
Written 19 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
annal0wri
Birmingham25 contributions
Feb 2020 • business
I went to world service for a business lunch with high expectations, having heard nothing but good things about the place. I have to say I was a little disappointed - the vegetarian food was just a bit odd and clunky. In particular the play on a bread and butter pudding for the main course was just a bit odd. I left over half my main course and wasn’t asked why - I would expect a bit more given the price tag and reputation to be honest.
That said, the meat eaters and those who had the fish dishes all said that they were delicious so maybe just the veggie meals that are a little below par!
Written 6 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Karene
7 contributions
Nov 2021 • none
We thought the place and decor was great and the service was first class but very disappointing food. There needs to be more emphasis on flavour rather than just looking pretty. Plus if your going to service wild duck it should be advertised as such as there is a major flavour difference and it’s quite an acquired taste. The dinning room was noticeably cold such a pity as we were very excited to visit. Got the impression cost savings were focused in the wrong areas - would only visit again if the food quality improved
Written 27 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Victoria A
2 contributions
Mar 2020 • family
Had hoped to celebrate our sons 18th birthday but left disappointed when we could not provide proof of his ID. We were advised that we could not order a pre-dinner cocktail for him but he could have a glass of wine with his meal. 16 to 17 year olds can drink beer, wine or cider with a meal as long as they are supervised by an adult. We left feeling angry and upset by the whole experience.
Written 9 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MartyP123
Nottingham64 contributions
Jan 2020 • friends
Been coming here for years as a special occasion treat. We came in December for our anniversary....great cocktails and lovely main course and starter. We had the assiette of desserts which were awful. Bland, gelatinous and a bit odd. We sent them back and there was no quibble about taking them off the bill.
Then I came with a friend last night for our joint birthday treat (something we have been doing for years). Again, great cocktails and lovely service. Our starters and main courses were very nice but we agreed that nothing had the "wow factor" that used to make this place special. The desserts again were awful and we sent them back. We both commented that they reminded us of the sort of desserts you get at an a budget all-inclusive holiday! They were taken off the bill.
Definitely not as good as it used to be :(
Written 10 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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