The Secret Garden - Redbridge

Well where do i start i booked this over 6 weeks ago to find out due to my investigating that the woodford has shut down x so basically dont book because its not open x would if appreciated being told that it had gone into liquidation .

I am amazed that Open Table has asked me to review this restaurant. We made the reservation three months before our booking. In the intervening period the restaurant closed down. The restaurant did not inform us and neither did Open Table. I found out by chance when planning our journey there. Terrible customer service from both companies.

Wanted to like the restaurant would be a good addition to the area 's food scene, but overall rather disappointing. The menu is not extensive or as adventurous as early reviews made out, in fact the only dish beyond the norm a black cod Asian dish was off and given we were one of the first bookings that night that was something that the waiter should have told us about... slight hiccup on the bill just added to a rather underwhelming evening.

My partner and I went to the Woodford 6 months ago and was really impressed with it and thought it was a restaurant going somewhere, however upon our return at the weekend it was a completely different restaurant. I had read last week before we went that the head chef had left, though I assumed it would still be a great restaurant to go to, but unfortunately it wasn't. Only a small thing but we wasn't offered bread like the other tables had. The crab/salmon starter did not taste great and the crab was very bitty and the lamb main was under cooked and very fatty which made it not enjoyable and we both couldn't eat much of it. The desserts were nice, but unfortunately we had already made our minds up that the restaurant was not the same as 6 months ago and we wouldn't be returning.

We had a great time at the Woodford, we went there for a birthday celebration. All in all we had a great time. It was nice to be in surroundings where you can have a conversation without having to shout as is the case in most restaurants now, as there is far too much noise. It was a welcome change. The staff were very professional and courteous.