Joe Allen

A classic - wanted to visit for a long time since hearing about it on LBC from one of the presenters. White table cloths, classic American fayre in the middle of theatre land. Well worth a visit and will return. The team were really nice and although we were one of the last seatings of the day, there was no rush and the food was really good. Worth visiting...

Wow! Fabulous food, cocktails and service ar Joe Allen. This was my first visit but definitely won't be my last.the ribs were to die for. The cocktails went down a treat and the baked cheesecake was divine. Atmosphere matched the food. Thank you.

Delicious food and attentive service. All staff made us feel so welcome but our waiter Max really made our evening - so funny and full of joy, just a credit to the team. Will definitely be back!

Hurrah for one of London’s most historically theatrical restaurants. It has moved from its original location & brought to the new location its charm & ambiance. Since the 80’s I have dined here, with my show biz friends, first dates with my latest crush & business partners to close a deal. With the gentle piano music, still photography on the walls of some of entertainments best artist on the wall & posters from shows that turned the fortunes of some of our greatest producers, both in the west end & Broadway. When you go to the bathroom, you will see some of London’s finest collections of still photography with the great Joe Allen himself from the New York Restaurant. The bathrooms are a joy to visit. The menu is well thought out, as this is a place to talk, dine & drink. It is open late into the night, as many performers & theatre staff will come here to relax after the show. With the Strand Palace Hotel attached to it, you don’t really need to go home after dinner. You could book in there & in the morning on the Strand there are clothes shops & a pharmacy for toiletries if you have not planned your night there. Very surprised this is not a five star rating on this site. Just goes to prove some are very hard to please even in the best places in London

Amazing food and service!! Bobby the bartender is amazing!!'

Been meaning to vist for such along time ,eventually did on Saturday, pre show ,been hearing about Joe allens on LBC "the Steve Allen show" so knew it would be good . Started with cocktails whilst we waited for our reservation time .Had the meatballs on herb mash follwed by apple crumble omg both were sooo good ,really enjoyed , as a regular show goer I will visit again soon . The restaurant and toilet area very clean and tidy .all staff friendly and efficient, has to be 5⭐️ ....

Joe Allen located in Covent Garden is a slice of New York in London, featuring a brasserie style menu serving from breakfast until late (open until 11.45PM) in a wood-panelled basement. Split across two levels Joe Allen's walls are covered with posters and memorabilia of theatre productions, offering on certain select days events such as a piano brunch and comedy hour. Joe Allen's involvement in the London theatre scene since 1977 is deep - sponsoring the Stage’ Best Newcomer award every year. Dishes like fluffy Ricotta pancakes and maple syrup with poached strawberries and mascarpone; classic American Waffles topped with blackberry compote and crab bisque provide tasty food that is reasonably priced. The service is American style - friendly, efficient and well drilled. The drinks selection is something special as well offering non alcoholic drinks and unique creations such as the Triple Rum Punch. Having been at Joe Allen's for breakfast, lunch and dinner the consistency of the food, drinks and service makes it is a sure bet for theatre goers, early risers or those looking for late supper seven days a week. Finally their policy around the payment of staff is exemplary with service charge not used to pay minimum wage - is added to each member of staffs wage to ensure they earn a good fair guaranteed income.

A very enjoyable evening, Louis who looked after us was amazing, so attentive and just had everything covered. Food was delicious along with the drinks. Everyone we encountered were a joy, so thank you. We will be back.

Delicious, fresh food, warm hospitality and a charming, retro mise-en-scene. Very Manhattan-esque! We came for a pre-theatre meal - the service was quick, efficient with Simon being an excellent host ❤️ I can't wait to return for more!

We came for the Thanksgiving lunch and it was delicious!!! A memorable 3 course experience: pumpkin soup, turkey with sweet potato dauphinois, and NY style cheesecake.

Came for lunch today with my dad for my 40th birthday. The staff were so friendly and welcoming. Chatty, informative, giving us the history of the restaurant. Service was quick, food was delicious. But our waitress and the rest of the staff were what made it such a wonderful experience.

Milena and the team were just amazing. We had a party of 16 and they made everything easy, slick, with no stress. They went above and beyond by organising people to be in early to meet my cake delivery and ensured every guest felt at home, relaxed and attended to. I highly recommend hosting your special celebration with them. Fabulous venue also.

We booked Joe Allen for our wedding breakfast. Joe’s was the first place we visited whilst trying to decide and from that first moment they were booked, they just didn’t know it. Tim the owner and Tommy the manager were welcoming, understanding, ready to work with our budget and just made us feel like they were the guys for the job from the off. After booking we went for a tasting, my gut feeling was reassured straight away, they nailed the food!!! On the day we had cocktails on arrival with a selection of canapés followed by a three course meal of exceptional standard. All the staff pulled together to make our day and evening the best of our lives and for this I can’t thank the team enough. The table looked amazing and they stayed in contact on the build up to the big day. The day before they welcomed myself and my family like we were old friends, it was an honour to have these guys, or should I say masters of their trade to look after us on that special day. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts with all of our love to the whole team at Joe Allen’s.xxxxx

We would like to extend our thanks to all at Joe Allen for the wonderful service, food and support you offered to Children's Hearts UK for ensuring our day went spectacularly. We are so grateful and would highly recommend - especially for big groups!

I've been to Joe Allen's a few times now and it's always a lovely experience. The menu has changed a little recently and I mourn the absence of the hot dog, but the pan fried salmon I had on my most recent visit was cooked to perfection. The staff are always friendly and attentive , but this time I have to single out Lex, who really made us feel well looked after and welcome. Thank you, Lex.

Just stopped in for pre-show drinks and would definitely go back. The prices were reasonable and the staff were amazing. Very warm and friendly. Didn't rush you out the door just let us relax and enjoy the music over our drinks. I got to watch lots of people arrive over the hour we were there and everyone was treated like welcome guests.

Our waitress was Bittania - she was a wonderful ambassador to the business.,utterly charming and attentive. Actually all the team were - I just didn’t get their names. I used to come regularly in the 80’s and 90’s and only been back a few times since you moved - wonderful to be back a d I will return soon. Please thank the front of house and kitchen team for their wonderful work - much appreciated."

Absolutely loved our meal and experience Top Class ... Tom ....Simon....Got to say a massive thank you for your kindness above and beyond making our day your staff fabulous 👌... Was just purfect as going to Theatre just across road will see you all again thank you again

Fabulous experience all round, staff were amazing, the young English female waitress who served us was amazing. The staff and the whole place was fabulous, will definitely come back the next time we’re in London.

I love this place. Popped in on spec for lunch on new years eve. Staff are universally friendly and efficient. As always, the food is faultless; the setting is stylish and atmospheric, from the low-key music to the decor.

Absolutely fantastic. Great food, great cocktails, great staff. Went out for a group meal and could not have asked for a better night out. Highly recommended, but expect to pay a few quid; you get what you pay for and it's 100% worth it!

I was taken there by a friend who used to work in West End theatre. She said that it was always a haven of theatre people as meals would be served late at night. I loved it. Great, simple food with a buzzing atmosphere.

After a lovely cocktail at the Savoy we took the short stroll to Joe Allen’s for dinner. First, the lemon meringue pie cocktail, which isn’t listed any longer, is THE BEST! And the manager/bartender took time to create the classic for our table of 4! We felt honoured Royston put so much effort to recreate. We had the set menu - good deal and lovely food - the chicken was juicy, the prawns fresh. We felt everyone took time to look after us, we weren’t rushed. Lovely place to take out of town guests! Highly recommend!

Fun and busy place. Service was friendly and prompt. Food was good, but not standout. Shrimp burgers were a nice change also and one of the signature items. Worth going for the American vibe, music, and art on the walls. Martinis were good, although the glassware did make it feel half empty!

A classic institution that’s been around for years but I’ve never tried it until now. Service was good, food is American classics. We both had bacon cheeseburgers. The cheese soufflé was tasty it looked a tad small but turns out more than enough!! Clearly eyes bigger than my stomach. My friend enjoyed the leek and potato soup. All the food was as you would expect nothing exceptional just done well. We didn’t drink alcohol so couldn’t comment on the cocktails.

Table booked for meal before the theatre. Nice friendly greeting,asked if we were off to the theatre & so our order was taken promptly & food served in good time, without feeling rushed. The vegetable tempura starter was ok, not a very light batter & a couple of pieces were only batter, the veg had done a runner ! The tuna starter was delicious. Mains was the mushroom Wellington, definitely recommend this, a really tasty dish. My partner had the beetroot ravioli special which sadly wasn't so special. Ravioli was nicely cooked but the beetroot lacked that lovely earthy taste & was bland. Service was spot on. Everyone who served was chatty, smiley and helpful, really made our evening & thank you Ben for sorting our bill promptly at the end. All in all, loved the place, will definitely eat here again....and again . Great staff

Came here randomly as my husband and I were just looking for a nice dinner place to chat. All I can say is that we loved it here!! I ordered the grilled calf liver and he ordered the steak frites. We enjoyed our meals. Service wait time was not bad at all. I don't think we waited, each course seamlessly came in at the right time. The only thing I didn't like wad the mocktail but that could have easily been luck, maybe the others are good. I'll like to visit here again and will strongly recommend. Two starters, two mains, two drinks, two desserts and our bill was ~£85 (including service charge).

I heard about Joe Allen from the LBC radio presenter Steve Allen (no relation) so was very excited to try the restaurant with my friend for her Birthday. From the outside (and from when you walk in) you feel like you're actually in New York with the American flags and exposed brick/dark wood décor and the traditional American fare on the menu ranging from BBQ Ribs to Grilled Salmon and Italian style meatballs in tomato sauce. I also have to mention their amazing desserts (we shared a delicious and very naughty Chocolate Brownie Sundae) and were tempted by the superb sounding cocktails. If you're looking for a really fun and great value for money experience then I'd highly recommend Joe Allen. Big shout out to our lovely waitress who looked after us so well and even kindly arranged for a surprise "Birthday Ice cream with candle" for my friend's birthday.

Good atmosphere, the decor is a bit pastiche, but it’s lively and warm. Food is great and it makes a difference having live music at the background. I’d recommend a meal here!

Decent restaurant / bar with a welcoming atmosphere and staff. Accessible from the strand palace hotel where we stayed and we were able to book a table for the euro final at short notice. Food was good although limited choice I felt. Wine was good, no draft beers though. Staff and service were very good.

Had great fun at Joe Allen's. The table staff were really friendly and helpful, the good was great - good portions at fair prices. Definitely go back again.

We went when it wasn't peak theatre times and there wasn't many people around and therefore not much atmosphere. The food was lovely and service was good, just didn't feel all that special. I'd recommend going for their set menu and going slightly later than we did so hopefully there's more atmosphere and it's fuller.

Attended on a Saturday night, understandably a busy time. Service was fast, and overall fine. Waitress was polite and well intending, though some unexpected questions such as "would you like to keep the cap to your sparkling water bottle" that gave the impression of new staff. Overall, no complaints. Food was fine, though on the pricier side. Wish that sides were recommended alongside the cod chowder, but perhaps ignorance on our part. Atmosphere in the restaurant was pleasantl, though layout is unfortunate with no apparent easy access from kitchen to bar, and thin passageways between tables resulting in a constant flow of dishware between diners. Lighting is also on the dim side but that's by my preference.

Not sure what happened to Joe Allen’s. I used to really like the food and it was reasonably priced. The foods not bad, but it’s nowhere near as good as it was and it’s pretty pricey. The chocolate fudge cake was bland. Shame

Positives was one of the staff was very on it, some of the food was great too, lovely pudding too. Problems though took nearly 2 hours to get mains, finished plates left on table for over an hour, 30mins to just order a £14 cocktail that tasted not of any booze (Paloma was very bad) though the negroni was good. We had high hopes going in but having to constantly ask.for cutlery, drinks etc was a lot of work, not relaxing at all.

Mediocre bland food & overpriced. The only thing I really enjoyed was the Chips and the cookie dough dessert, ribs were okay, the beans that it came with, overcooked and no seasoning, same with the Mac and cheese, followed by the fish. Poor quality food. Staff were polite and attentive, it also has nice decor/atmosphere.

This visit to Joel Allen actually left me feeling a bit sad. I’ve been going to this place for decades (both the old and the new), it was somewhere we would go as a family on special occasions. It was always a bit of an event. So I thought it would be fitting to take my kids there for lunch to celebrate my 50th. Sadly, the magic has gone. Almost everything about this experience was sub-par. Weirdly deserted for a Saturday, the atmosphere I remember was non-existent. The staff were bored and inattentive, got the order wrong, failed to bring out certain courses, left the dessert menus on the table only for us to have to call them over to take our order 25 minutes later. There were only two other tables with customers so it’s not like they were busy. They just weren’t on it. Service used to be a big part of this place. It clearly isn’t anymore. The food was average to poor. The ribs were good, but not great. The once-famed burger was incredibly dry, one of the worst in recent memory. London is crawling with burger joints, one on every corner, and the bar is much higher now. JA’s offering simply ain’t good enough. Did it used to be better or has everyone just blown past them? Probably a bit of both. Either way, this is not somewhere you should come if it’s a burger you want. A small thing: why does one crème brûlée arrive in a little saucepan and one in a dish? It doesn’t look quirky, it just contributes to the sloppy and unprofessional vibe. My daughter has a peanut allergy. We mentioned that at the start. However, the staff (who changed midway through the meal) made no mention of which plate was which when the orders arrived. They clearly didn’t know. Again, they just weren’t on it, and didn’t especially care. Everything has its time I guess, and some things are just better left in the past. Joe Allen is definitely one of those things. Time to move on.

I attended a few weeks ago as part of a Christmas dinner group, and the Christmas set menu was disappointing. The ham hock terrine was fine, but the sourdough was very tough and tasted stale. For the main course, the turkey and trimmings fell short: vegetables were undercooked, the bacon on the pigs in blankets was burnt, the potato gratin was dry, and there was no stuffing served. Service was mixed — most staff were friendly, but one server was rude and unhelpful. Overall, I wouldn’t recommend this venue, especially for their Christmas menu.

I'd heard about this place for many years and so was really looking forward to it. I left bitterly disappointed. I could cook a better meal frankly and I don't cook! The Singapore sling was sickly sweet, the cheese souffles lukewarm and mains verging on inedible. Not very busy for a Saturday pretheatre night which I think says it all. Even the waitress seemed miserable. Never again.

Thought it would be nice to visit a good restaurant to celebrate our anniversary as it had with good reviews but I regret it and would not go back. So overpriced for what you get, the steak had to go back twice because it was t done right and was cold. When I complained the staff were ok but did not offer anything in return. The meal did not reflect on the price and you have to pay a lot for extras. The manager ended up coming out but was not helpful at all. Very disappointed.