Veg Bar - temporarily closed

We first visited VegBar earlier this year and were pretty underwhelmed, particularly with the service but we decided to give it another shot on 16/09/16 and I have to say that there is a huge improvement on our previous visit.

We ordered the Mozzfather burger, "chicken" nuggets and the chef made the "fish" without batter for my girlfriend and it was all delicious.

The biggest improvement for us was how passionate the staff members we spoke with were. The chef and manageress both talked at length about the menu, asking for our opinions and discussing possible future additions.

Upon leaving, we learned that the manageress and chef are both recent (and very welcome) additions and there are plans in place to refurbish the current decor over the coming weeks.

Updated from previous review on 2016-09-17

I'm really not normally one to complain but I came away from Vegbar feeling really disheartened. I've been wanting to come here for ages and was really looking forward to it because of all the good things I've heard about it.

When we got there we were told to find a table and that the waitress would bring the menus over. We had been there a good ten minutes and we still hadn't got menus and two more tables had come in after us and been served drinks. After eventually getting menus, we got our drinks order taken but when she brought it over, she had forgotten mine. We had been waiting another twenty minutes for our food order to get taken while other people around us were being served when we were there before them.

We had been there an hour and our parking was going to run out so my boyfriend went to ask if they had any change because we only had cash, only then to find out that they had forgotten our order. At that point we then decided to leave because we felt like utter mugs sitting there waiting for something that wasn't going to happen. They gave us our drinks for free and blamed the poor service on being busy which they were when we left but not when we got there.

I love supporting vegan businesses and like I said, I've heard really good things about Vegbar and I'd like to think I'd give it a second chance but it won't be anytime soon.

I absolutely love this place. They have so many options - not just salads! Change the menu often and they allow dogs! Plus, lots of great events in the evenings.

I enjoyed my meal here but not dying to go back. Big portions but lacking something. Love the concept though

The food is excellent and the portions are generous. Very good menu with a lot of choices. Visited for the first time and will definitely go back again. We had the vegan fish burger, the tofish and chips and the blue nachos. It was amazing. Service is also very good.

Visited for the first time the other day. Had a few drinks & then food. We ordered nachos & Mac n Cheese for starters. Both very good. Mains were the Vegfather & Tofish n Chips. Both outstanding. Chips were a bit too over seasoned and mushy peas pretty much a purée but those are the only complaints. Had a very chill atmosphere. Staff were so friendly. Would defo go back!

I went there on a couple of occasions and it was fine. The burger was great, the aubergine falafel not great (capers mainly), tofush n chips great, falafel great, onion rings so so. The place is casual but cool.

Visited this place for the first time and it went from bad to worse. When entering we were told to choose and table and come up to order at the counter when ready which we did, we then went to order our food and drinks.
First problem then arose when the teas we ordered were served in dirty glassware with grime stains all over the saucer it came out on, I then asked for a clean mug but was made to feel like I was in the wrong, this theme continued throughout the visit.

Then the first dish came out, a hot dog which was so over cooked and drenched in sauce when you picked it up it fell apart, then the chips and onion rings were overcooked and almost burnt, This was returned for a refund after having to explain why it wasn't acceptable and being made to feel like we were in the wrong. As there was nothing gave us confidence that this was a one of mistake, we didn't want an alternative or for them to make it again. So only one of us ate.

The second dish came out about 10 minutes later which was the jack fruit wrap, I would describe this as average and that is being kind. If I cooked this whole meal for myself I would have been disappointed in myself. It was mostly tortilla wrap, very bland and the chips were thin frozen fries which were overly seasoned and overcooked making them only really edible with ketchup.

The cutlery provided was so bad the knife was bending and too blunt to cut into a tortilla wrap! I decided to not bother asking for a refund on this one because they had been quite rude when I approached them to discuss the first meal and couldn't be bothered with the hassle, whilst it wasn't good, it was edible.

Someone compared this place to a vegan McDonalds in the reviews, I think that does McDonalds a disservice.

I try my best to support vegan businesses where possible, but I also think it's important that an effort is made on behalf of the business. I didn't see that any was being made here, the decor was poor, the staff seemed like they didn't want to be there, the food was overpriced and tasted bad, I usually like an open kitchen but in this case it just doesn't work. I wasn't expecting a Michelin star meal and thought I knew from the pictures what to expect but I didn't expect what I got.

Even though it's a bad review, it'll hopefully give Veg Bar an insight into what some people think, ways in which they can improve the restaurant and hopefully soon it'll be a better restaurant for it. Hopefully they look to improve soon.

I hate to say it but I have visited this place 3 times now and it is by far the worst cafe I have ever eaten at.

Firstly, the decor is awful - dull lighting, no pictures on the wall, no plants, ugly chairs, grubby cutlery. There was a horrible musty smell in the room and our table was right by the toilets, which smelt far from clean. Tables were sticky and used glasses/plates were left on them. No music playing. It was definitely lacking any kind of 'vibe', and I actually felt like I wanted to leave after sitting waiting for my food and realising how dirty the place was.

There was absolutely no service at all... no greeting as we walked in, no offer of menus, no drinks menu - do they even serve any drinks apart from water???
No waiter or waitress to take the order... the whole thing was just bizarre and completely lacked any care or attention. I was really baffled that everyone else eating there didn't seem to notice this too?

Food was below average, took ages to arrive (around an hour) and was poorly presented - sloppy and greasy. Burger wasn't a homemade burger it was from a packet. Chips were just frozen fries and were cold as our food was sat on the counter for a long time waiting for someone to bring it to us. The side order came once we had finished the mains, with no apology from the 'waiter'. Oh and did I mention it was pretty expensive for what turned out to be a vegan version of Mc Donald's?! Terrible.

The whole experience was pretty grim and I seriously wish we hadn't bothered. Will not be visiting again, which is SUCH a shame - I am vegan and this place is a 1 min walk from my house... if it was better I'd be there all the time as I love to support places that cater for vegans and veggies, especially small start ups and independant places.


Updated from previous review on 2016-09-12

My fourth and final visit here was the cherry on the cake. I have continued to return to Veg Bar even though I have been totally disappointed in every single visit. Why? Because I want to continue supporting vegan establishments. The table we'd booked over the phone 5 days prior didn't exist, they didn't bother giving us menus... Directed us to various other people's tables to get our own menus. Starters came after the mains, at completely different times, many elements of our meals were left out, some drinks never even arrived. No apologies or even explanations, at all. Polystyrene cups. Unimaginative, cold food. I went on my birthday in January and there was no heating... They offered absolutely no explanation or warning about this- had to wear coats and scarfs inside. Wouldn't have mattered but had to wait an hour and a half for our food to arrive in the freezing cold. When we asked for an explanation the waiter brought us over hot cups of tea- we thought this was a nice gesture but we got charged for them at the end! We would've left if we'd had known this at the beginning! Once again they forgot most of our orders and many peoples meals and starters came after the rest of our group had finished their meals. There was a huge black hair inside my burger. This was before they started making you pay beforehand so we really had to argue to get the tea taken off our order and a discount for the hairy burger, it felt absolutely soulless and was an excruciating experience. This was before they made you pay before your food came- seems like a con that they've changed it now but at least we know why. I'd taken non vegan friends too- would be a good shout to set a good example no?

This was my second visit to Veg Bar and sadly I found it very underwhelming. I'd previously been a few months ago after a vegan event in Brixton and the kitchen had sold out of everything except the 'Soya bean wings'. I'd enjoyed them and actually looked forward to my second visit there.
Sadly every dish was a disappointment. The stir fry was a very small portion and uninspiring, possibly one of the worst stir fries I've ever been presented with. Also, it had capers in it, which didn't really work, for my taste.
The 'Tacos Supreme', made from jackfruit was overly dressed in barbeque sauce and the actual jackfruit had a mushy texture. I know that jackfruit can work well in tacos and burgers as I've had it many times at other vegan restaurants. A friend I was with had the detox salad, again sadly not great.
The restaurant often tries to sell itself on the fact their food is 'Dirty vegan food', namely burgers, wings, fish and chips etc. However, the portions are small and it's certainly not fast food prices or fast food service. One group of people we saw, actually walked out due to waiting so long & we also waited a long time to be served.
A selection of drinks is on offer & we went for the beer. There were two different types of bottled beer & we found them expensive.
I probably would not return again to Veg Bar, unless I hear it's had some serious changes.

Visited London for a weekend from Manchester and was recommended this place by a friend... the best food I've had in the UK for a while, and 100% vegan! Mozfather burger is fantastic, though I wish I'd had the to-fish in retrospect (had this as a side and it was beautiful). Wings were excellent also. Can't recommend it highly enough. Food was prompt, service was friendly, everyone who worked there seemed cool. And they have a Morrissey wall. Any place with a Morrissey wall is worth a visit.

Last night was my 3rd trip to veg bar, and every time I hope that they've improved from previous disappointing experiences. Eating on a table of 6 our meals came roughly 30-40 minutes apart from one another, sides 25 mins after the main, and drinks 30 minutes after making the order (by which time it had been so long I'd forgot i'd ordered them). When we questioned this the server simply walked off without any explanation of apology. The food itself was great as always but the service really lets this place down, which is a shame as it seems like the kitchen staff work really hard and the service staff just don't care what so ever and would rather be elsewhere. I only live around the corner but constantly find myself traveling further into London past veg bar to eat in order to avoid another disappointment. As a vegan I go out of my way to support fully vegan/ethical restaurants that care about the world we live in, however veg bar has just become more and more disappointing each time I go. I think it says a lot that water is offered in styrofoam cups (a material which is terribly damaging for the environment) rather than glass cups which could be used again and again without causing unnecessary damaging waste to the environment, all because they can't be bothered to wash up possibly? Whatever the excuse is it is not acceptable in an apparently ethical restaurant.

Have tried many vegan places but the food just isn't right. Either too bland or too boring. This place is the opposite, amazing food, great vibe. Can't wait to visit again to try other items

The Burger is excellent even though it is so big the whole thing falls apart when you try to eat it. Use knife and fork. Desserts are to die for especially the Oreo cheesecake. Makes a nice night out as has a good atmosphere with music and drinks.

Burgers, wings, mac n 'cheese' and all vegan! Excellent service.

I was so excited to eat at Veg Bar, but unfortunately it was a let down. The Seitan wings were nice but everything else lacked oomph.
The mac n' cheese was watery and bland and my pulled jackfruit burger was in a sweet/sour sauce which lacked depth. It soon became sickly and the bun was very dry.
The portion of chips was huge, but they were nothing special either.
I was a little embarrassed as I took a non Vegan along, expecting great things, but we both went home unimpressed. Sorry! I really wanted to love this place, please keep working at it and developing those flavors!

We traveled to London and used the happy cow app to find a vegan restaurant to eat at and came across the Veg Bar. We took a cab all the way to the restaurant and wished we didn't. The eating area was dirty and smelled like a musty basement. We ordered the sampler (chicken less nuggets, Mac n cheese and tofush and chips) and the double vegan burger and a chocolate brownie. The brownie was amazing and the best part of the meal. However, the fish was disgusting, the chicken nuggets chewy and the burger had no flavor and seemed like it was microwaved Boca burger.
Disappointed..