Me and my boyfriend went there for a birthday last weekend. First of all I was a bit worried from all the reviews I had read online, but some of them had been good so we decided to go. The music was mediocre jazz for which everyone has to pay a £5 charge for - whether you're dining or not.
Our party had 20 people in it, and earlier on in the week we had had to give our choices for dining. My boyfriend and I both chose the steak - £18.95.
I can easily say that this is the worst meal I have had in a London restaraunt in 10 years. The steak was approximately 150g, chargrilled to death and very dry. There was no seasoning on it. The waiters did not even ask us how we wanted it cooked. They had obviously made the steaks an hour before eating and put them in a warming oven. The accompaniment - supposedly "sauteed garlic and rosemary potatoes" were cubed and so dry that they literally flew off the plate when I attempted to put my fork in them. And finally the "red wine jus" was worse than bisto. A friend of ours had the sea bream which was equally awful. Unsurprizingly the house red wine was appauling.
Decor wise, the lighting was really bright, and did not give an intimate feeling at all. The waiting staff were also clueless.
This is a total tourist trap and gets away with it because of it's location. I would seriously advise jazz lovers and food lovers alike to avoid this place like the plague, and select a more intimate jazz club for the vibe that you'd be expecting. It might even cost you less than this place! (In the end we left £60 a head each - which did not include much more than a starter, the awful mains, 2-3 glasses of house wine, oh... and of course the music...)
Octave is one of Covent Garden's hottest Jazz venues, offering a relaxed and contemporary environment for drinking, dining and socialising. With live regular jazz evenings, a restaurant and a cocktail bar, Octave offers a relaxed yet atmospheric environment - whether you fancy a light lunch, afternoon drinks, evening meal, or a cocktail or two. And with over 70 cocktails to choose from – you'll be spoilt for choice. Octave is available for exclusive or part hire.