How long is V&A meal?

Elfinbaby

Earning My Ears
Joined
Dec 30, 2014
We have a 7:15 reservation at Victoria and Albert's. We are in the dining room. Our little one will be at the Contemporary doing the Pixar thing. I read the meal might take 4-4.5 hrs? If so, we will have to make other arrangements. Pixar is over at 10:30.
 
Eating a multi course meal at V+A does take longer than the average meal. Perhaps you might look into Kids Night Out services?
 
It's a very, very long meal! I've eaten there like 5 times and all of them were far and away the longest of my life, for sure. I've eaten in the main dining room and the Queen Victoria room, and always done the wine pairing as well. I think that makes it last longer. Once or twice, I added an extra course, too, which also added to my length.

Remember, they don't rush you here. Also, there are several bread services as well, and they spend alot of time talking to you about all the courses and then you have a sommelier, as well, if you do the wine pairing, and they talk to you as well.

For me, I am pretty sure it probably was around 4 hours, but then I really savored each course and engaged in conversation as well with both servers. I know it seems like a long time, but eating here is a bit like luxuriating in the most incredible bubble bath ever - you really don't ever want it to end! Between all the delectable food, the yummy wine, the harp music and then when they bring out the french press coffee, I think it is, it's an extraordinary evening for those that want to indulge in this sort of thing and love relaxing.

It's not for everyone, though. Both because of the price and the style of it. It's important for all to know going in the kind of evening you are in for, because it's definitely one that should only be had by those who would appreciate it. Many diners would probably be miserable and bored out of their minds by this sort of dining and pace. Me, I was in heaven.
 


We just ate there in September, in the main dining room too! We arrived right at 7:15 and were seated immediately, even though our ADR was at 7:30. We left at 10:50. You may be cutting it close, but you could certainly mention to the servers that you need to be done at 10 and I'm sure they could accommodate. We did think that the meal (especially at the beginning) was a bit slowly paced for our taste.
 
Around 4 hours for us, sometimes longer. I’m a slow eater anyway, and with one seating per night, we tend to take our time.
 
I think it was 3 hours for us in July 2018 with a wine pairing and no additional dish, and we are fast eaters. There are a lot of courses and at some point we both needed a break to allow for a bit of digestion before the next dish. Everything was paced perfectly and between that and the lovely touches throughout (such as replacing your towel the second you go to the bathroom, and do go to the bathroom, it's really nice there), it frankly felt like a choreography - beautiful to watch.
 
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Our meal at V&A took 3 hours and 45 minutes. At the time it didn’t seem that long. We did not do the wine pairing but did add some of the extra courses. The meal is so lovely that I would hate to be watching the clock through the whole meal.
 
We were there on July 4 with the 10-course meal. Seated at 7:00 we left at Midnight. It probably depends on a lot of things - i.e., if you want coffee (which takes a while to brew on the table), cocktails before starting, etc. The restaurant was probably 1/3 full when we left.
 
Thanks for the info! I think I'm going to have my oldest (over 18) pick up his brother. Do you think I can do that? I'll bring him along when we drop little brother off.

DH doesn't like to rush meals. We love to dine:) We are both looking forward to the experience of V&A.
 
We have done it multiple times and it is usually about 3- 3 1/2 hours. They have changed the number of courses, so it could take longer.
We have never left feeling we paid too much. It is not so much a dinner as it is an experience! And an amazing one at that.
 
Thanks for the info! I think I'm going to have my oldest (over 18) pick up his brother. Do you think I can do that? I'll bring him along when we drop little brother off.

DH doesn't like to rush meals. We love to dine:) We are both looking forward to the experience of V&A.

I don’t see why your 18yr old son wouldn’t be able to. I believe they have you list who is allowed to sign out your child and that person has to provide ID at pick up. At least that’s the way it used to be, but calling them to check is always your safest bet!
 
Do not rush this meal. Make other arrangements for the little one.
 
Not sure if the OP had the V+A experience yet but we ate there 11/27 and the meal took us closer to 4.5 hours to complete. We ordered 2 extra courses (a 1/2 ounce of caviar, and pasta w/ truffles). Worth every minute.
 
We've been to V&A about 8-9 times. The first couple of times dinner was about 3 hours, then the next couple of times 3.5 hours, then we started booking the QVR and it started taking over 4 hours. I remember we ate there in the QVR last time at the 5:30 seating and we got back to our hotel about 11 pm (we were staying at AKL). So probably close to 5 hours that time. We definitely take our time (DH likes to order the caviar too which is an extra course) and they accommodate themselves to your schedule as much as possible. I've got bookings for December this year and May next year - so excited!
 
We've been to V&A about 8-9 times. The first couple of times dinner was about 3 hours, then the next couple of times 3.5 hours, then we started booking the QVR and it started taking over 4 hours. I remember we ate there in the QVR last time at the 5:30 seating and we got back to our hotel about 11 pm (we were staying at AKL). So probably close to 5 hours that time. We definitely take our time (DH likes to order the caviar too which is an extra course) and they accommodate themselves to your schedule as much as possible. I've got bookings for December this year and May next year - so excited!
We're returning during the last week of December and I'm already discussing the caviar course with the man again; he wants a full ounce next time and I'm trying to think of "scuses" why that shouldn't happen. He doesn't know that I've ordered a tin of caviar and a bottle of champagne from Petrossian to be consumed on NYE in our room. I mean there should be a limit on how much decadence folks indulge w/i one week, LOL.

Trying to modify our December reservation since it's currently in the main dining room and would prefer QVR again.
 
I have planned for us to do Pixar Place for my daughter while dining at V&A. Our reservation is at 6 - we were told that we could check-in at Pixar at 5PM.

I'm just going to let V&A know and I think they should be able to pace things accordingly. That gives us about 4 hours of dining time. I do think that 715 may be cutting it a little close. Perhaps you could get an earlier reservation?
 
Reading this thread and this thread only as it relates to time it seems that eating in the Main Dining Room takes less time than eating in the Queen Victoria Room.
 

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