XO

wreeve

4th January 2009

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One of Hampstead's best - reliable, great food in stylish trendy setting

girlswear

Hit me XO anytime! 3rd June 2007

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XO is Will Ricker's fifth baby along with "Eight over Eight", "Cicada" and "The Great Eastern". Along the other restaurants, this also has the same pan-Asian theme.

We started our evening with a couple of Lychee martini's at the bar whilst we wait for our table. We went the third week since opening (back in February), unfortunately there was no Ewan McGregor, Paul McCartney nor Chris Martin the day we went.

The decor was contemporary, white ceiling, yellow accent walls with mirrors and mahogany wood trimmings and furniture. Ambience was excellent.

We had almost ordered everything from the menu:
• edamame, chilli soy & mirin
(3 - okay)
• chive & sesame silken tofu
(3 - nice)
• mushroom & spinach dumplings
(3 - nice)
• prawn & chive dumplings
(3.5 - i like this one better)
• chili salt squid
(5 - LOVE IT!!)
• crispy scallop & xo dumpling
(5 - LOVE LOVE LOVE IT! Vermicelli wrapped scallop and then deep fried, top with XO sauce and served on the shell)
• tuna tartare futo maki rolls
(4.5 - this was very nice)
• sashimi platter
(4 - good)
• Red curry with augergine, asparagus & lychee
(5 - Love the lychee touch!)
• Black cod with sweet miso
(3 - I can make better)
• green beans with xo sauce
(4 - this was nice)
• chocolate pudding
(5 - This is more like a molten chocolate cake, excellent)
• iced berries with melted whilte chocolate
(5.5 - Best dessert ever!)

It was a shame that they've sold out the peking duck foire gras dumpling! I must go back and try that again.

Recently, they've started "XO TO GO", great for the impress your date dinner date if you don't really cook...