Latest reviews for Restaurants in Leicester Square, London, United Kingdom

Leong’s Legends - Soupy goodness in a dumpling. by bellaphon

bellaphon — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 22:12:39 +0000

Review by bellaphon

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7287 0288

At long last and Iâ¬"m more than glad to have made this pilgrimage. This place has been talked and blogged about among the cognoscenti and followers of the â¬Üalternativeâ¬" Chinese food scene. I came primarily for one thing and thatâ¬"s the Xiaolongbao (Siu Loong Bao in Cantonese)- the remarkable soup dumplings thatâ¬"s so easy to cock up during preparation and recipes often tempered with to ease mass production for the freezer and delivery to restaurants who donâ¬"t make them on site.

Like all new Chinese restaurants of this ilk, the dining room is dark, in fact theyâ¬"re all getting darker; I think weâ¬"ve got Alan Yau to thank for with his pioneering chic â¬Ülack of lightâ¬" ambience at Hakkasan. Before I talk about the food, thereâ¬"s one thing I ought to point out; the service at this place has been constantly lambasted as being rude and callous, I think this may well be true but Iâ¬"m not in a position to judge on this alone. This is because I just about speak the same lingo as the waiting staff, this advantage alone will prevent me from getting mentally frustrated, being ejected from the table before finishing the meal and receiving the final bill thatâ¬"s inflated with a double dose of that dreaded gratuity charge. Take heed and good luck.

Came here for a solo lunch and after careful perusal of the â¬Ütick yourselfâ¬" dim sum menu, I started to regret that I came on my own. Thereâ¬"s simply no way I could try out all the appetising sounding dishes that you donâ¬"t normally find at your Royal Chinas and Ping Pongs (sniff). The Noodle with Oyster ordered was certainly stodgy in appearance, which is due to the thickset gravy that the noodles and oysters were swimming in. This heavy tasting dish was surprisingly yummy, mildly spicy and Iâ¬"m pretty sure it was meant to be slurped without a care in the world of what your next door diner thinks! Now for the piÃ¨ce de rÃ©sistance- Iâ¬"ve certainly found soup dumpling nirvana in London. Leongâ¬"s Xiaolongbao came in a basket consisting of eight of the most perfectly formed and heavenly tasting dumplings. I was lucky enough to savour all the dumplings intact without any of them being pre-punctured. These dumplings should come with a warning or two; like McDâ¬"s apple pie, the contents are very hot and likely to cause an injury to the uninitiated, and when you bite onto them the soup within is likely to splurt everywhere (goodbye finest cotton shirt!).

As ever with all new-found treasures like Leongâ¬"s Legends, I have this unfeigned desire and hope that at the very least the good cooking is maintained and the mere thought of complacence should be banished without ado.

At long last and Iâ¬"m more than glad to have made this pilgrimage. This place has been talked and blogged about among the cognoscenti and followers of the â¬Üalternativeâ¬" Chinese food scene. I came primarily for one thing and thatâ¬"s the Xiaolongbao (Siu Loong Bao in Cantonese)- the remarkable soup dumplings thatâ¬"s so easy to cock up during preparation and recipes often tempered with to ease mass production for the freezer and delivery to restaurants who donâ¬"t make them on site.

Like all new Chinese restaurants of this ilk, the dining room is dark, in fact theyâ¬"re all getting darker; I think weâ¬"ve got Alan Yau to thank for with his pioneering chic â¬Ülack of lightâ¬" ambience at Hakkasan. Before I talk about the food, thereâ¬"s one thing I ought to point out; the service at this place has been constantly lambasted as being rude and callous, I think this may well be true but Iâ¬"m not in a position to judge on this alone. This is because I just about speak the same lingo as the waiting staff, this advantage alone will prevent me from getting mentally frustrated, being ejected from the table before finishing the meal and receiving the final bill thatâ¬"s inflated with a double dose of that dreaded gratuity charge. Take heed and good luck.

Came here for a solo lunch and after careful perusal of the â¬Ütick yourselfâ¬" dim sum menu, I started to regret that I came on my own. Thereâ¬"s simply no way I could try out all the appetising sounding dishes that you donâ¬"t normally find at your Royal Chinas and Ping Pongs (sniff). The Noodle with Oyster ordered was certainly stodgy in appearance, which is due to the thickset gravy that the noodles and oysters were swimming in. This heavy tasting dish was surprisingly yummy, mildly spicy and Iâ¬"m pretty sure it was meant to be slurped without a care in the world of what your next door diner thinks! Now for the piÃ¨ce de rÃ©sistance- Iâ¬"ve certainly found soup dumpling nirvana in London. Leongâ¬"s Xiaolongbao came in a basket consisting of eight of the most perfectly formed and heavenly tasting dumplings. I was lucky enough to savour all the dumplings intact without any of them being pre-punctured. These dumplings should come with a warning or two; like McDâ¬"s apple pie, the contents are very hot and likely to cause an injury to the uninitiated, and when you bite onto them the soup within is likely to splurt everywhere (goodbye finest cotton shirt!).

As ever with all new-found treasures like Leongâ¬"s Legends, I have this unfeigned desire and hope that at the very least the good cooking is maintained and the mere thought of complacence should be banished without ado.

Spacca Napoli - La vita e bella by nat08

nat08 — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 20:03:39 +0000

Review by nat08

Rating: 4.00

Tags: italian, crowded, lively

I first discovered this restaurant about 10 years ago in its first incarnation as "Bella Napoli" - and what a true find it was! Thanks Miranda! It was the most traditional restaurant in Soho, as far as I could see, and it made a welcome difference to all the other places trying to be cool and trendy and not focusing on the main event - the food!!

It was such a gem that of course it's popularity grew and fans kept coming back for some wonderful food along with the personal touch that the owner Mimmo gives to each and every customer that walks through his door.

A facelift came but still his fans poured through the door each and every night. Food is wonderful and portions are big - just the way I like my Italian food! It's true comfort food at it's best - i love the Vitello Milanese - mouth-watering and just so tender and succulent - not chewy and bland as you can find many times with this dish.

Pizzas are great and if you are in a big party it makes sense to get it by the meter and share - such a great way of making food fun as well as delicious! And the atmosphere and service is first class. It's a great location too on Dean Street.

So why not mosey on down to Dean Street and say Ciao to Spacca Napoli....I first discovered this restaurant about 10 years ago in its first incarnation as "Bella Napoli" - and what a true find it was! Thanks Miranda! It was the most traditional restaurant in Soho, as far as I could see, and it made a welcome difference to all the other places trying to be cool and trendy and not focusing on the main event - the food!!

It was such a gem that of course it's popularity grew and fans kept coming back for some wonderful food along with the personal touch that the owner Mimmo gives to each and every customer that walks through his door.

A facelift came but still his fans poured through the door each and every night. Food is wonderful and portions are big - just the way I like my Italian food! It's true comfort food at it's best - i love the Vitello Milanese - mouth-watering and just so tender and succulent - not chewy and bland as you can find many times with this dish.

Pizzas are great and if you are in a big party it makes sense to get it by the meter and share - such a great way of making food fun as well as delicious! And the atmosphere and service is first class. It's a great location too on Dean Street.

So why not mosey on down to Dean Street and say Ciao to Spacca Napoli....

Mon Plaisir - Former glory or a bad day?? by amandaharrison

amandaharrison — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:10:52 +0000

Review by amandaharrison

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7240 3757

Website: http://www.monplaisir.co.uk/

Tags: french, crowded, romantic

I haven't been for years but I was very much looking forward to a return trip to Mon Plaisir. After hunting high and low on Monmouth Street to find it (a sense of direction was never my strong point)I entered into one of those traffic jam situations when everyone stands around looking gormless with a kerfuffle of coat-taking and the like.

It was worse for me as my nose was chilly wind-induced running(nice)and the first thing I did was to ask for a tissue which got 'em. By the time I was offered a serviette (napkin?)my host thought I was being most strange just hovering there not going to the table.

Anyway. At the table, I sat myself down, and said host offered me a sip of his kir royale, saying it had taken him ages to get a drink. I don't know about you but that's not what I want to hear when I go to a restaurant. I want to unwind from the journey before being hassled head-first into ordering food.

So I had to do that wave thing and try and catch the eye of a waiter/ress/ron ANYone to get me a drink, whilst trying to hold a "hello how are you isn't this nice thanks for inviting me to lunch" conversation. With my nose running. Not good.

Food was just OK. I didn't have the snails as I was going to the dentist the next day and didn't want to freak him out, particularly as he looks like he should be in a boyband. I had scallops (too salty) and I forget what else, and I only went last week. Just shows. I think there were all sorts of comfort food on the menu from what I recall, coq au vin and the such, but nothing waved any flags at me.

Happy to be taken (sort of); I wouldn't host lunch there myself.I haven't been for years but I was very much looking forward to a return trip to Mon Plaisir. After hunting high and low on Monmouth Street to find it (a sense of direction was never my strong point)I entered into one of those traffic jam situations when everyone stands around looking gormless with a kerfuffle of coat-taking and the like.

It was worse for me as my nose was chilly wind-induced running(nice)and the first thing I did was to ask for a tissue which got 'em. By the time I was offered a serviette (napkin?)my host thought I was being most strange just hovering there not going to the table.

Anyway. At the table, I sat myself down, and said host offered me a sip of his kir royale, saying it had taken him ages to get a drink. I don't know about you but that's not what I want to hear when I go to a restaurant. I want to unwind from the journey before being hassled head-first into ordering food.

So I had to do that wave thing and try and catch the eye of a waiter/ress/ron ANYone to get me a drink, whilst trying to hold a "hello how are you isn't this nice thanks for inviting me to lunch" conversation. With my nose running. Not good.

Food was just OK. I didn't have the snails as I was going to the dentist the next day and didn't want to freak him out, particularly as he looks like he should be in a boyband. I had scallops (too salty) and I forget what else, and I only went last week. Just shows. I think there were all sorts of comfort food on the menu from what I recall, coq au vin and the such, but nothing waved any flags at me.

Happy to be taken (sort of); I wouldn't host lunch there myself.

Laureate Restaurant - Let down in Laureate by QueenB

QueenB — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:21:30 +0000

Review by QueenB

Rating: 2.00

Phone: 020 7437 5088

Tags: expensive, chinese, crowded

After going to the theatre across the street, we thought we'd grab some quick food before going on to a party.

Rather than go to our usual dim sum haunts in China town, we thought we'd try Laureate for a change.

From out side, it looked good - bright with a mix of customers and could be fun for people watching from the raised street windows.

To start we were refused a window seat as there was only a 4 seater available and there was only 2 of us.

Staff took a long time to take our order desipite being so many of them working and the place being only half full.When they did, they shouted across us in Chinese at other staff and didn't even look at us.
No nibbles like crackers or beans were offered while we were kept waiting.

We ordered the hot Hor dâ¬"Oeuvres to start, at Â£7.50 a head, which turned out to be very small portions.

Then we just got sizzling king prawns, egg rice and a portion of beef in green pepper and black bean sauce.
The prawns were chewy and very small the beef was ok.

To drink we had a bottle of sparkling water and one chinese beer, between us.

The bill was Â£49.50 which I think was well over priced and guess we were paying for location rather than quality.
What should of been a nice meal was bland and boring.

The restaurant itself has quite a cold and sterile feel to it. No music was played, just a low mummer of the customers chat and the staff shouting orders.

Sadly I wont be going back and would suggest you keep on walking if you happen to be near by.

After going to the theatre across the street, we thought we'd grab some quick food before going on to a party.

Rather than go to our usual dim sum haunts in China town, we thought we'd try Laureate for a change.

From out side, it looked good - bright with a mix of customers and could be fun for people watching from the raised street windows.

To start we were refused a window seat as there was only a 4 seater available and there was only 2 of us.

Staff took a long time to take our order desipite being so many of them working and the place being only half full.When they did, they shouted across us in Chinese at other staff and didn't even look at us.
No nibbles like crackers or beans were offered while we were kept waiting.

We ordered the hot Hor dâ¬"Oeuvres to start, at Â£7.50 a head, which turned out to be very small portions.

Then we just got sizzling king prawns, egg rice and a portion of beef in green pepper and black bean sauce.
The prawns were chewy and very small the beef was ok.

To drink we had a bottle of sparkling water and one chinese beer, between us.

The bill was Â£49.50 which I think was well over priced and guess we were paying for location rather than quality.
What should of been a nice meal was bland and boring.

The restaurant itself has quite a cold and sterile feel to it. No music was played, just a low mummer of the customers chat and the staff shouting orders.

Sadly I wont be going back and would suggest you keep on walking if you happen to be near by.

The Ivy - Lively at The Ivy by Esther_Laurence

Esther_Laurence — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 15:34:48 +0000

Review by Esther_Laurence

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7836 4751

Website: http://www.the-ivy.co.uk/

Tags: romantic, good value, expensive

Went there wearing sunglasses indoors. People will think youâ¬"re a celebrity, a tw@t or maybe even both. Five of us ate Â£533.00 worth of food and it was absolutely worth every penny. Highly recommended, if a little noisy.Went there wearing sunglasses indoors. People will think youâ¬"re a celebrity, a tw@t or maybe even both. Five of us ate Â£533.00 worth of food and it was absolutely worth every penny. Highly recommended, if a little noisy.

Woo Jung - Kool Korean by stantoncarlisle

stantoncarlisle — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 15:54:00 +0000

Review by stantoncarlisle

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7836 3103

Tags: cheap eat, korean, family & home feel

You often see queues outside. I wouldn't describe it as cheap - average cost of a 2 course meal will be Â£15-20. But the food is good, different and worth trying. Depending on what you order. The large bowls of spicy soup are excellent. They work out at around Â£9 each. Very tasty, warming and filling especially during the wet wintery weather. The marinated pork was pretty good as was the spicy soup with poached egg, beancurd and mussels. There are two other Korean restaurants in the same road - this is the most popular one! I'd come back again for the soup!You often see queues outside. I wouldn't describe it as cheap - average cost of a 2 course meal will be Â£15-20. But the food is good, different and worth trying. Depending on what you order. The large bowls of spicy soup are excellent. They work out at around Â£9 each. Very tasty, warming and filling especially during the wet wintery weather. The marinated pork was pretty good as was the spicy soup with poached egg, beancurd and mussels. There are two other Korean restaurants in the same road - this is the most popular one! I'd come back again for the soup!

Salvador & Amanda - Pleasantly surprised by LKnight

LKnight — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 20:47:37 +0000

Review by LKnight

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7240 1551

Website: http://www.salvadorandamanda.com/

Tags: lively, dancing, spanish

I found Salvador & Amanda through an offer on After Work Deals - we got a free jug of Sangria between a group of four of us whilst having dinner, it definitely made a great start to the night.

My first impression was surprise, I'd walked past S&A loads of times before and I had no idea that there was such a large venue underground. It's well decorated in a fairly typical tapas restaurant style, and there's a real buzz about the place.

Service was really fast and friendly, and they made some great recommendations from their tapas menu. On the whole, the food was very good although it was a bit on the expensive side and I certainly couldn't describe the portions as generous! And the After Work Deals offer certainly helped manage the cost. Nonetheless, for the overall atmosphere I would still recommend Salvador & Amanda.I found Salvador & Amanda through an offer on After Work Deals - we got a free jug of Sangria between a group of four of us whilst having dinner, it definitely made a great start to the night.

My first impression was surprise, I'd walked past S&A loads of times before and I had no idea that there was such a large venue underground. It's well decorated in a fairly typical tapas restaurant style, and there's a real buzz about the place.

Service was really fast and friendly, and they made some great recommendations from their tapas menu. On the whole, the food was very good although it was a bit on the expensive side and I certainly couldn't describe the portions as generous! And the After Work Deals offer certainly helped manage the cost. Nonetheless, for the overall atmosphere I would still recommend Salvador & Amanda.

Belgo Centraal - Still going strong by Hmm

Hmm — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 11:14:03 +0000

Review by Hmm

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7813 2233

Website: http://www.belgo-restaurants.com

Tags: lively, crowded, good value

I've been coming back time after time when in London. Great atmosphere and good food.I've been coming back time after time when in London. Great atmosphere and good food.

Hung's - 50p for a pot of tea... by bellaphon

bellaphon — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 20:14:28 +0000

Review by bellaphon

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7287 6578

Tags: chinese, good value, cheap eat

First and foremost I would like to thank hollowlegs and CPaskell for their write-ups. This is one of the few restaurants left in Chinatown that hasnâ¬"t morphed into an â¬Üeat-all-you-can-for-a-fiverâ¬" buffet or a faux Japanese joint.

With the demise of my regular China China on Gerrard Street (another casualty of the buffet for a fiver phenomenon), Hungâ¬"s is at the very least a welcome addition. An acid test order of dishes was necessary to determine whether this place was worth coming back for. The first order of King Prawn Dumpling Soup (Shui Kow) was a huge and utterly delicious affair and shouldâ¬"ve been treated as a complete meal on its own. The equally large second order of Kon Low Mein (Dry noodles) with some fine duck pieces and yummy slices of garish orange boiled cuttlefish was more than all right in all. The delightful lady sitting on the same table as me prompted to stipulate that she religiously comes here once a week. She would always accomplish her usual undying order of tasty egg fried rice together with a huge dish of â¬Üwowâ¬" salt and pepper spare ribs (pronounced crispy on the outside and tender well-within); the apparent consistency of these dishes was enough to validate her weekly pilgrimage from Wimbledon. As for myself I'm pretty much satisfied and I shall be coming back.

Iâ¬"ve also been informed by one of the waitresses that the renamed Hungâ¬"s is effectively still in the same hands and management as the original Crispy Duck. The latter has only relocated to Gerrard Street where it now specialises in home made dim sum and a finer type of Cantonese cuisine.

OK, this place is inherently better than Wong Keiâ¬"s, but itâ¬"s still got that damn 10% service charge that latently and sinisterly appears on your final bill! Take heed and not go mad, the food is pretty good after all. And 50p for a pot of tea...!First and foremost I would like to thank hollowlegs and CPaskell for their write-ups. This is one of the few restaurants left in Chinatown that hasnâ¬"t morphed into an â¬Üeat-all-you-can-for-a-fiverâ¬" buffet or a faux Japanese joint.

With the demise of my regular China China on Gerrard Street (another casualty of the buffet for a fiver phenomenon), Hungâ¬"s is at the very least a welcome addition. An acid test order of dishes was necessary to determine whether this place was worth coming back for. The first order of King Prawn Dumpling Soup (Shui Kow) was a huge and utterly delicious affair and shouldâ¬"ve been treated as a complete meal on its own. The equally large second order of Kon Low Mein (Dry noodles) with some fine duck pieces and yummy slices of garish orange boiled cuttlefish was more than all right in all. The delightful lady sitting on the same table as me prompted to stipulate that she religiously comes here once a week. She would always accomplish her usual undying order of tasty egg fried rice together with a huge dish of â¬Üwowâ¬" salt and pepper spare ribs (pronounced crispy on the outside and tender well-within); the apparent consistency of these dishes was enough to validate her weekly pilgrimage from Wimbledon. As for myself I'm pretty much satisfied and I shall be coming back.

Iâ¬"ve also been informed by one of the waitresses that the renamed Hungâ¬"s is effectively still in the same hands and management as the original Crispy Duck. The latter has only relocated to Gerrard Street where it now specialises in home made dim sum and a finer type of Cantonese cuisine.

OK, this place is inherently better than Wong Keiâ¬"s, but itâ¬"s still got that damn 10% service charge that latently and sinisterly appears on your final bill! Take heed and not go mad, the food is pretty good after all. And 50p for a pot of tea...!

Bar Shu - I have a new favourite restaurant by bron99

bron99 — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 10:27:55 +0000

Review by bron99

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7287 6688

Website: http://www.bar-shu.co.uk/

Tags: crowded, chinese, lively

Not something I decide lightly. But last night I went to Bar Shu and everything about dinner was magnificent. Started with cold chicken in sesame chilli oil and a salad of tree ears and coriander. Then, vastly over ordering, we had crispy beef shreds, red cooked pork, scallops steamed with ginger shreds, pock marked woman bean curd and dry fried green beans. And rice. Our waitress tried to explain it was too much, then gave up and said we could take leftovers home. Which we did. You should see my lunchbox today. The food was completely amazing - highly spiced, masses of chilli and szchewan pepper but intensely, deeply flavoured. And a nice nz sauvignon blanc as recommended by the waitress. I might like this place more than Anchor & Hope. Actually I do like this place more than A&H - but it's a very close call. Probably 80% chinese, 90% full over 2 floors on a Tuesday night in November. Seriously, seriously, seriously good.
Not something I decide lightly. But last night I went to Bar Shu and everything about dinner was magnificent. Started with cold chicken in sesame chilli oil and a salad of tree ears and coriander. Then, vastly over ordering, we had crispy beef shreds, red cooked pork, scallops steamed with ginger shreds, pock marked woman bean curd and dry fried green beans. And rice. Our waitress tried to explain it was too much, then gave up and said we could take leftovers home. Which we did. You should see my lunchbox today. The food was completely amazing - highly spiced, masses of chilli and szchewan pepper but intensely, deeply flavoured. And a nice nz sauvignon blanc as recommended by the waitress. I might like this place more than Anchor & Hope. Actually I do like this place more than A&H - but it's a very close call. Probably 80% chinese, 90% full over 2 floors on a Tuesday night in November. Seriously, seriously, seriously good.

Abeno Too - Okonomiyaki in central London by Niamheen

Niamheen — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 22:39:05 +0000

Review by Niamheen

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7376 1160

Website: http://www.abeno.co.uk/

Tags: japanese, expensive, crowded

I was introduced to Okonomiyaki by an ex-work colleague, who adored it and insisted that we all go to Abeno for her work leaving do. I'd never heard of it before and was intrigued, some googling told me that it was a Japanese style omelette, native of Osaka. Hmmmm. I was wondering what could this Japanese style omelette be like?

So, off we trotted, I keen as mustard with the idea of a new culinary discovery awaiting me. Abeno Too, is situated just off Leicester Square, and has a large centre counter with teppan grills and a few tables to the side with teppan grills in the centre. So, it's warm. Very warm. They offer a variety of dishes from the aforementioned okonomiyaki, to soba dishes and a wide range of starters and desserts. We opted for the okonomiyaki and the prawn yaki-soba and within minutes they were making them in front of use and shortly after, we were eating it.

So what is it? Well, omelette isn't a fair term, the base is cabbage and some okonomiayi flour with a little egg and then other ingredients depending on your choice, mine was prawn, squid and salmon. As can be expected of most Japanese restaurants, the produce was extremely fresh and flavoursome. I really liked the okonomiyaki, although it tended on the heavy side, and having been to Japan since where they're a little more moist, I wonder if they've been adapted to our Western tastes e.g. bacon and cheese doesn't seem all that traditionally Japanese. My other gripe is that, while it's not expensive, it is a little expensive for what you get.

What's going for it? It's fun, sociable, different, central and fresh. That's enough reason to go, and I've gone there again since. I do prefer their sister branch, Abeno, near the British Museum. It's more intimate and cosy, consisting mainly of tables and away from the madding crowd in Leicester Square.I was introduced to Okonomiyaki by an ex-work colleague, who adored it and insisted that we all go to Abeno for her work leaving do. I'd never heard of it before and was intrigued, some googling told me that it was a Japanese style omelette, native of Osaka. Hmmmm. I was wondering what could this Japanese style omelette be like?

So, off we trotted, I keen as mustard with the idea of a new culinary discovery awaiting me. Abeno Too, is situated just off Leicester Square, and has a large centre counter with teppan grills and a few tables to the side with teppan grills in the centre. So, it's warm. Very warm. They offer a variety of dishes from the aforementioned okonomiyaki, to soba dishes and a wide range of starters and desserts. We opted for the okonomiyaki and the prawn yaki-soba and within minutes they were making them in front of use and shortly after, we were eating it.

So what is it? Well, omelette isn't a fair term, the base is cabbage and some okonomiayi flour with a little egg and then other ingredients depending on your choice, mine was prawn, squid and salmon. As can be expected of most Japanese restaurants, the produce was extremely fresh and flavoursome. I really liked the okonomiyaki, although it tended on the heavy side, and having been to Japan since where they're a little more moist, I wonder if they've been adapted to our Western tastes e.g. bacon and cheese doesn't seem all that traditionally Japanese. My other gripe is that, while it's not expensive, it is a little expensive for what you get.

What's going for it? It's fun, sociable, different, central and fresh. That's enough reason to go, and I've gone there again since. I do prefer their sister branch, Abeno, near the British Museum. It's more intimate and cosy, consisting mainly of tables and away from the madding crowd in Leicester Square.

Mr Kong - Give it a try by curlynewf

curlynewf — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 19:07:11 +0000

Review by curlynewf

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7437 7341

Tags: chinese, lively, takeaway

Yeah ok, it's a Chinese restaurant in Chinatown - but don't worry, I'm not about to claim it's the best one there or that 'you know it's good because there are always lots of Chinese diners there'. But I will tell you that it's a good, reliable and reasonably cheap option in a sometimes confusing and dubious (and expensive) part of town... so feel free to read on if you're curious.

Upon entering it feels a little no-frillsâ¬"ish but not worryingly so. Itâ¬"s clean and bright and smells divine. Mr. Kong himself is usually there to greet you with a grin and show you to a brightly table-clothed table in one of the three dining rooms; the one in front, the one in the back or the one upstairs. I prefer the front room as apparently do most diners as it usually fills up first (but sit as far away from the front door as possible, the draft is killer). It's always bustling and has a friendly, professional vibe. There is the odd tourist/theatre-goer, but itâ¬"s mostly local diners - many of whom have been coming for years (I eavesdrop).

The menu is vast, but not overwhelming and service is swift (but not unnervingly quick). The ingredients are fresh and authentic. Admittedly I'm a little boring when it comes to ordering Chinese and I also tend to opt for seafood or vegetarian but if you're looking for a safe and tasty choice for your first visit the crispy seaweed, hot and sour soup, vegetarian crispy duck (you can not tell it's not meat, I promise!), sweet and sour king prawn and the hot saki are some personal favourites. Meat-eating experimentalists, fear not - the menu is rife with adventurous options to fill your foodie boots with.

And the bill doesnâ¬"t hurt either, so youâ¬"ll even have money left over to spend in the wild west end afterwards.Yeah ok, it's a Chinese restaurant in Chinatown - but don't worry, I'm not about to claim it's the best one there or that 'you know it's good because there are always lots of Chinese diners there'. But I will tell you that it's a good, reliable and reasonably cheap option in a sometimes confusing and dubious (and expensive) part of town... so feel free to read on if you're curious.

Upon entering it feels a little no-frillsâ¬"ish but not worryingly so. Itâ¬"s clean and bright and smells divine. Mr. Kong himself is usually there to greet you with a grin and show you to a brightly table-clothed table in one of the three dining rooms; the one in front, the one in the back or the one upstairs. I prefer the front room as apparently do most diners as it usually fills up first (but sit as far away from the front door as possible, the draft is killer). It's always bustling and has a friendly, professional vibe. There is the odd tourist/theatre-goer, but itâ¬"s mostly local diners - many of whom have been coming for years (I eavesdrop).

The menu is vast, but not overwhelming and service is swift (but not unnervingly quick). The ingredients are fresh and authentic. Admittedly I'm a little boring when it comes to ordering Chinese and I also tend to opt for seafood or vegetarian but if you're looking for a safe and tasty choice for your first visit the crispy seaweed, hot and sour soup, vegetarian crispy duck (you can not tell it's not meat, I promise!), sweet and sour king prawn and the hot saki are some personal favourites. Meat-eating experimentalists, fear not - the menu is rife with adventurous options to fill your foodie boots with.

And the bill doesnâ¬"t hurt either, so youâ¬"ll even have money left over to spend in the wild west end afterwards.

Giaconda Dining Room - A Dark Squeeze by intoxicating

intoxicating — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 09:09:29 +0000

Review by intoxicating

Rating: 2.00

Phone: 020 7240 3334

Tags: french, good value, british

â¬ÜMona Lisa looks as if she has just been sick, or is about to be...â¬"
[Noel Coward]

â¬ÜLA GIACONDAâ¬" is the Mona Lisaâ¬"s other name. It is also the inherited title of esteemed Australian chef, Paul Merronyâ¬"s most recent bistro. Despite blaring critical amplification, it turned out to be a tight, dank Soho grotto. That is not to cast aspersions on tight, dank, Soho grottos per se, many of which might be rather diverting. But on account of their lack of inclination towards a la carte dining, I will leave the critique of such latex perfumed premises to more specialist sitesâ¬¦

Doubtless thought went into the insolvent interior: bald walls, crappy coving, refectory plates and prickly thistles poking over exposed tabletops. All just about visible in the vague lighting. At the back of the claustrophobic room, shelves straight out of Farringdonâ¬"s â¬ÜVinotecaâ¬" display the much talked about cheap wine (mono-supplied from a firm with very generous credit terms). Most restaurant critics probably cannot distinguish Chardonnay from Charolais, and any allure of mild mark-ups was ruined by one-size fits all, squat glasses. My friend, (another) Paul, described their design as â¬Üover egging the egalitarian.â¬"

A Â£1 cover charge buys a regularly recharged carafe of sparkling water, net of floury ciabatta and olives marinated in red wine. This noble gesture, which was initially disarming, was unfortunately the mealâ¬"s high point.

Pinnyed waitresses dispense unnervingly cavalier customer servicer. There was no grill of the day because the butcher couldnâ¬"t be bothered to deliver the components. And was the tripe from a cow? â¬S-Oh you bet. A big old fat one!â¬

â¬Ü(Almost) Boneless & Crisped Pigs Trottersâ¬" translated into a slack, reformed mass. This mashed SPAM was plastered across too much mustard mayonnaise and bits of boiled egg. My friend, a competent cook, thought the inclusion of crisp apple discs (maybe caramelised) would have toned down the queasy, gelatinous cake.

We refreshed our palates with half a bottle of sour Champagne (Philipponnat) and then realised what a peculiar match trotters and bubbles make.

â¬ÜVitello Tonnato â¬Üâ¬SI did it my wayâ¬â¬" was grossly ugly: thickly sliced, lank and coarse like leather with a bernaise like sauce slurry. The bitter red leaves concealed more oviparous wedges.

A bottle of milky, infantile â¬"04 Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes (Dom. Heresztyn) was chastised by the thimble glassware. Bad glasses are like bad haircuts. They render grace unsightly.

My friend had â¬ÜItalian Pork Sausage Stew with Tomatoes & Polentaâ¬" (those promiscuous ampersand whores were tiring) â¬ a dejected heap of pasta embroiled with desiccated meatballs. Absolutely unremarkable, this was the stuff of nursery slopes.

A neighbourâ¬"s â¬ÜCrisp Roast Salmon with Deconstructed Piccalilliâ¬" was forcefully, arrestingly overpoweringly malodorous and slimy looking.

However the peek at the Piccalilli was naught compared with the gory filmic chaos about to ground itself amongst us. I was utterly disturbed by the ocular impact of the churned, lava flow of Eton Mess. A Poached Pear called to mind an unpeeled bullâ¬"s testicle / prolapse / purÃ©ed canvas of â¬ÜThe Screamâ¬" / worse.

JuranÃ§on La Magendia â¬"04, from grapes grown in Jurassic soil near the Pyrenees, helped slightly sweetly revive us. Incidentally, King Henri IV was christened with a version of this wine. The legend states that his lips were rubbed with garlic then wet with JuranÃ§on. That sounds far more appealing then excessive egg and gloatingly concept piccalilli.

Optional extra Chocolate Truffle Moomins were dark, solid and deliberately rough-hewn. You could probably take fingerprint records from them.

Despite being camouflaged amongst legendary music shops, there was no ambient music. Despite being named after the worldâ¬"s most famous portrait, there was an absence of art on walls, plates and palates. Despite an interesting sounding menu and reasonable ingredients, the stodgy dishes were routinely blurred into pulpy imprecision.

The loos, incidentally, are located at the end of a long, grubby corridor, via slopes and stairs, passed padlocked stores, in another building entirely.

I wanted to like 'The Giaconda Dining Rooms'. Indeed, I always want to like dining rooms. Eating out is (one) of the most pleasurable shared experiences. Ultimately, however, I was left aghast at the strident sycophantism lavished upon this deliberately charmless, airtight, buff, meaningless little space. If this is credit crunch dining, I may break a tooth on .

If you set course for Soho fuelled by a light wallet, might I suggest an alternative? â¬ÜAndrew Edmundsâ¬" is another tight, dark Soho grotto. Its wine list is equitable and wide-ranging. Unlike Giaconda, however, it is top to toe with romantic charm...â¬ÜMona Lisa looks as if she has just been sick, or is about to be...â¬"
[Noel Coward]

â¬ÜLA GIACONDAâ¬" is the Mona Lisaâ¬"s other name. It is also the inherited title of esteemed Australian chef, Paul Merronyâ¬"s most recent bistro. Despite blaring critical amplification, it turned out to be a tight, dank Soho grotto. That is not to cast aspersions on tight, dank, Soho grottos per se, many of which might be rather diverting. But on account of their lack of inclination towards a la carte dining, I will leave the critique of such latex perfumed premises to more specialist sitesâ¬¦

Doubtless thought went into the insolvent interior: bald walls, crappy coving, refectory plates and prickly thistles poking over exposed tabletops. All just about visible in the vague lighting. At the back of the claustrophobic room, shelves straight out of Farringdonâ¬"s â¬ÜVinotecaâ¬" display the much talked about cheap wine (mono-supplied from a firm with very generous credit terms). Most restaurant critics probably cannot distinguish Chardonnay from Charolais, and any allure of mild mark-ups was ruined by one-size fits all, squat glasses. My friend, (another) Paul, described their design as â¬Üover egging the egalitarian.â¬"

A Â£1 cover charge buys a regularly recharged carafe of sparkling water, net of floury ciabatta and olives marinated in red wine. This noble gesture, which was initially disarming, was unfortunately the mealâ¬"s high point.

Pinnyed waitresses dispense unnervingly cavalier customer servicer. There was no grill of the day because the butcher couldnâ¬"t be bothered to deliver the components. And was the tripe from a cow? â¬S-Oh you bet. A big old fat one!â¬

â¬Ü(Almost) Boneless & Crisped Pigs Trottersâ¬" translated into a slack, reformed mass. This mashed SPAM was plastered across too much mustard mayonnaise and bits of boiled egg. My friend, a competent cook, thought the inclusion of crisp apple discs (maybe caramelised) would have toned down the queasy, gelatinous cake.

We refreshed our palates with half a bottle of sour Champagne (Philipponnat) and then realised what a peculiar match trotters and bubbles make.

â¬ÜVitello Tonnato â¬Üâ¬SI did it my wayâ¬â¬" was grossly ugly: thickly sliced, lank and coarse like leather with a bernaise like sauce slurry. The bitter red leaves concealed more oviparous wedges.

A bottle of milky, infantile â¬"04 Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes (Dom. Heresztyn) was chastised by the thimble glassware. Bad glasses are like bad haircuts. They render grace unsightly.

My friend had â¬ÜItalian Pork Sausage Stew with Tomatoes & Polentaâ¬" (those promiscuous ampersand whores were tiring) â¬ a dejected heap of pasta embroiled with desiccated meatballs. Absolutely unremarkable, this was the stuff of nursery slopes.

A neighbourâ¬"s â¬ÜCrisp Roast Salmon with Deconstructed Piccalilliâ¬" was forcefully, arrestingly overpoweringly malodorous and slimy looking.

However the peek at the Piccalilli was naught compared with the gory filmic chaos about to ground itself amongst us. I was utterly disturbed by the ocular impact of the churned, lava flow of Eton Mess. A Poached Pear called to mind an unpeeled bullâ¬"s testicle / prolapse / purÃ©ed canvas of â¬ÜThe Screamâ¬" / worse.

JuranÃ§on La Magendia â¬"04, from grapes grown in Jurassic soil near the Pyrenees, helped slightly sweetly revive us. Incidentally, King Henri IV was christened with a version of this wine. The legend states that his lips were rubbed with garlic then wet with JuranÃ§on. That sounds far more appealing then excessive egg and gloatingly concept piccalilli.

Optional extra Chocolate Truffle Moomins were dark, solid and deliberately rough-hewn. You could probably take fingerprint records from them.

Despite being camouflaged amongst legendary music shops, there was no ambient music. Despite being named after the worldâ¬"s most famous portrait, there was an absence of art on walls, plates and palates. Despite an interesting sounding menu and reasonable ingredients, the stodgy dishes were routinely blurred into pulpy imprecision.

The loos, incidentally, are located at the end of a long, grubby corridor, via slopes and stairs, passed padlocked stores, in another building entirely.

I wanted to like 'The Giaconda Dining Rooms'. Indeed, I always want to like dining rooms. Eating out is (one) of the most pleasurable shared experiences. Ultimately, however, I was left aghast at the strident sycophantism lavished upon this deliberately charmless, airtight, buff, meaningless little space. If this is credit crunch dining, I may break a tooth on it.

If you set course for Soho fuelled by a light wallet, might I suggest an alternative? â¬ÜAndrew Edmundsâ¬" is another tight, dark Soho grotto. Its wine list is equitable and wide-ranging. Unlike Giaconda, however, it is top to toe with romantic charm...

Wong Kei - An Institution by terryturbojr

terryturbojr — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 15:09:43 +0000

Review by terryturbojr

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7437 8408

Tags: chinese, cheap eat, lively

For me this place is a tale of two restaurants, one good one not so good.

If you go in and order a load of mixed deep fried starters and a sweet and sour chicken prepare to be disappointed.

Sitting downstairs on my own, watching the West End pass by as I eat crispy pork and rice, beef brisket noodle soup, mixed seafood cirpsy noodle or, my personal favourite, assorted meat fried ho fun is one of my favourite London pass-times. The food is cheap and basic and the staff brusque but it's fantastic - and that's why it gets 5 stars.For me this place is a tale of two restaurants, one good one not so good.

If you go in and order a load of mixed deep fried starters and a sweet and sour chicken prepare to be disappointed.

Sitting downstairs on my own, watching the West End pass by as I eat crispy pork and rice, beef brisket noodle soup, mixed seafood cirpsy noodle or, my personal favourite, assorted meat fried ho fun is one of my favourite London pass-times. The food is cheap and basic and the staff brusque but it's fantastic - and that's why it gets 5 stars.

Cafe Pacifico - Great drinks, great food, great atmosphere! by toptripster

toptripster — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 16:09:18 +0000

Review by toptripster

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7379 7728

Website: http://www.cafepacifico-laperla.com

Tags: mexican, crowded, good value

Who'd have thunk it? A reasonably priced, high quality restaurant in Covent garden!
This venue is the ideal place for a first date, the no booking policy means that if you decide to go for the sit down meal option you get a good 20 minutes chatting at the bar before you sit down to eat (and believe me 20 minutes is long enough to know if your date is worth spending the rest of the evening with)!
Often however I will take the less expensive option and grab the bar menu (cheap moi?) the food is definitely the best Mexican I have ever tasted in this country (and better than most in California).
I would have given this place 5 stars, but there are 2 things that let it down, first they have taken my favourite dish off the bar menu which was a selection of tacos (brie and mango, smoked chicken, beef and pork), secondly the seafood has been consistently disappointing, stick to the non-seafood dishes and you'll be a happy camper!
Furthermore, the drinks are to die for, the choice of tequila is staggering as are the tequila cocktails, the bar staff are friendly, knowledgeable and helpful and produce the best Margaritas in London (IMHO).Who'd have thunk it? A reasonably priced, high quality restaurant in Covent garden!
This venue is the ideal place for a first date, the no booking policy means that if you decide to go for the sit down meal option you get a good 20 minutes chatting at the bar before you sit down to eat (and believe me 20 minutes is long enough to know if your date is worth spending the rest of the evening with)!
Often however I will take the less expensive option and grab the bar menu (cheap moi?) the food is definitely the best Mexican I have ever tasted in this country (and better than most in California).
I would have given this place 5 stars, but there are 2 things that let it down, first they have taken my favourite dish off the bar menu which was a selection of tacos (brie and mango, smoked chicken, beef and pork), secondly the seafood has been consistently disappointing, stick to the non-seafood dishes and you'll be a happy camper!
Furthermore, the drinks are to die for, the choice of tequila is staggering as are the tequila cocktails, the bar staff are friendly, knowledgeable and helpful and produce the best Margaritas in London (IMHO).

Browns - Beyond appalling - avoid like the plague by FluffyRona

FluffyRona — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 10:10:29 +0000

Review by FluffyRona

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 7497 5050

Website: http://www.browns-restaurants.com

Tags: brasserie, posh, bar

I have been going to this venue since it opened, so returning last night for dinner, I was confident all would be as usual. How wrong I was proved to be?

The most incompetent waitress I have ever encountered, overcrowded tables (a credit crunch obviously means cramming people in like sardines, in a restaurant where they must expect to turn tables at least once if not twice in an evening), lengthy waits for food (more than 40 minutes for a main course!) and utterly inedible food made it one of the worst meals I have ever been served - total and utter disgrace.

The waitress didn't write down our order, then didn't notice when she brought us totally different items from those which we had ordered - use a pad, you silly girl, if you have a memory like a goldfish! My lamb steak - one of the specials - was more reminiscent of a slab of solid fat - if I'd wanted to serve myself something so chewy and inedible I'd have taken a slice off the butt of one of the braying American tourists at the bar. Despite only carrying two glasses of wine to our table, our waitress managed to spill my husband's red, leaving him with a dripping glass which was impossible to notice in the near pitch black room until it had stained his brand new shirt.

It took more than 20 minutes to get the attention of the waitress to ask for things to be changed - we took nearly 2 hours in the restaurant for a meal which my dog wouldn't look twice at.

The most insulting thing was that the restaurant was only half full - Lord help us when it gets busy. And the manageress's claim that "the kitchen's getting used to a new menu" really wasn't good enough - don't offer things if a) the chef can't cook them and b) staff can't recognise the difference between a rack of lamb and a pork fillet (one served with mash, one with black pudding - there's a clue!).

Simply dreadful - if I could award this negative stars (or at best, zero) I would. Avoid like the plague. Totally and utterly disgraceful.I have been going to this venue since it opened, so returning last night for dinner, I was confident all would be as usual. How wrong I was proved to be?

The most incompetent waitress I have ever encountered, overcrowded tables (a credit crunch obviously means cramming people in like sardines, in a restaurant where they must expect to turn tables at least once if not twice in an evening), lengthy waits for food (more than 40 minutes for a main course!) and utterly inedible food made it one of the worst meals I have ever been served - total and utter disgrace.

The waitress didn't write down our order, then didn't notice when she brought us totally different items from those which we had ordered - use a pad, you silly girl, if you have a memory like a goldfish! My lamb steak - one of the specials - was more reminiscent of a slab of solid fat - if I'd wanted to serve myself something so chewy and inedible I'd have taken a slice off the butt of one of the braying American tourists at the bar. Despite only carrying two glasses of wine to our table, our waitress managed to spill my husband's red, leaving him with a dripping glass which was impossible to notice in the near pitch black room until it had stained his brand new shirt.

It took more than 20 minutes to get the attention of the waitress to ask for things to be changed - we took nearly 2 hours in the restaurant for a meal which my dog wouldn't look twice at.

The most insulting thing was that the restaurant was only half full - Lord help us when it gets busy. And the manageress's claim that "the kitchen's getting used to a new menu" really wasn't good enough - don't offer things if a) the chef can't cook them and b) staff can't recognise the difference between a rack of lamb and a pork fillet (one served with mash, one with black pudding - there's a clue!).

Simply dreadful - if I could award this negative stars (or at best, zero) I would. Avoid like the plague. Totally and utterly disgraceful.

Food For Thought - yum by Navajo_Pete

Navajo_Pete — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 23:59:01 +0000

Review by Navajo_Pete

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7836 0239

Tags: vegetarian, crowded, good value

Long-standing vegetarian cafe and restaurant in Covent Garden's Neal Street.

This has been in this same location for many, many years. Owned and managed by a local couple, who are totally hands-on and involved in the business.

The restaurant has built up a loyal following among the local shop workers, office workers, residents and shoppers to fashionable Neal Street. Its reputation is one of mouth-watering, well-prepared veggie meals, salds, and snacks.

Wether you come at lunch time or early evening, the place is likely to be packed, so be prepared to spend a bit of time - no good if you're in a hurry and only have 3 mins! It's well worth the wait, as it's hard to chose anything that isn't delicious. Prices are very reasonable, towards cheap, and given that this is Covent Garden, that's a bargain.

Vanessa and her husband buy tonnes of veg every day, directly from new CG Market, in most cases. The freshness of their soups, casseroles and quiches is legendary.

If you're only going to have one main meal per day and fancy (or restrict yourself to) a healthy, vegetarian option, this is the place to come to, if you're in the area. The take-away soup, rustic bread and a nice veggie stew are just perfect if you have a sunny spot at Seven Dials to eat it and watch the world go by.Long-standing vegetarian cafe and restaurant in Covent Garden's Neal Street.

This has been in this same location for many, many years. Owned and managed by a local couple, who are totally hands-on and involved in the business.

The restaurant has built up a loyal following among the local shop workers, office workers, residents and shoppers to fashionable Neal Street. Its reputation is one of mouth-watering, well-prepared veggie meals, salds, and snacks.

Wether you come at lunch time or early evening, the place is likely to be packed, so be prepared to spend a bit of time - no good if you're in a hurry and only have 3 mins! It's well worth the wait, as it's hard to chose anything that isn't delicious. Prices are very reasonable, towards cheap, and given that this is Covent Garden, that's a bargain.

Vanessa and her husband buy tonnes of veg every day, directly from new CG Market, in most cases. The freshness of their soups, casseroles and quiches is legendary.

If you're only going to have one main meal per day and fancy (or restrict yourself to) a healthy, vegetarian option, this is the place to come to, if you're in the area. The take-away soup, rustic bread and a nice veggie stew are just perfect if you have a sunny spot at Seven Dials to eat it and watch the world go by.

Punjab Indian Restaurant - wonderful dining experience by Navajo_Pete

Navajo_Pete — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 23:50:48 +0000

Review by Navajo_Pete

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7836 9787

Website: http://www.punjab.co.uk

Tags: indian, family & home feel, vegetarian dishes

A charming experience in every way. This little restaurant used to have two separate dining areas, one for smokers, the other for non-smokers (quite progressive, 10-15 years ago!). Some years ago it built an extension at the back of the restaurant, which you cannot see from the street, so it now has plenty of seating, so no fear of it being full-up.

The menu is extensive, but not at all over-the-top, as some mainstream Indian restaurants can sometimes be. There is plenty of choice, without there being too much choice. Service is friendly and relaxed and the staff here seem to know their stuff. They certainly know their customers and on each of my visits, they know one of every two customers by name or from a previous visit - very impressive, and a good sign (why would you visit time and again if the food was lousy?)

One memorable experience here was the 'Chicken Tikka Special' we ordered. This is normally served by one of the Sikh managers, who delivers it to your table, straight from the tandoor and red hot. Before you know what he is doing, he pours a bit of brandy over it and lights it!

Prices are average, certainly for Covent Garden, and the quality of the food has always been good, sometimes excellent. One of my favourites is their Chicken Jalfrezi, with a lush paprike/capsicum and ginger flavour and ever-so-tender chunks of chicken. That, together with their excellent Kulfi is enough to keep me visiting again, and again,.....A charming experience in every way. This little restaurant used to have two separate dining areas, one for smokers, the other for non-smokers (quite progressive, 10-15 years ago!). Some years ago it built an extension at the back of the restaurant, which you cannot see from the street, so it now has plenty of seating, so no fear of it being full-up.

The menu is extensive, but not at all over-the-top, as some mainstream Indian restaurants can sometimes be. There is plenty of choice, without there being too much choice. Service is friendly and relaxed and the staff here seem to know their stuff. They certainly know their customers and on each of my visits, they know one of every two customers by name or from a previous visit - very impressive, and a good sign (why would you visit time and again if the food was lousy?)

One memorable experience here was the 'Chicken Tikka Special' we ordered. This is normally served by one of the Sikh managers, who delivers it to your table, straight from the tandoor and red hot. Before you know what he is doing, he pours a bit of brandy over it and lights it!

Prices are average, certainly for Covent Garden, and the quality of the food has always been good, sometimes excellent. One of my favourites is their Chicken Jalfrezi, with a lush paprike/capsicum and ginger flavour and ever-so-tender chunks of chicken. That, together with their excellent Kulfi is enough to keep me visiting again, and again,.....

Bella Italia - a chain restaurant...realy? by herb

herb — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 12:03:42 +0000

Review by herb

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7321 0016

Website: http://www.bellaitalia.co.uk

Tags: italian, good value, lively

they are a chain, thats right but bella italia is not some restaurant around the corner, most of the restaurant i know, they have central kitchen's and deliver the sauces every 2 or 3 days, this restaurant they want to keep the local tradicional italian restaurant on...and that is great. amazing pasta and pizza.

they are a chain, thats right but bella italia is not some restaurant around the corner, most of the restaurant i know, they have central kitchen's and deliver the sauces every 2 or 3 days, this restaurant they want to keep the local tradicional italian restaurant on...and that is great. amazing pasta and pizza.

El Cantara - Lovely desserts by gilly1973

gilly1973 — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 19:47:16 +0000

Review by gilly1973

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7734 6868

Website: http://www.elcantara.co.uk/

Tags: spanish, north african, romantic

I went to El Cantara for the first time a few weeks ago. It is well located in the heart of Soho, and close to many theatres. The food, value for money and service at El Cantara were all of a high standard. The mix of Moroccan and Spanish cuisines worked really well. I particularly enjoyed the vegetable tagine and the Spanish and Moroccan flatbreads. My favourite dish of the evening was the baklava, which was one of the best that I have had. The staff were friendly and helpful and the food was reasonably priced. I will certainly be eating there again.I went to El Cantara for the first time a few weeks ago. It is well located in the heart of Soho, and close to many theatres. The food, value for money and service at El Cantara were all of a high standard. The mix of Moroccan and Spanish cuisines worked really well. I particularly enjoyed the vegetable tagine and the Spanish and Moroccan flatbreads. My favourite dish of the evening was the baklava, which was one of the best that I have had. The staff were friendly and helpful and the food was reasonably priced. I will certainly be eating there again.