Latest reviews for Restaurants in Oxford Circus, London, United Kingdom

Curry Leaf - Reliable Indian by kittylyst

kittylyst — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 17:31:25 +0000

Review by kittylyst

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7436 7402

Have been in a few times when in the area and needing food.

It's nothing amazingly special, but it's also never been terrible. The standard staples are well executed, and the staff seem happy to make dishes which are slightly off the menu. Veggies and vegans seem to be happy with the menu.

The wine list is the average of average, but by sticking to Old Reliable regions and varietals, it's possible to find a decent accompaniment for the food - but the prices are what you'd expect for somewhere in Bloomsbury - on the expensive side but not eye-watering.

Not somewhere I'd travel to eat dinner, but fine if you're in the area.Have been in a few times when in the area and needing food.

It's nothing amazingly special, but it's also never been terrible. The standard staples are well executed, and the staff seem happy to make dishes which are slightly off the menu. Veggies and vegans seem to be happy with the menu.

The wine list is the average of average, but by sticking to Old Reliable regions and varietals, it's possible to find a decent accompaniment for the food - but the prices are what you'd expect for somewhere in Bloomsbury - on the expensive side but not eye-watering.

Not somewhere I'd travel to eat dinner, but fine if you're in the area.

Leon - Bad coffee, etc. by bellaphon

bellaphon — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 16:05:51 +0000

Review by bellaphon

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 7437 5280

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

Tags: lively, international, crowded

Coffee-
Revolting
Aioli chicken-
Piteous
Coffee-
Revolting
Aioli chicken-
Piteous

Maroush V - by itadakimasu

itadakimasu — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 22:54:04 +0000

Review by itadakimasu

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 7493 5050

Website: http://www.maroush.com

Tags: lively, lebanese, good value

We were told the heating was broken, and as such we had to sit in a very cold restaurant. Unfriendly service. Plenty of good food, but not worth the Â£100 plus bill.We were told the heating was broken, and as such we had to sit in a very cold restaurant. Unfriendly service. Plenty of good food, but not worth the Â£100 plus bill.

Bob Bob Ricard - Dining 'till the cows come home by bellaphon

bellaphon — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 18:17:08 +0000

Review by bellaphon

Rating: 3.00

Tags: lively, british, romantic

Iâ¬"ve only just gone and done it. I came here and had the most expensive Full English this year.

Bob Bob Ricard is apparently the name of the two owners, so if you donâ¬"t mind Iâ¬"ll hazard on the collective names of Robert and Tricky. Although Iâ¬"m neither a fan of David Collins nor any other interior designers for that matter, the dining room here did elicit a delightful decadence and the ambience I found simply beguiling. As expected the service is top notch and despite the rather indifferent comments on the pink jackets and waistcoats worn by the male waiting staff, I found this detail to be salubrious for London dining.

The toaster found on each of the tables has already become an iconic feature of BBR. The thing that niggles is what happens when you knock your glass of Buck's Fizz onto the powered toaster; I duuno but litigious tendencies come to mind. The expensive fry up I had consisted of good ingredients but I canâ¬"t help but quibble at the mean portion of one of everything on the plate- one rasher, one sausage, one egg etc. Together with a pot of decent loose leaf Earl Grey, I did enjoy my breakfast, one never felt rushed nor did the elbows end up greasy.

To offer 18 hours of continuous near posh dining daily is nothing short of a niche worth striving for. For this alone I welcome BBR to the fold and long may they thrive.
Iâ¬"ve only just gone and done it. I came here and had the most expensive Full English this year.

Bob Bob Ricard is apparently the name of the two owners, so if you donâ¬"t mind Iâ¬"ll hazard on the collective names of Robert and Tricky. Although Iâ¬"m neither a fan of David Collins nor any other interior designers for that matter, the dining room here did elicit a delightful decadence and the ambience I found simply beguiling. As expected the service is top notch and despite the rather indifferent comments on the pink jackets and waistcoats worn by the male waiting staff, I found this detail to be salubrious for London dining.

The toaster found on each of the tables has already become an iconic feature of BBR. The thing that niggles is what happens when you knock your glass of Buck's Fizz onto the powered toaster; I duuno but litigious tendencies come to mind. The expensive fry up I had consisted of good ingredients but I canâ¬"t help but quibble at the mean portion of one of everything on the plate- one rasher, one sausage, one egg etc. Together with a pot of decent loose leaf Earl Grey, I did enjoy my breakfast, one never felt rushed nor did the elbows end up greasy.

To offer 18 hours of continuous near posh dining daily is nothing short of a niche worth striving for. For this alone I welcome BBR to the fold and long may they thrive.

Cha Cha Moon - £3.50 no longer, but still good value. by bellaphon

bellaphon — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 23:13:30 +0000

Review by bellaphon

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7297 9800

Tags: lively, chinese, cheap eat

Alan Yau deserves some kind accolade from the Queen for his services to the restaurant industry in the UK and now the world. His Midas quality is plain to see from the communal phenomenon of Wagamama to the Michelin starred Hakkasan. The man put himself on the map, and we the masses are happy enough to be inspired or at least be fed by him.

Cha Cha Moon (If recited backwards, â¬Ümoon cha chaâ¬" means dazed and confused in Cantonese) has been feeding a large number of people in its refectory-like dining room since May this year. The location within chic Carnaby Street is a brilliant marketing exercise, close to the hustle and bustle of both Oxford and Regent streets whilst retaining a degree of calm and oasis on where it stands. Since it first opened, all the food dishes were priced at Â£3.50; no more and no less. At those prices, it would've been pathetic to dismiss or disembowel Yauâ¬"s then new venture. The quality and quantity of the dishes were quite simply reflected in the introductory prices. The noodle based one-dish meals were in essence cheaper and better tasting than a Big Mac meal at McDs.

Six months later only 25% of the food menu consists of dishes that are still priced at Â£3.50 and this is mainly found on the sides options. The Spring Rolls, lovingly described as containing cloud ear, carrot, Chinese chive, cabbage and dried shrimp- were at best mediocre, not too unlike the frozen variety that one buys from Oriental supermarkets. The Prawn Guotie (fried dumpling) was tasteless and over salty. For dumplings of this ilk you canâ¬"t beat the Cantonese with their Deep Fried Prawn Dumpling in Salad Sauce. Beef Ho Fun- this dish totally dumbfounded me. An all-Chinese crew as far as I could see manned the kitchen, sadly this dish tasted as if it was cooked by some long lost Phoenicians. It tasted slapdash and quite possibly formulated (thatâ¬"s how the dishes at Wagamama ended up when it began to expand nationwide). The ironic thing with this dish was I thought the peppers that came with it were actually yummy. The final dish of Cod and Bitter Melon Glass Vermicelli tasted wholly experimental- the vermicelli was way under seasoned, the batter encasing the cod was a tad rancid and the poor bitter melon felt hopelessly lost in this dish.

Despite the findings of the above, Cha Cha Moon deserves a huge credit for not over inflating the prices, none of the main dishes costs more than Â£5.50 and no service charge imposed on small groups of diners. The service from the young staff I find eager and helpful. Do I come back, yes only when Iâ¬"m in the vicinity and canâ¬"t be arsed to go to Chinatown instead.
Alan Yau deserves some kind accolade from the Queen for his services to the restaurant industry in the UK and now the world. His Midas quality is plain to see from the communal phenomenon of Wagamama to the Michelin starred Hakkasan. The man put himself on the map, and we the masses are happy enough to be inspired or at least be fed by him.

Cha Cha Moon (If recited backwards, â¬Ümoon cha chaâ¬" means dazed and confused in Cantonese) has been feeding a large number of people in its refectory-like dining room since May this year. The location within chic Carnaby Street is a brilliant marketing exercise, close to the hustle and bustle of both Oxford and Regent streets whilst retaining a degree of calm and oasis on where it stands. Since it first opened, all the food dishes were priced at Â£3.50; no more and no less. At those prices, it would've been pathetic to dismiss or disembowel Yauâ¬"s then new venture. The quality and quantity of the dishes were quite simply reflected in the introductory prices. The noodle based one-dish meals were in essence cheaper and better tasting than a Big Mac meal at McDs.

Six months later only 25% of the food menu consists of dishes that are still priced at Â£3.50 and this is mainly found on the sides options. The Spring Rolls, lovingly described as containing cloud ear, carrot, Chinese chive, cabbage and dried shrimp- were at best mediocre, not too unlike the frozen variety that one buys from Oriental supermarkets. The Prawn Guotie (fried dumpling) was tasteless and over salty. For dumplings of this ilk you canâ¬"t beat the Cantonese with their Deep Fried Prawn Dumpling in Salad Sauce. Beef Ho Fun- this dish totally dumbfounded me. An all-Chinese crew as far as I could see manned the kitchen, sadly this dish tasted as if it was cooked by some long lost Phoenicians. It tasted slapdash and quite possibly formulated (thatâ¬"s how the dishes at Wagamama ended up when it began to expand nationwide). The ironic thing with this dish was I thought the peppers that came with it were actually yummy. The final dish of Cod and Bitter Melon Glass Vermicelli tasted wholly experimental- the vermicelli was way under seasoned, the batter encasing the cod was a tad rancid and the poor bitter melon felt hopelessly lost in this dish.

Despite the findings of the above, Cha Cha Moon deserves a huge credit for not over inflating the prices, none of the main dishes costs more than Â£5.50 and no service charge imposed on small groups of diners. The service from the young staff I find eager and helpful. Do I come back, yes only when Iâ¬"m in the vicinity and canâ¬"t be arsed to go to Chinatown instead.

Sakura - they don't want customers by ginsoc

ginsoc — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 00:04:05 +0000

Review by ginsoc

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 7629 2961

Tags: japanese, crowded, expensive

If only I can give them ZERO star.

Most disgusting experience. Their service is getting worse and worse. 3 of us placed our sushi orders with our hot food orders at the same time. Yet we waited for 45 mins (at least) for our hot food. When we asked about our missing hot food, the waitresses and waiters just stared blank at us, then formed a group standing near us, and talked, laughed, pointed & stared at us. When we asked for the manager, the girl took our order (an hour ago) replied there is no manager angrily. Then we pointed at the middle aged slim man in the suit standing by the cashier. She said he is not the manager, we said we wanted to speak to him anyway. Meanwhile no one has gone into the kitchen to check the whereabout of our food. Slim man came over & confirmed that he wasn't the manager, but the owner. And he made it really clear that he wasn't interested in what we had to say, that we waited by now over an hour for our food, (they weren't busy). Almost as if we were trouble maker, under appreicating whatever it was that they were offering us!! He walked off with the world most faked "sorry".

Food came at the end, and was good although I had my suspicious whether there was added on ingrediant....

We have always adored Japanses food & we have been there a few time before. Sadly each time all of them get worse and worse. There aren't many Japanese restaurants open on Sundays, but we'd rather do without than go back there to be insulted.

They must be doing ok at the credit cruch time that they are actually trying their upmost best to disgust and get rid of customers.

BTW, while we were waiting, I have observed the same rudeness were applied to other customers, mostly non-Japaneses.

Chinese waiters in China town have a reputation, but really, they are just lacking smiles & chit-chats, at least they listen & bring food on time.

Sakura beats that reputation, they are truely 100% rude. Ruins all good Japanese reputations.If only I can give them ZERO star.

Most disgusting experience. Their service is getting worse and worse. 3 of us placed our sushi orders with our hot food orders at the same time. Yet we waited for 45 mins (at least) for our hot food. When we asked about our missing hot food, the waitresses and waiters just stared blank at us, then formed a group standing near us, and talked, laughed, pointed & stared at us. When we asked for the manager, the girl took our order (an hour ago) replied there is no manager angrily. Then we pointed at the middle aged slim man in the suit standing by the cashier. She said he is not the manager, we said we wanted to speak to him anyway. Meanwhile no one has gone into the kitchen to check the whereabout of our food. Slim man came over & confirmed that he wasn't the manager, but the owner. And he made it really clear that he wasn't interested in what we had to say, that we waited by now over an hour for our food, (they weren't busy). Almost as if we were trouble maker, under appreicating whatever it was that they were offering us!! He walked off with the world most faked "sorry".

Food came at the end, and was good although I had my suspicious whether there was added on ingrediant....

We have always adored Japanses food & we have been there a few time before. Sadly each time all of them get worse and worse. There aren't many Japanese restaurants open on Sundays, but we'd rather do without than go back there to be insulted.

They must be doing ok at the credit cruch time that they are actually trying their upmost best to disgust and get rid of customers.

BTW, while we were waiting, I have observed the same rudeness were applied to other customers, mostly non-Japaneses.

Chinese waiters in China town have a reputation, but really, they are just lacking smiles & chit-chats, at least they listen & bring food on time.

Sakura beats that reputation, they are truely 100% rude. Ruins all good Japanese reputations.

Latium - Do as the Romans Do by intoxicating

intoxicating — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 23:49:33 +0000

Review by intoxicating

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7323 9123

Website: http://www.latiumrestaurant.com

Tags: italian, good value, friendly

As I finally left â¬ÜLatiumâ¬", it dawned on me that I had failed to try their signature dish: the multi-coloured four fish ravioli. This was spectacularly remiss of me. Their potent little parcels are legendary and that dish won â¬Übest U.K. pasta plateâ¬". I blame my French companion for distracting me (and fellow diners) with lewd gestures...

Despite being founded by an important duo, Latium has mercifully few pretensions. The team seem content to get on with the business of serving keenly sourced ingredients remarkably reasonably, gathering a faithful following in the process. Its co-owners are Claudio Pulze, who went from being a bellboy to become one of Londonâ¬"s most powerful restaurateurs, and dynamic Roman Chef, Maurizio Morelli.

From the street, there are few hints at such pedigree. Office blinds cling plate glass; serious capitals state â¬ÜITALIAN RESTAURANTâ¬". Inside, the dining room is smartly minimal. Coal-coloured sofas and vivid, glossy photographs of flowers contrast with white walls and bright poinsettias. On the Friday lunchtime my friend and I visited, it was busy, even noisy.

Never underestimate the importance of bread to an Italian. Latiumâ¬"s selection, baked on site, was clearly superior to far too many wan rolls, unlovingly baked and chucked on plates. The basket featured: spinach and pecorino, sweet walnut and raisin, almost meaty sun dried tomato and light taupe coloured olive rolls. Brittle Sardinian flatbread from an artisan rather than an accountant in Nuoro represented possibly the only bought in, already prepared food. This was offered with a little saucer of organic Itranan olive oil from the limestone Lepini mountains in Latium, esteemed since Roman times.

I chose the Lingua di Vitello bollito to begin, a salad of moist, surprisingly flavoursome cross-sections of veal tongue with tuna sauce and baby leeks in vinegar. It felt like a stylish variation of tonnato, although inauthentic mayonnaise had been replaced by fresh Italian parsley sauce. Lettuce leaves were brisk and wiry; the jenga of leeks tense. A refreshing, appetising dish, it rendered me as speechless as the calfâ¬¦

For the primi piatti, perfectly seasoned Pappardelle con RagÃ¹â¬" di Lepre (hare) illustrated a hearty Tuscan influence (the Etruscans once dominated Latium). It was wholesome: richly animal in its musky, earthy, comforting perfume, which â¬Üputs everyone in a good moodâ¬" according to Morelli. Whilst the dish might seem simple, it in fact takes a lot of work. I am told that (like me) it is marinated in wine - for at least 24 hours - braised on the bone with vegetables, chopped by hand, then again gently cooked for a further two hours. The wide, silky homemade ribbons (cousin to the smaller tagliatelle) thickly bound everything together.

If the primi piatti was bucolic, the main course was more urban: Filetto di Merluzzo nero (black cod) on curled, part caramelised chicory with unadulterated bottle green worms of samphire and sweet, concentrated red wine must (unfermented grape juice). Rather than apply the pigeonhole principle and interpret the cod as being an Asian influence, I found out that this dish represents a â¬Ünew idea bound within a firm Italian structure,â¬" the result of â¬Üa young man who left Italy almost as a teenager and learned and discovered different tastes, textures and culinary cultures in a colourful London.â¬" The codâ¬"s top was a crisp shard under which the flesh was loose and tender.

My Mokarabia cafÃ© latte, prepared using an antique manual coffee machine, tasted like liquefied bitter chocolate and did not need sugar. Little chocolate truffles and biscotti were delightful, epecially the sphere coated in cinnamon.

The wine list, some of which is on display, is generally accessibly priced, although there is room for improvement on the list by the glass. It stars an intriguing and personal selection, from lesser-known grape anomalies such as Magliocco, Gaglioppo and Fallanghina to classic Brunellos, sleek Super Tuscans and a handful of posh Piedmontese.

Rather than vaguely amass the greatest hits of Italyâ¬"s twenty regions on a menu, Morelli delivers an authored snapshot of his home, developed without a focus on public expectation...

*

My thanks to â¬ÜEat Man Drink Womanâ¬" (http://eat-drink-man-woman-blog.blogspot.com/2008/02/latium.html) whose radiant reports inspired this booking.As I finally left â¬ÜLatiumâ¬", it dawned on me that I had failed to try their signature dish: the multi-coloured four fish ravioli. This was spectacularly remiss of me. Their potent little parcels are legendary and that dish won â¬Übest U.K. pasta plateâ¬". I blame my French companion for distracting me (and fellow diners) with lewd gestures...

Despite being founded by an important duo, Latium has mercifully few pretensions. The team seem content to get on with the business of serving keenly sourced ingredients remarkably reasonably, gathering a faithful following in the process. Its co-owners are Claudio Pulze, who went from being a bellboy to become one of Londonâ¬"s most powerful restaurateurs, and dynamic Roman Chef, Maurizio Morelli.

From the street, there are few hints at such pedigree. Office blinds cling plate glass; serious capitals state â¬ÜITALIAN RESTAURANTâ¬". Inside, the dining room is smartly minimal. Coal-coloured sofas and vivid, glossy photographs of flowers contrast with white walls and bright poinsettias. On the Friday lunchtime my friend and I visited, it was busy, even noisy.

Never underestimate the importance of bread to an Italian. Latiumâ¬"s selection, baked on site, was clearly superior to far too many wan rolls, unlovingly baked and chucked on plates. The basket featured: spinach and pecorino, sweet walnut and raisin, almost meaty sun dried tomato and light taupe coloured olive rolls. Brittle Sardinian flatbread from an artisan rather than an accountant in Nuoro represented possibly the only bought in, already prepared food. This was offered with a little saucer of organic Itranan olive oil from the limestone Lepini mountains in Latium, esteemed since Roman times.

I chose the Lingua di Vitello bollito to begin, a salad of moist, surprisingly flavoursome cross-sections of veal tongue with tuna sauce and baby leeks in vinegar. It felt like a stylish variation of tonnato, although inauthentic mayonnaise had been replaced by fresh Italian parsley sauce. Lettuce leaves were brisk and wiry; the jenga of leeks tense. A refreshing, appetising dish, it rendered me as speechless as the calfâ¬¦

For the primi piatti, perfectly seasoned Pappardelle con RagÃ¹â¬" di Lepre (hare) illustrated a hearty Tuscan influence (the Etruscans once dominated Latium). It was wholesome: richly animal in its musky, earthy, comforting perfume, which â¬Üputs everyone in a good moodâ¬" according to Morelli. Whilst the dish might seem simple, it in fact takes a lot of work. I am told that (like me) it is marinated in wine - for at least 24 hours - braised on the bone with vegetables, chopped by hand, then again gently cooked for a further two hours. The wide, silky homemade ribbons (cousin to the smaller tagliatelle) thickly bound everything together.

If the primi piatti was bucolic, the main course was more urban: Filetto di Merluzzo nero (black cod) on curled, part caramelised chicory with unadulterated bottle green worms of samphire and sweet, concentrated red wine must (unfermented grape juice). Rather than apply the pigeonhole principle and interpret the cod as being an Asian influence, I found out that this dish represents a â¬Ünew idea bound within a firm Italian structure,â¬" the result of â¬Üa young man who left Italy almost as a teenager and learned and discovered different tastes, textures and culinary cultures in a colourful London.â¬" The codâ¬"s top was a crisp shard under which the flesh was loose and tender.

My Mokarabia cafÃ© latte, prepared using an antique manual coffee machine, tasted like liquefied bitter chocolate and did not need sugar. Little chocolate truffles and biscotti were delightful, epecially the sphere coated in cinnamon.

The wine list, some of which is on display, is generally accessibly priced, although there is room for improvement on the list by the glass. It stars an intriguing and personal selection, from lesser-known grape anomalies such as Magliocco, Gaglioppo and Fallanghina to classic Brunellos, sleek Super Tuscans and a handful of posh Piedmontese.

Rather than vaguely amass the greatest hits of Italyâ¬"s twenty regions on a menu, Morelli delivers an authored snapshot of his home, developed without a focus on public expectation...

*

My thanks to â¬ÜEat Man Drink Womanâ¬" (http://eat-drink-man-woman-blog.blogspot.com/2008/02/latium.html) whose radiant reports inspired this booking.

Busaba Eathai - Quick and healthy by Natnat

Natnat — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 07:23:33 +0000

Review by Natnat

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7255 8686

Website: http://www.busaba.com

Tags: thai, good value, crowded

This place is always packed at lunchtime and in the evening, and itâ¬"s easy to see why. The food is fresh and delicious (and healthy too), and thereâ¬"s an interesting selection of teas and juices to accompany your meal. Expect to pay around a tenner for a drink and a meal. Diners sit around large square tables, and thereâ¬"s never a long wait to be served (although you may queue to get in of an evening). The only downside is that it isnâ¬"t somewhere where you might spend a long drawn out evening â¬ itâ¬"s very much eat and leave. This is one of a chain of restaurants in the capital.This place is always packed at lunchtime and in the evening, and itâ¬"s easy to see why. The food is fresh and delicious (and healthy too), and thereâ¬"s an interesting selection of teas and juices to accompany your meal. Expect to pay around a tenner for a drink and a meal. Diners sit around large square tables, and thereâ¬"s never a long wait to be served (although you may queue to get in of an evening). The only downside is that it isnâ¬"t somewhere where you might spend a long drawn out evening â¬ itâ¬"s very much eat and leave. This is one of a chain of restaurants in the capital.

Yauatcha - Yum yum dim sum by barbd

barbd — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 10:31:48 +0000

Review by barbd

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7494 8888

Tags: chinese, lively, expensive

This is a special place - for those dreary London winter afternoons. Quite pricey but as always, you get what you pay for.

Simply delicious dim sum, and many other tasty treats too, washed down with a cold fresh white wine. Can't think of anything else that I'd rather be doing (well one or two things ;)

Happy staff too - and a dark funky ambiance - make this an occasional (depending on your wallet) bolthole...This is a special place - for those dreary London winter afternoons. Quite pricey but as always, you get what you pay for.

Simply delicious dim sum, and many other tasty treats too, washed down with a cold fresh white wine. Can't think of anything else that I'd rather be doing (well one or two things ;)

Happy staff too - and a dark funky ambiance - make this an occasional (depending on your wallet) bolthole...

Mother Mash - Try another mash by Urbanite

Urbanite — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 10:48:22 +0000

Review by Urbanite

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 74949644

Tags: lively, british, expensive

A little bit average I have to say. We went here with hangovers and while the food certainly staved off our hunger pangs, it didn't really nail the taste thing. I went for the pork and leek bangers with cheesy mash. Firstly the masg, although pretty good, was only 'flavoured; after it was scooped up. So my cheesy mash was my spoon of mash sparsely sprinkled with cheese. My mates 'Irish mash' was the same with spring onions. And so on.
The onion gravy tasted as if it came from a tin and while it all filled me up, I'd probably get more sattisfaction for my Â£8 elsewhere.A little bit average I have to say. We went here with hangovers and while the food certainly staved off our hunger pangs, it didn't really nail the taste thing. I went for the pork and leek bangers with cheesy mash. Firstly the masg, although pretty good, was only 'flavoured; after it was scooped up. So my cheesy mash was my spoon of mash sparsely sprinkled with cheese. My mates 'Irish mash' was the same with spring onions. And so on.
The onion gravy tasted as if it came from a tin and while it all filled me up, I'd probably get more sattisfaction for my Â£8 elsewhere.

Andrew Edmunds - Overpriced and uninspiring by Denise

Denise — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 10:41:38 +0000

Review by Denise

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7437 5708

Tags: romantic, good value, lively

I went here with three friends, to seat four at one of there tables you have to be good friends!

The starters arrived promptly and were nice but the mains took over an hour to arrive, one was the wrong order and by the time it was rectified the rest of us had finished.

I thought the cost, around Â£42 per head, for a pretty average meal with no apologies for the incorrect order was highly inflated.I went here with three friends, to seat four at one of there tables you have to be good friends!

The starters arrived promptly and were nice but the mains took over an hour to arrive, one was the wrong order and by the time it was rectified the rest of us had finished.

I thought the cost, around Â£42 per head, for a pretty average meal with no apologies for the incorrect order was highly inflated.

Hibiscus - Beyond Good by bellaphon

bellaphon — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 21:39:40 +0000

Review by bellaphon

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7629 2999

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

Tags: french, expensive, good value

There were three very distinct reasons why my dining companion (DC) and I stood out from the rest of the other diners in the packed out room at lunch today. Firstly we werenâ¬"t wearing suits, secondly we were probably the youngest diners in the room (now thatâ¬"s saying something!) and lastly we were also the only table not to have ordered any alcohol as we were both teatotallers (every restaurateursâ¬" nightmare).

Without further delay I wish to declare that I had one of the best meals this year at Hibiscus, and to think it was only the set lunch that we had. I was pretty sure that every table in the dining room opted for the same deal as well, so weâ¬"re all in inspired company. The ambience was gratifyingly classy but without the stuffiness, one neednâ¬"t whisper to each other nor feel severely awkward. The service was exemplary and an absolute masterclass in front of room affairs run by the gafferâ¬"s wife. Usual quibble, although minor, included the usual incomprehensible Anglais spoken by the waiters.

My starter of Terrine of Welsh Mutton and Foie Gras was quite simply spectacular, the mutton was packed full of flavour and melt in the mouth. DCâ¬"s winter offering of swede veloutÃ© was deemed excellent. My fantastic mains of veal cottage pie wasnâ¬"t your everyday generic type but a posher bespoke version and in more ways than one a concoction worthy of bettering your mumâ¬"s version. DCâ¬"s Cornish Pollock was sublime and for a Monday dish, the fish tasted super fresh. The superiority of the starters and mains meant they were difficult acts to follow, but thankfully the puddings we had passed with flying colours and proved their equal to the other two courses. My Iced Date Parfait with Shortbread was inspiring and a memorable, and the companionâ¬"s Sweet Potato Tart was judged to be faultless and a perfect end to his own experience.

This set lunch thingy, a testament to M. Bosi, is also an absolutely brilliant ploy to ensure that we all come back for more. I can only imagine his Ã la carte or tasting menu as nothing short of profoundly enlightening. Hibiscus is at the very least 2 stars material or maybe even three in the not too long future. We Londoners; weâ¬"re indeed a worthy and lucky bunch.

NB Table 6, perfect for couples and people watching.
There were three very distinct reasons why my dining companion (DC) and I stood out from the rest of the other diners in the packed out room at lunch today. Firstly we werenâ¬"t wearing suits, secondly we were probably the youngest diners in the room (now thatâ¬"s saying something!) and lastly we were also the only table not to have ordered any alcohol as we were both teatotallers (every restaurateursâ¬" nightmare).

Without further delay I wish to declare that I had one of the best meals this year at Hibiscus, and to think it was only the set lunch that we had. I was pretty sure that every table in the dining room opted for the same deal as well, so weâ¬"re all in inspired company. The ambience was gratifyingly classy but without the stuffiness, one neednâ¬"t whisper to each other nor feel severely awkward. The service was exemplary and an absolute masterclass in front of room affairs run by the gafferâ¬"s wife. Usual quibble, although minor, included the usual incomprehensible Anglais spoken by the waiters.

My starter of Terrine of Welsh Mutton and Foie Gras was quite simply spectacular, the mutton was packed full of flavour and melt in the mouth. DCâ¬"s winter offering of swede veloutÃ© was deemed excellent. My fantastic mains of veal cottage pie wasnâ¬"t your everyday generic type but a posher bespoke version and in more ways than one a concoction worthy of bettering your mumâ¬"s version. DCâ¬"s Cornish Pollock was sublime and for a Monday dish, the fish tasted super fresh. The superiority of the starters and mains meant they were difficult acts to follow, but thankfully the puddings we had passed with flying colours and proved their equal to the other two courses. My Iced Date Parfait with Shortbread was inspiring and a memorable, and the companionâ¬"s Sweet Potato Tart was judged to be faultless and a perfect end to his own experience.

This set lunch thingy, a testament to M. Bosi, is also an absolutely brilliant ploy to ensure that we all come back for more. I can only imagine his Ã la carte or tasting menu as nothing short of profoundly enlightening. Hibiscus is at the very least 2 stars material or maybe even three in the not too long future. We Londoners; weâ¬"re indeed a worthy and lucky bunch.

NB Table 6, perfect for couples and people watching.

Zebrano - a bar like any other.... by tedford

tedford — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 14:56:06 +0000

Review by tedford

Rating: 2.00

Phone: 020 7287 5267

Website: http://www.zebrano-bar-london.com/

Tags: lively, good value, international

But my god the food is terrible. Getting served at the bar can be interesting , fairly disinterested bar staff when I was there. Oh I forgot-the cocktails. It seems here in London the great rip off continues, because the cocktails here are served in small cocktail glasses, and they're not exactly brilliant either. Not worth it unless it's happy hour, otherwise avoid.But my god the food is terrible. Getting served at the bar can be interesting , fairly disinterested bar staff when I was there. Oh I forgot-the cocktails. It seems here in London the great rip off continues, because the cocktails here are served in small cocktail glasses, and they're not exactly brilliant either. Not worth it unless it's happy hour, otherwise avoid.

Dehesa - Warm atmos, amazing food by Izabel_blue

Izabel_blue — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 14:24:37 +0000

Review by Izabel_blue

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7494 4170

Tags: lively, crowded, spanish

I've been to Dehasa twice now - once in the wonderful wonderful private dining room downstairs, and once in the lively tapas bar on the ground level. I've been impressed both times, for different reasons.

When I had dinner in the downstairs room (a corporate evening out) we had plate after plate of wonderful tapas the real standouts were some basics (tortilla, patatas fritas) and also the aforementioned courgette flowers which were awesome. I was seriously impressed by how many great vegetarian tapas there were, and the meaty stuff looked good too. The service was excellent, and we swilled Manzanilla and had a grand old time.

I returned with my own money last weekend to see if it could match the corporate evening out. Me and two friends rushed to Dehasa after a film, hoping to take advantage of their 'no bookings' policy on a busy Saturday night - only to find that the had changed the policy and now take bookings! Oh dear. Out we went onto the pavement, trying to figure out where to go instead - when one of the staff members ushered us back in. "We would be heartbroken if we couldn't find a seat for you"- and hence we found ourselves in the middle of a lively shared table, sitting on (comfortable) stools and occasionally joining in the conversations around us - a very unique experience for London!

The food continued to be stellar - standouts included the scallops on cauliflower puree and some amazing puddings- a Clementine tart for me, poached pears with sorbet for my friends. We left Â£40 each lighter, but that included lots of tapas, a glass of sherry each, a bottle of wine, and puddings and coffee- so pretty good value - the smallish sizes of the tapas left room for dessert, but I can understand how you could leave a bit peckish if you didn't indulge in a pud at the end.

I'm really looking forward to going back - love the atmosphere and ambiance... and the food!

But forewarned: call and book first if you can!I've been to Dehasa twice now - once in the wonderful wonderful private dining room downstairs, and once in the lively tapas bar on the ground level. I've been impressed both times, for different reasons.

When I had dinner in the downstairs room (a corporate evening out) we had plate after plate of wonderful tapas the real standouts were some basics (tortilla, patatas fritas) and also the aforementioned courgette flowers which were awesome. I was seriously impressed by how many great vegetarian tapas there were, and the meaty stuff looked good too. The service was excellent, and we swilled Manzanilla and had a grand old time.

I returned with my own money last weekend to see if it could match the corporate evening out. Me and two friends rushed to Dehasa after a film, hoping to take advantage of their 'no bookings' policy on a busy Saturday night - only to find that the had changed the policy and now take bookings! Oh dear. Out we went onto the pavement, trying to figure out where to go instead - when one of the staff members ushered us back in. "We would be heartbroken if we couldn't find a seat for you"- and hence we found ourselves in the middle of a lively shared table, sitting on (comfortable) stools and occasionally joining in the conversations around us - a very unique experience for London!

The food continued to be stellar - standouts included the scallops on cauliflower puree and some amazing puddings- a Clementine tart for me, poached pears with sorbet for my friends. We left Â£40 each lighter, but that included lots of tapas, a glass of sherry each, a bottle of wine, and puddings and coffee- so pretty good value - the smallish sizes of the tapas left room for dessert, but I can understand how you could leave a bit peckish if you didn't indulge in a pud at the end.

I'm really looking forward to going back - love the atmosphere and ambiance... and the food!

But forewarned: call and book first if you can!

Ran - Not a great value by Solarpanels

Solarpanels — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 21:16:36 +0000

Review by Solarpanels

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 7434 1650

Tags: korean, good value, expensive

The meet was ok, but very poor value for the price. The deco was not great either. For this price, you would either expect bigger portion or a better atmosphere. The whole place looked a bit tired. Surprisingly crowded and that's why we thought this might be a place for good value and good food from outside! Not quite so. There was never enough meet on the table and we had to keep ordering Â£7-8 worth portions. Never felt satisfied after spending quite a lot and had to fill up with rice.The meet was ok, but very poor value for the price. The deco was not great either. For this price, you would either expect bigger portion or a better atmosphere. The whole place looked a bit tired. Surprisingly crowded and that's why we thought this might be a place for good value and good food from outside! Not quite so. There was never enough meet on the table and we had to keep ordering Â£7-8 worth portions. Never felt satisfied after spending quite a lot and had to fill up with rice.

Vapiano - So much better than Mash by caffeinehit

caffeinehit — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 14:00:01 +0000

Review by caffeinehit

Rating: 4.00

Tags: italian, lively, mediterranean

I just popped in here for Friday lunch and was quite surprised/happy to see how much nicer it was than Mash (the old bar that used to be in the same location).

The choice of food was just enough and the decor was perfect. What made it even better was the fact that their payment machine was down so a meal for three was free, shame it wasn't my turn to pay!

Either way, a great little stopping point for the middle of town.I just popped in here for Friday lunch and was quite surprised/happy to see how much nicer it was than Mash (the old bar that used to be in the same location).

The choice of food was just enough and the decor was perfect. What made it even better was the fact that their payment machine was down so a meal for three was free, shame it wasn't my turn to pay!

Either way, a great little stopping point for the middle of town.

Back To Basics - Really nice surprise by willcritchlow

willcritchlow — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 07:04:28 +0000

Review by willcritchlow

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7436 2181

Website: http://www.backtobasics.uk.com

Tags: seafood, lively, friendly

This was the first restaurant I visited following a TrustedPlaces review. I went there for lunch and it was superb. The food was excellent, the atmosphere was great and they couldn't have been friendlier.This was the first restaurant I visited following a TrustedPlaces review. I went there for lunch and it was superb. The food was excellent, the atmosphere was great and they couldn't have been friendlier.

Sartoria - Good italian food - ambience? by Guy_Hutch

Guy_Hutch — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 10:42:05 +0000

Review by Guy_Hutch

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7534 7000

Website: www.sartoriabar.co.uk

Tags: italian, takeaway, cocktails

Recently came here on a top-table fixed price deal.
The restaurant looks very smart but is a little tucked away a bit off the bright lights of Regent Street.
The menu is excellent and the kitchen's execution is superb. In terms of value for money you couldn't be dissapointed.
However the restaurant was very quiet on the Saturday night we went and with the large open dining room the atmosphere was not as welcoming at is should have been.
The aircon was a bit OTT too - and when we highlighted it the staff didn't really seem to believe there was much they could do to ease the chill. Which didn't make much sense as it was snowing outside.
Great food, good value on fixed price menu but so many details to work on otherwise.Recently came here on a top-table fixed price deal.
The restaurant looks very smart but is a little tucked away a bit off the bright lights of Regent Street.
The menu is excellent and the kitchen's execution is superb. In terms of value for money you couldn't be dissapointed.
However the restaurant was very quiet on the Saturday night we went and with the large open dining room the atmosphere was not as welcoming at is should have been.
The aircon was a bit OTT too - and when we highlighted it the staff didn't really seem to believe there was much they could do to ease the chill. Which didn't make much sense as it was snowing outside.
Great food, good value on fixed price menu but so many details to work on otherwise.

Thai Buffet - thai buffet by shuska

shuska — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 14:57:50 +0000

Review by shuska

Rating: 5.00

Tags: healthy food, bargain

brilliant place, fast cheap and great folkbrilliant place, fast cheap and great folk

Sketch - wow! by sarah2009

sarah2009 — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 14:55:56 +0000

Review by sarah2009

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 0870 777 4488

Website: http://www.sketch.uk.com

Tags: expensive, lively, trendy

I had dinner with friends in the Gallery last week and wow! I have never seen anything like it before; the food was delicious and we were entertained by the most amazing video art projections. I will definately visit again soon, if not for dinner then just to the bar.I had dinner with friends in the Gallery last week and wow! I have never seen anything like it before; the food was delicious and we were entertained by the most amazing video art projections. I will definately visit again soon, if not for dinner then just to the bar.