Latest reviews in Piccadilly Circus, London, United Kingdom

Maison Bertaux - by walid

walid — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:30:51 +0000

Review by walid

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7437 6007

Tags: cosy, good brew, friendly atmosphere

Have been there for coffee and cakes a few weeks ago with a few friends. I love the decoration, it's quite original. As for the cakes I found them to be average and overpriced for the quality. If I wanted just cakes and no funky decoration then I would have gone to Paul down the street.Have been there for coffee and cakes a few weeks ago with a few friends. I love the decoration, it's quite original. As for the cakes I found them to be average and overpriced for the quality. If I wanted just cakes and no funky decoration then I would have gone to Paul down the street.

Gerry's Off Licence - by walid

walid — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:28:41 +0000

Review by walid

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7734 4215

Tags: soho, spirits, booze

Friendly off license place run by a Greek I believe. Seems to know a lot about the area.Friendly off license place run by a Greek I believe. Seems to know a lot about the area.

Katana @ The International - mrs elizabeth ashby by hunkychunky

hunkychunky — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 08:21:09 +0000

Review by hunkychunky

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 7655 9810

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

Tags: thai, business, asian

Katana is ideal for a pre theatre meal, as the Duke of York's theatre is round the corner. We reserved a table for two, the set menu at Â£14.95.
Poor choice on the menu, so we asked to see the Ã la carte menu. The prices were outrageous so we stuck to the set menu.
Thai Green and Red Curries were very bland, rice and noodles were an added cost. We will not return.

Katana is ideal for a pre theatre meal, as the Duke of York's theatre is round the corner. We reserved a table for two, the set menu at Â£14.95.
Poor choice on the menu, so we asked to see the Ã la carte menu. The prices were outrageous so we stuck to the set menu.
Thai Green and Red Curries were very bland, rice and noodles were an added cost. We will not return.

Young Cheng - China Town Institution by alaburb

alaburb — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 23:51:23 +0000

Review by alaburb

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7437 0237

Tags: chinese, crowded, good value

This was a staple of my student days.

Cheap good food (rice comes with your main dish).

Expect to get squeezed against someone you don't know. You can't snaek in the back door anymore to avoid the que in the front. Chinese have the luxury of ordering from the more interesting Chinese menu (there seem to be lots of different menus in this place).

Tip: ask for the ginger sauce that comes in a little side dish - delicious with Chinese Broccoli and tofu.

Favourite dish: Salt and Pepper Squid yummmmmmmmmmmmm. This was a staple of my student days.

Cheap good food (rice comes with your main dish).

Expect to get squeezed against someone you don't know. You can't snaek in the back door anymore to avoid the que in the front. Chinese have the luxury of ordering from the more interesting Chinese menu (there seem to be lots of different menus in this place).

Tip: ask for the ginger sauce that comes in a little side dish - delicious with Chinese Broccoli and tofu.

Favourite dish: Salt and Pepper Squid yummmmmmmmmmmmm.

Balans - Pancakes and bacon and syrup - Oh my! by mrsevans101

mrsevans101 — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 15:10:50 +0000

Review by mrsevans101

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7439 3309

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

Tags: lively, good value, crowded

I had breakfast / brunch here two mornings in a row last weekend (return visit after a failed trip to nearby Amato's).

I'll keep this short.

Service was friendly (with a hint of California) and very efficient (without making you feel rushed.
I had amazing pancakes with bacon and maple syrup. Fluffy and light and gooey all at the same time with properly cooked bacon. Hubby had the cooked breakfast and was disappointed. He sent it back the first time because it was cold and was overall a bit disappointed that the sausage was not fab quality and the bacon a little underdone. I suspect that it didn't help that my pancakes were so delish.

And when I went back the second day they recognised me. Which was a nice touch but how embarrassing to be seen in the gay area of London tucking in to pancakes AND syrup AND bacon two days in a row, when all the other punters are so fit!I had breakfast / brunch here two mornings in a row last weekend (return visit after a failed trip to nearby Amato's).

I'll keep this short.

Service was friendly (with a hint of California) and very efficient (without making you feel rushed.
I had amazing pancakes with bacon and maple syrup. Fluffy and light and gooey all at the same time with properly cooked bacon. Hubby had the cooked breakfast and was disappointed. He sent it back the first time because it was cold and was overall a bit disappointed that the sausage was not fab quality and the bacon a little underdone. I suspect that it didn't help that my pancakes were so delish.

And when I went back the second day they recognised me. Which was a nice touch but how embarrassing to be seen in the gay area of London tucking in to pancakes AND syrup AND bacon two days in a row, when all the other punters are so fit!

Amato Patisserie - How the mighty have fallen by mrsevans101

mrsevans101 — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 14:52:20 +0000

Review by mrsevans101

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 7734 5733

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

Tags: quick bite, amazing brew, cosy

I've eaten here plenty of times but not for a while, so I was quite excited to be in London for the weekend to have chance to enjoy their wonderful breakfasts.

Sadly it was not to be.

We arrived on Suday morning about 11 am to find a pretty empty dining room. We ordered breakfast (mostly eggs on toast and eggs benedict, as no one could face a full English). Our complimentary fruit juices were brought over. And we waited. And waited. And waited. Oh my goodness.
The large table next to us complained about the wait (despite many of them arriving after us) and somehow their food was magicked up.
We were not so lucky. 45 minutes after ordering and repeated promises of food on its way we gave up, told them to cancel our food and that we would pay for our drinks. The waiter took the food off the bill and told us that the cost of our drinks (4 fruit juices, one tea and one coffee) would be Â£14. Â£14! We argued that we only ordered the fruit juice because it came with the breakfast that they had not been able to supply so they relented and charged us only for the hot drinks.

I have so many good memories of eating here. This has been burst like a soap bubble by this terrible experience. Worst of all, we had brought friends from out of town with us and told them how marvellous Amato's is. Or was, I should stay.

We left, went to Balan's (along the road) for their cracking American style pancakes and friendly, efficient service.I've eaten here plenty of times but not for a while, so I was quite excited to be in London for the weekend to have chance to enjoy their wonderful breakfasts.

Sadly it was not to be.

We arrived on Suday morning about 11 am to find a pretty empty dining room. We ordered breakfast (mostly eggs on toast and eggs benedict, as no one could face a full English). Our complimentary fruit juices were brought over. And we waited. And waited. And waited. Oh my goodness.
The large table next to us complained about the wait (despite many of them arriving after us) and somehow their food was magicked up.
We were not so lucky. 45 minutes after ordering and repeated promises of food on its way we gave up, told them to cancel our food and that we would pay for our drinks. The waiter took the food off the bill and told us that the cost of our drinks (4 fruit juices, one tea and one coffee) would be Â£14. Â£14! We argued that we only ordered the fruit juice because it came with the breakfast that they had not been able to supply so they relented and charged us only for the hot drinks.

I have so many good memories of eating here. This has been burst like a soap bubble by this terrible experience. Worst of all, we had brought friends from out of town with us and told them how marvellous Amato's is. Or was, I should stay.

We left, went to Balan's (along the road) for their cracking American style pancakes and friendly, efficient service.

Cafe Boheme - Brilliant brilliant brilliant brilliant by DanWilkinson

DanWilkinson — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 12:49:10 +0000

Review by DanWilkinson

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7734 0623

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

Tags: french, good value, live music

It's 2330, you're in the mood for a classic steak frites and some good red wine to finish the night off. There is no better place in London to do just that than in the bustle and noise of CafÃ© Boheme.

I've probably been here more frequently than any other restaurant in London, and have yet to have an experience that wasn't right on the money. Speaking of which, when you can get away with Â£20-30 for a good sized, well-cooked meal with half-decent wine in Central London, life is good, no?It's 2330, you're in the mood for a classic steak frites and some good red wine to finish the night off. There is no better place in London to do just that than in the bustle and noise of CafÃ© Boheme.

I've probably been here more frequently than any other restaurant in London, and have yet to have an experience that wasn't right on the money. Speaking of which, when you can get away with Â£20-30 for a good sized, well-cooked meal with half-decent wine in Central London, life is good, no?

Benja - Lush! by MarieSpencer

MarieSpencer — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 12:47:12 +0000

Review by MarieSpencer

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7287 0555

Website: http://www.benjarestaurant.com/

Tags: thai, romantic, good value

This place is a real gem. For a thai lover, but unfortunately not the most adventurous I loved Benja for taking a classic meal and putting a real spin on it. The staff were really lovely - very friendly and helpful when we asked for advice on what to have. It seems this place is always doing something a bit quirky - unique and tasty cocktails - or a free starter for simply being there. Interior is lovely also - very intimate. Not the cheapest - but worth the money - and if you look for them there are usually some deals about. Makes me drool just thinking of this place!This place is a real gem. For a thai lover, but unfortunately not the most adventurous I loved Benja for taking a classic meal and putting a real spin on it. The staff were really lovely - very friendly and helpful when we asked for advice on what to have. It seems this place is always doing something a bit quirky - unique and tasty cocktails - or a free starter for simply being there. Interior is lovely also - very intimate. Not the cheapest - but worth the money - and if you look for them there are usually some deals about. Makes me drool just thinking of this place!

Kulu Kulu Sushi - brilliant when busy by ricoeurian

ricoeurian — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 12:35:57 +0000

Review by ricoeurian

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7734 7316

Tags: japanese, good value, lively

It's best to go when the place is busy, as the dishes (mostly uncovered) on the belt are fresher due to higher traffic between the kitchen and the customers - if you go when it's quiet, a lot of the food is dried out. That said, you can always order your dishes directly, but that kinda negates the whole sushi-belt experience.

Kulu Kulu has a relaxed and informal air, and I like the do-it-yourself approach to cutlery, condiments and green tea.

For a really cheap meal, stick to the vegetable dishes - spinach with peanut sauce, fried aubergine, tofu, potato salad.It's best to go when the place is busy, as the dishes (mostly uncovered) on the belt are fresher due to higher traffic between the kitchen and the customers - if you go when it's quiet, a lot of the food is dried out. That said, you can always order your dishes directly, but that kinda negates the whole sushi-belt experience.

Kulu Kulu has a relaxed and informal air, and I like the do-it-yourself approach to cutlery, condiments and green tea.

For a really cheap meal, stick to the vegetable dishes - spinach with peanut sauce, fried aubergine, tofu, potato salad.

Toku - crazy good food and authentic Japanese cuisine by ricoeurian

ricoeurian — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 12:26:27 +0000

Review by ricoeurian

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7255 8255

Website: http://www.toku-restaurant.co.uk/restaurant.html

Tags: lively, good value, japanese

Toku is one part of the growing Japan Centre on Piccadilly, which now also includes a supermarket, take-away sushi, a tea and sake shop, bookshop, and travel agency.

The restaurant is lively, fun and busy. The food is wonderful, good value, and authentically Japanese. You can sit at the sushi bar or at one of the tables. Service is friendly and fast.

The menu covers all the bases of mainstream Japanese cuisine, including superb sushi (the California roll is a beauty to behold), value-for-money don, and a full range of side dishes, meat dishes and tempura. Prices vary from affordable for the simpler or set dishes, to fairly expensive for the more elaborate choices. There are menu notes about the ingredients, many of which are organic.

My favourite dish is the chicken kara age set, which includes gorgeous marinaded chicken pieces, salad, rice and miso for around Â£15.

The drinks list is also Japanese (not always the case in 'sushi places') with a good selection of sake, tea, and Japanese soft drinks.

A loyalty card scheme means you can collect stamps (generously given) that get you a free green tea ice-cream (for a half-full card) and Â£5 off your bill (for a full card). You get both rewards with each card, which is undeniably good value.

We've never had to wait long for a table but the place is always busy, with a mixture of Japanese and Londoner patrons.

The restaurant also runs sushi making classes.Toku is one part of the growing Japan Centre on Piccadilly, which now also includes a supermarket, take-away sushi, a tea and sake shop, bookshop, and travel agency.

The restaurant is lively, fun and busy. The food is wonderful, good value, and authentically Japanese. You can sit at the sushi bar or at one of the tables. Service is friendly and fast.

The menu covers all the bases of mainstream Japanese cuisine, including superb sushi (the California roll is a beauty to behold), value-for-money don, and a full range of side dishes, meat dishes and tempura. Prices vary from affordable for the simpler or set dishes, to fairly expensive for the more elaborate choices. There are menu notes about the ingredients, many of which are organic.

My favourite dish is the chicken kara age set, which includes gorgeous marinaded chicken pieces, salad, rice and miso for around Â£15.

The drinks list is also Japanese (not always the case in 'sushi places') with a good selection of sake, tea, and Japanese soft drinks.

A loyalty card scheme means you can collect stamps (generously given) that get you a free green tea ice-cream (for a half-full card) and Â£5 off your bill (for a full card). You get both rewards with each card, which is undeniably good value.

We've never had to wait long for a table but the place is always busy, with a mixture of Japanese and Londoner patrons.

The restaurant also runs sushi making classes.

Yauatcha - Dim sum fans will love it by gogmagog

gogmagog — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 10:21:28 +0000

Review by gogmagog

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7494 8888

Tags: chinese, lively, expensive

We went for lunch and were seated downstairs in the sumptuous basement. Sleek and stylish but without being stuffy. The bar with in-built fishtank is great. Possibly not the best place for a lunch on a sunny day - it is one of those rooms that you could happily emerge from hours later, half-cut and wondering what happened to the day.

Other reviews below have mentioned bad experiences with waiting staff? There was no sign of this when we went. None of us at lunch were experts on dim sum so we asked the waiters to suggest dishes for us. They were helpful and polite, even though, out of a table of four, there was one vegetarian who did eat fish and one meat-eater with a serious allergy to seafood. A tricky situation when eating dim sum. Not only did they advise us well, they also remembered to point out exactly what was in each dish as it came to the table.

So, is it expensive? Yup. It is. But it's supposed to be a step or several up from your standard Soho dim sum house and that's what you're paying for. Was it value for money, though? Well, I guess my view is coloured slightly. I'm not a huge fan of dim sum, as a rule. It's easy for it to end up greasy and stodgy and although Yauatcha's food was never either of these things, I can't say that it was a Damascene revelation for me. It was beautifully cooked and very tasty, but ultimately rather unmemorable.

The venison puffs (as mentioned by other reviewers) were fine, but not to die for. Various prawn and chicken dishes went past, although it's now 2 weeks later and I'll be damned if I can remember anything about any of them. There was nothing wrong with them; in fact I remember them as being nice, but nothing stood out for me. An ostrich chow mein was interesting, but mainly because it was a first try of ostrich, rather than because it was an incredible dish. There was also crispy duck, but it was no better or worse than one you could get on your local high street, unfortunately.

Take a fan of dim sum and I'm sure they'll love you for it. It's a beautiful restaurant, with friendly and attentive staff. And the food is, well... fine.We went for lunch and were seated downstairs in the sumptuous basement. Sleek and stylish but without being stuffy. The bar with in-built fishtank is great. Possibly not the best place for a lunch on a sunny day - it is one of those rooms that you could happily emerge from hours later, half-cut and wondering what happened to the day.

Other reviews below have mentioned bad experiences with waiting staff? There was no sign of this when we went. None of us at lunch were experts on dim sum so we asked the waiters to suggest dishes for us. They were helpful and polite, even though, out of a table of four, there was one vegetarian who did eat fish and one meat-eater with a serious allergy to seafood. A tricky situation when eating dim sum. Not only did they advise us well, they also remembered to point out exactly what was in each dish as it came to the table.

So, is it expensive? Yup. It is. But it's supposed to be a step or several up from your standard Soho dim sum house and that's what you're paying for. Was it value for money, though? Well, I guess my view is coloured slightly. I'm not a huge fan of dim sum, as a rule. It's easy for it to end up greasy and stodgy and although Yauatcha's food was never either of these things, I can't say that it was a Damascene revelation for me. It was beautifully cooked and very tasty, but ultimately rather unmemorable.

The venison puffs (as mentioned by other reviewers) were fine, but not to die for. Various prawn and chicken dishes went past, although it's now 2 weeks later and I'll be damned if I can remember anything about any of them. There was nothing wrong with them; in fact I remember them as being nice, but nothing stood out for me. An ostrich chow mein was interesting, but mainly because it was a first try of ostrich, rather than because it was an incredible dish. There was also crispy duck, but it was no better or worse than one you could get on your local high street, unfortunately.

Take a fan of dim sum and I'm sure they'll love you for it. It's a beautiful restaurant, with friendly and attentive staff. And the food is, well... fine.

Gaucho Piccadilly - Wildly Overhyped by Browners

Browners — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 16:36:19 +0000

Review by Browners

Rating: 2.00

Phone: 020 7734 4040

Website: http://www.gauchosgrill.com

Tags: expensive, steak, lively

Victoria and Alex gave us a very good pre meal analysis. Expect glitz and glamour; immaculate mear; slick service; steep prices; good chips. But occassionaly watch out for inconsistent service, greasy vegetables and listen to how you should have your steak.

Armed with this wealth of advice it all seemed to correct as we shown to our table amongst a dark and sultry dining room. A huge space, crawling with money and girls who had spent hours getting ready and men who were about to spend a fortune.

We settled in and were shown the array of steaks on a wooden board. The waitress gabbled through the description so rapidly we didn't catch a word she said. But Victoria had given us a good sumamry so we weren't too fussed. I ordered a 400g lump of rib eye which the waitress advised me to have medium. I insisted that it should be pink and she said it would be. Cowie ordered a trout ceviche and a prawn and palm heart salad.

The trout ceviche wasn't. It was a collection of three generous slices of cured trout. But it hadn't been cured in citric acid. Now I am clearly no Peruvian but I did think that lemon or lime juice was the central ingredient. A bit like ordering toast and getting bread. It was very tasty, just a bit of a problem for anyone who gets annoyed by misdescriptions.

Then onto the main show. The warm up was over and the headline act was taking the stage. My mega steak arrived with great cermeony. Lots of bernaise. Some chips. A big hunk of....

O dear....

Massively overcooked steak. Grey and rigid it stood lifeless like those a performance artist in Covent Garden. And the chips were cold.

We called over the waitress with a smile and a firm look. She whisked it away and told the chef to cook a fresh one. Meanwhile Cowie devoured her prawn and palm heart salad. It was tasty but incredibly stingy. Cowie counted six medium sized prawns. And then realised that they had all been sliced in half so she had actually only had 3! Three prawns! Not good enough.

10 minutes later my replacement steak arrived. I could hear it mooing as it arrived. As I sliced it in half I could hear the staff collectively sigh with relief. Or maybe I could hear myself. It was tender, juicy and tasted of animal. You could really taste the beef. A delightful piece of meat. The bernaise sauce was fantastic but the second bowl of chips were as cold as the first. Disappointing.

Our carafe of Malbec was delicious. But we didn't need it pouring for us. If you are given a jug of wine the protocol is that you pour it yourself. Cowie only wanted one glass. Having finished her first glass the waitress steamed over and agressively filled it to the brim leaving me with 3/4 of a steak to eat with no wine. Yet another irritant. Cowie and I swapped glasses. But we shouldn't have had to.

Scanning the room we completely agreed that this is one of the best restaurants we have been to for people spotting. Over Cowie's left shoulder was a girl tarted up to the nines wearing a short black dress, some scary heels with a tattoo on her foot. The both fesated on well done steaks whilst drinking glasses of rose topped up to the brim. Kissing and fondling their way through the meal they were having a great time.

It's also great fun to watch the chef at work on the grill. With an earpiece wedged into the side of his head I was surprised he managed to completely balls up my steak.

It was one of the best steaks I have had in London. But given that the first was awful the overall mark averages out as being well below par. Add to that Cowie's measly prawn salad and the abysmal service and you've got glitzy money trap. Give me the steaks we had in Buenos Aires or the USA anyday.Victoria and Alex gave us a very good pre meal analysis. Expect glitz and glamour; immaculate mear; slick service; steep prices; good chips. But occassionaly watch out for inconsistent service, greasy vegetables and listen to how you should have your steak.

Armed with this wealth of advice it all seemed to correct as we shown to our table amongst a dark and sultry dining room. A huge space, crawling with money and girls who had spent hours getting ready and men who were about to spend a fortune.

We settled in and were shown the array of steaks on a wooden board. The waitress gabbled through the description so rapidly we didn't catch a word she said. But Victoria had given us a good sumamry so we weren't too fussed. I ordered a 400g lump of rib eye which the waitress advised me to have medium. I insisted that it should be pink and she said it would be. Cowie ordered a trout ceviche and a prawn and palm heart salad.

The trout ceviche wasn't. It was a collection of three generous slices of cured trout. But it hadn't been cured in citric acid. Now I am clearly no Peruvian but I did think that lemon or lime juice was the central ingredient. A bit like ordering toast and getting bread. It was very tasty, just a bit of a problem for anyone who gets annoyed by misdescriptions.

Then onto the main show. The warm up was over and the headline act was taking the stage. My mega steak arrived with great cermeony. Lots of bernaise. Some chips. A big hunk of....

O dear....

Massively overcooked steak. Grey and rigid it stood lifeless like those a performance artist in Covent Garden. And the chips were cold.

We called over the waitress with a smile and a firm look. She whisked it away and told the chef to cook a fresh one. Meanwhile Cowie devoured her prawn and palm heart salad. It was tasty but incredibly stingy. Cowie counted six medium sized prawns. And then realised that they had all been sliced in half so she had actually only had 3! Three prawns! Not good enough.

10 minutes later my replacement steak arrived. I could hear it mooing as it arrived. As I sliced it in half I could hear the staff collectively sigh with relief. Or maybe I could hear myself. It was tender, juicy and tasted of animal. You could really taste the beef. A delightful piece of meat. The bernaise sauce was fantastic but the second bowl of chips were as cold as the first. Disappointing.

Our carafe of Malbec was delicious. But we didn't need it pouring for us. If you are given a jug of wine the protocol is that you pour it yourself. Cowie only wanted one glass. Having finished her first glass the waitress steamed over and agressively filled it to the brim leaving me with 3/4 of a steak to eat with no wine. Yet another irritant. Cowie and I swapped glasses. But we shouldn't have had to.

Scanning the room we completely agreed that this is one of the best restaurants we have been to for people spotting. Over Cowie's left shoulder was a girl tarted up to the nines wearing a short black dress, some scary heels with a tattoo on her foot. The both fesated on well done steaks whilst drinking glasses of rose topped up to the brim. Kissing and fondling their way through the meal they were having a great time.

It's also great fun to watch the chef at work on the grill. With an earpiece wedged into the side of his head I was surprised he managed to completely balls up my steak.

It was one of the best steaks I have had in London. But given that the first was awful the overall mark averages out as being well below par. Add to that Cowie's measly prawn salad and the abysmal service and you've got glitzy money trap. Give me the steaks we had in Buenos Aires or the USA anyday.

Galileo's Locanda Toscana - Truly Awful by sunflowers

sunflowers — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 14:50:34 +0000

Review by sunflowers

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 7839 3939

Website: www.galileoslocanda.co.uk

Tags: italian, good value, family & home feel

Great location, Reasonable prices , Awful food. My wife and I dined at this restaurant last week. We ordered our meal from the express menu (2 courses for Â£10.95) which by the way is not the same as the menu featured on their web site. For starters we had the Tuscan sausage on bread which consisted of 2 small pieces of lightly toasted garlic bread with a few shreds of almost raw meat grated on top. For the main course my wife had the vegetarian option which came still in the shape of the foil container it had obviously just come from. I ordered the scampi with penne pasta which was truly awful it consisted of greasy pasta with two tiny shrimp in it, on top of which was the empty broken shells of two or three shrimp (where the meat from inside these shells had gone I never discovered). Needless to say we were terribly british and failed to complain about this dreadful meal, but I would encourage you to do yourself a favor and dine elsewhere.Great location, Reasonable prices , Awful food. My wife and I dined at this restaurant last week. We ordered our meal from the express menu (2 courses for Â£10.95) which by the way is not the same as the menu featured on their web site. For starters we had the Tuscan sausage on bread which consisted of 2 small pieces of lightly toasted garlic bread with a few shreds of almost raw meat grated on top. For the main course my wife had the vegetarian option which came still in the shape of the foil container it had obviously just come from. I ordered the scampi with penne pasta which was truly awful it consisted of greasy pasta with two tiny shrimp in it, on top of which was the empty broken shells of two or three shrimp (where the meat from inside these shells had gone I never discovered). Needless to say we were terribly british and failed to complain about this dreadful meal, but I would encourage you to do yourself a favor and dine elsewhere.

Foyles Cafe - creased sleeves and dirty plates by mazphd

mazphd — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 13:17:20 +0000

Review by mazphd

Rating: 2.00

Phone: 020 7437 5660

Tags: quick bite, cultured, crowded

Like another reviewer, i've been here and felt disappointd.

Despite the fabulous book and music related setting the cafe lacked soul, inspiration and even a smile from the Foyles staff team.

Cheer up folk! its the wonderful world of books you're in , not a space for misery guts and dirty plates :P

I'm hoping my experience was a 'one off'. At the time the music wasn't playing, and books and plates had been left by the wayside, forlorn and a little lost. Hence the (harsh) two star rating. BUT I look forward to enjoying the setting, the jazzed atmosphere and perhaps a better brew at another date. As judging by Niamheen's comments foyles can do better!

On the up side, when playing the music is great filtering through from the blues and jazz of the main store.

So at present a worthy hideaway, that just needs a little push in the right direction to make it suitably inspirational and in tune. Like another reviewer, i've been here and felt disappointd.

Despite the fabulous book and music related setting the cafe lacked soul, inspiration and even a smile from the Foyles staff team.

Cheer up folk! its the wonderful world of books you're in , not a space for misery guts and dirty plates :P

I'm hoping my experience was a 'one off'. At the time the music wasn't playing, and books and plates had been left by the wayside, forlorn and a little lost. Hence the (harsh) two star rating. BUT I look forward to enjoying the setting, the jazzed atmosphere and perhaps a better brew at another date. As judging by Niamheen's comments foyles can do better!

On the up side, when playing the music is great filtering through from the blues and jazz of the main store.

So at present a worthy hideaway, that just needs a little push in the right direction to make it suitably inspirational and in tune.

The Red Fort - Very good inventive Indian cuisine by Sprotch

Sprotch — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 13:44:13 +0000

Review by Sprotch

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7437 2525

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

Tags: indian, romantic, expensive

I went to this restaurant twice.
The atmosphere is very nice, the decoration is clean and sober, although it will not win any awards.
The food is why you should go. It is inventive and absolutely delicious. Although clearly influenced by your typical curry place, the food is very different. Every dish is inventive and delicious. Overall a nice renewal of british-indian cuisine.
Price wise, we paid about Â£45 pounds per person. A reasonable price for the quality, but I am sure that there are better deals out there.
I would go back.I went to this restaurant twice.
The atmosphere is very nice, the decoration is clean and sober, although it will not win any awards.
The food is why you should go. It is inventive and absolutely delicious. Although clearly influenced by your typical curry place, the food is very different. Every dish is inventive and delicious. Overall a nice renewal of british-indian cuisine.
Price wise, we paid about Â£45 pounds per person. A reasonable price for the quality, but I am sure that there are better deals out there.
I would go back.

Mr Wu - No No No by geeyeah

geeyeah — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 11:41:43 +0000

Review by geeyeah

Rating: 2.00

Phone: 020 7287 3885

Tags: chinese, cheap eat, lively

Had the misfortune after seeing Love in the Time of Cholera. Here I learned the meaning of that film.Had the misfortune after seeing Love in the Time of Cholera. Here I learned the meaning of that film.

Silk - Tasty food, but empty by Browners

Browners — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 09:34:28 +0000

Review by Browners

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7297 5555

Website: http://www.courthouse-hotel.com

Tags: international, indian, expensive

Their concept is pretty interesting: they serve a range of dishes from along the ancient silk trading route. A mix between Indian, Middle and Far Eastern cuisine with a of sibtle spicing and dishes with amusing names.

Neither of us could find the restaurant to begin with. This isn't helped by the map they provide on their website. Neither is it helped by the lack of any prominent signage outside. Probably the result of some weird planning restrictions. It's tucked away inside a hotel so needless to say the restaurant was empty.

Gilly and I settled down and immediately started chatting only to be interupted in order to be told about the concept and how old the room was. Given that we were in mid conversation and that we had read about the fact that the dining room is located in an old courtroom on the Top Table and Silk website, we really didn't need to be told again. This kept happening throughout the meal which was annoying.

We shared both of our starters and main courses... the scallops with a zesty foam were succulent and accurately cooked. The zingy foam was tremendous. It made for a fantastic change from cauliflower or pea puree.

My medium rare venison was more medium well than medium rare which was odd because they made quite a fuss of telling me how their chef was going to cook it. Putting that to one side, like Gilly did with a stray peanut on his plate, the venison was very cleverly spiced and accompanied by a cheeky green sauce. The best thing about my starter was the name. I simply couldn't resist a dish called "Jangli Maan".

Main courses were good too. My lamb chops were accurately cooked. Singed on the outside and juicy in the middle. They had been marinaded delicately in a range of yoghurty spices. Not much heat, but a lot of flavour. I wish I had a better grasp of Easter flavours so I could tell you what it involved... but I don't!

Gilly's vast wild tiger prawns were sweet and juciy. Well cooked once more and full of interesting and slightly unexpected flavours.

The food is really very good. But the atmosphere and service are both big negative factors. There's probably a reason that courtrooms are unusual in the restaurant business. They remind you of school dining rooms and the prospect of being in prison. Neither school's nor prisons have a great reputation for fine food... apart from that one in Italy of course.

If it hadn't been on a 2 for 1 offer from Top Table it would have been very expensive, but this way it made for a great chance to catch up and try some interesting food. Neither of us could see this one staying around for very long. So get here whilst you can, or wait for the next one which will probably be called Phoenix.Their concept is pretty interesting: they serve a range of dishes from along the ancient silk trading route. A mix between Indian, Middle and Far Eastern cuisine with a of sibtle spicing and dishes with amusing names.

Neither of us could find the restaurant to begin with. This isn't helped by the map they provide on their website. Neither is it helped by the lack of any prominent signage outside. Probably the result of some weird planning restrictions. It's tucked away inside a hotel so needless to say the restaurant was empty.

Gilly and I settled down and immediately started chatting only to be interupted in order to be told about the concept and how old the room was. Given that we were in mid conversation and that we had read about the fact that the dining room is located in an old courtroom on the Top Table and Silk website, we really didn't need to be told again. This kept happening throughout the meal which was annoying.

We shared both of our starters and main courses... the scallops with a zesty foam were succulent and accurately cooked. The zingy foam was tremendous. It made for a fantastic change from cauliflower or pea puree.

My medium rare venison was more medium well than medium rare which was odd because they made quite a fuss of telling me how their chef was going to cook it. Putting that to one side, like Gilly did with a stray peanut on his plate, the venison was very cleverly spiced and accompanied by a cheeky green sauce. The best thing about my starter was the name. I simply couldn't resist a dish called "Jangli Maan".

Main courses were good too. My lamb chops were accurately cooked. Singed on the outside and juicy in the middle. They had been marinaded delicately in a range of yoghurty spices. Not much heat, but a lot of flavour. I wish I had a better grasp of Easter flavours so I could tell you what it involved... but I don't!

Gilly's vast wild tiger prawns were sweet and juciy. Well cooked once more and full of interesting and slightly unexpected flavours.

The food is really very good. But the atmosphere and service are both big negative factors. There's probably a reason that courtrooms are unusual in the restaurant business. They remind you of school dining rooms and the prospect of being in prison. Neither school's nor prisons have a great reputation for fine food... apart from that one in Italy of course.

If it hadn't been on a 2 for 1 offer from Top Table it would have been very expensive, but this way it made for a great chance to catch up and try some interesting food. Neither of us could see this one staying around for very long. So get here whilst you can, or wait for the next one which will probably be called Phoenix.

The Diner - Pancake Tower by walid

walid — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 19:04:23 +0000

Review by walid

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7287 8962

Website: http://www.thedinersoho.com

Tags: american, lively, relaxed

A friend of mine brought me to The Diner this afternoon as she wanted French Toasts.... ooohhh French Toasts hmmmmm. I love French Toasts but I also love pancakes, especially a pancake tower American style. Fighting our way up Regent Street we approached Carnaby Street where tucked to the side you can find The Diner.

The decoration is what you'd expect a traditional American diner to look like abroad, ie. close to the real thing, but trying a little bit too hard.

My friend ordered the French Toasts and me my pancakes. Now I make French Toasts, and I love them when they're crispy from the outside and soft in the inside. Her pancakes looked nice, except that they weren't crispy from the outside and had some cinnamon which may please some but not me. As for my pancakes as you can see from the picture it was a good portion but not what I would describe as a pancake tower.

Overall we had a good experience, the food was ok, the service was fine, the pricing is good, but the music was getting too loud. So I'm giving this place a "small" 3 stars.A friend of mine brought me to The Diner this afternoon as she wanted French Toasts.... ooohhh French Toasts hmmmmm. I love French Toasts but I also love pancakes, especially a pancake tower American style. Fighting our way up Regent Street we approached Carnaby Street where tucked to the side you can find The Diner.

The decoration is what you'd expect a traditional American diner to look like abroad, ie. close to the real thing, but trying a little bit too hard.

My friend ordered the French Toasts and me my pancakes. Now I make French Toasts, and I love them when they're crispy from the outside and soft in the inside. Her pancakes looked nice, except that they weren't crispy from the outside and had some cinnamon which may please some but not me. As for my pancakes as you can see from the picture it was a good portion but not what I would describe as a pancake tower.

Overall we had a good experience, the food was ok, the service was fine, the pricing is good, but the music was getting too loud. So I'm giving this place a "small" 3 stars.

Viet - Disappointing by walid

walid — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 22:52:16 +0000

Review by walid

Rating: 2.00

Phone: 020 7494 9888

Tags: vietnamese, crowded, cheap eat

After reading the reviews by coldclimate and lenalouise I was very much looking forward to trying out Viet.

Ok lets start with the good points, as lenalouise wrote in her review the warm beef salad is indeed quite nice and excellent to start working your appetite for the main dish. The spring rolls that coldclimate had were also quite good. I had the King Prawn with noodles which was quite good and of course the pricing is excellent at Â£10 per head for a shared starter and a main dish.

Now what brings this place to a 2 stars and very nearly a 1 star is the incredibly poor service. I had reserved a table for 4 and left them my name + mobile number. Because we arrived 8 minutes late they had canceled my reservation without calling me to check if I was coming or running late and gave our table away. Luckily for them they managed to squeeze us into a smaller table.

Mistake #1, Mistake #2 the waiter seems to have no clue about the food he served. My friend can't eat flour and thus we tried to identify dishes that were flour free, which of course he had no clue. Mistake #3 taking forever to take our orders and bringing our dishes one at a time instead of all together, thus we waited for everyone to be served before eating our meal.

I would have given this place a 1 star if the food wasn't so cheap, but I prefer paying extra if it means receiving a better service.After reading the reviews by coldclimate and lenalouise I was very much looking forward to trying out Viet.

Ok lets start with the good points, as lenalouise wrote in her review the warm beef salad is indeed quite nice and excellent to start working your appetite for the main dish. The spring rolls that coldclimate had were also quite good. I had the King Prawn with noodles which was quite good and of course the pricing is excellent at Â£10 per head for a shared starter and a main dish.

Now what brings this place to a 2 stars and very nearly a 1 star is the incredibly poor service. I had reserved a table for 4 and left them my name + mobile number. Because we arrived 8 minutes late they had canceled my reservation without calling me to check if I was coming or running late and gave our table away. Luckily for them they managed to squeeze us into a smaller table.

Mistake #1, Mistake #2 the waiter seems to have no clue about the food he served. My friend can't eat flour and thus we tried to identify dishes that were flour free, which of course he had no clue. Mistake #3 taking forever to take our orders and bringing our dishes one at a time instead of all together, thus we waited for everyone to be served before eating our meal.

I would have given this place a 1 star if the food wasn't so cheap, but I prefer paying extra if it means receiving a better service.

Wong Kei - Super noodle soup by coldclimate

coldclimate — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 17:10:18 +0000

Review by coldclimate

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7437 8408

Tags: chinese, lively, cheap eat

Wagamama's it's not - and thank goodness.

Wonkies is about as close as you get to Hong Kong noodle houses in the UK as far as I can tell. It's busy, you share tables, the waiters are curt (I refuse to call them rude, they're just very business like), and the food is very fast. Everything comes in plastic bowls, the tables have soy and chilli oil, and there's a good chance that you'll be sitting with somebody you don't know (always more fun).

I really enjoyed their barbequed pork noodle soup, and the won ton soup was good too. The crispy chilli beef was excellent, the lemon chick less so. The whole bill came to Â£23 quid for two of us, and was way more than we could eat between us. The "starters" definitely outshone the mains, but then again the roast pork and rice on the table next to me looked and smelled excellent.

Worth noting that the dÃ©cor is dated, the stairway less that clean and your chances of being disgruntled high is you aren't willing to bend you head down and crack on.

Take a bunch of non-fussy eaters, and you'll have a great meal for not a huge amount of cash. Take one fussy person, or be annoyed but one dish being just ok not great, and you'll all hate it.

Wagamama's it's not - and thank goodness.

Wonkies is about as close as you get to Hong Kong noodle houses in the UK as far as I can tell. It's busy, you share tables, the waiters are curt (I refuse to call them rude, they're just very business like), and the food is very fast. Everything comes in plastic bowls, the tables have soy and chilli oil, and there's a good chance that you'll be sitting with somebody you don't know (always more fun).

I really enjoyed their barbequed pork noodle soup, and the won ton soup was good too. The crispy chilli beef was excellent, the lemon chick less so. The whole bill came to Â£23 quid for two of us, and was way more than we could eat between us. The "starters" definitely outshone the mains, but then again the roast pork and rice on the table next to me looked and smelled excellent.

Worth noting that the dÃ©cor is dated, the stairway less that clean and your chances of being disgruntled high is you aren't willing to bend you head down and crack on.

Take a bunch of non-fussy eaters, and you'll have a great meal for not a huge amount of cash. Take one fussy person, or be annoyed but one dish being just ok not great, and you'll all hate it.