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

Laughing Buddha - not so laughing buddha by stantoncarlisle

stantoncarlisle — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 13:21:53 +0000

Review by stantoncarlisle

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 7437 5598

One of my friends recommended this joint as a cut-price dinner on the run, stop and slurp place. I wish he hadn't - should be renamed the Double Yeeuch. Upstairs is where they have the lunch-time special, total tourist bait. They dangle the low price tag so they can suck you in for the drinks and cosh maneuver, I don't know what they added to the monks vegetable or the roast duck that we had, it was something salty and unpleasant designed to make you feel viciously thirsty. The vegetables were so old they should be picking up Pension credit. Wilted, rung-out with less life than a geriatric washerwoman. The decor was pleasantly stilted. The place has a thin welcoming veneer that covers a cesspool of total disdain. I don't know what they add to the food to make it taste so vile and make you feel so damn thirsty but its something outside of any idea of fair trading. My dining chum also felt the same, as if his tongue had been sandpapered with a hairy dogtail. Grim grub and the horrid after taste lingers on and on and on ... the Laughing Buddha should be on Gordon Ramseys make-over programme - now that would make the Buddha smile again.One of my friends recommended this joint as a cut-price dinner on the run, stop and slurp place. I wish he hadn't - should be renamed the Double Yeeuch. Upstairs is where they have the lunch-time special, total tourist bait. They dangle the low price tag so they can suck you in for the drinks and cosh maneuver, I don't know what they added to the monks vegetable or the roast duck that we had, it was something salty and unpleasant designed to make you feel viciously thirsty. The vegetables were so old they should be picking up Pension credit. Wilted, rung-out with less life than a geriatric washerwoman. The decor was pleasantly stilted. The place has a thin welcoming veneer that covers a cesspool of total disdain. I don't know what they add to the food to make it taste so vile and make you feel so damn thirsty but its something outside of any idea of fair trading. My dining chum also felt the same, as if his tongue had been sandpapered with a hairy dogtail. Grim grub and the horrid after taste lingers on and on and on ... the Laughing Buddha should be on Gordon Ramseys make-over programme - now that would make the Buddha smile again.

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

Corean Chilli - spicy food by lenalouise

lenalouise — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 15:18:24 +0000

Review by lenalouise

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7734 6737

Tags: cheap eat, korean, lively

On New Year's Eve, I was at Trafalgar square to watch the fireworks with Keith. Afterwards, we were feeling hungry and didn't want to be stuck in the crowds of people. We spotted that Corean Chilli was still open and so went in. When we got there, there were only a few tables occupied but as the minutes passed, more and more people came in and ended up quite lively.

I had a seafood udon noodle soup and keith had spicy beef with rice. My noodle soup was very spicy, I'm usually quite good with spicy food but maybe this korean restaurant didn't tone down the flavours to suit western tastes! Service was extremely fast as is standard in most asian restaurants. I thoroughly enjoyed my meal and it warmed me up enough for the walk home. The meal came to Â£32 with 3 beers.On New Year's Eve, I was at Trafalgar square to watch the fireworks with Keith. Afterwards, we were feeling hungry and didn't want to be stuck in the crowds of people. We spotted that Corean Chilli was still open and so went in. When we got there, there were only a few tables occupied but as the minutes passed, more and more people came in and ended up quite lively.

I had a seafood udon noodle soup and keith had spicy beef with rice. My noodle soup was very spicy, I'm usually quite good with spicy food but maybe this korean restaurant didn't tone down the flavours to suit western tastes! Service was extremely fast as is standard in most asian restaurants. I thoroughly enjoyed my meal and it warmed me up enough for the walk home. The meal came to Â£32 with 3 beers.

Katana @ The International - Works for us by Bowgreave

Bowgreave — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 13:16:34 +0000

Review by Bowgreave

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7655 9810

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

Tags: thai, lively, business

Katana is part of a chain that runs a mix of restaurants in central London and, in our exoperience, the best part. It is incredibly good value and the frequent email, Toptable and other marketing methods they use make it even more so.
Have eaten here around four times and the food has been consistently good, with decent portions too. My son rates their green chicken curry as the best he has tasted and I can recommend the musssaman curry and the steamed sea bass fillet. Have we been lucky or some of the other reviewers been unlucky? Perhaps a bit of both.Katana is part of a chain that runs a mix of restaurants in central London and, in our exoperience, the best part. It is incredibly good value and the frequent email, Toptable and other marketing methods they use make it even more so.
Have eaten here around four times and the food has been consistently good, with decent portions too. My son rates their green chicken curry as the best he has tasted and I can recommend the musssaman curry and the steamed sea bass fillet. Have we been lucky or some of the other reviewers been unlucky? Perhaps a bit of both.

The Ritz Restaurant - A bit pretentious.....true....but such style by Bowgreave

Bowgreave — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 11:32:50 +0000

Review by Bowgreave

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7493 8181

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

Tags: expensive, pretentious, good food

Well it is the Ritz after all so we commoners should expect the doorstaff to give us a careful once over on entry, shouldn't we? Ah, but what a place to wander through with the ornate bars and corridors.....and the dining room is devine dahling.
We had the three course table d'hote menu and could have let them pick for us as everything appealed. Good food, beautifully cooked; so you can forgive the theatrically synchronised removal of the two silver plate covers as the main courses are 'presented' to us. Resisting the nagging temptation to say 'Aye pal, its me dinner' we soaked up a unique experience. Treat yourself!Well it is the Ritz after all so we commoners should expect the doorstaff to give us a careful once over on entry, shouldn't we? Ah, but what a place to wander through with the ornate bars and corridors.....and the dining room is devine dahling.
We had the three course table d'hote menu and could have let them pick for us as everything appealed. Good food, beautifully cooked; so you can forgive the theatrically synchronised removal of the two silver plate covers as the main courses are 'presented' to us. Resisting the nagging temptation to say 'Aye pal, its me dinner' we soaked up a unique experience. Treat yourself!

The Golden Oven - Truely Golden by j8ved

j8ved — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 14:20:24 +0000

Review by j8ved

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7287 2800

Tags: indian, good value, vegetarian dishes

This is a must try curry house they offer a vareity of dishes and the food is always fantastic. I work in Soho and i use this place on a regular basis and it has always been very pleasent but most importantly the food is really nice. Keep it up truely GoldenThis is a must try curry house they offer a vareity of dishes and the food is always fantastic. I work in Soho and i use this place on a regular basis and it has always been very pleasent but most importantly the food is really nice. Keep it up truely Golden

Mela @ Shaftesbury - Above average Indian in Central London by oogywawa

oogywawa — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 20:19:07 +0000

Review by oogywawa

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7836 8635

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

Tags: indian, good value, lively

The heart of Theatre Land is packed full of sub-standard restaurants ready to flatter to deceive the uninitiated. It's reassuring therefore to discover a safe pair of hands in Drury Lane in the shape of Mela.

A group of us descended on this bright and lively purveyor of all things Indian on a quiet Tuesday and received cheerful attentive service and good tasty if not stratospheric assorted curried fare.

The dishes were a bit schizophrenic in terms of quality - hence the 3* rating. Some were really exceptional such as the Jhinga Hara Pyaz Masala, which was wonderfully fresh and pungent, whereas the standard Murgh Jalfrezi or Makhanwala bordered on the mundane. The strength ratings were misguided as well - my dish, described as "very hot" didn't even nudge the lower extremities of what could be described as Madras hot.

All in all though a thoroughly agreeable visit and tasty food. If serious gastronomy is the raison d'etre however, then there are significantly better places within just a couple of tube stops.The heart of Theatre Land is packed full of sub-standard restaurants ready to flatter to deceive the uninitiated. It's reassuring therefore to discover a safe pair of hands in Drury Lane in the shape of Mela.

A group of us descended on this bright and lively purveyor of all things Indian on a quiet Tuesday and received cheerful attentive service and good tasty if not stratospheric assorted curried fare.

The dishes were a bit schizophrenic in terms of quality - hence the 3* rating. Some were really exceptional such as the Jhinga Hara Pyaz Masala, which was wonderfully fresh and pungent, whereas the standard Murgh Jalfrezi or Makhanwala bordered on the mundane. The strength ratings were misguided as well - my dish, described as "very hot" didn't even nudge the lower extremities of what could be described as Madras hot.

All in all though a thoroughly agreeable visit and tasty food. If serious gastronomy is the raison d'etre however, then there are significantly better places within just a couple of tube stops.

Bar Shu - Sichuan Delight by gastro1

gastro1 — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 17:35:12 +0000

Review by gastro1

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7287 6688

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

Tags: crowded, chinese, lively

This is an oasis of non Cantonese fare just north of Chinatown producing very good Sichuan cuisine.

My interest in the place was encouraged by the involvement as a consultant of the British food writer Fuchsia Dunlop as I had read her delightful book on Sichuan cooking. The first Westerner to train at the famed Sichuan cookery school in Chengdu, this lady knows her onions )and chillis)

All the starters on offer are cold, although smaller starter-sized portions of street foods including Dan-Dan noodles and dumplings in chilli oil are to be found at the back of the menu.

I recommend the Numbing-tongue Dried Beef with Sichuan Peppercorns to get your taste buds ready for what may follow - if you have been to Sichuan please note the food here is a toned down unless you request it Sichuan hot.

Over the last 18 months I have eaten most tings on the menu and recommend you try everything be it the well known Kung Po Chicken or Prawns to tripe or the amazing hot pot. Many dishes are not for the faint hearted.

The wine list is very poor and not thought through even though I understand it is difficult to choose wines that compliment this type of cuisine. I would like to see some Pino Grigio from North East Italy as well as some good Alsace.

This is an oasis of non Cantonese fare just north of Chinatown producing very good Sichuan cuisine.

My interest in the place was encouraged by the involvement as a consultant of the British food writer Fuchsia Dunlop as I had read her delightful book on Sichuan cooking. The first Westerner to train at the famed Sichuan cookery school in Chengdu, this lady knows her onions )and chillis)

All the starters on offer are cold, although smaller starter-sized portions of street foods including Dan-Dan noodles and dumplings in chilli oil are to be found at the back of the menu.

I recommend the Numbing-tongue Dried Beef with Sichuan Peppercorns to get your taste buds ready for what may follow - if you have been to Sichuan please note the food here is a toned down unless you request it Sichuan hot.

Over the last 18 months I have eaten most tings on the menu and recommend you try everything be it the well known Kung Po Chicken or Prawns to tripe or the amazing hot pot. Many dishes are not for the faint hearted.

The wine list is very poor and not thought through even though I understand it is difficult to choose wines that compliment this type of cuisine. I would like to see some Pino Grigio from North East Italy as well as some good Alsace.

Signor Zilli - Bravo. Long may it continue. by mr_skarratt

mr_skarratt — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 11:53:03 +0000

Review by mr_skarratt

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7734 3924

Website: http://www.zillialdo.com

Tags: italian, lively, expensive

With the British pallet becoming more and more refined to such delights as braised otters feet and confit of toad, itâ¬"s a great pleasure to know you can still find solid Italian food, cooked with panache and care without having to worry about the sea urchin butter killing you. And itâ¬"s here: at Signor Zilliâ¬"s. It offers a great mix of classic and contemporary (all though not too contemporary) Italian food served in a traditional, smart and lively atmosphere. From the soup to the house speciality of Spaghetti Lobster, you canâ¬"t go wrong.

Leading the charge at the front of house is Nino, a Soho stalwart whose personable way and knowledge of food, wine and people lifts a good restaurant to a great restaurant. He went away for a while and the place lost its edge, but now he is back and the place is cruising at full speed again.

I ate here several times in December 2008, all my guests loved it, the food was always great, the wine excellent and the large Armegnac at the end of the meal a real treat.

Bravo. Long may it continue.
With the British pallet becoming more and more refined to such delights as braised otters feet and confit of toad, itâ¬"s a great pleasure to know you can still find solid Italian food, cooked with panache and care without having to worry about the sea urchin butter killing you. And itâ¬"s here: at Signor Zilliâ¬"s. It offers a great mix of classic and contemporary (all though not too contemporary) Italian food served in a traditional, smart and lively atmosphere. From the soup to the house speciality of Spaghetti Lobster, you canâ¬"t go wrong.

Leading the charge at the front of house is Nino, a Soho stalwart whose personable way and knowledge of food, wine and people lifts a good restaurant to a great restaurant. He went away for a while and the place lost its edge, but now he is back and the place is cruising at full speed again.

I ate here several times in December 2008, all my guests loved it, the food was always great, the wine excellent and the large Armegnac at the end of the meal a real treat.

Bravo. Long may it continue.

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.

Malaysia Kopi Tiam - Excellent Malaysian by bellaphon

bellaphon — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 23:33:16 +0000

Review by bellaphon

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7287 7881

Tags: malaysian, good value, cheap eat

All credit to samantha_tan for her review.

â¬ÜKopi tiamâ¬" is the Hokkien dialect for coffee shop and an important part of Chinese Malaysian culture where itâ¬"s the perfect rendezvous for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Malaysia Kopi Tiam (MKT) has stalled and started twice before, first at Wardour Street and then at Dean Street. Now third time lucky, I hope this new home of theirs is more permanent for the sake of the diners and of course MKTâ¬"s own ephemeral reputation. The new premises is located in perhaps the worst of all arcades (ironically for MKT as most of the past tenants here have been evidently short lived) ever designed in London or perhaps the world, itâ¬"s grim and totally loveless. Thereâ¬"s absolutely nothing chic about the dining room and the prefabricated ambience must have been included as part of the deal from Restaurants "R" Us. In line with most Malaysian eateries, you can expect a fair bit of acknowledgement and at least a smile from the waiting staff.

Iâ¬"ve been here twice and also glad to report that the food here is indeed authentic and extremely good. The Curry Laksa (Iâ¬"m au fait with the gravy being rich and thick) was to date the best Iâ¬"ve had in London and it was also good to see that it came with proper chicken pieces on the bone and none of that bleached white and synthetic tasting breast meat. The noodle dish of Hokkien Mee (main components being thick yellow noodles fried and braised in thick dark soy sauce (and preferably loads of lard!)) is notoriously difficult to recreate, thankfully MKT has done a respectable job with this delicious offering from Kuala Lumpur. Nasi Lemak was another dish that made the mark, no obvious shortcuts, perfect chicken curry and proper coconut rice were duly observed. Other suggestions like Yong tau foo (Stuffed beancurd and veg), Kangkung (Water Convolvulus) fried in Belachan and Pig skin soup are not to be missed. Perusing the rest of menu is enough to make me feel hungry.

Generous portions and good value all-round. MKT is currently the best non-halal Malaysian in London.

NB For some strange reason MKT bill themselves as serving both Malaysian and Thai (!) cuisine, so it goes without saying; ignore the latter altogether and stick to the former.
All credit to samantha_tan for her review.

â¬ÜKopi tiamâ¬" is the Hokkien dialect for coffee shop and an important part of Chinese Malaysian culture where itâ¬"s the perfect rendezvous for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Malaysia Kopi Tiam (MKT) has stalled and started twice before, first at Wardour Street and then at Dean Street. Now third time lucky, I hope this new home of theirs is more permanent for the sake of the diners and of course MKTâ¬"s own ephemeral reputation. The new premises is located in perhaps the worst of all arcades (ironically for MKT as most of the past tenants here have been evidently short lived) ever designed in London or perhaps the world, itâ¬"s grim and totally loveless. Thereâ¬"s absolutely nothing chic about the dining room and the prefabricated ambience must have been included as part of the deal from Restaurants "R" Us. In line with most Malaysian eateries, you can expect a fair bit of acknowledgement and at least a smile from the waiting staff.

Iâ¬"ve been here twice and also glad to report that the food here is indeed authentic and extremely good. The Curry Laksa (Iâ¬"m au fait with the gravy being rich and thick) was to date the best Iâ¬"ve had in London and it was also good to see that it came with proper chicken pieces on the bone and none of that bleached white and synthetic tasting breast meat. The noodle dish of Hokkien Mee (main components being thick yellow noodles fried and braised in thick dark soy sauce (and preferably loads of lard!)) is notoriously difficult to recreate, thankfully MKT has done a respectable job with this delicious offering from Kuala Lumpur. Nasi Lemak was another dish that made the mark, no obvious shortcuts, perfect chicken curry and proper coconut rice were duly observed. Other suggestions like Yong tau foo (Stuffed beancurd and veg), Kangkung (Water Convolvulus) fried in Belachan and Pig skin soup are not to be missed. Perusing the rest of menu is enough to make me feel hungry.

Generous portions and good value all-round. MKT is currently the best non-halal Malaysian in London.

NB For some strange reason MKT bill themselves as serving both Malaysian and Thai (!) cuisine, so it goes without saying; ignore the latter altogether and stick to the former.

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.

Four Seasons - Poor poor service. by bellaphon

bellaphon — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 14:16:41 +0000

Review by bellaphon

Rating: 2.00

Phone: 020 7494 0870

Tags: chinese, crowded, lively

No, I didnâ¬"t want to come here in the first instance but was forcibly pressed to have lunch here with a friend who was recommended the place by her friend who absolutely swears by the roast duck. Iâ¬"m beginning to be wary of this â¬Üswear-byâ¬" business as it quite often falls well below expectations. In any case my review of the Queensway branch simply backed up my avoidance of the Four Seasons duo.

As per usual, a lingering queue protrudes out of the main entrance at lunchtime. Within ten minutes of staring at the impressive display of roast ducks, et al; we were ushered in true Wong Keeâ¬"s fashion, â¬SYOU, YOU, UPSTAIRS!â¬ A waitress who seemed to have a Bluetooth earpiece permanently implanted onto her right ear served us. With time being of the essence, Bluetooth woman proceeded to take our orders; so confident was she without even handing over any menus to us in the first place! I went for the Noodle and Prawn Dumpling Soup and the friend ordered the Roast Duck Rice. The second order was immediately imposed with the following;
â¬SBonn-on Bonn-obb?â¬

Friend and I questionably looked up at her and simultaneously uttered â¬SPardon?â¬

Two decibels louder and her eyes shot up towards the ceiling, â¬STut, Bonn-on Bonn-obb?â¬

Gawd, this thirty seconds situation is already getting hairy and we were by now convinced that we had to answer her â¬Üriddleâ¬" pronto, it was a matter of life andâ¬¦

Friend said, â¬SIâ¬"m sorryâ¬¦â¬

Three decibels louder Bluetooth woman flicked her head backed and shouted â¬SBONN-ON BONN-OBB???â¬

Then salvation came in a way of voice from behind our table; â¬Ssheâ¬"s asking whether you want the duck on the bone or off the bone?â¬

What a jolly honour to be offered a choice on how to eat your duck! My noodle dish was pretty much faultless, especially the delicious fat dumplings. Friendâ¬"s roast duck was declared brilliant, but whilst she was still chewing on last morsel of the bird, Bluetooth woman dumped the receipt (uncalled for of course) and a plate of orange slices (how kind of the Four Seasons) on our table!

â¬SYou pay now and go, people waitin dis tableâ¬, she barked.

Friends, check your bills very carefully when coming here or the Queensway branch for that matter. The printed itemised bill hardly ever correlates with the hand-written one, the totalanything from 12.5% to 25% on top. I so wish the Trading Standards could sort out this disgraceful practice once and for all.

All in, good food abided by poor service and guerrilla tactics surrounding additions to the final bill.
No, I didnâ¬"t want to come here in the first instance but was forcibly pressed to have lunch here with a friend who was recommended the place by her friend who absolutely swears by the roast duck. Iâ¬"m beginning to be wary of this â¬Üswear-byâ¬" business as it quite often falls well below expectations. In any case my review of the Queensway branch simply backed up my avoidance of the Four Seasons duo.

As per usual, a lingering queue protrudes out of the main entrance at lunchtime. Within ten minutes of staring at the impressive display of roast ducks, et al; we were ushered in true Wong Keeâ¬"s fashion, â¬SYOU, YOU, UPSTAIRS!â¬ A waitress who seemed to have a Bluetooth earpiece permanently implanted onto her right ear served us. With time being of the essence, Bluetooth woman proceeded to take our orders; so confident was she without even handing over any menus to us in the first place! I went for the Noodle and Prawn Dumpling Soup and the friend ordered the Roast Duck Rice. The second order was immediately imposed with the following;
â¬SBonn-on Bonn-obb?â¬

Friend and I questionably looked up at her and simultaneously uttered â¬SPardon?â¬

Two decibels louder and her eyes shot up towards the ceiling, â¬STut, Bonn-on Bonn-obb?â¬

Gawd, this thirty seconds situation is already getting hairy and we were by now convinced that we had to answer her â¬Üriddleâ¬" pronto, it was a matter of life andâ¬¦

Friend said, â¬SIâ¬"m sorryâ¬¦â¬

Three decibels louder Bluetooth woman flicked her head backed and shouted â¬SBONN-ON BONN-OBB???â¬

Then salvation came in a way of voice from behind our table; â¬Ssheâ¬"s asking whether you want the duck on the bone or off the bone?â¬

What a jolly honour to be offered a choice on how to eat your duck! My noodle dish was pretty much faultless, especially the delicious fat dumplings. Friendâ¬"s roast duck was declared brilliant, but whilst she was still chewing on last morsel of the bird, Bluetooth woman dumped the receipt (uncalled for of course) and a plate of orange slices (how kind of the Four Seasons) on our table!

â¬SYou pay now and go, people waitin dis tableâ¬, she barked.

Friends, check your bills very carefully when coming here or the Queensway branch for that matter. The printed itemised bill hardly ever correlates with the hand-written one, the total can be anything from 12.5% to 25% on top. I so wish the Trading Standards could sort out this disgraceful practice once and for all.

All in, good food abided by poor service and guerrilla tactics surrounding additions to the final bill.

Chinese Experience - no frills dim sum place by stantoncarlisle

stantoncarlisle — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 19:42:18 +0000

Review by stantoncarlisle

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7437 0377

Website: http://www.chineseexperience.com

Tags: chinese, good value, relaxed

You can have dim sum here at half the price they charge in the rest of Chinatown. Lunchtime is the best value. The Chinese tea here is quite good, not great or horrid. Some of the dim sums are quite spicy. The bowls of Congee are quite filling, bland and healthy, they're a nice compliment to the dim sum. Less weighty and wheaty. This is a good place to know about for an economical eat. The place is usually busy. Service is good. Decor functional. Not a place to come for meal to remember but for reliable, solid fare.You can have dim sum here at half the price they charge in the rest of Chinatown. Lunchtime is the best value. The Chinese tea here is quite good, not great or horrid. Some of the dim sums are quite spicy. The bowls of Congee are quite filling, bland and healthy, they're a nice compliment to the dim sum. Less weighty and wheaty. This is a good place to know about for an economical eat. The place is usually busy. Service is good. Decor functional. Not a place to come for meal to remember but for reliable, solid fare.

Hung's - Pleasant family run chinese by williams

williams — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 10:13:27 +0000

Review by williams

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7287 6578

Tags: chinese, cheap eat, good value

This small looking cafe actually has a larger room upstairs that is especially well ventilated on hot summer days. The restaurant is very good on the fairly basic things I have eaten there (noodle soups, ho fun with beef and black bean sauce) and looks very good on all the roast meats, offal like beef tripe, green veg etc. The tea is slightly darker and more flavourful. Service is quite quick and helpful.
It is probably not the most luxurious setting but if you want good food and no surprises on the bill this place is pretty reliable.This small looking cafe actually has a larger room upstairs that is especially well ventilated on hot summer days. The restaurant is very good on the fairly basic things I have eaten there (noodle soups, ho fun with beef and black bean sauce) and looks very good on all the roast meats, offal like beef tripe, green veg etc. The tea is slightly darker and more flavourful. Service is quite quick and helpful.
It is probably not the most luxurious setting but if you want good food and no surprises on the bill this place is pretty reliable.

Cafe Apogee - Little Iran by fiona1980

fiona1980 — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 21:23:32 +0000

Review by fiona1980

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 7437 4556

Tags: french, pretentious, expensive

I have NEVER been to a restaurant like that...
Cold, tasteless food, unpleasant French waitresses speaking no English at all, overpriced drinks and the smell :(
Moreover, the Iranian manager behaved unbelieveably impolite, bitchy, to be honest, to customers sitting next to us.
If you want disguisting food for too much money and staff taken straight from an Iranian takeaway - this is the place.I have NEVER been to a restaurant like that...
Cold, tasteless food, unpleasant French waitresses speaking no English at all, overpriced drinks and the smell :(
Moreover, the Iranian manager behaved unbelieveably impolite, bitchy, to be honest, to customers sitting next to us.
If you want disguisting food for too much money and staff taken straight from an Iranian takeaway - this is the place.

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.

Garlic & Shots - Lots of charm by bron99

bron99 — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 10:23:32 +0000

Review by bron99

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7734 9505

Website: http://www.garlicandshots.com

Tags: lively, crowded, good value

Went here for the very first time last night and just loved it. Popped in briefly for a vodka shot before dinner and it was like being in West Berlin before the Wall came down. Dark, gothy and steeped in the wondrous smell of cooked garlic - a must do.Went here for the very first time last night and just loved it. Popped in briefly for a vodka shot before dinner and it was like being in West Berlin before the Wall came down. Dark, gothy and steeped in the wondrous smell of cooked garlic - a must do.

The Wolseley - Oooh I say by stantoncarlisle

stantoncarlisle — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 14:54:03 +0000

Review by stantoncarlisle

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7499 6996

Website: http://www.thewolseley.com/

Tags: lively, expensive, good value

Nearer Green Park station than Piccadilly and just a few doors up from the Savoy. Used to be a car showroom or something like that. This place is huge with alot of the trappings of elegance and romance. Wrought-metal spiral staircases sliding up onto another floor, drapes, wall hangings, and a hint of mystery. The mystery comes from the size, not just the decor - there's too much for your peripheral vision to take in and the eclectic mix of folk make it perfect for people watching. Food here is variable. Tumbling in at just under a tenner,the special Hot chocolate with brandy topped with thick-thick cream and powdered chocolate is pretty fine, the cheese on toast nifty - I'm coming back for the cucumber sandwiches. Food is secondary. The decor provides a good backdrop for peeping at the urban menagerie at play.Nearer Green Park station than Piccadilly and just a few doors up from the Savoy. Used to be a car showroom or something like that. This place is huge with alot of the trappings of elegance and romance. Wrought-metal spiral staircases sliding up onto another floor, drapes, wall hangings, and a hint of mystery. The mystery comes from the size, not just the decor - there's too much for your peripheral vision to take in and the eclectic mix of folk make it perfect for people watching. Food here is variable. Tumbling in at just under a tenner,the special Hot chocolate with brandy topped with thick-thick cream and powdered chocolate is pretty fine, the cheese on toast nifty - I'm coming back for the cucumber sandwiches. Food is secondary. The decor provides a good backdrop for peeping at the urban menagerie at play.

Baozi Inn - Super fast and very good by bron99

bron99 — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 16:19:23 +0000

Review by bron99

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7287 6877

Tags: chinese, lively, good value

After Sunday morning at the movies - is there a better way to spend a freezing Sunday morning than watching Morgan Freeman being consummately evil/charming in Lakeview Terrace - we headed for the Baozi Inn in search of sustenance.

The room is hung with red paper lanterns and fake chillies and aubergines with lots of low wooden tables and backless stools. Feels nice when you walk in.

WE got a table straight away and had a quick glance through the fairly compact menu. I was just looking for noodles to be honest as was my man so that's what we got along with a couple of pork baozi just to try. They arrived fresh and hot and, most unexpectedly, huge. I was thinking it would be like the little juicy buns they serve next door in Jen. The dough casing is dull but the filling was great - juicy and well flavoured.

A moment later the noodles arrived - dandan for me and hot and numbing pork for the man. He liked his but said they were a touch underseasoned. Mine were just fabulous - hot, chewy, spicy, juicy - I have visions of sneaking off on my own for a quick bowlful, telling no one, just my guilty secret pleasure with no trace bar the splash of chilli sauce on my shirt.

And then we were done, the beer was drunk and the bill was paid for less than Â£20 and we were back on the street. All in perhaps half an hour tops.

It's not my favourite chinatown place - my heart belongs to Bar Shu - but I will definitely be back.After Sunday morning at the movies - is there a better way to spend a freezing Sunday morning than watching Morgan Freeman being consummately evil/charming in Lakeview Terrace - we headed for the Baozi Inn in search of sustenance.

The room is hung with red paper lanterns and fake chillies and aubergines with lots of low wooden tables and backless stools. Feels nice when you walk in.

WE got a table straight away and had a quick glance through the fairly compact menu. I was just looking for noodles to be honest as was my man so that's what we got along with a couple of pork baozi just to try. They arrived fresh and hot and, most unexpectedly, huge. I was thinking it would be like the little juicy buns they serve next door in Jen. The dough casing is dull but the filling was great - juicy and well flavoured.

A moment later the noodles arrived - dandan for me and hot and numbing pork for the man. He liked his but said they were a touch underseasoned. Mine were just fabulous - hot, chewy, spicy, juicy - I have visions of sneaking off on my own for a quick bowlful, telling no one, just my guilty secret pleasure with no trace bar the splash of chilli sauce on my shirt.

And then we were done, the beer was drunk and the bill was paid for less than Â£20 and we were back on the street. All in perhaps half an hour tops.

It's not my favourite chinatown place - my heart belongs to Bar Shu - but I will definitely be back.