Latest reviews for Restaurants in St James's, London, United Kingdom

Wagamama - tasty by t_moussa

t_moussa — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 23:51:44 +0000

Review by t_moussa

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7588 2688

Website: http://www.wagamama.com

Having never been to wagamamas but hearing lots of good things about it I decided to go there with my boyfriend after obtaining those 2 for 1 vouchers they regularly put up on their website. We were both apprehensive at first as we had never tried japanese food before. The menu at first glace can be a bit daunting but we took our time to pore over the descriptions, the food didn't seem that scary. My boyfriend decided to play it safe and go for a vegetarian fried noodle dish whilst I decided to risk it and ordered noodles in a spicy coconut soup. The only cutlery on the table were chopsticks but we asked for forks and were provided with them. When our food arrived it looked fantastic and smelt wonderful. Mine was a bit too spicy for my liking but the free mug of green tea soon helped to ease the fieryness! The service was great and the staff very helpful in demonstrating how the various strange cutlery that accompanied our food were used. Enjoyed this experience immensely.Having never been to wagamamas but hearing lots of good things about it I decided to go there with my boyfriend after obtaining those 2 for 1 vouchers they regularly put up on their website. We were both apprehensive at first as we had never tried japanese food before. The menu at first glace can be a bit daunting but we took our time to pore over the descriptions, the food didn't seem that scary. My boyfriend decided to play it safe and go for a vegetarian fried noodle dish whilst I decided to risk it and ordered noodles in a spicy coconut soup. The only cutlery on the table were chopsticks but we asked for forks and were provided with them. When our food arrived it looked fantastic and smelt wonderful. Mine was a bit too spicy for my liking but the free mug of green tea soon helped to ease the fieryness! The service was great and the staff very helpful in demonstrating how the various strange cutlery that accompanied our food were used. Enjoyed this experience immensely.

The Ritz Restaurant - amazing food by beckyfox

beckyfox — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 15:00:31 +0000

Review by beckyfox

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7493 8181

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

Tags: expensive, posh, restaurant

I have been to the ritz restaurant a few times for lunch with my mum. If you want to be treated like a princess for the day then this is the place to go. My mum and i both love it. The food is delicious there is a set menu and a la carte the cuisine is french. the set menu lunch is a great choice i think it is around 37 pounds for 3 courses and coffee. the staff are very attentive and friendly. Once it was my mum's birthday and i told one of the waiters and after desert they brought over a ritz birthday cake for my mum. it really made her day and shows the special treatment you get there. The setting of the hotel is great perfect if you have something special to celebrate!I have been to the ritz restaurant a few times for lunch with my mum. If you want to be treated like a princess for the day then this is the place to go. My mum and i both love it. The food is delicious there is a set menu and a la carte the cuisine is french. the set menu lunch is a great choice i think it is around 37 pounds for 3 courses and coffee. the staff are very attentive and friendly. Once it was my mum's birthday and i told one of the waiters and after desert they brought over a ritz birthday cake for my mum. it really made her day and shows the special treatment you get there. The setting of the hotel is great perfect if you have something special to celebrate!

Diyarbakir Restaurant Ltd - Not a good experience by izolda

izolda — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 16:19:19 +0000

Review by izolda

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 88092777

Tags: turkish, cheap eat

Had food poisoning after visiting this place which lasted a week, so wouldn't recommend it to anyone unless immune to the pathogens that frequent these sorts of places. This is a run of the mill turkish kebbab joint cum restaurant that I made the mistake of visiting when I first arrived in the UK. The cooked food is pre-prepared and is reheated - I actually wouldn't put it past them topping up the same three dishes daily, which is unjygienic to put it mildly. The food didn't taste bad though, and a lot of the locals were in enjoying a meal which is what attracted me and my friend to the restaurant. However given the fact that we both came down with food poisoning this was obviously not a coincidence. To be avoided.Had food poisoning after visiting this place which lasted a week, so wouldn't recommend it to anyone unless immune to the pathogens that frequent these sorts of places. This is a run of the mill turkish kebbab joint cum restaurant that I made the mistake of visiting when I first arrived in the UK. The cooked food is pre-prepared and is reheated - I actually wouldn't put it past them topping up the same three dishes daily, which is unjygienic to put it mildly. The food didn't taste bad though, and a lot of the locals were in enjoying a meal which is what attracted me and my friend to the restaurant. However given the fact that we both came down with food poisoning this was obviously not a coincidence. To be avoided.

Le Caprice - Top restaurant by jmcfar

jmcfar — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 12:15:21 +0000

Review by jmcfar

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7629 2239

Website: http://www.le-caprice.co.uk/

Tags: expensive, romantic, good value

A fantastic high class restaurant in St. Jamesâ¬"s The menu is pricey but the food absolutely incredible. Moreover, the service too is fantastic, with friendly yet professional waiters. My favourites are the delicious steak tartare, one of the best steak tartars I have ever eaten, the goats cheese risotto, the steaks which were cooked to perfection, and my absolute favourite, which I have every time I go, which is the iced berries with hot white chocolate sauce as a dessert. A great restaurant to go to for special occasions, and I would go all the time if it were not for the slightly prohibitive pricing!A fantastic high class restaurant in St. Jamesâ¬"s The menu is pricey but the food absolutely incredible. Moreover, the service too is fantastic, with friendly yet professional waiters. My favourites are the delicious steak tartare, one of the best steak tartars I have ever eaten, the goats cheese risotto, the steaks which were cooked to perfection, and my absolute favourite, which I have every time I go, which is the iced berries with hot white chocolate sauce as a dessert. A great restaurant to go to for special occasions, and I would go all the time if it were not for the slightly prohibitive pricing!

The Sitar Balti - Rubbish by bobidiot

bobidiot — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 21:50:13 +0000

Review by bobidiot

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 7836 3730

Tags: indian, vegetarian dishes

This is not a very nice place to eat in my opinion. The food was far too spicy and everyone in my group had an upset stomach later in the night. The waiters served us very promptly but it took ages for it to get to us, and it was only warm. I think it may have been sitting around for a while. The naanâ¬"s were disappointing too. They reminded me of Tesco value naans! I thought the chairs and tables were of lower quality as well, and they whole atmosphere put us off going there again. One of out ten for this place. Do not go there please! You have been warned!This is not a very nice place to eat in my opinion. The food was far too spicy and everyone in my group had an upset stomach later in the night. The waiters served us very promptly but it took ages for it to get to us, and it was only warm. I think it may have been sitting around for a while. The naanâ¬"s were disappointing too. They reminded me of Tesco value naans! I thought the chairs and tables were of lower quality as well, and they whole atmosphere put us off going there again. One of out ten for this place. Do not go there please! You have been warned!

Jom Makan - LOVE THIS PLACE!! by jimbob77

jimbob77 — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 22:39:21 +0000

Review by jimbob77

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7925 2402

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

Tags: malaysian, cheap eat, lively

i have eaten there 4 times in 2 weeks and its bin a long time since i got THAT excited about a restaurant in london

keep up the good work jom makani have eaten there 4 times in 2 weeks and its bin a long time since i got THAT excited about a restaurant in london

keep up the good work jom makan

The Avenue Restaurant & Bar - Great place to celebrate! by xLHGx

xLHGx — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 13:03:59 +0000

Review by xLHGx

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7321 2111

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

Tags: romantic, expensive, bar

I went here recently with my boyfriend to celebrate exam results. I wasn't entirely sure what to expect as my boyfriend booked but it turned out to be a lovely evening! We had gone with an offer from a website and the staff were really good about it, pointing out a more varied menu we could have under the offer meaning we got a free glass of champagne! The food was really great and despite minimalist decor there was a lovely atmosphere. I'm also not usually a fan of fancy restaurant food but I could find something I wanted for each course even off our set menu! The staff were very friendly, helpful and attentive. All in all it was a great place to eat!I went here recently with my boyfriend to celebrate exam results. I wasn't entirely sure what to expect as my boyfriend booked but it turned out to be a lovely evening! We had gone with an offer from a website and the staff were really good about it, pointing out a more varied menu we could have under the offer meaning we got a free glass of champagne! The food was really great and despite minimalist decor there was a lovely atmosphere. I'm also not usually a fan of fancy restaurant food but I could find something I wanted for each course even off our set menu! The staff were very friendly, helpful and attentive. All in all it was a great place to eat!

Aura Kitchen & Bar - So awful I feel like I need a drink to recover by kellytron

kellytron — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 10:52:30 +0000

Review by kellytron

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 7499 6655

Tags: bar, dj, expensive

Awful, awful venue that attempts to make you feel like it's a priveledge to be there. But it's not.
Trashy women, horrible music (think of bastardising Michael Jackson with really bad disco tunes), expensive drinks and posers ordereing drinks with sparklers coming out of them

Honestly, I feel like a worse person for having been there.
Awful, awful venue that attempts to make you feel like it's a priveledge to be there. But it's not.
Trashy women, horrible music (think of bastardising Michael Jackson with really bad disco tunes), expensive drinks and posers ordereing drinks with sparklers coming out of them

Honestly, I feel like a worse person for having been there.

Il Vicolo - snug Italian in St James's by ProfMagellan

ProfMagellan — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 15:50:29 +0000

Review by ProfMagellan

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7839 3960

Tags: italian, lively, good value

The Wolseley would not take us for a last minute reservation (they laughed at such a crass idea as a table on the day despite my devotion to them and to Mr King, London's premier restauranteur). So we went here instead.
If you like Italian food and you are in St James's, then this is for you. Hidden in tiny Crown Passage, just behind Berry Bros (London's oldest wine merchant), this restaurant has recently had a complete makeover. Although starkly modern, it remains intimate and appropriate both for business and for pleasure. The staff are Italian and thus service is professional and upbeat. Mrs Magellan and I
had the special pasta of the day (penne with bolognese),
a rocket salad and half a bottle of the house Merlot.
The pasta was fantastic, tasty and generous in portion
and the Merlot very quaffable. Most of the other punters appeared to be tourists - or perhaps "non-doms" for this area of London has become a bit prohibitive for local people. But they all looked as though they were having a good time.
But if you are having a night on the town (maybe a show
in Shaftesbury Avenue or a film on Leicester Square this is but ten minutes walk away).
I thought the Â£60 bill (including service) was good value for this well run and comfortable place. My only criticism was the piped music
which was at least reasonably quiet. Why do restauranteurs insist on playing piped muic which is now about as welcome as smoking or a glass of Blue Nun?
Having recently removed nearby Automat from Prof Magellan's list of West End favourites, I congratulate "Il Vicolo" on having entered it.The Wolseley would not take us for a last minute reservation (they laughed at such a crass idea as a table on the day despite my devotion to them and to Mr King, London's premier restauranteur). So we went here instead.
If you like Italian food and you are in St James's, then this is for you. Hidden in tiny Crown Passage, just behind Berry Bros (London's oldest wine merchant), this restaurant has recently had a complete makeover. Although starkly modern, it remains intimate and appropriate both for business and for pleasure. The staff are Italian and thus service is professional and upbeat. Mrs Magellan and I
had the special pasta of the day (penne with bolognese),
a rocket salad and half a bottle of the house Merlot.
The pasta was fantastic, tasty and generous in portion
and the Merlot very quaffable. Most of the other punters appeared to be tourists - or perhaps "non-doms" for this area of London has become a bit prohibitive for local people. But they all looked as though they were having a good time.
But if you are having a night on the town (maybe a show
in Shaftesbury Avenue or a film on Leicester Square this is but ten minutes walk away).
I thought the Â£60 bill (including service) was good value for this well run and comfortable place. My only criticism was the piped music
which was at least reasonably quiet. Why do restauranteurs insist on playing piped muic which is now about as welcome as smoking or a glass of Blue Nun?
Having recently removed nearby Automat from Prof Magellan's list of West End favourites, I congratulate "Il Vicolo" on having entered it.

Barraco Cafe - Home-cooked Brazilian food by Sami

Sami — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 18:47:53 +0000

Review by Sami

Rating: 5.00

Tags: brazilian, chalk farm, small

One very hungover Brazilian friend and one very hungry me came here this past Sunday for a meal as my friend missed food from home and felt that I should go to a restaurant "where Brazilians go to eat when they miss their own."

Thinking that we would miss the lunch rush by eating at 3 pm in the afternoon, we arrived and sure enough the tiny restaurant (with only 7 or 8 tables) was bursting at the seams - but being Brazilian, my friend charmed the Brazilian hostess and she promised to call us as soon as a table became free.

True to her word, we received a phone call half an hour later, at which point we were faint from starvation and the incredible smell emanating from the restaurant and wafting down the street.

I had fejoiada, a traditional black bean stew, while my friend went for something a bit simpler and chose a grilled chicken breast. My fejoiada was served with greens braised in an unholy amount of butter, and rice which tasted as if it had been cooked in beef broth. Eaten with a bit of farina (sorry, I can't spell) and some hot peppers, it was just what I had needed - tasty, incredibly filling, and so moreish (I can't believe I just used that word, I destest it) that I've been fantasizing about another portion for the past few days. While I didn't taste my friend's meal, he said it was very, very good.

This place, while tiny, is worth the wait for a free table - the service is friendly, the menu is composed entirely of Brazilian favourites, and is beyond cheap - my fejoiada was only 6 pounds!

They do take reservations and I would absolutely recommend it - because it was packed and while the food is so homey that people scarf it down in a matter of seconds, it's cozy inside and instills in you a desire to linger over a milk tart or cup of coffee.One very hungover Brazilian friend and one very hungry me came here this past Sunday for a meal as my friend missed food from home and felt that I should go to a restaurant "where Brazilians go to eat when they miss their own."

Thinking that we would miss the lunch rush by eating at 3 pm in the afternoon, we arrived and sure enough the tiny restaurant (with only 7 or 8 tables) was bursting at the seams - but being Brazilian, my friend charmed the Brazilian hostess and she promised to call us as soon as a table became free.

True to her word, we received a phone call half an hour later, at which point we were faint from starvation and the incredible smell emanating from the restaurant and wafting down the street.

I had fejoiada, a traditional black bean stew, while my friend went for something a bit simpler and chose a grilled chicken breast. My fejoiada was served with greens braised in an unholy amount of butter, and rice which tasted as if it had been cooked in beef broth. Eaten with a bit of farina (sorry, I can't spell) and some hot peppers, it was just what I had needed - tasty, incredibly filling, and so moreish (I can't believe I just used that word, I destest it) that I've been fantasizing about another portion for the past few days. While I didn't taste my friend's meal, he said it was very, very good.

This place, while tiny, is worth the wait for a free table - the service is friendly, the menu is composed entirely of Brazilian favourites, and is beyond cheap - my fejoiada was only 6 pounds!

They do take reservations and I would absolutely recommend it - because it was packed and while the food is so homey that people scarf it down in a matter of seconds, it's cozy inside and instills in you a desire to linger over a milk tart or cup of coffee.

Just St James - Fabulous Looking Restaurant by sue

sue — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 08:19:59 +0000

Review by sue

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7976 4444

Website: http://www.juststjames.com

Tags: cool, european, romantic

We were keen for a mid-week dinner out so we headed to Just St James, a fancy looking place close to Piccadilly Circus & Green Park, that I had recently read good things about.

It is located in a magnificent looking old building, with high ceilings, marble columns and moody lighting. Service was professional and the food was well presented and good quality. There is a relaxing bar area at the front, with the restaurant area to the rear and a mezzanine area for private functions.

To start we shared the Scallops, which were served in a large scallop shell and were cooked well. For main meals we had the Venison and the Sea Bass. Both meals were pretty tasty, though the Sea Bass was a little bit too salty. We couldn't resist ordering a side of 'Just fries' to accompany our meals. For dessert we shared a tasty Pistachio & Choc Brownie...well I had one mouthful only...maybe two.

This is a pretty stunning looking restaurant and the experience here was pretty good, only let down by the smoky atmosphere.
We were keen for a mid-week dinner out so we headed to Just St James, a fancy looking place close to Piccadilly Circus & Green Park, that I had recently read good things about.

It is located in a magnificent looking old building, with high ceilings, marble columns and moody lighting. Service was professional and the food was well presented and good quality. There is a relaxing bar area at the front, with the restaurant area to the rear and a mezzanine area for private functions.

To start we shared the Scallops, which were served in a large scallop shell and were cooked well. For main meals we had the Venison and the Sea Bass. Both meals were pretty tasty, though the Sea Bass was a little bit too salty. We couldn't resist ordering a side of 'Just fries' to accompany our meals. For dessert we shared a tasty Pistachio & Choc Brownie...well I had one mouthful only...maybe two.

This is a pretty stunning looking restaurant and the experience here was pretty good, only let down by the smoky atmosphere.

Elysee Restaurant - by TrustedBot

TrustedBot — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 18:19:50 +0000

Review by TrustedBot

Rating: 0.00

Phone: 0207 636 4804

Tags: smoking, party, al fresco

From the moment you walk in, the Elysee´s friendly service will put you at ease.

Relax and enjoy a complete evening entertainment, - the finest French and Greek cuisine, vintage wines, a lively cabaret and dancing till the early hours.

Cabaret entertainment is provided by Athens´s most popular singers and musicians. At the Elysee, they want you to enjoy life. So let yourself go a little. May be you would like to indulge in that old Greek custom, and break a few plates!

For the warm summer evenings, eat al fresco in the Roof Garden. Relax and enjoy the intimate atmosphere as you sip your wine under the stars. The Roof Garden is an ideal spot for after-theatre supper, or just a quiet evening together.

The Elysee´s chef came to them from the Savoy 27 years ago, and has established the Elysee´s reputation for fine food. They offer superb French cuisine, and a selection of delicious Greek specialities. And to accompany your meal, the very best of French and Greek wine from the Elysee´s carefully chosen wine list.

Elysee´s entertainment attracts personalities and celebrities from all over the world as numerous articles published in newspapers and magazines testify, a small sample is given below.

New York Times

'You can always expect the people to crack up when they are entertained at the Elysee Greek restaurant in London. And that goes for the dishes too. Customers engaged in that time-honoured Greek tradition of hurling dishes to the floor when appreciating the talents of the restaurant´s performers. Owners George, Michael and Ulysses Karageorgis supply a liberal amount of plates and saucer´s at everyone´s table. Since the restaurant is open 364 days a year (closed on Christmas) Karageorgis brothers estimate that more than a million plates are smashed annually. The restaurant owner has proved conclusively that he can dish it out - and take it too.' From the moment you walk in, the Elysee´s friendly service will put you at ease.

Relax and enjoy a complete evening entertainment, - the finest French and Greek cuisine, vintage wines, a lively cabaret and dancing till the early hours.

Elysee´s entertainment attracts personalities and celebrities from all over the world as numerous articles published in newspapers and magazines testify, a small sample is given below.

New York Times