Latest favourites and wishlist by arisp

Hakkasan - review by missynm

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 16:11:40 +0000

Hakkasan - review by missynm

Rating: 4.2

Location: 8 Hanway Place, W1T 1HD, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7907 1888

Tags: lively, chinese, expensive, romantic

Yes its pretty pricey, but i'd say you definitely get what you pay for! An usual setting, Hakkasan is to be found down a side street of tottenham court road, very discreet. You are greeted at the door and make your way directly down steps into the basement of the building. Service is equally discreet but friendly and attentive. The way the restaurant is set out with decorative wooden screens separating the dining and bar areas work really well and even though the place is noisy (seating a couple of hundred people) the low lighting and choice of music creates a sense of privacy at your table. And the food completely matches up to the setting. The dim sum platters are great as is the clay pot poussin. I guess its possible some customers are pretentious types but if you pay attention to the environment that has been created rather than those sat at other tables i dont see why you wouldnt have a fabulous time. Perfect for a special occasion.

Awana - review by Angella

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 19:13:05 +0000

Awana - review by Angella

Rating: 3.7

Location: 85 Sloane Avenue, SW3 3DX, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7584 8880

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

Tags: malaysian

The ice creams on a Malaysian stand at the World Travel Market at Excel in East London were fantastic. Everybody crowded around eating more and more and more. The ice creams were presented in crisp cones with chocolate around the top.

I tried four or five of their ice cream flavours. The alluring pinky-orangey-red turned out to be chili and when she said hot she meant spicey - but I was not deterred because I knew there was furian to come. Cinnamon was good and different. Lemon grass which was so-so - more lemony than lemon grass - a bit disappointing as lemon grass is one of my favourite flavours, but I was just ready to try another flavour.

The durian ice cream was an absolute dream. If you haven't tried durian before, you must try it. A cross between chestnut, banana and sugared egg yolk (like the Spanish egg dessert yemas de Cartalenas).

Oddly enough, I don't like durian fruit, which smells like bad eggs, and you are banned from carrying durians on the trains in Singapore. However, the first time I tried durian ice cream was in a Thai restaurant in Singapore. I knew at once that I'd grow to like it, and would have to try it three times.

To be able to get durian ice cream in London is just wonderful.

I've looked at the restaurant menu on line and it's extensive. Amazing. This place is definitely on my wish list. I agree with all the other commentators that the food is expensive and you would be well advised to opt for their lunchtime deals at Â£10, Â£12.50 and Â£15. You can also sign up to be sent notification of their special deals.

I suggest you go to the restaurant with other ice cream addicts and try a few flavours. If you are catering for any special event I recommend the ice creams.

The restaurant name Awana means in the clouds and I was definitely on cloud nine after eating their durian ice cream. Just the words 'durian ice cream' make me smile.

Inn The Park - review by queenie1

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 12:59:23 +0000

Inn The Park - review by queenie1

Rating: 4.0

Location: Ivy Lodge, SW1A 2BJ, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7451 9999

A gorgeous place hidden in St James' Park. We went here for a drink and a cake and it was really nice. We sat outside from where there is a gorgeous view of the water. Drinks were quite expensive, cakes not so bad, but you are paying for the location. I had an exotic sounding sparkling elderflower drink and a caramel shortbread which were both delicious. Not far from Buckingham Palace if you fancy a walk through the park it is well worth a visit. One thing stopping it from getting 5 stars were the toilets! Three were out of order, the others were wet on the floor and I decided against using them!

Awana - review by RR123

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 20:50:05 +0000

Awana - review by RR123

Rating: 3.7

Location: 85 Sloane Avenue, SW3 3DX, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7584 8880

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

Tags: malaysian, oriental, expensive

I recently ate at this restaurant for the first time and thought the food was of a very good standard and well served. It is very expensive though, so if you want to pay a bit less then consider going there at lunchtime when they run special offers that really bring the price down.

The staff were friendly but I did find that when they were at a bit of a loose end they would hover about near where we were sitting, which at times was a bit irritating. They did also put dirty plates on the same tray as the food we were about to be served. But fortunately an eagle eyed waitress stepped in and served us our food.

Good food, just choose your time carefully to go there so that you don't pay a fortune.

Beach Blanket Babylon - review by Browners

Sat, 27 Sep 2008 11:22:04 +0000

Beach Blanket Babylon - review by Browners

Rating: 3.4

Location: 45 Ledbury Road, W11 2AA, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7229 2907

Tags: unhygenic

Beach Blanket Babylon is one of London's trendiest bars and has a buzzing restaurant. It is beloved by the Notting Hill set and typifices the idea of style over substance. Which is why we went there in the first place!

Your senses are blown away by the over the top decorations - it couldn't be more rococo if it tried.

No matter how trendy or posh you think your restaurant is... there are some basic catering rules that you can't break. Such as don't swear at the customers. Don't serve unhygenic food. Make sure there aren't any mouse-traps on show... etc. Common sense basically.

3 plates of perfectly good sushi arrived at our table along with some sets of chopsticks. The light wasn't great... but it was bright enough to detect a luminous green glow. On closer inspection we realised that the chopsticks were covered in a furry green mould. Gross! The elegant waitress simply took them back and didn't even consider apologising for it!

Our next course was very tasty... but sadly undermined by such a major lapse.

Awana - review by piggyeater

Sun, 14 Sep 2008 19:00:13 +0000

Awana - review by piggyeater

Rating: 3.7

Location: 85 Sloane Avenue, SW3 3DX, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7584 8880

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

Tags: malaysian, business, expensive

For those Malaysians who miss authentic Malaysian food, this place serves pretty good fare. Unlike some other places claiming to serve Malaysian food, this place seems to get it right, and its ingredient tastes like its been sourced properly from Malaysia.

The only gripe is the price. Two of us went and ordered 3 starters, 2 mains and rice, a soft drink and a margarita and the total bill came up to over eighty pounds. We expected probably about not more than thirty pounds per person. There are other equally good restaurants around for a cheaper price, although for Malaysian food, this is probably one of the best.

Beach Blanket Babylon - review by pindulgence

Sun, 14 Sep 2008 16:34:27 +0000

Beach Blanket Babylon - review by pindulgence

Rating: 3.4

Location: 45 Ledbury Road, W11 2AA, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7229 2907

Tags: expensive, international, pretentious, crowded

I really wanted to love the Beach Blanket Babylon, it has a reputation for the decor which is most definately deserved. However once you get past the spectaular decor, you are left with a bar and restuarant which loves itself so much it literally has its head where the sun doesn't shine. When we first arrived it was packed. It took ages to served by an obnoxious and quite literally rude member of staff. We were seated for our meal by an equally obnoxious and rule waiter who unfortunately continued to get rude throughout the evening. To top it off, we were forced to pay the service charge for that rudeness. You will NOT be allowed to get away without paying the automatically added charge. An utter disgrace.

Pret-a-Portea at The Berkeley Hotel - review by expired2008

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 22:34:28 +0000

Pret-a-Portea at The Berkeley Hotel - review by expired2008

Rating: 4.8

Location: Caramel Room, SW1X 7RL, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7201 1619

Website: http://www.the-berkeley.co.uk/restaurants_and_bars/restaurants/the_caramel_room/the_caramel_room/

Tags: amazing brew, top food

This excursion turned out to be a fabulously delicious, although ultra expensive, afternoon. If you are expecting a run of the mill afternoon tea in a posh hotel, you arenâ¬"t fully prepared for what you are about to experience!

The tea itself was outstanding, as was the coffee my partner had. However where they stand out from the crowd is with their patisserie. They were all mouth wateringly delicious.

We also had a range of sandwiches which were all gorgeous and the tastes were amazing.

The hotel itself is decorated wonderfully, itâ¬"s a perfect place to take someone you want to impress! Just donâ¬"t forget to go to the bank first!

Beach Blanket Babylon - review by WB1

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 11:37:57 +0000

Beach Blanket Babylon - review by WB1

Rating: 3.4

Location: 45 Ledbury Road, W11 2AA, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7229 2907

Tags: expensive, pretentious

I had heard great things about this venue and went to the bar on a Saturday night with some friends for a treat. We were disappointed to say the least! The decor was as spectacular as I had been led to believe with chandeliers, nook and crannies, cabinets with jewels, ornate tables and chairs etc and really has to be seen to be believed. Unfortunately that was as good as it got. The bar was packed and it took an age to get served. When we eventually did get to the bar we almost wished we hadn't - the prices are astronomical. The crowd around the bar were snooty, pretentious and often downright rude. The staff seemed rather harassed (unsurprising) but were pleasent enough. Having got our drinks we squeezed ourselves into a little nook between two tables (I think you would have to get there very early to find somewhere to sit) and spent an unpleasant couple of hours being jostled by the crowds. I will not be going back. I have not visited the restaurant so cannot comment on that area.

Inn The Park - review by hither

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 22:12:12 +0000

Inn The Park - review by hither

Rating: 4.0

Location: Ivy Lodge, SW1A 2BJ, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7451 9999

Tags: expensive

After years of walking past this restaurant in St James Park we finally got around to having breakfast there one saturday morning this summer.

You pay for your breakfast by item which makes it a bit expensive, but they are all top quality. And they were all nicely cooked.

We were a little handicapped by having our young son with us, which meant that we weren't able to linger over our meal for as long as we would have liked. And that meant that we didn't really feel we had got our money's worth.

The service was slightly variable - one of the waitresses came up with some crayons and paper for our little one, but one of the waiters was rather more snooty.

If you are having a really special day out, I would recommend this for a breakfast treat, but it's not so special for the price.

Hakkasan - review by Weeboo

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 12:43:29 +0000

Hakkasan - review by Weeboo

Rating: 4.2

Location: 8 Hanway Place, W1T 1HD, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7907 1888

Tags: lively, chinese, crowded, expensive

This is by far one of the best dim sum restaurants I've tried in London. I cannot recommend the food enough. My mouth is watering right now as I type this *grin*.

The surroundings are suitably trendy, with an almost nightclub feel. Its lively and tends to get very loud in there. A good venue choice for a social night out with workmates or a hen party.

Regrettably, the service can feel overstretched or inattentive. Last time I dined here I waited over half an hour for the food to arrive after it had been ordered, and that was only after nudging the waiter. Considering how pricey the menu is, they could do more to improve the service.

Beach Blanket Babylon - review by rusty83

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 10:45:04 +0000

Beach Blanket Babylon - review by rusty83

Rating: 3.4

Location: 45 Ledbury Road, W11 2AA, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7229 2907

Tags: romantic, expensive

I went here with my partner after winning a dinner voucher with work.
I was definitely not disappointed.
We sat downstairs, the walk to our table was impressive, and we went down a spiral staircase below the ground. The stairs were lit up by candles which added to the atmosphere! Itâ¬"s almost as if youâ¬"re in caves.
Our waiter served about 4 tables altogether so that felt quite personal, the menu had a lot of choice to suit a variety of tastes. Meat, fish, veggies.
Overall I was very impressed with this restaurant, the food is brilliantly cooked, the wines are very palatable and the dÃ©cor and atmosphere adds to the experience.
I would definitely come back here!

Automat - review by ProfMagellan

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 08:51:53 +0000

Automat - review by ProfMagellan

Rating: 3.3

Location: 33 Dover St, W1S 4NF, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7499 3033

Website: http://www.automat-london.com

Tags: american, buzzy, mayfair, good value, modern, burgers, lively

My friend Polarmarco persuaded me to return and this I did in the company of a top PR person. We were on a mission to see whether or not Automat deserves a chance given a dreadful experience I had earlier this year. This time everything worked well. The staff were utterly in control, the waitress could not have been kinder, and - despite a full Tuesday lunchtime - the food arrived promptly. The PR person enjoyed his lamb confection whilst I opted for my usual burger: not quite as good as that served by Joe Allen, it was none the less perfectly acceptable. The surroundings are very new century. Automat opened about three years ago) in contrast to the retro-look of Joe Allen's (in which personally I feel more comfortable). Acoustics are very poor so not a place for the hard of hearing.
Other punters included the usual suspects: hedge fund managers, venture capitalists and ladies who lunch. Blackberries and cellphones in profusion. Very few real working stiffs.

Automat - review by polarmarco

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 11:23:54 +0000

Automat - review by polarmarco

Rating: 3.3

Location: 33 Dover St, W1S 4NF, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7499 3033

Website: http://www.automat-london.com

Tags: american, family & home feel, good value, crowded, brasserie, lively

I was one of ProfMagellan's party back in February and suspected that his last review was on the harsh side. What the Prof did not realise at the time was that another member of our party was unbelievably rude and boorish to the staff before he arrived. I suspected it was this bullying (which continued to the end and even included the reception staff) which was responsible for the chain that led to our negative experience. And, it should be said, even then, under the greatest provocation, the staff remained unfailingly polite. I returned to Automat recently with an old friend, whose husband is a leading diplomat (!), and whom I briefed about what happened before. This time the service was immaculate and, although the restaurant was fully booked, a table was found for us at the quieter front of the house. We both had a baked fish, which was delicious as were our desserts. I would strongly urge ProfMagellan (usually a supremely fair reviewer) to give Automat another chance - and perhaps admit that on this occasion he shot from the hip!

Beach Blanket Babylon - review by shelo9

Sun, 16 Mar 2008 22:50:50 +0000

Beach Blanket Babylon - review by shelo9

Rating: 3.4

Location: 45 Ledbury Road, W11 2AA, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7229 2907

Tags: expensive, pretentious, crowded, brasserie

The venue is amazing as people may tell you. There are lots of little alleys and rooms with different themes which are fab. We were in one small level which was overlooking the kitchen. Unfortuantely the chefs thought that it would be great to stare at us all night which was not nice.

There is a great choice of food and the food was good. The burger which i had was a bit difficult to eat so i had to use the knife and fork which is not normal burger behaviour.

The desserts were also good. Unfortunately we only had a small amount of it as the waiter dropped the sugar bowl on my glass which shattered all over us! We had to get away from the table as we were covered in glass. We thought we would stand by the bar (which had been empty before) but was now rammed. The waiter wanted us to stay at the table have extra dessert and pay the bill there which was not happening in our shocked state. We eventually got to pay the bill. The manager had taken off the desserts (which we had not really eaten) but found it difficult to remove the service charge which we thought should be removed. Eventually we got to pay what we wanted to pay and ran out of the place as fast as we could.

The place is a very cool looking, and i think what happened to us (is hopefully) a one off situation. If you want to get out of central and be somewhere different this place is a good choice, but just dont go to the bar after eating as its full of the normal pretentious nonsense.