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Sarastro - review by Julesdit

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 08:09:58 +0000

Sarastro - review by Julesdit

Rating: 2.7

Location: 126 Drury Lane, WC2B 5SU, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7836 0101

Website: http://www.sarastro-restaurant.com

I was taken here by a relative who raved about it. Possibly one of the craziest restaurants I have ever been to. The 5 of us were seated, sorry squished, in one of the boxes. Food was ok, but for the price I expected far better quality. I'm not sure if I would return again as it was very expensive for what it was.

If your a bit of a prude, close you eyes when you pop to the toilet!

Sarastro - review by sulin

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 11:15:49 +0000

Sarastro - review by sulin

Rating: 2.7

Location: 126 Drury Lane, WC2B 5SU, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7836 0101

Website: http://www.sarastro-restaurant.com

Tags: expensive, mediterranean, pretentious, crowded

Last Friday, we met a few friends in Covent Garden and we were brought to the opera-themed Sarastro Restaurant on Drury Lane. Words cannot express what the decor is in this place - imagine half pseudo-rococo, half Liberaceâ¬"s home - those of you who have either been to or walked by this opera-themed restaurant will know what Iâ¬"m talking about.

Iâ¬"ll be honest - Iâ¬"ve always wanted to see what it was really like inside one of these flamboyant rooms. I could have had my pick of locations as there are two other restaurants with similar themes: Papageno (same owners) and Salieri. Upon entering, we were led to one of the upstairs booths that provide privacy and I guess is supposed to give one a feeling of exclusivity, like sitting in a real opera box. After settling in (which was a challenge as we had to contort ourselves to sit down at the table) and examining the bizarre tablecloth and napkins (crushed velvet!?), we were given menus and food immediately started arriving at the table. What was this? Glancing at our menus answered my questions - we had to choose from a three-course set menu. This was the first major bad sign of things to come. We were never told that we would be limited to this and nowhere on their website does it say this either.

I understand small menus - a small menu allows for the chef to have more control over the quality of the dishes and allows for your food to come quickly. At places like Sarrastro, though, this rather pricey set menu is obviously to cut costs and maximise profits. Appetizers were the cheap mass-produced kind: hummus, tzatziki, fried halloumi, cheese borek, fried calamari, dolmades. While the dips were presented in large-ish family-size bowls, the countable items were very stingily counted out to equal the number of people in our party. Never have I seen 6 sad calamari rings (count â¬Üem, 6!) presented on a bed of lettuce. The cheese pastries and halloumi was almost inedibly salty but luckily the fluffy Turkish bread that accompanied all this was quite nice with the dips.

When the waiter came totake our orders for the main course, I asked for his recommendation between the braised lamb shank and the duck a lâ¬"orange. After some hesitation, he suggested the lamb - but when the food came out, I saw that his recommendation really meant the lesser of the two evils. The lamb shank was enormous. What a massive dish - I felt a bit like a cave-woman tackling this beast.

Unfortunately, quality and quantity cannot mutually exist in a dish at places like these. While the portion was huge, the lamb didnâ¬"t taste of muchâ¬¦just very dull lamb. The meat wasnâ¬"t exactly falling off the bone and there were dangerous shards of bone throughout my shank. The duck eaters fared no better - a limp, overly-gamy, and probably from frozen, sliced duck breast with a thin, translucent, and possibly bottled, orange sauce poured on top. One of our friends just couldnâ¬"t eat hers and asked for a replacement. To their credit, they quite happily switched it for the more edible salmon; to their discredit, the salmon arrived approximately 5 seconds after the duck was taken away. Hmmmâ¬¦suspiciously quickâ¬¦ Accompanying our meals were family-sized bowls of boiled potatoes and boiled, yet undercooked, mixed vegetables.

The real kicker came at dessert time. The set menu proclaimed that we would receive Turkish sweets and a fresh fruit platter. Turkish sweets turned out to be a tiny syrup soaked sweet, not baklava but tulumba, for each of us (count â¬Üem, 6!) and alongside lay some of the thinnest slices of pineapple the world has ever seen. The fruit platter was a large platter with whole, uncut, cheap fruits - apples, bananas, oranges, grapesâ¬¦and the biggest joke of all, a whole pineapple in the centre, with no proper knives to cut any of them. Well, I was feeling slightly bitter by this time and proceeded to bag up that pineapple - weâ¬"re currently enjoying it at home!

And what did we pay for this catering-style meal? - Â£30 a head. Just looking at that number causes me to reminisce of the wonderful meals Iâ¬"ve had at Le Vacherin that came to about that amount. And I havenâ¬"t even come to the musicians! Being an opera-themed restaurant, I would expect some music to be played. I do not, however, expect the band to sound like a mariachi band - nor do I expect the tambourinist to come around to each table, demanding money and shouting â¬SOlÃ©! OlÃ©!â¬.

Take this as a warning! If the atmosphere is your thing, then perhaps youâ¬"ll be amused by this place, but do not go for the food! For me, the manic and surreal decor became tiring halfway through the meal and I will never go back!

Photos here: http://tamarindandthyme.wordpress.com/2008/01/22/sarastro-a-bad-night-at-the-opera/

Sarastro - review by Alsation

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 13:10:42 +0000

Sarastro - review by Alsation

Rating: 2.7

Location: 126 Drury Lane, WC2B 5SU, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7836 0101

Website: http://www.sarastro-restaurant.com

Tags: lively, mediterranean, crowded, turkish, romantic

Interesting blend of Mediterranean and Turkish cuisine with a theme of opera throughout.
The restaurant itself is based on the ground floor of what used to be the biggest single men's hostel in London in the olden days. Painstakingly converted, decorated, tarted up and brought to live, the dining area is an experience in itself.
There are lots of little booths and secluded areas for a romantic meal. On selected evenings, both staff and entertainers from some of the West End shows will sing and perform. It's nice to have a live aria performed in front of you when munching your way through a decent and well proportioned meal.
The owner/proprietor is an affable chap and very approachable. His support of his neighbours and the local community is legendary. It's nice to see such an unusual restaurant, off the beaten track and yet in the heart of theatre land.

Sarastro - review by Lemonpie

Mon, 11 Jun 2007 19:27:54 +0000

Sarastro - review by Lemonpie

Rating: 2.7

Location: 126 Drury Lane, WC2B 5SU, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7836 0101

Website: http://www.sarastro-restaurant.com

Dreadful.

Awful food in the worst traditions of 70s restaurants in this country. Rude service. Tawdry decor, table cloths are a terrible synthetic crushed velvet covered with a white paper disposable cloth. Oh and don't forget the white paper napkins, just like you get in your local greasy spoon.

No no no no no.

Sarastro - review by jo104

Tue, 13 Mar 2007 16:53:35 +0000

Sarastro - review by jo104

Rating: 2.7

Location: 126 Drury Lane, WC2B 5SU, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7836 0101

Website: http://www.sarastro-restaurant.com

Tags: romantic, Opulent and a bit different, opera, good value, mediterranean

When I was first taken to this restaurant for lunch by my boss he likened it to a bordello.

What a delightful restaurant it has a very opulent feel in its decor, and the seating arrangements is similar to that of opera booths. Tables drapped in rich fabrics, guilding and somewhat of a suprising art murals in the toilets to be seen not shared.

The food is of a medittaranean style & the set menu includes a mezze starter which offers plenty of nibble varieties. There is a choice of about 6 mains including a vegetarian and fish option. Dessert tends to be fresh fruit and Baklava.

On sunday & monday evenings they sing opera around the tables & the set menu applies.

I would recommend this restaurant for a romantic meal or alternatively for groups who like something a bit different. I have enjoyed every meal here.

Cafe Du Panache - review by fatman63

Thu, 01 Mar 2007 23:36:04 +0000

Cafe Du Panache - review by fatman63

Rating: 4.5

Location: 118d, High St, TW12 1NT, Hampton, United Kingdom

Tags: lively, proper food, amazing brew, quick bite

This was a fantastic chance find. I arrived early for a meeting at Fulwell bus depot and needed a coffee. After a little wander I found this oasis and settled in for an early morning coffee and croissant. Both were wonderful and the ambience was good. In the half hour I sat there, there was a steady stream of people ... not bad for 9am in a quiet corner of South West London. I didn't try any of the really nice looking food but plenty of the other visitors wandered out with breakfast

Sarastro - review by MikeinLondon

Fri, 16 Feb 2007 23:25:12 +0000

Sarastro - review by MikeinLondon

Rating: 2.7

Location: 126 Drury Lane, WC2B 5SU, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7836 0101

Website: http://www.sarastro-restaurant.com

Tags: lively, greek, pretentious, expensive, turkish, romantic

A Greek/Turkish place to eat near Covent Garden. A little on the expensive side but a great decoration. Meals are ok. Busy before and after the shows (West end). Life events.

Cafe L'Express - review by fatman63

Mon, 11 Dec 2006 23:02:06 +0000

Cafe L'Express - review by fatman63

Rating: 3.0

Location: 48 Horseferry Road, SW1P 2AF, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7799 5225

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

Tags: quick bite, good brew, crowded

This is a good-for-basics cafe and sandwich bar. I have used this as a sandwich bar fairly often (I suspect this is the majority of their trade as there are always long queues at lunchtimes).

They do a wide range of sandwiches / baguettes / ciabatta and baked potatoes with a good variety of tasty fillings. Well worth a visit.

Sarastro - review by Anne_Pierre

Thu, 21 Sep 2006 18:07:19 +0000

Sarastro - review by Anne_Pierre

Rating: 2.7

Location: 126 Drury Lane, WC2B 5SU, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7836 0101

Website: http://www.sarastro-restaurant.com

Tags: romantic, middle eastern, good value

... that is how they describe themselves and they are right! I don't know of any similar places in London, with such a colourful, warm and romantic decor. The place looks like a collection of theatre sets and seats put together, with bright red and purple velvet drapes, golden ornaments, sculptures, paintings etc. It is absolute fun. Located at the heart of Theatreland, it is very convenient to go to before or after a musical/play. As for the food, it is decent Turkish food, nothing as extravagant as the place itself. Still I highly recommend it, especially on Sunday and Monday nights when you can listen to opera singers performing as you are having a romantic dinner (25 GBP per person, including dinner).