• Added: 1st of August 2008
• Area: Covent Garden
• Category: Restaurants

London WC2N 4HG
020 7240 1883

Sprotch said
Wahaca: the Mexican wagamama
I have become a regular at this place. Not because it is the best food in London, but because it consistently delivers good, satisfying, Tex-Mex food at a reasonable price and in a nice atmosphere.

Wahaca offers a selection of tacos, enchiladas, tortillas and other typical Tex-Mex dishes. They are all good (but not exceptional) and get delivered quickly by a generally friendly waiter (American service style: he's your phony friend).

The atmosphere is also very nice. The crowd always seems to be cheerful, nice and having a good time before going out. It's very pleasant (if you don't mind crowds, this restaurant is very successful). I've compared this restaurant to Wagamama, but that's where Wahaca comes on top: people are having a good time.

Price-wise, it always comes down to £15-20 per person. Very reasonable if you consider that you just had good food in Covent Garden.

• Added: 6th of July 2008
• Area: Leicester Square
• Category: Restaurants

London WC2E 9BH
020 7240 7649

Sprotch said
Very good value, nice food, convenient location
Le Garrick is a nice place to have dinner on a Saturday night in Covent Garden.

The food is not outstanding but quite good for the price paid. £12 for a reasonably good confit de canard is amazing value in Covent Garden. The menu consists of the "usual suspects" for affordable French restaurants in England (entrecote, confit de canard, moules, onglet, etc...). The bill came to about £25 per person (we had wine, desert, and coffee).

Although the decoration is a bit tacky (think French bella italia), the atmosphere is extremely nice. We were a party of five and were given a nice table in a little alcove that felt like we had our own private room. Wonderful atmosphere too.

Service was extremelly good. It was the waiter's first day, and he was keen to impress (and did, too).

I will definitely go back.

• Added: 6th of July 2008
• Area: Hackney
• Category: Restaurants

London E8 4QJ
020 7275 9900

Sprotch said
Best Argentinean restaurant in London
If you're looking for Argentine beef, this is the place to go.

Having lived in Buenos Aires for two years, I always enjoy going to Santa Maria del Buen Ayre. They took the best of Argentinean restaurants (the beef) and added proper service and confortable seats.

Do not expect refinenement, a parilla is simply beef that's grilled steak till it's very well done. It's perfect for meat lovers.

The atmosphere is nice as well, informal and packed with people having a good time. Service is consistently friendly and efficient.

Pricewise it may be a bit expensive given that's it's just a parilla place. You'll be paying 8 times BA prices for food and 16 times for wine, but you're in London. That amounts to about £20-30 per person total.

• Added: 6th of July 2008
• Area: Farringdon
• Category: Restaurants

London EC1M 6HJ
020 7608 0851

Sprotch said
Quality food at good value
Comptoire Gascon serves simple dishes from the South West of France. Although the simplicity of the food allows them to keep prices down, they use only top quality ingredients.

The result is a fantastic meal at a very reasonable price.

The atmosphere is a bit too "fake cafe" for myself. A cafe can be confortable too, no need to cram us on tables that are too small to impress.

Overall one of my favourite places in London.

• Added: 6th of July 2008
• Area: Soho
• Category: Restaurants

London W1D 3SH
020 7437 2525

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

• Added: 23rd of August 2007
• Area: Leicester Square
• Category: Restaurants

London WC2N 4HX
020 7300 5588

Sprotch said
Nice atmosphere, shame about the food and the bill
Asia de Cuba is a striking place to have dinner at. It has a very interesting theme that manages to be outrageous and tasteful at the same time.

The atmosphere was great, very modern, young and trendy. The food was ok and service was attentive. The bill, however, was completely out of proportion.

The food is fusion and generally very inventive but the quality is average. It's tasty and nice, but, in all fairness, not outstanding. The squid and artichoke salad was delicious and inventive, but it tasted like the chef shopped at Sainsbury's rather than spent time selecting top ingredients. The brownie was of "pizzeria-round-the-corner" quality.

Service was very helpful and friendly. The waiters were very good at advising us on the wine and the courses. They were a bit overly friendly for my taste and were obviously required act as our long lost best friend rather than waiters. I also did not like the fact that they felt touching me and patting me on the back as often as possible would reinforce this impression. Apart from that (and that is a matter of taste), they were extremely good and efficient.

The bill was also a disappointment, coming at about £70 per person (taking into account that we only had a glass of wine each, and shared desert).

In sum, a fun place to go to, but not so good food and really over-priced.

• Added: 27th of June 2007
• Area: South Kensington
• Category: Restaurants

London SW3 2EP
020 7584 4477

Sprotch said
Racine - reliable good food
The Racine is arguable one of my favourite place in London. The food is consistently good and service thoughtful and efficient.
Only downside might be the atmosphere, which is brasserie-like and not very intimate.
The back room will grant you more intimacy, so request it if that's what you want.
Prices are around £50 per person, including wine. This is good value for the quality of the food and wine served.