• Added: 13th of September 2007
• Area: Barnsbury
• Category: Restaurants

London N1 1QP
020 7424 5153

justintoh said
Stylish upper st thai
The family running this restaurant belongs to Tina Juengsoongnuen, sister of Alan Yau of Yauatcha, Hakkasan and Wagamama fame. The similarities are clear in the sleek and minimalist design. This restaurant comes as a rival to his latest Busaba eathai chain, but manages to produce a quieter, less hectic space.

I've only dined here at lunchtime, when they offer the lunch boxes for a touch under 7 quid. On a sunday when everyone (from french bistros to turkish cafes) is offering sunday roasts, the choice of curries and grilled meats makes a nice alternative, accompanied by a small soup, satay or fishcakes. Each box is finished off with a refreshing slice of watermelon.

The a la carte menu looks extensive enough with some hard- to-find dishes, and is more expensive. You could certainly spend a lot of money here on the food and wines, but for a good value lunchtime meal the food is delicious too.

• Added: 13th of September 2007
• Area: Euston
• Category: Restaurants

London NW1 1JD
020 7388 0808

justintoh said
Authentic sichuanese food in edgy surrounds
The first time I came here I immediately recognised this as the most authentic chinese restaurant I'd visited in London. Not because of the spiciness of the food, or the ethnic composition of the diners, although those can't be ignored. Rather it was due to the fact they had a karaoke setup in the basement and put covers on your jacket (on the back of your seat) to protect it while you ate.

Aside from these little touches, the food itself is the main attraction -- gloriously spiced foods, and a broad selection of sichuan's finest. If you've seen Fuschia Dunlop's book on sichuanese cookery, you'll find many dishes - twice-cooked pork, ants climbing trees, ma po beancurd - here. There's also a few dishes I've not seen before - the cumin prawns were a taste revelation.

The restaurant does do non-spicy dishes, and does them well, free from the gloopy sauces that plague many chinese restaurants in the UK. However to get the most out of your visit, be prepared for copious amounts of chilli, chilli oil, and numbing sichuan pepper.

The hotpot is worth a special mention - you can go for the hot (chilli-based) and/or mild options. You then choose from a list of delicacies, ranging from the usual (beef, lettuce, mushrooms) to the unusual (intestines) to dip in and cook.

All up, well worth a trip to Euston to savour the spice. To get the most out of a visit, bring a large group of chilli-enthusiasts, book the private room and sing some karaoke if you dare.

• Added: 13th of September 2007
• Area: Elephant And Castle
• Category: Restaurants

London SE17 1JL
020 7277 3388

justintoh said
A good spot for dim sum
I've only been here during the daytime, in part because the area (and in particular the tunnels around the roundabouts) isn't so inviting during at night, and in part because the dim sum is what draws me here.

The restaurant itself is easy to miss, as there's nothing that screams 'chinese restaurant' until you get to the two big red doors (which are always closed). The decor is simple inside, with large windows letting in a lovely view of the Walworth Road.

Pluses
+ the dishes are cheap: we once ordered so much that we couldn't see over the steamers
+ good selection of dishes, with some more fusion-inspired specials (these don't always work)
+ you can book a table, which is rare for good yum cha
+ the restaurant is large enough for a table of ~15

Minuses
- service isn't particularly friendly
- no trolley service (although this is the norm for london)

In all, I'd recommend this place for yum cha, especially for those with large groups of people who don't mind travelling from the usual dim sum hotspots to avoid a queue.

• Added: 13th of September 2007
• Area: Barnsbury
• Category: Education

London N1 6HD
020 7613 4141

justintoh said
Running away to join the circus
I've been coming here for a little over a year, attending the acrobatics courses, which are taught by gymnastics instructors in a purpose-built sprung room. In addition to this they also cover acrobatic balancing, clown skills, tight-rope, flying trapeze and many more. Basically if you've seen it in a contemporary circus, they probably have it - although I've yet to see a bearded lady or a lion tamer.

On the briefer side, they also offer half and full day workshops on circus skills and western skills (lasso, whip etc) - perfect for trying out a number of disciplines and excellent as gift ideas. For the more serious they run masterclasses, long-term courses and even degree programs.

This is an excellent resource and Hoxton's lucky to have it. I encourage anyone who wants to try something a little physical and very different to give it a go