Reviews by rea

Beach Blanket Babylon (Bar / Restaurant)
25 November 2007

Had a table booked 4 weeks in advance for 7 people at 9:30pm on a Saturday night. Got there at 9:30 and were not seated until an hour later. It was too busy, crowd was second rate, food not good.

Yauatcha (Restaurant / Restaurant)
13 November 2007

Went there on Saturday for lunch. Nice food, though the menu descriptions could be clearer and the service was so-so. Decor is simple yet sophisticated and the colour scheme quite soothing. However, one big gaff - they'd run out of jasmine tea (on a Saturday)! Oops!

The Painted Heron (Restaurant)
13 November 2007

Just went there for dinner, Tuesday night. Too noisy at the back area of the restaurant where we were sitting. They definitely need to add some sound-absorbing materials.
The food was so-so, but not great. The papadams were too oily but the ingredients seemed quite fresh.

Locanda Locatelli (Restaurant)
29 July 2007

The food is excellent and the staff very professional. One of my favourite restaurants in London.

Unruly Studio (Hair Salon / Salon)
29 December 2006

I have tons of hair and it's curly. It looks nice but is quite difficult to cut properly. I am also a person with high expectations. So if I rate this salon a 5 that implies that they are really good. The atmosphere is very relaxed and friendly - you feel like you're at a friend's place.

Gilgamesh (Restaurant)
02 December 2006

We went there on a Friday night at 9pm. The place is huge. Looks like a factory. The entrance is quite mass market, with an escalator leading up to the restaurant.

The food was good, the service was fast. But these are the only two things we liked about it. The music was just noise - it seems as if they've got their acoustics all wrong.

The atmosphere and the clientele were not first class. It's good to go and see once, perhaps... We had some sushi, dim sum, tempura, a Thai prawn curry with rice, one beer, one cocktail and 2 glasses of wine, and paid a total of about £86.

Harlem (Diner)
29 October 2006

Went there for lunch about a few months ago.

The food was good, the server friendly. However, it was not the best hamburger I have ever had.

Hakkasan (Restaurant / Restaurant)
23 October 2006

Have been there three times during the past year and enjoyed it every time. Very consistent in the food quality for such a big place - well done! Love the decor too, though

the music is a bit loud.

In general it's a great combination of atmosphere and food, even though every once in a while you might get the impression of sitting in a high class Wagamama! Would still definitely recommend it.

The Gate (Restaurant)
21 October 2006

Went there a few weeks ago with a few friends. No one managed to find the address in one go - we all had to call each other several times before we found our way. Quite hidden, next to or within a religious setting (which kind of gave me the creeps!).

The staff were friendly and the food was enjoyable (it was the first time that I'd had ONLY a vegetarian choice).

However, the air was a bit stuffy as it was quite warm in the restaurant. Would definitely recommend a small investment in ventilation, or is this a way to increase drink consumption?

Sketch Gallery (Restaurant)
21 October 2006

Good food, professional staff. Watched the France vs. Portugal game there a few months ago and the atmosphere was so cozy and exclusive. Would recommend it at least once, on a Thursday or Friday night.

Eight over Eight (Restaurant / Restaurant)
21 October 2006

I have been to this restaurant (Fusion East meets Ouset in the middle of King's Road Brasserie) several times. I like the atmosphere and the concept. The separation between the bar and the dining area is subtle and overall the decor is very pleasing. The food is agreeable, though not great.

I would recommend it, at least once.

Mango Tree (Restaurant)
21 October 2006

Saturday night: poor atmosphere, poor food (especially for the price)! Had a cocktail to start with - really not worth while. The starter was inedible. All too oily and heavy.

I am really surprised with the marking this place has got from some reviewers. To my mind, definitely a waste of time and money. One cocktail, a starter, a main course + a glass of wine about £45 per person.

The Wolseley (Restaurant)
16 October 2006

Been there a couple of times. Great service, great atmosphere and good food. I definitely recommend it.

L'Étranger (Restaurant)
01 October 2006

The food was delicious and the service was professional.

The only problem is that it's quite a small-sized restaurant and there seems to be no space for a bar for waiting clients. So if your table is not ready you have to go out of the restaurant and downstairs to a basement club with quite a steep stairway in order to wait for your table.

L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon (Restaurant)
01 October 2006

Went there with my husband on a Sunday night around 8 pm. I had a langoustine starter with quail to follow and finished with the vanilla dessert (which was excellent!).

I had one glass of red wine and no coffee. We paid about £60 per head, which was OK considering the great food quality, excellent service and nice setting.

Two main shortcomings: the high chairs at the bar were quite uncomfortable; there was a lack of atmosphere, which we believe would have been easily improved with some nice background music.

Would recommend anyone who likes good food to check this place out at least once.

Maze (Restaurant)
25 July 2006

Been there twice. The first time was during the first couple of weeks after it opened. Found the menu quite innovative, as one has choice in choosing 4, 5, 6 or even more small dishes as a discovery menu. The quality of food and service were good and the staff friendly.

The second time though, I was a bit disappointed by the profile of the clientele and the service. One of my 5 dishes arrived 10 minutes later than my partner's. However, the food quality was still good.

Le Gavroche (Restaurant / Restaurant)
07 February 2006

Good food (if slightly heavy for my taste) and very good service, but with a clientele with a mean age around 50 years old.