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Tag: Asian Food in London

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | Romulo Cafe, London

    RESTAURANT REVIEW | Romulo Cafe, London

    ★★★★★| Romulo Cafe, London

    There are many undiscovered restaurant gems in London, but I’ve found one that will perhaps not be undiscovered for very much longer.

    Romulo Cafe, a restaurant that is a taste of the Philippines in the heart of Kensington (and London), has food that I guarantee you can’t find anywhere else in London. It’s Filipino food that is unique, flavorful, sumptuous and excellent value for the money. But don’t let the name fool you – Romulo Cafe is not really a cafe but a proper restaurant, beautifully designed and perfectly replicates Filipino food and culture, filled with the Romulo family history of General Carlos P. Romulo, hence you feel like you are in his home, with great staff who take care of you like you are family.

    But the food – wow the food – it’s just incredible, and at times indescribable. Romulo food is full of recipes passed down from generation to generation, and in Filipino style, sharing is the tradition. But I didn’t want to share the Sizzling Chicken Inasal Sisig – Jack Brand Diced Chicken thighs marinated in annatto sauce, ginger, green chilli, garlic, and lemongrass. Arriving sizzling to your table, it’s the aroma that hits you first – it’s a mix of sweet, nuts and pepper (annatto) – and a dish that has a perfect balance of all ingredients all in harmony – and was simply delicious. My dining companion and I were just simply amazed at how good it was! We carried on with more sharing plates – including the Dingley Dell Pork Belly Adobo which is slow-cooked in soy sauce, garlic and cane vinegar, and this too was simply delicious. Five large pieces of pork swimming in the sauce which tasted a bit like bbq, with a mixture of different coloured potatoes – this is a main course in itself – and so so good. Also so so good was the Kensington Fried Chicken. Four large pieces perfectly cooked (they are marinated with Romulo’s very own adobo mayonnaise and catsup sauce), and nice and brown on the outside, white on the inside, and crunchy. They are just the best! And best of all is that these dishes are great value at less than £8.75 each! Yes, excellent value.

    We, of course, had to have rice with our meal, and the large Garlic Fried Rice was just absolutely perfect, with only a hint of garlic which made the ride back home with my friend bearable! We were also suggested to try the Young Jackfruit and Coconut Stew as our vegetable. It was plentiful and was a liquid-like stew with loads of jackfruit, green beans with a small number of chillies but it was the sauce that made the dish absolutely amazing!

    And now on to the desserts. I can’t recommend enough the Banana Turon. It’s five banana fritters served warm with a side of toffee sauce. A fritter is, if you don’t know, made in the shape of a spring roll in a hard pastry shell – and inside was the best part-baked banana and jackfruit – for an absolutely yummy experience. Wow! And on the side is jackfruit ice cream – yes, it’s too much but I ate them all! We also had to try the Ube Cheesecake (ube is purple yam, hence the cheesecake is purple) with a graham cracker crust, topped with coconut and served with ice cream – exotic colour and a good flavour! And we also had the Sans Rival – a hard dessert made with dulce de leche and buttercream, cashews, chewy and sweet meringue – while good it did not, and could not, match the cheesecake nor the Banana Turon (which is a steal at £5).

    And I can’t finish this review off without mentioning Imelda’s High Heels cocktail. It’s strong (thanks to the Stolichnaya Vodka) with strawberry puree, Crème de Framboise, Crème de Mure and topped with Prosecco. And the kicker – it’s served in a high heel shoe! Ha! Also recommended is the Pinoy Mai Tai – a rum drink with Amaretto, Gran Marnier and pineapple – and it comes in a flaming (literally) Tiki mug! Don’t do what I did and panic and blow it out – let it burn, it’s part of the experience.

    Romulo Cafe is also a cafe in front, and there is a private dining room downstairs with a bar and karaoke machine, and the venue is licensed for both marriages and civil ceremonies.

    And the experience of eating at Romulo Café is an excellent one. It’s not just the food but the history of the restaurant, which is in the family name Romulo. In 2009, The Romulo family opened up its first cafe in Manila to celebrate the legacy of grandfather General Carlos P. Romulo. The London restaurant honours his memory with a large photo of him (and one of his wife) in the dining room. Meanwhile, their grandfather’s tastes were legend, and cultivated during years following a distinguished war career when he served as Philippine Ambassador to the United States, as President of the United Nations General Assembly (his signature is on the UN charter) and finally as the longest-serving Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines. He was also the first and only Filipino to win a Pulitzer Prize and awarded the highest American civilian award, Medal of Freedom. And he loved food, and Romulo cafe London is a fitting tribute to his memory, with its extremely delicious food, nice and friendly staff, very comfortable surroundings, and a warm welcome from owners Rowena and her husband Chris – the nicest people this side of the river. Romulo Cafe is just simply a perfect place.

    Romulo Café London,
    343 Kensington High Street
    London, W8 6NW
    020 3141 6390
    www.romulocafe.co.uk

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | BOWLS, London

    RESTAURANT REVIEW | BOWLS, London

    ★★★★ | BOWLS, Soho, London

    One of the tastiest, and fun, and coolest restaurants in Soho is not on the trendy streets of Old Compton Street or Dean Street, it’s on that walkway called St. Anne’s Court. Most people use St. Annes Court for easy and quick access to Wardour and Dean streets. But next time you pass through St. Annes Court, look for BOWLS – and go right in.

    Once you walk in you will be enveloped in warmth, with smells that you can’t quite put your fingers, and tastebuds, on. And once you are shown to your seat, you will feel like you’re in a friends house. All of this is due to owner and manager Zarifa Ragimova. Moscow born, she has really put her heart and soul into this restaurant, which is just over 2 months old. She trained at Le Cordon Bleu London, and her hard work here has paid off. Right next to the bar as you walk in there is a painting of her co-created by her boyfriend Will – it’s stunning. And further in you can see bowls on the main wall from all over the world, and heading downstairs there is a clever and stylish lit up guardrail, and downstairs the walls are painted in tropical style – beautiful! Oh, and let’s not forget the food.

    BOWLS menu is a mix of Jamaican, South American, and Southeast Asian – a combination that really really works. Starting with the Painkiller Slush from their cocktail menu – it sure was a killer – deliciously so! With Gosling’s and Koko Kanu Original Jamaican Rums, orange, pineapple and coconut, this yellow looking drink, served in a coconut bowl, was ever so sweet and ever so delicious – the best drink I’ve had in a very very long time. My dining companion had the Bloody Marley – and while it was not an actual bloody mary, it was more of a cocktail, with white tequila botanical tea, bloody mary mix and lemon and tomato juice – and quite refreshing he said. Lots of other drinks to try, which I will on my next visit! £8.50 each.

    The food menu is nice and concise, and not overwhelming at all. From the choice of six starters, we had the BBQ Jerk Chicken Wings (3 very large pieces – at only £5.50), with mango and spring onions, which was assigned a hot chilli symbol on the menu but was not very spicy but was finger-lickin’ good. The BBQ glazed pork belly bao – two – were very large, but a bit on the dry side. Perhaps a bit more BBQ would’ve made them tastier.

    However, when it comes to the main portions – the Greedy Bowls – BOWLS excels. 5 mild choices, 2 medium choices, and 3 hot choices are on the menu. As I am a wimp, I had the mild Braised beef cheek. It sure was a cheek – a very large one at that, and was served with sweet potato mash (superb), sauerkraut and pickled carrots. The combination of all this was very clever, and wonderful. And while the beef was oh so tender and delicious, mild was just a bit too hot for me. I would’ve liked to have seen a non-chilli dish on the menu, but since Caribbean, South America and South East Asian foods are known for their spiciness – perhaps it’s not an option. My friend gobbled up his Laksa – a large soup dish with prawns, fish slices, tofu, and vermicelli noodles – which fell into the Hot category – but the hot spiciness level didn’t hinder him. He said this Singaporean dish was perfectly spicy.<

    And for dessert, we had to try two of their three items on the menu. The Chocolate Truffle Cake was just to die for. Warm, very rich, and not too big, it was a nice large finger slice with a bit a fruit on top. And The Churros were just divine. Served with a wonderful white chocolate & raspberry dip, the dozen or so were crispy, warm and luckily not drowning in sugar – for a perfect finish.

    Other dishes on the menu that might take your fancy include Tuna Poke, Zari- Pho- Braised Pork Belly, Homemade Broth, Soft Boiled Egg, Chilli, Thai Basil, Bean Sprouts, Spring Onion and Flat Rice Noodles, and Pan-fried Sea Bass or perhaps a Coconut Rundown Curry. Starters (Prawn Tostado, Butternut Squash croquettes, and Seared Tuna Salad) and sides (Cassava fries, fried plantains, kimchi and Truffled Courgette Fries) all sound oh so very good. Perhaps for the next visit.

    ‘BOWLS make dishes taste better’ – this is their tag line, and they are right. The food, from the starters to the main dishes, are served in varying designs and in bowls from large to small, and all pure comfort food. And the vibe is FUN! Having walked by the restaurant a few times in the past couple months, it’s constantly buzzing and busy – and with its central location, makes it a great place to meet friends after work as well as a nice weekend meal. You might also catch a night when the DJ is on the decks – all to make BOWLS extra spicy. I guarantee you will leave Bowls feeling satisfied, nourished and deeply contented, an experience that is good for the soul, and the tummy!

    https://bowlsrestaurants.co.uk

    27 St Anne’s Court,
    Soho, London W1F 0BN
    020 3146 0445

    soho@bowlsrestaurants.co.uk

    LUNCH
    Monday – Friday: 11:30 am – 3:30 pm (last reservations at 3 pm)
    Saturday: 11:30 am – 4:30 pm (last reservations at 4 pm)
    Sunday: closed

    DINNER
    Monday – Wednesday: 5 pm – 11 pm (last reservations at 10.30 pm)
    Thursday – Saturday: 5 pm – midnight (last reservations at 11:30 pm, Reduced menu available only between 10:45 pm – 11:30 pm)
    Sunday: closed

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | Victory Mansion, Stoke Newington, London

    ★★★★★ | Victory Mansion

    Dalston is a hive of Kabob shops, loud bars and clubs, and lots and lots of Turkish supermarkets. But a bit further north in Stoke Newington is a place that stands out on Stoke Newington High Street just down the road from the local Wetherspoons – it’s Victory Mansion.

    Victory Mansion is both a restaurant and a bar and is doing things a bit different, delicious and decadent, than most, if not all, of the places on this side of town.

    Victory Mansion, named after a mansion block that used to be on this site, is a restaurant/bar that intertwines its food and drinks with literature to create an amazing and memorable experience.

    Victory Mansion, first off, has an absolutely amazing cocktail menu that’s practically scientific in its design. There’s an amazing array of drinks, drinks that are named after characters in famous books. There’s the Holden Caulfield (Catcher in the Rye), a drink includes Aylesbury duck vodka, lillet rose, raspberry, apple and soda and the Atticus Finch (To Kill a Mockingbird) which has Wild turkey bourbon, plum sake, lychee, lime, chilli & peach bitters and ginger, among many others. We had a few of the others – one was the Patrick Bateman (American Psycho) which was a superbly delicious blend of Calle 23 tequila, banana and chocolate wine – it needs to be tasted to be believed! If you like it sweet, and who doesn’t, then please try the Henry Chinaski (the literary alter ego of Charles Bukowski) which was blended with Plantation pineapple rum, cognac, limoncello and pineapple sugar – it’s so sweet and so good. Victory Mansion’s cocktail menu is like a book, and I recommend you read it from cover and cover and sample as many as you can. It’s is an absolute standout menu.

    But it’s not just the drinks where Victory Mansion is king, it’s their new Ta-Ko menu, introduced a month ago, that’s also a standout.

    There are so so many choices of tacos (or as they would like to call them Ta-Ko) that you’ll be spoiled for choice. I highly recommend their Crispy Cauliflower, black bean & tamarind ragu with avocado and pepper mayo. It’s crunchy and is absolutely delicious. The charred sprouting broccoli & spring onion is also a standout – it sits in a nice dollop of salted duck egg relish for a creamy delight. Both the Nahm jim chicken and the Palm Sugar glazed beef short rib are deliciously filled – the chicken with pickles, crispy onions and mayo – and the short rib with pickled watermelon and blackberry sriracha, which were a burst of flavours in the mouth. All their Asian-inspired tacos are so good they really need to be tried. And while they are not Mexican-style (i.e. large) tacos, if you order several of them they will quickly fill you up. Each flavour comes with two tacos – so perfect for sharing for two so that you both are able to try each one. Other tacos that we didn’t get to try, but no doubt probably just as delicious as the ones we had include tacos with Blackened river trout, torched seabream, red pepper pork neck as well as one with fermented yellow bean leas, halloumi, sweet potato and mustard relish – it’s one I would definitely go back for. As a matter of fact, I would go back to Victory Mansion for pretty much the entire experience again. My dining companion and I enjoyed everything so so much, we want to go back again, and next time bring more friends. It’s just that kind of place, warm, hip but not trying to be, knowledgeable and very friendly staff, it just ticks all the boxes. Even the prices – those amazing cocktails previously mentioned go for between £8 to £10 each, and the Ta-Ko’s range in price from £3.50 to £4 and their absolute must sides (Asian cole slaw, charred corn, shredded beetroot, and MSG fries – basically Nori friend potatoes that are a must), all go for between £3 to £4 each. So there you go, all the above are reasons why you should go to Victory Mansion – what are you waiting for?

    Victory Mansion does a 2 for 1 – 12 pm to 5 pm Saturday and Sunday Brunch where you get brunch Ta-Ko’s and £5 brunch cocktails.

    There is also a basement that is perfect for private birthdays or dinner parties, for 30 – 70 guests.

    18 Stoke Newington High Street
    London N16 7PL

    https://www.victorymansion.co.uk

    Closed Mondays
    Bar
    Tuesday – Thursday
    5 pm – 1 am
    Friday
    5 pm – 2 am
    Saturday
    Noon – 2 am

    Restaurant
    Tuesday – Friday
    6 pm – 11 pm
    Saturday and Sunday
    12 pm – 5 pm
    6 pm – 11 pm

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | Sparrow, Lewisham

    ★★★★| Sparrow, Lewisham

    In a no man’s land part of Lewisham, there’s a restaurant doing amazing and fabulous things with Sri Lankan food. It’s Sparrow.

    At the end of the road that is Lewisham High Street, behind the Lewisham Shopping Centre, Sparrow sits all alone, facing the DLR and an unsightly massive construction site.

    But step inside and feel the charm and warmth of the staff, and enjoy the food that is different, delicious, and worth the trip.

    Me and a friend went for a Saturday brunch meal on what was one of the hottest days of the year. We immediately ordered cool drinks. I had the delicious pineapple, melon and grapefruit drink that hit the spot, sweet and colourful and yummy – and only £3.50. My friend had a smoothie that was very milky and white, with coconut, with condensed milk and raspberries thrown in, a bit too heavy for my tastes but he enjoyed it and drank it within minutes.

    I had seen a photo online of their pancakes so I knew this is what I was going to have. They were coconut pancakes with peanut caramel and pineapple salsa, with a dollop of sour cream on top, and it was superbly delicious – like nothing I’ve ever tasted before. It’s the bits of pineapple with small bits of peanuts scattered about that give this dish the wow factor – and at only £8 I would definitely order it again. My companion enjoyed his chicken and curry pastry. It was like a pie only smaller, and he said that the crust was nice and light, and it was delicious, and a deal at £8 (it’s not alway on the menu, Sparrow does tend to mix up their offerings from day to day with daily specials).

    We would’ve been remiss if we didn’t try out the typical Sri Lankan dish Appam. It’s a type of pancake made with fermented rice and coconut milk, and comes shaped like a bowl. While I had a plain one, it is recommended that ingredients be put into it as this is a very typical Sri Lanka dish, and Sparrow does offer up various combinations of eggs and other ingredients to include, and not costing more than £6.

    Sparrow also has quite a unique dinner menu. From fried rabbit (£7.5), fennel and blood orange salad (£7), roast pork belly with harissa (£12) and then the malt duck with chilli jam (£13.50) all of which will probably knock your socks off. Along with Sparrow’s nice selection of drinks, Sparrow is perhaps one of the only reasons to go to Lewisham, unless you live there, and if you do indeed live there, you must pay a visit to Sparrow. It delivers delicious food at the right price.

    http://sparrowlondon.co.uk

    2 Rennell Street, Lewisham, SE13 7HD

    0208 318 6941

    Enquiries@SparrowLondon.co.uk

    Hours:

    Dinner: Tue – Sat: 6-10pm

    Brunch: Sat – Sun: 10-5pm

     

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | Thai Square, London

    ★★★★★| Thai Square, London

    Thai Square restaurant is an oasis in the heart of central London. Away from the hustle and bustle and crowds and pollution, stepping into Thai Square is akin to stepping into a whole different world, a world that is calm and tranquil and where one can find excellent food.

    Once inside, you are courteously welcomed and immediately shown to your table, and that is when the magic and adventure begin. And it begins with the very large and generous menu and it’s very difficult to decide what to order. So many pages and pages of choice, from the starters page to the salads and soups, from the house special menu to the stir fried and curry and grilled dishes. And then there are the seafood and noodle dishes and the accompaniments and, of course, a vegetarian menu and the set menu- whew! It all sounds and looks so very good.

    We wanted to experience traditional Thai food during our visit, so we started out with typical Thai drinks. I had the Mai Tai – and it was very very refreshing for what was a very warm day in London. It was a proper Thai cocktail – reddish orange and fruity, with the rum not overwhelming at all, with crushed ice and served with a strawberry, mint and berries. It hit the spot. My dining companion had the Pina Colada. It was coconut milky white and also served with a strawberry, mint and berry. It was missing a slice of the typical pineapple but nonetheless, it was good. Both drinks were served in a long tall glass and were £9.95 each, worth every penny. So Thai Square was 2 for 2.

    The starters upped the game quite a bit. The seven-piece Salt and Pepper Squid (Thai style calamari) were superb. It was uniquely twisted squid battered and crunchy and cooked to perfection. While it was served with no sauce, a slice of lemon gave it the kick it needed to go into high gear, served on a bed of lettuce with bits of chilli (£7.95). The Prawn Dim Sums (£7.75), four of them, didn’t taste fishy and was a fabulous texture, and the sweet soya sauce nicely complemented the dish. Two excellent starters. 4 for 4.

    As mentioned, it was very hard to decide on a main course but the Bangkok Lamb sounded traditionally Thai, so that was what I ordered. Four generous lamb cutlets together with a unique papaya salad and sticky rice. The lamb was perfectly cooked, and the colour and texture were very good – nice and meaty and all beautifully served on two green leaves. It was a generous portion, great tasting and an excellent value at £16.95. My dining companion had the Beef Stir Fried with Cashew Nuts. It was surprisingly spicy (though categorised as one chilli on the menu), with a mix of beef and peppers, spring onions and carrots, and it was everything you could want, and more, and was at the right price of £12.50. At this point, Thai Square was 6 for 6.

    We definitely had a bit of room for dessert and Thai Square didn’t disappoint at all! The Coco Sundae is a popular Thai dessert with coconut ice cream with papaya, pineapple jam, Thai palm seeds, cashew nuts and sticky rice pudding – and it was divine. But even more heavenly was the Mango Crepe with Ice Cream. Mango sauce poured criss-cross style over a large crepe stuffed with mango and served with vanilla ice cream. What a dish – we both fought over it! Highly recommended! Both desserts are serious bargains at only £6.95 each. I felt that it was almost impossible for Thai Square to top itself, but it did with these desserts. 8 out of 8.

    The service at Thai Square is superb. The wait staff are very attentive without being obtrusive. You’ll want for nothing. They seem to appear at your table when your mind is thinking about something you need. It’s uncanny. The Trafalgar Square branch that we visited was decorated in Thai-inspired surroundings, with white tablecloths – it’s luxurious without being very expensive. The layout of the tables are perfect, not too close to each other so that you can hear the table next to you talking about their visit to the National Gallery or Brexit, and it’s comforting to see the chef walking around to make sure everyone is happy with their food. I’ve yet to visit their other London locations (Covent Garden, Fulham, Islington, Mansion House, Minories, Putney Bridge, Richmond, South Kensington and The Strand), but I’m sure they are of a high standard as well. I can’t recommend Thai Square enough. With all the food and drinks we had the total bill was only under £100. Excellent value for an excellent experience.

    Thai Square offers a selection of more than 1,000 dishes in their award winning restaurants, and I can’t wait to go back. Exceptional food at exceptional prices. Thai Square rates 10 out of 10 – sheer perfection.

    For locations in and around London, please go to their website:

    https://thaisq.com

    Opening times vary from location to location, so it’s best to check the website for the location you want to visit for all the details.

    Star Rating: ★★★★★

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | Nirvana Kitchen, London

    ★★★★★ | Nirvana Kitchen, London

    Nirvana restaurant review, London
    PR Supplied

    The definition of Nirvana is to be in a transcendental state – and that’s pretty much what happens to you in a visit to a restaurant called Nirvana Kitchen.

    Located just minutes away from Marble Arch and nestled in a very quiet residential street, and attached to the very posh Montcalm Hotel, Nirvana Kitchen, is, as it’s website suggests, a Pan-Asian Odyssey. It’s also very delicious and will introduce you to flavours and tastes that you’ve never had before.

    Let’s start with their small dishes (starters) menu. The Vegetarian Tempura is a steal at £9. There are eleven crunchy and crispy vegetables which included asparagus, mushrooms and broccoli plus two sauces – mango and miso. The vegetables were perfectly cooked, soft and excellently battered and extremely fresh – a perfect dish. But even better was the Duck Watermelon Salad. And why is it another steal at £14? Because it was absolutely superb, stunning and out of this world! Shredded Duck with mandarins, cooked watermelon, cashews, coriander, pomegranates, and basil enriched with a very tasty and mouth-watering mandarin and mint (ponzu) sauce – simply divine! The portion was big enough to be eaten as a main course if you accompanied it with rice. When you go to Nirvana Kitchen, this dish is simply a must! Other small dishes I’m dying to try next time include the Wild Mushroom Salad and Crispy Salted Squid (both at £11), and an intriguingly-sounding Rainbow Noodles (£10), among others.

    You’re also in for a treat with their selection of main (Charcoal and Pots) courses. We had one from each and were glad we did. The Beef Bulgogi sounded interesting so that is what I ordered. Served on a leaf, this beautifully looking dish tasted just as good as it looked. There were many individual beef slices with a dollop of purple potatoes chokha and achari carrots – very tasty. Bulgogi is Korean style grilled meat and was nestled in it’s own sauce and was delicious. Priced at £24, it’s taste and flavour earned that price. My dining companion really enjoyed his Lamb Massaman Curry. It included cashew nuts, turnips, and was actually not very spicy. It comes in a huge charcoal bowl that keeps the soup oven hot until the very last sip! The lamb was very tender, and it’s beautiful colour added to its exoticness. And at £18 – it’s a great bargain. Other mains include Spiced Lamb Cutlets (£24), Chilean Seabass (£25), and Nirvana Baby Chicken (£17).

    Nirvana Kitchen serves the usual beer and wines and cocktails, but I can highly recommend the Summer Rum Punch. It’s light and dark rums, pineapple, amaretto, Cointreau, and lemonade is a very refreshing drink on either a hot or cold day. The Maraschino Mojito and the Smoky Mexican are other possibilities. All cocktails are £14 each. The manager Daniel recommended the Italian Pinot Grigio red RIFF to accompany our main courses, and the wine didn’t take away from the delicious flavours of the food. All is all it was an absolute delight.

    The restaurant is now in the space that used to be the61 Restaurant Steakhouse. It is a very clean, shiny and very opulent restaurant that can seat 110 people when it’s at it’s busiest. David recommends booking at least two weeks in advance if you want to eat here on the weekend – yes, it’s that popular! And he recommends the concept of sharing dishes, which is exactly what we did. You would be a fool not to because of the out of this world flavours of each dish you really want to taste and try as much as possible. And with very attentive service and friendly staff, you will have a delightful meal (don’t forget to have dessert!). Nirvana Kitchen is a little slice of Nirvana right in the heart of Central London.

    http://www.nirvanakitchenlondon.co.uk

    Email: reservation@nirvanakitchenlondon.co.uk
    Address: 61 Upper Berkeley Street, London W1H 7PP, United Kingdom
    Tube: Marble Arch
    Phone: +44 (0) 20 7958 3222

    Price Rating: ££££

    Opening Hours – Nirvana Kitchen:
    Mon-Sat
    Lunch 12:00 – 14:45
    Dinner 18:00 – 22:45 (last order)

    Opening Hours – Nirvana Bar
    Mon-Thur 12:00 – 23:00
    Fri- Sat 12:00 – 2:00 am
    Sun 12:00 – 23:00

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | Tang, London

    ★★★★ | Tang, London

    Chicken-TANG

    There’s a hidden gem of a restaurant right next to the Central YMCA near Tottenham Court Road – it’s called Tang.

    And hidden is the key word. You could walk right passed it if you weren’t looking for it. Nestled right between the YMCA and VQ Diner, Tang is identified by its name on the wooden door and its menu to the left, and it’s named on the overhang. And do me a favour, and don’t walk by, go into this tiny venue (maximum capacity is 38) and you will step into a place that does not feel like you’re in London. Welcomed by the friendly staff, the restaurant contains Chinese-style newspaper wallpaper, a cosy space, an open kitchen, and tiny photos that line one of the walls. Its unique feel is akin to being in a restaurant anywhere in Asia, yet it’s the food that make’s it worth walking in.

    Southern Asian specialities (Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore) are included in the menu that’s very small yet bursting with lots of appealing courses. We had two starters – the Fried Chicken (£5) and the Black and White – tofu (£4.50). The Fried Chicken (marinated in black bean soy milk and coated in batter) was nine generous-sized pieces which came with a three chilli hot sauce. While we almost all but ignored the hot sauce, the chicken was scrumptious and moist. The ten pieces of tofu were light and soft, and an unusual dish you can’t quite find anywhere else. It was served with white miso sauce that was perfect for dipping both the chicken and the tofu, and both very good value.

    We were both pleasantly surprised at our dinner choices. My dining companion had the massive Chicken Tang (a soup in a roast chicken broth with bean sprouts, egg, bok choi, spring onion, and garlic chips) and it was absolutely superb! Flavours that went very well together and was a beautiful-looking dish. She was in heaven with its rich substance – and it’s healthy food as well! (A veggie option of crispy tofu is on offer as well) I wanted something with meat and was glad I ordered the Beef and Rice. Braised beef and tendons served with coriander and jasmine rice was gorgeous, with its bok choi and crispy noodles included. It’s packed with flavour and highly recommended, though it didn’t quite fill me up so I would suggest a wallop more of rice be added to the dish. Both dishes cost £9 each – a great deal.

    There was one choice for dessert and it was the only choice you’d ever want. The Sugarcane Shiso Sorbet was out of this world! It was sugarcane (purchased in Brixton) with shiso leaves (tasting like mint) to give an absolutely refreshing ending to your meal – it was perhaps the best sorbet I’ve ever had.

    Tang also has a wide selection of perfect drinks to go with your meal, from local beer (London Beer Factory) to soft drinks (from the Karma Cola Company) to the very good juices (Owlet Fruit Juice). I had the delicious pear and ginger fruit juice – apple and elderflower was another option. The drinks on their menu you will more than likely not find anywhere else – they’re that unique!

    As I live close to the restaurant, I plan to return and try some of their buns (fried chicken, braised beef or crispy tofu), all at the ideal price of £4.50 or less. And the broccoli salad (£4.50) looks like an ideal small dish to look forward to.

    Tang is an absolutely affordable restaurant where two can easily dine for as little as £32. The staff are warm and friendly, and Canadian Jamie will answer any questions you will have about the menu. As it’s an open kitchen any questions you might have the cooks are right in front of you! It’s an intimate noodle bar that’s warm and welcoming – I can’t wait to go back!

    Tel: +44 (0) 207 300 3324

    https://www.tanglondon.co.uk

    Email: hello@tanglondon.co.uk
    Twitter: @TangLondon
    Address: 111 Great Russell Street
    London, WC1B 3NQ

    Opening hours:

    Monday: Closed
    Tues – Fri: Midday -3pm & 5pm – 10pm
    Saturday: Midday – 3pm & 5pm – 10pm
    Sunday: Closed

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | Inamo

    RESTAURANT REVIEW | Inamo

    ★★★★ | Inamo

    A beautiful branch of the small restaurant chain Inamo has opened up in a huge beaux arts building right across from Mornington Crescent tube station – and it’s delicious, classy and wonderful.

    Inamo, which also has branches in Soho and Covent Garden, and which means being a slave to, is just that, being a slave to it’s food as it’s simply elegant and divine.

    On the Sunday of Chinese New Year (the year of the Rooster), a friend and I paid a visit to the Camden branch for dinner. The two story restaurant, neatly tucked away in the massive British Heart Foundation headquarters, was practically empty. We didn’t really care – we were there for the food. And oh the glorious food! But to get to the food you have to order via a computer tablet on the table (with photos of the food – which really helps!), and a little push button device for each diner which enables one to change the color of the table via the lighting system above the table. (You can also change to a ‘tablecloth’ of many different types – bamboo, chinese lanterns, lilies of the field, moving patters or to my favorite a ripple effect). Ping Pong is also an option in case you and your dinner date get tired of looking at your phones.

    The starters we had were the Iberico Baby Pork Ribs delicious ribs. The large five were glazed in plum sugar and shredded bell pepper on top – and at £8.75 worth every bite. The Char Sui buns (£8.95) were three very large BBQ pork buns – served with a tangy Thai sweet chilli sauce – very good but also very filling! My dining companion ordered Black Cod for her main course. At £24.95 it’s a bit pricy, but it’s garnished with cabbage and onions and bits of apple – she felt that it tasted very plain and looked too plain. I, on the other hand, was very happy with the Sliced Pork Chop with Yakiniku Sauce (corn syrup, apple juice, garlic salt soy sauce and vinegar), served with rice and Thai Mango Salad. I think this was the best course on the menu – tasty, different, and at £15.95 – good value for it’s money. We really wanted to get a good handle, and taste, of the menu so we had a few more dishes coming our way. The highly recommended Crispy Vegetable Tempura (£9.95) was deliciously-breaded vegetables (courgettes, asparagus, and mushrooms), absolutely yummy with a tempura dipping sauce. Also recommended is the Chicken Poké – a light and lively large bowl of chicken, served over a bed of lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes and edamame beans and was good but lacked something – perhaps it needs a kick of salad dressing instead of the olive oil it’s served with.

    It was very hard to initially chose what to eat, and we tried as many dishes as we could, but there were lots more that I wanted to order. The Wagyu Burgers & Fries (£15.95), Duck with Pancakes (£18.45) plus various tapas (Asian, Sushi and Sashimi) including Tuna, California Rolls, Beef, Crispy seafood, chicken gyoza, etc. etc. etc. – there’s just so much!

    I have to mention the drinks because Inamo knows how to do drinks! Wines are categorized in different categories – so there’s pretty much everything for anyone. Sparkling wines add a kick, and their cocktail list is wonderful. My friend had the non-alcoholic Guava Cooler – she found it very refreshing! I had the thirst-quencher Tropical Storm – passion fruit, lime and guava juice with a hint of cinnamon. I loved it, and both were a great deal at £5.95 each.

    And the coup de grace was dessert! The Passion Fruit and Mango Dessert was divine! Mango mousse, passion fruit, apricot jelly and a layer of chocolate cake on a crunch base (£7.95) put me over the top! My friend had the Baked Alasparkla – creamy Baked Alaska served with Asian Strawberry and lemongrass soup and served with cherries! She loved it!

    Inamo is a classy restaurant with very delicious food. All plates are beautifully presented in a beautiful setting with a very nice and attentive staff. There’s really nothing bad to say about this place – it’s in a non-foody location which will make it a destination restaurant because it deservedly is a good find!

    Telephone: 020 7484 0500
    Website:http://www.inamorestaurants.london
    Email: reservations@inamo-restaurant.com

    Address: 265 Hampstead Road, Camden NW1 7QX

    Opening hours:
    Mon-Thur 12:00 – 23:30
    Fri-Sat 12:00 – 00:00
    Sun 12:00 – 22:30
    Closed from 3PM – 5 PM from Mon – Fri

    Photos by Samphire Communications

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | Pho and Bun

    ★★★★ | Pho and Bun

    PR Supplied

    We know what a bun is but what exactly is Pho? Find out at the West End Vietnamese restaurant called Pho and Bun.

    Its menu is a feast, and a mystery, to the eye. Dishes with names you’ve never heard of (MIẾN TRỘN TÔM THỊT and GIÁ XÀO NẤM) – coupled with ingredients and tastes that you’ve never had (lemongrass tofu and dill mayonnaise) make this for a unique and excellent meal.

    ‘Bao’ is the new ‘it’ food in London, and Pho and Bun has a full menu of Bao. How to describe it? It’s a very light (and white), and very fluffy but not too heavy or filling bun. And Pho and Bun is using bao as the bread for their steamed bao burgers. You can have honey belly pork with fried shallot, confit belly pork with soy sauce, but I opted for the 28 days dry aged beef. It was, as I told my dining companion, the best burger I’ve ever had in London. The meat was delicious and tasteful, small yet satisfying, and the red onion relish, house pickle and smoky mayonnaise inside gave it a very unique and sumptuous taste (excellent value at £7.50). Our waiter recommended the sweet potato chips with chilli mayonnaise to go with the burger, and they were so so good. My dining companion had the Pho noodle (Pho is soup) with red wine braised beef. It was hearty, with lots of vegetables, vermicelli and the beef, which was nicely soft and moist, and is a dish I’ll order next time I go back. Other pho choices include the corn-fed chicken, seafood or crispy tofu, a spicy imperial version, as well as a stir fry version (beef rump steak and tofu and mushroom), and all under a bargain price of £9.50. My dining companion ordered a fried dough stick with his dinner – it was nicely textured and very soft.

    Starters are highly recommend. The BÁNH TÔM HÀ NỘI -Hanio Prawn Pancake with sweet potatoes and lettuce wrap – was brilliant! Sweet potatoes are the base for the prawns, so it’s served pancake-style and chopped up into chunks. It’s crispy, crunchy and oh so good! And it’s served with lettuce so you’re supposed to wrap the chunks into the lettuce and dunk into a fish sauce, but I preferred to eat it on its own – absolutely divine! And at £6.50 it’s a must. Trust me! If you prefer a taste of everything then go for the P and D Special Platter Summer Roll Prawn that includes delicious spring rolls, nicely textured, lite and not too chewy chilli squid, served with onions and peppers, and prawns on top of shredded mango with cole slaw, nuts and basil and lettuce (so refreshing), which was amazing, and summer rolls with tofu and tiger prawns, wrapped in lettuce, served plain but peanut sauce is given on the side which highly complements the dish. All this comes a price of £13.50 but they will let you mix it up if there is something you don’t want or something else on the menu you want to add to it.

    Of course, no meal would be complete without dessert. Pho and Bun’s dessert menu is small, which makes it easier to decide what to have. We ordered two to share – the Pandan and Coconut Panna Cotta with Peanut and Pineapple Salsa and the Flan caramel with Vietnamese Ice Coffee syrup. The Flan was hands down the winner; it was rich and tasteful and the coffee flavour gave it a nice kick. The Panna Cotta was a bit tasteless, I was expecting to be a bit more wowed by it but I was not. I’ll order the flan again next time. Also in mind for next time is the grilled banana with coconut sorbet and roasted peanut or a trio bean dessert with pandan jelly – which sounds highly unusual. All deserts are under £5.00.

    Pho and Bun offers a nice selection of coffees and teas; the carrot juice was very fresh and elegantly served in a tin cup. The Homemade lemonade was refreshing and good. Wines are also on offer, as is the recommended Saigon beer.

    I’ve briefly touched on the menu above, it’s such a diverse food menu and there is truly something for everyone at Pho and Bun. As mentioned above, the burgers are yummy and different, the Pho and Noodle soups are hearty and good value for money, rice and vermicelli dishes (BBQ pork with salad and fresh herbs or the glass noodle with minced pork, tiger prawn, fresh herbs and confit aggs, or perhaps plain beef rump steak or tiger prawns with bean sprouts and stir-fried lemongrass) – all at a good value price of £9.50. There are also salad and vegetarian dishes, a great value set lunch menu (two courses) for a mere £9.50, or a highly recommended 6-course tasting menu that gives you a bit of everything (including a sampling of four starters) at a low price of £22.95.

    Pho and Bun is conveniently nestled in London’s West End, right on Shaftsbury Avenue, in the heart of the theatre district and Chinatown. It’s in the location where Young Cheng, a very popular and cheap Chinese restaurant, used to be. The venue has been redone to resemble a Vietnamese cafe, nicely wood panelled and cosy. But now that winter is here, avoid sitting near the front door, it’s very very drafty. Downstairs may be a better option for you as it’s warmer but it still retains a typical restaurant basement feel. Quang our waiter was wonderful, very charming and friendly, and recommended dishes that we didn’t realise we wanted but enjoyed eating! While Pho and Bun is not quite 5 star overall, it’s food is five star. I will be going back very very soon.

    Reviewed by: Tim Baros

    Telephone: 020 7287 3528
    Email:phoandbun@vieteat.co.uk

    Address: 76 Shaftesbury Avenue, London W1D 6ND, UK

    Opening hours:
    Monday – Thursday 12:00 – 23:00
    Friday – Saturday 12:00 – 23:30
    Sunday 12:00 – 22:00

    PRICE: ££ (explained)

    STAR: ★★★★ (explained)

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | The House of Ho, Soho, London

    Bang on Old Compton Street lies The House of Ho (and according to a rather comical page on their menu; “We might be called Ho’s but we are, at least, classy ones”.

    Hos aside, the restaurant was busy for a Tuesday 7pm. Our initial welcome was lukewarm from a waiter clearly feeling the burn of “suicide Tuesday”, but this was swiftly rectified by the lovely waitress that hadn’t lost the will to live, could actually speak, and presented us with the wine list & suggesting some edamame beans and Asian crackers for the table.

    Bobby Chinn owns the restaurant, as well as another in Hanoi, and has a successful TV series “World Cafe Asia”. Bobby is clearly a man who knows his food but also how to have fun with it. Both food and drinks menu include a page bound to make you giggle; “Duct tape is available for hyperactive children”, and Bobby’s “10 Stages of Drunkness”, my favourite being number 4: Clairvoyant.

    The décor is far more serious, showcasing some dramatic red drapery, low lights, grey tones, and brushed steel. An odd pairing of artwork, being sat adjacent to a painting of people with no heads, and tables decorated with a couple of token touches of copper via candle votives.

    Their drinks menu is extensive, some fantastic and relevant to the Vietnamese theme including ingredients; lemongrass, coconut water, cucumber, lychee, Vietnamese coffee etc. Loving some of the great rose wines out there now, I opted for the Terra Vecchia Rose 2013 (£29), a really light, clean tasting and fresh wine- a great paring for the robust and fresh flavours we were about to enjoy.

    Ho serves food in the same manner as tapas, there are no strict starters/mains etc. They recommend 3-4 dishes per person, and left it in our waitress’ hands to decide what we had, to great success across 7 dishes that was the perfect amount of food for two.

    Bobby’s Warm Duck salad (£10.50) a touch disappointing after being advised of its spiciness and the heat being a little underwhelming. It was however lovely, light and crispy, although coriander’s presence was overpowering. The Grass Fed Angus Fillet Rolls (£6.50) were a triumph. My friend had visited Vietnam and said the flavours of this dish enchanted fond memories of his time there. Light rolls filled with fresh mint that complimented the rich wok tossed beef perfectly, with a little bit of sweetness in there too from some crispy onions- one to try.

    Seafood Ceviche (£12.50) – prawns, sea bass, and scallops combined with mangosteen (a fruit with amazing health benefits, a joy to see on the menu), nestled amongst peppers and avocado in a light coconut fresh lime jus – fresh to death! A lovely dish to have alongside the crispy 7 Spice Vietnamese Squid (£8.50), where its real winner was the dip accompaniment; perfect proportions of sweet & fiery with interesting flavour layers.

    The next dishes were the ones that made the meal. Shaking Beef (£12), 30-day grass-fed Angus beef. Ridiculously tender bite-size morsels. Plain in its seasoning with a strong peppery flavour. The meat speaks for itself here. Griddled Duck (13.50), in my notes I actually cussed against this dish it was that good. Only a little pink, and the notoriously fatty element of the duck almost going undetected it was cooked so well. Another bringer of ‘nam memories for my friend. Heavy smoky flavours, and comes served with a cabbage leaf stuffed with black rice. The stuffed cabbage was very plain and verging on under seasoned, but as an avid fan of both black rice and cabbage, I loved its purpose on the plate.

    The richness of both duck and beef dishes would require something light like a salad next to it. Our waitress had decided that we would receive Morning Glory (£6) – cooked spinach and toasted shallot oil with peanuts, a great simple side- but would have preferred a raw element at this point of the meal.

    With always room for pud, we chose the lemon scented crème brulee (£5.50) – lovely strong citrus, and overall a good brulee, but it came fridge cold which I’m not a fan of, believing it should always be served a little warm, even if it’s room temp to take away the image of bundles of brulees sat in a fridge.

    Also chosen was the trio of homemade gelatos- keen to see what varieties would be served due to the restaurant’s constant compliance to a Vietnamese theme. Apparently, a lemongrass was served but I could not identify between this one and another that only appeared through apparent pods, to be vanilla. A chocolate was also served and despite the gelato in their consistency being superior and luxuriously creamy- the flavours lacked any identity. I would have loved to have seen some flavours like on their cocktail menu. A Vietnamese Coffee Gelato sounds lovely!

    In my view, there were a few errors with a couple of instances involving overpowering flavours, and where the flavour lacked altogether- the dishes otherwise had clever composition. The House of Ho offers stylish dishes packed with exciting and fresh flavours that would definitely make me come back to explore the rest of the menu.

    The restaurant will also now be open till 1 AM on Fridays & Saturdays for “Late Ho”, with a resident DJ and Vietnamese bar snacks.

    Reviewed by @lohanjordan
    ADDRESS: 55—59 Old Compton Street, Soho, London, W1D 6HW
    PHONE: 020 7287 0770
    PRICE: ££££ (explained)
    STAR RATING: ★★★ (explained)
    TIPPING POLICY:
    http://www.houseofho.co.uk