Busaba Eathai (Wardour St)

Their website is not user friendly at all. The moving menu is really frustrating. Very bad customer service. We came there two people, 3rd person only 10mins away and they would not give us a table because the waiter said if the third empty space is needed he has to give it away. The restaurant was only half full so after a very unpleasant discussion, we were alloved to sit down. While waiting we ordered beers and some springrolls, but the waitor got very frustrated and asked if we've been there before - they bring out food whenever it's ready, and don't serve only starters. I said that we will be ordering main meals as well and he said "I know" and looked towards the kitchen to see if they were not too busy to make some starters for us. This is not very welcoming at all and as they don't take reservations, I fear that these situations are very common. I haven't been back since. It's a shame the food is really tasty though. But I suppose that is why they can treat people like this.
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Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Thursday, June 04, 2009

Was pleasantly suprised by the food, service was good although the waiter kept on bugging us to see if we had finished, and taking a few plates away at a time, but overall the food was nice and fresh. Shame no desserts are on offer !!!
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Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Thursday, April 23, 2009

WOW WOW WEE WA! Best Thai food I've ever had. Been all over Thailand and nothing compared to this. Yes you have to wait to be served even on weekdays, but the wait is worth it. I am a huge curry fan and this had great flavour, I had the chicken and potato curry with cucumber garnish and it was amazing. WIsh i could go again tonight. Its not as pretentious as some of the snooty bars in Soho in fact we were treated well by all the staff. The tables are huge and for 12 and you'l probably share it with strangers but who cares the food is whats important and it makes a change to the normal stiff uppper lipped way of dining- a nice refreshing change.
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Dom
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, April 01, 2009

Every time I'm in London I return to this restaurant because its so delicious and such good value! The service isn't 5 star but considering the casual layout and feel of Busaba I certainly think its to an acceptable standard.

The food is gorgeous, especially the side of thai calamari which we ALWAYS order and the classic thai green curry always goes down a treat! The pandan chicken and coconut prawns are also extremely yummy and to soak up all the sauce the sticky rice is recommended so there are no issues with chopsticks!

I haven't eaten much thai food so I'm not sure how "authentic" the dishes are but they certainly taste amazing! Watch out for the toilet signs too, bound to put a smile on our face :-)
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Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Saturday, March 14, 2009

Been there for lunch, and enjoyed the food in general. But it is nothing really special to make you say 'WoW'.
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King - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Wednesday, February 25, 2009

This restaurant is not what it was some time ago. Like other establishments in London, they suffer from a disease: degradation. They start well and then slowly they enter a routine where love for food is not a priority anymore. It all becomes average, bland and a distant reminder of the good times. It is also crowded and noisy. Service is rushed and superficial. The food is not really bad but it's miles away from what it should be.
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Robert
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 4
Thursday, February 05, 2009

Easily my favorite after work restaurant. Always great tasting fresh food, full of flavour. Staff are helpful and friendly but very busy as their is a quick turnaround. Yes you are sitting round big tables with complete strangers but hey thats part of the fun, I think people forget how to be friendly in London sometimes. A smile now and again doesnt hurt anyone.

If you're looking for a quiet romantic meal for 2 then this is maybe not the place but if you want a yummy quick'ish, very reasonably priced meal in a buzzy atmosphere then it's fantastic. My boyfriend and I go at least once a month and have never had a bad experience. The curries are always sooo delicious, as is the thai squid.

The private rooms and set menu are great value for private parties, impossible to finish all the food.
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Donna
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, January 19, 2009

to be honest, i have mixed feelings about this one. the food was quite good. i loved my pad thai and a duck curry i got during my second visit.

however what completely throws me off is the seating arrangement. you are seated at a huge table (for like 12 people) with strangers, very close to each other.

also, while the food is good, sometimes even great, i would not stand in line to get in. but that's just me :-)
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Yevgeniy
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 8
Tuesday, January 13, 2009

9 of us went for a friends birthday. it was phenomenal. i have eaten at many michelin star restaurants and this is easily as good as any of them. i have also been to thailand and the food was completely authentic

well done. i have gone there at least 8 times last year. (2008)
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Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Thursday, January 08, 2009

Pretentious, unrelaxed, unauthentic, unbelievably bad service. I can confidently say that I had one of the worst eating experiences I have ever had in this restaurant and I didn't even get a chance to eat. In fact my friend and I were rudely asked to leave after 20 minutes because we had not ordered as we were waiting for friends. We had already started drinking a bottle of wine but we were informed that they rather we left and freed up to seats than enjoy a meal. Despite our reasonable and polite response to their policy of not allowing seats to be reserved or saved we were agressively treated by stressed, inpolite and miserable staff. We had agreed to sit elbow to elbow at a full table (although tables were free). After two waitresses had hassled us for an order, a manger approached our table and embarked on what can only be called an interogation. Other diners were as shocked as we were at the way we were being treated. I can only guess that the attack was justified on the grounds that the fancy facade of this restaurant masks an unapologetic fast food / quick buck approach to dining. As someone who has worked in the industry, the brash, rude and cut throat treatment that I recieved in Eathai was shocking. DO NOT GO THERE, far more genuine, better value, enjoyable and honest experiences can be had almost anywhere else.
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Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 3
Friday, January 02, 2009