Hakkasan

Went to Hakkasan last wee for the first time and have to say, it was simply outstanding. From the initial welcome, the service throughout - and of course the food, I could not fault a thing. I was with a group of 8 work colleagues and even though we were time limited for the table, never once felt rushed. Some of the reviews of Hakkasan on this site are hilarious and bear no resemblance to the truth. Please don't be put off by the negative and spiteful reviews, just go and enjoy if for yourself!
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So Simple - View all reviews by this user
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Monday, November 14, 2011

I am really surprised for those people who are writing these bad reviews.

When you think about it how many staff, the size of the restaurant and its location you can understand how much it costs for this restaurant. So that may answer your question why it is only 2 hours time for the guests. It is plenty of time for a full three-course meal to enjoy. If the tables were not rebooked and only one time seated per-night imagine how much it would cost you to have dinner in hakkasan. You can see the kitchen through the glass wall and can you see how many people are working there to prepare the food and the prizes are not that high? Of course you do not think about it, you are too busy complaining about every little thing, because you think that you are something special, but you are not. Hakkasan is one of the most popular and high-class chinese restaurants in London so if you do not like it, do not ever come back. But I am shure you still keep going to that place.

The food is amazing, the cocktails are great and the staff is working as hard as they can to keep all the guests satisfied.
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Julien
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, October 05, 2011

The staff is despicable. Really bad service from rude women. Food ok, but over all will not recommend and we are certain to never come back. A word for the managers: staff makes a house!!!
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AP - View all reviews by this user
4 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 5
Thursday, September 22, 2011

This restaurant is amazing! I came here for my birthday dinner last Friday and have spent the past week mentally planning my return and what I want to try next!

On entering the restaurant, my first impression of the place was good. It’s really dark, it’s really stylish and it’s really underground! Hakkasan is in the middle of the city but feels quite hidden and inscrutable.

I arrived at 7pm and went straight to the bar for a ‘Pink Mao Mao’ (recommended by the barman) – it was divine – a delicious mix of watermelon, strawberries, Belvedere vodka, Akashi-tai sake, strawberry liqueur and black pepper, and beautifully presented. My date had the refreshing ‘Chinese Mule’, which is a mix of vodka, Sake, cilantro, ginger, lime and ginger beer. I then ordered the Hakkasan signature cocktail ‘The Hakka’ (made from Belvedere vodka, Akashi-tai sake, lychee juice, lime, coconut and passion fruit); it was incredibly sweet but equally wonderful.

We were taken to our table at 7:30pm and introduced to our waiter, who was polite and efficient all evening. The menu is extensive and we opted for the Salt and pepper squid, Crispy duck roll and Lamb salad with spicy peanut dressing for our starter course, and the Stir-fry black pepper rib-eye beef with merlot, Sha Cha Seafood Toban with silver cod, scallop, prawn, squid, chow chow and edamame, with rice and noodles for our main course. It was ALL MOUTH-WATERINGLY DELECTABLE!

I don’t usually like squid but I liked the squid here, the Crispy duck roll wasn’t heavy or greasy and the lamb salad (albeit very, very spicy – I was warned beforehand) was lovely. The Sha Cha Seafood Toban went down quickly and the rib-eye beef with merlot was one of the most tasty dishes I have ever eaten – absolutely delightful – tender and juicy! I have no complaints whatsoever – it was quite simply decadent, yet heartening at the same time.

We then ordered some more cocktails, this time we tried the ‘Blue Wanda’, a luscious mix of Grey Goose Le Citron vodka, red grapes, apple, lychee liqueur and prosecco. The flavours in the mix were refined - strong and sharp, which was perfect since dessert was next!

For my dessert, I ordered the ‘Jivara Hazelnut Bomb’ – a milk chocolate and hazelnut ice cream parfait with hot chocolate sauce!!! It was like being served heaven on a plate! I have a sweet tooth, so this couldn’t have been more suited to my palate. The only way I can describe it is if you can imagine eating a really large Ferrero Rocher with hazelnut ice cream inside and then having hot chocolate sauce poured on top! If it didn’t look so greedy, I would have ordered two of these! My date had the sorbet – it looked pretty appealing but I was far too engrossed in my own dessert to even sample it (though I have been told it was very nice).

For me, Hakkasan isn’t just about the food; it’s about the setting the scene, providing a faultless service – which is both charming and relaxed, and ensuring that people have a truly enjoyable evening. To sum up the whole experience, I was really, really impressed. I must admit that I cannot comment on the prices since I never saw the bill at the end ;) but it was a genuinely special experience and I can’t wait to go back.

Hakkasan is the kind of place that every gluttonous human being, with a taste for luxury, will adore.
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Sarah Highfield - View all reviews by this user
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, September 19, 2011

Possibly the best Dim Sum I have ever had in my life! If you are not serious about food, then please do not come here, or only come at night. The Dim Sum and Lunch is inventive, absolutely delicious, unique, with high quality ingredients. Expensive and but worth every penny. Night time is for all the posh posers that want to be seen. That is fine. Lunch is for the people that care about eating possibly some of the best Chinese food in the World. It is expensive, the service can be over the top and the decor is decadent, but the food is worth it alL. This is modern Dim Sum and Chinese food at its finest.
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WMLA - View all reviews by this user
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Saturday, September 10, 2011

Food was really good but service not great.

Their table turnaround policy ticks me off especially given that they were late to seat us. TIme is of the essence is it? We played a great little game -- to see how long you can mess them around "choosing" dessert blocking their table for as long as possible without ordering anything.

If you do go assume that you'll have to go somewhere else for pudding.
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6 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 5
Monday, May 09, 2011

When are londoners going to say enough is enough to this policy of 90 minutes per table? in no other city in the world will they ask you to leave your table...Food is good, expensive but good but the speed at which they bring it means that you really don't have a chance to enjoy it. I have been going to Hakkasan for years and i am afraid i won't be going back.
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4 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 3
Monday, March 28, 2011

I visited this restaurant for lunch, absolutely disgusting toilets.

Made a complaint, Manager felt we did not even deserve an apology!!!

Absolutely amazed a restaurant like this can get it away with such terrible customer service!
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Very Disappointed
0 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Wednesday, March 02, 2011

Have been going to Hakkasan for years now and it has never disappointed so v surprised to see the unfavourable reviews’ below. My last visit was in Nov 2010 and as usual could not find fault. Cocktails - amazing (Walking Buddha is stuff of dreams), Food - delicious, exceptionally fresh and well thought out (Soft shell crab a favourite) Service - a little rushed but I feel that is a part of Hakkasans appeal. It's never been the type of restaurant to go to in order linger over a lazy meal its more energetic than that and I find the service works for me perfectly in that environment. Always recommend it to friends and despit it being a tad on the overpriced side I usually end up there 3-4 times a year anyway.
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C.Harding - View all reviews by this user
9 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, February 09, 2011

Not worth the hype

Not worth the price

Not worth a visit.
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Giovanni
5 Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 2
Tuesday, December 21, 2010