Bam Bou

Recently got treated to a meal and found the service to be better than previously reviewed in 2009 though there was still room for improvement.

Starter of soy beans poor value money as were some main courses like the chicken - not substantial enough - avoid this dish. Relaxing place in a good location but the cooking needs to improve with bigger portions and better quality ingredients - not value for money.
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Pete
6 Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 4
Sunday, October 09, 2011

This restaurant is superb. The interior is tasteful and classy in a colonial style, the food was delicious with the menu offering more variety and creativity than the usual vietnamese fare. I would thoroughly recommend it.
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Lou Lou
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Friday, August 26, 2011

had my 40th Birthday here and everything was exceptional... food was amazing, service was perfect and the whole night was brilliant. have also been on about 4 other occasions and have had a great time each time. this is one of London's best places to eat
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bobby - View all reviews by this user
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 7
Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Went on a Friday evening and I have to say I thought the service was exceptional, very attentive, punctual and friendly. We sat downstairs which did seem to be the nicest room. Good atmosphere, very tasty food (especially the scallops with pork belly), decent price.
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Peter, Fitzrovia - View all reviews by this user
8 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Sunday, January 09, 2011

This place seems like it is on its way out.

After being a regular at both the restaurant and the cocktail bar upstairs I have now had one too many bad experiences that I won't be coming again.

The staff seem bored and are unattentive, so much so that as a customer you feel like your intruding. Four - five years ago when I moved to London it was buzzing. Please rebrand and open as something else soon, the location is great so custom should come back.
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Andrew - View all reviews by this user
3 Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 3
Wednesday, December 22, 2010

We dinned here on the last Friday of November. The food was of decent quality. However the service was horrendous even by London’s standards.

In the bar the Italian looking barman was so focused on any single females (or tables where there were more females than males) that he hardly had time to serve! He passed me and my date numerous times (pre drinks and when we had empty glasses). I had to go to the bar each time to get us drinks.

In the restaurant the waiters were in the main rushed, rude and uninformed about menu and wine. After being seated at 7.20 we were informed at 8.55 (while we were ordering deserts) that we needed to vacate the table by 9. This was not mentioned at booking, at seating or anytime prior to 8.55pm! We requested a table back in bar as one of the ladies was pregnant and travelling to another spot was a bother. We were told to go up and try and find a table ourselves!

Bottom line is food is fine, but service is more akin to Burger King than Claridges.
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4 Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 4
Monday, November 30, 2009

Friday was our spinning class Christmas meal we started off at the very nice Soshu before heading off to Bam Bou. Due to a couple illneses and other excuses there was only actually 3 of us instead of the 7 booked in but we were still determined to have a good time. Our table wasn't ready when we arrived so we were sent up to the bar which was packed. We got a table up there but no one had cleared the previous revellers glasses so my first impressions weren't great. However after about 10 minutes more staff turned up in the bar cleared the tables and were very helpfull. We were halfway through our drink when they came to tell us the table was ready.

We were led down into a nice room with a spacious table. Bambou occupies an old tall thin Georgian house so you eat in different rooms which is a nice touch. There were plenty of staff on hand and the group of 3 waiters that looked after our room were great. We ordered a selecton of starters (soft shell crab, squid, chicken in lettuce leaves, huge prawn crackers). All were good the best being the soft shell crab but the squid needed more seasoning. We then had mains I had the pork swewer bun which was seriously tasty, the others went for the Tofu claypot which wasn't quite my bag but the others liked it and a fish curry which was excellent. We ordered some sides of rice and a really good Bok Choi. The portions were plentiful and the food tasty which was just what we wanted. We washed it down with a couple of bottles of the house white, a Sauvignon blanc which went perfectly with the food.

We were too full for desert but had some after dinner drinks and jasmine tea. One of our party managed to knock off a marble ornament when he sat down which landed on his head. No damage to him or the ornament but they offered us a round of drinks by apology. We thought it was really nothing to worry about so declined but they still took the teas off the bill which was a nice touch. The bill came to about £50 a head which was really very good value. The bar was open upstairs after the restaurant closed so we had one final nightcap before heading off. All in all I was very impressed with Bam Bou, it showed you can get lovely asian food and good service without paying the earth
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david ginsberg - View all reviews by this user
8 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Monday, November 30, 2009

Having read such positive comments about the food and cocktails here, I was really looking forward to my trip yesterday. Such a disappointment!

I was dining with two friends, we had cocktails and the two-course set menu. I'm normally a great fan of mojitos, but this time I got a glass full of ice and brown sugar (even quite crunchy in places), and not much flavour of anything else. For a starter I chose steamed prawn dumplings, another favourite. Other than disintegrating each time, so I had to take mouthfuls of filling alternating with dumpling wrapper, these were fine.

My main course was described as fried tilapia with a spicy coconut sauce. What arrived appeared to be a plate of fish fingers, with barely a spoonful of sauce lurking under some sliced chili. To be fair, the fish fingers were pleasant, with a light batter and finely textured fish, but not my idea of a smart meal. The lack of sauce also meant there was no real flavour to the dish, and nothing to put over the accompanying rice.

On the plus side, the building and decor are very attractive, and the service was prompt and friendly. I just wouldn't go back there, particularly at those prices, unless the food improves substantially.
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Kate24 - View all reviews by this user
6 Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 2
Sunday, November 01, 2009

Good food reasonably priced. Same for the wine. Horrible management. With our booking at 9pm, by 11pm music stopped, strong lights came up and our table was emptied - to the point that I had to ask for another napkin, as my original one was removed before my coffee arrived. Waiters apologised for rushing us out, but ultimately, that's what happened. By 11.15pm - on a Saturday - we were all outside, literally followed by all the refusal of the restaurant which they took out through the customers' exit. My biggest regret is that we still accepted to pay the 12.5% optional service. Won't be back.
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Lewis L.
4 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 4
Monday, August 24, 2009

Starter of ground beef in pepper leaves was great but main of vegetable curry was uninspiring. Amateur but friendly staff milling around looking a bit clueless. Nice room but tables too close together. Annoying table turnaround time of two hours.
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6 Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 5
Monday, April 06, 2009