XO
special offer
Special Offer only available online - please book above
50% off food
Offer Details: ...from the a la carte menu. Includes Vat, excludes service. All tables booked at 7.30pm are required back at 9.30pm.
Available: Sunday to Monday 12:00 to 15:00, 18:00 to 22:30. Tuesday to Saturday 12:00 to 15:00, 18:00 to 19:30, 21:30 to 22:30.
Maximum people: 6
Terms: Expires 24th July 08
our review
Fashion is fickle. Who would have thought a few years ago that a stylish restaurant from Will Ricker, he of E&O fame in Notting Hill, would appear in boring old Belsize Park? Except it’s not boring anymore and shrewd old Will has got in early with a restaurant that’s stylish, sexy and, at the moment, so popular you’re going to have to wait to get a reservation.
So what’s the story, is it style over substance? A magnet for the trendy, but twattish? It’s certainly attracting some seriously thin women, happy to push food around their plates but not actually eat anything, as well men with highlighted hair and tight jeans. Tables are pretty close together and my banquette seat was so understuffed I spent the meal either looking up my dinner date’s nose or focusing on her cleavage. All very well and good but I’m a married man.
The menu is pan Asian which, like Modern European, can mean just about anything but here means a menu that features that favourite bit of fish, Black Cod with Miso, as well as a range of Dim Sum, curries, sashimi etc. We had chilli salt squid, which was not as vibrantly spicy as the version you get down the Vietnamese places in Hoxton, but was crisply battered and well cooked to tenderness. Bursting Chicken Long Bau were elegant little steamed parcels which, true to their description, burst with sauce which was a bit of a hazard for the diners seated alongside, but were very tasty. Oddly enough the asterisk beside them on the menu led to the warning ‘contains pork’. Our other starter of minced beef to be wrapped in lettuce leaf was too mild on the spices and would have been better if served with ordinary lettuce, not the iceberg type. The former is easy to roll and hold, while the latter tends to suddenly snap, dumping the filling back out again and all over the table.
The black cod was as good as any I’ve had at Nobu and L’Etranger although a bit more of the miso sauce wouldn’t have gone amiss. Beef with oyster and black pepper was excellent; the high quality beef seared on the outside, blush red the rest of the way through and sliced so finely so that each piece was the perfect melting mouthful. Tau Miu, snow pea leaf, with shredded ginger and garlic went very well with it indeed and finally hit the flavour loud pedal that had been rather muted in the first dishes
Desserts did well in one regard, Panacotta was a dreamy, creamy dish that encouraged glass scraping, but the pistachio and orange brandy snaps got caught in the teeth and got largely left untouched.
So XO. It’s cool, it’s trendy and it’s clearly a place to be seen. The food is certainly a cut above in its cooking and very stylishly presented. There’s a lot on the menu to tempt and you feel good being in there. So go to XO.
N.H. - March 2007
your comments review this restaurant and win a bottle of champagne
We heard that the restaurant had bad reviews and hence did not go with a lot of expectations. And we have to say we were blown away!! Finally, a good restaurant on our door step where I can take friends and visitors. The atmosphere is great, the service is fast and not overbearing, the food is excellent and enough not to go home feeling you had some proper food. With regard to the people going there. Well, personally, I don't care and for what it's worth I have never gone to the latest 'in' place or places to be seen (nobody would know me anyway). So if you like good food, an elegant but understated atmosphere, the really DO GO.
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Tobias W - a long-time Belsize resident
Overall rating 
Food 10 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 7
Sunday, June 08, 2008
So nice to finally have a local restaurant that consistently serves interesting and tasty food in a stylish setting.
I eat regularly at XO and find the staff friendly and haven't had a bad meal to date.
Seems to be a favorite for both friends and family when they are visiting.
A big recommend from me!
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karen katz
Overall rating 
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Thursday, January 24, 2008
A cracking addition to the group. Nicely executed Ricker classics with a twist. The Jap to Indonesia combo works well there and the site looks great, airy and comfortable. Bar area a bit wasted as acts more as a holding pen for the good restaurant folk but as Mick Jagger said "you can't alweays get what you want".
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O DANIAUD - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating 
Food 7 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 6
Thursday, July 26, 2007
A cracking addition to the group. Nicely execited Ricker classics with a twist. The Jap to Indonesia combo works well there and the site looks great, airy and comfortable. Bar area a bit wasted as acts more as a holding pen for the good restaurant folk but as Mick Jagger said "you can't alweays get what you want".
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O DANIAUD
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 6
Thursday, July 26, 2007
I came to XO for the 2nd time last week and it was packed. My girlfriend and I were warmly welcomed and taken to our table. The cocktails were devine and the wine list is both extensive and boasts some great bins. As it was so busy (Wednesday evening) we thought we may have to wait for a while for the food as you sometimes do, but no! The food was brought promptly and was absolutely fantastic - great dim sum and the mains were delicious. The other tables around us really seemed to be enjoying their meals too and from the wonderful buzz in the restaurant im sure this was true.
If you're a dessert fan like myself, then make sure you save enough room when you visit XO - top notch!
Overall, we had a fantastic evening, much better than my first visit. I will definately be returning and more than likely with a few more peeps.
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Driss Ziani
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Monday, July 02, 2007
4 of us visited XO on 18-05-07. Unfortunately our reservation had been 'lost' somewhere between our confirmation telephone call at 5.00 and our arrival at 7.30. However, after some discussion we were given a booth (which I got the impression we were meant to feel quite grateful for!!). We ordered the NZ Sav, which was good enough to warrant a further bottle, but were told supplies had dwindled. Our second choice was also out of stock, but thankfully choice 3 was. By this to time our thirst had increased to alarming levels!!
Once we got our food, we were all impressed by the quality. Particular mention must be given to the Cod Miso, which was delightful.
Desert was duly considered and our interest conveyed to the waiter. But following a lengthy delay in his return to take the orders, the group decision was to cut our losses and head elsewhere for desert.
Overall, a poor debut which will undoubtedly affect our decision to return or to reccommend it to others.
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M Field
Overall rating 
Food 7 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 5
Monday, May 21, 2007
Awful.
If you like to pay four times what you should on food, and enjoy a rushed experience this is the place for you. It would be OK if the food was any good, but it was very very average.
I find it amazing that this place is actually busy. I suppose if your priority when eating out, is to be seen, and so you can tick where you've been off your list then this again is the place for you.
You're given your 2 hour slot within which to eat, but I can assure you this is plenty of time. You'll be ready to get out of there asap.
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calculator - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating 
Food 2 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 0
Thursday, April 05, 2007
I went there with my girlfriend the other night and we thoroughly enjoyed our experience. Its a great place and its adding to the restaurant scene in Belsize Park Village. The rock shrimp was a nice starter and the clay pot chicken was delicious. The black cod can easily compete with Nobu's. The atmosphere is cool but still has a local flair. The service was extremely friendly and attentive. We couldnt complain about that like others here at that site. We will certainly come back soon.
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Steffen
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Friday, March 09, 2007
Disappointed by the so-called pan-asian food ant the slow service. The smoked duck was dry and compares unfavourably to what it is available in Chinatown for a fraction of the price. I go out for dinner quite often and Asian food is a common choice and so far this has been the least exciting experience.
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Carme
Overall rating 
Food 5 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 0
Monday, March 05, 2007
Service lets this restaurant down. We had to phone the restaurant to get the attention of our waiter (not joking). Sort it out and the restaurant is a winner. In the meantime service at McDonalds is more attentive.
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Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Thursday, February 15, 2007
