Green Cottage

I was first taken to GC by my mum 30 yrs ago (aged 10) and i still think its the best Chinese i have ever tasted. The Roast Duck is a favourate,and i must say that their Chow Mein dishes are also lovely. I have never had the noodles they use in these dishes anywhere else. I now live in Kent and still make a journey to Swisscottage for a meal.
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NR
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Saturday, April 12, 2008

I went to Green Cottage last night with high expectations, mainly because of the many positive reviews here on London eating. In my opinion, the food was above average and no better. I agree with one of your other reviewers that the chicken in Black bean sauce was good - but not great and the crispy pork was nice but not amazing. It is a good little Chinese restaurant and if I had picked it at random (rather than as a result of some cracking reviews) I think that I would have been very pleased - but given my expectations, I found myself a little disappointed.
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Warren Butcher
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 6
Friday, April 13, 2007

Recently reopened following a fire. Gradually reclaiming their loyal clientele and their rightful spot as one of the best value Chinese that sell authentic Chinese food rather than westernised slop. This place serves good consistent food. Their real strenght is the roast meats and soya chicken. The more esoteric dishes are also good for the more adventurous. Try the seafood rolls, they are exquisite and rarely found elsewhere. The service is friendly when they are not too busy, and it is excellent value for money. The best by far in this row of Chinese restaurants.
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Wokhei - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Friday, March 23, 2007

Living alone is St. John's Wood, this has become my (almost) everyday take away.

Peking duck with crispy skin and tender meat.

Dry fried squid with chilli, crispy and flavorsome.

Black bean chicken, with chillis has far more flavour than most attempts.

Basically, I don't think I've had a bad dish from this place.

Okay, so Royal China has better food, but they don't deliver.

If there is anything negative to say, it has to be the restaurant itself. I ate in once, and it was not really a pleasant experince, its small and quite messy, Albeit in a reasonable location, unfortunatly the food is not that cheap (although the Finchley Road is not that glamorous, one must remember that it is serving Hampstead and St. John's Wood with basic ammenities.

Basically, even if you don't live in an area where Green Cottage deliver, still go there for the food, and ignore the surroundings!
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A
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 7
Friday, March 16, 2007

I'm with all the other reviewers. I've been eating at the Green Cottage for more than 20 years. Forget Chinatown, in my opinion the GC is easily the best Cantonese restaurant in London, and I can honestly claim to have eaten in most of the more prominent ones.

Nothing beats the succulence of their roast duck, and roast and crispy pork. Their barbecue sauce is pure nectar.

The rest of the menu is top quality also. The surroundings are minimalist but pleasant and the staff have been there for years and know what they're about. The joy of its being open all day!

Prices are sensible for both food and drink.

Simply unbeatable.
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Martin Saville
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Friday, January 05, 2007

i have been going to the green cottage since i can remember.which is probably nearly 30 years. and i'm 37. it's one of those staple restaurants which isn't flowery in any way but somehow i find myself there extremely regularly. what do they put in the food? i don't know. i don't want to know but if you're a lunchtime regular you see the same faces every day. eating alone is recommended. service is prompt and typically brusque although with the reopening they seem to have softened a bit. highlights on the menu are anything in the window - char siu is perfect, roast duck, belly pork etc is better than any you'd get in china town. seafood chowmein is satisfyingly gloopy as you'd expect. this is not a reconstructed flouncy hakesan. nor is it of the quality of royal china. but it doesn't need to be. it's straightforward cantonese food done very confidently.

and, even so, it's my favorite restaurant in london.
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family jules
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, November 01, 2006

Exemplary London Chinese

Their Char Siu, Roast Duck & soups are fantastic.
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U Apel
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, November 01, 2006

We come once every year from Sweden just for GC. The best food ever..

Last year it was closed but now it´s seemed to be open again. That´s great!
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R-M Gustavsson
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Friday, August 25, 2006

I have been a customer of Green Cottage since 1990. Since that time I to have honestly say that in terms of experiencing the best value authentic Chinese cuisine, Green Cottage has to be number 1 in London (and I have been to many across the city). I have introduced many friends and family to this restaurant and it has now become an institution to celebrate birthdays here. The staff are extremely friendly and helpful and the decor (unchanged after the fire - thanks goodness) is unpretentious and comfortable. My only request would be that Halal meat could be included into the menu which would allow me and many others to enjoy the barbeque and Soya sauce dishes that Green Cottage is famous for. Let’s face it, there aren't any halal Chinese restaurants in London, so this would be a real coup in terms of attracting an untapped community of Muslim, Chinese food fans. Many thanks for the years of good food and service.
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Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Friday, August 11, 2006

Been going to the GC now for about 18 years. Easily the best chinese in London! Was devastated when it shut down but now so happy it's back. My girlfriend and I vist at least once a week!
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J
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Saturday, April 15, 2006