Uli

We went here for our latest meal, on monday. And must say that the food we had was pretty damn nice. The service was attentive yet, not in any way pressuring. We opted for a variety of dishes , some recommended, some caught our eye, and rounded it all off with a cheeky bottle of red.

Must say, for the area this lovely quaint restaurant (ok needs a bit or smartening up) , it beats any comparative restaurant for miles around.

Also time out recommends the restaurant too :o).
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James Calderwood
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Thursday, May 15, 2008

This restaurant was recommended to me by a friend, and has seriously damaged the integrity of his recommendations. Overall, the service was good, but the food and prices atrocious.

Upon entering, we were told that there was a full booking but a table in the back outside (a good sign for a beautiful day). Then things went downhill. Only after sitting down and having ordered a meal and drinks and drinking our drinks were we told that there was a fifteen pound minimum. Our expectations for the food were high, so we ordered more food. First, the spring rolls - frozen and fried right out of the package from any Asian grocery story and just marked up to an exorbitant amount. Then the Tom Kha Gai soup - usually a safe bet - but this soup broth (which is supposed to be made with coconut milk and chicken stock) was not white but brown because of the massive amounts of MSG (a.k.a. Maggi) dumped into it. The soup was not at all edible, and so my girlfriend and I turned our sights on the main course. I ordered the lamb with onions - the lamb meat was thin sliced and overcooked and hard to find amidst the massive amounts of onions amidst the brown sauce. I had hoped that my girlfriends chili beef basil dish would redeem the restaurant - but the meat was poor poor quality, that dish also mostly onions with some wilted Basil, and it was all doused in a sweet sauce that was awful. The beer we ordered with the meal (Tsingtao) was the only redeeming aspect of the meal - and that is because Uli had nothing to do with the preparation of the beer on the way from the can to our mouths aside from keeping it cold.

In sum, the service was OK,he food a disgrace, and the prices exorbitant. Do not eat here.
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Paul
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 0
Wednesday, May 07, 2008

I ate a Uli a couple of weeks ago for the first time. If I lived in London this would be a regular haunt for me. I loved it - food was great - especially the soft shell crab and crsipy duck. Prices were great too. Overall a great find that I will recommend to anyone visiting London. Free round of drinks on the house too which was a nice and welcome touch:-)
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Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Thursday, May 01, 2008

I have dined at Uli on numerous occasions, each being a fantastic experience. The menu is inexpensive and I am yet to be dissapointed; great food. Warm, genuine service. Uli is a real find in an area sich as Notting Hill. A fab place for a casual meal if you are into Asian cuisine...heading back there this evening in fact.
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Hayden
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 8
Thursday, March 20, 2008

Just to say, we went here a couple of days ago, food , service, and cost very good, will be back soon.
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Claire Defore
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Friday, February 22, 2008

Just got back from a holiday to Singapore and had to quell my hunger pangs for the local food, so I thought no better place than to head for Uli, as I had not been there for a month. Michael welcomed us warmly (even though good old British weather was not putting on a good show outside) and greeted us as if he had just seen us last week!

My partner and I shared three starters - stir-fried turnip cake with preserved vegetables and egg - really amazing, so delicate and intense in flavour; steamed Shanghai pork dumplings with chili oil - plump and juicy, and tofu wrapped pork rolls with a sweet-sour chili sauce, which were crispy and filled with meat marinated in aromatics. Had it not been for the utterly dreary weather outside, my senses could have been fooled me into thinking I was back in Singapore.

For mains we had one of the daily specials - braised ox's tail with root vegetables, along with Szechuan prawns, green vegetables and a plate of salt-fish fried rice. The ox tail was incredible - the meat just fell off the bone effortlessly with tasty morsels of ligament and accompanied by a velvety liquour of beef juices and spices. Michael exhalted the liquor as the “best part” which coupled with the savoury rice, was a real sensation. The stir-fried prawns in shells smothered in a sweet-spicy sauce balanced the richness of the beef, whilst the perky greens stir-fried with ginger and garlic completed the meal.

I’ve been to Uli on several occasions and it is by far the most hospitable and personable place in West London to dine. Given that the place is booked solid on the weekends, I was surprised to see the restaurant only half-filled on a Tuesday night. The locals must still be getting back into the swing of things. To be honest, I’ve been there on the weekend and did prefer the slightly quieter, cosier, atmosphere to start the year.
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Patrick F.
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Dined here recently, and the food and service was very good, as per our other visits. The reviewer below must have had a rare slip, in the restaurants otherwise impeccable service.

We enjoyed our meal, and the recommendations of the owner's choices, and would recommend trying this resturant.

I guess the Simon B person that is giving the crude reviews may have experienced a rare slip up or ordered the most expensive items on the menu, as the overall cost we experienced was very reasonable for a restaurant in this location.

Highly recommended...
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S Lee
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Sunday, January 13, 2008

I noticed things slipping around 6 months ago. Last week my girlfriend and I vowed not to dine their in the future. Just far too expensive and basic for food that has gone from fantastic to acceptable. The premises themselves are now looking tired and grubby.
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Simon Badow
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 1
Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Very nice small restaurant. Good wine list and interesting food. Portions decent to ok size. Seating outdoors in the summer. Lovely for family or 1st date. The owner gave us each a large glass of white on the house and we didnt even ask for it. Nice touch.
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Nick Crispin
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8
Thursday, April 26, 2007

I have been going to Uli for the best part of 5 years. Over that period I have got to know the owners very well and have to say that Uli is my favorite restaurant in London. It is true that the atmosphere and food presentation is simple but the taste, service and consistency, visit after visit is great.
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Kiwibodge
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 10
Friday, November 10, 2006