Katana @ The International

Potentially a very good restaurant, with an attractive layout and décor. A group of us dined on the set menu with complimentary drink, which was excellent value. However, the menu options were less-than-inspiring, with not much variety: the dishes are geared very much towards chicken. Although I enjoyed my chicken skewers and teriyaki salmon salad, neither course was exceptional or particularly interesting: I would have been pleased to pay a few pounds more for a set menu with some more exciting options.

Service was pleasant, if inexperienced and slow. We had been warned in advance that we'd have to vacate our table within two hours - which suited us fine, as we had tickets for a performance just down the road. However, this was clearly not happening in practice; two of us who risked ordering pudding as the time ticked by managed no more than a couple of bites before having to rush off to the theatre, while another of our party had to leave before her pudding even arrived. This was quite an unsatisfactory ending to the meal.
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dawnage - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Sunday, July 06, 2008

Katana was very disappointing. The food was nice enough but they were very disorganised. We had quite a large party and had to try get the waitress's attention a number of times before getting any drinks some of which were forgotten.

The starters took a long time to arrive, and it was past 10pm by the time we received our mains (for a table booked for 8pm).

Two of our party ordered duck for the main course (off the set menu) and simply didn't receive their food. When we queried this for the second time, the manager came to tell us that they had run out and offered another course, although at this time most of our party had finished eating.

Two people had to leave to catch their last train and asked to pay separately. Upon checking later, we found that this was not deducted from the final bill.

I would not go there again and would not recommend it.
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SF
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 2
Monday, May 19, 2008

Had dinner there with another friend couple. Thai food was good and spicy as it should with interesting and inventive dishes! Well priced and the restaurant room is nice. The only downside was the noise, we could hardly hear each other....good for noisy parties, not so much for a friends reunion or a romantic dinner!
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Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 7
Sunday, April 20, 2008

I've wanted to try Katana for a long time now, and finally saw the perfect opportunity for an early dinner prior to going to the ballet.

I have to say I was a little disappointed with the menu. I have no problem with small menus - in fact I prefer it if it means the restaurant are able to produce fewer dishes to a higher quality than bash out a plethora of mediocre dishes. However, being someone that doesn't like creamy sauces such a cocunut based curries, I was somewhat limited on what I would enjoy on the mains list. The few options I was left with were fairly uninspiring - nothing you couldn't find on any Asian menu - and given the prices, I wasn't overly keen on settling for something I can have for a third of the price elsewhere.

I opted for the chermoula king prawn with 'aubergine caviar', and a side of rice, and my partner opted for an oriental beef hot-pot with a side of rice, and a side of pak-choi in oyster. Despite being seated before 6pm, and ordering within 10 minutes, our dishes didn't come for 45 minutes - we had to ask the waitress if she could hurry the order given we were seeing a ballet, which she did very graciously and politely I must say.

When the food finally came, my prawns were beautiful - they give you 6 proper king-sized prawns, coated in a fragrant chermoula. However my 'aubergine caviar' was simply a round lump of brown, oily mush, with absolutely no taste to it. My rice had obviously been sat in its serving bowl in a oven for a long while because it was dry and crusty. The side order of chinese greens was excessively salty - the oyster sauce was a thick, gelatinous substance that had been waved over a few sections of the dish.

My partner's beef was apparently very nice, and the rice was not a problem as he had a sauce to soak his in.

For a bill of £44 (£5 tip included), for two people drinking water, with a 10% discount thanks to my 'privelege card' , I was not impressed. The cooking is obviously very hit and miss - my prawns were delicious, yet why they were unable to create a simple vegetable ratatouille with any taste, or steam some plain rice successfully is beyond me. For the prices they were charging I will not be going back. However I must say our waitress was very pleasant and apologetic for our food taking such an inordinantly long time to arrive.

Perhaps set meals/ menus/ offers are the way to get the best out of this restaurant - I'll not be trying again though!
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Hen
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 3
Tuesday, April 08, 2008

The restaurant itself was actually smaller than I expected it to be, however that made no difference to my overall experience at Katana. Our table for 11 was ready practically on time and they didn't rush us over ordering anything even though 3 of our group were quite late. We had Party Menu 1- we warned that although the food is really delicious the portions are actually surprisingly huge! The spring roll starter has about 8 mini rolls with dip, was good. The chicken satay was great but the spicey peanut sauce (on the side) wasn't spicey at all! The chickpea fritters were unsual, very tender and yummy. The Beef Curry was maybe the best of the main courses, however as well as coming with baby potatos inside the curry you also get a side dish of rice. With the vegi option you get this too. The other dishes came with a side of choi sum for each person, which again was lovely, however it was all so much food! For dessert most of us had the brownie with icecream on top - this was heavenly and i've never seen so many eyes roll in delight at once to the point of a mass trance-like state!

Do go to Katana, or go to the international bar and eat a little there too. A really nice place! Service also was excellent.
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Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Sunday, March 23, 2008

hey

had my birthday dinner there with a big group of friends. it was brilliant. the vibe in there was great: you could easily chat but there was still some good energy coming off the room.

food = delish.

service, very friendly and helpful.

well priced.

excellent dinner spot.

thanks katana
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the joe
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Sunday, February 03, 2008

Pre-booked for a large group a couple of weeks ahead of going here on Saturday 13 October. They didn't have enough staff on and while our waitress was very friendly (maybe even a bit TOO chatty?) we had to wait a long time before our drinks orders were taken and our starters only arrived over an hour after we had sat down. The restaurant was only half-full though. In the meantime we were starving! The mains did arrive quickly after though after we cmplained about the slow service.

We all had party menu 1 @ £16.95pp which is pretty good value. The food portions were excellent overall. My chickpea fritters starter was disappointing. Dry and bland. My salmon teriyaki main with noodles was lovely - very moist and tasty. The ice-cream and sorbet dessert was nothing spectacular but was nice enough. Many in the group had the Thai green vegetable curry for main and most found it unusually spicy and not particularly authentic tasting.

The slow service spolied our night a little as we spent far longer in the restaurant than planned. When we got the bill and queried the 12.5% service charge which was clearly marked as being optional. The manager began to barter with us over the service charge - very odd! In the end we left no service charge. Why should we when the service was so slow?!
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Lou
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 6
Monday, October 15, 2007

mediocre food at best. ridiculously slow service. and a manager who likes to argue with customers who decline to pay the full "optional" service charge despite having had to wait over 50 minutes for our orders to be taken and another 30 for starters to arrive. clearly set up for the passing trade who are unlikely to be passing again.
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Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Sunday, October 14, 2007

Totally agree with the last review. After paying only £20 for a theatre ticket and a meal at Katana was not expecting much at all. Read the reviews on this site and was prepared for awfulness but we were very pleasantly surprised. The place was full to the rafters with people who later all ended up sitting next to us at the theatre! Service was polite and fairly speedy with a very lively, buzzy atmosphere. They serve the food in sharing portions and it was really quite nice. As the theatre menu is reasonably priced even without the offer would definitely visit again. As it was our daughter's 11th birthday they even put a candle in her chocolate brownie and the waitress sang happy birthday. Really thoughtful considering how busy the place was.
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Yummymummy - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Friday, September 28, 2007

Excellent value for money. I booked a £20 dinner and theatre deal and did not expect much from the meal. However, we were offered a selection of starters and main courses to share. The food was fine. Service was good while the restaurant was very busy. I liked the decor and the way food was presented.

Will definitely go back.
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Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, September 18, 2007