My Old Place

Would pretty much reiterate what most have said on here. Food is very good, service is poor and they forget to bring some of the things you order. Stand out dishes were the lamb skewers, which were smoky and redolent of cumin, and the deep fried pigs intestine with chilli, which sounds horrible, but tastes like deliciously crispy sausage skins.

They forgot to bring one dish, took an age to bring us the bill and had to be called over for everything we wanted to order. Still, I thought the place was charming, the food was very good, the prices very cheap and I would definitiely go back
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Brouillard
7 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Thursday, December 16, 2010

We went early on a Friday night. The place was very busy and buzzing but we got a table straight away. I really loved the atmosphere and trying to figure out what everyone else was eating.

Because of the reviews, I was expecting the service to be dreadful however apart from one fairly miserable waitress, the others were attentive and smiley.

We got served our starters almost straight away fresh and very hot. The portions are MASSIVE, the largest I think I've ever seen in a restaurant.

We ordered the spring rolls and salt and pepper squid which were both very good. The crab curry for main was divine although fairly messy to eat but worth it. The other main we had was beef in black bean sauce which was good although probably not the best I've had although to be fair in relation to price and portion this place is really good value.

Would definitely be back.
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Annie - View all reviews by this user
9 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, December 07, 2010

What is the fuss about this place? It's really not that good.

Have had to visit twice in the past week, one in a group of ten, the other with a mate.

1st time round the lamb skewers and a plate of green beans were the only highlight. I really liked the skewers, and they were much nicer than at Silk Road in Camberwell, which attempts something similar.

But some of the other dishes - twice cooked pork and fish fragant aubergine for example - were unbelievably salty. Not the usual Chinese MSG fetish, but a lot of pure salt. It was awful. Really bad. Some of the worst Chinese food I've had in a long time, and I eat a lot of it.

Big portions and cheap yes, but so what. You'd get better in any average Chinatown place.

2nd time the skewers never arrived, despite several reminders to the miserable, useless staff.

We had gongbao chicken, which was OK actually, and was a good portion size. And fried noodles which were edible cos we were drunk but were greasy and forgettable.

A word on the service - of course, you'd never come here expecting a maitre d and lots of attention. But the waitresses here seem steeped in such a hostile misery that after a while it really does affect your enjoyment of the place. The girl serving us was just awful. Not rude, just miserable, scowling.

Despite it all, I'd probably go back if I had to. There aren't enough Chinese options in that area as an alternative.
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Ben P
2 Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 2
Saturday, November 27, 2010

The food was Amazing!!! If you go there for the service, you are missing the all point, let them be rude as long as the quality of the dishes don't change especially "the crab curry". If you are looking for authenticity in chinese cuisine, this is definetely the place to go.
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mango pudding
8 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 10
Sunday, October 03, 2010

I have been to this restaurant a couple of times, and their food is really delicious and full of flavour and spices.

BUT the service is completely abysmal, the head waitress particularly, is very very unfriendly, has a permanent frown on her face and acts like she's doing you a favour ( i toss back the attitude with a 'you do realise i'm the paying for the food,right?' one). Also, the food takes absolute agesssss to be served, and comes at 10- 20 mins intervals; most of the time, the sauce comes first and then the rice comes 10minutes later ( i'll leave you to comment on that).

However, the food is really good. I always start off being really angry by the service but leave knowing i've eaten a lovely and fresh meal.
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kaka
5 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 7
Friday, June 18, 2010