Asia de Cuba

All the positive reviews I've noticed below are from girls. They love this place. It's a good date restaurant. If you fellas want to get in the good books, take your missus (unless she's a seious foodie)
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Nick W
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 6
Thursday, September 04, 2008

I have been to Asia De Cuba quite a few times now and am still loving it. It has such a wonderful atmosphere and the food it amazing. I recommend the calamari salad as a starter. The waiters can be a bit to attentive but all you have to do is tell them you'll let them know if you need anything else. Over all i wont hesitate to recommend this restaurant.
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Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Friend of mine booked the table for my birthday and this was my first visit at Asia De Cuba restaurant. I have to say that the atmosphere inside is great, lots of people at the bar and in the restaurant.The staff is so friendly, so open and helpful.The food is made to share, big portions and selection of food just perfect- fish, beef, seafood,chicken, lamb,duck,etc. I was nicely surprised when the dessert was brought to our table with the message happy birthday.I felt really special that night.I do reccomend the restaurant.
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Angelika
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Wednesday, June 04, 2008

In short... Don't do it!

Overpriced food/ drink and obnoxiously rude staff.
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Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 3
Wednesday, May 28, 2008

We booked a table for six at 830 on a Wednesday, were made to wait until 10 past nine.

The lychee mohito was perfect for the thirst we built up, though my wife felt it was a bit too minty. The waiter talked up the food quite a lot, but the starters were a bit of a disaster: the calamari salad came without calamari and we had to send it back, the thai beef salad lacked beef and the leaves were totally wilted. The seared scallops were very nice but the sauce was too sweet.

The main courses were a big improvement. The chilean sea bass was cooked and salted just right, it had a good serving of lightly pickled vegetables and a superb savoury custard. The fried rice it came with was ok, but the plate of fried plantains a bit on the heavy side. The beef ribs were beautifully cooked, fragrant with coconut, star anise and maybe some palm sugar, but the beans and rice and chewy pancakes that came with it were totally unnecessary. The duck confit was quite good though one has had better. For such a swish place there was a little too much stodge. I am not sure what to make of the fact that there was plantain or banana in almost everything that we ordered.

Overall, we had mixed feelings. To make up for the calamari salad snafu, they did not charge for the drinks. The waiting staff was friendly and helpful. But we cannot say that everything was exceptional. In fact, perhaps only the fish was, while the duck and beef were very good.

The decor was too self-consciously hip, and the noise level made it difficult to talk across the table, though overall the surroundings are pleasant. It helped to be assertive both with regard to the table and the calamari salad.
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Subir Sinha
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 6
Wednesday, April 16, 2008

The service was far too fussy, I personally do not like invasive / over-attentive waiting.

£10 for a litre of Still Water was a bit of a shock, especially as we drank 2.

The Food while generously portioned and tasty is not of the quality required to justify their pricing.

The ambience and trendy setting are pleasant, but going out to eat is about the food, and generally when paying Michelin star prices, and make no bones about it that is the case here, I expect a more sedate, better quality meal without a 2 hour timer ticking in the background and encouraging the food to be brought out apace.
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Paul
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 3
Tuesday, April 08, 2008

This was the third time i have been to Asia De Cuba and I have to say probably the last. I just think that for the price that you pay, the service and food is not what it should be.

We arrived at 7.30 to have drinks in the light bar until our reservation in the light bar at 8. We ordered our 2 glasses of champagne which then arrived at 7.55, so spent 5 mins drinking them as they would not let us take them into the restaurant, and then got told that we were late for the table.

We were rushed to the table and I felt that we were being hurried, which was quite odd as there was no-one to take our food or drink order until just after 8.30.

My Lemongrass chicken starter came out very quickly (a bit too quickly after ordering) and was cold.

I then had the duck, which was nice, a little bland and looked like it had just been plonked on the plate.

As soon as I had the last mouthful, the plates were being whisked from underneath us.

We then waited 10 mins in the hope of a dessert menu or coffee, but no such luck, so i had to flag down a waiter to get the bill, and they certainly got that quickly enough to me.

Its a shame as I used to really like this place but I felt that I was being rushed in and rushed out and that the food for the price they charge, is not really up to scratch. Yes the portions are big, but does that warrant the price. Sometimes its quality, not quantity.

I was with a friend that was on crutches and we asked for a taxi to Charing x station (a very short walk, but as he was on crutches a taxi seemed easier), the staff ushered us into a private taxi and you can imagine my horror when I asked how much and the driver said "oh, did they not tell you, its a minimum fare of £15!!!!!!!" Absolutely disgusted.

So I am going to try somewhere better value for money next time and I suggest you do to.
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Rebecca Emler
Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 4
Friday, February 29, 2008

A nice restaurant, but very expensive (good, but no value for money).

140p for two persons is in my opinion not a cheap meal. The food is good, but not excellent. And I hate it that you have to be gone in two hours. For this money I would like to have a nice slow evening! And not a fast-food-tempo....
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Niels
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 3
Wednesday, February 20, 2008

I recently went to Asia De Cuba as a surprise for my friend's birthday, having heard good things about the restaurant I was quite excited myself aswell. I was not disappointed at all!

The restaurant ambience is very pleasant and warming. Coupled with the trendy setting of the St Martins Lane hotel which it is located within, the atmosphere that was created was unique and refreshing.

The male receptionist that greeted us was smiley and boisterous. He made an effort to keep us engaged with smalltalk whilst leading us to our table. Out male waiter for the evening was likewise very friendly and had a great sense of humour to go along with it!

Now onto the food! The prices were initially quite a shock but for fine-dining this can only be expected. The King prawns we ordered for starters were big and juicy and marinated with a very original pesto seasoning. We also ordered the beef dumplings which arrived both steamed and fried giving us the 'best of both worlds' so to speak. The mains that we ordered were the seabass and duck. Seabass was cooked perfectly, the fillets of fish were so tender they practically fell apart with the lightest touch! The duck itself was full of flavour although slightly overcooked, if ordered I recommend ordering it slightly more rare than you normally would. Finally the desserts....divine is the word that springs to mind. We ordered mexican doughnuts, a cuban brownie and a banana split between the three of us. Not knowing just how GENEROUS these portions would be, we were quite overwhelmed by how much we had! I shall definitely be sure to order less dessert next time i visit because they are huge!

All in all a very satisfied customer here and it was perfect for the birthday occasion. Highly recommended and I look forward to returning when my wallet allows it again!
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Yin
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Friday, January 25, 2008

This is a fabulous restaurant. I have eaten there quite a few times and have not been disappointed yet. Asia De Cuba has a lovely vibrant atmosphere and the desserts are heavenly, cant seem to rave enough about it.
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Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Friday, January 25, 2008