Yauatcha

I was a little apprehensive about booking this restaurant due to the mixed reviews I had read on this site but decided to try it for myself. I wish I hadn't.

Originally we were a party of eight so the restaurant insisted we have the set menu which I wasn't really happy with.

I called the restaurant to advise them that two people from our party had to cancel so there would only be six of us and that we would prefer to order from the a la carte menu but again they recommended the set menu saying that we wouldn't have to wait for our food and that it would be more convenient for us.

The evening we visited the restaurnat was warm and as we went downstairs to the lower level to our table you felt the temperature rise by quite a few degrees. After we complained we were told that it was due to the heat from the kitchen, there was no air conditioning on which felt quite uncomfortable.

We had opted for the £60.00 menu and found the food mediocre and definitely not worth the money. Our starters arrived five minutes after we had sat down and as soon as we had finished them the main course arrived. We had eaten and paid our bill within an hour! Not really the dining experience you would expect from a night out in the town at a so called top London restaurant. It's obvious that the set menu is for the restaurant's conveinience. For the price we ended up paying I would have much preffered to have gone to Hakkasans where I found the food much more impressive.
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steve chrys
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 2
Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Only just managed to get a table here on a Thursday night when we blagged that a Z-list celebrity who we said would join us in 20 minutes. It is amazing how quickly a 45 minute wait for a table turned into instant service!

The food was overpriced and the drinkks even more so. Good quality food but cannot justify the price compared to somewhere like Ping Pong - go there instead!
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George Hardy
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 1
Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Very nice place, very good food. Unfortunately there is no airconditioning which makes having dinner during a warm day very difficult.
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Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 5
Tuesday, May 13, 2008

We went there yesterday with my boyfriend for an afternoon tea and cake, and this was an amazing experience. In the end we preferred a smoothie (the papaya one) and an iced tea and they were fabulously tasty. As were the cakes that we ordered: the coco chocolate cake was great, but even better the kumquat was delicious: very original taste, incredible!!! A great experience for afternoon tea.
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lenka
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Sunday, May 11, 2008

My husband and I went today as a special treat while taking the day off work. I have to say I disagree with other comments on this site about the service - it was excellent - speedy, polite, friendly and attentive. This despite the fact that the restaurant seemed packed, so it wasn't because it was quiet or anything. The food was also delicious - lovely flavours and textures; wonderful. We also both enjoyed the 'tea cocktails' - a novel idea (different fruit juices blended with teas) - and very tasty. My only disappointment - I couldn't fit any more in!
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MG72 - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Thursday, May 01, 2008

Made a very happy return here last night and what a delight it was! I was always a fan but, as many did, I had serious gripes with the service. They have clearly been paying attention to sites such as this and listening to their customers as the service was friendly, knowledgeable and quick. We came in late with no booking and only waited 5 minutes to be seated in which time we were offered some of their delicious cocktails - try the Naama Bay.

Food was the best meal I've had in there and this must have been my 5th visit.

Well done Yauatcha, you've upped your game and it shows! (Do keep an eye on your prices tho - are they creeping up???)
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ems - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Saturday, April 26, 2008

We had a lovely late lunch at Yauatcha today. I phoned up to make reservation the day before and the lady who took the booking was very pleasant indeed - explaining the layout of the restaurant i.e. the choice of the ground floor where the extensive tea menu is served and the more dimly-lit and sexy lower ground.

The dim sum were exquisite and very well presented. Yes, you pay more in Yautcha, but for more creative and modern dim sum, great atmosphere and fresher organic ingredients. Contrary to the suggestions of the other reviews here, you can't find choices like seabass mooli dumpling, kumquat scallop dumpling, shiitake and duck, spinach cubes, venison puffs and other such delights anywhere else in Chinatown, or London. This coupled with a great selection of ice teas and cocktails from the bar.

The service is efficient and pleasant, but alas we avoided the busy lunch and evening periods, opting for the leisurely 3.30pm start instead. I suspect service may be less attentive during peak times (as some of the reviews seems to suggest so) but hey, don't make the mistake of expecting immaculate fine dinning experience, it's a dim sum joint after all - but a step up from say Ping Pong (which I personally think is a tackier wannabe to the Hakassan and Yautcha ilk) and Royal China. For that you pay 20-30% more. We spent £60 for two and came away delighted by the experience.
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Kian
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Friday, April 25, 2008

I didn't even get past the door. The staff were so rude at reception I decided to go somewhere else.

I'd rather go to Wong Kei for better service!!
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Sophie
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Thursday, April 24, 2008

I heard this place first in newspaper, and then from company colleague, said they have a very nice environment, and the desserts are beautiful. However, when I read some online review, I was surprise to see the complete different opinions, including some really bad ones.

I originally come from China, and lived in UK for 6 years, been to hundreds of restaurant. I believe I have a fair taste of food.

We booked a 10 persons meal for a friend's leaving party. We were asked to put down credit card details and emails when we booked over the phone. The next day morning, we received the email and told us as we have more than 10 people, we have to choose their party meal, which is £40,£50 or £60 per head. Also, if we cancel our booking within 48 hrs before the meal, we have to pay £30 per head for cancelation fee. ?? We were shocked to see that… but as the time is so close to 48 hrs deadline, plus the part menus looks not too bad, we think we just give it a try.

Our table was booked between 7-9pm. There was a tube incident, and half of people are late. However, Yauatchas staff insisted to start serve food from 7pm, even half of the seats were empty.

When we tried to stop them, they said “or you will not finish your meal within your booking time”--- ??

The Starters are Chinese DimSum, which you can get in most restaurants in China town. I cannot tell their qualities or tastes are better than any other places, even the famous “Venison Puff”, tastes very similar to “Pork Puff” in Oriental City, which you can get for 80 pence each.

7:20pm, we still have 1 couple not arrived yet, but the staff seems not happy with our food consumption speed, kept coming back to our table, opening the lid of each bamboo Steamer. (Now I understand why some previous reviews regard them as like “Flyers”. Yes they are, jumping to your table, moving things under your arms, never say “Excuse me”). In the end they tried to take all the lids away, so that we have to finish all of them, or they will get cold and lost taste. ???

The food looks better in menu than in the table, and nobody explained the name of each course, leaving us wondering which dish is pork or Lamb, as 2 of friends are from Middle East. And the amount of food for 10 persons are very small, 2 small bowls or 1 medium plate for each dish. So basically, if you want to have more than 2 small pieces of meat/fish, you will end up with an empty plate straight away…..

Yes, the only thing is nice in the restaurant is the decoration. Big fish tank, blue lights, lots of big tea pot in the shelf. But the toilet in the basement are very small, and only allow 2 persons to wash hands together, others have to queue up (Female side)

Food in general is very average, the beautiful cheese cakes in the dessert are the only bright point. But why would you go to a Chinese restaurant to have French dessert?

I do know how this place managed to get the reputation of “best international restaurant in London”. For me, Food—Average, Service—Poor, Value for Money—Very poor. Will I come back? Definitely not. Will I tell my friend? Yes, tell them never come to here.
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Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 1
Wednesday, April 16, 2008

It was an amazing experience we dined on the groundfloor level, It was more brighter than basement and think made a good choice the service was amazing the waitress thier uniforms are so creative and ofcourse lovely food. The good thing about we europeans we go there it doesnt feel like we r some where foreign when u go to china town u feel that no body understands but yauatcha was like great experience made us feel so comfortable. well defintely recommend to every friend of mine.
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Micheal collins
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Thursday, April 03, 2008