Yauatcha

Went for a business lunch with some trepidation having seen the other reviews. Due to a misunderstanding caused by differences in European time and UK time we arrived an hour early for the table (12.00 instead of 13.00).

This didnt seem to be a problem though and we were taken to our table downstairs where it was practically deserted. From there on in it was a great experience, the staff were attentive but not 'in your face' and picked a wonderful selection for us (I didnt know what to order) catering for one vegetarian, one with allergy to mushrooms and peppers and one (myself) who is happy to eat anything. No fuss, no complaints.

As we got to the end of our meal - in our own time the restaurant got more and more busy and by the time we left was absolutely stuffed to the gunwales.

Definitely would go again.
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Mike P
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 8
Thursday, July 17, 2008

Yauatcha is a great place for dinner after work or nice meal with friends/partner. The food is delicious - everything is great quality & tasty. Prices vary, if you are after expensive delicacies this place is great, but just the same if you havnt got a big budget there is an extensive menu that will suit you. Cocktails amazing but tea was not half as good as other dim sum / japanese places i have visited. Worth a try, if only for the spare ribs! Enjoy the atmosphere. Service is the only con here as they are a little overwhelming & food is served too quickly, which is why i would not recommend if you are looking for a big night out as it may be over a little swiftly. Young ambient crowd! Dont forget to treat yourself from the Japanese bakery at the front of the restaurant - little pieces of heaven!
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Mischa
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8
Thursday, May 22, 2008

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