Roka

Excellent quality food, but portions are intended for pigeons and prices are absolutely disproportionate. Save a few pounds, if you can, for a kebab afterwards, as you will leave hungrier than you came. Good place to invite a chick, though, insofar as you are still looking to extract something from her. If already done, go somewhere else.
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Piero Der Kommissar
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 1
Sunday, February 07, 2010

7 of us went to Roka last night. There was a little wait whilst they got our table ready (booked for 7pm) & then we were seated. We chose some drinks but we had to wait quite a while before they arrived. Our thoughts then turned to what to eat & after much discussion we decided on the tasting menu for £50 / head, our waiter then proceeded to ask us if we had eaten there before, we hadn't, he then suggested that we let him choose a nice selection for us, my face must have shown that I thought it was an odd suggestion & he told me that "I would enjoy it Madam!" , it felt a bit like I had better enjoy it or else! . The group decided to go with his suggestion, in between time we ordered some wine & sake & then waited a bit more. When the food did come it was good, standout dish was a seared tuna number. There was some trouble with our wine as the second bottle (of Phileo at £54 / bottle) did not taste right, 3 of us tried it & all agreed, the waiter took it away & bought another BUT none of the bottles of wine were actually opened in front of us at the table which is an unusual practice, especially when spending £54 each. One of my colleagues did discuss this with the waiter but they didn't seem to think this was out of the ordinary.

My overall impression was that due to the poor level of service, I would not return for a second meal.
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Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 2
Thursday, December 17, 2009

Had celebration dinner at Roka tonight, i haven't been so disgusted by a restaurant in a while.

Service is appalling, the waiting staff were ignorant and rude. For 75 pound a head for the food alone i expect to be waited on hand and foot. Instead we had staff who were half arsed and clearly couldn't be bothered to do their jobs properly, was not offered a drink once even though our glasses ran dry after ten minutes. When asked to reccommend a beverage we were told "i'm sorry i don't drink so i wouldn't know what to reccommend". The floor manager was rude and not shy at levelling dirty looks at our table when we complained at being seated in a cramped corner clearly too small for our modestly sized party.

The food was quite bland and severely overpriced. Really, the food was terrible and i have no idea how this restaurant has such a high score on here. The premium taster menu (for 2 persons only) has miniscule portions of food delivered to your tables in pairs. So it'd be a pair of dumplings (bland), a pair of wagyu beef gunken rolls (lathered in mustard), sashimi (which handily arrives in portions of 3...), over cooked lamb chops, a pair of oysters so drenched in lime and garnish it could be anything, etc etc. The desert bowl looked quite grand until you realised it was mostly ice, 3 dollops of ice cream, a packet chocolate cake and blueberrys (2 for 1 for only £2.99).

If you want VERY substandard food that is astronomically overpriced this restaurant is for you. Roka is for those lacking knowledge in good food, It's for posers who would rather be seen in a hip joint than eat somewhere that serves great food.
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The Hungriest Hippo - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Saturday, September 05, 2009

I m going a lot at the Nobu, I tryed Zuma too but I could say that Roka is my second choice after nobu. in the type of trendy japanese.

The service is ok but hostess or the manager are very rude. They both posing, and not taking care at all of the customers. They treat very badly the waiters.

We had problem there 3 times we had dinner. first we seat on the outside and the french hostess yelled at the waiter just in front of us because he let us seat!!!

next time we arrived at 9.45 and they didn't let us seat on the outside because they have to close the terrasse at 11. I promise I would have dinner in 1hour. and even though the hostess doesn't want to hear anything or didn't understand. I asked if I could talk to the manager and instead of coming and sort out what's happening, he played the model, thinking he looks like Tom Ford in the middle of the restaurant ! Obviously its not his restaurant because he might lose some customers if he pays attention only to himself !

So food is good, service good but they don't let you "enjoy" it !!!
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carole
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 5
Saturday, July 04, 2009

Either this place has really gone down-hill or there is a huge disparity in the dishes.

On previous visits I had things like tuna tartar and, black cod, Korean lamb chops, and was impressed.

This time I had California Maki, Lobster and Cod Gyoza and Tomato salad.

The California maki was good.

The Gyoza were terrible, dry mush of a filling. I can't be sure but I don't think it actually contained any seafood, it was just flour with lobster and cod flavoring.

Tomato salad also terrible, slimy dressing, overpowering bonito taste. The sliminess was just vile. I could not eat more than two bites of this and it went to waste.

With two cocktails, this was a £50 lunch for one, which represents very poor value when only one of the dishes was any good.

Lesson to be learnt, if your going all out and ordering grilled meats and fishes and some sushi and sashimi I still rate this place very highly, but its not the place for a light lunch and their experimental dishes are very poor.
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Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 3
Friday, June 19, 2009

Good but a lot of reviewers are drawing comparisons to Nobu. I personally think this pales in comparison.

Beware the pork belly. I think crispy skin is an absolute requirement. Roka doesn't. Go for the ribs though.
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Nick W
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 5
Thursday, May 28, 2009

Went with friends who booked it and what a choice, outstanding!!!!!!

Knocked spots off Hakkasan and Nobu, the food and flavours were amazing! Crab Legs are a must as is the Pork, The Ribs and the Scallops which were as big as the palm of your hand and were the best we have had. The Black Cod was as good as i've had anywhere! Busy buzzing dining area, we cannot wait to go back.
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Bram Martin
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Wow, great place. Loved this but it benefits from sharing among a large group. Bar downstairs is a nice pre-dinner social. The food is clean, fresh and attractive but is totally blown away by the amazing flavours, textures and prsentation.

This is better alternative to the Nobu experience in my opinion and this is something I have done a few times.

Good vibe to the place and different sitting arrangements for those who want to watch the chefs at work.

Next party you arrange, eat here with guests, you'll not be disappointed.
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Karl - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Tuesday, May 05, 2009

A perfect night out.. Fantastic food, amazing service and a perfect wine list. Great value for money.
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Andre Cesar
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, May 04, 2009

What an amazing restaurant!

Go for the £75 tasting menu - every dish was superb - especially the Scallops!! Mmmm..I want more...

The dessert was 10/10.....seeing is Believing!!! The staff were great too.

This is restaurant is a must...
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Matt
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Friday, April 24, 2009