Banana Tree Canteen

The food here will awaken your taste buds. Bored of Italian, curries and the usual Chinese? Try here. The platas are wonderful and give you a little bit of everything. The only downsides is it's canteen style which could be less cosy with other diners, but you'll forget that once you start to eat.
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Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Wednesday, August 22, 2007

This is one of the only places I have been, where every time I have visited (without exception) the food has been fantastic. Thoroughly recommend the spare ribs, pork and prawn dumplings and the lamb curry main (the latter being completely exceptional). Service is with a smile, atmosphere is great, prices are fair and the early bird menu is really good value.
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Kate
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, July 23, 2007

The Banana tree is a neighbourhood favourite of mine. Always great for a relaxed cheap bite out with friends. The varied menu is great (always takes me ages to make up my mind), the service is good, and the brazilian waiter there is very friendly!

A couple of tips:

Avoid sitting by the doors on a cold day as it can be a little draughty

Try the blackened chilli pork Nasi Goreng if you like a bit of spice!

and take this place with a pinch of salt. It is not high-end dining, it is quick, cheerful and tasty (like a thai Wagamama).

Enjoy!
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- View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Monday, May 28, 2007

This place rocks! Great food, friendly service and a chilled atmosphere. If you don't want to hurt your pocket but stil expect a good time this is the place. The short but well planned menu is refreshing and there are loads of interesting items. Try their Lamb Wrap and Laksa, simply wicked! They seem to be always busy so if you want a quiet meal I suggest early part of the week as you may have to queue and endure the liveliness of the weekend crowd. They deserve to be the busiest restaurant in West Hampstead. Where else can you find a place that plays Peaches by the Stranglers! Well done guys!! Keep up the cool.
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Simon Greene
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Saturday, May 12, 2007

Delicious Food and Great Service!

Never been dissapointed!

It's a MUST for anyone in London.
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Amber McConville
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Sunday, March 25, 2007

This is a great value eatery. Not sure why there have been negative reviews..I would encourage you to give it a go and ignore these! As the name suggests it is a 'canteen' dining set up...so don't go there for the romantic dinner as you may be sharing a table. However I have been there 4 or 5 times now and never shared a table.

The food is very tasty and great value for money! I highly recommend the Banana Leaf Maincourse for 8.65 where you get a choice of main course (plenty of choice too), salad (very tasty dressing) and corn cakes (yummy!).

We are slowly working though the menu and haven't found one bad dish yet!

I agree that the service needs improving, but I'm not going there for 5* service. As is often the case with cheaper places it is hit and miss with the wait staff. But for me the service was not unreasonable.

Will be back again for sure and can't wait for the warmer months when you can sit outside.
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CheekyAngel - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, January 24, 2007

This is one of our favourite neighbourhood restaurants - reasonably priced, reliable, with very friendly and fast service. You have to be in the mood for the canteen-style seating (that is, not looking for a quiet, extremely private corner to yourself), and my partner says he does think it can be a bit draughty (I have never noticed this myself), but it's hard to go wrong at the Banana Tree.

The pad thai is nice (but not amazing) and comes in huge portions - the staff will happily provide plastic take-away containers for your leftovers - and the lamb curry is particularly tasty. I'm a big fan of the salad that accompanies all main courses - I wish they offered this as a main course itself.
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Jackie Danicki
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 8
Saturday, January 13, 2007

I've been to this restaurant 5-6 times. here's my verdict: yes its crap in the winter, i avoid it like the plague as ur likely to catch your death with all the draughtiness or a cold from someone your seated right next to. best in the summer but chairs arn't comfy & also outside is on a slope which isn't the most comfortable thing in the world either. also, the view leaves a lot to be desired (scaffolding & grotty shops opposite), but nevertheless this place has a few good things on the menu; crispy lamp & moneybags are virtually faultless & u'll definately want to order more. service is shoddy most of the time (u may get lucky 1 in 4-5 times & get a polite waiter/ess who speaks good english & knows the menu). most times, food is slow to arrive as well. considering the area, value for money is pretty average for what the food is. yes, a few dishes are great, but they are average value for money, considering what they actually are. however, taking into account that you will be sitting next to someone else i.e. sharing a table, even if this is the 'style' of the restuarant, this is why i think this retaurant is not good value for money. my advice: go there alone for the couple of dishes i mentioned above (believe me its really like a canteen, u don't need company to eat here, jus take a paper or mag) or take a friend who loves snacking. talk quick, gobble quick & leave quick as they'll want to giv ur table to someone else pretty soon n even if not the environment/comfort level is such that good conversation will be hard to hold for long- hence i think overall this place is NOT great valut for money. whatever u do, definately don't take anyone u want to impress there- as i said this is not a place that'll insipre or allow a riveting conversation. better off with La Brocca, Wset Hampstead for that. or for coffee/hot choc Wet Fish Cafe WAS GREAT, not too sure about now- also service can be VERY LOUY THERE. So for a superfast yummy snack or 2 with normal prices, Bananatree Canteen is fine & dandy as long as is is fast.
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sareena
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 4
Sunday, December 24, 2006

The food is very good and is good value.

The only downside is the communal tables - don't go there for a private conversation!
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Morgan - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Great food and friendly service. Don't know what's wrong with the previous reviewer, he must be one of those posh ones who's not used to sitting on communal tables. It's all part of the restaurant's charm. It is without doubt the best place in West Hampstead. It is packed everynight so if you are after a quiet romantic first date it may just be a bit too vibrant. Their menu is short but varied. Check out thier Laksa, it's absolutely devine and their Vietnamese Lamb Wrapper is not to be missed. Don't forget to leave some space for their wide range of oriental desserts.
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Lynne Roberts
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Sunday, December 10, 2006