Matsu

I am surprised by the critiques. This restaurant is by no means intended for all those wannabe 'posh' diners that expect to have their menu written in hiragana and cast around japanese terms when ordering so loud to show everyone what a social elite they are.

This place is just perfect if you like japanese cuisine and do not feel like wearing a tie, your evening gown and fake pearls. It is relaxed, friendly, and the food is really god for hte money you pay.

I lived in Japan and can tell bad Japanese food, this one is not fabulous, but for the money it is an incredible value, namely the udon noodles, tempura and avocado salad.

The sushi is rather forgetable.

The service was nice and friendly, filling up our cups with sencha tea without asking, very polite and non-intrusive. This is a true gem in Mile End area.
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MB - View all reviews by this user
9 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Monday, April 12, 2010

This place is one of the few proper restaurants in Mile End and has had mixed reviews. Its very cheap and they have a good variety of dishes. I had the Chilli-lomen and the udon noodles. The service was lovely and the waitress was really friendly. The decor isn't great but I'm not bothered by that. The food was cheap, sharing a starter and 2 mains and drinks (non-alcoholic) it came to around £20. The food just wasn't up to much. The udon dish was tasteless and the chilli-lomen looked like it was cooked with supernoodles and has some sickly sweet and sour sauce dolloped on top. Not much seafood in it either. I would much rather pay a pound or two extra and go to wagamammas.
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4 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 3
Friday, August 14, 2009

Went there tonight, and have to say it is the first thoroughly dissapointing japanese restaurant i have ever had the displeasure to dine in.

Firstly, the service took forever. We were waiting for 30 minutes+ for our food. Then when it did come, I had been cooked the wrong dish, and the waitress refused to accept that she had made a mistake.

The portions were extremely small, a spare few shreds of eel on the top of a very small handful of rice in a bento box which consisted of nothing else significant except a very large portion of standard salad. the cost of this bento box was 8.30, higher than many other places ive been to.

finally, the food was not particularly nice. The wasabi was molten and the edamame were impossible to eat as they were severly undercooked.

In conclusion this restaurant provided no value for money, poor service and small portions. you are far better off going to little japan in south kensington which provides higher quality food forhalf the price, with twice the portion.

At the same price, you could head to mai sushi in euston which has amazing food and is superior in every aspect. And for a small amount more you could go to the japan diner in leicester square, which makes up for the extra price in the fact they refuse tips, and thier cooked fish in particular is worth travelling the distance for.
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alex
3 Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 2
Tuesday, March 31, 2009