Isarn

Dined here last friday night, and was disappointed - the food was all fine, but not as good as Busaba or other Thai restaurants I frequent. The problem is that it's horribly overpriced - £12 for a starter box for 2 people which, while well presented, contained barely enough for 1 (aside from the inexplicably generous pot of satay sauce...). The same goes for the decor - it's fine, but nothing special. I keep racking my brain trying to work out why it's so expensive; perhaps because it's "trendy" and in Islington?
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Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 2
Tuesday, July 25, 2006

Went here for Sunday lunch today, and wow it was nice, £5.90 set lunch, there is a choice of 5 or 6, I had the roast duck red curry, jasmine rice, chicken satay and a tago desert! It all came in a lovely little portioned box and was a perfect amount for lunch. The 3 other people with me also had a set lunch of some kind and all gave good reports, would go here for lunch again without a doubt, only downside was that I thought that the normal menu was a little pricy.
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Kate
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Sunday, July 23, 2006

One of the best Thai joints in London and great value as well. Excellent attention to detail in the areas that let so many other places down (fresh ingredients in sauces, high quality seafood). Don't miss out on the frozen watermelon juice or the excellent mango/rice deserts.
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Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Saturday, June 17, 2006

This is quite simply one of the best places on Upper Street. We enjoyed a delicious meal and a fabulous evening on bank holiday Monday. The service here is always courteous and effcient. We shared three perfect starters and three mains - soft shell crab and mango salad, halibut in lime and chilli dressing, and chicken with aubergine. It is great that brown rice is offered which is something I wish more places did.

My only minor criticism is that they offer a take-away service. This is slightly irritating when seated close to the bar area.

Overall this place is good value for the quality of food and service. Our bill was about £85.00 including one bottle of wine and two glaases of dessert wine
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George - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, May 30, 2006

This is one of my favourite Thai restaurants and we have always had the friendliest of service. The small garden at the back promises zen bliss on a pleasant night. We shared duck in betel leaves, morning glory, monkfish, and lamb chops which were unusual on a thai menu- all delicious. The only minor disappointment is the somewhat limited and ordinary wine list- this could do with a revamp. Otherwise, this is a place I would certainly visit repeatedly.
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Mehreen Hosain
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Friday, May 12, 2006

I think we must have gone on an off-night, reading some of these reviews! Thai is my favourite food, and this was honestly the worst Thai meal my husband and I have ever had. The starters: prawn and coconut dumplings: way to salty. Crispy mackerel soup - bland and failed to live up to expectations. Main course: grilled prawn red curry - barely any sauce (literally, a drizzle, that had gone cold as the plate was cold), and what there was was again very salty, and only 5 prawns! And the red snapper in sweet chilli sauce: disappointing. Too sweet (there are limits) and not much fish. I've had better Thai (and much much cheaper in pubs!). Meal came to just under £50 for two (including 4 beers) which I think is extortionate given the standards and the fact I've had far far better in many other places. Service was ok but not brilliant - we were near the waitresses' station but they still ignored us now and again, and it took a long time to order initial drinks. Decor is nice (this is what drew us in initially I guess, as well as the fact the food was Thai).
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Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 0
Wednesday, May 10, 2006

There is nowhere on Upper Street where I would rather dine. Isarn offers a great menu with superb quality food, time and time again. The service is excellent and the restaurant provides a vibrant and pleasant environment for an all round enjoyable dining experience. Isarn is very good value for money although the wine list is pricey. Have been there several times and not once has it disappointed.
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D Hughes - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Sunday, March 12, 2006

First impressions were good. An awkward room had been sensitively addressed with excellent lighting, and an interesting treatment of ceiling space which was erected like an overhead canopy. The predominately white room did not possess any hint of sterility thanks to the seductive ebony wood accented in the chairs, tables and wood panelling.

The menu is fairly simple, offering all the predictable Thai classics. We ordered starters of steamed coconut and prawn dumplings which reached our table cold, rendering them claggy and doughy. A satay dish failed to impress, the chicken was bashed down too thinly and strangely overly marinated. Any taste of cumin or coriander was drowned out in the sauce by the dominance of the peanuts. The duck in edible betel leafs was the only real winner, crispy and well matched with a pomegranate-like fruit.

A green chicken curry, whilst beautifully presented, lacked any guts to it yet packed an aggressively spicy punch. It was flavourless and bland which is quite an achievement when one considers the core ingredients of lemon grass and coriander are usually so fragrant and distinctive. A cloyingly overly sweet, yet under sour, deep fried red snapper was a couple of seconds overcooked. The humble dish of morning glory, stir fried asian greens with garlic, oyster sauce and soybean paste shone in its redolent simplicity.

A lotus paste desert, sparked my curiosity. A light green jelly with an overlay of coconut milk was interesting and definitely worth a try, for the sheer novelty factor if nothing else.

Though the food failed to deliver on a number of levels there was something appealing about this restaurant. It stands out for posessing a degree of professionalism and thought regarding the finer details The predominantly Thai waitresses were competent and charming, and also knowledgeable about the food. The fashionable venue had also attracted a crowd not necessarily associated with Upper Street. Definately a good thing.

However, the fundamental question remains, will I return and the answer is sadly no. For £60 for two, without wine, there are so many other restaurants I would rather give my money to.
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Gastrochick
Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 2
Monday, January 16, 2006

Have revisited this place three or four times since October. My last visit was on Saturday and I just have to reiterate that the food is always absolutely delicious. This consistency is so impressive. As well as the monkfish green curry and garlic prawns I would now recommend the red snapper - really zingy and fresh. I always find the service friendly and attentive too. The venue is small (don't expect grand dining) but intimate and they have made excellent use of the space and butterfly theme. I highly recommend it for good Thai food.
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Lucy - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 6
Monday, January 09, 2006

My partner took me here for our anniversary. We were very disappointed by the food- it was overly expensive, we were given laughably tiny portions and it was bland. The service wasn't much better. Waiting staff shoved us into a cramped corner, were abrupt and forgot our requests for drinks. I would definitely not recommend anyone dine here. It is far too expensive and we didn't appreciate their booking system whereby they try to hurry you out as soon as you finish eating in order to get the next lot of customers in. This is not an enjoyable dining experience. If you are really into Thai food, go to Nid Tang- possibly the best in London.
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Debbie - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 1
Tuesday, January 03, 2006