Chino Latino

Went to Chino with a friend for celebration dinner and was pleasantly surprised with the decor and ambience, very funky but pleasant enough to not be overpowered by music or conversation of other diners.

The Jurassic prawns we ordered were succulent and larger than usual as expected (even though we hoped for the lobster size variety..if they exist).

The best however was the mango Mojito which was prepared to perfection! All in all we came to conclusion that it would be a great first-date venue.
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Karlene
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, April 09, 2008

I generally sympathise with restaurants in hotels as drumming up interest is especially difficult for them and passing trade is virtually nil. They therefore mostly rely on word of mouth reputation or offers. I suspect it is only the latter that is keeping Chino Latino afloat. We arrived a armed with a 50% off food offer initially only mildly disturbed by the quasi-luxury of the bar area and the number of women of dubious repute at the bar.

Sure that the restaurant could only improve on the chrome pretentiousness of the bar area, I was disappointed not by the food or the atmosphere (both of which were fair to middling) but perhaps by the worst service I have ever encountered. Normally when service is this abhorrently bad one can usually put it down to a new or inexperienced waiter. In this instance however we were attened to by the Manager of the restaurant. While the rest of us were forced at pracitcally gun-point to take the set menu option one of our number was forced to go off-piste due to her being a vegetarian was told the following:

"We have a certain way of eating here. Its all about sharing - normally when people come in and want to order separately off the menu we show them the door..."

An interesting take on restaurant service I think you'll agree and one which did not improve throughout the meal as he became increasingly fawning (probably due to the realisation he had been unforgivably crass at the start of our meal). The food was reasonable with some interesting dishes but only the 50% off voucher made it palatable in the context of our end bill.

All in all, a terrible meal which goes to prove that it does not matter how good your food is (and it was by no means superb here), bad customer service will ruin any dining experience.
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Nick
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 2
Monday, November 05, 2007

Food is OK but the service in this restaurant is amongst the worst I have come across in London, which is saying something. Meals brought out at different times, wrong drinks brought and a surly response when you point out the problem and a total lack of interest make this place a real disappointment.

What is really frustrating is the outraged reaction to not paying the 12.5% tip that is added to your bill despite the service being so incompetent.

Avoid.
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David
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 3
Friday, August 17, 2007

Fantastic service, fantastic food, fantastic price. Very chic and lively place, ideal for evenings out that do not cost a packet, but where there still is a sense of sophistication!
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Neetu Sehdev
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Food and service in the restaurant OK but nothing special and slightly overpriced. Difficulty comes when you want a drink in the bar after your meal. If you are a non-resident in the hotel it is not allowed after 10.30 pm but no one tells you that before you vacate your table. Not the ideal way to end the evening so its unlikely I'll return.
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Claire
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 3
Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Don't understand why so bad reviews. We went for a Christmas party and is the ideal food. All freshly done with a sushi chef in the restaurant. Very nice staff as well. Thumbs up!!! Really nice funky atmosphere!
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Inacio Pacheco
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 7
Wednesday, December 13, 2006

I must admit I was massively dissappointed in what turned out to be a massively overpirced Wagamamas. Even the ambience, if the term can be used was sterile and unaffecting. Moreover, the mains were all served at some strange luke warm temperature that made them seem like they'd been sitting on a shelf for a good 15 mins before serving.

Not an experience i'd wish to repeat in a hurry.
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Marc Stevnson
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 0
Monday, September 18, 2006

The food and decor are great but it's a terrible, naff name for a restaurant with even more strange and terrible service.

I think the staff must be on commission to sell as much water as they possibly can.
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Gemstone
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 4
Tuesday, July 18, 2006

I liked the design, however the food and service was nt great and very expensive. however agree that non smoking is good.
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Tom Adams
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 2
Wednesday, February 15, 2006

Stayed at the hotel for 2 days and had dinner in the restaurant on the first night. The service is nothing to write home about and the prices are over over the top!! Whilst the food is OK, the prices which you pay for the dishes is OTT. Would advise to go to Nobu for a proper authentic meal and excellent service or the pizza restaurant along the road...
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Martin
Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 0
Thursday, January 05, 2006