All reader reviews by roses

Elena's L'Etoile

I visited this restaurant last Friday early evening with a friend. We arrived at 6.30pm and were the second table to be seated.

It was a nice, pleasant evening. Service was excellent throughout and the food very tasty. We each went for three courses which were nicely presented and well spaced out over the two hours we were there.

We booked using a special offer and it was ok priced at £51 inc £9 tip. The drinks were a bit on the expensive side, £5.50 for a glass of cranberry juice but the remainder of the food was reasonable.

It was a nice restaurant and I wouldn't hesitate in recommending to anyone in going.

Monday, March 19, 2012
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 5

Sen Nin (Islington)

I had very high expectations after reading all the reviews and was sorely disappointed. We were greated by a grumpy waitress who, despite the restaurant being barely 10% full both when we arrived and left, told us we must finish our food within one hour and fifteen minutes.

The chef at the teppanyaki station put on a good show but the food was mediocre at best. There was not a huge amount of food either. We had the sumo meal which consisted of 2 steamed chicken dumplings, two small maki rolls, 4 king prawns, half a fish fillet and half a steak followed by what tasted like an Iceland defrosted cheesecake slice.

Definitely not worth the full menu price of £45 and pushing it at the special offer of 50% off at £25.

Friday, October 28, 2011
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 1

Alounak (Bayswater)

I visited this restaurant with 3 friends after hearing all the rave reviews from other friends. We arrived at 8.30pm on a Friday night & had to queue for 45 min outside in the freezing cold. The woman in front of me told me that she came the previous Tuesday and had to queue even on a Tuesday night.

I heard great things about the specials so after trying to get the grumpy waitress's attention for 10 minutes only to be told they had sold out. So all we were left with was chicken kebab, lamb kebab or minced kebab. So we all had kebab.

The kebab was nice but it's not somewhere I would want to queue for again. All the waitresses were grumpy and did not deserve the 10% tip they slapped onto the bill. I might try visiting again one day but it will be to try the famous specials only and it definitely won't be on a week end.

Wednesday, March 03, 2010
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 5

Paradise By Way Of Kensal Green

I last visited Paradise just before Christmas. It must have been an off day for the chef last year as I went again for dinner on Friday night and had a completely different experience.

The whole place had a really warm and welcoming ambience. We started off with the mushroom soup and the foie gras. The mushroom soup was divine. The chateaubriand steak was so soft and not a single bit of fat in it. The chips and greens were delicious. We finished off with the salty caramel chocolate mouse which again was another good choice.

Our waitress Carmen was very attentive all night long and ensured we were never without anything. In terms of service and food quality, Paradise is now ranked right at the top of my list of favorite places in London to visit.

The 50% off offer gives amazing value for money. For such a shabby location in Kilburn it's a really unexpected gem. It's definitely on my list of regular places to visit.

Saturday, February 20, 2010
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10

Paradise By Way Of Kensal Green

This was my second visit in one week because I was so amazed by the food last time. Unfortunately this time it didn't quite live up to the same expectations. We ordered two starters, both of which were very good and decent sized portions. Then we had the steak for a main course. This time round instead of being the tender, tasty steak that we enjoyed last week, this one was very salty, incredibly chewy and full of fat and grissle.

The bill came to £30 for 2 people having 2 courses & a coke each. If the steak had been as good as last week then I would have said this was fantastic value for money but with this current meal, we went elsewhere for dessert since we didn't enjoy the main.

Thursday, December 17, 2009
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 3

Imperial City

I visited this restaurant last night with a large group of people. I can't say I agree with the comments about the service below. Throughout the meal, the waiters and waitresses were very attentive and provided a very high standard of service. If anything, the service was a bit too quick as our starters came 5 minutes after ordering and our main course was brought out literally as soon as our starter plates were cleared.

I am usually not a fan of Chinese food at all. But this place, the food was very palatable. It tasted freshly made and had none of the Chinese gloop you normally find.

I can't comment on the value for money as I didn't see the bill.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 5

Paradise By Way Of Kensal Green

I visited this restaurant on Friday lunchtime with low expectations as I was not convinced that the food could be so good in such a shabby location. I was completely wrong. We booked using the 50% off a la carte deal. The waitress explained that the deal was either the 3 courses for £13 or 50% off a la carte if I order one dish (£8 each not including the discount). We opted for the 3 course menu at £13 and what a treat it was. The salami starter was delicious, the steak was huge and fantastic and dessert divine. Service was excellent throughout. The meal timings were perfect. The bill came to £107 including tip and drinks for 5 people which was just amazing value for money. This will definitely become a regular on my list. Such a shame it took me over 2 years to visit this place when I live so close by.

Sunday, December 13, 2009
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10

The India

I visited this restaurant on a Friday evening. For an off the beaten track location, it was nearly full and it seemed everyone here had a table booked.

It's a lovely restaurant which looks like an underground cave with three tunnels where all the diners seat.

We ordered the chicken tikka starter which was fantastic and soft and the shish kebab. For the main course we had chicken tikka masala, a bit too much coconut for my liking, and a balti which was very tasty. Naan and rice very good.

My only complaint was the service was very slow. One table of 4 people walked out as they were trying to get some attention to order food and after 15 minutes they gave up and left. Also our bill was incorrect. We were charged an extra £9 for drinks which we did not have.

I would go back as it's a lovely ambience and the food was really good. But just don't have high expectations about the service and make sure you check your bill!

Friday, November 27, 2009
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7

Halal Of Marble Arch

Me, my mum and niece had Sunday lunch here. It doesn't look like anything special from the outside or in. For the centre of Bayswater, prices are exceptional value for money. We had three kebabs, chips, drinks and a coffee for only £16. Portions were generously sized and the meat was so tender and soft. I had plenty to eat at 2pm and still wasn't hungry by the time dinner came round. It was really really tasty and I'll definitely be back.

Sunday, November 15, 2009
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10

Stef's Italian

Went to this restaurant on a Saturday night and took advantage of the 3 courses for £20 offer. Restaurant was completely full. The calamari start was quite a large portion and very tasty. I had the veal for my main course. I was pretty surprised when it arrived as all I got was two tiny slices of veal, about the size of a bacon medallion! I thought I would still be hungry after but it was actually incredibly filling and very tasty. My partner loved his fish risotto. Dessert of the chocolate cake was not so good. It was supposed to be served hot with a melting centre but was nearly cold and was probably sitting around for awhile as the waitress brought it to the table within 2 minutes of me ordering. The pana cotta was delicious.

Service was excellent throughout and it was fantastic value for money.

Sunday, November 15, 2009
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9

Kings Road Steakhouse & Grill - Marco Pierre White

After reading all the fantastic reviews, I had very high expectations of this restaurant.

It's quite a walk from the nearest tube station which was the first disadvantage as we had to walk very fast for 20 minutes in order not to be late for our booking.

Service was excellent throughout the meal, all staff members were very attentive.

Throughout the evening, I was absolutely freezing. There was a very cold breeze blowing from above and also by my feet. At first I thought it was just me until the woman on the adjacent table complained and asked the manager to turn the temperature up a bit. It was also incredibly noisy from an adjacent table of 10 people and I had a headache from the noise when we left.

Food was nice but not the wow I was expecting after reading the reviews. Price was very expensive, £90 for 2 starters, 2 main courses & a bottle of wine including the 50% discount.

Sunday, September 06, 2009
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 1

Villandry

I visited Villandry this evening with my boyfriend and I have to say I disagree completely with most of the reviews posted below.

I visited this restaurant based on the recommendation of a friend who went a year ago and I was not disappointed as the high quality of food as not changed at all.

I took advantage of the meal discount. Prices nare on average about £20 for a main course and £6 for a starter/dessert. I had a charcuterie platter for my starter and to be honest I was not hugely impressed as it was a relatively small portion for the £10 price tag.

This was followed by one of the most fantastic steaks I have ever had in London. It was a sizeable portion and incredibly tasty. It was a very high quality thick cut of beef.

Dessert was, like the starter, mediocre.

Based on how amazing the steak was, I hold a very high opinion of this restaurant as the normal piece of meat I seem to get this days is a limp, fatty cut in most other places.

Including a starter, main course and coke, the bill came to a very reasonable £25 including service.

Friday, September 04, 2009
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 10