All reader reviews by swiss_gourmet

Papaya Tree

Went there with my family and left the place very unimpressed. Service and food were very poor with the waitress barely understanding english and naming courses by their number.

But even more disappointing was the food. Although the taste was not bad (not great) either the size of the portions was so ridiculous. Even with a small appetite one would leave the place hungry. I'd say that none of our dishes had more than 60-80grams of meat in it and once you remove the veggies, this is it.. My chicken sweet and sour had actually 6 pieces of chicken.

The chicken skewers is probably the best option for a starter while I would recommend to stay away from the Minced shrimps toast and the wontons. The 2 desserts we ordered were pan fried and so greasy that we could barely taste the banana.

Add to that the bill which came at c.£110 for 4 people. And please don't get me wrong, I'm a huge fan of asian cuisine and wouldn't mind paying more for quality food.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 1

Sophie's Steakhouse

I go to Sophie's every other month and still haven't been disappointed.

Food: A must at Sophie's is the meat. Apart from Goodman, I can't think of any other places where the meat always comes so tasty and tender. The beef is dry aged for 28 days and always cooked to perfection, even if the guests of a same table have various requirements. I had the 10oz ribeye with mashed potato and ratatouille, and two of my guests ordered the Chateaubriand (for 2 people) while the 4th guest had the 7oz rump. Mashed potato is very tasty and so is the ratatouille. If you are more a desert kind of person, I recommend the Lemon meringue pie or the creme brulee..

Wine: The wine list is reasonably priced, with a very good value for money house wine.

Service: In spite of the rush, waiters are always friendly and do their best effort to please you.

Atmosphere: The place can be a bit noisy at times so if you are looking for a quiet place for a romantic date, it's maybe not the right place

Price: Including service, deserts, 4 glasses of wine and soft drinks, the bill came at £135 for 4 people.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8