All reader reviews by the golden palate

Ittenbari

ittembari is a new restaurant in brewer st... well there are a few japanese places already in the area To this stage it will become little japan..

after seeing the front and the menu i decided to wait (about 20 minutes) for a taste of their menu.. i ordered the noodles with the seafood sauce. There are two bowl sizes (greedy me, i ordered the big one). and also the gyoza (i just love them). Unfortunately the dumplings were not great, a bit dry and it came with a vinegary sauce instead of the usual soya sauce. and also rather pricey for the quality. anyway. first impressions about the noodle bowl, (besides i could take a bath on it)

looked pretty. The broth was rather tasty. and the noodles very good quality too, as for the meat that was on the top. two big slices of pork (i believe it was pork), was not that great... the egg was boiled and split in two with the yolk liquidized.....

overall was ok. but it could be a lot better... still i will give it another shot since there are other things in the menu apart from the noodles that seems to be the highlight from the menu...

Saturday, April 28, 2012
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 6

Rasa Sayang Express

Being this place so closed from work and wanting to go several times i decided to go and hoped the place was ok. I mean it could be worse but the place was only ok.

the deco is awful. and i mean awful. the restaurant is very unwelcoming.

This is not a restaurant to say the least. this is a take away place with some tables in it.

I ordered beef rendang. the beef was tender and spicy and came with rice on the side. It looks like the portion was really tiny but after mixing it, portion was ok. and the price not bad. As a side i ordered won tons. It comes with some sauce, i think sweet chilli, but so so so little that after one go almost all the sauce is gone.

apart from that the won tons were cooked in a way to hot oil so it cooked in the outside well better said burned in the outside and not really cooked on the inside. still not bad.. I think this place could do better with some tlc. but i do not think they do care about it. looks more like a tourist trap rather than a restaurant that wants to get customers in. the other rasa sayang.. (the one without the express on the name) is better or at least i remembered it as a better restaurant even if i went long time ago.... i would drop the express as it gives a bad impression. i do not know call it rasa sayang 2 for example.

i have to go again yes. but it is not bad for the prices but it can be better by making it look a bit more than a restaurnant and less than a kebab shop.

Thursday, January 12, 2012
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 8

Banana Tree (Soho)

wow wow wow i normally do not pay attention to the service but this one was really shocking. i mean i was the only person in the restaurant. that is really scary... why a restaurant that looks cool in the outside and on the inside can be empty. anyway i gave it a shot and i read the menu. the person who attended me was ok at the beginning but i tell you later. he asked me if i needed any help etc.. after reading the menu i order egg rice and sautee lamb with karee pata and cashew nuts. the rice was lovely but with a bowl that would remind you a thimble (well i am exaggerating but it was not too big and the price really was steep for the portion. anyway the rice was great very eggy, yes it was cooked in the moment as for the lamb was good but not great. this restaurant is expensive and food is a far cry from those in busaba eathai. i am comparing it with this restaurant because in some way the presentation and the way the plate is lay out reminds me of busaba. but busaba is way better. i am not sure what is this people thinking about.

the fact that the restaurant was empty when other restaurants were packed tells you that the prices are too high. but is ok but it is not great. i enjoyed a lot more tuk tuk were the food is good and so so cheap. if only the prices in banana tree were cheaper they would attract a lot more people . by the way the portion of the lamb was on the tiny side. ooops i forgot i also order the chicken wings.. ok not bad. and somehow the price was right. if maybe with one or two more of those tiny wings... they were so small that i bet they were from a new born chicken. the worse of all was that as i was alone they forgotten about me. it really shocked me that the only waiter on side was with a laptop writing whatever he was writing and people walking about doing nothing and ignoring me.. it looked as if they were closing but they were not... it after 4 and i mean pm.

will i go back to this place. i am not sure really. it let me down. again also the music. they should stick with an style possibly not rap. but it was switching from one style to other. anyway the worse was the service.... too bad to believe it. when someone is rude has probably a bad day when someone is passing you and ignoring you that is another story....

Thursday, January 05, 2012
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 6

Assa (Soho)

i have been in this place about three times. i ordered the rice and the main.

korean food is normally spicy and has influences of chinese and japanese food.

so do not be surprised to find teriyaki chicken, etc..... but also classics from the korean food as kimchi. they do a few hot pots. but apparently you need more than one person in order to enjoy it. the food as far as i taste it is fantastic.

you will be surprised to see that mostly koreans come to this place. maybe because they do serve the real thing. It is true the staff do not speak english very well but they do their best and i am there to eat and enjoy the food and they are there to serve it. i only expect some respect and at the moment i have not been ignored.

If you want tea be free to order it. it is cold ok (well room temperature). and is free. so enjoy something for free.

food is truly delicious even something as simple as plain rice is cooked with perfection (well the two first visits and slightly overcooked the last one but still good). the sides (the bean sprouts with sesame oil, kimchi , very good too. and the seaweed, the one i liked it the least, maybe because of the marinade. i think they marinade it with lemon or something citrusy. i think when you order two of them they bring the three of them giving you one of them for free. not bad.

i love the chilli lamb and pork i think so so so tender than it will melt in your mouth.

needless to say i will come again and try different things. so far i think this is one of the best korean restaurants in the area. there are more and more korean restaurants in london and normally they tend to be on the expensive side.

Thursday, January 05, 2012
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8

Dishoom

well, i think i should come again and check about this place. on my first visit i was impressed. very good food. portions looks small but they are not.

i ordered the lentil mulligatawny soup. the soup came way too hot but still delicious. very tasty. also ordered the lamb biryani. well in this case.. it comes with loads of rice. and almost none of the lamb.. anyway i had to dig in in order to find the pieces of lamb at the bottom. bit chunks of it, rather tender, overall nice dish but a bit too expensive for what you get. the calamari was fantastic. delicious.. garlic nan was very good too.

i wanted to order the lemonade but they did not have any at all. so i went for the thums up coke.. rather nice anyway in a massive bottle.

overall this is a good place to go and will try again. maybe by not ordering an starter and leaving room for the dessert. i will go back only if the biryani had more meat and less rice... pity about that...

Saturday, December 10, 2011
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 7

Tuk Tuk Thai Noodle Bar

went again today to this place. and again it did not disappoint me at all.

food keeps being great and service is ok..

i went for rice, and stir fry chicken. and tea... yes i always have tea..

all round perfect. honestly for what you pay you can not complain but i think i would not complain if it was a wee bit more expensive.

i will come back again next time...

Saturday, December 10, 2011
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 9

Misato

i passed by so many times and i never had the courage to get in..

I mean the place looks really run down but i took the gamble and went in last time.

I order chicken terikayi and tea. It came in a huge plate, really big, with some salad an one cherry tomato, some rice ad the chicken teriyaki.

To be honest i was expecting to dislike this place a lot but actually even if prices are very cheap the food is actually quite good. not bad at all. chicken tender, salad fresh, rice perfectly cooked. I mean no problem at all. all great. and prices really cheap... Tea was good too. I also ordered calpico (i could live on this drink i just love it). I was almost for sure thinking that the drink would be watered with loads of water but it was very tasty and strong flavour, if it was watered with water i could not notice it at all. Well i mean that overall everything was great and i will give it a shot to one of the bento boxes. maybe it will be better than tokyo diner at a fraction of its price. who knows.. can not wait to give it a second shot to this place.

If i have to complaint about something, well it does not look very clean. toilets are pretty much a disgrace. but better not to think about it. but it could do a lot better with some refurbishment on the basement..... but anyway... nothing can be round perfect.

Saturday, December 10, 2011
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8

Kua'Aina

I went to this restaurant a couple of days ago. You have to order and pay before getting your food. I do not know if this is a good idea. Despite having tables on the ground floor (where i was seating down myself) and downstairs, i got the feeling this is more of a takeaway place. Anyway down to business. The menu is all about hamburgers and sandwiches and some sides.. I order sandwich in which you can choose the bread, white or brown. My order was chicken teriyaki and grilled pineapple, you see even the name is yummy. In fact it was really yummy and sweet potatoes crips also an orangina that you have to take from the fridge and then pay all together. The prices are expensive. £7.20 for a sandwich is really expensive. the bread is almost wafer thin and despite the quality it is not really worth the prices. I guess i will come back for another sandwich but honestly i think is better to get a proper meal for about the same price in any other restaurant.

Saturday, October 15, 2011
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 3

Manchurian Legends

i wanted to come here after reading a few reviews raving on how good this place is. I took the risk and tried for myself. The deco of the place is everything but chinese or i was too dumb to see the connextion, but i liked it. burgundy walls, and black and white tiles and clocks everywhere, even if they were not working, at least the one i could see. I sat down on the first floor, so thumbs up fo the deco,

the menu has some pictures, be aware portions are very big and the pictures completely mislead you into thinking they are small. I ordered the ribs,,,, I was expecting spicy since where are talking about an area where food is spicy but i was dissapointed about the spicyness. Still nice and tasty, I also ordered the chilly rice which was the nicest of the lot. The dumplings were not as great as i thought. I ordered soya sauce since it came with no sauce at all. but they waiter came with vinegar telling me it will work better with the dumplings. it was true, and it saved it the dish, still i do not think i will order the 8 dumplings. I might give it a go for the two big dumplings..... tea was very good too. service was brilliant and the whole bill came for less than 20 quid.. i will come back here but i will try something else.. maybe something daring as tripe, or something similar...

Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8

Mooli's

this place is very tiny and the menu is really limited. it is a good thing sometimes. they do some rolls, and some sides.. i only had the goat, the chicken and the beef. still i have more to try. but overall they are all great. The price is a bit expensive but those are the prices you are suppose to pay for being in soho. The rolls are amazing.... i find them tasty, juicy and rather spicy but without being too spicy. the combination might not be for everyone.. they put pomegranate in one of them. but it is the adventurous recipes what keeps this place going.

i need to try the vegetarian versions... and i will see. but overall this place is very good. I had lassi once and i did not love it... just a tiny flaw, but people love their lassies.....

Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 7

Wong Kei

i used to come a lot to this place. then i stopped coming because the food started to let me down. i have not come for a long time but last time i felt like giving it a go. and i fell that this place is not at all the one it used to. i am not talking about the service. service has changed for those who think is more important than the food, the service is a lot more polite than before. i am talking about the food. the pork chop used to be great.. juicy and good portions.. but in particular juicy and tender or rather tender for what you pay for. take into account this is not an expensive place. but wong kei has risen its prices several times and the quality is worse and worse.. that pork chop was a far cry from what it used to. and it took ages even if the place was rather empty . i am feeling this team does not give a toss about the customers (if they ever did), but at least food was a lot better before.. i do not think i will ever return to this place i have known for 12 years... Pity.... maybe it will become a tourist trap. At least it will be a cheap tourist trap. but it is not worth it despite the cheap prices.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 5

Tokyo Diner

i have been to this place today after i have been passing by so many times..so this time i decided to give it a shot.

I got a nice table on the ground floor, i have not been downstairs, and i have not seen downstairs. they bring you tea and crackers when you are seated.

It took me some time to order.. but i went finally for the bento box.. ton katchu bento box, ton meaning pork. and also i order some chicken kara age . that came with a lovely sauce that you have to pour on.

The food was quite good but not amazing. The bento box had some stuff i did not know what it was and never had before. overall was good. Price wise i think is a bit steep but then again is in the middle of chinatown. I had tea for free, very nice tea by the way.

i did not need to have so much tea, and only asked once. since they did refill it about three times...... all the food was rather good as i said and the portions are huge. rather big.

i certainly will go back to this place and try something different rather than the bento box.. It was rather quiet when i ate today but there was no music at all. I really love the deco of the place and the fact the waitresses are around so they can be call if needed without being intrusive.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 6

Koya

the meal in koya restaurant was a total experience. i am a person who do not eat much. if you expect big portions do not come here.. food is amazing, amazing, amazing, but the portions are not so amazing. had the best noodles ever and that broth was just heaven. i enjoy every minute of it. i would go there again and again. first experience was great and i hope it will be again great next time.. can not wait to go again.

Thursday, February 10, 2011
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7

Franny's

i am surprised about the good reviews of this restaurant.

I went there just to try a new place... i really like the concept of the restaurant, like the fact it has an art gallery on top floor.

when i arrived there the service was speedy and attentive but the coke i ordered and was overpriced and flat. i do not expect coke from the "tap" when you pay that amount of money. i was hoping for the famous coke bottle or at least for a can of coke...

Well.. the starter was calamari, and even if the sauce that came with it was excellent the calamari were burnt due to way too hot oil. so the outside was burnt and the inside not cooked enough. anyway the sauce saved it. but it is a silly mistake that could make the starter a good starter.. the pizza was the one with squash and italian sausage. the balance of flavours were right but on the sweet side. a bit less of squash and more of sausage would have been perfect.. i might give it a go again since it was only my first time but i am sure i will not go for the starters and no way for the coke... i sometimes think that it came from a two litre bottle. i should have complained about it but did not bother..... anyway. will give it a go again. and lets see what happens.

Thursday, February 10, 2011
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 4