All reader reviews by The Hungriest Hippo

Roka

Had celebration dinner at Roka tonight, i haven't been so disgusted by a restaurant in a while.

Service is appalling, the waiting staff were ignorant and rude. For 75 pound a head for the food alone i expect to be waited on hand and foot. Instead we had staff who were half arsed and clearly couldn't be bothered to do their jobs properly, was not offered a drink once even though our glasses ran dry after ten minutes. When asked to reccommend a beverage we were told "i'm sorry i don't drink so i wouldn't know what to reccommend". The floor manager was rude and not shy at levelling dirty looks at our table when we complained at being seated in a cramped corner clearly too small for our modestly sized party.

The food was quite bland and severely overpriced. Really, the food was terrible and i have no idea how this restaurant has such a high score on here. The premium taster menu (for 2 persons only) has miniscule portions of food delivered to your tables in pairs. So it'd be a pair of dumplings (bland), a pair of wagyu beef gunken rolls (lathered in mustard), sashimi (which handily arrives in portions of 3...), over cooked lamb chops, a pair of oysters so drenched in lime and garnish it could be anything, etc etc. The desert bowl looked quite grand until you realised it was mostly ice, 3 dollops of ice cream, a packet chocolate cake and blueberrys (2 for 1 for only £2.99).

If you want VERY substandard food that is astronomically overpriced this restaurant is for you. Roka is for those lacking knowledge in good food, It's for posers who would rather be seen in a hip joint than eat somewhere that serves great food.

Saturday, September 05, 2009
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0

Kulu Kulu Sushi (Shelton St)

Best Sushi in London If you want the best tempura and salmon handrolls.

Best Sushi in London If you want the best soft shell crab handrolls.

Best Sushi in London If you want the most generously sized nigiri.

Best Sushi in London If you want the best salmon rolls.

Best Sushi in London If you want the best value for money.

Perpetual 10% offer. Aubergine is nice, other dishes are nice enough, but i usually stick to the above almost exclusively.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10

Bertorelli (Charlotte St)

Was unfortunate enough to have not done a little research online before visiting this place with some friends. Much like my main course, this review wont be very substantial:

- The price is ridiculous.

- The serving sizes are pathetic.

- Standard of food is average, but when coupled with the price, is downright offensive.

- Presentation of the food was messy.

- Ambience was lacking, it's quite sterile.

- Cover charge + service charge totaling over 20% was the kind of ending i expected and received. Denied.

Walked home and made a B-line to the fridge for a real meal.

Monday, July 07, 2008
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0

C&R Restaurant

The food here is average. This is a lazy chefs take on malay cuisine. The C&R located in chinatown is staffed by rude people, and the basement seating area smells like a public toilet. The restaurent near Bayswater is far cleaner and staffed by attentive and polite people. The food is better also.

Desserts here are very nice, its not often you can find chendol and ice kachan in london. Its pretty good value for money, and some main dishes are pretty tasty, you could do worse if you feel like some comfort food that doesn't stretch the wallet.

Friday, June 20, 2008
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 8

Yakitoria

I have been to this restaurent twice. Both experiences were bad.

On my last visit i ordered salmon sashimi, black cod and a soft shell crab roll. The salmon sashimi was average quality. Considering the price, i expected either a large amount of fish or a very fatty cut of salmon. It was Yo sushi quaility but double the price.

The black cod was nice, but came at a ridiculous price considering the meagre amount of fish served. I sent the woft shell crab back as there were a few rolls with a pea sized amount of soft shell crab. They must have used quarter of a soft shell crab for 6 pieces which is DISGUSTING considering the price. Please avoid.

Friday, June 20, 2008
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0

Yakitoria

Service: Good, quick to deliver menus and get drinks onto the table. Quite attentive.

Food: Poor. Ordered soft shell crab roll, had to send it back due to insufficient crab (approx 1 pea size of crab per roll), sloppy rolling technique (rice everywhere and uneven distribution) and padding with red pepper...seriously. Rainbow roll was average, insufficient fish for the price paid.

Cod and Sea Bass for mains, quite tasty but overpriced for the meager amount of fish offered.

Overall, it was a waste of time and money, do not go to this restaurant.

Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 0

Okawari (West End)

Really great rolls, well designed with a good mix of flavours and well made, tasty rich sashimi. Food always leaves me satisfied.

Thursday, September 13, 2007
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 8