All reader reviews by Susana

Bar Shu

We really enjoyed our meal at Bar Shu. We went for dinner at around 10.15 pm, after a play at the nearby Gielgud. It was quite full and people kept on coming and replacing any table that got empty. The majority of customers were Chinese and quite trendy looking. But the best was the food. Absolutely different from the type of Chinese food we are used to. We had a prawn and nuts and a pork belly dish and were both fabulous.

Moreover, service was very friendly. We will be back.

Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8

Hakkasan

Today has been a sad day for us. Hakkasan was our absolute favourite for dim sum for many years but I think that I have to agree with previous comments. Its best days seem to be over. The place was quite empty at lunch time and the dim sum was miles away from what it used to be. This time Hakkasan resembled a very average Chinatown venue, with entirely unrefined pastry and thick and soggy Cheung Fun. It seems that we will have to look for a new exciting place.

Saturday, April 26, 2008
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 5

Hibiscus

We enjoyed a wonderful evening meal at Hibiscus last wednesday. We opted for the "winter flavours" special menu and the whole experience was faultless. The only minor downside was a table of noisy, boisterous city types that are lately becoming a standard nuisance in London restaurants.

With these standards, Hibiscus is on line for a second star next year.

Saturday, February 09, 2008
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9

Wild Honey

We had lunch a la carte at Wild Honey yesterday. The place was full, including the seats at the bar. Tables for two are extremelly close together, which is not uncommon in London but nevertheless not my favourite feature. Service verged on the caotic side; we had to claim our wine after starters had been served and had longer than desirable breaks between dishes. Same applies to our both sets of neigbouring tables. Having said that, I enjoyed my food. A hearty white onion and chesnut soup, followed by Scottish beef filet with season vegetables puree and a beautiful potato gratin. My husband complained about the blandness of his venison and hated the Jerusalem artichokes but enjoyed the terrine he had as a started. Portions are substantial so we had not enough room for desserts. Prices are very sensible and there is a good selection of wines to be had in caraffes. It is not a bad place but neither it is a very special one.

Saturday, December 29, 2007
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 7

Pied a Terre

We visited Pied a Terre on Thurday December 19th and had lunch a la Carte. This was our second time at the restaurant. We sat at the small room on the left, which was not too bad as the main restaurant sounded quite noisy as a result of several large parties celebrating the season. There is room for 4 tables for two people at the small room and all the four filled up despite we were at the late 2.15 pm slot. Freeby of pumpkin and ginger puree got high marks and we were ready for a wonderful meal. Starters were correct but not extraordinary. I had crayfish raviolo, which was blander than expected, and my husband quite enjoyed his breast of small wild duck. The main course, on the other hand, was superb. We both had plaice with apple and king scallop puree, linguine and smoked eel. Absolutely wonderful. The desert list did not appeal to us so we jumped straight to coffee and petit fours, which were fine but we have had them better elsewhere (Tom Aikens for instance)

Our neighbours on the right were known to the house, as showed by several displays by the sommelier. They actually had a very similar meal to ours but we were rather "amused" to realize that they enjoyed TWO extra freebies from the chef. One after their starter and one previous to their desert. No excuse for such an un-egalitarian behaviour!! Noboby in the other 3 tables benefited from that. I find it inappropriate to so openly treat customers differently. We like to enjoy the delicacies from the chef as well even if we do not know the waiters by their first names!!! I did not like such a behaviour, never found it anywhere, and I therefore give Pied a Terre 0 marks for service.

Sunday, December 23, 2007
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7