All reader reviews by BEANS

Brasserie St. Jacques

In a different part of London, or perhaps better a more provincial town like Bath, this restaurant would do very well. Sadly, situated as it is within a stones through of Le Caprice, the Wolseley, and other power houses of dining excellence, the place won't survive very long.

The food was just too average. I like the big airy room, but its emptiness had a rather deadening effect on things. It also made the maitre d' nervous - he seemed to think that full-on 'Ratatouille' style French cliche would liven up the experience. Full marks for effort, but eventually he was just irritating.

Egg on toast soaked in a rich meaty stock was nice enough, if a little like food for old people. Main course of kidneys and mash was overcooked and like eating conkers. Pudding was creme caramel and was, well, creme caramel. It's nice even when processed and out of a plastic supermarket pot, so I don't count it in my food score. Creme caramel is cheating, on St James's street anyway.

Most of all though I was reminded how the cliched French dining experince belongs to my parent's generation. It felt like time travel in modern, cosmpolitan London, and I don't want to go back again.

Saturday, September 27, 2008
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 3

Hunan

My girlfriend and I went to Hunan for my birthday dinner, thrilled to be going at last to such a lauded restaurant (online at least). I was hoping to irresponsibly blow a huge wad of cash on the the best meal of my life so far.

How UTTERLY dissappointing. The food was simply one notch above the standard Chinese that one can find anywhere in London. Perfectly tasty and fresh, but nowhere near knock-out. If it was half the price I would rate it a bit higher, but the meal cost the best part of £190. Completely ridiculous. The apparently charming 'no menu' routine is actually just a brilliant ruse to make you spend more - it is the last time I leave my ordering entirely in the hands of the bloke who owns the restaurant. They won't get away with it for long.

I wonder if we went on an off night, because Hunan bore no resemblance to the restaurant that my fellow reviewers ate in.

Saturday, September 27, 2008
Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 0