Yauatcha

Wonderful Restaurant

21 Apr 08, 15:03 Beyond expectations

I've been in this restaurant because I was curiouse to see it. This because I knew that Alan Yau, the owner, (famous for his Wagamama, Hakksan and Busaba Eathai), spent 4 milion pounds to create the most sofisticated and exclusive restaurant/teahouse. In fact the tea room is a very quiet place while the other annex is lively.

Yummy Cakes & Fab Dumplings!

16 Apr 08, 13:42 Above expectations

Tres chic for a treat or client lunch or dinner. Choose upstairs in the daytime for a brighter decor or downstairs for a more dark and sultry atmosphere. Delicious lunches with beautiful cocktails (Tip: the non-alocholic ones are just as good for the lightweights/healthy among us!). 9/10!

The most wonderful cakes.

15 Oct 07, 00:59 Beyond expectations

I've loved this place since it first opened, before everyone got to know it was there. Back then the staff had a little more time on their hands, and would come and sit on the little low sofa's and chairs with you to explain the plethora of teas and cakes.

Now adays its a little busier, but no less wonderful. The staff will still spend the time explaining all of the cakes to you, and you'll need them to the first time.

When you do choose, it'll be hard as all the cakes look so nice, you wont be dissapointed, and may even need to start again at the begining as they are just so tempting.

Impressive Chinese Tea Collection

10 Jul 07, 12:00 As expected

As the name suggests, Yauatcha is a place for tea. A tea room.

Decided to go there just to check out the tea collection and I was quite amazed. They must have about 100 different types of tea from Asia, having a majority from China and Taiwan, they also have teas from India and Sri Lanka.

The Tea costs from £3 per pot to around £46 per pot for a 35 year-old Puer Tea. Not an expert on tea, so I didnt try out the 35 year old Puer. They also have fully fermented tea, semi-fermented and white tea for you to choose, where white tea = no caffeine at all. It must have took us at least 30 minutes trying to choose what tea we want to try. If you are lost or confused with the selection, ask the waitresses, they are very friendly and will explain everything they know about tea to you.

We ordered 4 different types of tea and they are so different to what we used to have. I guess you really have to go and try it out to taste the difference.

Cakes and pastries were very nice and cute. I didnt want to eat them cos they look soooo nice! However they are best for decoration and just to sit on the shelf to entertain people, as none of them we ordered taste nice.

Will definately go again to try their chinese food and dim sum.

(Yauatcha is a Chinese restaurant, not Japanese)

Venison puffs! Tea cocktails! YUM!!!

21 Jun 07, 21:37 Above expectations

Christian Liaigre designed this place, probably the most stylish dim-sum restaurant and tea room on the planet. For dinner, head downstairs. Dark, moody, with electric tea candles filling niches in the stony walls and a star-flecked night sky of a ceiling, this room is high glam. Upstairs is cooler, brighter, airier, and perfect for mid-day refreshment. Now that dim-sum is served upstairs as well, you can have your cake and eat it too! And speaking of cake, don't choose from the menu. Take a walk over to the patisserie case for a personal explanation of the day's selections. Highlights include baked venison puffs, a sparkling rendition of Peking duck, and an array of weird and wonderful tea-based cocktails. True, it'll put a bigger dent in your wallet than one of those places on Queensway, but for the quality of experience, presentation, food and surroundings I'd say Yauatcha is worth it.

Star quality

06 May 07, 09:43 Above expectations

While upstairs there is a heavenly tearoom serving delicious and exquisitely crafted pastries and cakes, downstairs is far more otherworldly and hedonistic. The dark ceiling is pricked with star-like lighting, and the immaculate and beautiful staff glide round the place, clad entirely in black. It's a shame that they're not beautiful on the inside as well though, as a haughty attitude appears to be de rigueur. However, the Japanese food - majoring on dim sum - is perfectly turned out. I think this place is Michelin-starred, so expect prices that reflect that sort of pedigree. Overall, it's worth visiting purely for the incredible aesthetic, even if it does feel a little soulless.