Claire C.

Review of The Gaucho Grill

18 Oct 07, 19:24

Steak out

If you're looking for tip top steak in London, this be one of your best bets. It's now become a mini chain with several outposts around the city, but it still seems to have managed to maintain standards.

This place spreads over several floors with a downstairs bar with a mirrored ceiling and mirrored tables which make for interesting people spying opportunities. There's a huge amount of cowhide all over the place, mixed with ornate chandeliers and very, very low lighting. It's almost got a clubby feel to it.

Upstairs is the main dining room - there's a real buzz here and the customer base mixes big groups of friends and colleagues round large tables with couples gazing into each others eyes.

Starters are all interesting but go for something light to avoid filling up before the main event. The ceviches are good - crisp, interesting flavours with a bit of a twist.

Then the steak - (there are other main options but why would you bother?) - it's superb. A number of different cuts are available in a number of different sizes, served plain or with one of several sauces. I usually have a plain small Lomo cooked rare and it's sublime - melt in the mouth tender.

Sides are expensive for the size of portion but tasty for all that - the potato with chorizo is very good indeed, as are the chips and the spinach.

Two courses with sides, a bottle of wine and two pre-dinner cocktails weighed in at about £60 a head including service.

Well worth it for simply fantastic steak.

1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.

Review of Shochu Lounge

18 Oct 07, 19:13

Show me the Shochu

I touched on this place briefly in my review of Roka, but it's worthy of its own. While a lot of people will only see it fleetingly while waiting for a table, if you want a sleek evening in slick surroundings, it definitely fits the bill.

Although I've never eaten down here, they apparently they also serve the full Roka menu so if you can't get a table upstairs, see if you can sneak in downstairs.

The dark, subterranean lounge has a bit of Bond feel to it. You can just imagine a seductive Bond girl being plied with a shot or two of Shochu before the baddies pile in and James is forced to impale a couple of evil geniuses on chopsticks, before returning to sweep her away to some silk-sheeted bed.

Anyway, delicious cocktails come at a price, so unless someone else is paying, it's probably best to restrict yourself to just one. I'm a particular fan of the Lychee Martini but whichever of their fresh fruit / alcoholic combos you choose, you're probably not going to be disappointed.

1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.

Review of Roka

18 Oct 07, 19:05

Roka rocks!

I really like this place - it's always got a buzzy, busy vibe, and sitting at the wooden bar and watching the chefs cook up tasty asparagus spears and chicken wings over a charcoal grill really whets your appetite

That said, I usually come just for the sushi - which has never yet disappointed me. The sashimi is deliciously fresh and beautifully presented and the tuna tataki salad with mustard and apple dressing with its fresh sharp flavours is a particular favourite.

If you're swigging back a bunch of cocktails or a lot of wine, that will really bump the price up, but it's possible to have a great sushi feast without feeling like you can only afford to eat rice for the next two weeks.

Get there early and have a drink downstairs in Shochu if you can. Even if you're not a sake fan, they do great lychee martinis and the like.

1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.

Review of Hakkasan

29 Sep 07, 18:13

Gold-plated Chinese

As the previous reviewer noted, this is about as far from your local Chinese as Shanghai is from Tottenham Court Road.

Who would have thought that a former underground car park could be so glamorous? Tucked away down an unprepossessing side alley off Tottenham Court Road, descending into Hakkasan is like shimmying your way onto a James Bond film set. It's all just very dark and shiny and slick.

Start off with a cocktail at the long, long bar - some elegant concoction is the perfect introduction to a stylish evening. Then it's on to the food.

If you're a Chinese fan, you won't be disappointed - it is beyond delicious. It's all very high quality and either the platinum version of a common dish, or offers a twist on a traditional dish.

But this sort of high style dining comes at a price. If you're penny pinching or concerned about cash, don't bother. This is an expensive joint and fretting over the inevitable three figure bill is only going to spoil your enjoyment.

1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.

Review of Ping Pong Dim Sum

29 Sep 07, 17:25

Upmarket dim sum

I'm kind of surprised by the average reviews for this place because I've always had a lot of time for it.

Decor is slick and vaguely oriental, there's a no bookings policy which can mean a bit of a wait, especially if you're in a big group, but you can usually find space at the bar and linger over a cocktail or two while you're waiting.

The cocktails are imaginative and original - try a grape caipiroska or their signature cocktail which is very lychee heavy.

Once ordered, food comes quickly - a huge range of steamed dumplings is probably the strongest, although the buns and the jasmine chicken wraps are delicious too.

I'll concede that unless you're a big group, the round tables downstairs can seem a little strange, but there is plenty of bar space and smaller tables upstairs.

Plus, while prices aren't as cheap as they are in nearby Chinatown, for the food, the ambience and the experience, it's value for money.

1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.