AA Gill - Sunday Times

What did he think? "Mien Tay may well be the best Vietnamese restaurant in London".
Choice quote: "The only thing I really, really wanted, the thing that I love above all the dog and terrapin of Vietnam's wide cuisine, is pho, the deep, do-it-yourself bowls of broth with added fresh herbs, chilli, vinegar and soy. Mine was made with beef and noodles, and it was heaven — worth going to Battersea for all on its own."
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Fay Maschler - Evening Standard

What did she think? A tiny place but perfect for food theatre and excellent sushi.
Choice quote: "...sushi looking like a box of chocs but in the colours of nature: it was a well-paced, totally gratifying meal."
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Jay Rayner - Observer

Estimated score

What did he think? Excellent sushi and unlike anything else in London, but let down by poor rice.
Choice quote: "The attention to detail – the way slices of spring onion were balanced here, or shining balls of bright-orange salmon roe were clustered there – beggared belief. The eel was especially good. But the rice both here, and on a subsequent course of sliced wagyu beef, seared and presented nigiri style, made us mourn self-consciously."
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Lisa Markwell - Independent

What did she think? Impressed by the value and quality of the set lunch, but thinks the rich food may be best for winter evenings.
Choice quote: "Koffmann's food – particularly from the three-course set menu; a steal at £22.50 – doesn't disappoint. My tuna carpaccio with celeriac remoulade is dazzling – translucent discs of very, very fresh fish with deftly judged seasoning and a punchy, creamy spoonful of root vegetable at the centre. I'm in love. "
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Tracey MacLeod - Independent

What did she think? Once again, with Koffmann at the top of his game, the excellent food triumphs over the room.
Choice quote: "This is food designed to be relished, rather than gazed at; the flavours huge, the reductions lip-stickingly intense."
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Giles Coren - Times

What did he think? One of the few critics to like the room, loved the food and it's one of the most exciting openings in London this year.
Choice quote: "The best thing, for me, was the Coquilles St Jacques à l’encre, in which the scallops reclined on a bright white apostrophe of puréed cauliflower, itself snuggled by a matching apostrophe of deep black squid ink, very harlequin, very Cecil Beaton at Ascot, very cool indeed."
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Zoe Williams - Telegraph

What did she think? Good upmarket food - impressed an various options (no. of courses) for choosing dinner.
Choice quote: "I would say you cannot go wrong on this menu. It is not enormously surprising, but then a lot of surprises aren't good ones. "
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Marina O'Loughlin - Metro

What did she think? Nice enough, but the food's lacking in heat and excitement.
Choice quote: "I like zesty little fish tacos and the porky squidge of reasonable carnitas (the slow-cooked Mexican version of pulled pork) but flavours are muted: given the myriad chilli sauces, there’s a distinct lack of heat."
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Hermano Primero - Dos Hermanos

Estimated score

What did he think? Small portions, with food badly lacking seasoning.
Choice quote: "Now I don’t mind simplicity, I’m even ok with small portions (although this was pushing it). The caveat is that the food has to be very well prepared and very tasty. The cooking – what there was of it – was ok but the taste, well, there wasn’t one really."
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Simon Hattenstone - Guardian

What did he think? Sophisticated vegetarian, but high on the cholesterol factor.
Choice quote: "...the thought of a night on the town chomping on rice and roots doesn't hold much appeal. Which makes Vanilla Black all the more remarkable. The food is creative, beautifully presented and exciting."
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Marina O'Loughlin - Metro

What did she think? Very loud, very sloaney and with very poor food on offer.
Choice quote: "Chips cooked in too-hot oil are scorched and limp. There’s a burger that makes so little impact it’s like the Amanda Holden of meat patties."
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Charlotte Ross - Evening Standard

What did she think? Great for mums with kids, food needs to improve.
Choice quote: "All is not yet perfect. Melting Moments biscuits looked good in an olde worlde glass jar, but could sink a battleship, while lavender shortbread was so full of seeds it was like eating a bar of soap. But it is aspirational food for which there is an immense as yet unsatisfied appetite in N7."
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Fay Maschler - Evening Standard

What did she think? Poor service and bad food.
Choice quote: "So lacklustre the fish, so cold and claggy the rice, so etiolated and mingy the sashimi and the whole assembly so lacking in any definition of nouvelle vague, that my London restaurant critic companion... suggested we pay up... and go to the lovely bar at Sheekey’s for a drink."
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