Chinese
24 Romilly Street, London W1D 5AH
Latest critic review: November 07, 2010
Sichuan eating in Piccadilly
This is the third restaurant to be opened by the team behind Bar Shu and the Baozi Inn and it's been seducing punters with its innovative take on Sichuan cuisine. The twist here is that the menu is made up of small dishes that you'd more commonly see served up by street vendors. Needless to say, they get a more refined treatment here, but are just as delicious.
Critic Reviews
Jay Rayner Observer
Reviewed on November 07, 2010
"The menu includes Chairman Mao's red-braised pork... Deep red cubes of dense meat fell apart in the mouth. The fat had been braised into jelly and it came with a sauce which, if I eat enough of it, will be literally to die for." READ REVIEW
"Pot-sticker dumplings were plump, juicy parcels of porcine goodness buried beneath a thin sheet of batter, and dry wok prawns came all crunchy in their shells and suffused with freshly crushed spices." READ REVIEW
"...new and exciting stodge-packaged protein mouthfuls, friendly service, cute decor, mellow environment and a fresh new way to enjoy the most exciting food in the world." READ REVIEW
Terry Durack Independent
Reviewed on May 03, 2009
"...ask the extremely helpful, gung-ho staff for extra chilli oil if you need a hit, or just sit back and enjoy a gastronomic tour of the provinces of China that Chinatown forgot." READ REVIEW
John Walsh Independent
Reviewed on April 25, 2009
"What I did try was serviceable, but dull: listless cooking, underspiced, everyday-lunch-in-the-canteen cooking." READ REVIEW
Andy Lynes Metro
Reviewed by April 21, 2009
"You probably won't find Xi'an-style spicy potato slivers (fine threads of hand-cut and briefly stir-fried potato served with a dash of vinegar, dried chilli and the famously tongue-numbing Sichuan pepper) anywhere else in town." READ REVIEW
Fay Maschler Evening Standard
Reviewed on April 01, 2009
"Salads of spicy chicken or five- spiced beef or pressed beancurd and celery are all excellent, but for the visual delight particularly, go for good-luck egg roll with chicken and laver seaweed." READ REVIEW
Charmaine Mok Time Out
Reviewed on March 31, 2009
"The black-painted frontage offers no insight into the exquisite food and impossibly cheery service." READ REVIEW
Dos Hermanos Dos Hermanos
Reviewed on March 29, 2009
"...it does a pretty decent job and, what’s more, it’s a nice place to have lunch, which, I have to say, in London, is becoming an increasingly rare thing and worth trumpeting..." READ REVIEW
We went here on a Friday night - by the time we left the restaurant was busy and people were waiting for tables. So much so that we were asked to leave to free up the table!
The food is good, although the starter portions were a lot smaller than they looked in the glossy menu.
Out of the main dishes, the Sweet and Sour Pork was the highlight - it tasted sublime and was well cooked.
So close to Chinatown, I believe there are better Chinese restaurants in the area, but we had a decent meal.
