London - Restaurants - Chinese
Went along here last night and I was impressed. Alan Yau managed to come up with something new and exciting when he brought a pimped up version of the Japanese Raman style noodle bar to London with Wagamamas, and here his inspiration is Hong Kong market noodle bars.
Similar to Wagamamas in terms of being arranged in benches - there is a bit more space for your elbows and its darker, rather than the impossibly bright lighting of some Wagamamas. There is also room for you to eat on your own without feeling quite so much of the proverbial sore thumb as they have some tall bars and stools which seemed pretty busy with people stopping off for a bargain meal on their way home.
The promotion they are running with at the moment with everything at £3.50 is ridiculously good value for money - though worth noting they charge the same for a main course as a starter (or side as they call it here) at the moment. The food is not only good value - but also tastes good. Drinks choice is pretty limited with just one beer - Harbin - and a few cocktails and wines. The Wen Wen cocktail is very fruity and not very vodkay...and Harbin is pretty average beer but fine.
It's obviously all about dwell time here and getting people through as quick as possible. The staff are politely and unobtrusively get you on your way swiftly by picking up everything that's finished within about 10 seconds so you suddenly realise your table is clear and you may as well get the bill. You won't be hanging around here for a leisurely two hour meal.
The atmosphere is really nice in there - I enjoyed the evening and it's quite fun looking in at the chefs hard at work in a kitchen that appears to have fallen out of the Death Star and landed in W1.
Check out my review of Cha Cha Moon - I am scottishwolf - on Qype
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