Roti Chai ***

I’ve read a lot about Roti Chai over the past few weeks and everything I’ve read so far has been positive. Timeout recently described the restaurant as a place ‘laden with nostalgia appealing to wistful Indians’ and others have awarded it four and some even five stars. I felt it was my duty to check this place out and give it some of the Man Eats London treatment.

Roti Chai is a relaxed, informal restaurant that specialises in snacky, street food. Nestled in a quiet side street off Oxford Street it’s ideally located for a quick pit stop during shopping or an impromptu dinner. The decor as well gives it a cafe style feel in a far less contrived way than other Indian restaurants like Dishoom for example.

The menu is dominated by snack dishes such as bhel puri, dhokla, papri chaat and samosas. If you’re expecting a massive menu with lots of choice prepare to be disappointed as Roti Chai’s menu only fits an A4 sheet of paper. It does however contain a Road & Rail section which contains diverse Indian dishes such as Maacher Jhol (fish curry) and Railway Lamb Curry but once again it only has 6 choices.

The bhel puri was reasonably good, the chicken lollipops were truly Indian in that they had virtually no meat on them and the dhokla was far too soggy. The payasam was however very creamy and very moreish.

Roti Chai is in its restaurant infancy right now and I expect the menu to expand as the restaurant does – it also has a bar downstairs which I expect will become a venue in its own right.

It’s definitely a place I’ll come back to in the future and given that it’s a stone’s throw away from Oxford Street it’ll do very well. It was also very reasonably priced at about £12 per head. I’d give it 3 stars and will definitely go back.

Drunken Monkey * (Awful)

Shoreditch is a place that oozes cool with a lot of interesting, lively bars with outrageous decor and some quaint restaurants with character and style. It’s also home to some of London’s best Vietnamese restaurants.

However don’t be fooled by the name, Drunken Monkey is anything but cool or quaint. In fact this bar cum eatery was a massive disappointment and neither had an interesting interior nor served food worthy of mention.

This place serves dimsum the only caveat being it is overpriced and incredibly ordinary. For example the Malaysian steamed bun was harder than I expected and the lettuce parcels were virtually tasteless although were far more expensive than other similar dishes at far better restaurants.

However food quality can occasionally be improved by friendly banter with staff although if you go to Drunken Monkey you’ll find it very hard to get the attention of the staff let alone hold a conversation with them. The staff take cool to another level so much so that they are rude and apathetic.

I would not recommend Drunken Monkey for dining however if you happen to be drunk already and in the area then it is a perfectly laudable place to have a drink. There are far better places to eat in Shoreditch than this dive. I would rate this place 1 out of 5.

Lahore Kebab House ****

Lahore Kebab is now something of an institution having been around now for almost 40 years in the same street in East London in the same building in Umberston Street.

Whilst the area has changed and become more cosmopolitan and Lahore Kebab House's building has expanded to the next floor, the food is as good now as it always has been. This is Pakistani cuisine at its best.

Particularly good dishes include the range of Karahi dishes as well as the starters, particularly the lamb chops which are prepared to a strictly guarded recipe that not even the other branches of Lahore Kebab House know about. To try them is to know why the recipe is so treasured. The biriyani however is less good and the nihari pales in comparison to Tayyabs.

The atmosphere is relaxed, informal and the threadbare decor suggests that this place is not about the dining experience but the dining itself. Each dish will more than amply compensate for the basic interior of the restaurant. The service is also rapid and the longest you can expect to wait for food is 10 minutes.

Its clientele is also mixed ranging from suited City types to families, couples as well as large groups. The noise level is therefore at times excessive and expect to queue outside for up to 20 minutes at peak times on Friday and Saturday evenings.

I've been here more times now than I can remember and each time the meal has come to no more than £15 per head including service. The restaurant also operate a BYOB policy with no corkage charges.

Lahore Kebab House is informal, loud, brash, tasty and dirt cheap. I'd rate it 4 out of 5 and I'll probably end up there again at some point in the near future.

http://www.lahorekebabhouse.com

Cinnamon Kitchen ****

 

 

Unlike the restaurant last reviewed Cinnamon Kitchen is definitely one of the better Indian restaurants London has to offer. It is Cinnamon Club’s sister restaurant and follows a similar theme by combining Indian spices and dishes with Western culinary techniques. The Head Chef Vivek Singh has certainly created an effective niche in the Indian restaurant market in London and the result is excellent.

However first of all it’s worth mentioning the decor which is tasteful, classy and modern. If you’re thinking this means it’s pretentious and stuffy then it is definitely not. The atmosphere is relaxed and the main restaurant is large and light enough so that you can see your bill at the end and the person you’re dining with.

As for the food, this is excellent and each dish is inventive, tasty, immaculately prepared and presented like a work of art. The photos above will attest to the that. If you visit Cinnamon Kitchen then there are a few things you must try, the Welsh lamb kebabs, the paneer starters, the deer and the cocktails which are quite brilliant as well. Each dish carries the correct balance of spices and no one flavour is overpowering. The presentation is also immaculate and the correct balance between artistic and interesting and non-pretentious. This is not haute cuisine – it’s better, in my opinion.

As for the damage, meals typically come to about £30-£40 per head, but more if you try any of the cocktails which are priced between £7-£14.

If you’re wondering what to do after your meal then why not head across the entrance way to Anise, Cinnamon Kitchen’s bar. Try to avoid this place during happy hour during which time it takes about 20 minutes to get served and is pretty crowded, however at any other time this bar is very very cool. The music is a mixture of dance, R & B, pop and bollywood however as long it’s not a Friday night the atmosphere is relaxed. This is definitely the place to go if you want a cocktail or nightcap after your meal. Some of the signature cocktails include the Rupee Rush, the Cinnamon Bellini and the Daiquiri.

Overall I would rate Cinnamon Kitchen 4 out of 5.

Chowki **

Chowki, on paper, has a lot going for it. It’s situated in an ideal location just off Piccadilly Circus and Shaftesbury Avenue, convenient for a meal after an evening out in Theatreland or a day out in Central London. It’s also a low-cost Indian restaurant which offers food from different regions in India, a unique idea which is rare to see in most of London’s curry houses.

The restaurant however fails to deliver on all counts. The seating in the restaurant is Wagamama style with benches and the location itself is on a narrow side street on Denman Street. It’s also arguably one of the dankest and dark restaurants I have ever been into and the ambience added little to enhance the overall dinining experience. Chowki can perhaps take note from Masala Zone and how each of their restaurants is excellently decorated and maintained.

The food was similarly disappointing although the starters were reasonable including the bhel puri and samosas. The desserts were also ordinary and by no means unique, the photo above will attest to that  however these dishes alone are no reason to come to Chowki. The mains however were particularly disappointing and the culinary variation reflective of India’s diverse cuisine was simply not evident – the Madras chicken curry was prepared in exactly the same manner as the Mumbai lamb curry the only difference in the dishes being the choice of meat. The preparation of the dishes and the quality of the food however was not bad although only just above average.

The only thing however that did bring a smile to my face was the bill which was very reasonable for a restaurant adjacent to Shaftesbury Avenue. You can expect to pay approximately £10-£15 per head for a meal including drinks although it should be noted that there are other restaurants in London that offer far better food at similar prices.

Overall I would give Chowki a rating of 2 out of 5.

Cafe Kaati ***

If like me you’re growing sick of having sandwiches and salads at lunchtimes then why not try something different and head to Cafe Kaati in the City and indulge in a hot kaati roll.

For those that don’t know, the kaati roll originates from Kolkata, India and is essentially a kebab wrapped in a paratha. There are various variations however and some of the more popular fillings are egg, mutton, chicken and paneer. The above picture was taken during a trip to Kolkata where the kaati roll is a quick, easy and inexpensive street snack.

Cafe Kaati is an excellent concept and it’s location, right in the middle of the City of London along Houndsditch, means that its busiest hours are during lunchtime. If you ever visit Cafe Kaati between the hours of 12 and 2 you should expect to see a sizeable queue and no seats.

The queues and lunchtime popularity is understandable as the rolls in Cafe Kaati are large, filling and incredibly tasty. They have various fillings including the traditionals and malai chicken as well as desi omlette. However Cafe Kaati also does other dishes including biriyanis, thalis and even curry and rice dishes.

The restaurant is clearly aimed at individuals working within the area and its ambience is accordingly sleek, professional and quite impressive. There isn’t the organised chaos you would see by the roadside in Kolkata, instead your kaati roll will be prepared on a panini press in an open kitchen area that appears far too civilised for this kind of snack.

In addition to this the concept of the kaati roll is that it is an informal snack and the ambience of Cafe Kaati loses this idea and the environment is charmless and serious. In addition to this their website has a professional feel and is clearly marketed towards corporate customers. Also the rolls, whilst incredibly tasty, are too large and don’t leave you wanting more but wanting to take a nap.

Cafe Kaati’s competitor in London is the Kati Roll Company in the heartland of good food – Soho. It’s rolls are smaller and cheaper and this appears to be the less serious cousin of Cafe Kaati.

Whilst it can’t replace the original concept Cafe Kaati is a great idea and credit should go to the owners for wanting to bring this to the City crowd. It is also a great crowd pleaser that they are branching out into other dishes although their marketing and the overall concept needs improvement and should appear less stuffy. I would nonetheless recommend Cafe Kaati for the rolls alone and would give it 3 out of 5.

http://www.cafekaati.com

Inamo **

Inamo is a Japanese restaurant which is an homage to futuristic, next generation dining. The novelty behind the restaurant is that there are no waiters and that everything is ordered via your table which doubles as a futuristic computer operated by a click wheel mouse.

Hours of fun are to be had browsing through the menu, playing battleships with the person you are dining with, changing the lighting in and around your table and even reading about ideas about what to do in London after your visit to Inamo. All very innovative and futuristic although it doesn't lend much to the dining experience - the first time I went there I was on a date and suffice to say conversation was brought to a halt by the menu computer and all it's intricacies. If you are uncomfortable with computers then this is probably not the place for you sadly.

In keeping with the hi-tech theme the food was innovative, different and experimental although largely unsatisfying. The portions were rather small and the sushi in particular was ordinary. The cinnamon chicken however (pictured) was different and flavorsome however that alone will not encourage me to return to Inamo.

What will encourage me to return to Inamo however is the ambience and decor and the cool factor. This is a great place to go for the first time but seasoned diners, and those of a certain generation, will be disappointed. And if you're wondering who brings the food out if there are no waiters well you'll be disappointed to know that there are waiters there although having computers means they are hidden away in the back.

The prices are also somewhat overinflated and Inamo may consider lowering them if they are to edge into Wagamama's territory of chain Japanese restaurant food. Overall I would rate Inamo 2 out of 5.

http://www.inamo-restaurant.com

Princess Garden of Mayfair ****

If ever, like me, you get sick of the crowds of eager shoppers along Oxford Street and just want to experience a bit of calmness in Central London during lunchtime then you’d be strongly advised to take a trip down North Audley Street.

As you walk down this road you’ll find yourself in an oasis-like area of calm and apparent tranquility. You’ll notice quaint shops and expensive boutiques on either side of the road, a lot of flash cars and attractive looking people with huge sunglasses walking very small dogs – this is Mayfair.

In keeping with the surroundings Princess Gardens of Mayfair is a slick looking place with a huge fishtank in reception and a lot of leather sofas and glass. During the day the place is bathed in natural light thanks to the large windows which face out onto North Audley Street and the decor is simple yet tasteful and classy.

The specialty of the restaurant is however Cantonese dimsum and other traditional Chinese dishes. The quality of the dimsum was very impressive and the variety was highly impressive – if you think Ping Pong is good then this place will positively bowl you over. There are also however other excellent dishes on offer as well as an extensive seafood collection.

The service and overall dining experience was excellent and the service was efficient yet informative and personal and there was little Mayfair arrogance or standoffishness.

If you are wondering about what the price one pays for excellent Chinese food in Mayfair is then do not log onto the website as it will reveal nothing, which is never a good sign as it generally demonstrates there is something to hide. The prices however are very reasonable and you can expect to pay approximately £20 per head for a 2 course meal with drinks and service.

The overall experience was highly impressive and I will definitely be visiting the restaurant again in the future. I would rate Princess Garden of Mayfair 4 out of 5.

http://www.princessgardenofmayfair.com

Gaucho ***

Meat is the watchword at any Gaucho across London, to be specific Beef. This Argentinian steak house chain restaurant has taken London by storm recently and it now has over a dozen restaurants across London.

When we entered the City branch we knew it was going to be a place oozing quality and decadence as we were whisked in our lift down to basement level to a den of sheer outrageous extravagance. From the outside it looked like a standard City bar with a glass facade and leather dominating proceedings. Housed in the middle of two of the world's largest investment banks in the heart of the City the restaurant was dominated by suited gentlemen discussing business however the decor was immaculate and epitomised class. However there was no charm to the surroundings and it was clear that everything was there to epitomise decadence and futuristic grandeur. It steadily dawned on me that it was going to be a very expensive meal.

In spite of this the food was excellent and whilst the restaurant specialises in beef it also other meat dishes. The spatchcocked chicken was immaculately prepared and the cheese board with malbec chutney was incredibly morish. The desserts were similarly stunning, the cheesecake was in many ways for want of a better phrase the 'icing on the cake'. Each dish was prepared with consideration and oozed quality.

It was however as expected quite an expensive meal with the end total coming to approximately £70 per head including drinks and service. Overall however the food was excellent and the service surprisingly informative and helpful. I would rate this particular branch 3 out of 5.

http://www.gauchorestaurants.co.uk/restaurants/restaurant.php?id=city

Mandalay, Edgware Road ****

The first time I went to Mandalay was about 15 years ago and was given a warm wlecome I shall never forget. I was welcomed into the restaurant like a long lost relative and doted on throughout the meal. Suffice to say the owners made a fantastic impression and really made us feel at home and took time to explain the dishes and provide a truly memorable experience.

With this in mind I recently returned to the restaurant a few months ago having been told about it by a friend as being the best 'cheap eat' in London as rated by Timeout. I also browsed the outside window of the restaurant to see that it had since my last visit Mandalay had picked up a few more awards and had received even more favourable reviews from critics. However inspite of its reputation and the accolades it has received the restaurant owners were still incredibly helpful, dilligent, insightful and the service was very pleasing. Go to any other Asian restaurant and you should expect to have dishes slapped on your table, incorrect orders and a hard time explaining or understanding much.

I also very recently returned and found that nothing has changed and the restaurant is still unremarkable from the outside, humble and homely inside with excellent service.

However service aside the food was still impeccable and each dish was a genuine delight. I particularly liked the Balachaung - a Burmese fried shrimp dish served to accompany rice dishes as well as the deep fried bean sprout fritters. The tamarind chicken was also impeccable with no one flavour dominating the taste. In fact every dish was balanced and not at all garish - high street Indian restaurants should take note of this.

Given the quality of food and pleasant dining experience as well as the accolades and favourable reviews Mandalay has received over the past decade, you might expect the price to be bumped up slightly however even the price of the meals is down to earth. It is not unusual to pay £10-15 per head for a meal excluding service.

Overall Mandalay is truly excellent and I am certain I will go back as I have over the years. I would rate it 4 out of 5.

http://www.mandalayway.com/restaurant/index.html