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