Restaurants

Theres no doubting the popularity of this buzzy Battersea hotspot. Even midweek, the queues are forming at the door by 7.30pm, and the place is as rowdy as a pub on football night. BLC feels like a low-tech Wagamama with its wooden floors, dark brown shared tables, wooden stools and steamy on-view kitchen. The cooking is mainly Malaysian, with occasional forays into Vietnamese, Indonesian and Thai. Not everything works: kau chi steamed pork and prawn dumplings felt wet and floppy; Thai sweetcorn cakes were bland and oily; and a sesame glass noodle salad was seriously lacking in the noodle department. However, chargrilled chicken baka jawar (marinated in Balinese spices) was tender and brightly flavoured, and a Vietnamese pork stew with lemongrass and cinnamon had a nice spicy, tangy uplift. Most regulars just settle for a big post-gym, pre-clubbing bowl of noodles (laksa, kway teow mee, pad thai) and a glass of wine or a beer, which would seem to be the best bet here.

Time Out Eating & Drinking Guide 2008