Restaurants

Managed by the group that runs J Sheekey and the Ivy, this charming restaurant offers the same winning mix of good food and buzzy atmosphere that makes the others so popular. The four-storey Georgian townhouse, decorated like an Indo-Chinese colonial manor, boasts two dining rooms, three private rooms and a cocktail bar – each offering a dining experience as different as the cuisines to be had: Vietnamese, Chinese and Thai. A starter of deep-fried soft-shell crab with pomelo and jicama was generous on the perfectly crispy crab but mean with the pomelo. Bo la lot, a Vietnamese starter of ground beef wrapped in wild pepper leaves, lived up to its stellar billing from our friendly, knowledgeable waiter; it was juicy and bursting with complementary flavours. To follow, a whole black bream steamed in a tangy and complex lime chilli sauce was slightly undercooked, but fresh enough to consume anyway. Tender peppered beef fillet with stir-fried chinese greens was another highlight. Desserts didn’t disappoint either. Beneath the crackle of the star-anise flavoured crème brûlée, a layer of stem ginger purée added a warm, eastern touch to a French classic.

Time Out Eating & Drinking Guide 2009