Year: 2024

Restaurant Reviews by Sasikanth Paturi

Here’s a list of all the restaurant reviews! 🙂

London

Hyderabad 

RoW

Sakonis (Hatch End) | Restaurant Review

Place: Sakonis
Location: Uxbridge Rd, Pinner 
Cuisine: Indian
Meal: Dinner (with wifey and our lil one)
On: Thursday, 19 September 2024

To celebrate one of our many anniversaries, we decided to head out for an early dinner on a Thursday night. We drove to a new place called Vaaghar in Pinner, but it was crowded, and they didn’t have any tables available for the evening. Next, we went to Social Dhaba in Hatch End, but they were fully booked as well. Given that it was a weekday, we didn’t expect restaurants to be so busy, but it seems Thursday is the new Friday. Thankfully, Hatch End High Street has several options, and we finally found a table at Sakonis.

Sakonis has been on our list for a while, but since their menu options are quite limited, we had been avoiding it. Anyway, we settled into a corner and decided to order Kurkure Bhindi and Manchurian to start the meal, and for mains, we got the Aam Ras and Poori, Paneer Butter Masala with Naan, and a Triple Hakka. The service was a bit slow, so we had to wait a while to place our order.

The Bhindi was served in about 10 minutes, and I was quite impressed with the portion size. In terms of taste, they were excellent—perhaps even a bit better than the ones you get at Dishoom. Crunchy and perfectly seasoned, it was a great start to our meal.

The Manchurian came next, and again, the portion was generous. The Manchurian balls were a bit hard, but overall, the dish tasted good. It was quite spicy, by the way.

Aam Ras and Poori were for the little one, and she enjoyed them. The pooris were soft and nice, and the aam ras, although made from canned mango puree, tasted fresh. It wasn’t too sweet, either.

The Paneer Butter Masala was served with a portion of naan. The paneer was soft, and the gravy was rich with a pleasant flavor. While the naan tasted good, it seemed like it might have been a store-bought frozen variety. Also, one naan wasn’t sufficient for the amount of curry, so we ordered another.

I love the Triple Schezwan Noodles you typically find in Mumbai, so I was looking forward to this dish. Triple Schezwan is usually a combination of spicy noodles and rice, topped with crispy noodles and served alongside vegetable balls in Schezwan gravy. Unfortunately, their version, called the Triple Hakka, was quite different. While it did combine noodles and rice with fried noodles on top, it didn’t include the side dish. Additionally, they used vermicelli noodles, which didn’t quite complement the rice. Although it didn’t taste bad, it wasn’t great either.

Overall, it was a decent meal, offering a mix of highs and lows. The Bhindi and Paneer Butter Masala were the standout dishes, while the rest were rather meh. As mentioned earlier, the service wasn’t great—only two women were managing about six tables, and they seemed to be struggling to keep up. Additionally, their menu is quite limited and a bit expensive, making it challenging to find a variety of options that justify the cost. I’m not sure if we’d be returning.

Food: 8/10
Service: 7/10
Ambiance: 7.5/10
Meal for 3: £66.76

Verdict: 7.5/10

Movie Reviews by Sasikanth Paturi

Here’s a list of all the movie reviews, categorized by language 🙂

English

Hindi

Telugu

Devara: Part 1 | Movie Review

Devara

After delivering four consecutive hits, Koratala Siva directed the ill-fated Acharya. Meanwhile, NTR Jr. returns to a solo film after six years, following his collaboration with Rajamouli, and confronts the long-held belief in a post-movie curse. Does their combination after Janatha Garage work its magic again? Let’s find out!

Siva’s strength has always been his writing — creating strong protagonists and embedding meaningful messages in his films. However, with Devara, it seems he’s abandoned his usual logic, delivering a routine story presented in a conventional way. While the protagonist remains powerful, everything else falls apart.

The first half focuses on Devara (NTR Jr.). Alongside the chiefs of neighboring villages, he loots ships carrying weapons for Muruga (Murali Sharma), with Bhaira (Saif Ali Khan) being one of the chiefs. Everything seems fine until Devara realizes their actions aren’t benefiting the villages (or the country), prompting him to stop. This decision sparks conflict, and Devara instills fear in his opponents before going into exile.

Fast forward 12 years, and the shadow of fear still looms over everyone. Bhaira now commands an army, determined to eliminate Devara upon his return, while Vara (NTR Jr.), Devara’s son, remains a timid soul, eager to avoid conflict. With a desire to draw Devara out of hiding, Bhaira orchestrates a ship looting and deceives Vara into joining his crew. Will Devara allow this to happen? Will he be able to save his son or will he kill him for venturing into the sea? It wraps up with a seemingly predictable twist, but there’s more to it and we’ll have to wait for part 2 to see where it leads.

Old wine in a new bottle, right? While it’s a routine story, Siva clearly tried to present it differently in the first half. Unfortunately, it falls flat due to a mediocre screenplay and sloppy writing. There’s no clear reason why Devara is considered unbeatable — it feels like Siva simply built the plot around NTR’s image. The entire ship episode and the Ayudha Pooja sequences come off as cringeworthy.

However, the second half is a significant improvement. The screenplay is tighter, and while not all new characters add value, they at least bring some variety. It’s a relief to see moments that move beyond the constant violence, with more purposeful action and a clearer sense of direction than the first half. Overall, it just felt like he made the movie to cater to NTR’s star power.

NTR as Devara is a mixed bag, with his character poorly written. He appears fierce without clear motivation, and his sudden change of heart feels forced. Though he tries to breathe life into the role, his efforts only skim the surface. He’s much better as Vara, where he shines in better-scripted scenes, but I’d still argue he’s been underutilized.

Janhvi’s debut in Telugu films is brief, as she appears for barely 15 minutes. She plays the typical village belle, and while her performance is decent, it feels like a missed opportunity for deeper character development.

Saif Ali Khan delivers a strong performance, but his character is also weakly written. It’s puzzling to see such a talented actor like Shine Tom Chacko wasted. Srikanth and Prakash Raj are decent, but the rest of the cast is alright.

I expected Anirudh’s music to be a major asset, but it turned out to be a disappointment. While the Fear song is catchy, it didn’t fit the movie, and the background score was poorly mixed. Editing by Sreekar Prasad could have been much sharper, especially in the first half — scenes like the 10-minute ship loot could’ve been trimmed to avoid unnecessary cringe. Rathnavelu’s cinematography is solid, effectively showcasing Sabu Cyril’s production design, but at times, it was obvious we were looking at a set.

Is it worth your time and money?: Whether Devara is worth your time and money depends on your expectations. If you’re a fan of NTR Jr. and enjoy action-packed, larger-than-life dramas with star power, it might be an entertaining watch. However, if you’re looking for a fresh, well-crafted story with strong writing and character development, you may leave feeling underwhelmed.

Worth mention: NTR’s screen presence. 
 
Acting: 8/10

Story-Screenplay-Direction: 6/10
Technical Aspects: 6.5/10

Verdict: 7/10

I know I’ve complained quite a bit, but I’m giving it a 7 because, despite my disappointment with the overall package and its wasted potential, it wasn’t a truly bad film.

PS: Daavudi song isn’t there is the movie. 

Dishoom Canary Wharf | Restaurant Review

Place: Dishoom Canary Wharf
Location: 13 Water St, Food Wharf
Cuisine: Indian
Meal: Dinner (with wifey and our lil one)
On: Sunday, 18 August 2024

After a lovely summer day at Greenwich Park, we passed through Canary Wharf and decided to try Dishoom. Wifey had been to this location before and had great things to say, but I was a bit apprehensive, as I’ve always felt Dishoom is somewhat overhyped. To our surprise, we were seated in about ten minutes, despite expecting a long wait.

The restaurant is expansive, featuring two floors of seating overlooking the water. It boasts a warm, fine dining ambiance designed to evoke Bombay. We were seated on the ground floor, right in the center. I asked if we could sit on one of the sofas, but they informed us the table was reserved (though no one showed up the entire time we were there). I’m not sure if it was intentional, but there were many waiters moving around, and we couldn’t quite tell who was responsible for our table.

Wifey noted that the waiters usually ask if it’s your first time at Dishoom and provide an overview of the menu. I saw this happening at the next table, but not at ours. We went straight to ordering: we started with a Bun Maska Chai for Wifey, a portion of Okra Fries, and Grilled Malai Mushrooms, along with a Virgin Piña Colada for myself.

Hyderabad, the city we’re from, is famous for its Bun Maska Chai, so I was eager to try this one. The bun was soft with just the right amount of butter, though I found it a bit dry. The chai didn’t suit my taste, but wifey enjoyed it.

The service was quick, and the Piña Colada arrived shortly after — it was quite decent.

Wifey recommended the Okra Fries. The okra was fried to perfection and tasted great, though I thought it had a bit too much chaat masala. I was also unimpressed with the portion size.

Next came the mushrooms, which tasted good. I would have preferred a bit more malai, as some pieces were a little too dry, but overall, it was the best dish of the evening so far.

At this point, we weren’t very hungry, so we decided to order just two main courses: a portion of Paneer Tikka from the children’s menu for the lil one, and an Awadhi Jackfruit Biryani.

The Paneer Tikka, served with potatoes, slaw, and a glass of fruit juice, looked promising. However, it was very dry, and none of the condiments added enough moisture. The lil one had a couple of paneer pieces and called it a day!

We received a portion of fryums, though I wasn’t sure what they accompanied. I initially thought they were part of the biryani, but I noticed the table next to us ordered the same biryani and didn’t get any. We’re not ones to say no to fryums, so we enjoyed them anyway!

This was our first time trying Jackfruit Biryani, and it turned out to be really good. The jackfruit pieces were juicy, and the rice was perfectly cooked with a lovely flavor. A slight sweetness from the raisins and jackfruit added to the dish, which I really liked. While it was served with raita, I would have preferred a subtle gravy as an accompaniment.

Overall, it was a decent meal. While the mushrooms and biryani were good, the other dishes were forgettable. Additionally, the service felt chaotic at best, and it didn’t have the refined atmosphere of a fine dining restaurant. In summary, I still believe Dishoom is overhyped, especially considering there are many other restaurants in London offering better-tasting food. For one, I’d recommend Farzi London.

Food: 7/10
Service: 5/10
Ambiance: 8/10
Meal for 3: £63

Verdict: 7/10

Saravana Bhavan – Harrow | Restaurant Review

Place: Saravana Bhavan
Location: 403 Alexandra Ave, Rayners Lane
Cuisine: Indian
Meal: Dinner (with wifey and our lil one)
On: Friday, 13 September 2024

Saravana Bhavan in Rayners Lane is a restaurant we visit quite often, and I’m surprised I haven’t written a review for it until now! On weekday evenings, we usually face a toss-up between this place, A2B, or MTR for dinner. Last weekend, on Friday, we found the restaurant packed around 7:00 PM. The waiting area was well managed, and it took about 15 minutes before we settled into our booth.

Saravana Bhavan offers the same menu across all their London branches, though prices vary. I typically choose the North Indian Thali, but this time wifey decided to try it while I ordered a Channa Batura. Our lil one, being five and having her unique tastes, wanted a Butter Naan with Mushroom-65 — a quirky combination, but we went with it.

Saravana Bhavan - Harrow | Channa Batura

The Channa Batura arrived first, in about ten minutes. It differs from the Chole Batura found in North Indian restaurants; the batura isn’t as puffy, and the channa has a distinct South Indian flavor that’s absolutely delicious. My only qualm is that the quantity of channa isn’t quite enough for two baturas, especially for someone like me who likes more curry with each bite.

We were informed that the mushroom and naan would take a while, so our lil one finished one of the baturas.

Saravana Bhavan - Harrow | North Indian Thali

The soup and spring roll for the Thali came shortly after. The soup was a vegetable broth with nice spice, while the spring rolls were crunchy and quite decent.

Saravana Bhavan - Harrow | North Indian Thali

Next came the Thali, which included Paneer Butter Masala, Channa Masala, Aloo Palak, and Kala Channa, accompanied by two chapathis, a bowl of biryani, Gulab Jamun, raita, salad, and papad (very similar to what Arya Bhavan offers, but at a lower price). The PBM had a lovely flavor, while the Channa Masala was milder than the one served with the Channa Batura. The other curries were decent, and the biryani was good as well.

Saravana Bhavan - Harrow | Butter Naan

The Butter Naan was soft and perfectly cooked, pairing wonderfully with the curries in the Thali.

Saravana Bhavan - Harrow | Mushroom-65

The Mushroom-65 arrived shortly after, and it was quite good. Deep-fried mushrooms tossed in spicy masala — what’s not to like?

Saravana Bhavan - Harrow | Cashew Pulao

Still feeling a bit hungry, we decided to order the Cashew Pulao. It arrived quickly and, in my opinion, was the best dish of the evening. The rice was perfectly seasoned and filled with just the right amount of cashews, making it incredibly flavorful. It even reminded me of my childhood favorite, Ghee Rice from Shanbhag in India.

Overall, it was a very good meal. Wifey prefers Saravana Bhavan over A2B, but I’m not particularly keen, as our previous experiences haven’t met my expectations. However, I must say that today was the best meal we’ve had during all our visits. The service is usually quick and friendly, and the prices are affordable. As the largest Indian restaurant chain in the world, franchises can make it challenging to maintain consistent taste, but this branch in Rayners Lane typically doesn’t disappoint.

Food: 9/10
Service: 8.5/10
Ambiance: 8/10
Meal for 3: £33.15

Verdict: 8.5/10

Arya Bhavan – Wembley | Restaurant Review

Place: Arya Bhavan
Location: 22 Ealing Rd, Wembley
Cuisine: Indian
Meal: Dinner (with wifey and our lil one)
On: Thursday, 5 September 2024

We were in Wembley shopping for Vinayaka Chavithi (Ganesh Chaturthi) and, as it got late, decided to try the new restaurant that replaced Saravana Bhavan.. Though it had a similar layout, the décor had been refreshed, and the tables were spaced out more generously. We found a cozy sofa at one end of the restaurant, settled in, and got ready to order.

It took a while for the waiter to attend to our table, but when she finally did, we ordered an Idli Vada for the wifey, a Ghee Uthapam for the lil one, and a North Indian Thali for myself.

Arya Bhavan Wembley - Idli Vada

The Idli Vada was served in about five minutes, accompanied by three types of chutneys, podi, and sambar. The idli looked decent and tasted good, but we were surprised by the tiny portions of chutney — they weren’t even a spoonful. The vada, unfortunately, wasn’t freshly made; it was microwaved from earlier in the day, and we could clearly taste the oil. Thankfully, they refilled the chutneys, but we had to keep reminding them.

Arya Bhavan Wembley - Ghee Uthapam

The Ghee Uthappam arrived next, and it was quite enjoyable. They also served a sweetcorn soup that came with my Thali, which was decent.

Arya Bhavan Wembley - North Indian Thali

The Thali included Paneer Butter Masala, Aloo Palak, mixed vegetable curry, yellow dal, a small spring roll, three chapatis, a bowl of biryani, a Gulab Jamun, raita, pickle, and papad. The curries were decent overall, but nothing really stood out; I’d say the PBM was the best of the bunch. The chapatis were soft at first but quickly turned kadak. The biryani was extremely spicy and not particularly impressive.

Wifey was still a bit hungry after her Idli, so we decided to order the AB Special Dum Biryani, hoping it would offer something different from what was served with the Thali.

Arya Bhavan Wembley - Special Biryani

To our utter disappointment, it turned out to be the same biryani, just tossed with some mushrooms and paneer. It felt like we were eating the same rice with a few added mushroom and paneer pieces — a big letdown!

Overall, it was a mediocre meal. We came in expecting something similar to Saravana Bhavan, if not better, but it fell far short of those standards. To make matters worse, the service was incredibly slow; we had to keep turning around to get their attention, as they seemed least interested. Additionally, the prices were a wee bit higher than those at the predecessor. I’m not sure if we’ll return, especially with so many better options on Ealing Road.

Food: 7/10
Service: 6/10
Ambiance: 8.5/10
Meal for 3: £41.14

Verdict: 6/10

PS: It turns out that Saravana Bhavan was replaced overnight by the franchise owners without any prior notice, and as a result, they are pursuing a court case over this sudden change.

Farzi London | Restaurant Review

Place: Farzi London
Location: 8 Haymarket
Cuisine: Indian
Meal: Dinner (with family)
On: Sunday, 4 August 2024

I’ve recently downloaded the First Table app on my phone, which offers 50% off deals at restaurants for a minimal fee. To treat MIL before she headed back to India, we decided to dine at a nice, fancy place in central London and found Farzi on the First Table list. We’ve been to Farzi in Hyderabad before; it’s a cozy place serving fusion Indian food, so we were excited to try it here in London.

We booked a table for 8:30 PM on a Sunday night. Upon arriving, we were seated at a table towards the back end of the restaurant. It’s a large venue with two levels of seating. It was sparsely crowded this evening, with about five other tables occupied. Dimly lit, the interior reminded me of the Hyderabad restaurant — cozy and comforting, just the way I like it.

They had a simple menu (nothing fusion about it). As part of the First Table offer, we were required to order drinks for each of us, with no discount, to avail the 50% off the food So we ordered a Mango Cosmo for wifey, Farzi Nimbu Paani for MIL, Chai Lychee for myself, and a Mango and Passion Fruit Lassi for the lil one. We also ordered their Chevre Kebab and Angara Paneer Shaslik as starters. (I actually wanted to try their Okra & Baby-Corn Feet, but they didn’t have it.)

Farzi London | Drinks for the evening

All the drinks were good, and I really liked my Chai Lychee made with lychee juice and coconut milk. I’m a fan of coconut-based drinks, so this was just perfect for my taste. I could taste more mango than passion fruit in the Lassi, but it was equally good.

Farzi London | Dhokla

They served complimentary Dholka pieces, which was an ice gesture. These were soft and decent.

Farzi London | Chevre Kebab

The Chevre Kebab was served soon. It was essentially a chunk of goat cheese fried to perfection. While it was oozing oil, it tasted delicious — after all, what’s not to like about fried cheese?😁. 

Farzi London | Paneer Shaslik

The Paneer Shaslik came next — basically paneer tikka with a fancy name. The paneer was really soft and fresh, and perfectly marinated. The sauce was spicy, with a nice sweet tinge as an aftertaste. Another good dish.

While I was satisfied with both starters, I did notice that the portion sizes were pretty small. Considering this, we ordered a Smoked Palak Paneer Handi, a Dal Makhani, a Wild Mushroom & Tender Stem Broccoli Pulao, and a Saffron Pulao, along with a Bread Basket for the main course. I know that this sounds like a lot, but it was perfect for the four of us. 

Farzi London | Palak Paneer

I actually wanted to order their Haveli Kofta, but wifey insisted on the Paneer. I’m usually not a fan of Palak Paneer, but I have to say that this was a really good dish. It was smoky, as the name suggests, and the paneer, along with the gravy, just melted in my mouth. I was pleasantly surprised and satisfied.

Farzi London | Dal Makhan

The Dal Makhani was rich and creamy, but it was too tomatoey for my liking.

Farzi London | Bread Basket

The Bread Basket came with a Butter Naan, a Garlic Naan, and a Laccha Paratha. While the Garlic Naan and Paratha were nice and soft, I found the Butter Naan to be too thick.

Apprehensive about the portion sizes, I ordered two rice items, and I’m glad that I did. Additionally, MIL doesn’t eat mushrooms or broccoli, so we needed an alternative anyway.

Farzi London | Mushroom & Broccoli Pulao

The Mushroom and Broccoli Pulao, as the name suggests, came with chunks of wild mushrooms and broccoli stems. It was mild and quite tasty, with pleasant flavors. However, the quantity was again disappointing.

Farzi London | Saffron Pulao

For one fourth the price of the other pulao, the Saffron Pulao was more satisfying. It was nearly the same, just lacking the mushrooms and broccoli (and salt). If there is a next time, I would just order two of these along with another subzi, maybe.

We were pretty stuffed and satisfied, so we did not order any desserts. We also wanted Amorino ice cream, so.

Overall, it was a pretty good meal — better than I had actually anticipated for sometime these fancy restaurants serve fu fu food at exorbitant prices. All the items were tasty, the service was super quick, and the ambiance was neat. I particularly appreciated the attention they paid to us. My only concern was with the portion sizes — like most fancy fine dining restaurants, the quantity of food doesn’t really match the price you are paying. But that’s probably because you’re paying for the fine dining experience. But at least it was tasty!

I would definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for a nice dining experience in central London. And if you are going, don’t forget to get 50% off using First Table.

Food: 8/10
Service: 9./10
Ambiance: 8.5/10
Meal for 4: £92.56 (£6 for booking fee + £29.75 for the drinks + £56.81 for food including service charge and VAT)

Verdict: 8/10

Pappu da Dhaba | Restaurant Review

Place: Pappu da Dhaba
Location: 19 Adelaide Rd, Southall
Cuisine: Indian
Meal: Dinner (with family)
On: Sunday, 28 July 2024

On our way back from Wales, we decided to head to Southall, craving some good Indian food. Our first choice was Delhi Wala, a restaurant we’ve visited recently that serves authentic Punjabi vegetarian food at decent prices. Delhi Wala is definitely on my must-try list in London, and I hope to write a review soon. Unfortunately though, given that it was a Sunday, this place was closing early, and while looking for alternative options, we came across Pappu da Dhaba a little further down the road. I couldn’t be more glad that we found it, for this place is a foodie’s heaven!

This is a super small joint similar to what you’d find in India, nothing fancy. The restaurant had about ten tables, and in one corner, a Sardarji was freshly preparing dishes to order. Thanks to the in-house cooking, the place filled with smoke every time he added a tadka — Pappu da Dhaba is not a restaurant for the faint-hearted😅.

We settled down toward the back, closer to the cooking range (as it was the only table available). The tables were a bit small and crammed, covered with old plastic tablecloths. While it was a bit suffocating, there was a cooler fan facing us, which made things more bearable. However, I didn’t really care about any of this because the food being cooked smelled amazing, and I couldn’t wait to try it. We ordered the standard Paneer Butter Masala and Malai Kofta with some Tawa Roti and Naan.

In a few minutes, a large plate of salad with onions, cucumber, carrots, and radish was placed on our table. A squeeze of lemon, and I was ready to dig in!

All the dishes arrived at once, and because of the small table size, we struggled to fit everything on it, but we managed somehow.

Pappu da Dhaba - Malai Kofta

The Malai Kofta tasted delicious. The mixed vegetable kofta balls were soft and tender, melting in the mouth. The gravy had the perfect consistency; however, I felt it was a little too tangy for my liking. Despite this, it was a great dish overall.

Pappu da Dhaba - Paneer Butter Masala

The true winner, however, was the PBM. The paneer pieces were soft and fresh, making each bite a delight. The gravy was one of the best I’ve had in recent times — rich, creamy, and incredibly smooth. Every bite. was bursting with flavor, making it an absolute treat for the taste buds. It was simply yummilicious and left a lasting impression. (My mouth is watering just thinking about it!)

The Roti was soft and decent, while the Butter Naan was a bit too thick for my liking. However, I had no issues with the Garlic Naan I ordered for myself.

To further enjoy the gravies, we ordered some Jeera Rice. It was served soon, and tasted yum, although the cumin seeds were a tad burnt. But again, I was in no mood to criticize, as I was indulging in it with the delightful PBM.

We ordered a Lassi to finish things off, and a large Patiala glass full was served, reminiscent of the style at Punjabi Affair in Hyderabad. It was thick, not too sweet, and just perfect to our liking.

Overall, it was an excellent meal, albeit a small one. Both curries were outstanding, with the Paneer Butter Masala making a lasting impression on my palate. The service was friendly and super quick. Despite the passable ambiance, this is a gem of a place. I’ll definitely be dining here often!

Food: 9.5/10
Service: 9.5/10
Ambiance: 7/10
Meal for 4: £31.00

Verdict: 9/10

P.S. I did come back to Pappu da Dhaba within a week, this time with a few friends who feasted on their Butter Chicken, which they said was very good. I ordered the Paneer Butter Masala again, along with some Chilli Garlic Mushrooms.

The PBM was excellent, as expected. The mushrooms were also super tasty — perfectly cooked and sautéed in a tangy sauce. I was initially apprehensive about ordering them, but they did not disappoint.

I’m sure you’ll be seeing more versions of Pappu da Dhaba on my blog, and I hope it always lives up to expectations!

Mandarin Chinese | Restaurant Review

Place: Mandarin Chinese Restaurant
Location: 9 Joel St, Northwood Hills
Cuisine: Chinese
Meal: Dinner (with wifey and our lil one)
On: Saturday, 20 July 2024

We pass by Mandarin very often as it is very close to our house but never ventured in because the place looks quite fancy from the outside. Another reason is that it is usually deserted except for a couple of occupied tables at any given time. Nevertheless, braving it, we finally walked in on a Saturday evening.

As expected, the place was almost empty, with just another family seated, so we settled down in the opposite corner. Dimly lit with nice decor, the ambiance is quite good and gives the vibe of an upscale fine dining restaurant. They offered to bring us some prawn crackers the moment we sat down, but we declined, mentioning that we were vegetarians (they did not have alternatives).

To start things off, we ordered Lettuce Wrap with Minced Vegetable, a portion of vegetarian dumplings, and a Tom Yum soup.

Mandarin Lettuce Wrap with Minced Vegetable

Served on a bed of fried noodles, the vegetable mince tasted really good. Along with the tangy and sweet soy-based sauce, these wraps were delicious and definitely some of the best I’ve had in recent times.

Mandarin - Tom Yum Soup

On the contrary, the soup was not to our liking. It was too thin, and I thought it had a bit too much lemongrass, making it overly sour. I also didn’t like the choice of parboiled vegetables in it — the tomatoes tasted too raw, and so did the mushrooms.

Mandarin - Dumplings

The dumplings came next in a steam basket. While they tasted alright, I thought the portion size was really small — just four, and very small in size. I gulped them in one bite.

For mains, we ordered Battered Cauliflower with Sweet & Sour Sauce along with some Mix Veg Chowmein and Fried Rice with Mixed Vegetable.

It took a while for the food to be brought out, which was quite frustrating, especially given that they had so few patrons to attend to. Anyhow, the cauliflower arrived first, but they got our order wrong. Instead of presenting it as a main dish with sauce, they brought the starter version. We sent it back immediately.

Mandarin - Chowmein

A little while later, the noodles were served. They tasted decent and were the typical Chowmein you’d expect at a Chinese restaurant — loaded with vegetables and noodles tossed in a tangy sauce. However, I was again appalled by the portion size, as it wasn’t even enough for two servings.

Mandarin - Fried Rice

The rice arrived soon in a small bowl. This tasted better than the noodles and tbh, the best item of the dinner thus far. It had seasoning and flavour were just perfect.

Mandarin - Battered Cauliflower with Sweet & Sour Sauce

And finally, the cauliflower was served. This was supposed to be in a sweet and sour sauce but the sauce was so sweet that we couldn’t take more than a bite. I informed the waiter about this and they said it was usually sweet. I requested them to modify it if possible, adding a little more spice. Thankfully, they offered to replace the dish, and I now asked for it in Kung Pao sauce rather than the sweet and sour.

Mandarin - Battered Cauliflower with Kung Pao Sauce

This arrived in a few minutes and tasted much better. The Kung Pao had a nice flavor, but I am not sure if they used the same cauliflower, as some of the pieces still tasted sweet. We finished most of our noodles and rice by the time this arrived, so ironically, we ended up eating it more like a starter than a main dish!

Overall, it was a mediocre meal. Except for the Lettuce Wraps and Fried Rice, everything else was passable. The service was too slow, and the portion sizes were unappealing. They probably aimed for it to be a fine dining restaurant with such small portions, but neither the locale nor the food quality justifies the pricing and portions. I honestly wondered how they are still keeping the place afloat with so few diners and the restaurant being empty on most occasions. Anyway, we ended up spending quite a bit, and I wasn’t even full or satisfied with the meal. First and last meal at Mandarin!

Food: 7/10
Service: 7/10
Ambiance: 8.5/10
Meal for 4: £48.00

Verdict: 6.5/10