Blue Elephant

Restaurant Name: Blue Elephant

Type of Food: Thai

Average price per person: £50-£70 (excluding drinks)

Website: http://www.blueelephant.com

Branch Visited: 3-6 Fulham BroadwayLondon SW6 1AA

Review:

'Experience some of the finest Royal Thai Cuisine at Blue Elephant which is brimming with atmosphere'.

This is how Timeout described it. Well, my verdict can be summarised in 3 words: expensive and overrated. Sure the restaurant itself is very nice with typical Thai decor, friendly waiters/waitresses, nice water ponds and a relaxing atmosphere BUT the food is very much below par. My main course consisted of 4 pieces of scallops and they were tiny and overcooked. Starters were far from being exceptional either and I left the place feeling still hungry. And after having paid £100 for 2 without any wine or desserts, I was left extremely disappointed. Avoid it by all means...

Rating (Out of 10):

Atmosphere: 8/10: The strong point of this place. Nicely decorated with typical Thai ornaments and ponds. Quite a relaxing dining atmosphere...

Service: 8/10: Very good, nothing to complain about. Friendly waiters/waitresses.

Food: 6/10: A massive let down, doesn't taste like the Thai food I had in Koh Samui, Thailand. I know it's unreasonable to expect it to be as authentic but it was really not tasty at all + portions are tiny.

Price: 6/10: Quite pricey but I guess you pay for the venue, the service and the fact that the restaurant is located in Fulham. I don't mind paying a premium for quality food but it's totally unjustified on this occasion...

Quality to Price: 5/10: Not a good quality/price ratio here... you'll leave the place feeling hungry, unless you're prepared to spend a lot of money...

Final Rating: 4/10: After having read so many good reviews, I was so disappointed. Avoid it by all means...

Busaba Eathai

Restaurant Name: Busaba

Type of Food: Thai
Average price per person: £13

Website: n/a

Branch Visited:
106-110 Wardour Street, Soho, London, W1F 0TR
22 Store St, London, WC1E 7DF
8-13 Bird St, W1U 1BU


Review:
The Thai wagamama, shared tables. Expect a wait at the Wadour street one. Food is really good... I recommend the Shen Chan Pat-thai very nice and authentic....

Busaba restaurants seem very inconsistant on the food they produce. Store street store doesn't taste as good as the wardour street one.

Rating (Out of 10)

Atmosphere: 8/10
Mordern Urban thai decor, no music, just pure chatter

Service: 8/10
fast, not a problem at all

Food: 8/10
taste like thai food... one of the better thai places...

Quality to Price: 8/10
some dishes can are not worth the price but most are value for money if you compare the prices other thai places are charging.

Final Rating: 8/10
Best Fast food Thai place.

Expert Comments: By Monica
Hmm, food is good here but downside is that when it is really busy, you can't really hear eachother speak. No good for romantic meals for two,
(1) because of the noise and
(2) you have to share tables.