The location is very easy to get to - it's just behind Dance City or Central Lofts, depending on which way you're coming from.
The decor is great - it's very homely and very comfortable inside. Low lighting and asian ornaments that look like they've been accumulated over time allow you to relax and breathe in a relatively well-thought out asian atmosphere.
They normally ask if you've reserved a table and it can get quite busy, so if you're thinking of going even after this review, then be sure to give them a call first.
So far so good, but the elements that let this restaurant down are the following:
- speed of service
- food
- customer service
- price
You might be thinking "that's everything apart from location and decor"... and you'd be right.
We only ordered two main courses (smallish servings which most probably have pre-prepared ingredients) but we found we waited for around 30 mins or more to see them arrive.
When we dugg in, the salt levels in one of the dishes was just completely overwhelming. Our tongues were literally humming with the sodium in the food.
We were in a rush to see a movie on the other side of town, so the dish was not sent back. Instead I mustered the courage to eat most of it - else it would have gone back immediately.
We complained as we were asking for the bill, but the waiter just nodded his head and didn't give much of a response at all.
Similarly, when the manager came over to take our payment she did not mention the issue at all. Instead it was swept under the rug and left there presumably to fester for the next unexpecting guest.
Which brings me on to the final point - price.
The most expensive main course is around £18 and the least expensive main course is about £10.
I can get a much better tasting, much larger meal just a block down at "Utong" which is a Thai restaurant with seafood and hotpot as its speciality.
What you end up paying for is the relatively different interior and not much else.
To be completely fair, if Barn Asia's food had much less salt in it, it would taste delicious.
Eat here if you have a good heart. If you don't, I'd not risk it! read more