I wanted to like this place. Heard it was authentic and stopped by for a late lunch.
Felt like I had walked into some place I shouldn't be because there was no one there. Empty restaurant. Then one guy comes out of the loo and seems surprised I'm here. He assures me that the restaurant is open and gets me a menu.
There was ample seating indoors and outside. I opt to sit inside. Within a few minutes I make my selection of the beef dish with shrimp chili and rice. Another older man appears and they begin to work in the kitchen behind the counter.
Apparently, they thought we needed music. Dude turns in stereo and a song plays. Some hip hop ish repetitive song. Then the song ends. Same song plays again. I'm like what? I rummage through my purse but am annoyed to see that I must have left my earbuds at home. Ugh. Song repeats THREE more times before my food is brought out to me. By this point, I'm losing my mind. I politely ask him to turn on a different song (anything was better than listening to the same shitty song on repeat) and gently remind him that I had asked for water.
He turns on a different song and goes back into the kitchen area. I begin to eat. It was... Not the best. It was served with a "kale soup" on the side. Didn't expect that. I love kale don't get me wrong, but I didn't know what to make of this. It tasted like salty bath water with some kale in it. Gross. I couldn't eat it. I turned my attention to the beef plate.
The food looked appetizing, but it was just ok. Rice was a bit dry and tasted old. Veggies on the side were sparse and unseasoned. Chili tasted a bit bland, honestly. A bit salty, a bit sour. No real kick or flavour. The beef was perhaps a bit too salty and the sauce was a bit weird. I didn't enjoy it and it was made worse by the fact that, when the dude changed the music, he evidently switched it to another annoying song (this time very poppy) that also played on repeat. Are you serious?? Has this man not heard of Spotify?! I normally don't eat very fast, but I was shoveling my food in my mouth now to get out as quickly as possible so I don't have to hear another garbage song play on repeat. Dude has clearly forgotten about my water so I'm just choking down everything that is edible. I get through the beef, half of the rice, and the veggies and beeline to the counter so I can pay. For some not great food and a shitty atmosphere, it sure was expensive. Total came to £11.50... I gave him £12 and told him to keep the change as I ran out of the restaurant as quickly as I could. I won't be back. read more