The full marks are there for the waiter, the layout/ambiance and the cocktails…read more
Got in with a reservation (please do book a reservation if you're going on a weekend night, because this place can get pretty full pretty quickly), and we're seated pretty much instantly. If you're a party of six skinny people, you'll do just fine in the chairs. If you're fat Americans like us, it's going to be a tight squeeze. They do a really smart thing. The window seats are pushed a bit away from the windows, so that when the waiter comes to take your order, they don't block the middle aisle where people are trying to walk or carry stuff to tables. Brilliant idea, and one which I wish more would do.
The chairs are those mid century modern rattan backed chrome bottomed office chair looking guys. They're comfortable enough, even for us fats, but the rattan was starting to wear out. Hopefully, they'll see to getting them serviced, because it makes the place look a bit ragged.
The tables were a lovely size, with plenty of space for our drinks, our food, and the beautiful bespoke charger plates they had on the table with Sihana branding on it. They kept the TVs and other built in furniture from the old Kinjo that used to be here. When we went, the stuff on the TVs was pretty generic. This is fine. Not a lot of places know what to do with those TVs. Back when the location used to be KInjo, they played either K-dramas, Anime, or other such themed shows on there with subtitles, so that it keeps the place on theme.
This is NOT an allergy friendly place. If you're vegan, you're going to get either the cocktails, or a dry salad. Also, there's cocktails that have honey, so watch out for that as well. The falafel sandwich, which should be vegan anywhere else you get it, has egg in it. Not ON it, but IN it. The fries are all cooked in shared oil. How shared is the oil? One of our table mates got a mild allergic reaction (she has a shellfish allergy), and had to grab a Benadryl when she got home. It wasn't bad enough for her eyes to close up and have to go to the hospital, but her face was getting flushed, and she started getting really itchy.
I'm sure the food was fine. I've been with this group dining out several times. If they're seriously enjoying themselves, they'll usually be raving about what's on their plate, and let the waiter know how good it all was. That didn't happen here. Everyone LOVED the appetisers. That cheesy bread situation was a huge hit.
The cocktails are strong, and beautifully made. Well balanced with the right blend of sweetness, tartness, and slight burn of alcohol. Absolutely no complaints there.
When the bill came, there's a credit card processing fee.
I'd say the place is good. Here's why they're getting full marks: The waiter let us know IMMEDIATELY that there will be nothing for me to eat. He didn't have to go to the kitchen to ask what was safe. He knew immediately that there's nothing at all on the menu that's safe for me. That level of knowledge tells me that you've got a waiter who takes pride in knowing his job, and does it to the best of his ability. You've got an absolute gem of a wait staff in general.
I wasn't bothered, because I live very close by and can eat at home. Just know that I'll never set foot in there again. I'm not sure that anyone else would be too eager to go back either. I've been to steak houses that had more option.