This was by far the worst experience I have ever had in a restaurant. My friend had booked Crazy Bear for her 25th birthday celebration for 10 people to have dinner. We were shown to a booth table with a ceiling and back that resembled a crypt and was very clearly for 6 people at maximum. When we brought this up with the manager, we were told that 'Fiona did the booking', not him, and so he couldn't be held responsible and if it were up to him he would never put 10 people in the booth. Despite this, he seated us anyway and told us that there was nowhere else we could sit and reminded us again this was Fiona's fault. When we were all seated and had our drinks, already the table was full without any food on it and it was very uncomfortably hot. As the food started to arrive, the waitress and manager were standing at the end of our table holding food, or passing it to me, leaving me or another of our guests to serve out food. By the end of the dinner we had practically worked a shift as they refused to actually place plates on the table. If this wasn't already bad enough, the waitress then spilled an unidentified drink all over one of our guests meaning her suede boots were covered in a white liquid. There was no apology made by the manager or any sort of offer from a senior member of staff. We then ordered more drinks which we waited 45 minutes for before asking again, at which point we were brought the wrong drinks. Whenever new food came, we had to send other food back without having finished it as there was no physical way it could be placed on the table. 2 of our guests ended up having to put their plates in their laps, and one guest ended up having food spilt all over them as the table was so full. When the £700 bill came, I asked the manager if there was something he could do about the fact that my friend's birthday had been ruined by this meal from the table to the service, and he told me again that it wasn't his problem. After hours of speaking to the general manager where we were never apologised to, we were accused of lying about the amount of people we booked for and we were told that the CCTV would have to be checked to see if our guest 'provoked' the wine spilling, we eventually got some money off the bill. The service we encountered at Crazy Bear was the worst I have ever experienced. It would have been bad enough having to go through this dinner, but what made it truly shambolic was the way senior management deemed it appropriate to deal with complaints. I didn't hear one apology, I was accused of lying multiple times, and every member of staff was simply trying to shift blame. Crazy Bear has always had a good reputation but I would rather be mauled by a crazy bear than return to this place. Please save your money and eat anywhere else. read more

The Crazy Bear - The table was so full our friend had to eat off his lap - Thai Near Me - London, XGL

My review is based on a discounted price: Groupon - £20 for £40 worth of sushi. Crazy bear reminded me instantly of upscale Vegas. From the outside, the restaurant is glowing with drape curtain lights and no obvious sign. The fact that there is no sign makes it feel like an elite club and seeing the ladies and gentlemen walk in and out of there, it reinforced that feeling. As soon as you step in, it's as if you stepped on the bespoke club from the 1950s - dark, romantic lighting, velvet style seating, steel dimmed lighting secured to the table tops, old vintage wooden walls and cabinets. It's a nice setting for a date, apps with your girlfriends, or even a swanky birthday celebration. My boyfriend and I came with a Groupon voucher for £40 of sushi, sashimi and/or champagne. If we didn't have the Groupon, we wouldn't have come here as the cost of sushi is significantly more expensive than what we'd be comfortable paying for. For just over £40, we ordered a tuna, salmon, dynamite and dream roll - 8 pieces per roll, 32 pieces total. To our surprise, it was as delicious. However, at £9-14 per roll, it's not worth it at full price - perhaps this is just a foreigners opinion as Toronto prices are much more affordable. Putting cost aside, we really enjoyed the restaurant. That is why I gave it a 4*. We were treated well, even though we had a Groupon voucher to use. Our sushi came out at a reasonable time and the rice was just right - not too much, not too little. The service was good, water was refilled and never did we feel like we were less than anyone else eating there because of the groupon and that it was a dry dinner. One thing I really appreciated was when I asked for the restroom. The waiter walked me all the way there and for good reason as the doors were hidden behind a discreet wall door. If you had walked to that corner, you would never have thought that mirror looking wall was actually a door. read more

Crazy Bear is crazy expensive. The downstairs bar is also crazy beautiful. The staff seemed just plain crazy ...so the experience is truly what you make of it, but there will assuredly be some crazy involved. I highly recommend popping down for a cocktail in their sultry swanky lust den basement bar. You'll be instantly entranced by the lavish candelabras and opulent glass tables and your internal jukebox will be playing Sade's greatest hits before you know it. The upstairs restaurant was far less inspired, other than by the overuse of multiple chili peppers. Being a spicy food fiend, I had no complaints and enjoyed the self inflicted pain bite by bite. But unless you are a certified fire breather, you'll probably want to take careful note of the Asian inspired ingredients. And the bathrooms? You guessed it ... read more

The Crazy Bear - From website - Thai Near Me - London, XGL

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It's true that Crazy Bear is crazy expensive, although when you crazily order 4 cocktails even though you can see the crazy prices, you can't get so angry at the Bear. The cocktails were good although not massively memorable. I really liked my Espresso Martini (my favourite cocktail) which we had after dinner in the downstairs bar which is fun and glitzy like everyone says although I personally would not describe it as beautiful (unlike the lights on the outside of the building which I LOVE). The highlight of the whole meal was the cod which is my friend's favourite and is a buttery delicious concoction which is moreish but at the same time incredibly rich so it gets a bit overwhelming if you keep going back for more (which I did). I also really liked the squid stuffed with pork (fish AND meat - yeah) and the monkfish was excellent too. Monkfish is probably my favourite fish and its sweet flavour was perfect with the curry sauce. We had a few starters too which weren't so memorable, I would skip dim sum here as you can get better quality and quantity in Chinatown (or in the other secret places for dim sum in London that I am sure must exist. Srsly, tell me where they are). So I wouldn't rave about the starters we had but there are probably other better options: the menu is huge. Literally, it's huge, I could barely hold it up. Also, they need to print more cocktail menus because they kept taking ours away which was foolish because I probably would have spent even more money if I'd been allowed to keep perusing it. Service was a little slow at times but the staff were really sweet and gave some helpful recommendations. Let's talk about the downstairs toilets. I literally, literally, walked into a wall. Right into it. I smashed my face into it. I had no idea what was going on. And this was after I was really really close to walking into the men's by mistake (and I DO NOT like the sight of urinals) and before I then spent about five minutes waving my hands under things that could possibly be taps like a crazy person. Oh wait, I see what you've done there, Crazy Bear. read more

I visited the bar downstairs and actually it kind of left an everlasting feeling, previous to my first experience when I was there. The service was spot on, our hostess made sure we were ok, had enough drinks, if we needed appetiziers etc. She was quite friendly. I went for the double decker champagne cocktail, ok so my first initial reaction was that it might be a bit heavy, like a double decker chocolate. It was actually the total opposite, tasted like a black forest gateau, just a lot lighter, mozart dark chocolate balances the flavours. You have an aroma of different notes in your mouth, the last note you are left with is the cherry liqour which is not even the prominent flavor. I like the variety of champagne cocktails on their menu, there are so many combinations, rather than your bog standard. read more

The Crazy Bear - Double decker champagne cocktail. Mozart dark, cherry liqueur, vanilla syrup and lanson white label champagne. #livelifelikeldn - Thai Near Me - London, XGL

Amazing asian british fusion food. Massive choice of menu but everything is really good quality. Not cheap but worth every penny. Cocktail bar in basement well worth a visit. Finding the toilets is funny as hidden doors. read more

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So once a month, my bestie and I treat ourselves to a night out and Crazy bear was our choice for September. My friend has been there several times but it was my first time and I wanted to know what all the fuss was about! I was running late as per usual and my friend had already been patiently been waiting for 10 minutes. Upon arrival, I was greeted by the super friendly hosts who showed me to our table. To say I was starving was an understatement, and of course, my first thoughts were to flick through the menu and order! It is always nice to start with a glass of prosecco after a long day! It was around 7pm, so therefore I had been up for over 12 hours- Yes this prosecco glass was very much necessary. My friend chose to have the pornstar martini, which she highly recommends, and added that it was one of the best pornstar martinis that she had in London. I must say that the drinks came very quickly, which is a miracle in London as you are often waiting forever for your drinks! For starters, I chose the Jasmine tea smoked sticky Gloucestershire old spot pork ribs and they were gone in about 5 minutes, simply because they were so tasty. Followed by prawn tempura maki rolls and salmon sashimi- you should know by now that I absolutely adore salmon sashimi. For my main, I chose the stir-fried Aberdeen Angus beef sirloin, and I love a bit of beef, but perhaps I should have asked for the beef to be cooked medium-rare as it was very chewy and I like my steak to be more tender. However, the combinations of peppers, oyster mushrooms and oyster sauce are just mouth watering! Overall for the price of the food, it was definitely worth it, and I could not have been more stuffed. We didn't have much time but there is a cocktail bar downstairs, which seemed to be buzzing and there was a very cool DJ playing music. A few people were dancing and I too wanted to shake a leg but I had work quite early the next day, sad times. I would advise to have dinner around 7pm-8pm and then follow with drinks downstairs from 10pm onwards. Price: £££ What to wear: Smart casual (I wore a leather jacket, silk tee, skinny jean and Christian Louboutin heels) Ambience and hospitality: Staff were very attentive and witty read more

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Crazy bear I love your hotels and I love the English cuisine at both your other establishments but unfortunately your Thai and sushi just don't hit the spot here in London. Started with sushi ., it was fishy , so we know its not fresh . The dim sum was awful , how can you possibly be so close to China town yet have learnt nothing from your neighbor's . The sticky pork ribs are about the best thing on this huge and worrying long menu Thai green curry was meh . Wagyu beef was chewy and like something you would expect from a cheap takeaway . Staff are friendly enough however we was given the check before out entrees had even arrived . This place used to be a lot of fun but unfortunately its lost its charm . A lot of empty tables early on . Why is your menu longer than one at an American diner ? Crazy bear work it out . read more

The Crazy Bear - Ribs ..the only thing worth eating - Thai Near Me - London, XGL

The Crazy bear is a small chain scattered around the UK offering a menu that focuses on a range of Oriental dishes varying from Japanese, Chinese and to Thai although they also offer an afternoon menu. It's well known for their beautiful stylish decor. The Fitzrovia branch definitely contains that classy decor with its leather seats and wall panel, taxidermies at the front and elegant metal lampshade at each table. Downstairs had the more neon dark haunt surroundings and the fully glass mirrored toilets was definitely worth visiting even if you don't need to go. However compared to all the up and coming restaurants in London, it's decor is nothing spectacular and won't be winning any rewards. My best friend treated me a 12 course tasting menu described as premium although premium was a bit of an exaggeration especially for putting prawn crackers and rice as individual courses. Crispy seaweed Didn't expect crispy seaweed to be on a premium tasting menu. It was nice that it was actual seaweed and not fried cabbage but it didn't do much for texture being quite hard which turned chewy after a while. The edamame beans These were more satisfying. A nice kick of heat and saltiness from the Japanese spice and rock salt that gave its addictive flavour Shrimp crackers Another dish I didn't quite understand why it was part of the tasting menu as it has always been a complimentary dish. Still it was much welcomed as a snack before the mains came being well fried, crispy and light with nice seafood aromas. Modern style sea bass sashimi Probably the highlight dish of the meal. The quality of the sea bass was at its best, silky and almost sweet in taste. The marinade was perfect, ponzu giving it slight zesty savoury edge, fresh chilli for a nice kick and smoothed out by the creaminess of the mayonnaise. Wagyu beef tartare in mini taco shells These were also incredible. The advantage of having wagyu over any regular beef really stood out. The meat was incredibly tender and soft with beautiful sweetness coming out from the meat, balanced nicely with the sourness from the ponzu and kick from the wasabi. The taco shell gave it an interesting textural contrast to the filling and topping of mayonnaise for a creamy finish Roasted mandarin cherry valley duck. Honey roasted loin of Gloucester old spot pork Crispy belly of Gloucester old spot pork All the classic Chinese roast meats on one plate. Even though I've had this hundreds of times over it was still very refreshing to have it produced using high quality meat. The breast of duck was incredibly tender, full of flavour and moist. Crispy pork belly had a good ratio of meat to fat, bouncy and juicy which made a good contrast against the lovely crispy skin. The roasted loin was a lovely balance of sweet and savoury, succulent and also incredibly soft and tender even without the help of fat to marbleise it. They were all finish off by having a oyster soy sauce slurry poured over them which really helped the meats cling on to more moisture and flavour. Great to have with the accompanied rice. Lobster pad Thai noodles. Probably the most disappointing dish out of the meal. It wasn't bad and very edible but just lacked flavour, The lobster did not taste fresh, tempura'ed instead of steamed or grilled which meant the flavour was masked behind some greasy batter. There wasn't much meat, mostly cartilage and wasn't seasoned so was very bland. Pad Thai was very sweet and didn't deliver much on depth although it was cooked well and al dente. I expected more from a £62.50 tasting menu Chargrilled eggplant The texture was lovely, soft and gooey and in a nice balanced oyster soy slurry to keep it slimy and wet. Nice garlicky notes with a good kick to it from the fresh chillies to make things more exciting. Champagne rhubarb and Madagascan vanilla cheesecake A very nice finish to our meal. The champagne rhubarb came as a topping of jelly which was a very welcomed contrast to the creamy cheese filling. I very much enjoyed the thick smooth cheese embedded with rich vanilla notes. The biscuit base was thin, buttery and moist which did not distract it from the softness of the dish but only accentuated its creaminess. To me, the Crazy Bear is a bit outdated. Maybe 10 years ago this menu would have served its purpose in giving everyone a good tasting menu of some of the classic East Asian flavours. But today people are after something more than good but creative and breaking away from the classic dishes that are more for the Western palate but something more authentic and traditional to what you find in Asia. You would not find crispy seaweed anywhere in Asia. For a tasting menu listed as premium costing £62.50 each I did expect to be more 'wowed' but was not. It was just food cooked well. For the cost for two people I could have gone to a top end Chinese or Thai restaurant and ordered a whole duck, lobster on noodles plus starters and sides to feed four or more. read more

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If you're on a diet, or your stomach is the size of a small child's, then this is the perfect place for you. As might be expected in Fitzrovia, this place has a pretty snobby vibe as you walk through the restaurant - with it's impractical but "designer" furniture - and you are seated by a silent, very tall and immaculately blonde waitress, who probably wishes she was anywhere but here right now. The food is, on the whole, great. The £25 menu gets you a glass of champagne (the waitress was at pains to make clear that any additional glasses would be charged at £20 each), a beautifully cooked steak the size of a 50p coin, and a sliver of lobster which probably rivals your thumb in both length and circumference. Fortunately the a la carte menu can help you out, where a tablespoon of "sautéed seasonal vegetables" will set you back £8. This is part of their ploy... The food itself was delicious. But unfortunately I left more hungry than I was before I arrived. read more

The Crazy Bear - The £25 set menu. Steak and lobster. Probably 14 calories combined. You'll want to order more food if you're hungry... - Thai Near Me - London, XGL

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This place is over priced. We had sushi and some cocktails for 2pax, total bill was £77. It comes across fancy and slightly pretentious. The cocktails were average and the sushi was ok. If you're looking to grab a drink, best go elsewhere because it's an average of £10.95 for a cocktail here which doesn't have a proper mix. This will be my shortest review because I don't have a lot to say about this place other than it will be my first and last time. read more

Okay, before I begin this review, I have to say that this place should be looked at in two ways. One, as a swank little cocktail lounge and two, as a fully running restaurant. First, the bar downstairs. It is awesome. It's so over the top with its selections of decor, combining everything from white snakeskin covered, heavy as hell silver chairs and stools, to boisterous candelabras, to little romantic dens of red leather. There's mirrors all over the place and it has an element of naughty that I, well, of course I loved! I ordered a "Thank You & Good Night" and it was a tasty whiskey and peach cocktail that was pretty fantastic on the palate. So for the bar, a definite strong 4 stars. Now for the restaurant upstairs. Have to say, wasn't impressed. The biggest problem I had was the level of spice and heat they gave everything. I mean, this wasn't the "Oh, that is a bit spicy, isn't it?" meal. No, no, no, no. This was "Holy Hot DAMNNN! What the hell did they put in this?!?! Help, call the fire department!!! I don't think my mouth is gonna make it!!!" Yeah, that isn't good. Besides the spice and heat, the scallop starter I ordered was totally overcooked. The pork ribs were actually done perfectly. They literally fell off the bone with a simple prick of a fork and the sauce was perfect! I also ordered the white crab and shrimp fried rice and it was good, but again just too spicy and it detracted from the taste of the dish. Another bad point was the service. He was there. He was taking our orders, but there was such an obvious level of up sell going on that it kind of made us cringe. I ordered 2 starters and a fried rice and thought, wow, what a pig I am. And he looked at me like I was crazy to only order that small amount. "You don't want a main as well?" No, no mister server man, I don't. So, my conclusion is this, I would definitely say come for the bar downstairs and have a fun time with deliciously different cocktails and such and avoid the restaurant upstairs... unless of course, you are a strictly hot food fiend and don't care about anything else, then try the restaurant. read more

I have to agree with Stephy on many of her views. The downstairs bar is a kaleidoscopic joy of booths, cow hide seats and beautiful decor. The cocktails served are a little expensive but carefully made to a high standard. Without question the bar is the highlight of Crazy Bear, and the harem'esque, dark vibe keeps me coming back for more. I recommend booking a booth in advance. You need to either be seating plenty of people or spending a lot of money to get one, but they are fantastically snug and well placed for intimacy. Having a booth draws you away from the suited after work crowds that dominate Crazy Bear. The restaurant I found to be a let down. The waiter I had was overtly pushy in his up-selling. It was totally unnecessary and immediately put a bad marker down for the remaining service. It seemed the waiting staff worked on auto pilot and seemed unable to provide a personal caring approach. The food was good but incredibly hot and spicy, even for one who likes spicy food. I'd recommend checking heat levels with your server before ordering. Once you've sampled a few of the drinks, head for the bathrooms and walk straight into the final scenes of Enter the Dragon. The toilets are covered in mirrors wall to wall and it is difficult to find ones way back out. Don't worry Mr Han isn't lurking behind doors to claw you. Crazy Bear is definitely worthwhile checking out for cocktails and bar snacks, but I'd give it a miss for dinner. read more

Without exception Crazy Bear is one of the most beautiful spaces I have entered in a long time. The marriage of it's sunken bar and intimate alcove booths, it really didn't have to sell itself to me, I was sold! The waitress service was great - prompt and she was well informed about both spirits and wines. It's not cheap but I feel worth every penny and and... wait for it... the loos are the most stunning display of creative genii! This special place has etched its make on heart and I will be visiting again very soon. Just a side note, even though it would defiantly, 102% put this down as one of the ultimate impress your date spots, don't take anybody you're not serious about because it is so nice that they probably take other dates and then it might be a bit awkward! read more

I ended up in Crazy Bear purely on accident due to a combination of aligning stars, choosing the right shoes, and the inability of some friends to read the name on the menu. The décor is uber luxury, the wait staff very helpful and incredibly sexy, and the drinks call to you in such a way that would have even the Sirens leaping into the sea. We were supposed to meet at Dabbous (just down the road) and after waiting in front for 15 minutes I called them only to find out they were at another bar. Now, I was pretty sure I was at Dabbous (the name in large letters over the door gave it away) but they swore they were in the right place. Once we had snuck past the door guardians and seated ourselves, I took great pleasure (petty, I know, I know) in pointing out the name of the bar emblazoned across the menus. While the others fled to Dabbous in fear of being late to the party, Markus L and I decided to sample what Crazy Bear had to offer (I'm talking about the drinks here...get your mind out of the gutter). To this day, Markus and I can't remember what the name of his drink was and only recall that it had gooseberry jam as an ingredient. It was martini-shaped, a deep red hue the colour of a smoldering temptress's lips, and a tart fruity taste that teased the tongue left you wanting more. I opted for the more distinguished gentleman's drink, the Sazerac. This was a Sazerac I could drink forever with the rich smoky undertones of the whisky providing the bass foundation for the delicate citrus melody. My only complaint is that it was served neat in a room temperature glass while I prefer the extra chill of a few cubes. Still, a minor point by any standards. Overall, I could see this as a great place to take a date or anyone you are trying to impress. Drinks are pricey at around £12 per cocktail but the skill and presentation definite make it worth the cash. You'll want to dress up for this bar and I'm not sure they will let you in the door unless you are at least smart casual. Suit up and get over to Crazy Bear for some quality drinkage in an area of town that boasts more than a few top places for a tipple. read more

The cocktails here were next level. Try the Lychee Elderflower martini - it's mind-blowing! We went on a special occasion, so the restaurant was adequately dark and mysterious. Food was tasty, nothing spectacular (definitely not for the price) - the sharing platters were decent portions. The Knickerbocker glory mango dessert was Amazing so eat that if you're having dessert! read more

Amazing food and amazing cocktails. Beautiful venue just was let down by the awful service. We want as party of 6 and although we were on time for our booking at 7pm in the lounge bar downstairs we did not get served for 25mins due to the fact they had just one waitress doing the rounds. After two drinks we was told our table was ready upstairs for dinner however when we got there another waiter said he couldn't find our booking even though this was now an hour and a half later since we checked in. He was then overruled after five minutes of divving about by a manager. Following this the service was slow or rude and it took three attempts of asking for someone to take our initial food order. Despite all this the food could not be faulted from course to course everything was perfect. Particularly liked the chicken Satay which was part of the starter and the best Chinese belly of pork in my main. Would go again maybe just not for a while til the sort the service. read more

We went here with another couple and just wanted to say I really enjoyed it. After reading a lot of reviews I was worried this was going to be a bad experience and I was going to be disappointed. I agree some of the decor was a bit worn and was slightly over priced but in general I really enjoyed it. The food was delicious and service was good. We asked for recommendations on wine and went for the Cotes Du Rhone which went well with the Ostrich. One thing is the portions are really small so you need to order a few items. Staff were friendly and the bar was low lighting and comfortable (we did have to share a table with another party). I would say it's worth a visit and if you can find a deal would make it better value for money. read more

The Crazy Bear - Thai Near Me - London, XGL

This is great. To start - the venue has no name outside. Just the bamboo bush tells you that you arrived in the right spot. Once inside, you don't have the impression that you are in a Thai restaurant - no carvings, no drapes, nothing traditional. Best to characterise it as a club. Enter the bar downstairs and enjoy the wide range of cocktails and after this you will be guided to the table. Everything on the menu is worthwhile trying. Keep a bit of space for pudding as I discovered when taking the (not available vanilla) cheesecake - I had a mojito cheesecake in lieu which was really delicious and well presented. A place to remember. read more

The Crazy Bear - Mojito cheese cake and chocolate sorbet with nuts. To die for (the mojito cheesecake was in lieu of vanilla cheesecake) - Thai Near Me - London, XGL

Woweee! Seriously cool place jam packed full of media types. I've never eaten here, only ever had their superb cocktails. And it isn't so expensive, well, just a little maybe. And yes the loos do deserve a special mention. Quite simply the most fabulous toilets I have ever seen. read more

Came here on a business lunch. Service was attentive perhaps falling slightly on the side of too much - although this is just me being pedantic. I ordered California Roll Uramaki and the salmon and avocado Temaki which I thought was better than average for London. It wasn't ground-breaking but I enjoyed the taste and thought the fish was fresh. My company had the lamb cutlet massaman and the sea bass which both looked absolutely delicious. The decor is very luxurious and the downstairs bar looked perfect for a Friday evening if you're looking to impress a date. The toilets are an experience in themselves! There are no signs to state which ones are which and to add to the fact that the doors are the same design as the wood panelled walls! Inside the decor is what I would call ludicrous kitsch with dark reflective surfaces everywhere. Although the meal was very pleasant, the only thing that really stood out for me was the decor, perhaps next time I'll order something that's Thai as they are supposed to originally be a Thai restaurant... read more

This location is one of the properties of Crazy Bear Group which owns some really funky looking hotels, bars and restaurants. The venue is in the heart of Fitzrovia and has both restaurant and a cocktail bar. My friend and I only went to the restaurant part. The dining room is long and narrow with all couch seating along the 3 sides of the room. This place is not very suitable for large groups, because most of the table is big enough for two people to sit side by side, which is a really odd set up. The whole time I was eating, I had to turn my body 45 degree angle so I could see and talk to my friend. The dining room is dimly lit by the tiny table lamps on each of the table. Now that I think about it, it is more like a jazz club than a restaurant. We ordered the premium classic tasting menu at a hefty price of 59 pound per person. Before we even sat down, the waiter informed us that we have to eat fast, because we only have the table for an hour and half! I couldn't believe that we were paying good money and still being rushed! Well, as soon as the food started coming, I actually didn't mind leaving ASAP. I'd say the genre of food is a mix of Chinese and Thai. And in this premium tasting menu, shrimp cracker, edamame and even steamed rice are considered dishes! The crispy duck salad was filled with coarsely chopped, almost finger length spring onions. The only thing that was mildly ok was a chicken curry. I guarantee you that you can find much tastier food in Chinatown for 1/3 of the price. I was really amazed that in a city with so many great restaurants, Crazy Bear could thrive, considering we were being kicked out after an hour and half to make ways for the next group of diners! However, I know another place that I will not be coming back to. read more

Crazy Bear is the very pinnacle of what I've seen of London's uppity foodie-holes, catering simultaneously to those who want to do something wacky (WOAH, IT'S A CRAZY BEAR) and to those who want to feel like they're part of that upper crust. It's upscale Thai food, with mood lighting and a big bar downstairs where people hunch around little seats (for the most part). I went with a party of seven, and we all took part in the tasting menu, which was a series of meals one after the other which we then had to awkwardly lean over eachother to get to. The tiny little tables made this something akin to playing Risk while your hands are greased. The food itself was good, but not great, and one particular meal (the chilli prawn, I think) made my mouth so hot that I had to consistently drink water for around an hour to get rid of the burning. There is no damn reason on this Earth that that should have been that hot, and when I practically begged the waiter to get some water because my mouth was BURNING, he slowly and ponderously refilled every glass at the table. Oh, yes, I was with a few girls, so he had to fill those too. All as I sat there saying nicely, but firmly, and loud enough to hear without being a dork "My mouth is burning, please pour me some water." Overall, the real mark of a thai meal - the pad thai - was great - but the rest of the meal failed to astound or delight me on a meal I was looking forward to. Maybe it was the constant burning? Or maybe it just wasn't that good? Your choice, even though there are no other Thai restaurants that I know of in the area. Final comments: 1) Crazy bear is a stupid name that has no relevance nor point to it beyond making people think it's possibly a Russian restaurant. 2) Having unmarked toilets is not cool nor funky, it is annoying and rude to anyone who wants to just go to the toilet and not mess around trying to find which is the right toilet. read more

I think Londoners are an easy-to-please bunch. And they are very rich. I went for drinks and nibbles at the downstairs bar. We managed to get a booth so, yes, very nice. The decor is kinda cool but I have to disagree with some of the other reviewers here: it's not so so SO awesome. Hugely expensive and not really that good (pseudo Asian, badly done) I won't go back. read more

This dimly lit Fitzrovia eaterie is just gorgeous, from the bejewelled myriadic bathrooms to the cow-print chairs this is such a 'date' setting. The staff are really attentive, the booths intimate, I had the mixed dim sum which i can vouch for. This place is a little pricey but I feel it's worth paying a little extra for somewhere special. read more

Went here for lunch and while the food was good, especially the sushi and dim sum, for the price there's a lot better to be had in London. The service wasn't great as we had to continually ask for our water to be topped up and it seemed to take ages for empty tables to be cleared. All in all it was a good one off experience but not really to be repeated unless you enjoy spending extra money for a quirky dining environment read more

Hmmm.. I'm torn. Nice place with new decor but it was a little tacky for my taste. The toilets were something to behold though; if you can distinguish the male and female toilets from each other (from the outside) I'm impressed. I went on a Tuesday night and the atmosphere was pretty dead. In hindsight I probably should have chosen somewhere in Soho that was a bit more lively. Maybe at the weekend it would have been busier There were some very good drinks on the menu - the Smoked Rob Roy was my favourite and I highly recommend it if you're a peaty whisky fan - and some that were pretty average. The price was maybe slightly higher than other similar places in the area, but that's not necessarily my biggest consideration. If you're willing to pay £10 for a cocktail, you're probably willing to pay £12. Overall I can't complain about anything. Drinks were good, service was good, decor was ok, but I just know so many other, better, places in London that I would rather go to. If you want to know where they are I'm happy to provide suggestions! read more

The Restaurant: I came here for a New Years Eve pre fix menu last year, so we got a little bit of everything. I read that some people thought the food was far too spicy, but I didn't have that same reaction. I was happy with the food. It is safe to say that part of the high price of food is for the ambiance. It's dark and loungy, and I liked that the tables/booths were like fancy train car tables. read more

As Stephy S said it should be looked in two reviews, 1 the restaurant which I found average Thai food that is way over priced - really not worth the bother of visiting, you will be charged a fortune for food the quality of food found in Sainsbury's - upstairs is also pretty average looking. Downstairs is a whole different matter - it is a really lovely cocktail bar to go for a drink, a relaxing beautiful space - just make sure you follow someone when you go to the toilet or you can look very silly trying to find it! I would say give the restaurant a miss but recommend it for a drink if you are in the area. read more

Came here based on a friend's recommendation. Pricy? Yes. But they live up to the expectations and deliver very well. Portions of the 12 plates tasting menu were huge and way too much for 2 people. We barely finished half and it was all very satisfying. Worth the experience. Good ambiance and nice proffessional service. read more

The Crazy Bear - Thai Near Me - London, XGL

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We came here for the 12-course tasting meal via Groupon. The service was excellent. The waitstaff was courteous and efficient. We loved most dishes in the tasting meal. My favorites were the sesame toasted bread, pad thai, and spring rolls. Where I thought the food could be much better were the traditional Chinese dishes. The shao mai and bok choi just didn't taste authentic. We also didn't eat the Cotswolds chicken in a green curry sauce because it was too ginger-y and I guess neither of us like green thai curry sauce. It's too bad because the chicken was actually the largest dish. The dipping sauces were also fantastic.Overall it was a wonderful experience and we would consider returning for another tasting meal. read more

ever feel that you want to be out and about, but not up to the drinking part? that was me on Wed and Crazy Bear fit the mood perfect. we started in the very cool bar downstairs and probably could have stayed there all night with so much atmosphere and a crowded room of good looking people. they had the best Thai ginger limeade which made me look the part, just didn't have the alcohol - my beer drinking compadres were jealous because we all agreed that i had the tastiest drink! we got small bites in the bar, so really didn't need to do the upstairs restaurant, but i was with men and they need meals. :-) read more

Had soaring hopes for the fairly popular hotel/bar chain but alas, our Wowcher proved to be completely unsatisfying. The venue itself is full of dark reflective surfaces and is very dimly lit. They are definitely playing up the slick, wet mirror-look which I found ritzy to the point of garish. Also the toilets are needlessly confusing. The last thing you want to be doing when you have to pee is wandering around and asking people how to find it as the toilets are unmarked. We had this 'Surf and Turf' deal where you share a Chateaubriand and get a lobster each between two of you plus a glass of champagne for like 35 quid each. As soon as we were seated, the waiter explained to us several times about how since we had a deal, both the lobsters and the steak had to be cooked exactly the same way. I found it quite condescending that he kept loudly repeating it. Also, it made sense for the steak (as it was to be shared between 2) but not the lobster. Plus, there must have been a mistake, because a group of 4 of us went and we ended up having a lobster each but sharing 1 (ONE) Chateaubriand which was just not enough food at all, given the very small size of the lobsters. Also, the Chateaubriand was murdered - tasteless and sauce-less. To boot, absolutely nothing accompanied either dish. I would have taken the whole dish back if we were paying full price. In fact, I would hate to pay full price for anything here given the size of their portions. The worst possible feeling is walking out of a reputable restaurant feeling starving and walking straight into a McDonalds. I hear the cocktail bar is good, though? Obviously we were not jazzed enough to stay for one... read more

I don't usually like Japanese / Chinese style dishes but this place was great and jas made me change my mind in that cuisine. Me and my friend Denise B had the special offer tasting menu which consisted of lobster roll, seabass sushi style, shrimp crackers, three different style pork dishes, veg salad, crab and prawn rice and rhubarb cheesecake topped with ginger jelly. The pork just fell apart and was so juicy. Also loved the sticky rice different and pink. Also had some non alcoholic cocktails and all had such a sharp tang to them just what I like. Reason I give 4 stars is because some of decor needs replacing due to worn etc and don't like the way some tables are laid out as some tables that seat two you are sat side by side rather than opposite so we had to ask to move at beginning as I love to be face to face. The staff was more than happy to move us and served us well throughout the night. Also like the dark lighting. Toilet area is all mirrored and has Molton Brown soap. Would go back. read more

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Cool hangout. Definitely try to book a spot in the back with the two cave-like tables in the basement. Good music in background and nice to pregame here before going out. The specialty drinks here are a little pricey and suck, so stick to something classic or be specific in your order. Bathroom was interesting. It isn't everyday you get to piss into a mock waterfall. Funny how the sinks are adjoining through the walls between the male and female toilets. You might accidentally touch someone else's hands when you place them under the water. read more

I was really disappointed with the food. I ordered the hoisin duck spring rolls which I found quite dry and the prawn and scallops which were 'pasty' for lack of better word. My friends had salt and pepper prawns which were gorgeous but my meal overall wasn't up to the standard you would expect with the prices charged. read more

I went here on the 15th september for a meal for 10 to ceelbrate my mother dand daughters birthday. 15 minutes into arriving they were rushing us to order so the next table can be sat on time. I mean considering i had booked and paid for this table, why were they rushing us? We said we were not ready to order as yet could we have a few minutes as we were enjoying our drinks. They came back 5 minutes later and said that we had to order, and as we took so long that we could only order a main meal, no starters or desserts. I MEAN WHAT IS THIS PLACE?? I have never gone anywhere to sit down and have a dinner for a special occasion and be rushed out the door and told we couldnt order what we wanted. Who was rhe next table reserved for? The queen? Because the way they behaved was DESPICABLE and they were so rude. We decided we wouls pay for our drinks and leave as we wanted to relax( as you do when you go out to eat) and they made us feel very unwelcome and acted as if they couldnt wait for us to leave to get the table back. We decided that enough was enough so decided to leave. Imagine now drapsing up and down looking for a resturant to accomodate a group of 8 last minute on a Saturday night. The worst is that we had two children with us, one of which was the birthday celebration, and they were really really hungry. I asked for my deposit back and they told me they would only give me back 50% of it and i said that is not good enough. So after lengthy deliberations the manager agreed to full refund. He said i would have to wait until monday and the accounts team would take up to five days to refund my £100!!!! Why? I paid by card but he refused to refund to my card? Why does it have to be paid by bacs and i paid by card? Seems like he was just being difficult. To add insult to injury, the manager CHRIS BAIGNET still has not refunded ME THREE WEEKS LATER!!! I called up after the five days and he said he would ask accounts and get back to me. Two weeks later and still no word from him.. this is actually theft. I RECOMMEND THAT NO ONE COMES HERE! BETTER ALTERNATIVES IN THE AREA- ROKA/HAKKASAN/NOBU/SEXY FISH BETTER SERVICE AND SAME FOOD! HONESTLY DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME OR MONEY HERE! "MANAGER" CHRIS BAIGNET IS UNPROFESSIONAL AND RUDE. THE ONLY THING HES MANAGING TO DO IS GIVE THE PLACE A BAD NAME AND DETER PEOPLE AWAY! read more

Very funky bar (the toilets are worth a visit too!) and the restaurant is super trendy but the food also lives up to the standards set by the decor. Fresh thai food and lots to choose from. Went last night for at least my 10th visit! They've got 50% off champagne for ladies on Wednesday nights so a perfect excuse to head over! give it a go. You won't be disappointed. read more

I used to love this place years ago as a dinner spot, and went again recently for the first time in a long time. Service was terrible and food was mediocre at best. I'm shocked at how much this place has deteriorated. Servers acted as if they could care less that we were there, and the food in some instances was served cold as if they pulled it out of the fridge and slapped it on a plate. I was there with 5 others and I would be surprised if any of us ever go back. read more

This restaurant is perfect for a special occasion. The taster menu is really good value and the dishes were a very high standard. It was quite hard to get through them all! The chocolate soup dessert was definitely a winner. We will be back here soon. read more