Suda (Siamese Rice Bar), 23 Slingsby Place, WC2E 9AB

This in one to avoid I think. I certainly won’t be rushing back. I’m not superstitious but perhaps some people would think it untoward that we were thirteen for dinner.

The first problem I noticed was when the waitress poured a bottle of Chang beer (£3.80) down the back of my nice new shirt. The beer was certainly cold enough to sharply focus my attention.

Before ordering the beer I’d ordered a couple of bottles of Prosecco (£26 each) to gets things going and another diner had decided to splash out and order Champagne (£40). The Prosecco eventually arrived and was finished before the starters. After the Prosecco we’d moved on to Pinot Grigio and Merlot (both at £20 per bottle). The Champagne arrived with main courses which was too late and so got sent back.

Eleven of us ordered starters. Ten arrived and were duly eaten. Only after ten plates had been cleared did my ‘Tom Kha Gai’ get to the table at nine pm. The soup was lovely but perhaps I was simply ravenous having been seated waiting for food since quarter to eight.

Things did not get better for the main courses. Some cold food was sent back to the kitchen. The sticky rice was dry and hard crusted. I don’t recall the last time I ate in a restaurant that served food one plate a time, with the waitress returning to the kitchen for each dish for every diner. I’d ordered ‘Nua Panang’ which was last to be served from the kitchen and was not hot on arrival. In fairness, the Panang sauce was delicious.

Every drink that was ordered, whether beer or more wine, took forever to arrive. We decided not to stay for coffee or dessert because we were worried about how many hours that would add to the day.

They asked for £454.96 which included a 10% service charge and made no mention of my wet shirt. I declined to pay the service charge.

Wednesday 5^th May, 2010

46 Grosvenor Place,
SW1X 7EQ

Actual price per head: £39

Nearest tube: Victoria (Circle Line, District Line, and Victoria Line).

Remarks

I won’t be going back to this factory.

Reservations

Andreas B., Andy Y., Bal T.,Gareth H., Ian S., Kelvin M., Kevin M., Mark J., Mark T., Matt S., Paolo A., Peter J., Richard V., Steven V.

Wednesday 2^nd March, 2005

12 Upper St. Martin’s Lane,
WC2H 9DL

Actual price per head: £36

Nearest tube: Covent Garden (Piccadilly Line) or Leicester Square.

Remarks

I’ll be going back. The set menu is very good. There was an interesting mix of people there tonight with some entertaining interactions.

Attendees

Andy M., Angel P., Bill R., Dave O., David H., Henry L., Ian S., Jeremy P., John H., Luis F., Richard W., Royston G., Scott D., Steve B., Tim B., Tim H.