Park Chinois, Mayfair

Park Chinois is Alan Yau’s latest opening (he’s the bloke who recently brought us Babaji Pide and Duck&Rice) and it’s a real stunner of a restaurant. I’ve neither been to Shanghai nor lived in the 20s but I imagine this is exactly what it’s like. Everything about the place exudes opulence, from the two doormen, the fireplace by the reception desk and the live band … Continue reading Park Chinois, Mayfair

Babaji, Shaftesbury Avenue

Isn’t Alan Yau a busy chap? He’s about to open Park Chinois in Mayfair, he’s got Duck&Rice in Soho doing a roaring trade and now, after a long closure due to an electrical fire, Babaji has reopened. It’s a Turkish restaurant specialising in pide, a boat shaped Turkish pizza. We were seated downstairs by the open kitchen with views from the large windows down Shaftesbury Avenue – … Continue reading Babaji, Shaftesbury Avenue

Duck and Rice, Soho

Located on the permanent building site that is Berwick Street in Soho (will they ever finish digging up that road?) this is Alan Yau’s latest restaurant. You know Alan Yau, the chap who created Wagamama and sold it for millions then did the same with Yauatcha and Hakkasan. There’s a downstairs bar/pub and a restaurant upstairs at the top of a rather tiny spiral staircase. … Continue reading Duck and Rice, Soho

Naamyaa Cafe

Naamyaa Cafe is an “all day dining, modern Bangkok cafe” situated on St. John Street in Islington. It is owned by Alan Yau who brought us Yauatcha, Hakkasan, and Princi and like it’s siblings Naamyaa is a rather pretty place to eat. It’s huge and has a warehouse feel to it with a really high ceiling. Low hanging fans spinning round made us forget for … Continue reading Naamyaa Cafe

Princi, Soho

On the left hand side of Princi there’s a restaurant serving pizzas cooked in a wood-fire oven and on the right a cafe which is always absolutely packed. This Italian cafe was originally created by Rocco Princi who already has a successful chain of cafes in Milan but was brought over here by Alan Yaou who owns Hakkasan, Yauatcha and Busaba Eathai to name but … Continue reading Princi, Soho