Pak Choi
Yi-Ban

Yi-Ban

London Regatta Centre Dockside Road London, E16 2QT, United Kingdom

Beer • Wine • Casual • Chinese


"When you arrive outside it’s not obvious you are arriving at a restaurant, it’s such a vast building. You step inside and there is a massive staircase! There is a lift! No reception at street level so you are a little unsure as a result of that there is a restaurant there!. But we ventured upstairs to see what was there and saw a big sign for the restaurant. Saw 2 sets of double doors. Went in, lots of diners, but nobody to actually greet us. Stood there about 30 seconds before we just walked in to the room more and THEN someone made contact. Probably need to work on their meet n greet procedures. Anyway. Great table overlooking the water with far reaching views to the city. I had requested a round table which was near the window and they had it exactly as I requested. Service was good, and our waitress was smiley. Went for set menu. We had someone in our party with a moderate nut allergy. There menu clearly asks you if you have allergies and to let them know. Which we did. She advised they not eat the aromatic duck as nuts are involved in the cooking but in our food selection that was the only item. The food was great. There were 6 of us but we ordered set menu for 5 people and it was enough food with very little left over. They should really improve the entrance with some signage and have a better reception desk as you walk in to the place but that’s my only real suggestion for improvement. Food is not radically amazing but it’s good Chinese, served hot, tasted good. Nobody voiced any issue with food, we had a great laugh too, felt relaxed and service was not overly intrusive. We had 3 bottles of wine, which is sensibly priced. Total bill including wine and starter platter as part of the set menu was £40 each including service charge, which we all thought was good value. Just needs more kerb appeal and I think it would improve the place a lot. But would go again for sure."

Sabai Sabai

Sabai Sabai

268 High Street, Birmingham, B179PT, B17 9PT, United Kingdom

Thai • Curries • Starters • Meal Deals


"The slim dining room is dimly lit, mostly by candles that adorn the ornate tables dressed with thick black and gold decorative cloth. The heavy wooden chairs have a regal feel that serves to heighten the notion of tranquillity just yards from the main row of shops that are central to Moseley Village. We start with chicken satay, a dish too often relegated to the Just Eat default starter. Thick chunks of thigh meat, marinated and impaled on three skewers, full of flavour and gentle aromatics that seamlessly blend with a satay sauce, rich with peanut and coconut milk. By comparison it made the duck roll seem average, which it wasn't. The roll, deep fried to a crisp, holding tender pieces of meat and the occasional shard of crispy skin. It needed the sharp side salad to offset the deep funk of the bbq sauce which was to be a close relation to hoisin. We chose the same birds for main course, because we are ill prepared and hungry. A red curry is a joyous thing full that successfully balances out the sweet and the sour, the heat and the salty. There is the background of kaffir lime and pungent notes of fish sauce. It speaks of the work of an experienced hand in the kitchen. The duck inside is well cooked, though it plays second fiddle to the sauce which dances around it. Pad Pik Khing has more of the chicken thigh meat with krachai and green beans. Its sauce is all acidity and unadulterated heat a good thing; no, a great thing which has little care for the western taste buds. We both mop up the last of the sauces with sticky rice that is the right side of claggy. We opt to take liquid desserts in the pub around the corner, pay the bill and leave for the last of the evenings sun. Whilst putting the world to rights over a pint or three, we agree that Sabai Sabai exceeded expectations for the both of us. Its bold and authentic Thai food has been refined just enough to justify a price which sits just above similar restaurants. Regardless of whether or not you are familiar with the cuisine, I urge you to give it a go. Just do it sober. Food this good needs to be remembered"