Hakkasan

I am going to keep this review short, like the restaurants table policy – overated, overpriced and over the hill. £400 for 3 people for a table from 7.30-9.30 that we almost got physiclaly removed from is not good value. With the vast choices available in London nowadays and in the present climate go somewhere else instead.

If your visiting Hakkasan anytime soon then do one thing – catch up with your fellow diner/s beforehand as once you enter the basement restaurant you'll be too busy people watching and being generally astounded to speak to them until the bill arrives. Entering Hakkasan is like entering a secret uber world, with the backstage buzz of a fashion show together with the ambience of a sleek and very exclusive members club. You want to be here and you love every minute, particularly the minutes that fly by as you read the ample menu.

I was glad to see that style (fantastic though it is) is not above substance here and there were a few dilemmas on choosing the right dish and sides, but nothing the friendly and knowledgable waiting staff can't help you out with. On the advice of a friend I went with the infamous silver cod with champagne and honey – what a delight. Interestingly unlike most hyped restautrants at Hakkasan portion size does not have an inverse relationship to price and the cod came as two generous fillets. Vegetarian options were also aplenty with… More

The food was trully delicious, especially the Seabass in black miso. Dim sum however was a bit disappointing and lacked flavour. The place is quite noisy in the evenings,so not the best choice for a romantic dinner. The other inconvenience is that the tables are rather close to each other, so you intimacy is somewhat ruined by people unwillingly able to hear your conversations.

This restaurant is currently my favourite. I find comments like, “2 hour limits being irritating” to be IRRITATING! Why would anyone want to spend over 2 hours in any restaurant? You could not possibly eat for such a period of time unless your stomach(s) is/are (a) bottomless pit(s)! Try to understand, it is a busy place, they want to serve as many people as they can and I think they do so very well. Service is not just good, it is outstanding, the waiters are helpful and ooze class – they know what they are doing, they know what they are talking about and they ALWAYS get you what you actually want. It is dark inside, yes, but your table will be well lit and your food will not only arrive promptly, it will be cooked and presented to a standard of sheer excellence.
Parking is hard to find, though they do a very good Valet service which you are charged a very reasonable £10 for. The location isn't ideal, to be frank, it is located within a one-way labyrinth of narrow roads in the sort of place you'd probably expect to find a rat-infested cafe rather than a… More

I have been going to Hakkasan for several years and love it's consistency. I know what I like to eat there (Chilean Seabass, Jasmine Smoked Pork Ribs, duck salad, dim sum platter to name a few dishes) and it never fails to deliver. It's always buzzing with chatter, smells good and you get very well looked after. The drinks are also spot on, and my favorite cocktail has always been the Lychee Martini.
The only problem with Hakkasan is the turnover, there is a slight conveyer belt dining feeling going on, with a 2hr sitting and tables packed closely together it can feel a little impersonal. However this a small minus in an army of plusses. The only meal I have had @ Hakkasan that i didn't enjoy was when I was advised to try dishes that i knew I probably wouldn't like, so my advice is stick to what you like, do try something different, but if you don't like the sound of it don't try it because at the prices you want to enjoy every mouhtful!