Food fiend's review of E&O

Updated

Went back again a few times here – constant table turning has really annoyed me, plus the whole table allocation meant i was given tables near the loo/bar area where you just know youve been placed because you dont seem hip enough or ‘look’ right! Its a shame because the food is good – id recommend insisting you dont get those particular tables when you actually book or just go elsewhere to some of the many other haunts in Notting Hill. Its sad because i think the treatment of customers in this way has really put me off recommending this place anymore.

Previous review

I'd wanted to go to E&O for ages having heard the great reviews. I called up on the Thursday morning and the only tables available were half 6 and 10 so took the earlier option. For anyone else, remember to book early to get yourself a reasonable time. When we got there, the dining area was empty but many had congregated at the smaller bar area.

Foodwise – i started with baby pork ribs which didnt have too much meat on them and seemed covered in black bean sauce – nothing special. My main was much more delicious – a medium rare sirloin steak with some sort of horseradhishy sauce and soy, together was ‘proper’ egg fried rice and bok choi. I thought it was beautifully prepared and the flavours worked together perfectly. My friend had squid to start which again didnt seem much to rave about but had the biggest plate of pad thai you could imagine! Also extremely tasty but in my opinion, very gingery.

Pudding, i had the non Japanese chocolate pudding which was divine – though i felt myself thinking a la Masterchef ‘Ive had this soooooooo many times before, it had better melt in the centre’ – but it did and was excellent, together with some sort of green tea ice cream. Friend had the banoffi pie – hardly very japanese but very light, just enough of every ingredient to make it a very well made pie!

The food here is great – id recommend passing on the starter, and really going all out with mains and puddings because the mains were huge. The final bill was £85 for both of us – three courses and drinks. There is a great selection of cocktails, both non alc and alc. My only issue was table turning. Even though we had been told the table was only good till half 8, they seemed to be rushing us out at 8 – giving us only 1.5hrs to eat. However there were people waiting for the tables so i think it's the fault of the restaurant to try and squeeze as many sittings in as possible. It's not a lounge around/long chat sort of place, its super trendy and more a get in, taste the food and get out asap. Definitely worth trying out once if you can but time your sitting well (maybe 7pm) so you dont feel the annoying proverbial boot later on.