On Saturday 05/05/07, I booked a table for 7 people for a birthday celebration.

Whilst the service was quite good, the same cannot be said of the food.

Portions extremely miniscule and each plate was unnecessarily overly decorated.

The food was undercooked and tasteless. The wine was extremely expensive.

The menu was priced in accordance with a London restaurant. The whole experience

I've eaten here twice. The first time my Ugandan friend brought me because we wanted East African food and she recommended this place. The parking is lousy, but that's not the restaurant's fault - the little side street of Hackney look like a cruising spot for twocers, and I was nervous about leaving my nice little car there.

Anyway, once in the restaurant, the owners were nice to us, and soon brought us Tusker beers, which made me forget about my car. My friend had lots of meaty things and I had tilapia fish. We had little samosa starters, and we ordered the African beans in rich tomato sauce as well. The portions were generous. It wasn't long before I couldn't move, and was forced to drink another beer. Overall very enjoyable, and afterwards my car was just where I'd left it.

I commute, and on the nights when I drive I need some time to eat or have a drink until rush hour traffic clears enough to allow me out of the city. So I look for inexpensive places with decent wine that aren't packed in the early evening. (In the same situation? Post some reviews - there must be lots of us who need ideas for quiet places in N/E/S London to wait out the evening rush hour.) I read or write until the food comes so I pick restaurants with enough light to see by. Being single I avoid places packed with couples (so's I don't feel too envious) and it's cool if there are a few attractive fellow diners to glance at occasionally.

"Even if you just visit the brassiere for the view it is a delight. We plumped for the restaurant for a birthday treat. Starters were average, the lobster with wasbai dressing being a bit of a disappointment. The mains did, however more than make up for it. Steak and Guinea Fowl cooked to perfection - accompanied with perfectly wilted spinach and mashed potatoes you could bathe in. Dessert was a treat especially so as they decorated my partners plate with a candle and chocolate writing happy birthday - reservations deserve the thanks as they obviously picked this up when booking. Pricey at £150 for two with only £35 bottle of wine. Oh but the view and the mash.........." Al&Al