Greenwich is suddenly awash with noodle bars - right opposite Noodle Time is the Saigon Noodle Bar, and there must be half a dozen within walking distance of Greenwich University (until recently the Royal Naval College) For £3.90 you get a big noodle meal, with fresh veg and either meat or seafood. Reminded me of the noodle bars in San Francisco: filling, functional and fantastically cheap. The placemats are menus, they leave an order pad and pen on the table for you to fill in. You can have freshly squeezed juice or Kirin beer. It was quick and completely frill free - unpretentiousness seems to be a trait of Vietnamese restaurants, and they were far too modest to have anything so flash as a printed card, so I can't give a street or phone number. Brilliant value. 23rd November 2000 Recommended DM

Greenwich is suddenly awash with noodle bars - right opposite Noodle Time is the Saigon Noodle Bar, and there must be half a dozen within walking distance of Greenwich University (until recently the Royal Naval College) For £3.90 you get a big noodle meal, with fresh veg and either meat or seafood. Reminded me of the noodle bars in San Francisco: filling, functional and fantastically cheap. The placemats are menus, they leave an order pad and pen on the table for you to fill in. You can have freshly squeezed juice or Kirin beer. It was quick and completely frill free - unpretentiousness seems to be a trait of Vietnamese restaurants, and they were far too modest to have anything so flash as a printed card, so I can't give a street or phone number. Brilliant value. 23rd November 2000 Recommended DM

This is a new and welcome addition to the SE1 area, a genuine French Restaurant with exquisit food. The maitre d' was very professional and spot on in his recommendations, encouraging us to be adventurous, he offered us several tasters of his favorite wines until we finally settled on a beautiful St. Emilion. It's worth the visit for banana and chorizo bruschetta experience which is second to none! Big fat king prawns for the main and a greatly varied cheese plate at the end of the meal. A real taste sensation and staff who take great pride in their clearly excellent product.

I would definitely like to spend an entire day here. It's great when you sense that someone has bothered to think something through, decided what they wanted to achieve, decided how to go about it and then actually achieved it. This is basically a pub converted into a restaurant - a central bar surrounded by tables - but they have managed to carefully balance the pub/brasserie atmosphere with well spaced seating, subtle lighting, with just a hint of the louche, and an interesting off-beat decor. The end result is very welcoming and extremely laid back. There is live music (they have jazz nights) and there were two excellent acoustic guitarists playing when I went, but again they are thoughtfully positioned and you can hear what the people you are with are saying if you want to.

Now look, it's no good just having a nice atmosphere and a very good menu and excellent beer, the food has got to be hot when it get's to the table. I went to the Lavender in Vauxhall (within gobbing distance of MI5) with The Accountant. I said to the chap at the bar, 'I've ordered a table for six'. He said, 'It's over there,' indicating a big circular table set for six people. 'No,' I said, 'Two people. Six o'clock!' The Lavender is basically a pub with tables and table service or booze at the bar. Anyway the beer I had was Youngs and it was very well kept. The furniture in the Lavender is knocked-about pine, and church pews and the menu is on the blackboard. The Accountant had steak and I had gammon. It was a smallish piece but proper meat and nicely cooked. It came with patties of bubble and squeak and a deliciously dressed garnish-sized salad with rocket leaves. There was some sort of niceish sauce on the plate. We both had a delicious soup to start. I think it contained basil. But the soup, the gammon, the bubble and the squeak were all warm. If it's not piping hot it's no good. This often happens to me and it's a shame because it spoils the whole thing. Did I complain? No I didn't, I just wrote a review and The Accountant bought us another beer. It's a lovely place for a drink next time you're visiting the Archbishop at Lambeth Palace, but the food... They had their chance and they muffed it. Perry Stalsis 2001

Painful. It’s the only way I can describe it. The table is seated for 8 o’ clock. You only get to place an order at 9 o’ clock (and only a main course mind you). After 3 hours of pitiful, teeth-grindingly bad service (all for that one main course) it was simply too much to bear. And it compelled me to write these words. Now, stop me if I’m wrong but this is not the way it’s meant to happen. I always like to think that going out for dinner is a stab at enjoying yourself of an evening. I know it’s not a God given right but you do have some entitlement to a certain level of attention when dining outside the confines of your own home. Well, you won’t get it if you eat here. Not without asking first anyway. Picture this: one member of staff taking an order (eventually); another member of staff disputing everything you say when chasing the original order (tectonic plates move faster than these guys). And, repeat. Ad nauseum. “We ordered some cheese and I wondered if it was on its way?” “ We don’t do cheese.” “You do. I ordered some about half an hour ago.” “Oh really?” “Yes, really.” You get the gist. Such a shame when considering the quality of the food which was finally delivered. Beef and tomato sausages, rib eye steak and the salmon fillet were all expertly executed and an enjoyable feed. The mange tout even evoked childhood memories of eating peas from the vegetable garden. They were great. However, warm beer and white wine delivered sans cooler set the tone for the evening really. You should have an inkling something is afoot if the basics are ignored. The kitchen staff (although perfectly capable) were woefully under worked, which I am sure was a result of no orders being taken at tables. As a waitress you should adhere to the maxim that ‘being ditzy does not constitute cuteness’ – which in turn does not constitute service. If you are going to go (and I can’t think of a reason I would willingly go twice); go for the food. Just be prepared to fight (and wait) for it. Nickademus and Pliers