Bam Bou Oriental restaurant

1 Percy Street, London, W1T 1DB. Tel: 020 7323 9130

This looked like an interesting restaurant from the front, which is an old Georgian building which was a brothel at one time, or so the waitress told us.

I think it is touted as a Vietnamese restaurant but the food is more oriental fusion than anything else.

When I opened the menu and wine list, my eyes popped out at the prices. OK, it is London but I had to have a double-take. Just over £10 for a thai green curry! That price did include rice, but then again it aint cheap.

Anyway, I went for the express menu, which is a set meal at lunch times and early evening, which was £11 or £12 and I really enjoyed it. On a square serving try you are presented which four small bowls: edamame with spicy rock salt, a chicken salad which had a georgous dressing and loads of fresh mint leaves that gave it a distinctive taste, a bowl of rice and a bowl of caramelised roast pork in a sticky sauce.

Overall I enjoyed my food. My colleagues had the lamb stew and chicken curry which were well received.

I have read some reviews on London Eating and so on which rightly bemoaned the cost, a couple of people didn't seem to enjoy the food by I am in agreement with the majority that the food was good. Expensive, which would put me off going back too soon as if you want Vietnamese then go to Shoreditch.

Bam Bou web site

<update Aug 2009>

I have just had one of the best lunches here at this restaurant. It was straight from the 3 course special lunch menu, about £19. Maybe that is a better option than thea la carte.

The Vietnamese beef noodle salad starter felt more like a main course. Lots of slices of rare beef topped with vermicelli along with coriander, mint and lightly pickled vegetables. Brilliant.

I chose the talipia curry as my main course. We got lots of rice to share perfectly done and slightly sticky. Lots of big chunks of fish along with aubergines and green beans. Fresh red chillies were sprinkled on top. Even eating the chillies with the curry it was not overly spicy at all. Very fragrant and a good 'mouthfeel' as they call it nowadays.

The dessert, was rich. I went for a peanut butter ice cream. It tastes exactly how you would imagine it, plus it was thick and rich, unlke the watery Snickers ice cream. It was a struggle to get past the first of two scoops.

Everybody else throughly enjoyed the whole meal.

I hope next time it wil be just as great, or is it time to leave it on such a high note?

</update>

Spicy soft shell crab