Ayannas London — Restaurant in London

I've heard some great things about Chef Collin Brown, and last night I finally got the chance to go. I have to say, I left more than a little disappointed...

Service: The staff was excellent, and was the highlight of the night for me. They were very courteous and provided the level of service you expect from a top restaurant.

Atmosphere: Although the restaurant is relatively small, they make good use of the space. The decor is very modern and done to a high standard. The views outside weren’t particularly scenic, but I think the dark, sheer drapes hanging at the windows added a certain elegance and distracted from the fact the location is a little suspect to say the least. They definitely succeed in creating an intimate atmosphere. Speaking of the location, parking was a nightmare.

Often overlooked in reviews, but I think is worth a mention here, are the chairs. They were really quite comfortable, and at no point during the three hours I was seated did I feel the need to shift my weight around in order to relieve points of pressure, or to find a more comfortable position.

Food: The main reason why anyone visits a restaurant, and the reason Chef Collin Brown scores so poorly in my overall rating. The food was very filling, and I particularly liked that they serve an appetiser before the starters arrive. My appetiser was a vegetable fritter: a palm-sized dumpling served with a sweet mango chutney and a light salad. It was very nice and a great way to kick off service... but unfortunately, that's where the good points end.

I ordered a virgin pina colada to begin with. It tasted nice, but it was far too creamy. It probably wouldn't have been that bad if the starter which followed was light and refreshing. It was the exact opposite. I ordered the red kidney bean soup, which was generously sized and had a nice boiled dumpling in the middle, but was way too rich for me to enjoy. Both the pina colada and the soup were laden with copious amounts of coconut milk, and left me feeling like I had just consumed a gallon of double cream.

The main course arrived and was presented nicely, but the truth is I've had a better brown stewed fish meal in a Thornton Heath Caribbean takeaway, and it only cost £3.50. The fish was dry, and tasted a little bitter. I found the vine tomatoes on which the fish was resting, sweet and juicy, but difficult to remove from the vine and somewhat annoying to deal with as a result. The rice and peas which accompanied the fish was well cooked, but again, the amount of coconut milk in it left an ashy residue on the palette, which made the rice taste much drier than it probably was.

I ordered the macaroni & cheese, and fried plantain as my two side dishes. Both were pleasant. However, I did taste some of the coleslaw, and it was truly horrendous. It had an almost bitter-salty taste, and wasn’t very nice to eat. By the end of the night, I felt very full and a little bloated. I’m not sure how much of that was down to the portion sizes (which were sufficiently adequate), or my incredibly dense starters and drink, but the only thing I really enjoyed eating was the appetiser.

I think Chef Collin Brown has the right idea, but I still think there’s a little more work to be done. Sad to say, but I wouldn’t...

I visited Ayanna’s with my family this evening and it was an excellent experience from start to finish.

Prior to booking I spoke with Sarah as my cousin has ASD with sensory concerns and my mum has specific dietary needs. She was reassuring and accommodating which put us at ease before we even arrived. The booking system online is simple with clear prompts for dietary requirements or special occasions and the deposit system is straightforward.

On arrival we were greeted warmly and offered to check in our coats. We were seated promptly and shown how to access the menu via QR code. There was a small menu error but the team resolved it quickly and efficiently.

The food was outstanding. Every dish arrived hot, beautifully presented and full of flavour. The stew chicken in particular was exceptional. It tasted just like my grandmother used to make with all the comfort of home cooking combined with restaurant quality. Each bite was a reminder of authentic Caribbean flavours.

For dessert Sarah recommended the ginger cake and it was truly unforgettable. Soft and warm in texture with the heat of stem ginger perfectly balanced by a rich caramel sauce, it was one of the best desserts I have ever tasted.

Ayanna’s is a family run restaurant and that love and care is felt in every aspect of the dining experience. From the service to the food everything is done with warmth and pride. Both my cousin and my sister, who can sometimes find dining out challenging, were very comfortable here. I would recommend Ayanna’s as an autism friendly restaurant. For those looking for a quieter setting the best days to visit are Tuesday and Wednesday.

This remains our favourite spot for authentic, sophisticated yet down to earth Jamaican food. Highly...

Inflexibility around food options for bookings of over 6 people. They allowed my friend to book a table of 4 and 8 but intentionally separated our party knowing the visit was for a birthday dinner.

There was a table set for two right by our main table for 8 which was empty all night. This was clearly done to spite the celebrant for not opting for the £60 per head set menu which had a limited menu and no vegetarian option.

A waiter brought the table beside us over to accommodate our request to sit together but another colleague came back and removed the table, this whole experience was incredibly hostile.

I just hope our food and drinks were not tampered with as the spirit in which we were served was very negative and hateful.

I would not recommend this place if you have a vegetarian within your party of 7 or more people as their stringent ‘rules’ will not accommodate to their dietary needs.

Such a shame to have experienced this poor example of customer service but glad to know where not to book in future, this is a view shared by our party of 10 which will of course have an impact on the business as our experience is shared with friends and loved ones.

Hopefully there is an improvement in future with regards to behaviour and flexibility of staff as the reasons given for not allowing us to be seated together without the purchase of the set menu were unacceptable.

They said larger groups tend to stay for longer causing them to miss out on accepting more visitors hence the enforcement of the £60 set menu. However, had we been sat together we would have ordered more items, both food and drink, but I hope their plan to capitalise on celebrants...