Banana Tree Soho — Restaurant in London

To qualify this review, I visited this restaurant 45 minutes before close on a Sunday. I don't think that should matter, as I was well within operating hours, but I do think it likely contributed to the horrendous experience I had. The most arrant, and persistent, was the water.

After being seated for a good ten minutes, a waiter came to take my food order and ask if I would like anything to drink; I ordered a variety of dishes and said tap water. Another ten minutes past and no water had been brought to the table, so I asked a passing waiter. He said nothing and gave me a dismissive wave of his hand, then proceeded to go into the back of the restaurant. He came out again with four glasses of water and gave them to a nearby table that was seated after me. Another ten minutes and my food arrived; I asked that (new) waiter for some water, and he kindly said of course. As I saw him come out with several glasses, I was hopeful it was finally my turn; nope, it was another nearby party of four. As I was finishing my food, I asked a woman that looked to be a manger for some water, and she said "sure" but quickly got distracted near the door. I caught her eye five minutes later and she mouthed a panicked "Sorry!" and then brought me a glass just in time to finish my meal.

Speaking of the food, it was horrible. The plate that the spring roll appetizer came on was sticky to the touch, the lettuce watery and wilted. The Monk Noodles were rubbery and hard to chew. The dish as a whole is sold as including an "abundance of healthy, crunchy vegetables." That's verbatim and a lie; there were three small pieces of broccoli amongst the corn balls that were so oily they tasted like fish. The Chilli, Ginger and Basil Stir Fry with Tofu was a £9.95 joke; the tofu was soggy and tasted like wet foam. Thankfully there was laughably little of it in the tiny portion size.

The water situation and horrendous food made this my last visit to Banana Tree. The wait staff didn't care about my meal and the kitchen didn't either. The manager that finally ended up bringing water gave me a 15% "customer satisfaction" discount to offset my plight, which ended up being just shy of £5 off. It was a nice gesture, but ultimately too little too late. Do...

I booked a table online for 7 people in the evening after a performance at the theatre (5 mins walk to the Lyric theatre). When booking online if the time you’d like isn’t an option to select just put it in the special request box.

When we arrived we waited a few minutes to be seated and our waitress took our orders within about 8/9 minutes. They have a QR code on the table that you scan to view the menu and pay. The restaurant did have paper(physical menus) which helped so much - just ask your waiter.

Food was so tasty and seasoned very well. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their meal - I personally recommend the Prawn Laksa, a fair amount of large prawns given too - I’m rather knowledgeable about laksa anyway and this was rather authentic. The chicken dumplings are absolutely scrumptious !! The beef rendang was a little bit dry but tasty albeit.

I had the chicken thai green curry as a main and I expected the sauce to be a tad thicker as I’m used to that. This was almost like a broth. Still tasty and lots of veg.

Everyone’s mains were rather large/generous portions so much so that we asked for a few takeaway containers.

The only reason I haven’t rated this 5 *’s is because of the cocktail I had which was a ‘Rangoon Zombie’ it’s supposed to be a strong cocktail but honestly it tasted like very sweet fruit juice, little to no alcohol at all - I didn’t even finish it because it was so sickly sweet. Happy hour is also all day,everyday.

It’s a very casual restaurant and quite relaxed - don’t need to dress up at all and the seating is quite close, we had a bench and the bench beside almost looked as if we were all together.

Overall 4 - 4.5 *. I would visit again.

Pictured: prawn laksa, Thai green curry and my cocktail £36pp - service...

A Tantalizing Journey Through Southeast Asia at Banana Tree Soho: An Unforgettable Dining Experience

My wife and I recently had the pleasure of dining at Banana Tree Soho, and I cannot recommend this restaurant highly enough. From the moment we stepped through the doors, we were transported on a culinary adventure through the vibrant flavors of Southeast Asia.

The restaurant's atmosphere is warm and welcoming, with an inviting ambiance that perfectly complements the mouthwatering cuisine. The service was impeccable—our server was attentive, friendly, and offered helpful recommendations that made our experience even more enjoyable.

For our meal, I opted for the succulent steak and noodles accompanied by fragrant jasmine rice, while my wife chose a flavorful green curry. Each dish was a delightful symphony of flavors and textures, showcasing the exceptional talent of the chefs at Banana Tree Soho. The presentation of each dish was both beautiful and appetizing, making the meal a feast for both the eyes and the palate.

One of the standout aspects of Banana Tree Soho is the quality and variety of ingredients used in their dishes. The freshness and authenticity of the ingredients shone through in every bite, making it evident that the restaurant takes great care in sourcing and preparing its offerings.

In conclusion, our experience at Banana Tree Soho was truly unforgettable. The enticing atmosphere, delectable cuisine, and outstanding service left us eager to return and explore more of the enticing menu. Whether you're a fan of Southeast Asian cuisine or simply looking for a memorable dining experience in London, Banana Tree Soho should...