2012 Recap

Always wanted to start a blog on good food and drinks, finally got the ball rolling in 2013, all the photos are taken by my friends or myself unless specially mentioned. All reviews and topics are my personal point of view.Below is a short recap of all the notable restaurants I been to in 2012. 

For restaurants: my rating is out of 10 and base on Food, Service, Ambience and Value.
*= Michelin star

Ming Court at the Langham Place Hotel **
Quality Cantonese style Chinese cooking with great service
Food 7
Service 7
Ambience 5
Value 7


Murano by Angela Hartnett *
Classy Italian cooking at the heart of Mayfair
Food 6
Service 7
Ambience 5
Value 6


The Square **
Accomplish French cooking but was it worth 2 stars? (Perhaps an off day?)
Food 6
Service 6
Ambience 5
Value 6


Gauthier*
Very good French cooking in a unique setting with great value
Food 7
Service 7
Ambience 6
Value 9

Marcus Wareing at the Berkeley **
Top quality French cooking with top-level presentation
Food 9
Service 9
Ambience 7
Value 8


Kitchen W8*
Good value, decent modern European cuisine
Food 5
Service 5
Ambience 4
Value 8

Apsleys at the the Lanesborough*
Fairly good Italian cooking in a stunning, beautiful dinning room
Food 5
Service 6
Ambience 8
Value 6


Harwood Arms*
Good level pub food with a restaurant price tag
Food 6
Service 5
Ambience 4
Value 6


Semplice*
Solid Italian food with good depth of flavours
Food 6
Service 5
Ambience 5
Value 6


Helene Darroze at the Connaught**
Modern classic French cooking with very good service
Food 8
Service 9
Ambience 7
Value 7

Foie Gras @ Helene Darroze

Pollen Street Social*
Contemporary bistro setting with skilful cooking and good value
Food 7
Service 7
Ambience 8
Value 8


Pollen Street Social* (2nd visit)
Lunch at the Social Bar, this time along with creative cocktails with a wow factor
Food 7
Service 8
Ambience 8
Value 8


Hibiscus**
Top notch modern French cooking but in a rather dull dinning room
Food 8
Service 7
Ambience 5
Value 6


L' Atelier Joel Robuchon**
Average cooking, over price, not stars worthy... 
Food 5
Service 6
Ambience 7
Value 5


Waterside Inn***
The definition of true haute cuisine, just amazing.
Food 9
Service 9
Ambience 10
Value 7


The Ledbury**
World class cooking with world-class service
Food 9
Service 10
Ambience 8
Value 8


Yauatcha*
A "not so Chinese" experience in a Chinese dim sum restaurant
Food 5
Service 5
Ambience 6
Value 4


Galvin at Windows, Hilton Park Lane*
Decent modern French cooking in an impressive setting overseeing London
Food 5
Service 6
Ambience 8
Value 6


Galvin La Chapelle*
Wonderful modern European cuisine with great atmosphere 
Food 8
Service 7
Ambience 8
Value 8


Pollen Street Social* (3rd visit)
Creative and playful food with a bit of "Fat Duck" DNA
Food 7
Service 8
Ambience 8
Value 6


Le Gavroche**
Legendary French gastronomy experience
Food 8
Service 8
Ambience 7
Value 6


Greenhouse*
Contemporary fine dinning in a luxury setting with a rather heavy price
Food 7
Service 7
Ambience 6
Value 5


Hibiscus** (2nd visit)
Great dinner with some unusual combination to create rich and interesting taste   
Food 8
Service 7
Ambience 5
Value 6


The Ledbury** (2nd visit)
Once again, exquisite, top level cooking with flawless service 
Food 9
Service 10
Ambience 8
Value 7


Dinner by Heston Blumenthal at Mandarin Oriental Hype Park*
Fun and creative cooking using top British ingredients  
Food 8
Service 7
Ambience 8
Value 6


Alyn Williams at the Westbury*
Good value tasting menu with great service, good chat with the man himself at the end.
Food 7
Service 7
Ambience 7
Value 8


Thrisha*
Better than your average India but no match to other 1 star western restaurants. 
Food 5
Service 5
Ambience 4
Value 7

Tiger King Prawn @ Thrisha

Marcus Wareing at the Berkeley ** (2nd visit)
The best chutney in London! Finally managed to taste the legendary custard tart.
Food 8
Service 7
Ambience 7
Value 8


Helene Darroze at the Connaught** (2nd visit)
Wonderful tasting menu with stunning seafood and some interesting combination
Food 8
Service 9
Ambience 8
Value 7


Nobu* 
Once again, Michelin is a bit lost when is come to none EU food.... Decent Japanese, but not at the level of expectation. 
Food 6
Service 3
Ambience 5
Value 5

Nobu Bento Box

Hedone* 
Top use of ingredient as expected. But a little lack in creativeness.
Food 6
Service 4
Ambience 6
Value 5


Ah Yat Harbour View Restaurant**
A Cantonese restaurant, specialist in abalone dishes. Some very good dishes but some very average stuff too, not consistent enough. (And pretty poor service for a 2 stars restaurant)
Food 6
Service 3
Ambience 7
Value 6


Lima
Great Peruvian food, using fresh ingredient and top seasoning.
Food 7
Service 5
Ambience 4
Value 5

Suckling Pig @ Lima

Burger & Lobster
One of the best value meal in London, the downside? No booking = very long queue.
Food 5
Service 5
Ambience 6
Value 9


Opera Tavern
Spanish tapa, decent food but not worth the money you are paying for.
Food 5
Service 4
Ambience 4
Value 4


One O One
Lovely seafood restaurant, totally deserve a Michelin star in my view. 
Food 7
Service 7
Ambience 5
Value 7


Hawksmoor Guildhall
One of the best steak house in London, the porterhouse is heavenly. They make pretty dam good cocktails too.  
Food 6
Service 6
Ambience 5
Value 6


Honest Burger (Soho)
The best burger I had up to date, never expect burger can taste this great!
Food 6
Service 4
Ambience 3
Value 9


Nizuni
Pretty good Japanese but far too expensive as it is almost Zuma's level.
Food 6
Service 4
Ambience 5
Value 4


Meat Liquor
Fun décor with great value food, fast food at its best (although the long queue kind of destroy the "fast" concept.
Food 5
Service 4
Ambience 6
Value 8