Satori Robata is another Japanese restaurant located in Knightsbridge so I was hoping for an experience that was a little better than Viktor. Disappointingly we didn’t get it. 50% off (which is the offer we were taking advantage of from top table) is no excuse for 50% off service and food quality.

To be fair the service wasn’t bad however there were a number of occasions where the restaurant fell down – they forgot to deliver our order of tempura and it was difficult to get the attention of the waitress even though we had a button (once we had to push it a few times before anyone came over). Once we got service, however, it was very friendly and very good. Our waitress was genuinely upset that we hadn’t got our order and one of the chefs apologised for not delivering it etc.

At Satori Robata there are two eating sections – around the conveyer belt for the more casual diner, that was us, and at proper tables which was located down stairs. Eating around the conveyer belt was a bit strange. Atmosphere was a bit lacking and it didn’t help that the sushi belt was awkwardly positioned particularly where we were sitting with a very narrow wall behind us. At least they spread customers out around the belt so that we weren’t jammed together. If there is one thing that can be learned from Yo Sushi is that hooks for bags or coats under the table are handy. Normally the seats at the conveyer belt don’t have any sort of back upon which coats and bags can be hung so without one you’re left with having it either scattered on the ground or inconveniently balanced on your lap.

Because of the friendliness of the waitresses I really wanted them to succeed but sadly they didn’t live up to expectations. Food-wise – the food on the belt was not very fresh and were clearly not turned over much. At least on our offer we could order from the menu (unlike at Yo Sushi were you must eat off the belt to take advantage of any discounts) so I would recommend that is what you do when you dine here. Without a discount food would have been very expensive with plates ranging from £1.75 at the cheapest up to £5.55 at the most expensive. Hot food wise you can also order yakitori averaging around £3.00 for a couple of sticks or go for something like seafood tempura for £10.90 or, the disappointing, duck teriyaki for £14.95 which was two very small duck breasts. Tempura was light but tasted like old oil, chicken was very tender (in both the karaage and the yakitori) as was the duck and beef. But all were lacking in serious flavour. In fact even the wasabi and soy seemed a bit “faded” in their flavour.

Would I come back here? At 50% off and on another night when the kitchen crew were in better shape I might possibly give it a second chance.

Its nearing Chinese New Year so Chinese restaurants across London are starting to bring out some special dishes. We have been waiting for the golden custard buns to become available at Phoenix Palace for a while now and how happy were we to find out they were available today! But one custard bun a meal does not make so we made a slight detour to have some yum cha dishes and to sample something new. What I love about Phoenix Palace is that although it has some of the usual sorts of dishes you expect on the menu they also do some dishes, and not a prohibitive prices like Hakkasan or Plum Valley, which you wouldn’t find in many other Chinese restaurants. Our new dish of the day was Yin Yan Fried Rice (Chicken in Tomato Cooli & Prawn in Egg Glazed on Fried Rice). It was gorgeous! I’d have eaten the whole thing if I wasn’t leaving room for the custard bun …

And then the dish we were waiting for – the golden custard buns:

Remind you of anything?

The buns were delicious though we have subsequently deducted that the cause for the liquidy goodness inside was a heck of a lot of butter! However that won’t stop me having another one next time I’m in the neighbourhood …