Food:
9/10
(around £50-60 per person incl. wine)
Having discovered this delightful restaurant on Frith Street, I have made it a bi-monthly pilgrimage. The food is spicey, authentic and consistently flavoursome. Szechuan is not for everyone. It can be well above the average westerner's threshold for spiciness and very oily, but for those that can't get enough of those intense, numbing flavours, Szechuan food becomes a highly addictive cuisine. To make matters even better, unlike many of the more basic chinese eateries in and around Soho, this venue has a more innovative menu, accompanied by a decent wine list. I have found the Reisling to be a perfect partner for this Szechuan feast.
Favourite starters: Mouthwatering Chicken
Favourite mains: Fragrant chicken in a pile of chillies (£18); Water-boiled pork slices (~£11); Ants climbing trees (£9); Dried-fried green beans (£9);
Favourite dessert: Not normally a staple in most Asian restaurants (except for Thai), but if you have room, the steamed rice balls with sesame paste are excellent. Note that they take 15mins or so to prepare, so book during your mains if you're in a rush.
Service:
6/10
Let's face it, Chinese restaurants in London aren't known for the friendliness and smiles, but Bar Shu's waiting staff are (with a little encouragement) attentive, knowledgeable and fast. They are a step from the numerous establishments on Gerrard St., but could go a little further, to cater to a slightly higher-priced menu.
Atmosphere:
7/10
More of a Chinese feeling than your average Dai Pai Dong, with some Chinese artifacts scattered around, but not quite a Shanghainese opium den.
