Wagamama, Victoria, London

One of my best friends came home from China for a visit last month and Monday night was the first time I was able to see her. She always tends to drag me to Asian restaurants - despite the fact that all she bloody eats is noodles in China - and so although Ping Pong was on the cards, we actually ended up in Victoria's Wagamama.

I've avoided this place thus far just by location - Leicester got their Wagamama not long after I left and Devon's never heard of it! So I was a little intrigued, a little reticent to go but with Giulia by my side, I was happy enough to trot along and trust her.

The restaurant is pretty basic and clean decor-wise, much like I imagine the rest of the restaurants look. Long, low bench-like tables, an open kitchen which you can see into, staff working very quickly. Our waiter wasn't particularly helpful and I was lucky to have Giulia who knew the menu inside out or I probably would have taken an hour to find something on the menu without shellfish in.


Food:
- yasai katsu curry (sweet potato, aubergine and butternut squash deep-fried in panko breadcrumbs, served with a curry sauce and sticky white rice. garnished with mixed leaves and red pickles)
- yaki soba minus prawns (teppan-fried soba noodles with egg, chicken, shrimps, onions, green and red peppers, beansprouts and spring onions. garnished with mixed sesame seeds, fried shallots and pickled ginger)
- Chocolate fudge cake
- Coconut ice-cream with mango sauce and coconut flakes

Honestly, I wasn't sold. However Giulia's tasted lovely and I think I just ordered the wrong thing. I like sauce with my noodles and (foolishly) assumed there would be some sort of sauce on them. I ate everything on my plate because I was starving but I didn't truly enjoy the main.

My pudding was delicious, however. The coconut ice-cream was lovely and creamy with a tantalising hint of coconut but none of the roughness of shredded coconut. The flakes were crunchy and went excellently with the mango sauce. The entire thing was the perfect finish - Refreshing and very good for the digestion.

The chocolate cake with wasabi sauce was also very yummy - The wasabi did something strange to the chocolate which was odd but worked (luckily!). Despite Giulia's protests that she wasn't hungry, she scoffed the lot which was testament both to her appetite and the taste of the fudge cake.

I think I would go back to Wagamama's again but I'd always prefer to go to an independent restaurant was opposed to a UK-wide chain. However, it was the great place for a chat and a chin wag and wasn't too busy so you didn't feel hemmed in.

Damage: £15/person

Vitals

Wagamama
Roof garden level, Cardinal place (off Victoria street), London, SW1E 5JE
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7828 0561
Website: http://www.wagamama.com/

Nearest tube: Victoria