Bam-Bou

A-wap bapaloola a-wap Bam-Bou

Food

Service

Atmosphere

As you enter Bam-Bou you step off bustling Charlotte Street into what a narrow Indo-Chinese (well, ok, it's Georgian) house from the eighteenth century, decked out in dark wood, dark red furnishings, and soft lighting.  Climbing a number of rickety stairs you reach a plush bar serving well-made cocktails - a good spot for a pre-prandial. 

The restaurant itself is back down the stairs on the ground floor, and serves a mixture of Vietnamese, Chinese, and Thai food, drawing inspiration from - well - just about anywhere it pleases.  Happily this works, and it's undoubtedly the food that's the star at Bam-Bou.

Many of the starters can (and should) be ordered to share - 'Har Gau' dumplings were popular.  A main of sea-bream with prawns and baby ginger was beautifully fresh and tangy.  Another highlight was the peppered beef fillet with kow choi and shaoxing.  No, I didn't know what 'shaoxing' was either (rice wine, since you ask), but the combination was delicious.  The menu changes often so it seems pointless to write at length about individual dishes - but, in general, with the exception of a couple of minor hiccups, it was interesting and innovative Oriental cooking, and a welcome change from the 'pub Thai' style places that have proliferated in London.

It's not without its annoyances: for example, I was told I would have to book at 7.30, and not 8pm; and we’d have to leave by 9.30pm to make way for other customers. This is doubtless because it's popular and there isn't much space, but you can't help but feel as though a restaurant should fit in with its customers - not the other way round. 

Also, although the small room and close-set tables do give the place a buzzy feel, it makes it noisy; and the service, though friendly, can be erratic.

These are small gripes though, and it's well worth making a trip here.  Book a table (you’ll need to), and take someone who appreciates good food.  They'll definitely thank you for it.