E&O

08-01-2009
Andy Hayler  1282 

A very successful pan-Asian restaurant conveniently near the wonderful Electric Cinema. Normally I am highly suspicious of a place that features dishes from Japan, China, Korea and more, yet the kitchen here pulls it off again and again. The place is buzzing with a cosy little bar that is always packed with fashionable media types. Brief notes from a recent meal follow.

Seared tuna (£9.50) was lightly seared, seasoned with pepper and served with a miso aoli (3/10). Soft shell crab maki roll involved good sushi rolls and very nicely cooked deep fried crab with a light batter (4/10). Soft shell crab tempura was very impressive, the crab cooked through properly and the tempura batter ultra-light (5/10). French beans (£4.50)were lightly cooked (possibly a little too al dente) and rested in an XO (pork and dried shrimp) sauce (3/10). Prawn and chive dumplings were excellent, better than I recall on previous visits, lightly steamed and delicate (4/10). Rock shrimp tempura (£16) was as good as ever (easily 4/10). Service is usually excellent here but tonight our waitress seemed a little agitated – the place was completely packed, even on this mid week August evening.

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01-01-2009
Greg Cristal  1271 

Admired by some as the nicest Thai fusion restaurant in these parts if not in London but I have to disagree most plainly. The bar itself sits as the bib to the small ground level restaurant behind it, taking the mess of customers and popping a drink in front of them while they await a table.

The drinks are expensive but to be fair the restaurant could charge the earth for them and doesn’t. A beer will set you back a fiver and a cocktail as much as fifteen pounds. The wine, although reasonably priced flash fancy words around where its actual wine cellar is someone depleted in the vintage department. There are very few tables at the bar and looking out onto the street while you drink is relaxing but not expected.

Overall the food here is fantastic and the service is very polite but the bar is just not the place to drink in even for a business meeting, it feels like a diner crossed with a waiting room and the itchy feet of everyone waiting at the bar for a table in the restaurant is all to clear. Definitely hit a pub down the road for drinks after the meal.

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18-12-2008
Tom Cole, MyVillage  1576 

E & O is most likely the first Pan-Asian restaurant to come to Portobello and it is revered as one of the chic restaurants in the area. Obviously this comes with a price tag but if someone ever suggests they will buy you lunch drag 'em here. The decor is quite understated with a stark wood, sharp angles and a contemporary Japanese feel to it. The food is good with the tempura being one of the stand outs. Also from what i remember the salt & pepper squid was the proverbial s mutts nutts. If you are just popping in for a drink it is pretty laid back with Japanese beers like Kirin on tap and a good selection of adult cocktails i.e no chocolate martinis here!
E & O is definitely worth checking out but if you are going in the evening it is probably worth booking.

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25-11-2008
Nina York  192 

Highly recommend the tiger prawns in white pepper, shitake chicken and the beef in lettuce wraps. Our meal was delicious, decent portions and suberb, with efficient service!

Our bill came to £70.00 for two of us including drinks and service - very reasonably indeed.

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28-10-2008
Roifield Brown - MyVillage  8590 

E&O is a fashionable restaurant if your over 35 and earn at least 35k. Its not really that big or truely cool. Handsome ladies abound rubbing shoulders with Geoffrey and his new business partner plus a welter of PRs.

The dining room is smart with large circular lights and dark wood paneled walls. The service is good very good, the front of house make you feel like they know you and will squeeze you in at a moments notice if they can. The food is enjoyable not great and runs the gamut of “pop” eastern grub. But is not charged at grand larceny prices

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