Randomness Guide to London - Differences between Version 5 and Version 4 of Noodle Oodle, W2 3RR
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| == Line 2 == | == Line 2 == |
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Like the original branch, the decor and service are functional rather than elegant, and there's a strong focus on hand-pulled noodles, made by a chef who works on a counter facing the front window to provide entertainment for passers-by. However, it differs from the original branch in that in March 2009 it removed pork from its menu and went halal; see [http://www.foodepedia.co.uk/restaurant-news/2009/mar/pork_free_inn_noodle.htm this Foodepedia article] for more. A visitor known as SingaporeGuy tells us that there are no longer any pork products used in the kitchen, and all their meat is now sourced from halal butchers. |
Like the original branch, the decor and service are functional rather than elegant, and there's a strong focus on hand-pulled noodles, made by a chef who works on a counter facing the front window to provide entertainment for passers-by. However, it differs from the original branch in that as of March 2009 it's removed pork from its menu and gone halal; see [http://www.foodepedia.co.uk/restaurant-news/2009/mar/pork_free_inn_noodle.htm this Foodepedia article] for more. A visitor known as SingaporeGuy tells us that there are no longer any pork products used in the kitchen, and all their meat is now sourced from halal butchers. |
| == Line 4 == | == Line 4 == |
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[[Kake]] and [[Leon]] visited on a Tuesday lunchtime in April 2009 to try out the new halal menu. Arriving around 1:30pm, there was no problem finding us a table. |
[[Kake]] visited prior to the menu changes, on a Friday evening in September 2008, around 8pm. I was on my own and was seated right away. I'd been looking forward to some tasty dim sum, since I quite enjoyed the dim sum I'd had at the Oxford Street branch - but, disappointingly, it appears that the Queensway branch only offers a small subset of the original dim sum menu. Most of the dim sum on the menu were covered with "N/A" stickers, and my waitress confirmed that they simply didn't offer those options. What they <i>did</i> have was pretty much either steamed, or pork, or both, making it quite hard to put together a balanced selection. |
| == Line 6 == | == Line 6 == |
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Steamed vegetable dumplings (£3.20) were a little disappointing. The filling consisted of lots of spinach and pretty much nothing else; a bit more seasoning would have been welcome. Pan-fried chicken gyoza (£3.50) were OK, but the wrappers were overly thick and again the filling was underseasoned. Chicken and vegetable dumplings in vinegar and chilli oil (£4.80) were the best of the lot; nothing wrong with them at all, and [[Kake]] would happily order them again. |
Given this, I just had an order of Shanghai steamed pork dumplings (xiao long bao, £3.50) and one of deep-fried spring rolls with shredded chicken, vegetable, and mushroom (£2.50), along with some Chinese tea (£1). The pork dumplings were fine, with a reasonable quantity of soup inside (though the skins may be too thick for some - I don't mind them this way though). The spring rolls were a little bland. The tea was fine. |
| == Line 8 == | == Line 8 == |
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[[Kake]]'s verdict: Wouldn't make a special effort to come here again; there's a lot of other options in the area. The halal aspect could be handy for some, though. |
They offer takeaway - I saw a few people come in for this while I was there - but I don't know about delivery. |
| == Line 12 == | == Line 12 == |
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See also: * Kake's photos of the new halal dim sum menu (as of April 2009): [http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/3426903521/ page 1], [http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/3427716364/ page 2], [http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/3427720358/ page 3] <div class="last_verified">Last visited by [[Kake]] and [[Leon]], 6 April 2009. Opening hours taken from sign in window, August 2008.</div> |
<div class="last_verified">Last visited by [[Kake]], 12 September 2008. Opening hours taken from sign in window, August 2008.</div> |
Small Chinese restaurant on Queensway in Bayswater, sister restaurant of the original branch on Oxford Street.
Like the original branch, the decor and service are functional rather than elegant, and there's a strong focus on hand-pulled noodles, made by a chef who works on a counter facing the front window to provide entertainment for passers-by. However, it differs from the original branch in that as of March 2009 it's removed pork from its menu and gone halal; see this Foodepedia article for more. A visitor known as SingaporeGuy tells us that there are no longer any pork products used in the kitchen, and all their meat is now sourced from halal butchers.
Kake visited prior to the menu changes, on a Friday evening in September 2008, around 8pm. I was on my own and was seated right away. I'd been looking forward to some tasty dim sum, since I quite enjoyed the dim sum I'd had at the Oxford Street branch - but, disappointingly, it appears that the Queensway branch only offers a small subset of the original dim sum menu. Most of the dim sum on the menu were covered with "N/A" stickers, and my waitress confirmed that they simply didn't offer those options. What they did have was pretty much either steamed, or pork, or both, making it quite hard to put together a balanced selection.
Given this, I just had an order of Shanghai steamed pork dumplings (xiao long bao, £3.50) and one of deep-fried spring rolls with shredded chicken, vegetable, and mushroom (£2.50), along with some Chinese tea (£1). The pork dumplings were fine, with a reasonable quantity of soup inside (though the skins may be too thick for some - I don't mind them this way though). The spring rolls were a little bland. The tea was fine.
They offer takeaway - I saw a few people come in for this while I was there - but I don't know about delivery.
Accessibility: A step up to get in, and toilets are down a flight of stairs.
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