THE AM TAKE
http://uk.askmen.com/fine_living/restaurant/banyan-on-the-thames.html
Pub. 2010-08-01
Until now, Battersea has been known as "the middle of nowhere,” thanks to a lack of a Tube stop -- something referenced in the menus at Banyan on the Thames, the in-house restaurant at the recently opened Hotel Rafayel. Imitating the hotel's same glossy style, the decked out restaurant is split across two tiers: one dominated by a long bar and stools, and the other flanked by tables and chairs.
The five-star service offered at the hotel is also carried through to the dining room, where sharp-suited waiters are on hand to take orders with a smile; the mixologist behind the bar, meanwhile, has been pinched from St Martin's Lane. And with fabulous fusion fare served beside views out over the Thames through floor-to-ceiling windows, Banyan on the Thames really does have a winning formula.
THE SCENE
A measure of this restaurant's atmosphere or originality AskMen.com score: 84
With an adjoining hotel that caters to the business crowd, it's hardly surprising that Banyan on the Thames attracts a predominantly white-collared crowd, with BlackBerry-wielding business execs propping up at the bar, conducting conference calls on their cells and downing expertly-mixed mojitos all at the same time.
The dining room, meanwhile, is filled with a mix of the aforementioned business execs, families staying in the hotel and singletons who've ventured out of their rooms for a little something to eat before retiring back to raid the minibar for a nightcap and a pack of nuts. As with any recently opened restaurant, the staff is keen and eager to please and the service is razor-sharp. The good thing about Banyan on the Thames is that, despite its sumptuous surroundings, it's the type of place you can dress up or down for; neither style looks out of place, and that's thanks to its hotel location.
The Cuisine
A measure of the quality of the food and dining experienceAskMen.com score: 87
Interestingly for a hotel restaurant, Banyan on the Thames hasn't opted for the safe, food-to-please-all option. In fact, the menu is a daring fusion of styles, with an Asian theme carried across most of its dishes. Highlights on the mouthwatering menu include fish-and-chips Banyan style, fillet of sashimi tuna and rack of lamb served in a pistachio crust.
The cream of the crop, however, is the fillet steak accompanied by shitake mushrooms, green beans, sesame, and a potato rocket puree. Giving any Argentinean restaurant a run for its money, the dish really does the tender, melt-in-your-mouth meat justice.
As for the desserts, they're as decadent as you'd expect, with chocolate brownies, caramelised Indian rice pudding and chocolate Bailey's cream cups as the signature standouts. Refreshing and inventive, Banyan on the Thames proves that hotel restaurants don't always rest on their laurels; if this is anything to go by, the restaurant works even harder to please the ever-discerning, always jet-setting guests that pass through its doors.
About Banyan on Thames
Set inside London's most exclusive eco-friendly hotel, Rafael on the Left Bank, Banyan on Thames is a chic restaurant overlooking the river and the London Helipad in Battersea. With so much action right outside its sound-proofed windows, this is a fantastic place to watch the world go by. And super-tanned sun-lovers adore the riverside roof terrace for summertime dining. The Hotel Rafayel is popular with an international, glamorous yet ecologically-sensitive set of travellers, and the Banyan on Thames is open to serve them – and you - breakfast, lunch and dinner. The menu is a melange of European, Asian and Mediterranean flavours, fusion cuisine at its finest. Favourite dishes here include the duck confit in a ginger and lime sweet and sour sauce; the mango and papaya salad with curry chicken; and the Barcelona traditional fish soup. Banyan on Thames makes the most of the peace and tranquillity of its ideal riverside location.
http://www.visitlondon.com/attractions/detail/7738557
Top Table:
Banyan has been endorsed through nearly 527 individual reviews in less than six months in operation on 'Top Table,' This individual/ day is a record number of reviews for any restaurant in London.
Food is delicious so much so I nearly ordered all of the starters. Settling for 2 of them eventually strawberry and feta salad was sublime if a little bit filling, the tilapia fishcakes with lemon chilli jam beautifully light and tasty. Main courses of 'fish and chips with battered monkfish is unbelievably good as was the sweet chilli beef and rice.
Reviewer : SG - gastronaut
Wonderful location with parking. Excellent service. We had a birthday party here and the staff were attentive and very helpful. Food was good and we'll definitely be back.
Reviewer : RR - gourmet
