Nam Long Le Shaker - London

Old bouncer was racist towards a group of people. Disgusting behaviour, said he doesn’t like the attitude of an asian girl in the queue.

We had a really delicious meal and perfectly prepared cocktails at this nightspot that’s often overlooked by those who are more interested in dinner and drinks than concluding a late night out. Past 10pm there’s always a line, but from 7-9 it’s super easy to get a table and is just a nice place for an Asian fusion dinner. Drink prices can be stiff, but then again, so are the drinks. We were happy with our well prepared gin Martinis, not always the case in London, and avoided the exotic “Flaming Ferrari.” The items on the somewhat abbreviated food menu are really delicious and reasonablly priced for S Ken and Chelsea. The mains and sides are well prepared and simple dishes like the steamed whole fish are delicate and light. There is a small dim sum selection that we really enjoyed. The also a flash fried green beans are a signature dish. There is a really light (not oily and delicious version of Singapore noodles, but under a different name, listed as a side dish along with fried rice. If you like vermicelli rice noodles with curry seasoning, you might enjoy it. The proprietress Gwen is the young and charming daughter of one of the restaurants’s two founders and who inherited Nam Long. (Although the old and antique reviews bring down the overall rating, that’s a classic TA problem in my experience. Namely, 20 year old reviews that have nothing to do with the present even if they might have been fair then. I get that the occasional bad reviews will still happen when the inevitable unruly patron is turned away at midnight. But by that time we will be at home in bed after enjoying a delicious dinner in the earlier evening.

The food is consistently excellent and we really like the combination that include close things like dim sum, steamed fish, and traditional dark and noodle dishes. All of the place is really known for cocktails and late night, find it very easy to get a table earlier in the evening and our focus is really on the menu offerings. That’s not to say that we don’t have a drink or two, but we really can’t come out on the late night scene.

We came for drinks only, so headed straight downstairs to the bar. Although our party arrived later than mid-evening, we were the only ones there. However, the room filled up from empty to maximum capacity phenomenally fast! The place has a very good atmosphere, and things like the hand-illustrated matches and engaging staff add a unique and personal touch respectively.

Consistently good food. Dim sum at all times. We wish they would bring back the excellent honey roasted ribs. Our server agreed. Otherwise the same reliable menu. Service is good.