Baozi Inn
Chinese
25 Newport Court, London, WC2H 7JS
£
One cold winter's night after a post work pint I went in the search of a cheap bite to curb my appetite. No, that was not all intended to rhyme, yes, I am a natural lyricist because it does.
Chinatown is the feeding ground for all boozed up Brits and homesick natives alike - bright lights guide you into the warm sweet and sour doors of deep fried and tasty goodness. The crowds are nearly as off-putting as the revolving dead animals in the condensated windows, but when one wants a decent Chinese they must brave the uncertainty and questionable location, as this is the prime spot.
Looking for a cheaper option, I stumbled across Baozi Inn, tucked away right before you reach the madness of Gerrard Street. It had a queue outside - it had to be good. Good or cheap - those are the only two things which warrant a queue in central London outside of the underground at rush hour, or the post office on a Saturday. To my left stood some people queuing - chatting to their newly made friends about the last time they dined here and how much they enjoyed to food. To my right was a very detailed and extensive menu about what was on offer - the prices ranged from £2-£8 per dish... total bargain!
Que, check. Chat about good food, check. Cheap prices, check. What could go wrong? The queue only lasted about 15 minutes before we were seated at a diddy wooden table with some even diddier stools. Unfortunately, we were next to a girl with the screechiest voice I've ever had the misfortune of hearing, and by next to I mean practically on the same table. This wasn't too much of an issue, but it's safe to say that there isn't much space once you're inside.
Baozi is decorated with Communist Revolution imagery and the communism vibe seeps through, communal seating, minimalist setting with good but unpretentious food. We ordered a variety of nibbles from the menu and then a noodle dish to share at the end. Included were some skewers, some dumplings, and some ribs. The meat was tender and flavoursome, the noodle portion generous and the beers only £2 each (if I remember correctly). The service was prompt and did feel ever so slightly rushed, but this is to be expected from restaurants like this.
I wouldn't go to Baozi Inn if I was expecting glitz and glamour, come here for a satisfying bite to eat with some friends before heading out or as a stop off point: In short, Baozi satisfies a need but shouldn't be considered as the main event.
OVERALL RATING: ***
http://baoziinnlondon.com/
