Reviews or Comments for 'Banana Tree Canteen' (18)

This is a great place to eat - busy, buzzy atmosphere and delicious food. Lots of choice for vegetarians. I'll definitely eat here again.
I took off half a mark because one of the waitresses wasn't very friendly, but the others were great, so maybe I'm just being fussy.

Sarah's profile     Other reviews by Sarah     Sarah likes    

Awesome Thai food, delicious chicken money-bags, fantastic lamb curry, great specials and one very attractive girl who works the tables. Have been back many times and will continue to.

Simply perfect for a non-fussed casual dining experience. Great fresh oriental food with a vibrant atmosphere, even on a Monday night! The atmospehere is cosy but noisy at the same time as it is always packed, so if you want a quiet time, this is not the place. However if you don't mind sharing a bench and slurping on their fantastic coconutty Laksa or my other favourite Char Grilled Chicken with Chilli Salsa this place is unbeatable! They open all day and everyday with outside seating when whether permits. Highly recommended.

I have been a regular since I moved here 9 months ago. The food is excellant and not gooey like some oriental places and the atmosphere is great. This place is always busy so it's never boring. The bench seating makes this place place feel communal and friendly. One last thing the Brazilian barman is not to be missed! Highly recommended. Love the steam dumplings.

jane's profile     Other reviews by jane     jane likes    

I have just heard my friend turn down a booking at this place as the manager was so rude when she tried to book. She wanted a table for her boyfriends birthday- party of ten people - the bloke on the phone was so rude and wasn't interested - so she said stuff them and walked away. When good service is hard to find don't bother looking here!

luke's profile     Other reviews by luke     luke likes    

Buzzy and delicious! Great little gem in West Hampstead. Always busy and always friendly, nothing bad to say about this place. Go there today and see what I mean.

davis's profile     Other reviews by davis     davis likes    

Yeah don't listen to the negative review below - that's one experience in a long history of great reviews and diner experiences. This is a great restaurant!

I work locally in West Hampstead and have been coming here with my work colleagues for the past 2yrs. I have dined here both at lunch times and evenings at least twice a week. This place is simply excellent. The food quality and value for money is second to none. The service is friendly and the atmosphere has a cool and laid back feel that is seldom found in London. You may have to share a bench/table at busy times but I suppose they are the victim of their own success as this place is often heaving in the evenings and they need to shorten the queue that is often formed at the entrance area. Well done Banana Tree! Keep up the cool!!! Ps. Funny the previous reviewer did not like the Laksa as this is one of the favourite dishes among our office staff.

simon's profile     Other reviews by simon     simon likes    

I feel compelled to write about the Banana Tree Canteen because I witnessed appalingly rude behaviour by a waitress towards two of their customers. Basically these two friends wanted to sit on the table next to ours, which had been set for four people. However, they were told that they could not sit there because 'this table is meant for six people'. Upon challenging the waitress as the restaurant at lunchtime was two thirds empty, and that the table looked like it had been set for four people, the waitress continued to pester the two men to sit at a smaller table. They refused and said they would leave if they could not sit at that table. The waitress did not apologise and the restaurant lost two customers. I cannot believe restaurants can be so arrogant. The prices at the Banana Tree may be resonable (my chicken laksa was �6) but it's not bargain basement cheap for the quality of the food that you get. From what I ate, and from what I saw of other diners' dishes, the quality of the food leaves a lot to be desired. For example, my chicken laksa had pieces of white meat which was of a very inconsistent texture. I couldn't see if I was eating chicken, fish or pork as the texture was very strange. In the end I had to eat the noodles and leave the meat behind. The noodles itself were of a very poor quality - these were rehydrated dried brown noodles and dried flat rice noodles, both of which are not authentic in a laksa dish (and I should know as I am Malaysian and have eaten this all my life).Towards the end of our lunch, when the restaurant was slightly busier (but still no more than half full) the table next to ours was occupied by just two people. Clearly this is permissible so I have no idea why the waitress did not accommodate the two customers at the beginning of the lunch service. However, I will not be dining there again so I shall never find out if the restaurant will change this very peculiar policy.There are much better Malaysian/Thai canteens in London, with better value for money, better atmosphere and definitely better service...

Great atmosphere, excellent food and reasonable price.Simply a great place. Highly reccommended