Helen's Eat Club Reviews

Much like one of its attendees, Ming Palace promised much but delivered little. The food was a little disappointing, even with rabbit shaped quails eggs. Portion sizes were reasonable, but not quite up to the scale we were expecting (maybe word has got back to the owner). Decor is bright and modern, but lacked some Chinese influence. Service was polite but not very attentive and food was delivered in a Wagamama's "when its ready" style. Good value for money at Dhs50 each (£7.81) including soft drinks. Parking nearby is limited so grab a taxi or bring your 4x4!!

Bruges didn't turn out to be the introduction to Belgian food I was looking for. Although they stock a selection of Belgian beers and the desserts consisted of Belgian chocolate, the main courses didn't appear to be anything special. There was a long wait between starters and mains considering the place was almost empty. Decor was modern and clean although maybe a little too cafe-esque. Good value for money during happy hour, but after that its quite steep for the quality of food and its proximity to Avanti. Not somewhere to visit if you've got someone to impress!

Down on the quayside you’ll find Tavistock housed in what used to be Casa. Although transformed into a classier establishment than its previous occupier, the new décor lacks a bit of individuality. Starters and mains were both tasty, however main courses were slightly over seasoned. Desserts are an absolute must, so skip the starter if you’re not hungry enough to eat a horse. Service was polite; a little slow at times but a break between the generous courses was quite welcome. Value for money outside of the festival is still good for the quality of the food, worth checking out.

Raw fish or death? Raw fish please, but you'll have to go elsewhere as Tai Pan are now Chinese, not Japanese. Despite our menu not quite resembling the one on the website, it was still a very successful Eat Club. Service was slow to start, but soon picked up once our orders had been taken. The large number of banquet options means the rest of the menu is slightly limited, however there were certainly no complaints about anything we ordered. Excellent food, modern décor, great value for money and the fortune cookies definitely provided some after dinner amusement, in bed.

After our original EC venue was closed for refurbishment, we found ourselves surrounded by the modern décor of Vision. The beat the clock menu offers any starter and main course for £6 after 6pm, £7 after 7pm and £8 after 8pm. The food on this menu is much simpler than their a la carte menu, but is still very tasty and filling. Clean dishes all round! The offer is only supposed to be for pre-booked tables, but ask the polite and helpful staff and you may be surprised. A satisfying EC, even if it wasn't with a sausage!