As my partner Sarupa had just finished her 5 day juice diet we were looking for a restaurant to ease her back into solid food. A raw/vegan restaurant seemed to fit the bill, looking around several of the most popular raw food restaurants in London have disappeared, but we found RAW at LA Suite West. It has only been open for 4 months so we were keen to find out if it lives up to the high standard set by those now erstwhile others.
Find out what we thought of this latest raw food restaurant…
When you walked in how did you feel, ambiance, décor and general vibe?
Michael: We arrived through the hotel reception to the restaurant, the whole place has a relaxed, minimal theme. Clean lines and clean surfaces. As it was a sunny day we went out into their courtyard to sip on a ‘mocktail’ while we looked through the menu. I had a Virgin Mary, the non alcohol version of a Bloody Mary (which our Australia friends call a Bloody Shame!). It was delicious and very well balanced, so much so I didn’t even miss the vodka.
Sarupa: The sun was shining and everything looks lovelier in the sun, but LA West Suite looked so swish. The outside was really nicely done and the garden part was welcoming. We were early so it was quiet but it had a San Francisco feel to it, just a really nice vibe in my opinion. I was very excited from the second I saw the venue.
Was the menu interesting, innovative and inspiring?
Michael: As this is a raw and vegan restaurant there are innovative solutions to overcome the ‘missing’ food elements. People eat raw food all the time in the form of salads but to take it a step further you need to make things interesting and LA West’s menu delivered on that front.
Sarupa: The menu was really exciting. I had seen it online but what I hadn’t seen were the drinks, or at least I had not paid that part of the menu much attention. It was good to see classic cocktails being done with innovation and without alcohol keeping with the theme. What was missing however from both the drinks and food menu was a proper explanation about what you could order. Some of the drinks had concentrate juice which isn’t strictly raw, and I know the menu isn’t 100% raw but it is good to know about the produce.
How was the food presented?
Michael: Really great! Lots of attention to detail and each dish looked so pretty. As you can see from the pictures it was colourful too.
Sarupa: The food was presented beautifully. It was so pretty and artistic which was such relief as so many vegan or raw places take the view that if you care about your health you don’t mind eating out off a paper plate, – or queuing up to get food. I don’t get that part.
This felt like a dining experience where the kitchen took great pride in what they do and delivered as well a winning combination.
Was the food any good?
Michael: I enjoyed the food immensely and I am neither vegan or on a raw food diet. It was flavour first which is always a good thing in my book. My starter was beetroot falafel with a Thai basil BBQ sauce. The sesame encrusted falafel were rich and hearty with good flavour and texture, to my surprise the sauce had a hint of basil but really did have a BBQ edge to it, not sure how they pulled that off but glad they did!
We also shared cauliflower samosas served on a bed of mango chutney with swirls of wasabi agave mustard. The dish was good but I felt there wasn’t enough cauliflower filling for the taste to come through against the sweet mango chutney. As for trying them with the mustard forget any other flavours, I’m not sure why it was there as it was way to powerful for this dish and I felt it just didn’t add anything, only took away.
The main I went for was green papaya ‘pappardelle” in a garlic and almond pad Thai sauce. The papaya was cut to look like pasta and had a firm texture being just barely cooked, and the sauce was delicious not being over spiced. It was subtle and I loved the flavours with the odd piece of shitake mushroom entering the mix.
Sarupa: I thought the food was lovely. I thought it was odd that they served you soda bread before your meal when they had spelt and sweet potato bread on the menu which would have been a better choice.
I ordered the ZUCCHINE ROLLS to start. It was lovely and it was a hard choice as there was so much I wanted to try and wished they had a raw taster plate. It was fresh and just felt so good to eat.
For main, I had DAIKON “RAVIOLI” again lovely. Maybe a tad too heavy for me with the almonds as I was coming off a juice fast and maybe a bit too sweet for a main, however I would order it again and recommend it so those factors were simply minor and probably to taste.
Michael and I shared a cauliflower samosa starter, which was probably the weakest dish out of the lot as the cauliflower was tasteless and almost missing and way way too much pastry, which I avoided given my previous week juice fast. I enjoyed the mustard sauce which he wasn’t all that enamoured with so it is a taste experience after all.
I thought Michael’s main was probably the best of the lot, we often have to say who won and he did with his main.
How was the overall service experience?
Michael: The service was fine albeit a little slack considering there weren’t many people in the restaurant. Also the mains came a little too rapidly from the kitchen. After a starter I like to have little time to talk and soak in the atmosphere and not feel like they want me out as soon as possible.
Sarupa: I think in the absence of SAF which was my ultimate raw food restaurant this is a brilliant ‘other.’ It isn’t 100% raw which opens it up for more people I suppose as RAW makes people think of limp salads often.
The hotel was very stylish; the staff were attentive and maybe a bit too eager to clear your plates so you felt kind of rushed, even though they probably were trying to be attentive. It wasn’t busy which worries me as these kind of places don’t survive unless people use them and I think more of a fuss needs to be made of such a venue with such a wonderful delectable menu.
So would you go back there?
Michael: I would go back there as I would love to try some of the other dishes which caught my eye but I didn’t order. It’s refreshing to go somewhere that offers something different and raw restaurants are few and far between.
Sarupa: Yes and I am going to be inviting a whole group of women to join me. If you consider yourself a foodie and enjoy the adventure of food, whether you are vegan or raw or either, I suggest you try LA Suite West’s Raw restaurant (that is the name) because you will feel satiated and feel like you have been on a very stimulating food adventure.
So RAW at LA Suite West is a great new addition to the London food scene, offering great food in relaxed and comfortable surrounds. So if your looking to try something different why not give them a try!
RAW @ La Suite West41-51 Inverness Terrace, London, W2 3JN Tel: 020 7313 8484
www.lasuitewest.com/raw-vegan-restaurant-london
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Hi Michael! We have RAW in West Hollywood, just a few minutes away from where I live in LA. I’ve never tried it, but you’ve inspired me to venture out. Your pictures look delicious and your descriptions are even better!
Glad to hear you enjoyed it!
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Rebekah, You are lucky enough to have so many raw food restaurants in LA, I’ve been to some! Enjoy it 🙂
Hi Michael,
what a mouth watering review!
The beetroot falafal sounded great. What were the ingredients apart from beetroot and sesame seed?
Where the samosas wrapped in uncooked pastry?
I wish we had a restaurant like that nearby.
Thanks for sharing this!
To healthy food!
Yorinda
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Well spotted Yorinda! The ‘pastry’ was uncooked. I’m not sure what else they had in the beetroot falafel, they were very soft and succulent so I’m guessing it was almost pure barely cooked beetroot with spices.