Red N Hot, Charing Cross Road

The first time I decided to try Red N Hot I almost didn't make it through the doors.

At first glance it's decor of red and black seemed slightly overpowering and brought to mind a cliche of the Western media take on China. The black smoked glass doesn't let you see in too clearly but if you look to your left, coming from Tottenham Court Road, you will spy a menu behind a glass frame that promises untold delights for your palate, if you are adventurous and seek the real deal of Szechuan cuisine without having to face Peking duck or lemon chicken.

The delights you will encounter range from sliced belly pork in mashed garlic sauce to dry fried frogs legs in chilli peppers (delicious) and not forgeting their signature dish, Sliced Pork Sichuan Style Lavishly Topped with Chilli & Sichuan Pepper.

My first meal was the above, a huge bowl of sliced pork, very flavoursome and toppped with at least 30 or more dry red chillies. I couldn't decide whether to photograph it or eat it. while the focus in Red N Hot seems to be on pork, everything but the oink wouldn't seem a bad second title, there is enough variety, lamb, seabass, chicken for the more staid amongst you, rabbit, frogs, plenty of offal, prawns, crab, numerous vegetables, that it would probably take a year to eat through the menu and you would never get fed up. The prices are more than your average Chinese but are well worth it and in no way could Red N Hot be lumped together with the run of the mill Chinese restaurants.

The portions are so generous that if you mistakenly assumed the starter was an appetiser portion, as I did, you would end up stuffed. Service ranges from good to not so good but never bad. From watching the mainly Chinese clientele tucking in enthusiastically, when I could raise my head from my little rice bowl, you could tell that this restaurant will go from strength to strength and has converted me to a one man one Red N Hot Sichuan afficianado.

The food taste great! If anyone is into chinese food, I highly recommend Red N Hot. No wonder Schezuan dish is widely regarded as the top chinese dish. The interior and ambiance is thoroughly modern too. I recommended it to my mates, and they all love it.

http://www.rednhotgroup.com/