Reviews of Bincho Yakitori

Guided by the good reviews, we went for dinner last night....food was delicous and interestingly varied as promised (tho we didn't partake of the "other chicken parts available on request"). HOWEVER--OK, on a Friday night one expects a lively environment, but this was singularly cacophonous, on a par with being in a club. Fine if that's what you're seeking, but if not...worth having a go on a weeknite to see if the decibel level falls something under the pain threshold. The food, views and lovely staff were all a definite plus.

Had a lovely meal last night at Bincho Yakitori. I really couldn't fault it, and that's unusual as I used to work in the restaurant business and I'm very critical. Service was friendly and very, very slick. The Japanese waitress made us feel at home and explained the menu. We had about 5 or 5 Yakitori skewers each (Beef, Chicken, Duck, Eel, Tuna, Bream, Pork Belly, Mushroom etc.) plus a salad and a mixed rice with vegetables. All very well presented and very well cooked.

Also had some Sake and a beer, plus we shared a delicious dessert. Very reasonable at £47 for the two of us.

Will be going back and would suggest you go and see for yourself.

Also, had a lovely cocktail at the 8th floor bar in the Oxo Tower afterwards, which rounded off an excellent night out.

Friendly, mainly Japanese, staff. Very keen to help explain the menu and the general concept of an izakaya if you're unsure. Good views inside, watching the grill chefs, and outside, onto the Thames.

Wide range of different grilled things on skewers. The menu lists most parts of a chicken, but also says that "other parts are available on request". I asked for chicken heart and the waitress beamed at me, said that of course they had it, and that they also had "chicken tail", which was one of her favourites. I had a shrewd idea that her "tail" would be my "parson's nose", if you see what I mean. It was, and it was delicious. Chicken fillet with a shiso flavour was probably my other clucking favourite. There's also a selection of all sorts of non-chicken skewers, with pretty much something for everyone. Highlights amongst those would be the beef ribs, and the quail's egg and bacon.

Plenty of side-salad options to keep up the vegetable quotient. As is often the case with Japanese salads, they don't sound like much but the ones we tried were fresh and had excellent clean-tasting dressings.

I dare say they do beer, wine, and all sorts of other drinks, but I can only really comment on the sake. A good selection of at least 8 (probably more like a dozen) sakes available cold by the glass and served in the cute (and traditional) glass-in-a-wooden-box method. Also a choice of (I think) two sakes available warm by the flask.

Enjoyed ourselves (or maybe it was our dedication to trying out the sakes) so much that we forgot to use our 25%-off-the-food voucher. Without discount, with lots of food, and with no one going home thirsty, I think we spent around £40 a head. Looking forward to going back.