Go and see what all the falafel's about! (Tibits Restaurant (London))

Member Name: sakura8

Product:	Tibits Restaurant (London)
Date:	09/11/09 (65 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Can try lots of different things, relaxed atmosphere, friendly staff

Disadvantages: No meat at all!

On Saturday I went to London to meet up with some friends for lunch and as 3 of them are vegetarian, I suggested we go to Tibits, which specifically caters for herbivores.

My friends and I are quite into our food, so we like to try new places. I'd heard about Tibits through a food website newsletter and it sounded like an interesting and innovative restaurant. It is basically a self-service buffet and the price you pay is based upon the weight of your food.

We arrived about 1pm on a Saturday and it was busy but not packed. We got a table for 5 quite easily. They will take bookings for parties of 8 people or more. The welcome from the staff was warm and friendly and they explained how the buffet and weighing system works. You just take a plate and work your way around the buffet, which is called the Food Boat, and fill it up with as much as you want. Then you take it to the counter at the front of the restaurant and place it on the scales and then pay. You can also get your drinks, pastries, soups and sandwiches here.

On the Food Boat there is a choice of around 40 dishes, including salad stuff, couscous, quinoa, veggie chilli, samosas, pasta, horseradish mash, roasted peppers, stuffed jalapenos, nut roast, etc. There is a big basket of freshly baked bread rolls, which are free and I have to say the selection was very good.

I am a meat eater and veggie food was new territory for me (I'd never had a falafel before - quite nice!), so my plate of food only cost £5.60. But my 3 veggie friends were like kids in a sweetshop and piled their plates high, so their meals came to just under £10 each. They were worried that they would get carried away as soon as they saw the Food Boat!

The prices change depending on what time of day you go (take-away is available):
Eat in Breakfast = 1.40 per 100g
Eat in Lunch = 1.80 per 100g
Eat in Dinner = 2.00 per 100g

It might seem quite expensive, but it is based on the food being made with "carefully sourced, seasonal GM-free ingredients" (according to their menu). Plus I'd imagine proper veggie restaurants are few and far between and therefore there is less competition, even though Tibits is located in a square at the back of Regents Street, which is full of restaurants.

My friends all agreed the food was excellent and that they would come again and bring their friends and family. I did enjoy my meal as the food was fresh, tasty and well made, but I couldn't help wishing I had a big juicy steak on my plate.

On the Food Boat there are also a few desserts, so a couple of my friends treated themselves. The cheesecake got the thumbs up, but the fruity tiramisu was considered "a bit weird". Luckily we only got a tablespoon of it to try and the girl at the counter didn't charge for it because it looked so pathetic on the plate!

There is a really good selection of drinks, from alcoholic, fruit juices, tea, coffee and soft drinks. There is also a free water fountain for the total purists/skint people. Another money-saving tip: my friend had a Jasmine Tea and I took it up to the counter where they were happy to refill with hot water for free.

We had a very leisurely 2 hour lunch in Tibits and although the restaurant did become quite busy, we never felt rushed by the staff to move on, which was great as we had lots of catching up to do!

The restaurant has two levels, with the food being on the top level. I think I saw a lift, so people with disabilities or walking difficulties are provided for. Downstairs is where the toilets are located and there is more seating in a more laidback sofa-style arrangement. That's not to say the upstairs is uncomfortable in the slightest. There is a mixture of different tables and chairs, to cater for the lone lunchtime diner to the mother with her pushchair. The décor is pretty funky but not pretentious and the music gives the place a good atmosphere without being intrusive to your conversations.

Even though vegetarian food isn't really my cup of tea, I would definitely go back to Tibits because the whole experience was first class and it got full approval from my veggie friends!


12-14 Heddon Street (off Regent Street), London, W1B 4DA
Telephone: +44 (0)207 758 4110
Fax: +44 (0)207 734 0428
Email: info@tibits.co.uk
http://www.tibits.co.uk

Opening hours:
Mon - Wed 09:00 am - 10:30 pm
Thurs - Sat 09:00 am - midnight
Sun 11:30 am - 09:00 pm

Summary: Bit of this and that.