I decided to try Wagamamas knowing very little about it other than it was a Japanese restaurant. My mum and I were going out to the theatre that night and had planned on going to Tokyo Diner to have dinner before the theatre. In the end, we happened to park right outside Wagamamas. I had heard a lot of positive feedback from friends about Wagamamas and had seen a bit of advertising, so we decided we'd try it as it was a lot closer than Tokyo Diner.

The Wagamama in Covent Garden has a very unassuming entrance on the corner of one of the market buildings. The stairs lead down into the basement where the restaurant is. We got in and hung out coats up and were taken to our "table". I put table in quotes because the system in Wagamamas is basically bench seating. It saves a lot of space, and because of the atmosphere of the restaurant you don't feel awkward sitting next to complete strangers.

The menu is quite extensive and the prices are very reasonable for what you're getting. Japanese food doesn't tend to be cheap wherever you go. A word of warning, don't go there expecting to have sushi - that's one thing they don't have on the menu.

The food ordering system is very ingenious. The staff come to the table, you order, they punch it in on a radio keypad and it goes straight to the kitchen. They then write the number down on your paper placemat and then very soon after your food is delivered. Everything is freshly prepared and the food tastes great.

It's a very clever system because it doesn't feel like you're having a starter, main course etc, so you can easily find yourself ordering more than you first expected to.

Wagamamas has a great casual atmosphere and is a great place for couples, families, and singles alike to come and eat. Couple that with reasonable prices and great food and you're on to a winner.

I definitely recommend these restaurants to anyone
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