Harden's survey result
Summary
“Spice heaven!” – this “old favourite” is “worth a detour north of Shaftesbury Avenue” to “experience genuinely interesting and mouth-popping Sichuan specials” – so “be brave when you order”. The food-writer, China expert and consultant “Fuchsia Dunlop’s touch makes it a regional Chinese diamond in the Chinatown rough”.
Summary
“One of Soho’s best” – the Sichuan food in this well-known café is “first-rate” – “really spicy and delicious”. Much of the menu is not for the faint-hearted, but “it’s always possible to avoid overly hot dishes with the aid of the helpful staff”.
Summary
“Less a meal than a dare!” – the “seriously spicy cooking gives way to rich depths of flavour for the strong-hearted and willed” at this “excellent” Soho café. “If you want a Sichuan fix, go!” – there are “some real lip-smackers in there, including some wonderful unusual dishes (smacked cucumber, gung bao chicken, ants climbing trees…)”, but “you still suffer Chinatown-style woes – sometimes indifferent service, and poor ambience”.
Summary
“If you like really good spicy food, look no further” – this Sichuan café in Soho shows a “rare fidelity” to the fiery cuisine, and provides “a good alternative to the standard Chinese in nearby Chinatown”. “Favourites include numbing and hot dried beef, and dry wok pig intestines”.
Owner's description
The food of Sichuan province in southwest China is one of the world"s great cuisines. Its most famous characteristic is its fiery spiciness, which comes from the liberal use of chillies and lip-tingling Sichuan pepper. But hot and spicy is only part of the story. Sichuanese chefs are legendary for their ability to combine many different tastes into exquisite complex flavors. Some of these are robustly spicy, while others are delicate and teasing. And the use of chilies is so inventive that their taste never palls. At Bar Shu we want to bring you the best of the authentic flavours of Sichuan. So look out, among others, for the seductive 'fish-fragrant'combination of pickled chilies, ginger, garlic and spring onion, the addictive fieriness of 'numbing-and-hot' flavored dishes, and the refreshing tones of a 'ginger-juice'sauce.
We hope you enjoy the food!
Prices
 Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £23.90 |
| Filter Coffee | £3.50 |
 Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Service | 12.50% |
Restaurant details
Barshu Restaurant Diner Reviews
"UNderwhelmed compared to the competition for Szechuan food now growing up."
"An interesting and unusual experience Great venue, large choice of dishes that are served quite quickly (large portions) some really unusual choices, more focussed on their Chinese customers but lovely to see them on the menu. We had a prawn dish with cashew a sea bass with delicious farmhouse rice, Pak Choi and fried asparagus. Toilets were clean down some stairs (quite a climb) Staff are very polite if one or two very minor issues over communication. Nice visit great food and unusual mocktails"
28 Frith St, London, W1D 5LF
Opening hours
| Monday | 12 pm-11 pm |
| Tuesday | 12 pm-11 pm |
| Wednesday | 12 pm-11 pm |
| Thursday | 12 pm-11 pm |
| Friday | 12 pm-11:30 pm |
| Saturday | 12 pm-11:30 pm |
| Sunday | 12 pm-11 pm |
