Pretty OK really...

I went there last night for a meal, just the two of us. Upstairs was
pretty full so we headed down to the cellar. It was nicely decorated, something different from the norm. We were seated at a small table sort of in the middle of the room which was a little strange but still felt cosy.

We were served by a very attentive waitress, who gave us ample time to choose our food, we were busy nattering away and she didnt interrupt us but noticed as soon as we looked up that we were ready to order. Wine came nicely chilled and was a little over the odds on price but find me a restaurant that isn't making a big mark up?

We only had a main meal, chicken cous cous and a lamb tagine. They came out after about 5 minutes which means they're very possibly cooked en masse or microwaved (who am i to say?) presentation could do with improving. The chicken cous cous just came in a white cereal bowl you'd find in a greasy spoon café! Food itself was ok, not spectacular but certainly tasty.

People have commented a lot on the price, but what do you expect if you go for a meal in one of THE most touristy spots in London? If you want value for money, cook at home? Of all the restaurants on James Street (and there are a LOT) I bet very few are 'good value for money'

People are very quick to complain about things like restaurants and to give daming and scathing reviews - nobody here is a food critic just very opinionated. It's an OK place to go for a different experience. Go check it out, even if you go for a drink one lunchtime!

The food is absolutely disgusting and very overpriced. I had tasteless chicken cous cous and water and still managed to pay £32. It's also so dark that you can't see what you're eating which perhaps is a good thing! Ayoush managed to serve me the most disgusting meal I've ever had in a restaurant - a premade sandwich from an off license is tasty in comparison.

I left Ayoush feeling like I'd been mugged and left standing in the cold naked. The food was terrible. The Meze for two consisted of a couple of breaded chicken strips, two dolmades, two feta cheese pastries and loads of bread with some watery dips. I even asked the Ayoush waiter when the next course was coming! Never again.

Ayoush delivered possibly the worst meal I have ever had! The food is absolutely rubbish and you definitely do not see the return for your money on either the mezze nor the set menu (which is basically the mezze with a plate of soggy cous-cous and a dried cake thing as desert).


The Ayoush staff are pushy, and they did argue for their 12.5% discretionary service charge which we were definitely not paying. There is simply no quality to the meal, which is why I think they put you in a dark pokey alcove so you can't see what your eating!

I visited Ayoush with a mixed group of friends and we had a fabulous time partying in the downstairs. We had a cosy booth all to ourselves, cocktails were flowing, danced away with the lush belly dancer. We opted for the Ayoush set menu, the service was tremendous.

How is this restaurant still in business? Apparently there are enough people in London who settle for mediocrity. The food at Ayoush is absolute rubbish and the service is only slightly better than the food. If their food was good, the prices would be fine, however, I felt like they should have paid me (a considerable sum) to eat the food at Ayoush.

Ayoush has a great atmosphere, especially if you're in a big group and up for dancing and generally having fun. However, the service is terrible, you have to repeatedly ask for things and after about an hour you might actually receive them. The quality of the food is adequate, but nothing special but Ayoush is also very over priced as the drinks are also very expensive. I would not recommend this restaurant and I would not go back there, it has atmosphere, but it is equally important to me to get good service and pay a fair amount for the quality of food received. Ayoush fails on service and value for money.

Ayoush is truly dreadful. I can safely say I have never eaten in such a terrible restaurant in my life. It took over half an hour to get our drinks on arrival and then about an hour before the starters appeared - soggy onion rings which seemed to be straight from the freezer.

We hoped that the main course would make up for it but I wouldn’t have been happy serving it to my dog. The lamb was dry and tough and my friend's chicken was revolting - there was no rice or vegetables, just a bit of dried pitta bread. Take my advice and avoid Ayoush at all costs!