Zuma .....fast food made elegant

Murray Shanks and myself were truly impressed by how busy Zuma was at 9.30pm on a Monday evening. The rhubarb martini's were delicious but bearing in mind that the table was not ready and the length of time it took to get the drinks it would have been kind to have offered them on the house.

Our hosts Carina and Patricia, two Maronite Catholics from The Lebanon, couldn't have been more generous and gracious. They are certainly very pretty and turned the heads of several diners at neighbouring tables....one of whom was the racing car driver Lewis Hamilton. He couldn't have looked more the part and radiated a superstar easy charisma.....he looked like a genuinely nice person as he hosted a table of chums. He was calm and attentive and one or two of his friends kept their hats on which still makes me feel uncomfortable even though that's the fashion.

After a descreet call for help from the assistant manger the pace of service stepped up a gear but you cannot rid the disappointment of the first impression. We were left at the tablenand felt neglected. I could see my hostess slightly deflated despite the wish for us all to overlook it and have fun

The food was a moments delicious -one or two dishes being among best I have ever tasted anywhere. But it is a place to feast rather than linger and chat.

I recommend it as a place to break fast and in a greedy way rather than go for romance.