Reviews for Kashu

Had a fab time

My boyfriend and I went to Kashu on a Friday evening. The service was exceptional, I also noted most customers were spoken to by the manager enquiring re-their evening and for us making an excellent wine selection which I think was a nice touch. I thought that the seasonal menu had an excellent selection providing for most tastes. My boyfriend's lamb was cooked to perfection. We will definately come back again, and recommend this restaurant to our friends. [Aug 09]

disappointingly average

We were really looking forward to this restaurant opening and went as a 4 in the first couple of weeks. We thought the food was fine, but not noticeably better than somewhere much cheaper like Prezzo's. The service was hopeless, we were surprised that for a new place nobody seemed interested. And there is something about the acoustics that make it really loud so you have to raise your voice (and everyone else is doing the same, so it gets quite noisy). We go out a lot to eat in St Albans, but hadn't been back till some other friends really wanted to try it a few weeks ago.

The same experience I'm afraid, and even more off-hand service. For example, one friend asked if his dish shouldn't have cheese, and the waiter said no but he could have it extra if he really wanted it - we checked the menu ourselves at the end and it did say and 'with cheese'. Very difficult to get the bill or your coats, and nobody around to see us out. We just didn't feel we were made welcome like we feel at Freddies, or Marrakech, or Villadina, or even a chain like Prezzo's, and it was more expensive than any of those. We'll try it again if friends want to go, but probably won't go ourselves. [Apr 09]

good for a group, not great for a couple

We have been to Kashu twice, with two different experiences. We loved the decor - a stylish, contemporary use of an interesting old building that had been underused for years. Our first visit was the two of us one evening soon after opening. Frosty welcome and shown to one of the tables for two along the long bank of seats. We could hardly squeeze between the tables to sit down - and we are pretty skinny. The place was packed and the proximity to our neighbouring diners meant that we could not really hold a conversation. The food was very good, but we left before dessert and coffee to go elsewhere. We felt if they had not crowded us in, we may have stayed longer and spent more money. Second time I went with friends and sat in a booth which was far nicer - great space. Food also very good again - and good value. So, good place to go if you can get a booth, but until they take out a few small tables to make more space, not a place for couples. [Mar 09]

Good food let down by poor service

Arriving at Kashu for a weekday lunch, we were the only diners - two more tables were filled by the time we left. The welcome was polite but not warm and there was no offer of a children's menu or a highchair for our toddler, although we spotted a stack of them while changing him on the floor in the disabled toilet just before we left (there are no baby changing facilities).

We fared better with the food. A shared starter of game terrine with gooseberry chutney and chargrilled bread was flavoursome, if a little dry. Our dishes from the reasonably priced main Italian menu were all good: light gnocchi in a well made spinach, gorgonzola and cream sauce; authentic spaghetti carbonara with pork belly, egg and cream; tasty pumpkin tortelloni in a sage butter sauce and a crispy-based pizza, which unfortunately arrived 5 minutes later than the other three main courses. Flavours were subtle and the seasoning restrained, but we adjusted our dishes to taste and enjoyed them.

It was the lack of atmosphere and poor service that really let Kashu down for us. After we paid, leaving a modest tip, we were abandoned by the waiter, collected our own coats and left without any acknowledgement or thanks for our visit. Although Kashu's website promises 'something for all the family', we did not feel that young children (or adults!) were particularly welcome and so are unlikely to return when there are so many other options for more relaxed family dining in St Albans. [Dec 08]