Katana @ The International

The recently modernized Katana really does have a very convenient location, just off Trafalgar Square in St. Martin's Lane. The bar downstairs always seems to be packed, and on a busy Friday night, you'll do well if you can manage to squeeze through the after-hours crowd, even if it's only to get to the restaurant upstairs. The restaurant itself is quite swanky, although it does get really loud and you'll have trouble hearing your fellow diners across the table, unless your table happens to be the all-girls table in the corner with the champagne bucket, in which case I imagine most of Westminster will get a listen.

The menu has a reasonable, if unadventurous, modern, Asian-infused choice of starters and mains. The calamari strips with chilli, garlic and lemongrass dip really were strips. A lesser man with chopsticks might have missed them altogether. Sadly, my phone doesn't have a night mode (really, Motorola, what's up with that?), but here was roasted aubergine with tofu and some funky coriander sauce:

Nice enough, but the food was lukewarm. The steamed seabass (across the table from me....) did look more appealing, I admit. But the service can be a bit ditzy. We had to remind three different waiters that we were missing two rice bowls. Incidentally, the rice was a bit too dry. So overall, not very impressive, and even with an offer of 2 courses for 12.50GBP, it was not great value for money after drinks and coffees. Wouldn't make a special effort to go there again, but it's inoffensive enough for an informal night out with friends.