Where: The Stables Market, Chalk Farm Road, London, NW1 8AH

Contact: +44 207 428 4922/ http://www.gilgameshbar.com/index.htm

What it is: Gilgamesh is a restaurant and bar serving pan-Asian dishes such as sushi, dim sum and tempura, influenced by South East Asia, China and Japan. 

Décor:  The real feature of Gilgamesh is quite honestly not the food.  The dishes are tasty enough but what makes this place stand out from the crowd is undoubtedly the decoration and atmosphere.  It is one of the most exciting and visually stunning places to eat in London.  The entrance to Gilgamesh is an enigmatic escalator at the start of the stables market with fire flames on either side.  Going up that escalator feels like ascending to some other world, away from the Camden bustle.  The first thing you notice is that the place is huge, with a capacity of 1500, the epic proportions give a distinct air of grandeur.  It is elegantly lit, with dark wood panelled up the walls going onto the ceiling, carved with ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics and tribal markings.  By the main staircase, there is an impressive ‘Tree of Life’ carving.  Then, as if you didn’t already feel like Shahrazad, you are seated on large wooden throne chairs.  Gilgamesh is an experience more than a meal, and a great place if you’re looking for some charisma. 

To start:  To kick off I ordered crispy squid with a chilli dip.  This dish arrived in a paper cone, the kind you get your chips in after a boozy night out.  Of course, this cone was more cordon bleu than chip shop.  The squid was battered but remained light and tasty.  My fellow chiconomista had lobster wonton soup with scallops ad prawns, which by the sound of her ‘mmm’s’ I feel assured I can recommend.

For main: I ordered duck and watermelon salad.  Perhaps it’s my uncouth taste buds, but duck and melon seem like a fairly incompatible combination, more suitable for the Heston Blumenthal diner.  Never afraid to try however, I ordered away, hoping that duck to melon was like...parma ham to melon; an unexpected hit!  I wasn’t disappointed, but the flavours were a bit odd, especially teamed with mint, thai basil and cashew nuts.  My dinner guest ordered the less authentic ‘fish and fat chips’, which delivered exactly what it purported; a piece of seabass with chunky chips and creamy sauce, which may or may not have been mayonnaise.

For dessert: Ever craving the sugar rush, I opted for the decadent milk chocolate fondant with praline filling and vanilla ice cream, which I can honestly say was one of the most delicious desserts I have ever had the pleasure of putting in my mouth.  When it comes to chocolate, I pride myself in being something of a connoisseur, and this rich, creamy pudding hit every nerve in my body.  My fellow companion, ever so slightly more calorie savvy, opted for an Amalaan cocktail; a mix of rum, cream, vanilla and caramel.  The cocktails were shaken to perfection, and the lychee juice is delicious for a healthier liver-enduring alternative. 

The pros: Great atmosphere, unrivalled surroundings

The cons: Our dishes did not always arrive in sync, which was slightly awkward.

Overall: 8/10

Top tip: Throughout June, Gilgamesh are running a 50% off £40 set menus. 

Total cost per person for 3 courses, plus cocktail: £36.50