A freezing cool bar on a freezing cold night

Having previously enjoyed many a fine cocktail at Navajo Joe, I must admit to having been somewhat sceptical as to whether the food could ever quite match the drinks at what, in my eyes at least, was until the other evening simply a bar, admittedly a very good one, but still just a bar.

On arrival it is difficult not to be impressed by the funky interior, the long bar complete with candles, which look to have been dripping wax ever since the place opened, and the dazzling array of spirits that ensure that the mixologists are able to continue doing their job.

We were quickly seated towards the rear of a now heaving restaurant, blending in nicely I hoped with the many fashionable young couples who clearly also like to eat out on a cold Wednesday evening.

Having scoured the extensive drinks menu I chose the non-alcoholic ‘Drops Like Rain’, a refreshing mix of pineapple and passion juices combined with grenadine and lemon juice and rounded off with a single raspberry that was, after much effort on my part extracted and promptly eaten.

Starters aren’t particularly cheap in Navajo Joe and so we decided that we would go for a couple of sharing plates at two for £7, putting an order in for crunchy catfish goujons with grain mustard mayo, which were suitably yummy even if the mayo could have been stronger, and four cheese nachos.

It is just possible that the people who wrote the menu had only recently watched the Two Ronnie’s ‘fork handles’ sketch as whilst I assumed that we would be receiving nachos covered in four delicious cheeses of the world, what actually arrived was a meagre four nachos covered in a bit of cheddar.

Thankfully, the mains were at the other end of the portion scale with my chicken fajitas arriving as a sizzling plate full of chicken, roasted onions and peppers, four metal pots of guacamole, cheese, salsa and sour cream, and a dish that with the wooden lid removed revealed five warm, soft tortilla wraps.

Flying the vegetarian flag, Emily was enjoying asparagus and oyster mushroom enchiladas ‘loaded’ with sugar snap peas, goats cheese and smoked chilli tomato sauce, which I can only say looked and smelt as good as it reads to you and I.

Having been too conservative with my estimates as to how much filling each early fajita could reasonably hold, the final two had to be packed to the sides if I was to stand any chance of matching the empty plate where once enchiladas had sat.

Finally, and with the full support of a knife & fork – desperately uncool when eating fajitas, I’m sure’ – I was finished!

With both of us feeling decidedly full the option of dessert was quickly passed and the bill summoned from the friendly if a little overworked waitress. With a toptable 2for1 on main meals, nobody could argue with the price and so it was back into the cold, happy to have laid any doubts to rest.

The Great Wagamama Challenge 2009

In true Eastenders style we decided to head ‘up west’ and tick Leicester Square off the list of restaurants set to be visited as part of the Great wagamama Challenge 2009.

Head downstairs and it’s definitely one of the smaller restaurants in the group but also one of the best with its exposed brickwork and intimate alcoves.

Ordering is a doddle in wagas, a green tea and a tap water without thinking, possibly even a fresh juice if I have a voucher.

‘Are you ready to order food?’

Given that ordering anything other than a chicken katsu curry is always a gamble too far, I could have ordered as I was coming down the stairs to be honest, just shout ‘number 71’ into the open kitchens in fact… although as it’s all done electronically now, that probably wouldn’t get me very far.

If 8 is a lucky number in China then 71 must be a very lucky number in Japan, as that of course is the number of the wonderful chicken katsu curry.

But what’s this, no yasai katsu curry for Emily?! It’ll just have to be the chu chee snapper special instead then.

I order a side of miso soup and pickles, managing of course to get in my classic line ‘miso hungry’, which is a sure-fire hit in any wagamama.

The food arrives separately as we were rightly told to expect, with the katsu looking good, possibly a little light on the curry sauce front but with a good serving of ‘mixed leaves’, drizzled in its own unique and delicious dressing.

Snap the chopsticks and get to work on the leaves, easy. Not so easy when it comes to picking up sticky rice but then that’s why the good people at wagas always brings you a spoon and fork.

No need for the fork just yet as I saw through the deep-fried chicken fillet with the spoon edge, spinning it in my fingers and shovelling on a good dose of sticky white rice and a healthy coating of curry sauce in one much practised and silky-smooth movement.

As far as katsu’s go this one is right up there with the best of the best and things only get better when a further bowl of lightly spiced curry sauce arrives to make up for the initial ladle ‘not quite’ full.

The miso soup was suitably piping hot and refreshing, with the accompanying pickles as sweet and beautifully neon as ever.

Using the fork to spear the last few grains of rice and I’m finished, miso full! And what about the chu chee snapper? Good, but definitely no yasai!

With a 2for1 voucher the whole meal comes out at just £13.15, which in my book is jolly good value.

The only downer on an otherwise perfect meal comes in the form of my change, finding that the £5 note brought back to me has been defaced with red marker pen, annoying but quickly offloaded in exchange for a Timeout and a bag of Jelly Tots at Piccadilly Tube station.