Lets say you don't really know what you fancy and can't get any inspiration from your friends, who are taking an age to make their minds up about what they want themsleves and anyway they just want to eat  in an informal environment and have a chat. Maybe you want to be kind to the budgets of some people in your group or have already been to the China Ocean or other buffet places locally.

The thing to do is to go to a place that sells Filipino, Chinese, Japanese and Indian cuisine all under the same roof. You may have thought about this kind of food, but didn't want to end up enviously eyeing your friend's order of Lumpia because you do not go to Orientex, had no idea what it was and were too shy to ask. Your best option might be to go to the buffet at Tropical Taste, at number 29 High Street. The buffets are cheaper from 10.00am to 4.00pm, when they cost a penny under six pounds per person. The price rises by a pound for evening meals.

They do do takeaways - tel 0208 520 9275, but that kind of defeats the object of a buffet doesn't it?

Next door to Amin Opticians. For a glimpse inside, though hopefully without the entertainment which will be available when you visit, click here.

NB They are currently shut and the premises for let. [20 November 2009]