Water Margin

This place is the worst. I came here for a birthday outing and I wish we went somewhere else. Sure, it has a beautiful dining area, but in terms of food, well, let's just say that everything on my plate (even the vegetables) was some shade of beige. Food tastes like it was frozen for months, then deep fried and covered with sugar sauce. The tastiest item of food were prawn crackers (which are typically free from a Chinese takeaway). The food was low quality and I stopped eating in the middle of my second plate because It was so awful. It ended up giving me a terrible stomach ache on the tube ride home.

The staff was not very friendly and were not appreciative of our business when you first enter the restaurant. You are hurriedly push to pay first before entering. I understand that they do this so you can avoid stealing food, however, you could be a lot nicer about it.

If you want to go to a nice Asian buffet, try Ping Pong on Sundays or Sushi Cafe in Battersea. Of the hundred restaurants at O2 arena, go somewhere else and get a decent dinner for £15 than spend those £ here. This place was awful. Never coming back.

I would like to give Water Margin 2.5 points. As I cannot, I've opted for 3.


Food was plentiful and largely OK. That said, my partner's comments on the chicken with lemon sauce are unrepeatable. I steered clear of much of the traditional sauce smothered diches so cannot comment.


I did have duck pancakes with hoi sin. cucumber and spring onions - very good. There were lots of raw fresh vegetables to enhance dishes with. As with any buffet, I guess it's in the choices you make.


Overall, I'd rate this place as thoroughly competent and pleasant. Cleanliness was important and well practiced. Drinks choices were plentiful, reasonably priced and well served.

We ate here pre concert as there was no queue, unlike the normal chains at the 02 and we figured we would get our food straight away (I was a bit famished).


Choice is quite good, food wasn't amazing, but enough to get by on. They had lots of vegetables, chinese dishes, rice, noodles, chips, curry, and a choice of raw food to cook in front of you. Good range of desserts, profiterols, ice cream, banana fritters, mince pies, xmas cake (for the festive season).


Price is a bit steep, but at the 02 they can afford to push it up.

Just finished a large buffet meal here. For the most part, I enjoyed it very much, although you can tell it's mass produced. My wife liked the satay chicken, but I found the sauce a bit too sweet. I think the starters were the best feature.
Service was friendly without being in your face.

Average price for average food There are two islands of hot food varying from starters like spring rolls, crispy wontons, prawn toast and, my favourite, crispy duck. To mains like chicken with cashew nuts, barbecue pork and king prawns with spicy sauce. So a nice variety, all fresh and hot being replaced frequently. There was also a section of raw foods which you could have cooked to order at the teppenyaki. Due to time constraints we didn't go for this option but almost everything I tried was pleasant enough. Not the best chinese food I've ever tasted but more than adequate for an all-you-can-eat restaurant.

I would offer this place one star. Visited earlier in 2008 and had rather high expectations. The choise was vast but the quantity of food in each offering was very limited. Since the food was under the heat, the result was that the food was dried, and didnt look at all appealing. There was a bit of cooking from chefs on the side but in all the quality of food didnt appeal that much. Deserts were quite basic and consisted of ice cream in contaienrs and something else I cant remember. From my experience, I definitely would not return. There is so much choice at the O2 and this is definitely one lower down the list. It's not a cheap chinese buffet in financial terms but I felt that the food quality did not reflect what I had paid for it. Sorry!

This is only place if you're visiting the 02. A good selection of starters, mains and desserts. But the food is Chinese buffet style and pretty dire.

Quality food, huge choice, friendly staff, great for before/after concerts. 5*

Fast and efficient service for a reasonable price.
Food was good, not outstanding , but tasty and quick.
Good vegetarian spring rolls, not so keen on the ribs.

I`ve been at the O2 this weekend with my girlfriend and I really liked the place. Seemed very busy but no queue to wait, I'm a vegetarian and found a vast amount of options to choose from. My friend ate the lamb curry and we left stuffed and happy, good value for your money especially at the O2!
Jenny