Lifeless Korean sent to grave by insulting tips rule

EXCUSES. I suspect how easy they are to accept rather depends on how serious the crime. I remember my sister's godfather once refusing to head into a wedding until the taxi delivering his cigarettes turned up "but it's three packs," he kept protesting - which might have been fine, if my sister hadn't already been waiting 15 minutes to walk down the aisle.

- David Ellis

Chung’dam

35-36 Greek Street, WID 5DL. Meal for two including drinks and service, about £140. Open Monday to Thursday, noon-3pm and 5.30pm to midnight; Friday and Saturday, noon until midnight; chungdam.co.uk

We all have our lines; few friends of mine believe it's a call-the-firemen situation when I'm late and text to say I'm trapped in the pub. But the Coach & Horses did offer decent grounds on which to review Chung'dam; the two sit opposite each other. Who wouldn't want an absolute corker of a Korean barbecue a mere 11 paces from their favourite pub? It usually takes me at least 18 to get to Café Boheme, and they don't barbecue anything at all, amateurs.

Chung'dam's site was for 35 years Christine Yau's Yming, Soho's oldest Chinese restaurant, notable for both its northern Beijing cooking and its happy welcome. Perhaps that's why Colin Firth went.