Restaurant reviews
What kind of blog would this be if I only talked about the food that I made and ate at home? I’m fortunate enough to eat out at least once a week, be it for a work lunch or a nice evening meal with friends. I’ll be keeping you up-to-date with all of my experiences from service to quality of produce, price and ambiance. There’s nothing I hate more than spending a lot of money on something that I could have cooked in the comfort of my own home!!
Eaten out lately?
Feel free to write in and give your account of a restaurant that you’ve visited recently to whatiatelastnight@hotmail.com and I’ll pop it up on the blog for all to see.
Some of the best:
Gavin Greggs
28-30 High Street, Sevenoaks
Ambiance
Gavin Greggs is set in a cosy period property that dates back to the mid-17th century. The warm glow of candles in the window – visible from the top of the High Street, reflects the welcome received as you step in to the restaurant. Owner and chef, Gavin was on hand to welcome and introduce the specials from the days menu, and his front of house was just as enthusiastic and attentive.
Service
Service was spot on. Wine suggestions were provided, and dishes introduced and well presented. The whole evening ran with efficiency but also a genuine friendliness that made us feel welcome and looked after.
Food
We were almost tempted by the tasting menu at £45 per head excluding wine (or £60 including wine) however as it was mid-week, we thought we’d stick to just the three courses! To start, I had the Chicken liver parfait with apricot and tomato chutney, quince jelly and pistachio brioche. It was absolutely delicious – the quince jelly gave a different dimension to the texture, and there was a zing in the chutney that really complemented the parfait.
For main, my partner opted for the Kentish lamb rump with lamb shoulder, which was beautifully presented with the mixed vegetables served in a cute saucepan on the side. I chose the locally sourced fish of the day – Black Bream served on a bed of potato gratin and braised cabbage, topped with crayfish tails, a deliciously rich and creamy sauce, and a good spoonful of lumpfish caviar. The bream had a really meaty fresh flavour. All portion sizes were extremely generous and so as much as I’d have loved the cheeses supplied by ‘The Cheese Harp’ located opposite, we just didn’t have the room – so we decided to share a dessert of poached rhubarb with apple pana cotta, ginger bread and vanilla bean ice cream. A lovely end to an amazing meal.
Drink
A good selection of wines that are reasonably priced. We had the house red – a Chilean Merlot with good flavour that complemented the lamb. The tasting menu cleverly suggests wines to accompany each of the dishes offering a good variety by the glass.
Overview
A cosy and friendly restaurant with Michelin Star quality food.
110 Southwark Street, London
Ambiance
We visited on a Sunday afternoon and there was a nice hum and mix of people reading papers, drinking coffees and tucking in to roast dinners. I’ve also been to The Refinery on a ‘work night’ for drinks before, when it’s a very different kind of vibe and is more of a lively bar. On both occasions though, it had a very laid back and welcoming feel.
Service
Staff were very friendly and attentive and it seemed that they all got on well as a team, as well as interacting with customers which is always nice to see, because you get a sense that they’re genuinely happy to be there to help, and enjoy their job.
Food
We opted for the roast – how could we have gone for anything else when it looked so delicious? A silver tray of mixed veg and roast potatoes came out for both to share and serve ourselves, and then a plate each containing our meats and Yorkshire puds. I had the beef, which was succulent and delicious and my partner had the pork, which was just as tasty – unfortunately the crackling wasn’t as crispy as we’d have liked it to have been, but it still had good flavour and a nice chew to it – the apple sauce was great!
I don’t know how we found room after such a large main, but we shared a lemon peel crème brûlée for dessert and were so pleased that we did – creamy, and full of flavour you have to try it.
Drink
As it’s also a bar, there’s every kind of drink you could want available. I’d heard great things about their Bloody Mary’s – of which there are six different versions of on their cocktail menu! And so I tried the Bloody Caesar - a good bite of chilli and served with a grilled king prawn on top – it was a-m-a-z-i-n-g and just what Sundays are all about.
Overview
The perfect place to chill on a Sunday with friends, good food and a Bloody Mary.
The Bakery
Westmore Green, Tatsfield nr Westerham
Ambiance
The Bakery is a fine dining restaurant that also has a bar selling smaller dishes throughout the day and evening. Currently undergoing some great improvements to support the Olympics by providing ‘rooms’ as well as extending their kitchens, The Bakery will be closed for March – so ensure that you call and book before it re-opens to secure your place at a table!
Service
The owner, Andrew cares very much for his local regulars, as well as making every effort to welcome newcomers to the restaurant as they walk through the door. He also helps with wine recommendations, and even makes his own chocolate truffles, presented to diners at the end of their meal.
Food
The menu has a nice variety of around seven different options for starters and main courses. veggies, carnivores and pescaterians are all catered for. We opted ‘carnivore’ all the way for our visit, starting with the chicken, bacon and prune terrine – great flavor and a very decent sized portion, followed by the roast rack of Salt Marsh lamb with celeriac puree and red wine jus. All mains were accompanied by a good helping of fresh seasonal veg and crispy roast potatoes. For dessert, the homemade apple and vanilla custard tart hit the spot with a drizzle of chocolate sauce. Where possible, food is sourced locally and is served in record time, without compromising on quality.
Drink
The wine list had a great selection from different regions around the world, and the Rioja that we chose was served at a perfect temperature being topped up throughout the meal. The bar is also well stocked with various liqueurs and beers available.
Overview
A friendly restaurant tucked away in a pretty village with bags of potential.
The Vine Restaurant
11 Pound Lane, Sevenoaks
Ambiance
The Vine is just a short walk from Sevenoaks train station, and unless you know the area, you’re unlikely to find it as it’s not located on the High Street, but is instead tucked away in a conservation area surrounded by houses and a pretty green. It used to be a Public House and was renovated by Bernt and Kathleen Bouverie with a lot of class, love and sophistication. The fact that it used to be a pub, means that the space is nice and open, and there’s a hum of conversation when you arrive.
Service
The owner, Bernt works the floor extremely well, telling tales of crazy Champagne producers and sharing stories of how they renovated the building. The Maitre D’ runs her team well, and introduced each dish with knowledge and passion.
Food
We were opted for the six course-tasting menu at £40 per head. We started with an amuse bouche crayfish cocktail with apple, then a choice of starter – I had the Devon Crab with Seasame crab toast, chilli and a soy dressing. Beautifully presented, and really fresh with a good crunch on the toast. The signature dish followed – smoked Haddock Risotto with a poached egg and Hollandaise sauce. Absolutely beautiful, but a little on the large side – the chef had left the poached egg perfectly plump, ready and waiting for me to break. For main, I opted for the Beef Wellington – another Vine Restaurant favourite with light, fluffy pastry, pink beef and served with a mix of seasonal veg and potatoes. For dessert, we were each presented with a trio of beauties – crème brulee (my favourite), a crisp sweet biscuit topped with cream and fresh raspberries, and a slice of very rich chocolate brownies, topped with a homemade pistachio ice cream. To finish the dish, I opted to a pot of fresh mint tea, and this was served with petit fours that tasted like strawberry ice cream encased in hard good quality chocolate.
Drink
Bernt is also the Sommelier at The Vine. Having graduated as Sommelier Conseil in France, his well chosen wine list complements the dishes on the menu, and he was on hand to advise which we should pair together with our dishes.
Overview
A relaxed but well polished restaurant, with friendly and knowledgeable staff. I wish it was my local!
Morgan M Barbican
Morgan M Barbican
50 Long Lane, London
Ambiance
Morgan M is located opposite Smithfield (London Central Markets). It’s nestled among some very trendy, and very sophisticated restaurants serving great food with the best produce available. Morgan M sits comfortably here. It has a quieter, more formal dining floor upstairs, and downstairs, a slightly buzzier feel with open kitchens and large tables accommodating people enjoying taster menus and small plates of exquisite food at a rather reasonable price.
Service
Service was warm and welcoming. I was the first to arrive, and was greeted at the door by a friendly member of staff who took my coat and served me a pre-dinner drink whilst I sat on the small sofas to await the arrival of other guests. I didn’t feel at all intimidated or uncomfortable, but very relaxed and well looked after – something that can’t always be said for other upmarket establishments in London!
Food
We were treated to a 6 course tasting menu, and being on a table with 5 other fellow food bloggers, the menu was scrutinised, and none of us wanted to miss out – so I actually got to taste all 9 of the dishes available! We started with Cream of Mojette Beans, lemon confit and pesto. The creamy soup was poured over all of the other ingredients at the table by the waiters, adding a little theatre and leaving us in a panic for just a moment when we thought we were just getting three small beans… the dish was a perfect start to the meal – rich, silky and smooth. The second dish was my favourite of the evening. Crayfish and Lobster Cannelloni with Tarragon, Jerusalem Artichoke Soubise, and shellfish cappuccino. I loved the different textures, and the moreish delicacy of the cannelloni. Next came Seared fillet of wild Sea Bass, Carrot and Ginger risotto, lemon and Saffron broth. Surprised to see risotto in a French restaurant, it was cooked to perfection. Just the right amount of bite and stickiness, with flaky clean fish and a crisp, almost crackling-like skin. The main dish was pot roasted fillet of Iken Valley Venison, Farci of Hare and quince puree. Sauce Grand Veneur. The venison was perfectly cooked and melted in the mouth, and the sweetness of the quince helped to cut through the smokeyness of the hare. For me the hare was a little too smokey in flavour, but as Morgan M himself told us, he enjoys testing the palettes of his guests, creating conversation around the food. So whilst for me it may have been a little too strong, others absolutely loved it. Desserts were to die for. A vanilla rice pudding served in an orange tuile, and topped with a Pinacolada sorbet… the ladies “oooo’d!” Finally, I had the lightest, sharpest passion fruit Souffle and sorbet with a Crème Anglaise poured in to the middle – to die for!
Drink
With the tasting menu came some of the best French wines, as well as sherry and port to match each dish. All were matched extremely well, and my favourite had to be the Moscato d’Asti 2010 which accompanied the Passion fruit soufflé perfectly and tasted almost like Fruit Salads!
Overview
A very approachable restaurant with a wonderful Chef and exquisite food. Morgan himself has a very impressive CV, winning his first Michelin star in the UK in 1999, at Monsieur Max in Twickenham. He has a loyal following from locals of his previous Islington restaurant – also called Morgan M (currently undergoing refurbishment) and takes the approach of building dishes around the raw vegetable ingredients that are in season. This was really interesting for me, because I would normally start with the meat/fish and then match other ingredients to this.
You must Go, Go, Go!
Burns night at The Rib Rooms
Burns night at The Rib Room
Kensington, London
Ambiance
Situated within the Jumeirah Carlton Hotel, The Rib Room is a pretty impressive establishment – recently updated in décor by the same interior designer as the Dean Street Town house, it has the same comfortable but opulent feel. The Rib Room is celebrating its 50th anniversary, and we were fortunate enough to be invited along to a Burns night celebration in the Buccleuch private dining room. A great room, curtained off from the main restaurant with a sociably large round table. Our meal was accompanied by ‘the address to the Haggis’ and some wonderful theatre from the resident mixologist.
Service
Service was exceptional – but then that’s to be expected when you’re being hosted by the award wining restaurant manager ‘Michele’ and his team. The whole evening was slick, relaxed and genuinely friendly, and we wanted for nothing.
Food
We were treated to a 5 course Scottish themed menu starting with a rich and buttery crowdie cheese salad served with pickled vegetables, beetroot, roasted walnuts and a crisp bread crouton, then Pan fried scallop, cullen skink (which was like a potato crochet with a cullen skink centre – delicious!) and cauliflower puree. Main course was a loin of succulent, velvety melt in the mouth venison, beautifully seasoned haggis and chestnut casserole with honey and roasted parsnips. Dessert was a beautifully presented three dish tasting menu of cranachan, chocolate and Drambuie mousse (very potent indeed!) and Dundee cake soufflé which I think had to be my favourite. The evening was finished off with teas, coffees and homemade fresh cream chocolate truffles that were so light and rich at the same time that you couldn’t help but go back for thirds!
Drink
Often in a restaurant the food steals the show, and the drinks never really live up to the glamour however here, at the Rib Room they have Sommelier Louise, who is a very engaging and inspiring person with a real passion for her wine, her cigars and her guests. She has created a wine list that’s searchable via an ipad in the restaurant, containing wines that she’s hand picked and cared for as her babies. Louise is also supported by a great mixologist and bar staff, and we were welcomed with a cocktail that’s possibly the best I’ve ever tasted – invented by Michele, the restaurant manager himself… clearly in this establishment, when a good idea is a good idea, it doesn’t matter who’s it is and that creativity comes across in the solid team that work together. The welcome cocktail of gin, heather syrup and honey can be found here.
Overview
An amazing evening in a very relaxed and indulgent atmosphere. I’d certainly recommend the Rib Room and will absolutely be going back for more.
Chapters All Day Dining
Montpelier Vale, Blackheath
Ambiance
The restaurant was full to buzzing and had a very informal but sophisticated feel. Some people were having snacks and cocktails, whilst others were enjoying a meal with friends and family.
Service
Service was very efficient with genuinely friendly staff. The barman made suggestions of a cocktail of the evening upon arrival, and our waiter talked us through the Josper oven and menu.
Food
There are different menus for the time of day that you visit. We were there in the evening and so ordered from the all day menu. Our favourite was the pork chop, reared and butchered in Kent, and cooked in a Josper Oven, which cooks at a high heat with charcoal embers, leaving the it extremely juicy and full of flavour.
Drink
A cocktail bar with a cocktail of the day makes Chapters perfect for a pre-dinner drink, and a very nice wine list complements all dishes on the menu. We went for the Malbec which had great flavours and was priced at £20.50.
Overview
A great choice for cocktails if in need of a shopping break, or food – whatever time of the day.
Due Amici - Royal Parade, Chislehurst
Ambiance
From the moment you walk through the door, you feel like you’re holidaying in Italy. The staff are bustling around speaking in English and Italian, and the restaurant if filled with sites of fresh fish, seafood, dessert trolleys and Italian wines.
Service
Service was warm, welcoming and efficient, with great Italian humour.
Food
The menu is very extensive, to the point where I didn’t quite know what to order and so ended up with the waiter making something up for me that was an amalgamation of different dishes. We started with a large plate of very fresh, large oysters, and I had a mix of fresh homemade tomato pasta, served with a perfectly cooked medium rare fillet of steak.
Drink
The wine list was as you would expect from a good Italian restaurant – plenty of light, crisp whites and great full bodied Valpolicella that was priced at £19.90
Overview
Old fashioned Italian charm with great quality produce.
Lujon
Commonside, Keston
Ambiance
We visited Lujon for a special ‘Great 8’ event whereby 8 top chefs from around the UK got together to each inspire an eight course tasting money to raise money for Hospitality Action.
Service
Lujon staff worked amazingly well to service a full restaurant and great event, and the restaurant itself really sparkled with throughout the night.
Food
Eight courses of excellence worked to inspired themes ranging from ‘Liquid’ to ‘Feathers’. A resounding favourite of our group, was Lujon Chef, Alan Irwins ‘4 legs’ which consisted of a beautifully rich venison shepherds pie.
Drink
Each dish was accompanied by a matching wine, supplied by Hatch Mansfield. One of my favourites was a wonderfully rich, and honeyed Sauvignon Blanc from Chile, that was served with a blue cheese panacotta and quince, from chef Rupert Rowley.
Overview
A thoroughly enjoyable and educational evening set in a great restaurant with amazing food.
Chapter One – Locksbottom, Kent
Michelin starred sophistication with a relaxed and stylish décor, nestled in the heart of Kent.
Ambiance
We visited on a Wednesday evening and the restaurant had a very relaxed feel with people celebrating special occasions or just indulging in a mid-week treat.
Service
Service was perfect. Knowledgeable and friendly staff took care of us recommending wines, seasonal dishes and annotating the delivery of courses with stories from where the produce had come from.
Food
The food was exquisite, with all dishes on the menu sounding amazing. Our favourites were the Compression of pig’s head, piccalilli, warm pork bonbon and pickled grelot onion to start – a real mix of textures, flavours and beautifully presented. For main, the Venison had been shot, butchered and prepared by the chef and was melt in the mouth, accompanied with a rich chocolate sauce and a side of extra creamy mash. To finish, guests can opt for an after dinner cocktail from the bar, or if you still have room to fit in a dessert I’d strongly recommend the organic lemon tart. It is served with a crème fraiche sorbet and millefeuille of passion fruit. A suitable level of tang from the tart refreshed and satisfied as a perfect end to the meal.
Drink
Chapter One has a very decadent looking bar, with a great cocktail list. There is an extensive wine menu featuring a selection of wines from their ‘private wine cellar’. Prices started from a very reasonable £19 a bottle, and alongside the food menu, wines are suggested to complement each course. Our waiter recommended Il Baciale, Monferrato Rosso – a great full-bodied red that went really well with the venison.
My Overview
An amazing local restaurant with exceptional chefs and central London sophistication without the extortionate price tag.
Greenleaf – Holborn
A stylish restaurant has opened in Holborn, serving high quality authentic Cantonese and Chinese cuisine. They also have two amazing karaoke rooms that can be used free of charge by large groups who dine and eat in the restaurant (minimum spend applies).
Ambiance
We visited at lunchtime and the restaurant was full of people nipping in for a bite of good quality, healthy Chinese food.
Service
Service was very professional, friendly and considerate to the needs of the customers. Advice was given as to accompaniments to dishes and tea and water was topped up throughout.
Food
An inspiring menu with a mix of traditional Chinese and Cantonese dishes with a modern twist. All were beautifully presented. My favourites were the charcoal grilled scallops – fresh and plump, and the steamed tiger prawns with lots and lots of garlic. We could have opted for duck tongues, or snails on ice – but we’ll leave those for next time!
Drink
A nice selection of good quality wines on the menu isn’t always easy to find in a local Chinese restaurant, but all bases are covered with the wine list at Greenleaf. I’d also recommend the ‘Blue tea’ as a really refreshing accompaniment – don’t worry, it’s not actually blue!
My Score
4 out of 5
A great local restaurant, with good service, good quality produce and a great entertainment factor!
Shampan 4
The Spinning Wheel, Westerham
Ambiance
Fully booked on a Saturday night, the restaurant was bustling with people drinking cocktails, celebrating birthdays and tucking in to innovative Indian food.
Service
Service was friendly and attentive, although some larger groups had a bit of a wait for their food, and so I’d advise though that you book before 8pm to avoid the rush of other diners if there are more than four in your party.
Food
A great menu with a real mix of traditional Indian dishes, as well as some new and exciting ones. Our favourites were the roasted scallops with raw mango chutney and the slow grilled sea bass. We could have eaten the freshly cooked naan bread all night!
Drink
A good strong wine list that was reasonably priced, and a select cocktail list. I’d recommend the Mango Daiquiry.
My Score
4 out of 5
Shampan 4 is a beautifully presented Indian restaurant with an innovative menu.
Nobu – Berkeley St, Mayfair
http://www.noburestaurants.com
Indulgence at its finest
The freshest fish that you’ll ever eat in London. At Nobu, it’s ALL about the food.
Ambiance
We were fortunate enough to be taken to Nobu as a wedding gift from our friends Mark & Kelly (thank you once again!) Our sitting was for 10.30pm and so we arrived half an hour early to have a drink at the bar. The whole place was packed full of people enjoying themselves, and staff were buzzing around taking care of every requirement.
Service
Staff were very efficient and friendly, and helped to put together dishes for us based upon our requirements. It did, however raise a question at the end of the meal that comes up whenever a bill is quite hefty, and service has been added of 15%, that a new way of paying service needs to be addressed in top London restaurants so that guests aren’t hit with a double whammy when ordering some of the more expensive dishes on the menu.
Food
The menu was full of everything that I love. We were so overwhelmed and spoilt for choice, that we decided to ask the waiter to choose for us. He put together an amazing selection of sushi and sashimi. The freshest and meatiest of raw king prawns, tuna, salmon, crab and avocado sushi rolls, and so much more. Prices started from around £3 per sashimi, and went up to £8.50. For main we shared hot dishes of Toban Yaki chicken, Wagu beef (melt in your mouth, and full of flavour), Iberian pork – crispy, crunchy crackling with succulent meat, Black Cod Den Miso, which flaked away and was sweet and delicate, tender Octopus with Yuzu Lemon Garlic (my favourite dish of the night), softshell crab and bowls of the stickiest, loveliest rice. Hot dishes started at around £7.50 and went up to £42. We ended on a high of desserts, the favourite of which seemed to be the spiced warm rice pudding – creamy and delicious. The apple crumble had an amazing twist of Wasabi toffee. All of the food was faultless. Cooked to perfection and from the freshest, finest quality of ingredients.
Drinks
An amazing selection of wines starting from £34 a bottle, and going right up to £2,350 – yes you did read that correctly!! We opted for the Sant Veran 2008 Burgundy. A good flavour, and a nice crispness that accompanied the fish really well.
Price
As it was a gift, we weren’t privy to the final bill but prices can be found on their website, and be warned that Nobu is not a cheap night out!
My rating
5 Out of 5
Amazing produce, amazing food, amazing wine, amazing service… amazing.
Hummus Bros – Wardour Street, London (also with restaurants in Holborn & St Paul’s)
Lovely, warm silky Hummus…
This buzzy little restaurant sits nestled amongst the various eateries on Wardour Street looking cool, trendy and inviting.
Ambiance
We visited on a Friday night and so there were a nice mix of local media types catching a quick bite over some late work, and people dressed up and having a good feed up before hitting the bars and clubs of Soho for a night out.
Service
A friendly gentleman greeted us at the door and gave us a choice of where to sit. There are a mix of communal tables and chairs, or a long bar with stalls positioned in the window – great for people watching! He took us through the menu and warned us that although portions looked on the small side, the hummus was actually very filling (which he was absolutely right about!) and so not to order too many sides. Efficient and friendly, the same waiter took care of us for the duration of our stay.
Food
The main attraction is of course ‘hummus’. Served deliciously warm and with a silky soft texture, it’s very different to the various hummus dips that we’ve had before. There are a a selection of toppings to choose – everything from slow cooked chunky beef, to a 5,000 year old recipe of fava beans. We opted for the chicken, sautéed in a light tomato based sauce with a side of sundried tomatoes, and the chunky beef. Both were really tasty and felt great on a wintery evening. We also tried sides of the mixed vegetable salad and the falafel salad. The vegetable salad was nice and crunchy with a refreshing parsley and vinegar dressing. The falafel salad had good flavour, but the actual falafel itself was a little on the dry side. We opted to share a dessert, and so tried the Malabi – a milk based dessert served with date honey. This was the star of the show for me, a really light but unusual silky dessert that resembled panacotta, but with a little more bite.
Drinks
Hummus Bros don’t sell alcohol, but they do have a good selection of smoothies, juices and hot drinks such as hot spiced apple juice. We tried the fresh mint and ginger lemonade, which was unfortunately lacking in ginger zing, and a little too much on the sugary side.
Price
The overall cost of our meal was £32.60 – a great price considering the quality of the food and the fact that we both left with our bellies resting in our hands! The dessert was the biggest bargain, costing just £2!
My rating
4 Out of 5
The perfect place for a quick eat before hitting Soho for a night out.
Valentina
High Street, Sevenoaks
Ambiance
Entering the restaurant via the Deli means that you’re immediately transported to the culinary delights of Italy. A nice mix of couples and friends provide a warm buzz.
Service
From meeting and greeting, to menu recommendations and tales of where produce comes from, everything about the service at Valentina is smooth, friendly and efficient.
Food
You can’t sit in a room next to such a well-stocked deli and not order the Antipasto Primavera. The pizza bases were also sublime and the Capella Romano was packed full of ‘Nonna’s meatballs’, tagliatelle pasta and baked in a dome of speck ham.
Drink
Give yourself some time to read through the wine menu – with wines from many different regions of Italy, and all at reasonable prices we opted for the Dolcetto D’Alba Villadoria. A rich flavoured, but easy drinking red.
My rating
4 out of 5
More than just a restaurant – an inspiring Italian slice of heaven in Sevenoaks.
Tamasha Restaurant & Bar
Widmore Road, Bromley, Kent
Ambiance
We visited on the night of the Grand Maharaja Ball, an annual for ‘friends’ of Tamasha. Full of Bollywood dancers, great bands and Bromley ladies in their finest dresses.
Service
There were around 300 guests, and an army of staff to ensure that glasses and plates were never empty. All had time to talk and were friendly, extremely knowledgeable and professional.
Food
Tables and tables of authentic Indian cuisine. Succulent meats, deliciously fresh fish and our favourite, pan fried Squids marinated with spicy Goan peri-peri masala
Drink
As this was a special event, drinks were complimentary for all guests, however the wine was chilled perfectly and usually starts from around £15 a bottle with a great selection.
My rating
4.5 out of 5
Make this your regular Indian restaurant so as not to miss out on next years ball!
La Rioja
West Wickham, Kent
Ambiance
A very warm welcome, with ladies lunching in the sunshine of the newly renovated garden.
Service
Very attentive, with recommendations for dishes on the menu, and a good knowledge of Spanish food.
Food
Every dish of tapas was fresh, full of flavour and portion sizes were generous. The octopus is to die for, and the chorizo in wine will keep you going back for more.
Drink
A good selection of wine, with bottles starting at around £15. I’d recommend going for the house white as it complimented every dish, and suited most palettes in our party.
My rating
4 out of 5
An authentic Spanish restaurant with an extensive menu, and a great garden.
Locale - 1 Lawn Terrace, Blackheath Village
A hidden gem in Blackheath
A 1920’s style interior with good Italian cooking and imaginative cocktails. Locale could be easily missed by the average visitor to Blackheath because it hides just off of the main High Street in a residential street.
Ambiance
We visited on a Tuesday night and the restaurant was still busy and buzzy. Couples, families and colleagues from work sat around the dark wooden tables and listened to the soft background jazz music, whilst sipping on cocktails and enjoying the view from the open kitchen.
Service
Unfortunately this was the only weak point for us. Although we could see that our waitress wasn’t representative of the rest of the staff, she seemed to have little knowledge of the menu, forgot to top up our water glasses and when delivering my Mojito, she spilt it down me and the table and didn’t offer to mop it up. The manageress however was extremely knowledgeable and hospitable, and so too were the rest of her staff.
Food
With so many delicious dishes to choose from on the Italian menu, I started with the Salumi Misti – a Charcuterie board full of Italian cured meats with shaved fennel, balsamic pickled onions and homemade Focaccia. My partner opted for the zuccini with ricotta cheese – this was a courgette flower, stuffed and deep friend. Deliciously creamy, and a nice start to the meal. For main I chose the sustainably sourced cod fillet wrapped in parma ham and served on a bed of Samphire. All was cooked to perfection, and I ordered a side salad of tomato and onion which accompanied it very well. My partner chose the Linguine ai Frutti di mare – homemade pasta with a good bite and served with cherry tomatoes, clams, mussels, baby calamari, octopus & king prawns sautéed with garlic, chilli, parsley & white wine (we couldn’t find any octopus in the dish, but we let them off because the prawns were so good!) For dessert we shared a panecotta with rhubarb and was told by the manager that the chef likes to change the flavours to reflect the seasons. This one had a slight lemony hint to the rich velvety cream that made it more refreshing than usual. Absolutely delicious.
Drinks
An extensive cocktail menu, that also included after dinner cocktails. We were told that a new addition of ‘Strawberry Cheesecake’ is coming soon and were asked to try it – I’d certainly recommend it if it makes the menu! There is also a good wine list, but unfortunately the glasses of wine that we ordered could have been slightly more chilled. We opted for the Gavi Gavi which had great flavour and accompanied the fish perfectly. After the meal we were offered a pot of Earl Grey, Elderflower, Lemon and honey tea which was really refreshing and ended the meal well. We were told that although there isn’t a huge selection of teas on the menu, if you ask for an infused tea they will recommend and make something special for you, like perhaps basil and thyme.
Price
The overall cost of our meal was £65 plus a 12.5% service charge. Although there were some reasonably priced items on the menu, there were also some dishes that cost around £20 so for a group night out to a local restaurant this could become quite expensive. They do however have a room that’s for hire downstairs that can seat up to £30 people and a set menu can be arranged to ensure that you remain within budget.
My rating
3.5 Out of 5
A lovely discovery in Blackheath, with some great Italian food and a good cocktail bar.
An interesting fact about Locale: On the first Sunday of every month they hold a Jazz cabaret brunch with burlesque singer Ivy Paige.
Ferrari’s Restaurant - 39 East Street, Bromley
http://www.ferrarisrestaurants.co.uk/
10 years of Italian cuisine in Bromley
Authentic Italian cooking, using fresh local ingredients and homemade pasta. Ferrari’s celebrates it 10th birthday in Bromley and continues to delight.
Ambiance
A fully booked restaurant with tables of girls dressed up for their Friday night out, and families and couples enjoying the new décor of Ferraris. There was a nice buzz of laughter and a relaxed feel.
Service
All waiters seemed very experienced and were extremely attentive without being intrusive. Topping up water jugs throughout the meal, delivering a second spoon so that we could share dessert, and helping to guide us through the food and wine menus.
Food
The menu is packed full of authentic Italian dishes with a specials menu at the weekend. I started with the smoked duck slices, thinly cut and served with watermelon and goats cheese – a beautifully fresh and flavoursome combination. My partner opted for the deep fried baby squid served with tartar sauce – the squid was fresh and soft, and the batter light and crispy. For main I had the Linguine Alle Vongole – the pasta made fresh by the restaurant was silky smooth with just the right bite, and the clams were plump and sweet. My partner had the roast roulade of veal, stuffed with smoked mozerella, spinach, sundried tomatoes and served with a red wine sauce and rocket leaves. The smoked mozerella was a little over powering, and it would be advisable to order some sides to go with this dish as the rocket isn’t really enough. For dessert, we shared a sticky date and toffee pudding with vanilla pod ice cream. This wasn’t the highlight of the meal – with the sauce not sticky or thick enough, and the pudding not stodgy enough for a sticky date pudding.
Wine
A great wine list, with recommended tasting notes next to the wines meant that it was easy to select a wine that would complement our food. We opted for the Sauvignon Il Palu Veneto 2009 which was served perfectly chilled, and was a great accompaniment to all dishes. Also, not a bad price at £17.50 a bottle.
Price
The overall cost of our meal was a reasonable £59.10 plus a 12.5% service charge. There were higher priced wines and food on the menu, but two people could enjoy a three course meal with wine for around £65.
My rating
4 Out of 5
A nice place to go with friends and family for an authentic Italian meal. Great also for large groups, with the knowledge that you’ll have good food, wine and service.
An interesting fact about Ferrari’s: Celebrating its 10th birthday in Bromley, Ferrari’s is now fully licensed for weddings.
Ed’s Woodfire Grill 41 East Street, Bromley
A gem of a steakhouse can be found in Bromley – with British steaks being cooked in a ‘Josper Oven’ – apparently the hottest indoor barbeque in the world, that gives the steaks a unique charcoal flavour.
Ambiance
We visited on a Wednesday night and the restaurant was nicely busy with a mix of couples and families. On first glance, you wouldn’t guess that Ed’s is a steakhouse. It doesn’t have the animal skins on the wall like Goucho, and it doesn’t have the typical American diner style that most steakhouses try to portray. Instead it’s a comfortable and laid back restaurant without the fancies of tablecloths or mood lighting.
Service
Our waitress was extremely knowledgeable and very enthusiastic as well as friendly and attentive. She helped us around the menu, telling us what the chefs take most pride in (their sides!) and being open and honest about portion sizes (large!). We were given a nice amount of waiting time between courses so that the evening wasn’t rushed, and glasses were topped up and jugs of water replenished throughout.
Food
There’s a genius star rating facility on Ed’s website, where customers rate each dish on the menu that they’ve tried. According to this, the Baked brie is the best starter, followed by chargrilled freerange chicken breast and a side of Ed’s signature Mac & Cheese. We decided to go for something different, and so opted for a starter of Maple cured baby rack ribs with celeriac and apple coleslaw. Our waitress advised us that the portion size is rather large, and quite right she was too – so we shared this and it was plenty big enough. The meat literally fell off the bones. For main, we each chose a steak – I opted for the Hanger steak, also known as the ‘Butchers steak’ (so called because butchers would often keep it for themselves). It’s a cut that comes from the diaphragm of the cow so is full of flavour and best cooked quickly over a high heat, served rare or medium. It has one long grisly piece running through the centre, and so you should cut to either side of this for the tender, buttery melt in your mouth meat. My guest had the flat iron steak, which neither of us had tried before but was recommended by the waitress of its lean quality to fully appreciate the Josper oven. It’s a cut that comes from the shoulder of the cow and so has no muscle or fat whatsoever. It melts in the mouth and is now my new favourite steak – even better than a fillet (a bold statement I know!). With our steaks came chips in a rustic looking silver bucket – unfortunately these weren’t the highlight of the meal, we’d have preferred either nice chunky chips or thin fries, but these were kind of in-between with way too much salt. Our sides were buttermilk onion rings and creamed corn with lemon zest as well as some roasted bone marrow to bring out the flavours in the steaks. The onions rings were out of this world – light and fluffy crispy batter and extremely moorish. Stuffed full to the brim, but presented with a tasty looking dessert menu, we decided to share an apple tart tatin with Calvados crème fraiche. Unfortunately the pasty was a little undercooked and so a little on the soft side. The apples and the hot maple sauce were delicious though, and the calvados flavour sang through and complemented them both perfectly.
Wine
Ed’s has a great cocktail menu and so I started with a Bramble. Very alcoholic and very refreshing, at the reasonable price of £6.50. We also had a glass of the Tempranillo which was £4.10 per glass, nice fruity in flavour and complemented the steaks well. There were a wide selection of wines to choose from, starting at around £13 a bottle and moving up to £30+
Price
The overall cost of our meal was an extremely reasonable £60.95 plus a 12.5% service charge.
My rating
3.5 Out of 5
The perfect place to go with friends of family for a good steak and a cocktail. The effect of cooking in the Josper oven means that the steaks and marbled with flavour and cooked to perfection. The only advice would be to crisp up the pastry on the tart tartin, chunk up the chips and place a matt underneath the plates so that they don’t slide around whilst customers are cutting in to their steaks with their very impressive steak knives.
An interesting fact about Ed’s Woodfire Grill: All prime meats are sourced from British rare bread farmers and long aged.
the Sportsman, Seasalter, Kent
This is what I want! A successful pub/restaurant by the sea where walkers and cyclists can pop in to top up their water bottles, and friends can come to spend their afternoon and evenings enjoying home grown food and homebaked bread with fresh fish and meat from the cattle that graze in the fields by the restaurant. The Sportsman has it all… and that’s why we had to wait for so long to try it, but it was certainly worth the wait!
Ambiance
Big pine farmouse tables with comfy chairs and cushions, families and friends chatting away in their walking boots sipping on glasses of Champagne and Prosecco, and friendly staff stood behind the bar and buzzing around with plates of home grown food.
Service
The service is very laid back, but with an air of professionalism and knowledge. Everyone knew the menu back to front and with the bar situated centrally to the restaurant, if there was anything that you needed, you only had to ask.
Food
The food was heavenly. Don’t be fooled in to reading the menu and thinking that portions might not be big enough! We left feeling absolutely full to the brim, and thankful for the sea walk home. To start, I had poached oysters in a creamy sauce with pickled cucumber and topped with caviar… absolutely stunning. My partner had the pork terrine, served with some homemade toasted bread pickles… delicious. For main I had the Braised Turbot Fillet with a mussel pistou (like a very delicate pesto but minus the pine nuts). My partner opted for the Thornback Ray with brown butter, cockles and sherry vinegar dressing. Both were cooked to perfection, but my turbot had the edge! For dessert we shared a deconstructed rhubarb crumble – a small shot glass of good, sharp rhubarb sorbet, a small cup full of thick creamed vanilla custard topped with a strong burnt sugar crust, and a wedge of biscuit crumble on the side to bring it all together.
Wine
A nice selection of wines, starting at around £16 for a bottle, or £4.25 for a glass. We opted for the Albarino which was £21.95, perfectly cold and very drinkable.
Price
Our meal with wine came to just over £100 – Not a cheap meal, but certainly worth every penny. When compared to fine dining in London, The Sportsman wins hands down. It’s a place of rustic charm, that’s so beautifully situated and each dish has genuine warmth and heart put in to it.
My rating
5 out of 5
Delicious food, a relaxed atmosphere and friendly staff – all situated by the sea and enjoying what they do. What more could ask for? I’d strongly recommend that you make a trip to Seasalter just for the experience of The Sportsman… but remember to book ahead!
We Eat Poets – Brunswick House Café at Lassco, Vauxhall
I’m finding it really hard to write this without breaking out in to rhyming verse, because we were so truly inspired by the poets, food and lovely people at the We Eat Poets evening held at Brunswick House Café last week. An absolute MUST if you’re looking for a slightly quirky night out with an interesting venue, great produce (supplied by Cannon & Cannon) and the chance to meet new friends for an evening.
Ambiance
It felt like arriving in a room full of your best friends – everyone was so lovely welcoming, chatty, sharing food stories, talking about the amazing chandeliers, the huge mirrors and other items around the room that were all for sale. Entertainment was great – with poets getting up and sharing their food themed poems with the room between courses, and cheese smelling and tasting competitions… the prize being the chance to provide a word which then gets put in to a poem.. my partner actually guessed all 6 cheese correctly and so offered up the word ‘marriage’, which the poor Edward Mackay then had to turn in to a poem with the other words ‘Constantinople’ and ‘periphery’! The result of which was a great poem that he entitled ‘Where to find a good meal in Vauxhall‘. It summed up the evening superbly.
Service
Food was served up on large platters with everyone at the table helping themselves and sharing dishes. This really helped to add to the conversation and had a family/communal feel to it. Very similar to that experienced at Supper Clubs. Waitresses were constantly topping up water jugs, taking drinks orders and clearing away empty plates with smiles on their faces.
Food
My goodness, what can I say about the food to actually do it justice? Every dish was bursting with flavour, and I wanted the recipes for all of it!! We started with a plate of cured meats from Canon & Canon, then moved on to Tripe and warm, delicious sour dough focacia then artichokes with peas and Wissington cheese, followed by salt cod with baby gem and garlic tomatoes, followed by a bit of a break for some poetry, then shredded old spot shoulder with lots of gorgeous crackling red onions and capers, a cheese tasting competition (6 different cheeses), semolina dumplings topped with Binham blue walnuts, some dressed watercress to clean the palette, then saffron courgettes peas and mint, then 3 more different cheeses to finish. The majority of amazing produce was supplied by Canon & Canon and cooked by chefs Jackson Boxer and Nick Balfe – amazing talent! You might be fooled into thinking that all of the above was a menu from which we chose a few dishes from, but no… we did actually get to eat ALL of it! So delicious, so inspiring and so well worth the £40 ticket price.
Price & Wine
A ticket for the evening is £40 and that includes all food, as well as entertainment and a complimentary cocktail upon arrival. Wine was a little on the expensive side, but a great selection and all served at perfect temperatures.
My rating
5 out of 5
I’m a bit bored of writing about how fantastic this evening was now… Just go! The next date is to be announced, but should be some time in October 2011. Join the We Eat Poets mailing list so that you can be notified of when the next event will be, and order your tickets straight away, because I have a feeling that it’s going to be another sell out night.
Maison Touareg – Greek Street, London
Located in the heart of Soho, on Greek Street – this Moroccan/Lebanese restaurant is celebrating its 25th anniversary. With the buzz of the area and its great sunspot location and doors that open out on to the street, this makes a perfect summer destination for lunch to watch the world go by and eat some good food.
Ambiance
Either sit outside for some hustle and bussle if the weather’s good, or sit inside for a more relaxed and quiet atmosphere. We went for lunch at 1pm on a Saturday, and although not overly busy, there were enough people to create a nice feel in the restaurant. I’m sure that in the evenings things heat up inside, with belly dancers and a packed restaurant full of people enjoying birthdays and nights out on the town.
Service
A slightly flustered but very friendly waiter welcomed us at the door and took us to our table. We were asked if we’d like to have a wedge put under our table to stop it wobbling – which was very considerate, but then we watched as he circled the rest of the restaurant doing the same for every other table… probably not the best way to welcome guests, and best to do at the beginning of the day before everyone is seated! A very friendly lady came over to take our order, but unfortunately didn’t speak very good English and so when we asked whether the chefs selection of Meze contained any nuts, we didn’t feel too reassured after she just gave a rather blank look and then nodded to say “yes”.. so we went with the safer option of making our own selections from the menu and trusting the nut guide that was clearly displayed as part of the menu.
Food
The menu was easy to follow and packed full of delicious dishes. We opted for a selection of 4 different Meze to share as a starter, consisting of Kafta Meshwi (grilled minced lamb marinated with herbs, onions and sumac, served with harrisa sauce), Fatayer (Pastry filled with spinach, onions and lemon juice), Makanek (Spicy sausages served with chopped tomatoes) and Kallaj (Lebanese toasted bread filled with Halloumi cheese). Our favourite was the Kallaj because the bread was so fresh and crispy, and the halloumi warm and soft, with lots of dried mint to cut through the delicious saltiness of the cheese.
For main course, I had the lamb tagine which came with cooked apricots, prunes and saltanas. The lamb was so well cooked and succulent, without being overly cooked or stringy and the smell and flavours from the tagine were amazing. My partner had the mixed grill, a selection of chicken, lamb and kafta served with salad and rice. The meat was well cooked and there was plenty of it, but the tagine is definitely the dish to try! We were so full that we couldn’t handle dessert, although we saw fresh Baklawa being carried through the restaurant that looked great.
Price
Four meze starters, and two main courses came to £70.80 (not including wine) which is quite expensive for lunch, but then we were a little greedy and could quite happily have been satisfied with just 5 or 6 meze plates to share at that time of day. Meze start at £4.75 and go up to £5.95 and main courses start from £12.90 and go up to £21 for the lamb shoulder. There is also a set menu available for just £23.95 per person (minimum of 2 people), which includes 5 cold and hot starters of the chef’s choice, your choice of any main and Baklawa and mint tea for dessert.
Wine
We opted for the Moroccan dry white wine which was just £15.50 a bottle, and it was really quite drinkable, especially complementing the tagine, offering a refreshing cut through of the richness of the spices. Other wines from Italy, Argentina and Spain were also available, with prices around £20 – £30.
My rating
4 out of 5
The food was faultless at Maison Touareg with real authentic Morrocan and Lebanese flavours, however the service and general feeling of not feeling quite safe in their hands left us with a slightly disappointed feeling. We were there when the restaurant was only a third full, and just two of us dining, and I fear that if that had been a large group on a busy evening, that there was the potential to have a few issues, particularly with language barriers and staff not really communicating with each other to know who was responsible for which tables. That said, it could be a completely different team put on the floor in the evenings, and so please don’t let this put you off of going to Maison Touareg because you MUST go there to try the Kallaj and the lamb tagine.. they are amazing!
Kentish Canteen
Situated just over the road from Kentish Town tube station, this all day diner is a destination spot for those wanting to grab some nibbles and a cocktail, for a girlie or business lunch, or for an unpretentious evening meal packed with fresh ingredients and full of flavour.
Ambiance
A nice chillaxed vibe, that appeared to be child friendly as well as grown up. We went on a Wednesday night at 8pm and the restaurant was quite busy with tables of friends, couples and (we speculate!) first dates.
Service
We were greeted at the door by a very friendly waiter, who showed us to our table (past the display of cup cakes, macaroons, cheesecakes and biscuits… we were tempted to start with dessert!) He took us through the menu, and strongly recommended that we try the cocktails – which we obligingly did, and were pleased that we had taken his advice. The attentive and friendly service, along with advice was kept up for the whole of our visit. The owner Wendy, was also buzzing around and checking that everything was running smoothly, and giving advice when asked (we’re so pleased that we listened to her suggestion to try the Butchers Cut steak!)
Food
The menu is packed full of simple but quite healthy and tasty sounding dishes. We opted for the Bruschetta of crushed broad beans, peas & mint with Swaledale goat’s cheese to start, along with a starter sized portion of the Devon crab, lemon and chilli linguine. Both were totally delicious – the Bruschetta was fresh and light and the goats cheese creamy, and the linguine had just the right amount of chilli and plenty of crab. We were also served a small selection of tasters from the salads that are available – the broccoli with anchovy being our favourite.
For mains, we had the Butchers cut steak with horseradish cream, watercress and fat chips – the steak was just as Wendy had described.. silky, tender, and cooked to perfection. We also opted for the Scottish lamb rump with crushed new potatoes, purple sprouting broccoli and a rich red wine & rosemary jus. Perhaps a little on the rare side for some, this was absolutely to our liking. The lamb had a delicious flavour, was beautifully tender and the portion sizes for both dishes were perfect – not too small, but also not overly generous so that you could still leave room for dessert.
For dessert, we were spoilt for choice – torn between the cheesecakes and the tarts, we opted though for the White Chocolate Creme Brulee, which unfortunately didn’t have the crunch on top that was expected, and the very reasonably priced cheese board – just £6 with three different cheeses, celery, a homemade pear chutney with oat biscuits.
Price
For the quality of ingredients, and the standard of cooking, we felt that everything on the menu was reasonably priced. From £3.95 for a soup starter, to £15 for a sharing platter for two. Mains were priced around £10, and moving up to around £15 for the choice cut meats but with sides included, we didn’t feel that this was too unreasonable. Desserts were priced between £4 – £6 and portion sizes were ample.
Wine
Wine started at £14.95 a bottle, and went up to £33 for a Petit Chablis. We opted for the Monastrell DO Yecla, Bodegas Castaño, Spain, 09 at £19.75 – full bodied and served at just the right temperature.
My rating
4.5 out of 5
The service and food were faultless, with a nice mix of customers and a good vibe. We couldn’t help feeling though, that that we were in more of a day-time restaurant with dishes being served up very swiftly between courses and people passing through for a quick bite rather than relaxing for an evening meal. Although the Kentish Canteen describes itself as a diner, perhaps some dimmer lights and a little more time between courses would have made this an absolutely perfect evening… and just a little more crunch on the brulee. I would however strongly recommend that you give the Kentish Canteen a try, and definitely start your evening with one of their cocktails!
The Charlotte Street Hotel
The competition for the best Afternoon Tea in London is hotting up, so we thought we’d try out Charlotte Street Hotels offer of Afternoon tea with sandwiches, homemade scones, macaroons, chocolate cake, cake and more cake. We left absolutely stuffed, and with a goody bag filled with even more of the cakes that we couldn’t eat.
Ambiance
1 O’clock on a Monday after the bank holiday weekend was perfect, because there was a very relaxed and not too overly busy feel to the bar/dining room. We were seated at one of the larger tables and saw Zoe Ball walk in to the hotel reception.. clearly the place to be!
Service
The waitress met us at the door with a friendly “Hello” and showed us to our table which had already been laid out with pretty floral Wedgwood cups and saucers and silver strainers. Throughout Tea, were had our pots topped up and were checked on to ensure that we were doing OK and not overdosing on the sweet stuff… which of course we were!
Food
The Tea was delicious – fresh finger sandwiches filled with smoked salmon, ham, cheese and Egg mayonnaise, warm scones with clotted cream, jam and fresh berries, chocolate cake, chocolate choux buns, lemon and raspberry tartlets and vibrant macaroons piled high on the tiered cake stand.
Price
Quite a reasonable £21.50 per person, considering we had more than one pot of tea each and could only manage two thirds of the food on the tiered stand.
My rating
3.5 out of 5
Although this was a delicious selection and in a sophisticated setting, the actual ‘Afternoon Tea’ experience wasn’t as amazing as some of the other venues around London, which provide a real sense of ‘special occasion’. I’m sure that if we’d have opted for the Ruinart and Miller Harris Sensory Tea at £35 per person, this probably would have been slightly different, but I would still highly recommend it as a great place to go with work mates or clients… just not necessarily with your ‘special girlies’ at the weekend!
Cut the Mustard
In sleepy Hayes Village (Hayes Street, Kent), there has been a bit of foodie uprising going on… first The George pub opened, just a few doors up from the Farm shop, serving delicious posh-pub grub, and now a new addition, ‘Cut The Mustard’ has opened a few doors up from Dillingers (serving great ribs and steaks). Cut the Mustard is a cross between a family friendly cafe and a homely restaurant, serving organic and free range products, the husband and wife owners first venture in to the foodie industry seems to be a blooming success.
Ambiance
We went along at 9am on a Saturday morning and sat outside in the sunshine with our dog, Jack. Customers were just starting to arrive for their breakfast, and the outside seats are in a little sun spot – lovely!
Service
We were greeted with a warm smile and a welcome by the owners, and offered a menu to peruse whilst our tea was made and delivered to our table – great first impressions, and the service continued throughout our visit.
Food
A traditionally British menu with everything from all day breakfasts to Shepherds pie and cakes made by locals. All local produce, organic eggs, Sausages from Kent and home made sausage rolls and pasties. As we were there so early, we just opted for a mug of tea each and a sausage sandwich. Sausages were tasty, and served in thick crusty white doorstep bread with a choice of sauces and a small side salad.
Price
Very tasty, and not too overly priced at £3.20 for a sausage sandwich and a mug of tea. Average breakfast prices were around 6.50 which is a little on the expensive side, but I suppose you get what you pay for!
Wine
No license unfortunately – but I’m wondering whether, if they extend their opening times in to the evening, and they get to serve the dinner crowds, whether they might consider operating a ‘bring your own’??! please please PLEASE!!
My rating
4.5 our of 5
Franco Manca is a pizzeria with restaurants in Brixton, and now Chiswick. Their unique sourdough based pizzas are baked in a mosaic-tiled, wood burning ‘Tufae’ brick oven built on site by special artisans from Naples, giving them a moorishly smooth and chewy texture. The queues outside the restaurant on a Saturday night showed just how popular this new addition to Chiswick’s High Street is, but what was our final verdict on the experience?
Ambiance
We visited Franco Manca on a Saturday night at 7pm, just as the queue was starting to build at the door. It was packed full of customers, with a good vibe and staff were bustling around, taking orders and tending to the wave of hands for more drinks. A great place to go before a night out, or to gather with a large group of friends. Tables were quite close together and had an informal feel with hooks on the wall to hang coats, and tins of cutlery and paper napkins.
Service
We were shown to our table with a warm Italian welcome, and taken through the menu. Unfortunately we later found that there was a specials board, but hadn’t been shown it, so missed out on this. A couple of the dishes and wines that we ordered were no longer available on the menu, due to the smaller independent suppliers that are used by the restaurant, however the waiter quickly explained this to us, and recommended some alternatives.
Food
On the main menu, there was a choice of six pizzas and six different types of ‘bites’ as starters, from a meat and cheese platter with wild boar mortadella and Gloucester old spot home cured ham, to baked aubergine with mozerella. We opted for the meat and cheese platter to share with millstone cheese, and some flame baked bread topped with wild artichoke stem, buffalo mozzarella, rocket and sundried tomato. Both were really tasty with great fresh produce and the platter was of a decent size for two to share.
For the mains, we opted for the home cured Gloucester old spot ham (which had a slight turkey taste and texture to it), mozzerella, buffalo ricotta and wild mushroom pizza, and the tomato, garlic, oregano, capers, olivers, anchovies and mozerella pizza. The bases were certainly moorish in texture, and had a nice taste to them, but unfortunately accompanied with the toppings, the Gloucester pizza became a little too rich and creamy with the style of the base and the ricotta and mozerella on it, and the second pizza with the anchovies, capers and olives just tasted so overly salty that we had to swap half way through each of the pizzas to be able to finish them. Around half an hour after leaving we were so thirsty that we had to down pints of water! It was such a shame that we hadn’t been shown the specials boards because perhaps with a different type of topping we could have appreciated the sourdough base a little more.
For dessert, we were so full and thirsty that we chose to share a single scoop of the grape sorbet. That was lovely and refreshing, but one scoop in the bottom of a rather large glass just didn’t make it look very special.
Price
Pizzas start from an extremely reasonable £4.50 and go up to £6.95. Starters range from £1.95 for olives, to £5.95 for the meat and cheese platter. A really reasonably priced menu, especially considering the restaurants expensive location and the quality of the produce sourced.
Wine
We originally ordered the organic Ottavio white wine at £12.95 a bottle, but they had unfortunately sold out, so the waiter suggested we try the organic Madregale white (still just £12.95 a bottle). It was a really refreshing, zingy white with lots of flavour, and an almost slightly sparkly edge to it. It complemented the pizza’s soughdough base well as it helped to cleanse the palette between bites.
My rating
3.5 our of 5
Unfortunately our expectations of the soughdough base had been raised so high (no pun intended!) before we arrived, that when we got to try it, although the texture was different to what we’d tried before, it still didn’t live up to the ultra thin crispyness of a pizza base that you’d get in other parts of Italy. The toppings we also felt let down the main course, mainly due to the overly saltyness of the anchovies, capers and olives. Service was however great, and the atmosphere was brilliant for a Saturday night. I’m sure that the huge queue as we left the restaurant is also a good indication that this is a well-liked and enjoyed addition to Chiswick High Street that will be around for quite some time, but unfortunately for us this just wasn’t on the top of the list of one of the best places we’d ever eaten pizza. Don’t just take our opinion for it though, give Franco Manca a try – and make sure you look out for the specials board!
I struggled when writing this, firstly because I didn’t know whether to file it under ‘reviews’ or ‘foodie inspiration’ on the site, because really it fits under both – and secondly because I don’t want so many people to find out about this concept that it becomes mainstream and looses its charm and excitement. I can’t tell you how inspired and excited I felt when I left Fernandez and Leluu’Supper Club. It has opened up a whole new culinary world to me, and I’m actually now struggling to wonder whether I’ll ever enjoy eating out at a traditional restaurant again! The food was Michelin star quality, with a menu designed by Simon Fernandez, and prepared by Fernandez with the assistance of two chefs from Fifteen – beautifully presented, amazingly fresh, well cooked and the atmosphere and concept was mind blowing. Thanks to Trusted Places from Yell.com for letting me attend this event, who’s ultimate goal was to help raise money for the Jamie Oliver Foundation.
What is a Supper Club?
Before I continue with the review, let me first explain to those of you, who like me had never been to a Supper Club before, or don’t know what the concept of it is. It’s an underground scene, where people (who tend to be great at rustling up restaurant quality food) open their house to strangers for the evening, normally transforming their living room and dining room in to a restaurant. It started in Latin America, and the traditional style was one large table with everyone seated together and sharing platters of food, the general idea being that you sit with people you don’t know. This is still present in most UK Supper Clubs today. but seating arrangements are obviously dependent on the size and shape of the house that it’s being hosted in. For some Supper Clubs, you pay at the end of the meal what you think it was worth, and for others they will specify a price before you arrive (normally between £20 – £40) enable you to book online, and tell you to bring along your own alcohol.
If you like the sound of the Supper Club concept, then here are a few websites that I’ve come across in my research that look useful. I also strongly suggest that you give Fernandez and Leluu a go first! I can guarantee that you won’t be disappointed.
http://supperclubfangroup.ning.com/
http://www.fernandezandleluu.co.uk/
Our 8 course meal consisted of…
- Invisible tomato and bacon swirls
- Braised oxtail nibbles served w/ green beens
- Filet roulette – assortment of sushi roll served w/ ginger and wasabi
Fillet steak sushi rolls
Yellow pepper, boursin mayo
Avocado and dijon and chives
Salmon
- Home made morcilla and apple tart - served with salad of rocket and green leaves w/ EVO & lemon
- White fish ceviche w/ tuna carpacio
- Medley of beef – hanger steak & fore-rib w/ roast potatoes & ginger salted carrots – sauces: horse radish w/ fore-rib & tarragon
- Slated lemon fudge with popcorn ice-cream
- Bars of Green & Blacks chocolate to take ad enjoy on the journey home J
My rating
5 out of 5 (but I give it 100 out of 5 for the overall new experience & hospitality!)
Thank you Fernandez and Leluu, for opening your home to us. and for introducing me to a whole new world of exciting culinary delights. Hopefully one day I’ll have the confidence to open my open Supper Club and return the favour!
Tempo – Mayfair, London
Tempo, owned by enterprising hotelier Henry Togna is situated on Curzon Street in the heart of Mayfair. A warm light glowed from the large windows in both the downstairs restaurant and sophisticated upstairs bar, befitting of the same welcome that we received from the staff. The food – authentic Italian, is created by Japanese chef, Yoshi Yamada (formerly the chef of St Alban). The presence of some amazingly fresh carpaccio dishes and Zucchine fritte on the menu are the only tell tale signs of Yoshi’s origin, whilst the rest of the menu is traditionally Italian.
Ambiance
We dined on a Thursday night, at 8pm, but arrived half an hour before to have a cocktail in the very relaxing and intimate bar. A Mojito with a good kick and zing, and a Gin (from Clapham!) and Tonic helped to shake the working day from our shoulders and prepared us for our meal. The bar wasn’t overly busy, but all seats were taken and there was a nice home from home feel about it, with some chilled Ibiza style music playing in the background.
Service
The service was attentive and friendly. Our coats and bags were taken when entering the bar, and drinks were made in record time. As we were shown to our table in the restaurant, a bowl of assorted breads were presented to us with a dish of good quality olive oil for dipping.
Food
The food was consistently good, and the fresh quality fish served in the carpaccio set the standard for the quality of produce throughout the meal. Sauces were amazing, and everything was beautifully presented.
To start, we shared a plate of swordfish carpaccio, which came with a drizzle of olive oil, lemon juice and small capers and black olives, which helped to enhance the flavour of the fish. The Swordfish was so fresh and light, but with a meaty texture – we could have had three courses of it! I then had the razor clams and mussels with Berlotti beans in a garlicky light broth and my partner had the braised baby octopus, fregola which was tender and tasty, with a rich garlic tomato sauce. Both were well presented, and of good sized portions.
For main, the waiter recommended that I try the lamb shank with polenta, cavolo nero (and I wasn’t disappointed!) and my partner had the fish stew with prawns, mussels and clams. Again, a beautifully rich and flavoursome dish with good size portions and a side order of the Zucchine fritte was moreish with a light and crispy batter (apparently made with sparkling San Pellegrino!).
By the time the dessert menu arrived we were both full to exploding, but we couldn’t resist sharing the lemon tart, and a glass of ice cold limoncello. The tart was refreshingly sharp with a delicate light pastry, and a topping that had the satisfying crunch of a creme brule. A lovely end to a fantastic meal.
Price
Around £130 (including wine and liqueurs) for two was quite a reasonable price for the standard of food, service and the restaurants location.
Wine
We ordered our food and then asked the waiter which wine he would recommend. He suggested the Gavi de Gavi, which at £36 a bottle wasn’t too bad for Mayfair prices. Wines started at a very reasonable £18 and went up to £120, so a great selection and not all wines were from Italy, there were also French and Spanish wines available.
My rating
5 out of 5
The food, location and service was faultless. From the moment we arrived, we felt relaxed and taken care of. I’d certainly recommend Tempo as a place to go with friends, work colleagues or even for a cocktail and a good book on your own after work! It felt more like we were being welcomed into Henry’s home than it did walking into a new restaurant for the first time, and I think that the more popular it becomes, the harder it will be to get a table – so go while you can!
Arbutus, London
Since its opening in 2006, I’ve wanted to try Arbutus. All I ever hear is praise for the food and the service, so expectations were high. Unfortunately I wasn’t blown away, but it certainly wasn’t a bad experience either.
Ambiance
We dined on a Wednesday night, at 6.45pm so that we could try out the very reasonably sounding priced pre-theatre menu of 3 courses for £18.95. The restaurant was almost full, but somehow seemed to lack atmosphere. We couldn’t quite put our finger on it – perhaps some soft background music may have helped? Although there were more than enough people, there just wasn’t the usual buzzy Soho restaurant chatter.
Service
The service was warm, friendly and without fault. We were asked if it was our first time to the restaurant and welcomed, given wine recommendations and generally made to feel that we were new friends of Arbutus.
Food
The food was full of flavour, but unfortunately portion sizes were extremely small. I almost opted for cheese instead of a sweet dessertuntil I saw a person on the table next to be get handed a plate with literally two very small thinly sliced squares of cheese and offered a slice of bread from the basket!
From the set menu I had the smoked eel terrine to start, which was packed full of flavour and of a substantial portion. Unfortunately the main course wasn’t as substantial, consisting of slow roast fillet beef, a mouthful of spinach, and half of a small parnsip. Dessert was a very small slice of custard tart, which tasted amazing but could definitely have done with being twice the size.
The person I was with went for the vegetarian option. Celeriac soup to start, which he said was very tasty, and for main he had the butternut squash risotto. This came served in a small saute pan, and was smothered in Parmesan. Once again, the portion control wasn’t great! For dessert he too had the custard tart as he’d also seen the size of the cheese portion!
Price
£18.95 for a 3 course pre-theatre menu wasn’t bad, considering the normal average price for a main course is £15-£20.
Wine
Wine can be ordered by the glass, the bottle of the carafe. We had a nice Sauvignon Blanc at £19 for the bottle.
My rating
3 out of 5
The quality and taste of the food was excellent, and seemed reasonable for the fixed menu price. Service was top rate, but unfortunately for me, the whole experience was let down by the small portions and the lack of atmosphere. I walk past Arbutus on he way home from work every evening and because they have the bar in the window, I always imagined that it would be full of the buzzy, Soho atmosphere that I love. Unfortunately that wasn’t the case, and if I’d gone there with the intention of ordering from the main menu and paid around £70 a head, I would have felt slightly disappointed and short changed. My recommendation would be to go for the lunch time deal or the pre-theatre menu to try it out and see what you think… perhaps we were just there on an off night (it was a week in January after all!)
El Pirata Detapas
After recently competing against Fino for ‘Ramsays Best Restaurant’ El Pirata Detapas has been heaving. Located between Notting Hill and Bayswater, this restaurant runs like clockwork and produces the finest of modern Spanish cuisine.
Ambiance
We dined on a Monday night and the restaurant was fully booked and buzzing. We were greeted with a warm welcome at the door, and given an option of which table we would like. The restaurant is tastefully modern and downstairs, there are full hams hanging infront of a moodily lit tiled wall. A really nice comfortable restaurant that also gave a feeling of dining somewhere special.
Service
The service was impeccable. The menu was explained with recommendations made, and our glasses were filled throughout the evening. Every member of staff had a smile and genuinely seemed passionate about the food and their service. When we requested that nuts be removed from certain dishes it was no hastle, and alternative recommendations were made.
Food
The food was original and stunning. It was recommended that we try the Chefs tasting menu in order to gain a feel for the different style that El Pirata Detapas has to offer. We were not disappointed. First came bread with Aioli – an instant garlic hit to make you think of Spain! this was accompanied by Endives and Valdeon cheese foam. We’d never tried anything like this before. It literally melted in your mouth and was both rich and refreshing at the same time – an absolute must try! This was also served with octopus carpaccio, mandarin caviar & paprika. Again, refreshing, light and full of flavour.
Our second course consisted of three more dishes – seared scallops with artichokes heart & iberian bacon (of which the scallops were very fresh and cooked to perfection), black rice and squid with black alioli – full of rich flavours and amazing texture, and pan fried cod, braised savoy cabbage & jus – again, the freshest of fish and amazingly light and well cooked.
The third course followed shortly with pigeon breasts in a rich delicious sauce, pork cheeks, carrot puree and red wine shallots (apparently a favourite of most guests and amazingly tender) and serano croquettes that were creamy, crunchy and packed with flavour.
For dessert one of us had the chocolate trufa, chocolate mousse & saffron toffee which was rich, silky and every chocoholics dream, and the other had crema catalana two textures – which although tasted gorgeous and had a generous portion, wasn’t favoured as much as the original crema catalana.
Price
For the chefs taster menu the full price is just £25 per person. Amazingly cheap considering the amount and quality of food that was presented. The house wine was around £14 and we had a bottle of the Tempranillo – served at a perfect temperature and a great accompaniment to the dishes we were served.
Wine
A expected, the selection of Spanish wines was some of the finest ranging from around £14 a bottle to £54 a bottle.
My rating
5 out of 5
The restaurant, the food and the staff were amazing. How this did not end up in the final of Ramsays show I don’t know! For any type of occasion I would recommend a trip to El Pirata Detapas
Sushi Ga Ga, Lisle Street, London
Situated between China Town and Leicester Square, this trendy looking Sushi restaurant has a great welcoming buzzy atmosphere. A perfect place for a Friday night out with friends and good food. The fish was superbly fresh and the service impeccable.
Ambiance
Not a huge restaurant, but enough tables to create a great atmosphere. All tables and chairs are built in to the floor so when being served the waiters and waitresses have to kneel in traditional Japanese style to serve. A nice touch, but we felt sorry for their poor knees by the end of our rather extensive meal!
Service
The service was brilliant. A warm welcome and tap water offered as soon as we were seated. After we had spent some time with the rather extensive menu, the waiter kindly made some suggestions as we felt a little overwhelmed by the amount of dishes that were available. He also kindly explained what some items were, and when dishes were served we were taken through suggestions on how to eat them and different sauces to try things with.
Food
Fresh and beautifully presented. We started with the Dream team Sushi & sashimi platter, seared tuna and pork dumplings. All were absolutely delicious, and the fish was so light and fresh. For mains we had the blackened cod (amazing!), eel fried rice (also amazing!) and the Ga Ga special sushi with rice and soup – very nice, again really fresh but unfortunately because we’d had a similar starter, the raw fish became a little too much by the time we were half way through. i’d strongly advise opting for either a cold starter with warm main, or vice versa.
For dessert we had ice cream which was wrapped in a rice type jelly/paste and served with different fruit sauces – mango and strawberry. I can’t stress how different, refreshing and absolutely delicious this dessert was – I want to go back just for this!
Price
Prices appeared quite reasonable upon first glance, however if you order lots of different smaller dishes, the prices can add up. Starters, or ‘small eats’ ranged from £3 to £5.50 and mains were between £7.50 for salted grilled mackerel and £17 for blackened cod.
Wine
A nice selection of wine, and the white was served well chilled. We opted for a bottle at around £16.
My rating
4.5 out of 5
A really great evening with excellent service and food. If you’re not familiar with Japanese food then please don’t let the extensive menu put you off, or think that it’s just about raw fish and cold rice. There are so many sophisticated hot dishes to choose from that are all well prepared, full of flavour and beautifully presented.
Goldfish City, Gresham Street, London
This newly opened modern Chinese restaurant is only the second restaurant to receive a 5 out of 5 from What I Ate Last Night. From the moment we entered the restaurant we felt welcomed and looked after. The food was amazingly fresh and cooked to perfection, and if you’re in need of a little entertainment, the downstairs bar and restaurant has a top of the range karaoke system – what more could a girl want?!
Ambiance
A very stylish restaurant but with a welcoming warmth. The décor is light and airey, and the staff extremely well presented. The restaurant wasn’t full when we visited, but there was enough of a buzz that we felt relaxed and uninterupted.
Service
The service was super efficient. As soon as we were seated, the waitress asked if we’d like a drink and returned swiftly with our gin and tonic and the food menu. The smile and enthusiasm that spread across her face when we asked for suggestions on the menu was heart-felt, and throughout the whole evening our glasses were topped up on time, plates swiftly delivered and removed, and between courses we were asked whether we’d like to move on to the next dish, or have a breather – a welcome option once we were in to the third course!
Food
Amazing. We started with the dim-sum platter and sweet corn and crab soup – the soup was really refreshing and a great way to cleanse the palette after each of the Dim Sum pieces. All were freshly made by the chefs on-site, and were filled with deliciously fresh spinach and prawns. Dim Sum. We then moved on to every ones favourite – crispy duck with pancakes. The duck was succulent on the inside and beautifully crisp on the outside. All dishes were beautifully presented, and portion sizes were more than generous. For our main course we shared a lobster, served with green rice. The lobster was still warm and floppy in its shell and so we could tell that it had just been taken from the pot. The sauces were amazing, and with the lobster came their award-winning dish of sticky ribs in an espresso and chocolate sauce. Surprisingly lighter in taste than a usual BBQ sauce that you’d expect, and just as Moorish. For dessert, we opted for the mango sorbet – again freshly made in the restaurant, and with nice chunks of fresh mango, it was a perfect finish to the meal.
Price
Prices were extremely reasonable for the quality of food, location and service. Starters began at around £2.20 for Dim Sum, and mains around £9. Or you could opt for a set menu with different price levels starting at around £15.
Wine
A really nice selection of wines from around the world. We opted for a meaty tasting Cabernet that was served at a perfect temperature and topped up throughout the evening.
My rating
5 out of 5
A really lovely evening with fresh, exciting food, a warm welcome environment, and a feeling of passion and dedication from the staff. I would certainly suggest tha you either take clients here to impress and have business lunches or dinners.
The Bathhouse, Bishopsgate Churchyard, London
Once a Turkish baths, this impressive and hidden venue hosts a great restaurant with entertainment, cocktails and a bar… what more could you ask for?!
Ambiance
Walking down the tiled stairs to the bar and restaurant, there’s a feeling that you’ve discovered a secret place that’s hidden in the heart of London – and you have. Candlelight and soft music welcomed us, with a full and buzzing restaurant. Later in the evening a fire performing ballet dancer dressed in Burlesque attire weaved between the tables to Disney type music, and then a live guitarist performed Balearic chill-out music. A great atmosphere for either an intimate celebratory meal with friends, or a work function to impress clients who like something a little quirky.
Service
Although friendly and informative, there were only two members of staff serving when we visited, and the restaurant was full, so as hard as they tried, they could have done with another pair of hands. We had to wait a while before we got sight of the drinks menu, and unfortunately our mains arrived before our starters, but this was quickly rectified and as the tables began to empty a little, the service became attentive as you’d expect.
Food
Food was seasonal and of good quality. Unfortunately both the starters and mains could have been a little warmer, but we assume that was to do with the waiters being rushed off of their feet. Whilst looking over the menu we were served an amuse bouche of red pepper Gaspachio and pesto – very nice indeed! To start we had the crab cakes and then deep fried Camembert – both were nice and crispy on the outside, and accompanied by fresh side salads. For mains we had the Rib Eye steak with Chimichuri sauce and thin fries, and the Lamb chops with cous cous and roasted onion. Again, both great quality produce with delicious flavours and well presented, but unfortunately not piping hot. Dessert was a mouthwateringly delicious chocolate pot with rosemary flavoured homemade shortbread.
Price
Starters all sat around the £6 mark, and mains ranged from a very reasonable £10 – £20 including sides. Desserts were just £5 each, and portions for all dishes were of a substantial size.
Wine
The wine list was delivered inside an Encyclopedia – a really nice touch, and packed full of great sounding wines. We opted for a Spanish Rioja that was priced at £29, but the house Merlot began at a very reasonable £15.
My rating
4 out of 5.
A really great venue with entertainment provided alongside reasonably priced and high quality produce. I’d certainly recommend that you pay this venue a visit for a quirky evening with a difference. As the restaurant has only recently been opened, I’m sure that over the next few weeks, the owners will get used to receiving a full restaurant and add to their waiting staff to bring this up to a 5 out of 5. I just wish it hadn’t have been a school night so that we could have stayed and partied until the early hours of the morning!
Tandav, Sutton High Street, Surrey
They say never judge a book by its cover, and this is true in the case of Tandav. Nestled between kebab shops and burger bars, this gem of a restaurant serves the best in Indian cuisine with North meets South culinary excellence. If you live in the local area you’re lucky – don’t miss out, make sure you visit. You’ll get to try dishes that you’ve never seen before on an Indian restaurant menu, and you’ll leave with a very full belly!
Ambiance
We visited on a Saturday evening at 7.30pm – unfortunately there weren’t many other diners, but the restaurant has only been open for just over a month and so I’m sure the numbers will pick up. Some nice music was playing in the background, and so although it wasn’t busy, we didn’t feel as though everyone was listening in on our conversations.
Service
We couldn’t have asked for a friendlier waiter. He helped take us through the menu, recommended sides to accompany our dishes, and had a permanent smile. Nothing was too much trouble, and he kept checking back on us to ensure we had everything we needed.
Food
Food was fresh, unique, extremely tasty and well presented. I would suggest however that perhaps some type of chilli system is added to the menu in order to inform diners to the heat levels of the dishes. I had the chilli paneer and although it was absolutely gorgeous, it was a little too spicy for my delicate mouth. Other tried dishes were Poori Masala – a south Indian puffed bread made of wheat flour and served with a lightly spiced potato masala, Masala Dosa – a paper-thin crispy pancake made from rice and lentil, and filled with many different options from potato to prawn, lamb or chicken. We also tried the Kerala chicken curry – succulent pieces of chicken, coated in pepper masala, garlic, mustard seeds, curry leaves and ginger. Sides were Beetroot Thoran and Green Banana. All portion sizes were more than generous and at the end of the meal our friendly waiter asked if we’d like our leftovers packaged up to take home.
Price
Starters ranged from a very reasonable £2.50 for Bhaji’s and Samosas, to £5 for meat kebabs. For the main courses, prices ranged from £5 to £10 with sides of around £3. There didn’t appear to be any desserts, but there was no way we could fit one in after the very generous portions from the starters and mains anyway!
Wine
The house wine was a Malbec, starting at around £11, and prices moved up from there. A nice selection, and fairly reasonable prices. We had a glass of red wine, the Tiger beer and a Passion fruit juice. All served at appropriate temperatures and all very nice.
My rating
4 out of 5.
A pleasant suprise, and a very different experience of Indian cuisine. We loved the food and the service, but unfortunately it just seemed to be situated at the wrong end of town. I sincerely hope that the locals recognise this restaurant for the quality food and service that it has to provide, rather than just for a curry and a beer after a night out in the pub.
Leong’s Legends, Bayswater, London
We first visited Leong’s Legends in China Town after seeing it feature on Gordon Ramsays F Word. We were impressed with the freshness of the food and the amazing dim sum then, and were even more impressed when we visited the newly opened Bayswater venue on Queensway. The difference in venues was apparent when we arrived at Bayswater and didn’t have to knock on the door to enter! A warm decor and welcoming smile greeted us and showed us over to our table. The Taiwanese menu was very similar to that at the China Town restaurant, but with a few additions such as duck tongue and thousand year egg. We opted for a slightly less adventurous but very tasty pork and prawn dim sum, meatball and seared beef with crispy garlic.
Ambiance
We visited on a Sunday lunch time and the although the restaurant wasn’t full, there were enough people to create a buzz and good atmosphere.
Service
Service was prompt, and their ordering style a little different. You are presented with a menu, and a piece of paper and a pen whereby you then tick off the dishes and drinks that you require. In a couple of instances we couldn’t find the dishes that were featured in the menu, however the waitress then wrote them down on our order and swiftly took it away to the kitchen. It was then returned and as the dishes arrived, the waitress ticked off what had been served.
Food
Food was fresh, well prepared and well presented. The pork and prawn dim sum dish arrived with 4 pieces, the meatball was one very large ball filled with mushrooms and meat, and was probably our favourite dish of the meal. The beef was extremely tender and full of flavour, and the sticky rice with shredded pork was delicious. We also ordered the special rice with seafood, and although the seafood was very fresh and there was plenty of it, the rice was a little bland and we could have done with some type of sauces or a soy sauce on the table to help jazz it up a little. For dessert, we shared a mango jelly which was really refreshing, and a pleasant end to a very large meal.
Price
Prices ranged from £3 to £12 with portions huge! great value for money, and don’t get carried away with ordering too many things. Treat the dishes as you would tapas, ordering a couple of dishes to start and then a couple more if you’re still hungry.
Wine
We didn’t order any wine as the fruit juices looked too nice! We had a lychee juice and a fresh orange juice. Both costing around £3.
My rating
3.5 out of 5.
A really nice restaurant for afternoon lunch, and the Bayswater location makes it perfect for a Sunday. We opted for a swim in the serpentine before our meal and then a stroll along the Bayswater road after to view the paintings of local artists. My reason for only giving 3.5 out of 5 is due to the fact that although food was outstanding, and service good, it’s not the kind of restaurant that you could spend an evening in chilling with a bottle of wine and feeling relaxed. That being said, I would strongly recommend that you give it a try, and think that you’ll experience the best dim sum you’ll ever taste!
Salt Marsh, Whitstable, Kent
(27a Oxford Street, Whitstable, Kent – 01227 262 409)
This is a newly opened restaurant in Whitstable and owned by the same people as Windy Stores – described by the Kent on Sunday as being at ‘the wrong end’ of Whitstable – i.e. it’s not by the beach and next to The Oyster or the Fish Harbour, but instead closer to the Sea Salter end of the high street. We drove up and down 3 times before we noticed it, so keep a beady eye out as you walk along! It’s such a lovely new addition to the restaurant scene of Whitstable. Don’t expect elaborate and expensive menus – but do expect to have to book in advance! their ethos is great home cooked food with large portions, and in a comfortable friendly atmosphere. Wooden tables with miss-matched chairs, a small garden area with the chimmery burning, and motown and soul playing on the record player (YES, record player!!). You book a table, turn up and they’ll tell you what they’re cooking that day. You won’t see any prices until you receive your bill – but don’t worry, it’s very reasonable! and the service is great.
Ambiance:
Homely and chilled
Service:
Top notch. Drinks were topped up, food arrived swiftly, and we were greeted with a smile. It felt almost as if the waitress were a friend that we’d known for years who’d invited us over for lunch! I called on the Sunday morning to make a reservation for lunch, and said that we’d like a table for around 3pm. The waitress said they’d be happy to hold us a dinner, as they normally ‘run out’ around 2! when we arrived, she remembered my name from the call, asked where we’d like to sit and swiftly arrived with our drinks. At the end of the meal we hadn’t been charged for two of the glasses of wine, and when we alerted her to the fact she said “well in that case, they’re on the house!” – we left a generous tip to cover them!!
Price:
Obviously a little strange to order without seeing any prices, but refreshingly pleasant when the bill arrived and we only paid £11 each for two drinks and a HUGE Sunday roast! absolutely worth every penny.
Food:
Amazing. We both ordered roast lamb and it arrived on a very large plate each full of just the meat and extra crispy large tasty roast potatoes and parsnips. Then came the bowl with carrots, green beans and brocolli, then came the bowl of red cabbage with apple, then came the bowl of cauliflower cheese! Thank goodness we’d had a very long sea walk before otherwise we’d have never got through it! everything so absolutely delicious and the meat so tender, that we cleaned out plates. Offered dessert, we couldn’t touch another thing though!
Wine
I couldn’t tell you what I had – there was no wine list, but it was nicely chilled, served in a very large tumbler, and there was a choice of red or white, medium or dry. It hit the spot and went down well! A large glass came in at around £2.50
My rating
5 out of 5!! We absolutely LOVED this place and can’t wait to go back again
Public House, Islington London
(54 Islington Park Street, N1)
A homely, comfortable and chilled local restaurant with the most friendliest and knowledgeable staff that I’ve met in a long time. Great cocktails, great food, great service. I’d travel to eat here again and strongly recommend that you try it. Particularly if you’ve had a hard day at work and want somewhere to lift your spirits.
Ambiance:
Chilled and friendly
Service:
5 star! The very friendly and knowledgeable barman was on hand to make whatever we wanted (unless you want cheap mixers or vodka – they don’t do that here!) Once we’d finished our gin mojitos and were shown to our table, the waiter took over, and walked us through the seasonal and tasty looking menu. Once we’d decided upon our dishes, the wine menu arrived, along with a nice large jug of cold tap water and an amuse bouche that got our taste buds going. Our glasses were filled throughout the meal, and we wanted for nothing.
Price:
Starters – around £7.50
Mains – around £12 and £2.50 for sides
Food:
For starters we ordered the Jerusalem artichoke soup with ickle watercress and pumpkin seeds, and the duck terrine with roasted beetroot and beetroot leaf pesto. Both were generous sized portions and tasted absolutely gorgeous. No scrimping on the duck here! For mains we ordered the pork wrapped in pancetta and then brill with venison stew. The pork was succulent and full of flavour. The brill was perfectly cooked, but unfortunately the venison that accompanied it was very dry, and although the flavours on their own were lovely, it did feel as though there were two very different dinners served on one plate. We were so full by the time the dessert menu arrived, but after seeing the smile on other diners faces. we couldn’t say no, and so shared the chocolate mouse. It was very well presented, and tasted rich but light with a slight hint of espresso, mint and strawberries. A definite must if you visit!
Wine:
A nice wine selection, we opted for the Chilean white but they’d unfortunately sold out, so were recommended to try the Rioja instead. A really lovely crisp white, and not too badly priced at £19.50.
My rating
4.5 out of 5
Santa Maria Del Sur, London
(129 Queenstown Rd, SW8)
A buzzy local restaurant with very good quality produce. Great atmosphere, particularly in the respect that it was a Monday night and the restaurant was fully booked. Some slight improvements could be made in terms of service and a helping hand with the menu to explain what’s recommended.
Ambiance:
Lively and rustic
Service:
Attentive, but slightly intimidating upon arrival. Guests aren’t ‘shown’ to their table, they’re ‘pointed’ to it from the till and told “your table’s there”. The waiter didn’t make any attempt to take us through the menu or tell us what was recommended. That being said, as the evening went on the waiter spent a little more time with us and became warmer and more approachable.
Price:
Starters – around £5
Mains – Between £15-£20 for a huge steak and sides are extra.
Food:
For starters we ordered the Ox Tongue, which was very nice, and reasonably portioned. The Empanadas which came as two decent sized pastries that tasted gorgeous, but weren’t very nicely presented – just popped on to a paper napkin that had soaked up the fat from the fryer. For mains we ordered the sirloin and the fillet. Both way too large in terms of portion size for me, but my partner was in his element! Really good quality steaks that are sourced from Argentina and cooked to perfection. Sides were extra, but again well portioned so I’d recommend choosing two to share.
Wine:
A really good wine selection, although the £15 bottle of Malbec was sold out and so we had to opt for the slightly more expensive La Linda Malbec at £22.50 – worth every penny.
My rating
4 out of 5
Mortimer’s Grill, London
(37 Berners Street, on the corner with Mortimer Street, London)
A great restaurant that’s perfect for alfresco dining. Mortimer’s Grill is owned by the same people as Black and Blue in Borough Market, and has the same great food but a very different atmosphere. Black and Blue is more of a restaurant destination, where as because of the huge outdoor space at Mortimer’s Grill, it’s got a nice relaxed, almost Ibiza chill out bar feel to it (minus the beach of course!). A mix of people who are just there for drinks and others enjoying good food.
Ambiance:
Casual, buzzy and relaxing
Service:
Really friendly, attentive and knowledgeable
Price:
Dinner – Approx £18 for a main (with all the trimmings)
Breakfast – They’ve just launched a breakfast/brunch menu with all hot dishes at £7 (bargain!)
Food:
Deeeelicious. I had the ‘Foie Gras With Mango, Smoked Chilli Jelly & Toasted Brioches’ to start. It was close your eyes, melt in the mouth gorgeous. My partner had big juicy scallops with black pudding which were really well cooked and very fresh. For main I had the 200g fillet steak (rare of course) and it was so tender – no need for the scarily large steak knife that was provided! Unfortunately the only disappointment of the whole evening was my partners garlic and herb spit-roast chicken. A little on the dry side and with a slight chicken-tikka tang to it (that said, he still managed to finish it!). For dessert I had the cheese board and immediate food envy when the warm apple tart with cinnamon ice cream arrived.
Wine:
A really nice wine selection. We asked the waitress to recommended a white that would go with our menu and she chose a White Cotes du Rhone at a reasonable £17, which was beautifully chilled and perfect.
My rating
4 out of 5
Aurora, London
(49 Lexington Street, London, W1F 9AP)
This is a really great restaurant based in-between Soho and Carnaby St. Ideal for a special but informal lunch.
Ambiance:
Casual but buzzy and cozy
Service:
Friendly, attentive and genuinely nice, not over the top happy!
Price:
Approx £14 for a main
Although prices are a little on the higher side for a lunch, the portions are absolutely massive and a main is more than enough so the overall meal doesn’t work out too expensive.
Food:
Really well put together, fresh good quality seasonal produce and imaginative dishes. Good selection for veggies too. Massive portions and you HAVE to order some of their olives. They taste as though they’ve been soaked in a sweet balsamic vinegar and oregano – deeeelicious!
Wine:
A nice selection of wines available and all served at the right temperatures and in nice wine glasses!
Black and Blue steak house, Borough market, London
A lovely restaurant with a great atmosphere. Based in the heart of Borough Market and with large cow outside you can’t miss this restaurant.
Ambience:
Nice bar area and booth style tables, intimate but with a good atmosphere
Service:
Friendly and helpful, nothing was too much trouble
Price:
Around £40 a head for a main course, wine and coffees
Although prices seemed a little expensive, their steaks are as good a quality as that which you’d get in Goucho Grill for half of their price and with substantial sides
Food:
Really good quality food. We tried the fillet steak with fois gras, lovely and perfectly cooked. The lamb cutlets were also nice and refreshing side salad to accompany the steaks
Wine:
A good selection of wines – we had the £18 bottle of merlot and it was delicious
My rating
4 out of 5
Charlotte’s Place, Ealing Common
(16 St Matthew’s Road, Ealing, London, W5 3JT Tel: 020 8567 7541)
This is a really lovely small restaurant, situated overlooking the common and great for a sunny day with friends!
Ambiance:
A lovely relaxed Sunday buzz
Service:
Friendly & very attentive
Price:
Great Sunday menu’s – £19 for 3 courses (the Roast Beef is deeelicious!)
Food:
Really well presented and nice sized portions. The three course Sunday lunch is just enough to cure a hangover and leave you feeling suitably satisfied. The desserts are to die for – strawberry panacotta was my favourite but the white chocolate cheese cake looked good too! Good selection for veggies too.
Wine:
A nice selection of wines available
My rating
4 out of 5
Middle of the road :
Roast, Borough Market, London
We wanted to go to Roast because we’d seen the chef on Saturday Kitchen quite a few times and liked the idea of his seasonal menu and the fact that it was in such a nice location (in the centre of Borough Market, and with views of the top of St Pauls).
Ambiance:
A really nice relaxed feel with lots of chatting and beautiful views of the market and St Pauls. We were with a few friends on a 9pm sitting and so had a lovely evening and didn’t feel at all hastled to leave of give up the table. Some waiters were good and attentive although others weren’t – my glass ran out of wine at least twice with me having to get up and get the bottle from the ice bucket that they’d placed away from our table (I’d have preferred it if they’d just left it with us to pour!)
Service:
Attentive (perhaps a little too much!) and not overly warm or friendly. It felt at points as though the staff had a job to do and we were getting in their way.
Price:
A glass of champagne, a beer, 3 bottles of wine, 2 starters, 2 mains and a dessert = £205
Food:
Well presented, seasonal and using great quality produce. Starters however seemed very expensive for what they were (fish cakes were great but you were given one small one and it cost around £17!). For the main course we shared a hog shoulder (lamb) that was packed with flavour and super tender – you have to order 24 hours before you dine for this. We had side orders of roast potatoes in beef dripping (delicious) and mixed greens and creamed corn. Dessert was very disappointing – described as an apple and cider trifle, the apple was raw and cold, and the whole thing a little watery rather rich and sumptuous with a cider kick that you’d have expected.
Wine:
A great selection of wines, although quite pricey. We had the red from Chapel Down, a lovely vineyard that we’ve visited before in Rye.
My rating
3 out of 5
(a nice one off experience, but for the cost I wouldn’t go back again)
Some of the worst:
Gordon Ramsay at Claridges
After endless rave reviews and seeing Gordon Ramsay portraying himself as the perfectionist of the cooking world, we couldn’t wait to visit Claridges. Unfortunately the reality isn’t as great as the hype.
Ambiance:
We were told that men had to wear jackets (Saturday night 8pm sitting) and that the dress code was smart, unfortunately the two tables next to us looked as though they were residents of the hotel and so the same dress code did not apply to them and so they were in jeans and rubgy shirts (so would we have we’d have known!)
Ramsay always harps on about great waiters being quiet and not heard, however we were interrupted every 10 minutes and cuttlery and plates being clattered about all over the place. The atmosphere had a buzz to it but mainly from the guests in the restaurant. the restaurant decor itself felt like it could do with a lick of paint and a bit of a clean – a shame compared to the breath taking hotel lobby and bar that you enter through.
Service:
Attentive (perhaps a little too much!) and not overly warm or friendly. It felt at points as though the staff had a job to do and we were getting in their way.
Price:
2 gin and tonics, 2 taster menus, and one bottle of the cheapest wine on the menu = £320 outrageous!
(KFC on the way home from Claridges – priceless!)
Food:
Obviously well presented and using great quality produce, however extremely small portions and ridiculously overpriced. We went for the taster menu and when we saw ‘scallop’ as the starter, we really didn’t expect to have A scallop! Left £300 lighter and picked up a KFC on the way home!!
Wine:
A great selection of wines but nothing under the £30 price tag, the bottle that we did have I’m sure I’ve bought in Waitrose for a quarter of the price!
My rating
2 out of 5
