Latest reviews in Alton, United Kingdom

China Garden - by SarahGiles

SarahGiles — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:18:17 +0000

Review by SarahGiles

Rating: 3.00Very popular Chinese take-away (no eat-in facilities) - at the weekends people are practically queueing out of the door. It's not the best Chinese food I've had in terms of flavour or creativity, and it can be quite oily, but we have been back several times, so they're clearly getting something right.

Favourite meals here are the sweet and sour pork balls, the chicken and cashew nuts, and the spicy beef. The spring rolls are unlike any I've encountered elsewhere - they seem to batter them! They're not to my taste but my husband likes them.

If you're choosing between the village's food options then The Saffron has the edge on China Garden (tastier, friendlier), but when only a Chinese will do, then this ought to hit the spot.Very popular Chinese take-away (no eat-in facilities) - at the weekends people are practically queueing out of the door. It's not the best Chinese food I've had in terms of flavour or creativity, and it can be quite oily, but we have been back several times, so they're clearly getting something right.

Favourite meals here are the sweet and sour pork balls, the chicken and cashew nuts, and the spicy beef. The spring rolls are unlike any I've encountered elsewhere - they seem to batter them! They're not to my taste but my husband likes them.

If you're choosing between the village's food options then The Saffron has the edge on China Garden (tastier, friendlier), but when only a Chinese will do, then this ought to hit the spot.

Saffron The - by SarahGiles

SarahGiles — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:02:26 +0000

Review by SarahGiles

Rating: 4.00A small, very friendly restaurant, where the service is chatty and the food is delicious. My most recent encounter with them was a takeaway, which was also excellent - a nicely fiery chicken madras. The peshwari naan is also particularly scrumptious.

Top times to go are Wednesday nights and all day on Sunday, when there's an all you can eat buffet arrangement. Usually it's busy, but I've previously been with my husband early on a Sunday lunchtime and had the buffet to ourselves - very dangerous! It meant we could make requests and they appeared - and we ate LOTS.A small, very friendly restaurant, where the service is chatty and the food is delicious. My most recent encounter with them was a takeaway, which was also excellent - a nicely fiery chicken madras. The peshwari naan is also particularly scrumptious.

Top times to go are Wednesday nights and all day on Sunday, when there's an all you can eat buffet arrangement. Usually it's busy, but I've previously been with my husband early on a Sunday lunchtime and had the buffet to ourselves - very dangerous! It meant we could make requests and they appeared - and we ate LOTS.

Alton Towers - Towers of Fun by evilmonkey13

evilmonkey13 — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 14:42:03 +0000

Review by evilmonkey13

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 08705 20 40 60

Originating from not far off the Towers of Alton, this is one of my preferred days out in the country. It is always fun, even when it is raining. Obviously it is better when it is sunny, but the last time I went it was slightly damp out, and in turn this meant the queues were shorter, the maximum queue being for Air - 45 minutes.

The range of rides is great, going with friends who do not like rides that are more adventurous than the tea cups or pirate ship meant that we experienced a lot of them. But they also did not mind waiting while we went on the thrill rides.

Air is by far the best ride therei n my opinion, and I am not fond of Oblivion purely as it is usually long queue for the fastest most pointless ride there is.

All the same, I would highly recommend this as a day out for friends and family alike.Originating from not far off the Towers of Alton, this is one of my preferred days out in the country. It is always fun, even when it is raining. Obviously it is better when it is sunny, but the last time I went it was slightly damp out, and in turn this meant the queues were shorter, the maximum queue being for Air - 45 minutes.

The range of rides is great, going with friends who do not like rides that are more adventurous than the tea cups or pirate ship meant that we experienced a lot of them. But they also did not mind waiting while we went on the thrill rides.

Air is by far the best ride therei n my opinion, and I am not fond of Oblivion purely as it is usually long queue for the fastest most pointless ride there is.

All the same, I would highly recommend this as a day out for friends and family alike.

Cafe Rafters - by SarahGiles

SarahGiles — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 10:59:02 +0000

Review by SarahGiles

Rating: 4.00With an out-of-the way location behind Sainsbury's, this cafe has a delightfully relaxed air about it. Home to comfy coffee-house style sofas and an array of fairtrade coffee, tea and hot chocolate, it's a great meeting place for a post-shopping recharging of batteries; it's also worth knowing that there's free parking here too.

As well as hot drinks, cakes and pasties, the panninis and toasted sandwiches are excellent.

Yes, there are several other coffee shops in town, but this is my favourite - it's filled with light, the coffee is ethically produced, and the atmosphere is unhurried. There's also a great bookshop on the premises.

Certainly worth a visit.With an out-of-the way location behind Sainsbury's, this cafe has a delightfully relaxed air about it. Home to comfy coffee-house style sofas and an array of fairtrade coffee, tea and hot chocolate, it's a great meeting place for a post-shopping recharging of batteries; it's also worth knowing that there's free parking here too.

As well as hot drinks, cakes and pasties, the panninis and toasted sandwiches are excellent.

Yes, there are several other coffee shops in town, but this is my favourite - it's filled with light, the coffee is ethically produced, and the atmosphere is unhurried. There's also a great bookshop on the premises.

Certainly worth a visit.

The Swan - by SarahGiles

SarahGiles — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 10:52:25 +0000

Review by SarahGiles

Rating: 2.00

Website: www.theswanalton.com

I've eaten here a couple of times and while the food is not bad, nothing about it is outstanding or memorable. It was perhaps telling that although both occasions were at the weekend, the restaurant was extremely quiet, with only two or three tables in use.

The service is what really lets down the restaurant, with excruciatingly long waits to be served and between each course. When it came to waiting for the bill, we gave up and approached the bar, having not seen a member of staff anywhere in the vicinity of our table for about half an hour.

I wouldn't recommend this restaurant unless you have several hours to spare.I've eaten here a couple of times and while the food is not bad, nothing about it is outstanding or memorable. It was perhaps telling that although both occasions were at the weekend, the restaurant was extremely quiet, with only two or three tables in use.

The service is what really lets down the restaurant, with excruciatingly long waits to be served and between each course. When it came to waiting for the bill, we gave up and approached the bar, having not seen a member of staff anywhere in the vicinity of our table for about half an hour.

I wouldn't recommend this restaurant unless you have several hours to spare.

River Kwai - by SarahGiles

SarahGiles — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 10:45:47 +0000

Review by SarahGiles

Rating: 4.00

Tags: lively, good value, thai

The River Kwai is small and friendly, and the food is reasonably priced and tasty. Having recently returned from working in Thailand, my husband and I were missing the food, so went here to reminisce. Speaking a few words of Thai to the staff may have worked in our favour, as the service was excellent and we chatted about Chiang Mai with one waitress.

I had Tom Yam followed by Pad Thai, and though neither were as fiery as the versions we were used to from our travels in Thailand, they were still delicious. Those used to Thai cuisine might wish to ask for their dishes to be more spicy, however.

Definitely one to re-visit!The River Kwai is small and friendly, and the food is reasonably priced and tasty. Having recently returned from working in Thailand, my husband and I were missing the food, so went here to reminisce. Speaking a few words of Thai to the staff may have worked in our favour, as the service was excellent and we chatted about Chiang Mai with one waitress.

I had Tom Yam followed by Pad Thai, and though neither were as fiery as the versions we were used to from our travels in Thailand, they were still delicious. Those used to Thai cuisine might wish to ask for their dishes to be more spicy, however.

Definitely one to re-visit!

The Royal Kebab House - by patey

patey — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 11:40:47 +0000

Review by patey

Rating: 4.00

Tags: turkish, take away, kebab

Run by the same people who make the best kebab in all UK.Run by the same people who make the best kebab in all UK.

Alton Kebab House - by patey

patey — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 11:38:41 +0000

Review by patey

Rating: 5.00

Tags: turkish, take away, kebab

The best kebab in all UKThe best kebab in all UK