Latest reviews for Food & Drink in London, United Kingdom

Le Pain Quotidien - by walid

walid — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:29:28 +0000

Review by walid

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7486 6154

Website: http://www.painquotidien.com/

Not to bad, but I personally prefer Paul which is close to Le Pain QuotidienNot to bad, but I personally prefer Paul which is close to Le Pain Quotidien

Gerry's Off Licence - by walid

walid — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:28:41 +0000

Review by walid

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7734 4215

Tags: soho, spirits, booze

Friendly off license place run by a Greek I believe. Seems to know a lot about the area.Friendly off license place run by a Greek I believe. Seems to know a lot about the area.

Brew - by Browners

Browners — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 18:03:00 +0000

Review by Browners

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 7801 9300

Tags: cultured, average brew, quick bite

Terrible. Only one type of tea!Terrible. Only one type of tea!

Brick Lane Beigel Bake - Best bagels in world (probably) by french_girl

french_girl — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 21:36:56 +0000

Review by french_girl

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7729 0826

Tags: cheap eat, jewish, lively

I love these and the best way to persuade me to take 2 buses and 2 tubes to visit my friend nearby.

Personally I love them with just cream cheese and tomatoe or just butter or with salad cream and cucumber if I'm in a really sulty food mood.

And open 24 hours great. One piece of advice if your taking them home to fill yourself / freeze ask for the ones that are still hot so they are as fresh as they get. Though to be honest the place is so busy the bagels would only ever be a few hours since making / baking.

Plain straight forward service no have a nice day fakenessI love these and the best way to persuade me to take 2 buses and 2 tubes to visit my friend nearby.

Personally I love them with just cream cheese and tomatoe or just butter or with salad cream and cucumber if I'm in a really sulty food mood.

And open 24 hours great. One piece of advice if your taking them home to fill yourself / freeze ask for the ones that are still hot so they are as fresh as they get. Though to be honest the place is so busy the bagels would only ever be a few hours since making / baking.

Plain straight forward service no have a nice day fakeness

Sweet - Staff Anything But! by Litro_K

Litro_K — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 20:04:06 +0000

Review by Litro_K

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 7713 6777

Website: http://www.sweetdesserts.co.uk/

This place has some of the best cakes I've eaten in a while.

It also has some of the rudest, most disinterested staff I've ever encountered.

We had our order taken inside and it took the waitress foooooreveeeeer to make two cappuccinos and a hot chocolate. Then, when we were two minutes into drinking them outside, an angry looking different waitress came and took our cake plates moments after the last bites had made it into our mouths, clinking loudly as she went. A startled cry of 'we weren't finished!' did nothing to dissaude her. She was determined to hustle our plates and cups away from us. And the cakes were marvellous. Really. I had one of the best pasteis de nata ever. It's a crying shame to have to give it one star, but there you go.This place has some of the best cakes I've eaten in a while.

It also has some of the rudest, most disinterested staff I've ever encountered.

We had our order taken inside and it took the waitress foooooreveeeeer to make two cappuccinos and a hot chocolate. Then, when we were two minutes into drinking them outside, an angry looking different waitress came and took our cake plates moments after the last bites had made it into our mouths, clinking loudly as she went. A startled cry of 'we weren't finished!' did nothing to dissaude her. She was determined to hustle our plates and cups away from us. And the cakes were marvellous. Really. I had one of the best pasteis de nata ever. It's a crying shame to have to give it one star, but there you go.

The Hummingbird Bakery - Small and (too) Sweet by sue

sue — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 15:59:04 +0000

Review by sue

Rating: 2.00

Phone: 020 7229 6446

Website: http://www.hummingbirdbakery.com

Tags: cupcake, american, bakery

Just happened upon the Hummingbird Bakery one afternoon and couldn't resist having a closer look. I had heard about it before - reading horror stories about horrendous queues at the South Kensington branch, and so-so cupcakes.

Was thinking about sampling some cupcakes there with a cuppa, but the shop was not an inviting place to linger, so decided to buy a couple of cupcakes to take home instead.

I was pleasantly surprised that the price per cupcake was cheaper than ones I usually buy, but on closer inspection realised that these Hummingbird cupcakes were smaller. I was disappointed by the range of flavours - basically vanilla or chocolate cake with a few different icing options. Oh well, I had to try some.

Ended up buying a chocolate cupcake with green icing and sprinkles, and a vanilla cupcake with meringue icing. The cake part was ok, but nothing memorable. The icing on both was way too sweet. Not worth the calories.Just happened upon the Hummingbird Bakery one afternoon and couldn't resist having a closer look. I had heard about it before - reading horror stories about horrendous queues at the South Kensington branch, and so-so cupcakes.

Was thinking about sampling some cupcakes there with a cuppa, but the shop was not an inviting place to linger, so decided to buy a couple of cupcakes to take home instead.

I was pleasantly surprised that the price per cupcake was cheaper than ones I usually buy, but on closer inspection realised that these Hummingbird cupcakes were smaller. I was disappointed by the range of flavours - basically vanilla or chocolate cake with a few different icing options. Oh well, I had to try some.

Ended up buying a chocolate cupcake with green icing and sprinkles, and a vanilla cupcake with meringue icing. The cake part was ok, but nothing memorable. The icing on both was way too sweet. Not worth the calories.

The Spice Shop - Shop assistant with "issues" by QueenBee

QueenBee — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 19:52:10 +0000

Review by QueenBee

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 7221 4448

Website: http://www.thespiceshop.co.uk

Very rude and unhelpful shop assitant, who appears to have an issue with people of colour. Stock layout confusing, and no product advice given. Poor quality packaging, oh and did I mention the very rude shop assistant, who greeted me the most evil look as I stepped into the store - best avoid.

Given one star as this website would not allow me to publish without a rating.
Very rude and unhelpful shop assitant, who appears to have an issue with people of colour. Stock layout confusing, and no product advice given. Poor quality packaging, oh and did I mention the very rude shop assistant, who greeted me the most evil look as I stepped into the store - best avoid.

Given one star as this website would not allow me to publish without a rating.

Marine Ices - great local Italian by DeborahD

DeborahD — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 14:38:50 +0000

Review by DeborahD

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7482 9000

Tags: mediterranean, ice cream, bargain

The ice-cream is great, but let's not forget about the restaurant. This is a local, family type place, cheep and cheerful but really good, basic Italian. Their linguine al scoglio is fantastic, and they do pretty good pizzas as well. I wouldn't bother with the starters, but for a great plate of pasta or pizza with some house red wine, it's a winner.
Plus, the dessert menu is gigantic and you can invent your own sundaes. Coconut ice-cream with ginger pieces was a recent one of mine. The ice-cream is great, but let's not forget about the restaurant. This is a local, family type place, cheep and cheerful but really good, basic Italian. Their linguine al scoglio is fantastic, and they do pretty good pizzas as well. I wouldn't bother with the starters, but for a great plate of pasta or pizza with some house red wine, it's a winner.
Plus, the dessert menu is gigantic and you can invent your own sundaes. Coconut ice-cream with ginger pieces was a recent one of mine.

House of Wings - Shut down by thamshere

thamshere — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 21:01:05 +0000

Review by thamshere

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 7281 9895

Tags: family run, cheap eat, tasty

Went past here last week - the House of Wings has, unfortunately, closed its doors for good.Went past here last week - the House of Wings has, unfortunately, closed its doors for good.

Ginger Pig - Simply outstanding by Corky

Corky — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:55:58 +0000

Review by Corky

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7935 7788

Website: http://www.thegingerpig.co.uk/our-shops/marylebone-butchers-charcuterie/

Tags: meat, rare finds, delicatessen

This is a fabulous place, top, quality meat with helpful, knowledgeable staff.

I'm lucky to have the GPig near the office and wouldn't go anywhere else for my meat.

This is a fabulous place, top, quality meat with helpful, knowledgeable staff.

I'm lucky to have the GPig near the office and wouldn't go anywhere else for my meat.

Italian Food Hall - REAL ITALIAN PIZZA by yumyum

yumyum — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 15:25:31 +0000

Review by yumyum

Rating: 4.00

Tags: quick bite, good brew, crowded

TODAY I HAD THE BEST PIZZA IVE EVER EATEN IN THE UK !!
IT REMINDED ME OF GOOD TIMES IN ITALY!!! AND THE DRINK WASNT BAD EITHER.... TODAY I HAD THE BEST PIZZA IVE EVER EATEN IN THE UK !!
IT REMINDED ME OF GOOD TIMES IN ITALY!!! AND THE DRINK WASNT BAD EITHER....

Snog Pure Frozen Yogurt - Snog Snog by anianschmitt

anianschmitt — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 17:51:20 +0000

Review by anianschmitt

Rating: 4.00

Website: http://www.ifancyasnog.com/

Tags: cool, healthy, food, yogurt snog fun fresh bright, healthy food yogurt snog fun fresh bright

Excellent Frozen Yogurt! I am addicted...Excellent Frozen Yogurt! I am addicted...

Gaby's Deli - Best falafel I've had in ages by coldclimate

coldclimate — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 23:47:11 +0000

Review by coldclimate

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7836 4233

Tags: mediterranean, turkish, delicatessen

I stopped in for falafel this evening, and it was excellent. For the centre of London it is cheap as chips. OK, so a can of coke is about 1.50, but a pitta stuff to bursting with falafel, tahini, crunchy salad and a bowl of good chilli sause was about a fiver.

The falafel themsleves were wonderfully crunky on the outside, and nicely chunky on the inside, not the lump of deep fried hummus or Mc Chickpea Nuggets that you sometimes get. The take out baklava to finish was also excellent.I stopped in for falafel this evening, and it was excellent. For the centre of London it is cheap as chips. OK, so a can of coke is about 1.50, but a pitta stuff to bursting with falafel, tahini, crunchy salad and a bowl of good chilli sause was about a fiver.

The falafel themsleves were wonderfully crunky on the outside, and nicely chunky on the inside, not the lump of deep fried hummus or Mc Chickpea Nuggets that you sometimes get. The take out baklava to finish was also excellent.

Food Inc - Fancy Food Hall in Whiteleys by sue

sue — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 16:41:41 +0000

Review by sue

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7792 6020

Website: http://www.food-inc.com/

Tags: gourmet, seafood, grocers

Food Inc is basically a fancy looking food store which has been broken into departments and spread along the centre of the ground floor of Whiteleys in Bayswater. I had a browse through one evening before heading upstairs to Le CafÃ© Anglais for dinner.

If you lived in the area it would certainly be a classy place to pick up some food for dinner on your way home, or for that weekend dinner party.

There was a good range of dry goods and fresh produce on offer - everything from gourmet chocolates, and wines from around the world, to freshly made pasta, fruit & veg, cheeses, and delicious looking aged steaks. They even had a range of cupcakes though they didn't tempt me on this occasion.Food Inc is basically a fancy looking food store which has been broken into departments and spread along the centre of the ground floor of Whiteleys in Bayswater. I had a browse through one evening before heading upstairs to Le CafÃ© Anglais for dinner.

If you lived in the area it would certainly be a classy place to pick up some food for dinner on your way home, or for that weekend dinner party.

There was a good range of dry goods and fresh produce on offer - everything from gourmet chocolates, and wines from around the world, to freshly made pasta, fruit & veg, cheeses, and delicious looking aged steaks. They even had a range of cupcakes though they didn't tempt me on this occasion.

North Ealing Supermarket - Be Aware by Sanderson

Sanderson — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 13:56:52 +0000

Review by Sanderson

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 8997 5352

I tend to shop here on a daily basis for esentials but will not give my trade to this establishment any longer. I have witnessed the out of date bread ties being removed and plain yellow tape put back on the out of date bread and put back on the shelf. Watch out if you buy fresh veg, it is weighed and a figure is put into the till which you will never know the price charged, a request for a recipt is treated as "DON'T YOU TRUST US" attitude. Watch your change (especially O.A.P.'s). Fresh milk tends to cruddle by the next day and when returned it I was told I have to check that it's fresh before I buy it... (although in date).
The level of politeness and service is a disgrace to human civil pleasentries. I tend to shop here on a daily basis for esentials but will not give my trade to this establishment any longer. I have witnessed the out of date bread ties being removed and plain yellow tape put back on the out of date bread and put back on the shelf. Watch out if you buy fresh veg, it is weighed and a figure is put into the till which you will never know the price charged, a request for a recipt is treated as "DON'T YOU TRUST US" attitude. Watch your change (especially O.A.P.'s). Fresh milk tends to cruddle by the next day and when returned it I was told I have to check that it's fresh before I buy it... (although in date).
The level of politeness and service is a disgrace to human civil pleasentries.

Cook - Nicer than you might think... by cbiggart

cbiggart — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 11:21:46 +0000

Review by cbiggart

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 8675 5369

Website: http://www.cookfood.net

Tags: rare finds

I've never been one for frozen meals and always think if you have time to heat something up you can cook it from scratch (not to mention the dodgy ingredients such as battery chicken etc). However, sometimes you just can't be bothered and for nights like this...there's Cook. The meals I've had to date are great - like a home cooked meal that you'd never cook yourself (and all their meat is ethically raised in the UK). It's not cheap, coming in at around the same price as a decent take away, and you have to do side dishes, but the choice is amazing and it's good to have stuff in the freezer for those nights you're feeling lazy. The meals also come in single, 2 or 4 person portions so could easily do singletons or families. I've never been one for frozen meals and always think if you have time to heat something up you can cook it from scratch (not to mention the dodgy ingredients such as battery chicken etc). However, sometimes you just can't be bothered and for nights like this...there's Cook. The meals I've had to date are great - like a home cooked meal that you'd never cook yourself (and all their meat is ethically raised in the UK). It's not cheap, coming in at around the same price as a decent take away, and you have to do side dishes, but the choice is amazing and it's good to have stuff in the freezer for those nights you're feeling lazy. The meals also come in single, 2 or 4 person portions so could easily do singletons or families.

Thames Express Supermarket - They will rip you off by kevnarr

kevnarr — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 13:43:52 +0000

Review by kevnarr

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 7403 0211

This place sold me some Smirrnoff Vodka. It was actually full of dirty tap water. I went back to the shop and got a refund straight away. It was obvious that they were scamming people whom they thought were drunk or perhaps wouldn't come back.

Do NOT shop here.This place sold me some Smirrnoff Vodka. It was actually full of dirty tap water. I went back to the shop and got a refund straight away. It was obvious that they were scamming people whom they thought were drunk or perhaps wouldn't come back.

Do NOT shop here.

Poilane - sliced bread by mazphd

mazphd — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 11:42:47 +0000

Review by mazphd

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7808 4910

Tags: rare finds, helpful staff, healthy food

oh this place is so sweet, but it's the aroma of perfectly baked loaves that makes my stomach rumble most.

Everything is baked freshly, daily and with panache to give variety of some really extraudinary and satisfying breads: their milk bread (slow-made, so i'm informed) is ideal for picnic sandwiches or just under toasting and spreading with lashings of quality thick marmalade. YUM!

Ingredients are freshely sourced, and flour stone-ground: And this in the world of bread making is supremely important! As a resulf loaves take on a smooth texture and lightness that tempts any taste buds. I remember the light golden crust of the rye and raison loaf I bought, but do not remember finishing it quite so quickly!

My experience is always happy one where fine flour means loaves are for tearing and eating fresh; and if you're feeling friendly sharing with others! And what could be better than sliced bread!oh this place is so sweet, but it's the aroma of perfectly baked loaves that makes my stomach rumble most.

Everything is baked freshly, daily and with panache to give variety of some really extraudinary and satisfying breads: their milk bread (slow-made, so i'm informed) is ideal for picnic sandwiches or just under toasting and spreading with lashings of quality thick marmalade. YUM!

Ingredients are freshely sourced, and flour stone-ground: And this in the world of bread making is supremely important! As a resulf loaves take on a smooth texture and lightness that tempts any taste buds. I remember the light golden crust of the rye and raison loaf I bought, but do not remember finishing it quite so quickly!

My experience is always happy one where fine flour means loaves are for tearing and eating fresh; and if you're feeling friendly sharing with others! And what could be better than sliced bread!

Londinium Espresso - London's own bespoke coffee roaster by rgunson

rgunson — Tue, 27 May 2008 22:25:09 +0000

Review by rgunson

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7193 3901

Website: www.LondiniumEspresso.com

Tags: coffee, beans, espresso

I am the founder of Londinium Espresso. What makes us unique in a crowded market place? Well, we are a bespoke coffee roaster which means we pride ourselves on giving our customers exactly what they want & when they want it. We are strong believers in single origin coffees, as blending is usually (but not always) the path to lowering the roasters costs, as opposed to some mythical concoction that results in the ultimate cup of coffee. As a result of our commitment to showing you that coffee does not have to be burnt or bitter, we are urging our customers to try drinking our coffee black. Milk, cream & flavourings are all additives that have become accepted practice as the quality of coffee has consistently declined since the end of WWII, ultimately spiraling down to over extracted, all robusta, instant coffee. It is only in recent years that micro roasters, like ourselves, have emerged to reintroduce you to what real coffee is. Some of our customers are even reformed tea drinkers!I am the founder of Londinium Espresso. What makes us unique in a crowded market place? Well, we are a bespoke coffee roaster which means we pride ourselves on giving our customers exactly what they want & when they want it. We are strong believers in single origin coffees, as blending is usually (but not always) the path to lowering the roasters costs, as opposed to some mythical concoction that results in the ultimate cup of coffee. As a result of our commitment to showing you that coffee does not have to be burnt or bitter, we are urging our customers to try drinking our coffee black. Milk, cream & flavourings are all additives that have become accepted practice as the quality of coffee has consistently declined since the end of WWII, ultimately spiraling down to over extracted, all robusta, instant coffee. It is only in recent years that micro roasters, like ourselves, have emerged to reintroduce you to what real coffee is. Some of our customers are even reformed tea drinkers!

Cocomaya - Fashionable chocolate by bombaybeauty

bombaybeauty — Sun, 25 May 2008 08:44:56 +0000

Review by bombaybeauty

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7706 2770

Website: http://www.cocomaya.co.uk/

Tags: rare finds

This is a chocolate shop for the fashion set, in two senses. First each piece is beautifully constructed with a range of exotic and subtle ingredients -- they look great! Second, each piece is really small, so if you're someone who would rather have one small taste of heaven rather than a big dose, this is perfect for you.

It's not cheap -- each piece is 1.50 or so. But the people at the shop are very friendly and will often let you try more than a few while you are there.This is a chocolate shop for the fashion set, in two senses. First each piece is beautifully constructed with a range of exotic and subtle ingredients -- they look great! Second, each piece is really small, so if you're someone who would rather have one small taste of heaven rather than a big dose, this is perfect for you.

It's not cheap -- each piece is 1.50 or so. But the people at the shop are very friendly and will often let you try more than a few while you are there.