Latest reviews for Restaurants in Bankside, London, United Kingdom

Tortilla - Home of burrito by Rhondes

Rhondes — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:01:32 +0000

Review by Rhondes

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7620 0285

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

Friendly, quick service helps make this counter-service restaurantâ¬which describes itself as "home of burrito"â¬a local favorite. Add guacamole to your meal for just 50p and after 3 to 5 mins(yes, that's how long it takes to prepare a burrito there) grab a seat inside our out. In the evening enjoy 'corona bucket' - 5 coronas for just 12 pounds plus bowl of tortilla chips.

Would I buy it again? Yes , easily. Would I recommend it? Definitely. For just 5 pounds you get a decent , tasy burrito. Could I ask for more?

Friendly, quick service helps make this counter-service restaurantâ¬which describes itself as "home of burrito"â¬a local favorite. Add guacamole to your meal for just 50p and after 3 to 5 mins(yes, that's how long it takes to prepare a burrito there) grab a seat inside our out. In the evening enjoy 'corona bucket' - 5 coronas for just 12 pounds plus bowl of tortilla chips.

Would I buy it again? Yes , easily. Would I recommend it? Definitely. For just 5 pounds you get a decent , tasy burrito. Could I ask for more?

Gaucho Tower Bridge - Very disappointing experience. . . by satsu

satsu — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 19:28:00 +0000

Review by satsu

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 7407 5222

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

Tags: expensive, business, lively

Ate here with a large party (~20) for a business do. We arrived at 7, and had been warned in advance that they would be looking for us to finish by 9:15-9:30, which we were all happy with, as we were planning a drink afterwards.

Things started off ok, with two waitresses introducing themselves, telling us that they'd be "looking after us for the evening". They explained the Signature menu, where you order a starter and dessert, and get 3 mini-main courses of fillet, sirloin and rib-eye.

The intro was promptly followed by drinks orders being taken and bread baskets brought out. The cheesy bread-balls were very nice, and I had a good few slices of the granary as well.

As it turned out, this was a very good thing because it took a while for the starters to arrive and they were very small. I had gone for the scallops, not realising that this meant a scallop, sliced up and covered in dressing. I was a bit disappointed, but thought "ah well, this is a steak restaurant, so the mains should be good".

After the starters were cleared, our 2 waitresses pretty much vanished, bar the odd visit to top up wine glasses. After about 40 minutes, warm plates were brought out which got us all quite excited. Unfortunately the first main didn't arrive for another 20 minutes, by which time the plates were stone cold.

The steak was mediocre - we had been promised that the fillet would "melt in our mouth" but mine needed some quite hefty chewing. The side dishes were nice, but at that price I was shocked that I had to share a small bowl of fries with the person next to me.

After rushing through the other 2 main courses, the staff disappeared for about another 30 minutes. They then came back in and told us that those of us who had ordered cheesecake for dessert would have to order something else as it had run out. There was no apology. Now I'm no expert on restaurant logistics, but I thought that the point of taking dessert orders up front was so that they could put them on one side and have them ready to bring in promptly after mains.

Eventually, the desserts were served. They also brought out bowls with packs of sugar, but apparently gave up on serving coffee. By the time we had eaten dessert it was already 11pm.

I didn't see the total bill, but at Â£55 a head, plus a fair amount of wine, I expected good food and good, attentive service. We got neither of those. I would certainly not eat there myself, and would probably not go again even if work was paying the bill.

As for our drink afterwards, well we had a quick fizzy water in the hotel bar and then went straight to bed as it was already 11:30 by the time we got out of the restaurant. . .Ate here with a large party (~20) for a business do. We arrived at 7, and had been warned in advance that they would be looking for us to finish by 9:15-9:30, which we were all happy with, as we were planning a drink afterwards.

Things started off ok, with two waitresses introducing themselves, telling us that they'd be "looking after us for the evening". They explained the Signature menu, where you order a starter and dessert, and get 3 mini-main courses of fillet, sirloin and rib-eye.

The intro was promptly followed by drinks orders being taken and bread baskets brought out. The cheesy bread-balls were very nice, and I had a good few slices of the granary as well.

As it turned out, this was a very good thing because it took a while for the starters to arrive and they were very small. I had gone for the scallops, not realising that this meant a scallop, sliced up and covered in dressing. I was a bit disappointed, but thought "ah well, this is a steak restaurant, so the mains should be good".

After the starters were cleared, our 2 waitresses pretty much vanished, bar the odd visit to top up wine glasses. After about 40 minutes, warm plates were brought out which got us all quite excited. Unfortunately the first main didn't arrive for another 20 minutes, by which time the plates were stone cold.

The steak was mediocre - we had been promised that the fillet would "melt in our mouth" but mine needed some quite hefty chewing. The side dishes were nice, but at that price I was shocked that I had to share a small bowl of fries with the person next to me.

After rushing through the other 2 main courses, the staff disappeared for about another 30 minutes. They then came back in and told us that those of us who had ordered cheesecake for dessert would have to order something else as it had run out. There was no apology. Now I'm no expert on restaurant logistics, but I thought that the point of taking dessert orders up front was so that they could put them on one side and have them ready to bring in promptly after mains.

Eventually, the desserts were served. They also brought out bowls with packs of sugar, but apparently gave up on serving coffee. By the time we had eaten dessert it was already 11pm.

I didn't see the total bill, but at Â£55 a head, plus a fair amount of wine, I expected good food and good, attentive service. We got neither of those. I would certainly not eat there myself, and would probably not go again even if work was paying the bill.

As for our drink afterwards, well we had a quick fizzy water in the hotel bar and then went straight to bed as it was already 11:30 by the time we got out of the restaurant. . .

Champor Champor - Simply divine by ilovelucy

ilovelucy — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 12:59:27 +0000

Review by ilovelucy

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7403 4600

Website: http://www.champor-champor.com

Tags: romantic, thai, good value

Had dinner last night at Champor Champor and it was so good I can't wait to go back again. I had read up about this Malaysian-fusion restaurant beforehand and as the reviews were outstanding, I couldn't wait to try it.

We had our table booked for 6.45pm and although it was quiet at first, it was full and buzzing by the end of the evening, an impressive feat since the restaurant being in its quiet and desolate location surely does not get much passing trade. The restaurant is indeed beautiful - plenty of asian artifacts adorn the mustard coloured walls and complimented by gentle asian music - it certainly felt like a million miles away from London Bridge.

We were not let down by the food. Every course was magnificent, ingredients were fresh and the flavours worked together wonderfully but were distinct in their own right. But the mains dishes were the stars of the evening. I had the Negeri Sembilan spicy king prawns, turmeric and bird eye chilli curry; julienned Asian herbs; lemon rice whilst my friend chose the Pan fried red snapper fillet; Penang prawn laksa bisque; soba noodles. My prawn curry was probably the best curry i've tasted ever followed closely by my friend's curry. The prawns were fresh, massive and juicy and the curry combined with the asian herbs was ever so moreish. My friends noodles were much more spicy - the prawn bisque had such depth of flavour and the snapper was cooked perfectly. I was really disappointed when we finished the mains but thankfully we still had the dessert to go. I had the guava and sichuan pepper parfait with the passion fruit coulis. This dessert was genius - the sichuan pepper slightly offset the sweetness of the guava and with the tartness of the passion fruit.
the flavours constrasted beautifully.

I would definitely reccommend it for a romantic evening to impress the other half. The waiters were helpful yet not intrusive and i liked the fact that water was provided and so were the little amuse bouche and home made banana bread which were complimentary. Three courses for Â£31 does not break the bank and all in all it sums up one of the best meals i've had in a long time. I can't wait to come back to taste the other dishes.

Had dinner last night at Champor Champor and it was so good I can't wait to go back again. I had read up about this Malaysian-fusion restaurant beforehand and as the reviews were outstanding, I couldn't wait to try it.

We had our table booked for 6.45pm and although it was quiet at first, it was full and buzzing by the end of the evening, an impressive feat since the restaurant being in its quiet and desolate location surely does not get much passing trade. The restaurant is indeed beautiful - plenty of asian artifacts adorn the mustard coloured walls and complimented by gentle asian music - it certainly felt like a million miles away from London Bridge.

We were not let down by the food. Every course was magnificent, ingredients were fresh and the flavours worked together wonderfully but were distinct in their own right. But the mains dishes were the stars of the evening. I had the Negeri Sembilan spicy king prawns, turmeric and bird eye chilli curry; julienned Asian herbs; lemon rice whilst my friend chose the Pan fried red snapper fillet; Penang prawn laksa bisque; soba noodles. My prawn curry was probably the best curry i've tasted ever followed closely by my friend's curry. The prawns were fresh, massive and juicy and the curry combined with the asian herbs was ever so moreish. My friends noodles were much more spicy - the prawn bisque had such depth of flavour and the snapper was cooked perfectly. I was really disappointed when we finished the mains but thankfully we still had the dessert to go. I had the guava and sichuan pepper parfait with the passion fruit coulis. This dessert was genius - the sichuan pepper slightly offset the sweetness of the guava and with the tartness of the passion fruit.
the flavours constrasted beautifully.

I would definitely reccommend it for a romantic evening to impress the other half. The waiters were helpful yet not intrusive and i liked the fact that water was provided and so were the little amuse bouche and home made banana bread which were complimentary. Three courses for Â£31 does not break the bank and all in all it sums up one of the best meals i've had in a long time. I can't wait to come back to taste the other dishes.

Zizzi - Great food, nice venue by taryneast

taryneast — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 21:27:25 +0000

Review by taryneast

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7367 6100

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

Tags: italian, romantic, takeaway

I was mightily impressed by this place. Good food, nice ambience, attentive, but not intrusive service. Even good prices. We spent a good long time there chatting, and felt great.
Heartily recommend!I was mightily impressed by this place. Good food, nice ambience, attentive, but not intrusive service. Even good prices. We spent a good long time there chatting, and felt great.
Heartily recommend!

The Real Greak Souvlaki & Bar - Filled the gap but not much else by ilovelucy

ilovelucy — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 10:53:58 +0000

Review by ilovelucy

Rating: 2.00

Phone: 020 7620 0162

Website: http://www.therealgreek.com

Tags: greek, lively, bar

Had lunch at the Real Greek by the river on Bankside yesterday after doing a wine tour at Vinopolis. It is situated at a great location and we managed to get a perfect table outside in the sun.

As I had the tastelondon card (which allows 50% off the food) we went for the most expensive set menu, the Athenian at Â£26. Dishes that stood out for me were the Tiropitakia - filo pastry triangles stuffed with feta cheese - those little parcels were delicious and the grilled squid had great flavour. Service was efficient, friendly and attentive.

My only gripe about The Real Greek meze is that it is certainly overpriced when compared to Dim Sum - which on average costs about Â£2.20 a dish and involves far more skill and effort to make them unlike the dishes in the set menu such as Chips and pitta bread and dip! With the tastlondon card it was certainly good value for two - but you won't catch me paying full price. As a comparison, the day before I had eaten Dim Sum at Dragon Castle where we had 10 plates and tea, service for Â£26 - the same price as the set menu at Real Greek! Dragon Castle wins hands down and you defintiely won't find chips on the menu.Had lunch at the Real Greek by the river on Bankside yesterday after doing a wine tour at Vinopolis. It is situated at a great location and we managed to get a perfect table outside in the sun.

As I had the tastelondon card (which allows 50% off the food) we went for the most expensive set menu, the Athenian at Â£26. Dishes that stood out for me were the Tiropitakia - filo pastry triangles stuffed with feta cheese - those little parcels were delicious and the grilled squid had great flavour. Service was efficient, friendly and attentive.

My only gripe about The Real Greek meze is that it is certainly overpriced when compared to Dim Sum - which on average costs about Â£2.20 a dish and involves far more skill and effort to make them unlike the dishes in the set menu such as Chips and pitta bread and dip! With the tastlondon card it was certainly good value for two - but you won't catch me paying full price. As a comparison, the day before I had eaten Dim Sum at Dragon Castle where we had 10 plates and tea, service for Â£26 - the same price as the set menu at Real Greek! Dragon Castle wins hands down and you defintiely won't find chips on the menu.

Brindisa - Tasty tapas by brenna

brenna — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 17:07:19 +0000

Review by brenna

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7357 8880

Website: http://www.brindisa.com

Tags: spanish, lively, tapas

I like the fact you can't book a table here...I went for lunch today (friday) and we got a table outside, which was lucky.

Great choice of dishes - I LOVE the whole deep fried goats' cheese smothered in orange blossom honey!I like the fact you can't book a table here...I went for lunch today (friday) and we got a table outside, which was lucky.

Great choice of dishes - I LOVE the whole deep fried goats' cheese smothered in orange blossom honey!

Lovage Indian Restaurant & Bar - Deserves to be busier by Bowgreave

Bowgreave — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 10:36:17 +0000

Review by Bowgreave

Rating: 4.00

Tags: indian, good value

This place has recovered from a bad start in our eyes and one thatâ¬"s nothing whatsoever to do with the food and drink.
My wife and I were strolling past as they were fitting it out last year when we got waylaid by the owner and quizzed about our foodie habits. Having recognised our potential as customers (mineâ¬"s vast), he insisted on noting our email address and said he would be inviting us to his opening night party. Hardly the Oscars but we were looking forward to it so you can imagine our disappointment when it didnâ¬"t come off and weâ¬"ve never heard from him to this day. With a slightly less than mature approach to such rejection, we vowed to avoid the place, even though it is just round the corner from our local pub.
Well that resolve finally cracked a few weeks ago when the need for spicy food finally got the better of our so-called principles and we decided to darken their door.
Four visits later is probably testimony both to their food and my love of an Indian, particularly after a visit to the pub.
We havenâ¬"t spent any time in the very chic-looking downstairs bar but we have been well pleased with our meals in the first floor restaurant. A good plate of mixed starters, marinated lamb chops and a curry of some description, all eaten with the really nice mixed breads selection is our usual order, with all the food served together banquet-style.
It isnâ¬"t as expensive as it looks, the bill coming in at around Â£50 with drinks, and they donâ¬"t disappoint. For us, it is the best local Indian, certainly within walking distance, and worth making the effort to visit. Just don't get over-excited if they ask for your email address.
This place has recovered from a bad start in our eyes and one thatâ¬"s nothing whatsoever to do with the food and drink.
My wife and I were strolling past as they were fitting it out last year when we got waylaid by the owner and quizzed about our foodie habits. Having recognised our potential as customers (mineâ¬"s vast), he insisted on noting our email address and said he would be inviting us to his opening night party. Hardly the Oscars but we were looking forward to it so you can imagine our disappointment when it didnâ¬"t come off and weâ¬"ve never heard from him to this day. With a slightly less than mature approach to such rejection, we vowed to avoid the place, even though it is just round the corner from our local pub.
Well that resolve finally cracked a few weeks ago when the need for spicy food finally got the better of our so-called principles and we decided to darken their door.
Four visits later is probably testimony both to their food and my love of an Indian, particularly after a visit to the pub.
We havenâ¬"t spent any time in the very chic-looking downstairs bar but we have been well pleased with our meals in the first floor restaurant. A good plate of mixed starters, marinated lamb chops and a curry of some description, all eaten with the really nice mixed breads selection is our usual order, with all the food served together banquet-style.
It isnâ¬"t as expensive as it looks, the bill coming in at around Â£50 with drinks, and they donâ¬"t disappoint. For us, it is the best local Indian, certainly within walking distance, and worth making the effort to visit. Just don't get over-excited if they ask for your email address.

Masters Super Fish - It's a Chippie....and a decent one by Bowgreave

Bowgreave — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 09:31:50 +0000

Review by Bowgreave

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7928 6924

Tags: seafood, family & home feel, takeaway

Couldn't agree more with the last Northern ex-pat reviewer and there isn't much to add to his comprehensive report.
Both the Masters Special and the cod dinner were well up to scratch and they produced proper mushy peas (sometimes mistaken for guacamole down here). The pickles were good, the onion being particularly sweet, and I believe they're homemade.
Seeing we're down south, we also broke with tradition and ordered starters. Grilled sardines were delicate and the squid (we checked first to see that it was fresh) was so tasty I will have it as a main course next time.
They serve beer and wine too in Chippies down here - good job they hung onto the old autographed 'B' list celeb photos or we might have forgotten where we were. The extras can push the bill up a bit but you can always skip that and take 'em home in your newspaper.
Now if only I could find a decent meat & tatie pie!Couldn't agree more with the last Northern ex-pat reviewer and there isn't much to add to his comprehensive report.
Both the Masters Special and the cod dinner were well up to scratch and they produced proper mushy peas (sometimes mistaken for guacamole down here). The pickles were good, the onion being particularly sweet, and I believe they're homemade.
Seeing we're down south, we also broke with tradition and ordered starters. Grilled sardines were delicate and the squid (we checked first to see that it was fresh) was so tasty I will have it as a main course next time.
They serve beer and wine too in Chippies down here - good job they hung onto the old autographed 'B' list celeb photos or we might have forgotten where we were. The extras can push the bill up a bit but you can always skip that and take 'em home in your newspaper.
Now if only I could find a decent meat & tatie pie!

CONSTANCIA Argentine Grill - Disappointing Newcomer by Bowgreave

Bowgreave — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 12:05:19 +0000

Review by Bowgreave

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7234 0676

Website: www.Constancia.co.uk

Tags: lively

Opening a new restaurant in the immediate vicinity of the excellent competition from those of Bermondsey Street and Butlers Wharf has to be a brave decision, particularly in this climate. Constancia sits neatly between those locations, next to the pelican crossing on Tower Bridge Road.
We tried it after a few drinks a couple of Saturdays ago and fancied a big steak meal (that pre-curry intermediate phase) and my Argentinean experiences elsewhere in Europe led me to put them on a par with the US when it comes to top steaks. Sadly, we were pretty under-whelmed but, faced with such good reviews elsewhere, we had to question whether we had got it wrong and in any case felt it would be unfair to post a critical â¬Üalcohol taintedâ¬" review.
What we perceived as a very average and fairly expensive platter of steaks, sausages and black pudding, topped off with frozen chips, others have found to be carnivore heaven, citing them as the best chips they had tasted. Somebodyâ¬"s got it wrong because the place hasnâ¬"t been open long enough to change to that extent.
Well last night we found ourselves walking past again, heading off to try out the Thai food at The (reopened) Hartleyâ¬¦.and this time we were stone cold sober Your Honour. As we debated whether to give it a second chance, the heavens opened and virtually made the decision for us.
So, what this time? Complimentary warm French bread is served with a kind of flavoured mayonnaise but taken away before the food order arrives at the table. We decided to give the house special, Parrillada Constancia, another go. It is cooked on an attractive grid suspended over burning charcoal in an open kitchen, something that taints your clothes for the evening but heightens the sense of being at a big barbeque. The rib-eye steak was excellent and the sirloin was fine too. The dish of hot bubbling fondue-style Provolone cheese with oregano may be traditional but didnâ¬"t really compliment anything and our bread had long gone. The sausages and black pudding could have come from the local supermarket because there was nothing special or distinctive enough about them to justify shipping charges from Argentina or anywhere else. And yes, the chips are very ordinary frozen ones served either â¬Üau naturalâ¬" or with garlic and parsley mixed in, that come out of a plastic bag in the freezer. You can forgive a pub but not a restaurant costing nearly Â£100 for two with drinks.
The Argentinean wine and beers were good and the staff were really nice but we wonâ¬"t be returning unless there are some pretty major changes. The owners have been expressing some ambitious intentions on the local SE1 Forum, as reflected on their website, but they just havenâ¬"t delivered. You do have to fear for their future because, luckily for us if not them, the nearby competition is so stiff and even the local Gaucho Grill is only a 10 minute walk away.
Opening a new restaurant in the immediate vicinity of the excellent competition from those of Bermondsey Street and Butlers Wharf has to be a brave decision, particularly in this climate. Constancia sits neatly between those locations, next to the pelican crossing on Tower Bridge Road.
We tried it after a few drinks a couple of Saturdays ago and fancied a big steak meal (that pre-curry intermediate phase) and my Argentinean experiences elsewhere in Europe led me to put them on a par with the US when it comes to top steaks. Sadly, we were pretty under-whelmed but, faced with such good reviews elsewhere, we had to question whether we had got it wrong and in any case felt it would be unfair to post a critical â¬Üalcohol taintedâ¬" review.
What we perceived as a very average and fairly expensive platter of steaks, sausages and black pudding, topped off with frozen chips, others have found to be carnivore heaven, citing them as the best chips they had tasted. Somebodyâ¬"s got it wrong because the place hasnâ¬"t been open long enough to change to that extent.
Well last night we found ourselves walking past again, heading off to try out the Thai food at The (reopened) Hartleyâ¬¦.and this time we were stone cold sober Your Honour. As we debated whether to give it a second chance, the heavens opened and virtually made the decision for us.
So, what this time? Complimentary warm French bread is served with a kind of flavoured mayonnaise but taken away before the food order arrives at the table. We decided to give the house special, Parrillada Constancia, another go. It is cooked on an attractive grid suspended over burning charcoal in an open kitchen, something that taints your clothes for the evening but heightens the sense of being at a big barbeque. The rib-eye steak was excellent and the sirloin was fine too. The dish of hot bubbling fondue-style Provolone cheese with oregano may be traditional but didnâ¬"t really compliment anything and our bread had long gone. The sausages and black pudding could have come from the local supermarket because there was nothing special or distinctive enough about them to justify shipping charges from Argentina or anywhere else. And yes, the chips are very ordinary frozen ones served either â¬Üau naturalâ¬" or with garlic and parsley mixed in, that come out of a plastic bag in the freezer. You can forgive a pub but not a restaurant costing nearly Â£100 for two with drinks.
The Argentinean wine and beers were good and the staff were really nice but we wonâ¬"t be returning unless there are some pretty major changes. The owners have been expressing some ambitious intentions on the local SE1 Forum, as reflected on their website, but they just havenâ¬"t delivered. You do have to fear for their future because, luckily for us if not them, the nearby competition is so stiff and even the local Gaucho Grill is only a 10 minute walk away.

Swan at The Globe - Swan at the Globe by moreteavicar

moreteavicar — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 19:46:33 +0000

Review by moreteavicar

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7928 9444

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

Tags: lively, good value, british

"Tis an ill cook that cannot lick his own fingers"
- William Shakespeare - Romeo and Juliet - act 4, scene 2

Wise words from The Bard, which should be a warning to all cooks to taste, taste, taste as they prepare their worldly delights. A tip which I would commend to the chef at The Swan at The Globe.
The Globe Theatre is the defacto home of Shakespeare, a reconstruction of his original London theatre, located on the Southbank. The Swan is fully integrated into the theatre building but does have a separate entrance. The dÃ©cor was very well put together, dark woods and intricate patterns were combined with plain tables and painted wooden chairs in the bar area. Upstairs, the Brasserie, where we were eating, was a simple design of creams and dark browns, with some interesting flower arrangements scattered about. A large dining table at one end provided the possibility of private dining once the heavy curtains were drawn. The layout was comfortable, and we certainly weren't falling across other diners - not least because there weren't many others; rather surprising for such a prime location. The Swan, as our hostess explained, has a busy sitting before the evening performance at the theatre after which the Brasserie closes in order to re-lay tables. J and myself were invited to take a drink at the bar.
The menu is small, providing about 7 dishes per course, and all seem reasonably priced. Large menu selections fill me with dread and suspicion: large menus seldom provide fresh, quality produce.
So to the food:
J opened with potted shrimp, served in an old fashioned clasp fasten jam jar delicately placed on a folded white napkin. Unsure what to do with the napkin, it was swiftly removed. Slight hints of chilli - but ever so slight. My Scallops, with braised lentils and gremolata (the waitress was unsure how to explain what this was - so we only got as far as "it's the sauce that comes with the lentils" - it was clear she didn't know!), were well cooked: tender, juicy and sweet. The lentils were still very much al dente, bit too much for my liking. The common thread for both dishes however was blandness. And here I refer to my opening quotation. Dishes were well constructed and presented and arrived full of promise. But the lack of basic seasoning deflated two otherwise good plates of food. Taste, taste, taste.
J's main course was Elwy Lamb with spring beans and thyme sauce and a side of classic cauliflower cheese. The cauliflower cheese tantalised with a crunchy cheesy top and cauliflower with a bit of a bite. The faintest bit of nutmeg provided a fleeting aftertaste; the sauce a bit thin. The lamb was nicely pink, just as promised.
I had a beautifully baked salmon, still moist, with a topping of crisp skin. The accompanying crushed new potatoes and tomato sauce didn't thrill and let down the fish, but I did eat the lot.
Once again the basics of seasoning was missing, the importance of which I can not understate. And if you're going to use tantalizing seasoning like nutmeg, then let's make sure it really incorporates into the dish, rather than being an afterthought.
Pudding however was another matter and here the chef really excelled. J had a rhubarb pavlova - poached in a ginger syrup and laid on a chewy meringue filled with vanilla infused cream. I had one of the best sticky toffee puddings I've tasted for a long time - moist, sweet, not drowned in sauce. My only criticism is that it wasn't a big enough portion!

Food 3/5 - Season and taste!
Service 3/5 - Attentive, but staff lacking in menu knowledge
Environment 4/5 - Comfortable, "dÃ©cor Elle Decoration would be proud of" says J."Tis an ill cook that cannot lick his own fingers"
- William Shakespeare - Romeo and Juliet - act 4, scene 2

Wise words from The Bard, which should be a warning to all cooks to taste, taste, taste as they prepare their worldly delights. A tip which I would commend to the chef at The Swan at The Globe.
The Globe Theatre is the defacto home of Shakespeare, a reconstruction of his original London theatre, located on the Southbank. The Swan is fully integrated into the theatre building but does have a separate entrance. The dÃ©cor was very well put together, dark woods and intricate patterns were combined with plain tables and painted wooden chairs in the bar area. Upstairs, the Brasserie, where we were eating, was a simple design of creams and dark browns, with some interesting flower arrangements scattered about. A large dining table at one end provided the possibility of private dining once the heavy curtains were drawn. The layout was comfortable, and we certainly weren't falling across other diners - not least because there weren't many others; rather surprising for such a prime location. The Swan, as our hostess explained, has a busy sitting before the evening performance at the theatre after which the Brasserie closes in order to re-lay tables. J and myself were invited to take a drink at the bar.
The menu is small, providing about 7 dishes per course, and all seem reasonably priced. Large menu selections fill me with dread and suspicion: large menus seldom provide fresh, quality produce.
So to the food:
J opened with potted shrimp, served in an old fashioned clasp fasten jam jar delicately placed on a folded white napkin. Unsure what to do with the napkin, it was swiftly removed. Slight hints of chilli - but ever so slight. My Scallops, with braised lentils and gremolata (the waitress was unsure how to explain what this was - so we only got as far as "it's the sauce that comes with the lentils" - it was clear she didn't know!), were well cooked: tender, juicy and sweet. The lentils were still very much al dente, bit too much for my liking. The common thread for both dishes however was blandness. And here I refer to my opening quotation. Dishes were well constructed and presented and arrived full of promise. But the lack of basic seasoning deflated two otherwise good plates of food. Taste, taste, taste.
J's main course was Elwy Lamb with spring beans and thyme sauce and a side of classic cauliflower cheese. The cauliflower cheese tantalised with a crunchy cheesy top and cauliflower with a bit of a bite. The faintest bit of nutmeg provided a fleeting aftertaste; the sauce a bit thin. The lamb was nicely pink, just as promised.
I had a beautifully baked salmon, still moist, with a topping of crisp skin. The accompanying crushed new potatoes and tomato sauce didn't thrill and let down the fish, but I did eat the lot.
Once again the basics of seasoning was missing, the importance of which I can not understate. And if you're going to use tantalizing seasoning like nutmeg, then let's make sure it really incorporates into the dish, rather than being an afterthought.
Pudding however was another matter and here the chef really excelled. J had a rhubarb pavlova - poached in a ginger syrup and laid on a chewy meringue filled with vanilla infused cream. I had one of the best sticky toffee puddings I've tasted for a long time - moist, sweet, not drowned in sauce. My only criticism is that it wasn't a big enough portion!

Food 3/5 - Season and taste!
Service 3/5 - Attentive, but staff lacking in menu knowledge
Environment 4/5 - Comfortable, "dÃ©cor Elle Decoration would be proud of" says J.

Meson Don Felipe - Tasty and Well-Priced Local Gem by foxie

foxie — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 12:04:44 +0000

Review by foxie

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7928 3237

Tags: spanish, lively, crowded

We popped in here on a whim before a show at the Union Theatre last night and were very pleased with the experience. Walking in, the first surprise was that the place was almost completely full at 6pm and almost all the rest were reserved starting at 19:30. Since we had tickets, the time limit didn't bother us, but if you want a more lingering experience, best to book in advance it seems. Tables were typically close together, but with enough room that the waitstaff could get to everyone without invading the space of the other diners too much.

The wine list was the second surprise - well priced and really broad with several regions we had never heard of before. We settled on a Jumillo which went really well with the food with a nicy peppery character and good weight.

One of our party was a pescatarian (like a vegetarian only eats fish), and we found plenty to satisfy both her and the other omnivores. Strict vegetarians might have difficulty though, since options without both fish and/or pork were hard to come by.

For us though, we had plenty to eat and ordered (sorry for not remembering the Spanish names!) the spinach with pine-nuts and raisins, aubergines and peppers in a delightful tomato sauce, beans with ham and mint, mixed mushrooms in garlic and olive oil, a classic tortilla, and one other dish I can't remember. All were well cooked and not too oily (a problem we've noticed in other tapas restaurants) and very well flavoured. The only "disappointment" was the bread, which was just average and obviously mass produced. That's really the only area that could use improvement as everything else we had was very good

Service was relaxed and easy going, yet polite and quick to respond. I was very impressed with the manager/owner working alongside his employees, keeping tabs that things were moving smoothly. A touch you don't see often anymore.

Overall, a great meal for a great price (less than Â£50 for three including wine and service) which will have us back as soon as we are in the area again, only next time we'll book a table in advance.We popped in here on a whim before a show at the Union Theatre last night and were very pleased with the experience. Walking in, the first surprise was that the place was almost completely full at 6pm and almost all the rest were reserved starting at 19:30. Since we had tickets, the time limit didn't bother us, but if you want a more lingering experience, best to book in advance it seems. Tables were typically close together, but with enough room that the waitstaff could get to everyone without invading the space of the other diners too much.

The wine list was the second surprise - well priced and really broad with several regions we had never heard of before. We settled on a Jumillo which went really well with the food with a nicy peppery character and good weight.

One of our party was a pescatarian (like a vegetarian only eats fish), and we found plenty to satisfy both her and the other omnivores. Strict vegetarians might have difficulty though, since options without both fish and/or pork were hard to come by.

For us though, we had plenty to eat and ordered (sorry for not remembering the Spanish names!) the spinach with pine-nuts and raisins, aubergines and peppers in a delightful tomato sauce, beans with ham and mint, mixed mushrooms in garlic and olive oil, a classic tortilla, and one other dish I can't remember. All were well cooked and not too oily (a problem we've noticed in other tapas restaurants) and very well flavoured. The only "disappointment" was the bread, which was just average and obviously mass produced. That's really the only area that could use improvement as everything else we had was very good

Service was relaxed and easy going, yet polite and quick to respond. I was very impressed with the manager/owner working alongside his employees, keeping tabs that things were moving smoothly. A touch you don't see often anymore.

Overall, a great meal for a great price (less than Â£50 for three including wine and service) which will have us back as soon as we are in the area again, only next time we'll book a table in advance.

Joe's Kitchen - Joe's kitchen...NEVER AGAIN by Melissa123

Melissa123 — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:16:43 +0000

Review by Melissa123

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 7939 1490

I wouldn't stand in the doorway to get out of the rain.

I went here yesterday...

I pointed out to the waiter that Â£8 for a salad is quite a bit when you get the plate and half of the ingredients are not ripe (and small slithers at that). His answer?

'We've been having some problems with the avocados in the kitchen'

- my response was that if you donâ¬"t have the ingredients at an edible standard then you shouldn't serve the food.

He rudely walks off muttering - I'll pass on your complaint.

No mention of a discount (even though half of the dish was not edible) - no manager in sight.

I paid Â£8 for a bowl of spinach.

He then took about 10 minutes to bring us our change- at which point we were determined that he was not going to be taking a penny in tips.I wouldn't stand in the doorway to get out of the rain.

I went here yesterday...

I pointed out to the waiter that Â£8 for a salad is quite a bit when you get the plate and half of the ingredients are not ripe (and small slithers at that). His answer?

'We've been having some problems with the avocados in the kitchen'

- my response was that if you donâ¬"t have the ingredients at an edible standard then you shouldn't serve the food.

He rudely walks off muttering - I'll pass on your complaint.

No mention of a discount (even though half of the dish was not edible) - no manager in sight.

I paid Â£8 for a bowl of spinach.

He then took about 10 minutes to bring us our change- at which point we were determined that he was not going to be taking a penny in tips.

Village East - Stylish gem with excellent cooking by Bowgreave

Bowgreave — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 12:06:06 +0000

Review by Bowgreave

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 0207 357 6082

Website: www.villageeast.co.uk

Tags: lively, crowded, international

Not really a gastro-pub, nor a restaurant or just a bar, it's a little different and has become one of our favourites. We've dined there three times recently and called in a couple of other times for a quick drink.
The place itself is stylish and atmospheric, with two attractive bar areas. All the staff know what theyâ¬"re doing and do it with a refreshing enthusiasm.
The food is up to a good restaurant quality standard, as opposed to the many pub/bars with cooks that are springing up charging for food skills their staff don't possess. The food here has impressed us every time, regardless of whether we opted for a simple burger and (hurray for non-frozen) chips to the Sunday roast, lobster, guinea fowl or whatever else weâ¬"ve enjoyed sampling.
The Trusted Places Taste London card gives 2 people on a phone booking a 50% reduction on their food prices except for Fridays and Saturdays, which makes for excellent value. Can only comment on the beer and wine prices, which are normal enough.
And sympathetic as we of course are to the first reviewers grumble about it being a bit out of the way and a trail from London Bridge, itâ¬"s just walking distance for those of us who live around here mate!
Not really a gastro-pub, nor a restaurant or just a bar, it's a little different and has become one of our favourites. We've dined there three times recently and called in a couple of other times for a quick drink.
The place itself is stylish and atmospheric, with two attractive bar areas. All the staff know what theyâ¬"re doing and do it with a refreshing enthusiasm.
The food is up to a good restaurant quality standard, as opposed to the many pub/bars with cooks that are springing up charging for food skills their staff don't possess. The food here has impressed us every time, regardless of whether we opted for a simple burger and (hurray for non-frozen) chips to the Sunday roast, lobster, guinea fowl or whatever else weâ¬"ve enjoyed sampling.
The Trusted Places Taste London card gives 2 people on a phone booking a 50% reduction on their food prices except for Fridays and Saturdays, which makes for excellent value. Can only comment on the beer and wine prices, which are normal enough.
And sympathetic as we of course are to the first reviewers grumble about it being a bit out of the way and a trail from London Bridge, itâ¬"s just walking distance for those of us who live around here mate!

Nando's Chickenland - Nando's rip off eatery concept by juanio

juanio — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:06:16 +0000

Review by juanio

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 7357 8662

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

Tags: crowded, expensive, portuguese

This aplies to the Nando's restaurants as a whole, not particularly the one in this location.

I have been to Nandos once and it'll surely be my last time. I would not eat there even if I could do it for FREE! It is basically a rip off and no value for your money.

1) It is marketed as a portuguese restaurant. For someone who has lived in Lisbon for a few years I feel insulted to be sold that as portuguese food! Ladies an gentlemen, that's AFRICAN food. Period.

2) Nando's is a fast food venue. It is closer to McDonald's than an entry-level restaurant (like pizza express, for instance). However prices are far away from MacDonald's

3) Food is very pricey for what it is. Let's not forget they mainly sell chicken! The cheapest and most affordable food one can buy!

4) There's virtually no service, as you have to go to the counter to order your food.

I can see how this happened. Some greedy guy a few years ago wanted to make lots of money quickly and decided to start a food venue. He wanted to maximise its profit, so obviously he decided to base his menu on the cheapest of the cheapest...chicken (the cheapest meat ingredient). He had a dilema, since "how can you differentiate selling chicken, from say, KFC?". Simple, he branded it as portuguese (a country that most people know little about but sounds "mediterranean" and is usually associated with good food. Nevermind the menu has nothing to do with Portugal. Starting from Peri-Peri (which portuguese write as piri-piri), and the massive use of spices, never seen in portuguese cuisine before...he then decides to serve whole or 1/2 chickens, so you feel as if you're getting a lot for your money, when in fact you're mostly paying for bones.

This Southbank location is not pleasant either. Inside it looks more like a 18th centrury pirate tavern than a place you'd want to have your meal in.

Nando's is, all in all, another UK-based rip off restaurant concept.This aplies to the Nando's restaurants as a whole, not particularly the one in this location.

I have been to Nandos once and it'll surely be my last time. I would not eat there even if I could do it for FREE! It is basically a rip off and no value for your money.

1) It is marketed as a portuguese restaurant. For someone who has lived in Lisbon for a few years I feel insulted to be sold that as portuguese food! Ladies an gentlemen, that's AFRICAN food. Period.

2) Nando's is a fast food venue. It is closer to McDonald's than an entry-level restaurant (like pizza express, for instance). However prices are far away from MacDonald's

3) Food is very pricey for what it is. Let's not forget they mainly sell chicken! The cheapest and most affordable food one can buy!

4) There's virtually no service, as you have to go to the counter to order your food.

I can see how this happened. Some greedy guy a few years ago wanted to make lots of money quickly and decided to start a food venue. He wanted to maximise its profit, so obviously he decided to base his menu on the cheapest of the cheapest...chicken (the cheapest meat ingredient). He had a dilema, since "how can you differentiate selling chicken, from say, KFC?". Simple, he branded it as portuguese (a country that most people know little about but sounds "mediterranean" and is usually associated with good food. Nevermind the menu has nothing to do with Portugal. Starting from Peri-Peri (which portuguese write as piri-piri), and the massive use of spices, never seen in portuguese cuisine before...he then decides to serve whole or 1/2 chickens, so you feel as if you're getting a lot for your money, when in fact you're mostly paying for bones.

This Southbank location is not pleasant either. Inside it looks more like a 18th centrury pirate tavern than a place you'd want to have your meal in.

Nando's is, all in all, another UK-based rip off restaurant concept.

Butlers Wharf Chop House - Dinner 9.5.2009 by davies

davies — Fri, 15 May 2009 08:57:38 +0000

Review by davies

Rating: 2.00

Phone: 020 7403 3403

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

Tags: british, lively, expensive

Meal was a dissappointment. Menu choice great, staff excellent but they managed to get our order wrong on each course even though it was not busy. Portions also on the modest side, calves liver was a small potion with twice as much back bacon. Asparagus was hi-lighted but the portions were small. Great shamMeal was a dissappointment. Menu choice great, staff excellent but they managed to get our order wrong on each course even though it was not busy. Portions also on the modest side, calves liver was a small potion with twice as much back bacon. Asparagus was hi-lighted but the portions were small. Great sham

Fuego - by Emmy

Emmy — Wed, 06 May 2009 09:28:33 +0000

Review by Emmy

Rating: 0.00

Tags: outside catering

Fuego, Pudding Lane.
Lovely place serving authentic spanish tapas. We received a really warm welcome and were amazed at how low the bill was when we left considering the quanity and quality of food we'd had. I'd certainly recommend this place and considering it's right in the heart of the City it's ideally placed.Fuego, Pudding Lane.
Lovely place serving authentic spanish tapas. We received a really warm welcome and were amazed at how low the bill was when we left considering the quanity and quality of food we'd had. I'd certainly recommend this place and considering it's right in the heart of the City it's ideally placed.

Le Pont De La Tour - Another good find on Butlers Wharf by Bowgreave

Bowgreave — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 12:52:00 +0000

Review by Bowgreave

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7403 8403

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

Tags: romantic, french, expensive

As big fans of the booked-up neighbouring D & D (ex-Conran) place, the Butlers Wharf Chop House, we decided to try Le Pont and weâ¬"re very glad we did.
Lovely crisp battered squid strips, fresh Oysters and a roasted goats cheese made us all happy. It is more geared to fish fans but my carnivorous son enjoyed a tasty piece of rump with nice chips whilst we washed down a lovely seafood linguine and a crispy duck confit leg on lentils with a bottle of my new Argentine discovery, Torrontes.
Like its Chop House neighbour, it knocks the spots off similarly priced local gastropubs and the bill came in nicely under the £100 mark with beer and wine included. Very smart decor and our waitress was very nice and pretty efficient; an added bonus was that she was able to advise that each dish we ordered was just like her Hungarian grannie used to make â¬ things must have been better under the commies than they let on.
You tend to get a bit blasÃ© about it when youâ¬"re lived here awhile but the view should get a mention; night and day one of the cityâ¬"s best. I donâ¬"t think any of it will disappoint you.As big fans of the booked-up neighbouring D & D (ex-Conran) place, the Butlers Wharf Chop House, we decided to try Le Pont and weâ¬"re very glad we did.
Lovely crisp battered squid strips, fresh Oysters and a roasted goats cheese made us all happy. It is more geared to fish fans but my carnivorous son enjoyed a tasty piece of rump with nice chips whilst we washed down a lovely seafood linguine and a crispy duck confit leg on lentils with a bottle of my new Argentine discovery, Torrontes.
Like its Chop House neighbour, it knocks the spots off similarly priced local gastropubs and the bill came in nicely under the £100 mark with beer and wine included. Very smart decor and our waitress was very nice and pretty efficient; an added bonus was that she was able to advise that each dish we ordered was just like her Hungarian grannie used to make â¬ things must have been better under the commies than they let on.
You tend to get a bit blasÃ© about it when youâ¬"re lived here awhile but the view should get a mention; night and day one of the cityâ¬"s best. I donâ¬"t think any of it will disappoint you.

OXO Tower Restaurant - NOT FOR ME BUT I'VE TICKED IT OFF THE LIST! by LOVEANDKATE

LOVEANDKATE — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 13:24:34 +0000

Review by LOVEANDKATE

Rating: 2.00

Phone: 020 7803 3888

Website: http://www.harveynichols.com/output/Page128.asp

Tags: expensive, lively, romantic

I have literally been nagging my boyfriend to go to the Oxo Tower for as long as I remember.

So he booked us a table as a surprise the day before Valentines this year.

As we walked down the Southbank I guessed where we were going and got very excited!

However, as soon as I walked in there I found it rather disappointing and realised that i actually prefer places with a little edge!

The Oxo Tower is nothing but elegant and efficient. You are swept across the floor amongst the other diners, the elders all dressed in suits and the young rich in ralph lauren shirts with the top button undone.

I was handed the wine list on arrival which, was the size of an encyclopedia!!

After a mini giggle fit I decided not to go for wine. I already felt like sitting there was costing me too much money!

We did actually think about leaving as it just felt stiff and uncomfortable in there but decided to stick it out for the experience.

we were moved to a table with a better view but had tables either side of us which were very close and it did not feel intimate at all. You could hear others conversations.

I think i prefer dark, candle lit places where you can really be romantic rather than the glamour and exquisiteness of what the Oxo pretentiously offered.

The food we ordered was very rich and enjoyable but not memorable.

The overall experience was extremely disappointing and we really didnt stay long.

Perhaps I am too down to earth for this restaurant? My wallet does not usually stretch to such indulging but when it does I definitely expect more.

Oxo tower was pretty BORING!!!!

AND, I felt gutted when the bill came - now really - that is not a great experience is it??

I have literally been nagging my boyfriend to go to the Oxo Tower for as long as I remember.

So he booked us a table as a surprise the day before Valentines this year.

As we walked down the Southbank I guessed where we were going and got very excited!

However, as soon as I walked in there I found it rather disappointing and realised that i actually prefer places with a little edge!

The Oxo Tower is nothing but elegant and efficient. You are swept across the floor amongst the other diners, the elders all dressed in suits and the young rich in ralph lauren shirts with the top button undone.

I was handed the wine list on arrival which, was the size of an encyclopedia!!

After a mini giggle fit I decided not to go for wine. I already felt like sitting there was costing me too much money!

We did actually think about leaving as it just felt stiff and uncomfortable in there but decided to stick it out for the experience.

we were moved to a table with a better view but had tables either side of us which were very close and it did not feel intimate at all. You could hear others conversations.

I think i prefer dark, candle lit places where you can really be romantic rather than the glamour and exquisiteness of what the Oxo pretentiously offered.

The food we ordered was very rich and enjoyable but not memorable.

The overall experience was extremely disappointing and we really didnt stay long.

Perhaps I am too down to earth for this restaurant? My wallet does not usually stretch to such indulging but when it does I definitely expect more.

Oxo tower was pretty BORING!!!!

AND, I felt gutted when the bill came - now really - that is not a great experience is it??

Roast - So up itself it's a wonder it doesn't waddle. by tuppy14

tuppy14 — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 13:20:44 +0000

Review by tuppy14

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 7940 1300

Website: http://www.roast-restaurant.com

Tags: british, expensive, romantic

First impressions often last. "Do you have a reservation?" we were asked at 10.30am. For breakfast? The serveuse trolled off to find an empty table in the 80% empty dining room. The decor is modern, but beginning to show its cheapness beneath the veneer.
We were initially enticed in with the Full Borough Breakfast, but when I saw one arrive at the table next door, Little Chef sprang to mind. At 13 quid a pop I want to see glistening fried eggs, properly pan fried bread, half a link of black pudding, lightly grilled smoked bacon, juicy sausages, grilled plum tommies, field mushrooms; you get the picture. The only bit of the above that applied was that the sausages looked right and so did the tommies. No toast, that's extra.
We ordered some Earl Grey and a cappucino. They eventually arived, the tea was fine but the coffee was far too small and luke warm. The waitress confirmed our food order twice before sending it to the kitchen, so I was expecting it to be wrong. Not so.
I had ordered haggis, bubble & squeak and a duck egg while She Who Must Be Obeyed plumped for the Full Borough with poached and a side of bubble.
These meals duly arrived. My duck egg was about 3 weeks old, and perched on top of a slice of fried haggis, which in turn found itself on top of a very greasy 'roast' bubble. This was not what I had been expecting. You can get nice little individual haggis that can be steamed, but Roast prefer the slice off a sausage haggis, fried to death, much like in a Glaswegian chippy. Not enough seasoning in any of the meal left it tasteless, made up for only by the glorious Tiptree Tomato ketchup. The bubble was sadly lacking in the spud department, and, as previously mentioned, the fried duck egg was old, leathery, and tasteless. The one saving grace was that the plate was hot so the congealing mass was at least warm.

SWMBO was not so lucky.
Her Full Borough looked better than our neighbour's but only because of the properly poached eggs. The plate however was tepid to best and this was common as the servers were carrying loaded 'hot' plates up bare arms. This resulted in the food becoming cold very fast. Deep-fried slice can be a wonderful thing when covered in lashing of Mr Heinz's baked beans but there are no beans or juicy mushrooms in a Full Borough so this half a slice of terracotta was consigned to the 'ever open bin' i.e. me. The great British banger cries out for accompaniment by proper English mustard, and as none was available on the table I asked for some. After 5 minutes I asked again and it duly arrived. Good mustard it was, if a little runny and on a saucer. Not Taylor's then. The bacon was very tasty and crispy, but the sausages lacked seasoning and enough cooking. Scottish black pudding, again in a slice, an over-barleyed and under-blooded pud in the Jockinese style served overly fried.

An automatic 12.5% service charge was added to the bill, and duly removed.
On departing we visited the lavatories. Not that clean and lacking paper in the gents and according to SWMBO the ladies was disgusting enough for me to not want to go in to more detail.
A huge log jam at the exit/entrance caused by front of house staff not really knowing what to do. By now the place was filling fast so I can only assume that it's normally better than on our visit.
If they were to source their ingredients from downstairs in the market, cook them properly and train the staff a bit better it might be worth the £32 for breakfast for 2, but it's not.
Eastern european staff and old eastern european commie block standards at West End prices.
I've had far better coffee and breakfasts in greasy spoon cafes than this and I'm not at all encouraged to try their dinner menu. If you cant cook a Full English properly then you have no chance at a decent roast.First impressions often last. "Do you have a reservation?" we were asked at 10.30am. For breakfast? The serveuse trolled off to find an empty table in the 80% empty dining room. The decor is modern, but beginning to show its cheapness beneath the veneer.
We were initially enticed in with the Full Borough Breakfast, but when I saw one arrive at the table next door, Little Chef sprang to mind. At 13 quid a pop I want to see glistening fried eggs, properly pan fried bread, half a link of black pudding, lightly grilled smoked bacon, juicy sausages, grilled plum tommies, field mushrooms; you get the picture. The only bit of the above that applied was that the sausages looked right and so did the tommies. No toast, that's extra.
We ordered some Earl Grey and a cappucino. They eventually arived, the tea was fine but the coffee was far too small and luke warm. The waitress confirmed our food order twice before sending it to the kitchen, so I was expecting it to be wrong. Not so.
I had ordered haggis, bubble & squeak and a duck egg while She Who Must Be Obeyed plumped for the Full Borough with poached and a side of bubble.
These meals duly arrived. My duck egg was about 3 weeks old, and perched on top of a slice of fried haggis, which in turn found itself on top of a very greasy 'roast' bubble. This was not what I had been expecting. You can get nice little individual haggis that can be steamed, but Roast prefer the slice off a sausage haggis, fried to death, much like in a Glaswegian chippy. Not enough seasoning in any of the meal left it tasteless, made up for only by the glorious Tiptree Tomato ketchup. The bubble was sadly lacking in the spud department, and, as previously mentioned, the fried duck egg was old, leathery, and tasteless. The one saving grace was that the plate was hot so the congealing mass was at least warm.

SWMBO was not so lucky.
Her Full Borough looked better than our neighbour's but only because of the properly poached eggs. The plate however was tepid to best and this was common as the servers were carrying loaded 'hot' plates up bare arms. This resulted in the food becoming cold very fast. Deep-fried slice can be a wonderful thing when covered in lashing of Mr Heinz's baked beans but there are no beans or juicy mushrooms in a Full Borough so this half a slice of terracotta was consigned to the 'ever open bin' i.e. me. The great British banger cries out for accompaniment by proper English mustard, and as none was available on the table I asked for some. After 5 minutes I asked again and it duly arrived. Good mustard it was, if a little runny and on a saucer. Not Taylor's then. The bacon was very tasty and crispy, but the sausages lacked seasoning and enough cooking. Scottish black pudding, again in a slice, an over-barleyed and under-blooded pud in the Jockinese style served overly fried.

An automatic 12.5% service charge was added to the bill, and duly removed.
On departing we visited the lavatories. Not that clean and lacking paper in the gents and according to SWMBO the ladies was disgusting enough for me to not want to go in to more detail.
A huge log jam at the exit/entrance caused by front of house staff not really knowing what to do. By now the place was filling fast so I can only assume that it's normally better than on our visit.
If they were to source their ingredients from downstairs in the market, cook them properly and train the staff a bit better it might be worth the £32 for breakfast for 2, but it's not.
Eastern european staff and old eastern european commie block standards at West End prices.
I've had far better coffee and breakfasts in greasy spoon cafes than this and I'm not at all encouraged to try their dinner menu. If you cant cook a Full English properly then you have no chance at a decent roast.

Bodean's BBQ - Best Pork in Town by FatFrank

FatFrank — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 19:36:07 +0000

Review by FatFrank

Rating: 5.00

Tags: american, lively, good value

Loved Bodean's since they opened in Soho. This keeps up to a great standard, you can't beat the pulled pork.

Great value for this part of townLoved Bodean's since they opened in Soho. This keeps up to a great standard, you can't beat the pulled pork.

Great value for this part of town