Latest reviews for Restaurants in Barbican, London, United Kingdom

Rhodes Twenty Four - Not worth the money by Imicola

Imicola — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 11:39:12 +0000

Review by Imicola

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 7877 7703

I ended up going here because they had messed up my booking in Vertigo up the stairs. I was with my parents for a birthday celebration and I have to say we were all very disappointed by the meal.

The service was quite professional, but they did make us feel a little out of place. however, all the service was VERY slow. This was a weekday lunch time, and the restaurant was quite busy, but it took us about 3 hours to have a 3 course meal which in my opinion is way too slow, as we had an appointment later in the day.

As for the food - I thought it was a real let down. The partidge sausages were a really horrible texture...far too smooth and almost mousse like, with not much flavour. Also the rhubarb cheesecake had a sponge base which I just thought was horrible, and again lacked flavour. The overall meal was just really disappointing, particularly when you consider how much it cost!

Also, the view is great, but we were seated as far from the window as you could get, so we didn't see much. And the restaurant seemed to be full of business people having lunch meetings which wasn't the most relaxing of situations for us. I definately wont be going here again!I ended up going here because they had messed up my booking in Vertigo up the stairs. I was with my parents for a birthday celebration and I have to say we were all very disappointed by the meal.

The service was quite professional, but they did make us feel a little out of place. however, all the service was VERY slow. This was a weekday lunch time, and the restaurant was quite busy, but it took us about 3 hours to have a 3 course meal which in my opinion is way too slow, as we had an appointment later in the day.

As for the food - I thought it was a real let down. The partidge sausages were a really horrible texture...far too smooth and almost mousse like, with not much flavour. Also the rhubarb cheesecake had a sponge base which I just thought was horrible, and again lacked flavour. The overall meal was just really disappointing, particularly when you consider how much it cost!

Also, the view is great, but we were seated as far from the window as you could get, so we didn't see much. And the restaurant seemed to be full of business people having lunch meetings which wasn't the most relaxing of situations for us. I definately wont be going here again!

Blossom - Not overwhelming, but not bad by curlyfries

curlyfries — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 23:42:01 +0000

Review by curlyfries

Rating: 3.00

Tags: japanese, lively, crowded

We had to queue for a few minutes at Blossom last week as it was pretty packed (but then it was Friday lunch in the city). The staff were very helpful at repeatedly telling us we had only five minutes, two minutes, one minute, three minutes to wait, and were very efficient at taking our order, too, although how I was meant to have chosen when I'd only had the menu for fifteen seconds I'm not entirely sure.

Still, when we finally got to sit down at our shared bench, and seeing as we were having a "meeting" on my mate's expenses, we went a bit to town on the ordering. It's Korean-Japanese, this place, but I was all out for Japanese and sushi last week. So for starters we went for deep fried chilli squid, which presented itself as tiny rings of very tasty breadcrumb-coated business; the allegedly-pork gyoza were crunchy, cold and entirely tasteless; and the duck salad was worth travelling to Moorgate and back on its own: divine rosy pink slices of melt-in-the-mouth breast draped lovingly over a leafy glass noodle salad. The main-course sushi was boring, however: we both ordered the Makimono selection and were completely uninspired by bland vegetable rolls, salmon/avocado rolls and some other things that were rather heavily sprinkled with bright orange roe, although the tuna maki wasn't half bad.

On the upside, Blossom was not revoltingly expensive (and having not paid for it, at least I felt I hadn't wasted my money on the sushi): all that food and a couple of freshly-squeezed fruit drinks came to 38 quid. It's not as if I'm frequently in the area but if I do ever find myself passing through I'd be tempted to nip in for a couple of duck salads, and I'm curious about the great steaming Korean stew-type things that were going on at the next table. Still, I suppose if you work that way it's an easy option for a fast and relatively cheap tasty meal in the lively company of lunching suits.We had to queue for a few minutes at Blossom last week as it was pretty packed (but then it was Friday lunch in the city). The staff were very helpful at repeatedly telling us we had only five minutes, two minutes, one minute, three minutes to wait, and were very efficient at taking our order, too, although how I was meant to have chosen when I'd only had the menu for fifteen seconds I'm not entirely sure.

Still, when we finally got to sit down at our shared bench, and seeing as we were having a "meeting" on my mate's expenses, we went a bit to town on the ordering. It's Korean-Japanese, this place, but I was all out for Japanese and sushi last week. So for starters we went for deep fried chilli squid, which presented itself as tiny rings of very tasty breadcrumb-coated business; the allegedly-pork gyoza were crunchy, cold and entirely tasteless; and the duck salad was worth travelling to Moorgate and back on its own: divine rosy pink slices of melt-in-the-mouth breast draped lovingly over a leafy glass noodle salad. The main-course sushi was boring, however: we both ordered the Makimono selection and were completely uninspired by bland vegetable rolls, salmon/avocado rolls and some other things that were rather heavily sprinkled with bright orange roe, although the tuna maki wasn't half bad.

On the upside, Blossom was not revoltingly expensive (and having not paid for it, at least I felt I hadn't wasted my money on the sushi): all that food and a couple of freshly-squeezed fruit drinks came to 38 quid. It's not as if I'm frequently in the area but if I do ever find myself passing through I'd be tempted to nip in for a couple of duck salads, and I'm curious about the great steaming Korean stew-type things that were going on at the next table. Still, I suppose if you work that way it's an easy option for a fast and relatively cheap tasty meal in the lively company of lunching suits.

Moro - Great tasting food by MoRaja

MoRaja — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 17:46:31 +0000

Review by MoRaja

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7833 8336

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

Tags: spanish, lively, good value

I love going to Moro. Whilst working in the area I would visit at least once a month for a treat. The food, especially the fish dishes are full of flavour and perfectly cooked. It can be very noisy when busy, so not always the best place to go if you want a serious conversation over dinner/lunch.I love going to Moro. Whilst working in the area I would visit at least once a month for a treat. The food, especially the fish dishes are full of flavour and perfectly cooked. It can be very noisy when busy, so not always the best place to go if you want a serious conversation over dinner/lunch.

Carnevale - by Mitnik

Mitnik — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 10:20:29 +0000

Review by Mitnik

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7250 3452

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

Tags: vegetarian, mediterranean, good value

not bad!not bad!

Santore - Pizza on Exmouth Market by sue

sue — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 19:11:17 +0000

Review by sue

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7812 1488

Tags: italian, family & home feel, good value

Exmouth Market is a happening place on a weekday lunch time, with market stalls and numerous restaurants and cafes catering to hungry office workers. Santore is an Italian restaurant on this lively strip, and I visited one day for lunch with my work mates.

The restaurant has a relaxed feel, with smiling staff and a large menu. My colleagues all opted to order from the special 2 course lunch menu, whilst I, always the trouble maker, selected from the main menu.

I had the Rucola pizza, which had Parma ham, rocket and parmesan cheese. It was enjoyable, with generous toppings, though the middle was a but soggy. Everyone else seemed to enjoy their choices, and some people continued on to dessert too. I may have sampled the bosses giant serve of Tiramisu (apparently the waitress has a soft spot for him), which was a little too cream-focussed for my liking.Exmouth Market is a happening place on a weekday lunch time, with market stalls and numerous restaurants and cafes catering to hungry office workers. Santore is an Italian restaurant on this lively strip, and I visited one day for lunch with my work mates.

The restaurant has a relaxed feel, with smiling staff and a large menu. My colleagues all opted to order from the special 2 course lunch menu, whilst I, always the trouble maker, selected from the main menu.

I had the Rucola pizza, which had Parma ham, rocket and parmesan cheese. It was enjoyable, with generous toppings, though the middle was a but soggy. Everyone else seemed to enjoy their choices, and some people continued on to dessert too. I may have sampled the bosses giant serve of Tiramisu (apparently the waitress has a soft spot for him), which was a little too cream-focussed for my liking.

Gaucho City - Steak! by faery81

faery81 — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 13:02:26 +0000

Review by faery81

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7626 5180

Website: http://www.gauchosgrill.com

Tags: expensive, argentinian, business

Fantastic restaurant in the city. The decoration is cow hide, glass and sparkling chandeliers. It is very dark in the restaurant, though, particularly in the evenings so it can be hard to actually see what youâ¬"re trying to eat.

The waitresses were very attentive to our table: they remembered everyoneâ¬"s orders and were always there when you needed something, without being intrusive.

The food was lovely: everyone chose steaks and they were very well cooked â¬ our waitress showed the table the different cuts of meat before everyone made their selection.

The only downside to this place is that is was very very expensive and the side dishes you order with your steak (eg. chips) werenâ¬"t very big, especially for the price!
Fantastic restaurant in the city. The decoration is cow hide, glass and sparkling chandeliers. It is very dark in the restaurant, though, particularly in the evenings so it can be hard to actually see what youâ¬"re trying to eat.

The waitresses were very attentive to our table: they remembered everyoneâ¬"s orders and were always there when you needed something, without being intrusive.

The food was lovely: everyone chose steaks and they were very well cooked â¬ our waitress showed the table the different cuts of meat before everyone made their selection.

The only downside to this place is that is was very very expensive and the side dishes you order with your steak (eg. chips) werenâ¬"t very big, especially for the price!

Wagamama - tasty by t_moussa

t_moussa — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 23:51:44 +0000

Review by t_moussa

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7588 2688

Website: http://www.wagamama.com

Tags: lively, good value, japanese

Having never been to wagamamas but hearing lots of good things about it I decided to go there with my boyfriend after obtaining those 2 for 1 vouchers they regularly put up on their website. We were both apprehensive at first as we had never tried japanese food before. The menu at first glace can be a bit daunting but we took our time to pore over the descriptions, the food didn't seem that scary. My boyfriend decided to play it safe and go for a vegetarian fried noodle dish whilst I decided to risk it and ordered noodles in a spicy coconut soup. The only cutlery on the table were chopsticks but we asked for forks and were provided with them. When our food arrived it looked fantastic and smelt wonderful. Mine was a bit too spicy for my liking but the free mug of green tea soon helped to ease the fieryness! The service was great and the staff very helpful in demonstrating how the various strange cutlery that accompanied our food were used. Enjoyed this experience immensely.Having never been to wagamamas but hearing lots of good things about it I decided to go there with my boyfriend after obtaining those 2 for 1 vouchers they regularly put up on their website. We were both apprehensive at first as we had never tried japanese food before. The menu at first glace can be a bit daunting but we took our time to pore over the descriptions, the food didn't seem that scary. My boyfriend decided to play it safe and go for a vegetarian fried noodle dish whilst I decided to risk it and ordered noodles in a spicy coconut soup. The only cutlery on the table were chopsticks but we asked for forks and were provided with them. When our food arrived it looked fantastic and smelt wonderful. Mine was a bit too spicy for my liking but the free mug of green tea soon helped to ease the fieryness! The service was great and the staff very helpful in demonstrating how the various strange cutlery that accompanied our food were used. Enjoyed this experience immensely.

Coq d'Argent - Coq d'Argent by sweettirana

sweettirana — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 22:16:42 +0000

Review by sweettirana

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7395 5000

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

Tags: french, expensive, business

Paradise on top of London! I love this place! I love the food, the location, the views, the wine, the garden, the service...

I have been in the fortunate position where friends have taken me here for special celebrations so I havent been privy to the bill although I have been told that it certainly isnt cheap!

Although pricey Coq d'Argent should definitely be considered as a place to take someone special for a birthday lunch or for a relatives anniversary perhaps? It is certainly a place that I could not afford very often so is a special occasion type place that will always hold fond memories for me.

The lift that you go into go up to the restaurant is also fanatastic and the rooftop gardens are mesmerising. It certainly is one of London's hidden gems!Paradise on top of London! I love this place! I love the food, the location, the views, the wine, the garden, the service...

I have been in the fortunate position where friends have taken me here for special celebrations so I havent been privy to the bill although I have been told that it certainly isnt cheap!

Although pricey Coq d'Argent should definitely be considered as a place to take someone special for a birthday lunch or for a relatives anniversary perhaps? It is certainly a place that I could not afford very often so is a special occasion type place that will always hold fond memories for me.

The lift that you go into go up to the restaurant is also fanatastic and the rooftop gardens are mesmerising. It certainly is one of London's hidden gems!

Cottons - Good Caribbean food, a little expensive, great atm by nmerlet1

nmerlet1 — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 01:19:13 +0000

Review by nmerlet1

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7833 3332

Tags: lively, bar, romantic

I tried the Cottons on the week of my arrival in London. It is located in a lively and lovely street (Exmouth market) and offers good Caribbean food in a great atmosphere. We went for some mixed platters to try the different tastes of the Caribbean, and they were great! I can only recommend them if you have no prior knowledge of such food.
They also offer a huge selection of rhums and cocktails, but we didn't try them.
The bill was a little expensive, but I guess you have to pay both for the food and the ambience. I definitively want to go back there, but I donâ¬"t know if I will have the time since there are so many good restaurants in London.
I tried the Cottons on the week of my arrival in London. It is located in a lively and lovely street (Exmouth market) and offers good Caribbean food in a great atmosphere. We went for some mixed platters to try the different tastes of the Caribbean, and they were great! I can only recommend them if you have no prior knowledge of such food.
They also offer a huge selection of rhums and cocktails, but we didn't try them.
The bill was a little expensive, but I guess you have to pay both for the food and the ambience. I definitively want to go back there, but I donâ¬"t know if I will have the time since there are so many good restaurants in London.

Acorn House - Mighty Oaks from Little Acorns Grow by Niamheen

Niamheen — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 17:02:02 +0000

Review by Niamheen

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7812 1842

Website: http://www.acornhouserestaurant.com/

Tags: organic, expensive, crowded

Acorn House in Kingâ¬"s Cross has been on my radar for sometime. As Londonâ¬"s first truly eco-friendly training restaurant, it has had alot of press attention, with the Evening Standardâ¬"s Fay Maschler declaring that â¬All Restaurants should emulateâ¬ it and Giles Coren of The Times saying that itâ¬"s â¬SThe most important restaurant to open in London in the past 200 yearsâ¬. Itâ¬"s also less than 10 minutes from my workplace and has been recommended by colleagues and friends. In the OFM food awards in 2007 it won best newcomer.

Established by chef Arthur Potts Dawson and manager James Grainger-Smith both formerly of Fifteen in Shoreditch, itâ¬"s a social enterprise created by the Shoreditch Trust which delivers hands on training to the local community. The food is centred around health, training, community and the environment. They aim to be the most recyclable restaurant in London, by allowing as much as 80% of its waste to be recycled. In cooperation with the local councils and London Remade it will test out new waste management strategies in a restaurant environment, it offers reusable cutlery and all takeaway containers are eco-sensitive and they offer customers options of serving sizes to allow for differing appetites which creates less food waste. They have their own site for storage of dry recyclables with space for a â¬ÜPIGâ¬" compostor and a wormery providing soil for the restaurant and the roof of the storage area is used to grow herbs (and potentially grow insect attracting plants) in the centre of Kings Cross. Added to all of this, the restaurant and the recycling site act as an educational resource for the public, schools and a new breed of trainee chefs. When it comes to the food itself, the menus are seasonal with ingredients sourced from small independent suppliers, they buy fair trade where possible, locally and never use air freight, they have a strict fish purchasing policy and demand positive animal husbandry.

All that sounds great, truly an inspiration for other restaurants, but, what of the food? Iâ¬"ve availed of their takeway lunch a number of times, usually the half panini and small soup for Â£5, always flavoursome and healthy. So, why didnâ¬"t I eat there properly until this week? I think itâ¬"s one of those situations where itâ¬"s just down the road and I can go anytime (even if I subsequently donâ¬"t) and, ever the procrastinator I put it on the long finger. This week, however, I finally went there for lunch with some colleagues.

I like the interior of Acorn House, itâ¬"s bright and airy with a relaxed elegance. We got a nice round table by the open kitchen at the back and started off with some olives and bread. I started to peruse their January menu. There were two soups on offer: pumpkin, thyme and pancetta & celeriac, chestnut & horseradish. They sounded delicious, but time was short so I decided not to get one - I will definitely be trying them for a take-away lunch soon though. Thereâ¬"s also cured meat selections (including the sublime San Daniele ham) and salads on offer, which, again, look great but I had my eye on the fish dish - chargrilled organic salmon with cardamom and horseradish served with 2 salads. It was a popular dish - most of us had it with others opting for the duck confit, the ravioli with chard, mascarpone & fried sage or the tartine with pumpkin, mascarpone and stilton (changed from the option on the menu which was tartine with pumpkin, ricotta & onion marmalade).

Before I start, I am not sure about the diner choosing the salad accompanying their main course, I wonder if the chef is best placed to do this? It reminds me of create-your-own pizzas which, having once worked in a pizza restaurant, I can testify are often chosen badly. However, it is nice to have the choice, if you can trust yourself. Itâ¬"s January, and, (I am supposed to be) all about health and recuperation, so I decided to go for the beetroot with parsley, as beetroot helps your liver deal with xmas party stresses (I had a few of those!), and for the second one broccoli with almonds.

How was it? The fish was cooked perfectly - tender and moist, the cardamom and horseradish was a really unusual accompaniment and quite nice. The duck confit went down a treat as did the ravioli, but, the tartine was proclaimed too rich. The salads were really great: wholesome and healthy.

So, next for dessert. I opted for the ginger pudding with dark rum and double cream. It was wonderfully light. Other choices were the flourless chocolate cake with cardamom ice cream and Eccles Cake with Vanilla Custard. Everyone was really pleased with their choice, it was a lov end to the meal.

So, what did I think? Very good food but at Â£16 for a fish main course and Â£6.50 for a dessert it needs to be excellent. But it is sustainable, eco-friendly and a friend to the local community, and this, it seems, comes at a price. I think itâ¬"s worth it.Acorn House in Kingâ¬"s Cross has been on my radar for sometime. As Londonâ¬"s first truly eco-friendly training restaurant, it has had alot of press attention, with the Evening Standardâ¬"s Fay Maschler declaring that â¬All Restaurants should emulateâ¬ it and Giles Coren of The Times saying that itâ¬"s â¬SThe most important restaurant to open in London in the past 200 yearsâ¬. Itâ¬"s also less than 10 minutes from my workplace and has been recommended by colleagues and friends. In the OFM food awards in 2007 it won best newcomer.

Established by chef Arthur Potts Dawson and manager James Grainger-Smith both formerly of Fifteen in Shoreditch, itâ¬"s a social enterprise created by the Shoreditch Trust which delivers hands on training to the local community. The food is centred around health, training, community and the environment. They aim to be the most recyclable restaurant in London, by allowing as much as 80% of its waste to be recycled. In cooperation with the local councils and London Remade it will test out new waste management strategies in a restaurant environment, it offers reusable cutlery and all takeaway containers are eco-sensitive and they offer customers options of serving sizes to allow for differing appetites which creates less food waste. They have their own site for storage of dry recyclables with space for a â¬ÜPIGâ¬" compostor and a wormery providing soil for the restaurant and the roof of the storage area is used to grow herbs (and potentially grow insect attracting plants) in the centre of Kings Cross. Added to all of this, the restaurant and the recycling site act as an educational resource for the public, schools and a new breed of trainee chefs. When it comes to the food itself, the menus are seasonal with ingredients sourced from small independent suppliers, they buy fair trade where possible, locally and never use air freight, they have a strict fish purchasing policy and demand positive animal husbandry.

All that sounds great, truly an inspiration for other restaurants, but, what of the food? Iâ¬"ve availed of their takeway lunch a number of times, usually the half panini and small soup for Â£5, always flavoursome and healthy. So, why didnâ¬"t I eat there properly until this week? I think itâ¬"s one of those situations where itâ¬"s just down the road and I can go anytime (even if I subsequently donâ¬"t) and, ever the procrastinator I put it on the long finger. This week, however, I finally went there for lunch with some colleagues.

I like the interior of Acorn House, itâ¬"s bright and airy with a relaxed elegance. We got a nice round table by the open kitchen at the back and started off with some olives and bread. I started to peruse their January menu. There were two soups on offer: pumpkin, thyme and pancetta & celeriac, chestnut & horseradish. They sounded delicious, but time was short so I decided not to get one - I will definitely be trying them for a take-away lunch soon though. Thereâ¬"s also cured meat selections (including the sublime San Daniele ham) and salads on offer, which, again, look great but I had my eye on the fish dish - chargrilled organic salmon with cardamom and horseradish served with 2 salads. It was a popular dish - most of us had it with others opting for the duck confit, the ravioli with chard, mascarpone & fried sage or the tartine with pumpkin, mascarpone and stilton (changed from the option on the menu which was tartine with pumpkin, ricotta & onion marmalade).

Before I start, I am not sure about the diner choosing the salad accompanying their main course, I wonder if the chef is best placed to do this? It reminds me of create-your-own pizzas which, having once worked in a pizza restaurant, I can testify are often chosen badly. However, it is nice to have the choice, if you can trust yourself. Itâ¬"s January, and, (I am supposed to be) all about health and recuperation, so I decided to go for the beetroot with parsley, as beetroot helps your liver deal with xmas party stresses (I had a few of those!), and for the second one broccoli with almonds.

How was it? The fish was cooked perfectly - tender and moist, the cardamom and horseradish was a really unusual accompaniment and quite nice. The duck confit went down a treat as did the ravioli, but, the tartine was proclaimed too rich. The salads were really great: wholesome and healthy.

So, next for dessert. I opted for the ginger pudding with dark rum and double cream. It was wonderfully light. Other choices were the flourless chocolate cake with cardamom ice cream and Eccles Cake with Vanilla Custard. Everyone was really pleased with their choice, it was a lovely end to the meal.

So, what did I think? Very good food but at Â£16 for a fish main course and Â£6.50 for a dessert it needs to be excellent. But it is sustainable, eco-friendly and a friend to the local community, and this, it seems, comes at a price. I think itâ¬"s worth it.

Paolina Thai Cafe - just plain awful by jlonners

jlonners — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 18:49:50 +0000

Review by jlonners

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 7278 8176

Tags: thai, friendly, lunch

Ok so as soon as you walk past this place you would normally keep on going, it looks dirty and horrid and awful. I didnâ¬"t have this choice as I was supposed to meet someone here (not suggested by me!) I was led downstairs (even worse) to a small area with tables and benches and plastic table cloths. I thought a drink would help only to be told their was no liquor licence!!! The food was actually ok and I didnâ¬"t die of food poisoning either, I had fully expected to get quite ill! I have no idea why they donâ¬"t tidy/clean this place up after all the business rates must be high so how do they make ends meet! if you are looking online (you must be or you wouldnâ¬"t be reading this!) then donâ¬"t go here, its just not nice. Search for another thai place insteadOk so as soon as you walk past this place you would normally keep on going, it looks dirty and horrid and awful. I didnâ¬"t have this choice as I was supposed to meet someone here (not suggested by me!) I was led downstairs (even worse) to a small area with tables and benches and plastic table cloths. I thought a drink would help only to be told their was no liquor licence!!! The food was actually ok and I didnâ¬"t die of food poisoning either, I had fully expected to get quite ill! I have no idea why they donâ¬"t tidy/clean this place up after all the business rates must be high so how do they make ends meet! if you are looking online (you must be or you wouldnâ¬"t be reading this!) then donâ¬"t go here, its just not nice. Search for another thai place instead

The Ambassador - Delicious... by Sami

Sami — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 16:37:08 +0000

Review by Sami

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7837 0009

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

Tags: good value, friendly, relaxed

Went here with a friend over the week-end and we were terribly pleased with our meal. We started with a cheese plate - lovely, well chosen French cheeses (I can't remember exactly what they were but there was a lovely, creamy goat's cheese, a blue, and a cheese similar to Comte), their prosciutto plate, and a whipped goat's cheese and heirloom tomato salad. All fresh, excellent quality and just generally very tasty.

The lamb we both had as our main was excellent; tender, with rich bits of bacon for flavouring, accompanied by a delicious potato cake. Their wine list seems as if a good deal of thought was put into it, and the service was super. Non-intrusive, helpful, and above all, with a smile.

I've wanted to eat here for a while and I'm glad we did - highly recommended.Went here with a friend over the week-end and we were terribly pleased with our meal. We started with a cheese plate - lovely, well chosen French cheeses (I can't remember exactly what they were but there was a lovely, creamy goat's cheese, a blue, and a cheese similar to Comte), their prosciutto plate, and a whipped goat's cheese and heirloom tomato salad. All fresh, excellent quality and just generally very tasty.

The lamb we both had as our main was excellent; tender, with rich bits of bacon for flavouring, accompanied by a delicious potato cake. Their wine list seems as if a good deal of thought was put into it, and the service was super. Non-intrusive, helpful, and above all, with a smile.

I've wanted to eat here for a while and I'm glad we did - highly recommended.

Digress City - Good city bar by LukeG

LukeG — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 13:12:08 +0000

Review by LukeG

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7382 1690

Website: http://www.digress-city.co.uk/

Tags: lively, bar, romantic

This bar is great on a Friday night after work. The queue can get long so get there early! Drinks are not badly priced for the city and the staff are very friendly. This is a great place to go with a group of friends, the music is pumping and it has a really good atmosphere.

However, its not the place to go if you want to catch up with your friends, as you will end up losing your voice!This bar is great on a Friday night after work. The queue can get long so get there early! Drinks are not badly priced for the city and the staff are very friendly. This is a great place to go with a group of friends, the music is pumping and it has a really good atmosphere.

However, its not the place to go if you want to catch up with your friends, as you will end up losing your voice!

Pride Of Siam - A pleasant enough restaurant by tanzanitelilac

tanzanitelilac — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 16:03:56 +0000

Review by tanzanitelilac

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7833 3383

Tags: thai, lively, good value

I have visited Pride of Siam on a number of occasions, both at lunch and dinner time. Their 2 course express lunch deal is good value and they never have a problem if all you want to drink is tap water, something I appreciate and am grateful to not feel obliged to buy a drink for the sake of it.

However, I donâ¬"t think I would go there especially for a meal. There is nothing wrong with the food, service or the restaurant, which is quite spacious by London standards but to be honest for lunch I prefer the Thai van, also in Exmouth Market. As a sit down meal, this is a relatively inexpensive and pleasant restaurant but it just doesnâ¬"t have that wow factor for me.
I have visited Pride of Siam on a number of occasions, both at lunch and dinner time. Their 2 course express lunch deal is good value and they never have a problem if all you want to drink is tap water, something I appreciate and am grateful to not feel obliged to buy a drink for the sake of it.

However, I donâ¬"t think I would go there especially for a meal. There is nothing wrong with the food, service or the restaurant, which is quite spacious by London standards but to be honest for lunch I prefer the Thai van, also in Exmouth Market. As a sit down meal, this is a relatively inexpensive and pleasant restaurant but it just doesnâ¬"t have that wow factor for me.

Sema Indian Balti Cuisine - Balti Magic by rigilbert

rigilbert — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 15:21:46 +0000

Review by rigilbert

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7253 2927

Tags: indian, good value, cheap eat

From the outside the Sema looks as run down as the shops and buildings that surround it. Go inside and it's much the same. The walls are covered in newspaper clippings of seemingly unrelated stories and photos.There are also maps and postcards from different parts of the world. The latter sent by former diners who, when in far-flung shores and in need of a good curry, have obviously longed for the Sema.

The tables and chairs are rickety and old: a legacy of the elderly landlady who, for some unknown reason, insists that they cannot be replaced, and who, for the last 15 years or so has only ever extended to the proprietors a lease of six months at a time. This has made life very difficult for them: they're not in a position to invest in smartening up the place because they are at the half-yearly whims of a miserly old crank who cares nothing for the livelihood of the people running the place and their faithful clientele.

Regardless of these difficulties, the Sema excels in its cooking. Not only is the food great, but the prices are cheap. The menu comprises the usual Indian dishes, from Chicken Tikka Masala through to fish curry to a range of biryani's. Whilst the menu is very much Curry House circa 1990, it's the quality of the food that attracts. It's damned good and consistently so. I've eaten here regularly since it first opened a decade and a half ago and have never had a bad meal. I recommend everything on the menu - it's all wonderfully flavoursome.

What's even better about the place - as if the wonderful food and great prices weren't enough - is the helpful nature of the people running the place. Want your curry made hotter or less fiery? No problem. Want to have your dish balti'd even though it's not on the menu? No problem. Want to substitute one of the dishes in the vegetarian or non-vegetarian thali for something else? No problem. If they can do it they will, and with a smile.

One down side here is the toilet. It's really not up to standard - never has been in the 15 years I've frequented the place. To flush you need to give a quick hard yank, sometimes two in quick succession. Don't let that put you off from coming here, though. The food is worth it.

The place is more cafÃ© than restaurant. It's also bring your own booze as they have no drinks licence. You'll be delighted to hear that they do not charge corkage! For convenience there's a supermarket and an off licence nearby, so you won't go thirsty. Some nights you can go in here and have the place to yourself. At other times it's heaving, in which case it'll be elbow to elbow or back to back. In every scenario you'll enjoy yourself.

The clientele are mixed. One night the heaving crowd can be made up of musicians (invariably classical) from the nearby Barbican Centre, at other times it'll be a few tourists interspersed with the loyal customers who, like me, have been frequenting the place for years.

In conclusion I have to say that the Sema is one of those secret finds that you hear people talk about. The exterior and interior might be a bit of a shambles, but this is all part of the charm of what for years has been my favourite curry house in London. Like all Indian restaurants they also do take-aways, which is great as sometimes you just can't get enough of a good thing! Ah, if only I hadn't moved to the Netherlands I wouldn't be missing a good curry from the Sema Balti Indian Cuisine. Perhaps it's time I sent them a postcard, too...From the outside the Sema looks as run down as the shops and buildings that surround it. Go inside and it's much the same. The walls are covered in newspaper clippings of seemingly unrelated stories and photos.There are also maps and postcards from different parts of the world. The latter sent by former diners who, when in far-flung shores and in need of a good curry, have obviously longed for the Sema.

The tables and chairs are rickety and old: a legacy of the elderly landlady who, for some unknown reason, insists that they cannot be replaced, and who, for the last 15 years or so has only ever extended to the proprietors a lease of six months at a time. This has made life very difficult for them: they're not in a position to invest in smartening up the place because they are at the half-yearly whims of a miserly old crank who cares nothing for the livelihood of the people running the place and their faithful clientele.

Regardless of these difficulties, the Sema excels in its cooking. Not only is the food great, but the prices are cheap. The menu comprises the usual Indian dishes, from Chicken Tikka Masala through to fish curry to a range of biryani's. Whilst the menu is very much Curry House circa 1990, it's the quality of the food that attracts. It's damned good and consistently so. I've eaten here regularly since it first opened a decade and a half ago and have never had a bad meal. I recommend everything on the menu - it's all wonderfully flavoursome.

What's even better about the place - as if the wonderful food and great prices weren't enough - is the helpful nature of the people running the place. Want your curry made hotter or less fiery? No problem. Want to have your dish balti'd even though it's not on the menu? No problem. Want to substitute one of the dishes in the vegetarian or non-vegetarian thali for something else? No problem. If they can do it they will, and with a smile.

One down side here is the toilet. It's really not up to standard - never has been in the 15 years I've frequented the place. To flush you need to give a quick hard yank, sometimes two in quick succession. Don't let that put you off from coming here, though. The food is worth it.

The place is more cafÃ© than restaurant. It's also bring your own booze as they have no drinks licence. You'll be delighted to hear that they do not charge corkage! For convenience there's a supermarket and an off licence nearby, so you won't go thirsty. Some nights you can go in here and have the place to yourself. At other times it's heaving, in which case it'll be elbow to elbow or back to back. In every scenario you'll enjoy yourself.

The clientele are mixed. One night the heaving crowd can be made up of musicians (invariably classical) from the nearby Barbican Centre, at other times it'll be a few tourists interspersed with the loyal customers who, like me, have been frequenting the place for years.

In conclusion I have to say that the Sema is one of those secret finds that you hear people talk about. The exterior and interior might be a bit of a shambles, but this is all part of the charm of what for years has been my favourite curry house in London. Like all Indian restaurants they also do take-aways, which is great as sometimes you just can't get enough of a good thing! Ah, if only I hadn't moved to the Netherlands I wouldn't be missing a good curry from the Sema Balti Indian Cuisine. Perhaps it's time I sent them a postcard, too...

Little Bay - cute by LuzabelleSalter

LuzabelleSalter — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 21:22:55 +0000

Review by LuzabelleSalter

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7278 1234

Tags: romantic, international, cheap eat

Little Bay was cute with nice food that was reasonably priced. I must say the low funky lights did get caught in my hair a few times though!Little Bay was cute with nice food that was reasonably priced. I must say the low funky lights did get caught in my hair a few times though!

Ortega - Fun and lively by anise

anise — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 19:05:27 +0000

Review by anise

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7623 1818

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

Tags: lively, restaurant/bar, tapas

This place is great for group nights out (office parties I think make good use of it) - tapas is obviously suited to this sort of night and Ortega's location in the heart of the city means it is easy to get to, and there is plenty of activity (bars and taxis!) about the place.

So very hard to choose the best things to recommend from the menu here, the spiced potato was very good, as were the chicken kebabs and fish dishes. First place however goes to the blue cheese and mushrooms with garlic and cream, which caused general rolling of eyes and blissful countenances from all present. I would not hesitate to recommend this place if someone was looking for a loud, buzzy night out after work.This place is great for group nights out (office parties I think make good use of it) - tapas is obviously suited to this sort of night and Ortega's location in the heart of the city means it is easy to get to, and there is plenty of activity (bars and taxis!) about the place.

So very hard to choose the best things to recommend from the menu here, the spiced potato was very good, as were the chicken kebabs and fish dishes. First place however goes to the blue cheese and mushrooms with garlic and cream, which caused general rolling of eyes and blissful countenances from all present. I would not hesitate to recommend this place if someone was looking for a loud, buzzy night out after work.

Medcalf - by elliemoff

elliemoff — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 15:30:08 +0000

Review by elliemoff

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7833 3533

Tags: friendly staff, good value, terrace

Medcalf is great as it does not just serve as a restaurant, it is a great place to go for a drink as well - I recommend the jugs of Caipirinha's!Medcalf is great as it does not just serve as a restaurant, it is a great place to go for a drink as well - I recommend the jugs of Caipirinha's!

Mosaique - Mediterranean Music by Samantha

Samantha — Fri, 18 May 2007 15:55:03 +0000

Review by Samantha

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7404 7553

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

Tags: live music, mediterranean, romantic

This mediterranean restaurant serves dishes with quality ingredients which cater for everyone.

Add to that the dimmed atmosphere and live pianist, it is a lovely venue for a romantic meal.This mediterranean restaurant serves dishes with quality ingredients which cater for everyone.

Add to that the dimmed atmosphere and live pianist, it is a lovely venue for a romantic meal.

The Cuban - by TrustedBot

TrustedBot — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 18:20:02 +0000

Review by TrustedBot

Rating: 0.00

Phone: 020 7256 2202

Tags: bar, cuban, cocktails

Ever visited Cuba? If not don´t despair, come on down for the finest Cuban cuisine. Some chefs only cook, the Cuban generate a special brand of excitement that somehow becomes a part of the food.

Ever tried a Mojito? or a Caipirinha? Reserve a table now, and sample the delights of the Cuban´s highly trained and talented bar staff.

The Cuban offers respite from the pounding music of the brightly coloured clothes stalls it nestles between.

No surprises on the drinks list mojitos, cuba libras & a slew of classic cocktails twisted with Havana Club while simple Latino bar bites (chorizo sausage skewers, corn & chicken quesadillas) & heartier mains (grilled steak stuffed with green & red peppers & cheese) provide sustenance. Ever visited Cuba? If not don´t despair, come on down for the finest Cuban cuisine. Some chefs only cook, the Cuban generate a special brand of excitement that somehow becomes a part of the food.

Ever tried a Mojito? or a Caipirinha? Reserve a table now, and sample the delights of the Cuban´s highly trained and talented bar staff.

The Cuban offers respite from the pounding music of the brightly coloured clothes stalls it nestles between.