Latest reviews for Restaurants in Clerkenwell, London, United Kingdom

St. John - The Bar at St. John by kristainlondon

kristainlondon — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 13:56:36 +0000

Review by kristainlondon

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7251 0848

Website: http://www.stjohnrestaurant.com/

I love the bar at St. John more than anything. I like its no-frillsness. The service is always informed and friendly, and I like how over the years, I generally have seen the same few people over and over again.

When I'm in the bar, I normally just get a pint of Greenwich Meantime and a slice of Welsh Rarebit. The Welsh Rarebit is deliciously unctuous, cheesy, and spicy. You should order one. Soon.I love the bar at St. John more than anything. I like its no-frillsness. The service is always informed and friendly, and I like how over the years, I generally have seen the same few people over and over again.

When I'm in the bar, I normally just get a pint of Greenwich Meantime and a slice of Welsh Rarebit. The Welsh Rarebit is deliciously unctuous, cheesy, and spicy. You should order one. Soon.

The Clerkenwell Dining Room & Bar - on the french side of european by acrobat

acrobat — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 12:19:28 +0000

Review by acrobat

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7253 9000

Website: www.theclerkenwell.com

Tags: business, international, british

Though everyone, including the Clerkenwell Dinning Room itself, seems to style itself as European, it was defintaly more French influenced than anything else.

The mains were excellent - particularly the lamb and pork belly, though the portions for the sea food seemed small in comparison. And the wine was very full bodied but excellent.

Desserts were a bit more mixed - some were amazing (one of us declared the Chocolate fondant the best they'd ever tasted...), and the cheese selection was varied and very enjoyable. Though I am yet to convinced of ricotta cheese doing well in a cheese cake....

Service was very attentive, though a little over zealous on the water pouring - which is a obviously a good money spinner for them as it is Â£3.50 a bottle.

Otherwise it was very enjoyable and highly recommended.Though everyone, including the Clerkenwell Dinning Room itself, seems to style itself as European, it was defintaly more French influenced than anything else.

The mains were excellent - particularly the lamb and pork belly, though the portions for the sea food seemed small in comparison. And the wine was very full bodied but excellent.

Desserts were a bit more mixed - some were amazing (one of us declared the Chocolate fondant the best they'd ever tasted...), and the cheese selection was varied and very enjoyable. Though I am yet to convinced of ricotta cheese doing well in a cheese cake....

Service was very attentive, though a little over zealous on the water pouring - which is a obviously a good money spinner for them as it is Â£3.50 a bottle.

Otherwise it was very enjoyable and highly recommended.

Chilango - The Best Burrito in London! by mnavin

mnavin — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 17:27:30 +0000

Review by mnavin

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7353 6761

Website: www.chilango.co.uk

Tags: mexican, good value, cheap eat

My partner hails from California and was always complaining that you can't get decent Mexican food in London. Chilango put an end to that- surprisingly quick service by a friendly team creating deliciously fresh burritos! Chilango makes an excellent choice for lunch or a quick (but incredibly filling) bite before hitting the town- and it's healthy too.My partner hails from California and was always complaining that you can't get decent Mexican food in London. Chilango put an end to that- surprisingly quick service by a friendly team creating deliciously fresh burritos! Chilango makes an excellent choice for lunch or a quick (but incredibly filling) bite before hitting the town- and it's healthy too.

The Modern Pantry - Soulful Cooking by bellaphon

bellaphon — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 15:41:53 +0000

Review by bellaphon

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7250 0833

Tags: lively, crowded, expensive

An absolutely delightful place. Came here for solo brunch one Sunday morning and found that the Ground Floor CafÃ© was already packed at 11.30 AM, however the 15 minutes wait was well worth the effort.

The dining space exudes an informal and chill-out atmosphere. When crowded the whole room can be lively and noisy, as well as a near â¬Üelbow to elbow dining experienceâ¬" found especially on the large refectory table in the middle of the room. Service was erratic during the time I was there but constantly smiling and friendly.

It was also an absolute bonus to see Anna Hansen in the kitchen cooking my meal (on a Sunday as well! That alone was heroic). I skipped the healthy breakfast options and avoided the more unorthodox (I believe Ms Hansen discourages the word fusion in her cooking) creations and went straight for the Grilled miso marinated onglet steak with cavolo nero and cassava chips. The steak was cooked beautifully rare and totally delicious. The bland tasting cassava chips were an acquired choice, personally I think they shouldâ¬"ve sliced them a lot thinner like game chips in order to bring out the delicate flavour. My gorgeous pudding of Eton Mess was lovingly concocted and suitably messy in appearance. BTW they also passed on the Flat White test, it tasted strong enough and not at all wishy-washy as reported on one of the blogs.

This is a great place to enjoy with friends, from the crack of dawn to late at night. Itâ¬"s a happy place and as far as I can tell thereâ¬"s soul in the cooking.

An absolutely delightful place. Came here for solo brunch one Sunday morning and found that the Ground Floor CafÃ© was already packed at 11.30 AM, however the 15 minutes wait was well worth the effort.

The dining space exudes an informal and chill-out atmosphere. When crowded the whole room can be lively and noisy, as well as a near â¬Üelbow to elbow dining experienceâ¬" found especially on the large refectory table in the middle of the room. Service was erratic during the time I was there but constantly smiling and friendly.

It was also an absolute bonus to see Anna Hansen in the kitchen cooking my meal (on a Sunday as well! That alone was heroic). I skipped the healthy breakfast options and avoided the more unorthodox (I believe Ms Hansen discourages the word fusion in her cooking) creations and went straight for the Grilled miso marinated onglet steak with cavolo nero and cassava chips. The steak was cooked beautifully rare and totally delicious. The bland tasting cassava chips were an acquired choice, personally I think they shouldâ¬"ve sliced them a lot thinner like game chips in order to bring out the delicate flavour. My gorgeous pudding of Eton Mess was lovingly concocted and suitably messy in appearance. BTW they also passed on the Flat White test, it tasted strong enough and not at all wishy-washy as reported on one of the blogs.

This is a great place to enjoy with friends, from the crack of dawn to late at night. Itâ¬"s a happy place and as far as I can tell thereâ¬"s soul in the cooking.

Ginnan - Delicious traditional Japanese fare by Niamheen

Niamheen — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 22:12:08 +0000

Review by Niamheen

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7278 0008

Tags: japanese, good value, family & home feel

Ginnan is a lovely Japanese restaurant off Exmouth Market, offering a range of dishes from katsu curry to tempura to sushi and sashimi. They offer an enormous menu, which often is a bad sign in a restaurant, as most places can't offer consistency on a wide range of dishes. This doesn't seem to be an issue here.

Like most traditional Japanese restaurants, each meal comes with a delicious miso soup. At lunch there's an express menu, although it's hidden at the back, and can take some finding. It offers gems such as chicken katsu curry for Â£6.50 and it's as good as I've had in London. Monday evenings there's an all you can eat offer which I've yet to sample, but I've heard it's good. The sushi and sashimi is very good, very fresh and well made.

The service, as with most Japanese restaurants cannot be faulted. It's a very pleasant place and I've become a regular. I would heartily recommend that everyone try the katsu curry at least!Ginnan is a lovely Japanese restaurant off Exmouth Market, offering a range of dishes from katsu curry to tempura to sushi and sashimi. They offer an enormous menu, which often is a bad sign in a restaurant, as most places can't offer consistency on a wide range of dishes. This doesn't seem to be an issue here.

Like most traditional Japanese restaurants, each meal comes with a delicious miso soup. At lunch there's an express menu, although it's hidden at the back, and can take some finding. It offers gems such as chicken katsu curry for Â£6.50 and it's as good as I've had in London. Monday evenings there's an all you can eat offer which I've yet to sample, but I've heard it's good. The sushi and sashimi is very good, very fresh and well made.

The service, as with most Japanese restaurants cannot be faulted. It's a very pleasant place and I've become a regular. I would heartily recommend that everyone try the katsu curry at least!

Fabrizio - Lovely food - great service by lbreed

lbreed — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 15:14:42 +0000

Review by lbreed

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7430 1503

Website: http://fabriziorestaurant.co.uk

Tags: italian, good value, family & home feel

Lovely little bistro style restaurant with a casual decor. We highly recommend the spinach & chevre tart and chicken liver starter. We had the specials for the main course. Our venison was beautifully cooked and tasty. The butternut ravioli was home made and very flavorful.Lovely little bistro style restaurant with a casual decor. We highly recommend the spinach & chevre tart and chicken liver starter. We had the specials for the main course. Our venison was beautifully cooked and tasty. The butternut ravioli was home made and very flavorful.

Piada - piadino de abrruzo by herb

herb — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 12:57:38 +0000

Review by herb

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7253 0472

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

Tags: good value, italian, crowded

va bene, this is a type of food that you cant get in london, it's already dying in italy and it's hard to find, i first came here i found that the food is good and the atmosphere is just right.va bene, this is a type of food that you cant get in london, it's already dying in italy and it's hard to find, i first came here i found that the food is good and the atmosphere is just right.

Vanilla Black - Upscale veggie gets it right (mainly) by Izabel_blue

Izabel_blue — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 19:55:42 +0000

Review by Izabel_blue

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7242 2622

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

Tags: vegetarian, good value, romantic

I've been here twice now - one for lunch and once for dinner, and have felt *pretty* impressed both times, though I found it a much better destination for dinner.

The food is commendable: the menu is a seriously good take on modern British seasonality (minus the meat) and hence a bit more sophisticated than the global fusion you get at other well-known veggie gaffs, like Manna or The Gate. However, portions are on the smaller size, and you really do need to go for all three courses to have a satisfying meal out - my husband worries that it is a bit too 'set menu' and not flexible enough with the a la carte.

A few examples from their recent menu include a starter 'toasty' with home-made piccalilli and 'deconstructed' lentil dal. Mains are exciting too: mushroom duxelle with mushy peas, goats cheese and walnut backlava with onion puree, beetroot tarte with horseradish custard...

The room is quite formally dressed and modern, with crisp white tablecloths and chandeliers - very trad, quite classy. Front of house is good too: they've brought a chirpy, friendly staff from the original restaurant in York, and you can tell that they care passionately about the food. The only dull note is the 80s' soft-rock and alt hits playing in the background: it seems to compromise the attention to detail with the food, room, and service.

However, the food and service is good enough to compete with any posh gastropub in the area, and the choices on offer will thrill any meat-reducer. Give it a go!I've been here twice now - one for lunch and once for dinner, and have felt *pretty* impressed both times, though I found it a much better destination for dinner.

The food is commendable: the menu is a seriously good take on modern British seasonality (minus the meat) and hence a bit more sophisticated than the global fusion you get at other well-known veggie gaffs, like Manna or The Gate. However, portions are on the smaller size, and you really do need to go for all three courses to have a satisfying meal out - my husband worries that it is a bit too 'set menu' and not flexible enough with the a la carte.

A few examples from their recent menu include a starter 'toasty' with home-made piccalilli and 'deconstructed' lentil dal. Mains are exciting too: mushroom duxelle with mushy peas, goats cheese and walnut backlava with onion puree, beetroot tarte with horseradish custard...

The room is quite formally dressed and modern, with crisp white tablecloths and chandeliers - very trad, quite classy. Front of house is good too: they've brought a chirpy, friendly staff from the original restaurant in York, and you can tell that they care passionately about the food. The only dull note is the 80s' soft-rock and alt hits playing in the background: it seems to compromise the attention to detail with the food, room, and service.

However, the food and service is good enough to compete with any posh gastropub in the area, and the choices on offer will thrill any meat-reducer. Give it a go!

Malmaison Bar & Brasserie - Excellent private dining by DanWilkinson

DanWilkinson — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 17:09:39 +0000

Review by DanWilkinson

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7012 3700

Website: http://www.malmaison-london.com/

Tags: brasserie, london, breakfast

We literally spent weeks trying to find somewhere to celebrate the missus' birthday. She wanted a good meal in London, price no object, for her and 11 friends who appreciated good food, but who weren't necessarily *foodies*. Not one of the places we tried would take a booking for 12 without either charging up to Â£3,000 extra for the pleasure or dictating that we would all have to order the same thing. Not great. London, nil points.

However, on a trip to Manchester, we stayed in the Malmaison there (where the brasserie has got a lot better over time), and noticed a cosy-looking private dining room. On the offchance, we checked the London hotel and there was indeed a well-appointed room off to one side which seated exactly 12. Perfect.

Now, let's be clear: the main point of an evening like this is the company. Primarily we'd convened to celebrate a birthday, not for some monumental gastronomic event, but we were on the whole pleasantly surprised.

Ultra-fresh, briny oysters kicked the meal off for me, with me 'n' the missus sharing 6 each of the Fines de Claire and the locals. My taste, as usual, veered towards the French ones; smaller, but with a more concentrated flavour. A pretty good start, all in all.

On the subject of the main event, I should point out that one of my food-related hobby horses is that of British veal. It's many years now since British veal production was anything but entirely humane, and as a by-product of the dairy industry thousands of male calves are slaughtered each year, regardless of the demand for their meat. Eating British veal is a terrific way to support the British farming industry, and it's something I do whenever I can. It's also really rather good.

I should also point out that when I say veal, I'm talking about decently pink meat, rather than the anaemic jelly often served in the 70s, and I'm talking about a *cut* of meat, rather than some flattened, batted out piece of mystery meat that's been cruelly breaded and shallow-fried. A sure-fire way to ruin a perfectly good piece of veal, if you ask me.

I wasn't disappointed. My veal chop was a hefty beast, juicy and flavoursome, with a good meaty bite to it. Excellent stuff, and it gave me the opportunity to inflict my little veal rant on my fellow diners. Apparently the other dishes were equally as satisfactory, judging by the dozen well-cleaned plates the waitress carried off later on.

Dessert was the only low point. My blood orange sorbet was brilliant, sweet, tangy and refreshing, but most of our companions had chosen poorly, though through no fault of their own. An otherwise well-executed chocolate truffle cake was served with what was advertised as pistachio ice cream (woo) but what can only be described as marzipan ice cream (boo). No one in their right mind likes marzipan, and it's a bit of a shocker to inflict this on the unaware. If the chef was actually working with pistachios, something somewhere had gone horribly awry.

My only other gripe, and I find this about Malmaison in general, is that the wine list, whilst well-chosen, is ludicrously overpriced. We struggled to find much under Â£30, and when there's 12 of you drinking pretty enthusiastically, this does matter.

That said, the food is more than reasonable, and we got away for a very friendly price indeed. I can confidently say that, following several weeks of research, we may well have found one of the best places in London to host dinner for 12 without paying in the neighbourhood of Â£5,000 for the privilege.We literally spent weeks trying to find somewhere to celebrate the missus' birthday. She wanted a good meal in London, price no object, for her and 11 friends who appreciated good food, but who weren't necessarily *foodies*. Not one of the places we tried would take a booking for 12 without either charging up to Â£3,000 extra for the pleasure or dictating that we would all have to order the same thing. Not great. London, nil points.

However, on a trip to Manchester, we stayed in the Malmaison there (where the brasserie has got a lot better over time), and noticed a cosy-looking private dining room. On the offchance, we checked the London hotel and there was indeed a well-appointed room off to one side which seated exactly 12. Perfect.

Now, let's be clear: the main point of an evening like this is the company. Primarily we'd convened to celebrate a birthday, not for some monumental gastronomic event, but we were on the whole pleasantly surprised.

Ultra-fresh, briny oysters kicked the meal off for me, with me 'n' the missus sharing 6 each of the Fines de Claire and the locals. My taste, as usual, veered towards the French ones; smaller, but with a more concentrated flavour. A pretty good start, all in all.

On the subject of the main event, I should point out that one of my food-related hobby horses is that of British veal. It's many years now since British veal production was anything but entirely humane, and as a by-product of the dairy industry thousands of male calves are slaughtered each year, regardless of the demand for their meat. Eating British veal is a terrific way to support the British farming industry, and it's something I do whenever I can. It's also really rather good.

I should also point out that when I say veal, I'm talking about decently pink meat, rather than the anaemic jelly often served in the 70s, and I'm talking about a *cut* of meat, rather than some flattened, batted out piece of mystery meat that's been cruelly breaded and shallow-fried. A sure-fire way to ruin a perfectly good piece of veal, if you ask me.

I wasn't disappointed. My veal chop was a hefty beast, juicy and flavoursome, with a good meaty bite to it. Excellent stuff, and it gave me the opportunity to inflict my little veal rant on my fellow diners. Apparently the other dishes were equally as satisfactory, judging by the dozen well-cleaned plates the waitress carried off later on.

Dessert was the only low point. My blood orange sorbet was brilliant, sweet, tangy and refreshing, but most of our companions had chosen poorly, though through no fault of their own. An otherwise well-executed chocolate truffle cake was served with what was advertised as pistachio ice cream (woo) but what can only be described as marzipan ice cream (boo). No one in their right mind likes marzipan, and it's a bit of a shocker to inflict this on the unaware. If the chef was actually working with pistachios, something somewhere had gone horribly awry.

My only other gripe, and I find this about Malmaison in general, is that the wine list, whilst well-chosen, is ludicrously overpriced. We struggled to find much under Â£30, and when there's 12 of you drinking pretty enthusiastically, this does matter.

That said, the food is more than reasonable, and we got away for a very friendly price indeed. I can confidently say that, following several weeks of research, we may well have found one of the best places in London to host dinner for 12 without paying in the neighbourhood of Â£5,000 for the privilege.

Vinoteca - Re: Mixed bag! by AlexWoods

AlexWoods — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 17:13:41 +0000

Review by AlexWoods

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7253 8786

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

Tags: crowded, bar, expensive

I don't really know if this place has disappointed me or not.

It was Friday night so it was busy. Very busy and very noisy, to the point where holding conversation with any one other than your direct neighbour was quite impossible.
Despite having booked, the table we were seated at was far too small and for every person who walked past behind me I received a knock, bash, or drag from their posterior - quite disconcerting. The staff, who I am assured are usually very charming and knowledgeable, were on the whole bloody rude, impatient and elusive. All this on top of the fact that I was tired, day-dreaming of a nice pint all day, and consequently extremely grumpy, has probably marred my experience.

The wine list is truly impressive, with a huge selection served by the glass. What's more, they appear to be reasonably priced. If youâ¬"re looking for something other than wine though, you are REALLY in the wrong place.
The menu impressed me very much (and that's not an easy thing to do). I don't like a menu that is too extensive. Restaurateurs often mistake quantity for variety. A well balanced and varied menu need only boast half a dozen choices at each course, max. And at Vinoteca the menu is varied, well balanced, interesting, and concise! Even the vegetarian in our party was happy (though, franklyâ¬¦well. Best not start on fussy eaters here.)
I started with a very delicious five-spice rabbit and pork rillette. The fat was a little loose which made for a slightly greasy texture but the flavours were very well balanced â¬ just enough spice to enhance but not over power the meat, sufficiently â¬Sgameyâ¬, and served with an raw â¬Smilitaryâ¬ chutney which was as colourful on the plate as on the palate. (What a damn good line! I shall copy write that.) Fellow diners very much enjoyed a fragrant mushroom soup, a sumptuous looking mackerel fillet, and a very smart looking goats cheese and beetroot salad with, predictably enough, a balsamic vinegar dressing.
(Is anyone else getting bored with goats cheese, beetroot and balsamic vinegar salads? I like it but please can we have something new now?)

My main course was roast partridge with a mushroom and pearl barleyâ¬¦ pile and a date sauce. Frankly this was disappointing. The bird was over cooked, dry, and not as flavoursome as one could reasonably expect and by the time it got to my table it was lukewarm at best. An achievement in itself as the service area was, literally, an arms length away. The date sauce was far, far too sweet and rather grainy.
With a handful of game chips and maybe a nice crispy slice of bacon it could have made a meal but as it was I found it rather Spartan. Also, expensive! Fortunately this was a work jolly, but had it been my own hard earned cash I would have been most unhappy.

Another gripe I have about the place is the clientele. A more pretentious and obnoxious bunch of wide boys, snobs and posers I have yet to come across. I suppose this is somewhat to be expected given the location, and it certainly doesnâ¬"t appear to be the demographic the place is aimed at. I suppose a door policy isnâ¬"t really on. (â¬SIâ¬"m sorry sir, but you appear to be a terrible w*nker. Please move along, thereâ¬"s a good chap.â¬)

I am going to go again and give it another shot but I feel that it probably will be a far more enjoyable experience on a Thury night for a glass of wine and some nibbles. May be my over all impression is that it should either be a restaurant OR a wine bar. It has wonderful elements of both but just doesnâ¬"t really work for me as a package deal.

I SAID IT DOESNâ¬"T REALLYâ¬¦ Oh, forget it.I don't really know if this place has disappointed me or not.

It was Friday night so it was busy. Very busy and very noisy, to the point where holding conversation with any one other than your direct neighbour was quite impossible.
Despite having booked, the table we were seated at was far too small and for every person who walked past behind me I received a knock, bash, or drag from their posterior - quite disconcerting. The staff, who I am assured are usually very charming and knowledgeable, were on the whole bloody rude, impatient and elusive. All this on top of the fact that I was tired, day-dreaming of a nice pint all day, and consequently extremely grumpy, has probably marred my experience.

The wine list is truly impressive, with a huge selection served by the glass. What's more, they appear to be reasonably priced. If youâ¬"re looking for something other than wine though, you are REALLY in the wrong place.
The menu impressed me very much (and that's not an easy thing to do). I don't like a menu that is too extensive. Restaurateurs often mistake quantity for variety. A well balanced and varied menu need only boast half a dozen choices at each course, max. And at Vinoteca the menu is varied, well balanced, interesting, and concise! Even the vegetarian in our party was happy (though, franklyâ¬¦well. Best not start on fussy eaters here.)
I started with a very delicious five-spice rabbit and pork rillette. The fat was a little loose which made for a slightly greasy texture but the flavours were very well balanced â¬ just enough spice to enhance but not over power the meat, sufficiently â¬Sgameyâ¬, and served with an raw â¬Smilitaryâ¬ chutney which was as colourful on the plate as on the palate. (What a damn good line! I shall copy write that.) Fellow diners very much enjoyed a fragrant mushroom soup, a sumptuous looking mackerel fillet, and a very smart looking goats cheese and beetroot salad with, predictably enough, a balsamic vinegar dressing.
(Is anyone else getting bored with goats cheese, beetroot and balsamic vinegar salads? I like it but please can we have something new now?)

My main course was roast partridge with a mushroom and pearl barleyâ¬¦ pile and a date sauce. Frankly this was disappointing. The bird was over cooked, dry, and not as flavoursome as one could reasonably expect and by the time it got to my table it was lukewarm at best. An achievement in itself as the service area was, literally, an arms length away. The date sauce was far, far too sweet and rather grainy.
With a handful of game chips and maybe a nice crispy slice of bacon it could have made a meal but as it was I found it rather Spartan. Also, expensive! Fortunately this was a work jolly, but had it been my own hard earned cash I would have been most unhappy.

Another gripe I have about the place is the clientele. A more pretentious and obnoxious bunch of wide boys, snobs and posers I have yet to come across. I suppose this is somewhat to be expected given the location, and it certainly doesnâ¬"t appear to be the demographic the place is aimed at. I suppose a door policy isnâ¬"t really on. (â¬SIâ¬"m sorry sir, but you appear to be a terrible w*nker. Please move along, thereâ¬"s a good chap.â¬)

I am going to go again and give it another shot but I feel that it probably will be a far more enjoyable experience on a Thursday night for a glass of wine and some nibbles. May be my over all impression is that it should either be a restaurant OR a wine bar. It has wonderful elements of both but just doesnâ¬"t really work for me as a package deal.

I SAID IT DOESNâ¬"T REALLYâ¬¦ Oh, forget it.

Malletti - by Litro_K

Litro_K — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 11:27:21 +0000

Review by Litro_K

Rating: 0.00

Phone: 020 7713 8665

Tags: italian, cheap eat, lively

I've walked past here several times and it always seemed closed. Ah...so that's why! Will endeavour to catch it open some day...I've walked past here several times and it always seemed closed. Ah...so that's why! Will endeavour to catch it open some day...

Fish Central - Fab Fish Central by jammiedodger

jammiedodger — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 20:35:52 +0000

Review by jammiedodger

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7253 4970

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

Tags: seafood, lively, takeaway

You'll receive a warm welcome and enjoy wonderful food at this fantastic family restaurant that has been here since the 1960s. A favourite among locals, it attracts regular repeat visits with its personal take on traditional 'fish and chips' (grilled or fried and cooked to perfection) as well as more adventurous cuisine and daily specials such as monkfish and scallops. There's plenty to attract the non-fish-eaters too. Tucked away between Barbican and Angel it's hard to stumble upon but worth seeking out.

It boasts a cool, crisp interior (although the chairs are not very luxurious) and a light, airy glass frontage that opens in summer months for almost al-fresco dining.

The food is great quality, all freshly prepared and the prices are reasonable. And the restaurant thankfully lacks the pretentions of so many other fish restaurants in the capital.You'll receive a warm welcome and enjoy wonderful food at this fantastic family restaurant that has been here since the 1960s. A favourite among locals, it attracts regular repeat visits with its personal take on traditional 'fish and chips' (grilled or fried and cooked to perfection) as well as more adventurous cuisine and daily specials such as monkfish and scallops. There's plenty to attract the non-fish-eaters too. Tucked away between Barbican and Angel it's hard to stumble upon but worth seeking out.

It boasts a cool, crisp interior (although the chairs are not very luxurious) and a light, airy glass frontage that opens in summer months for almost al-fresco dining.

The food is great quality, all freshly prepared and the prices are reasonable. And the restaurant thankfully lacks the pretentions of so many other fish restaurants in the capital.

Thai Rapide - Oustanding food, slightly strange service by Litro_K

Litro_K — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 18:35:42 +0000

Review by Litro_K

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7490 5668

Website: http://www.thairapide.co.uk/home.html

Tags: thai, family & home feel, cheap eat

After a couple of visits here I am convinced that this is some of the best Thai food I have found in London, albeit served by a slightly unnerving owner who continually offers you lots of starters and bottles of wine that you don't strictly need, but that's a minor concern!

The food is authentically hot and extremely tasty, and each time I have gone there, I'm surprised it's not busier. Our coconut rice was fabulously rich, massaman gae curry was creamy and full of pieces of tender, fatless lamb, and I loved my chicken and cashew nut dish with holy basil. The best thing about this little find are the prices. A two course meal with beer for two came to under Â£35.

A lovely little credit-crunch-busting place. Definitely worth a try if you've blown your funds on cocktails at the Zetter Hotel opposite (um...)

After a couple of visits here I am convinced that this is some of the best Thai food I have found in London, albeit served by a slightly unnerving owner who continually offers you lots of starters and bottles of wine that you don't strictly need, but that's a minor concern!

The food is authentically hot and extremely tasty, and each time I have gone there, I'm surprised it's not busier. Our coconut rice was fabulously rich, massaman gae curry was creamy and full of pieces of tender, fatless lamb, and I loved my chicken and cashew nut dish with holy basil. The best thing about this little find are the prices. A two course meal with beer for two came to under Â£35.

A lovely little credit-crunch-busting place. Definitely worth a try if you've blown your funds on cocktails at the Zetter Hotel opposite (um...)

Dollar Grills & Martinis - Porn Stars welcome! by VickieMac

VickieMac — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 13:41:30 +0000

Review by VickieMac

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7278 0077

Tags: american, cocktails, expensive

I went here early on a Saturday evening for a special occasion meal and I was overwhelmed. First, it's beautiful inside. The upstairs has gorgeous lighting and the seats were super comfy. The downstairs is very plush and would be a great spot for a cocktail on a date. It has little alcoves that offer the right amount of intimacy for a public place. ;o)

But it wasn't the decor the sold me, it was the cocktails - A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! I had the pleasure of enjoying (among others) the Porn Star Martini and to this day have not found a drink I enjoyed more than this one. I take great pleasure in telling people that this is my favourite drink!

We also had food and although at the time I thoroughly enjoyed my fish soup thingy, it was only good enough to be remembered as a fish soup thingy. The cocktails simply stole the show.

I would definitely go here again and have but only for drinks. I'll have to try the burgers next time!I went here early on a Saturday evening for a special occasion meal and I was overwhelmed. First, it's beautiful inside. The upstairs has gorgeous lighting and the seats were super comfy. The downstairs is very plush and would be a great spot for a cocktail on a date. It has little alcoves that offer the right amount of intimacy for a public place. ;o)

But it wasn't the decor the sold me, it was the cocktails - A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! I had the pleasure of enjoying (among others) the Porn Star Martini and to this day have not found a drink I enjoyed more than this one. I take great pleasure in telling people that this is my favourite drink!

We also had food and although at the time I thoroughly enjoyed my fish soup thingy, it was only good enough to be remembered as a fish soup thingy. The cocktails simply stole the show.

I would definitely go here again and have but only for drinks. I'll have to try the burgers next time!

The Zetter Restaurant & Rooms - Chic hotel for city stays or special nights by wordgirl

wordgirl — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 15:14:02 +0000

Review by wordgirl

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7324 4444

Website: http://www.thezetter.com

Tags: lively, breakfast, restaurant

We recently stayed at the Zetter and also had dinner and breakfast there. It's a funky, stylish hotel and restaurant in Faringdon/Clerkenwell, houses in a former warehouse belonging to the Zetter Football Pools family.

The one negative up front: the female receptionist was pretty sour and unsmiling. This was in sharp contrast to every other staff member we encountered. At first I wondered if I'd said the wrong thing, but I saw her next morning too, talking to another guest, and she did the same: no eye contact, sullen looks, sighing. We all have our bad days, after all, but the hotel isn't cheap and for us was a nice treat, so things didn't get off to the best start.

They improved later, though. Our standard room was small but well designed, with flattering pink lights, large shower with Elemis goodies, and interesting furniture. The standard rooms have a small screen which allows you to access 4000 different albums for free, so you can choose whatever music suits your mood. It was slightly tricky to navigate the system, and the TV channels had variable volume levels, but a nice idea. Also fun was the ice machines and drinks vending machine on each floor instead of minibar (probably no space for one in the room...), very retro, plus a coffee machine for free hot drinks. The rooms on the road are noisy, but the double glazing's effective, so you probably need the air con during a warm evening.

We ate a light supper from the bar menu, and the food was delicious - salads and dips and drinks. Service here, and at check-out was smiling and helpful. At breakfast (also great - with an a la carte selection if you don't fancy the full, and slightly pricey, buffet), they apologised for laughing, but it was really nice to see people enjoying their morning. There are also magazines and second-hand paperback Penguins to read.

At weekends, the City's very quiet, so bear that in mind if you want to explore - not many places will be open to eat unless you walk or get on the bus! But it's a good place to stay, with personal touches and good last minute offers.We recently stayed at the Zetter and also had dinner and breakfast there. It's a funky, stylish hotel and restaurant in Faringdon/Clerkenwell, houses in a former warehouse belonging to the Zetter Football Pools family.

The one negative up front: the female receptionist was pretty sour and unsmiling. This was in sharp contrast to every other staff member we encountered. At first I wondered if I'd said the wrong thing, but I saw her next morning too, talking to another guest, and she did the same: no eye contact, sullen looks, sighing. We all have our bad days, after all, but the hotel isn't cheap and for us was a nice treat, so things didn't get off to the best start.

They improved later, though. Our standard room was small but well designed, with flattering pink lights, large shower with Elemis goodies, and interesting furniture. The standard rooms have a small screen which allows you to access 4000 different albums for free, so you can choose whatever music suits your mood. It was slightly tricky to navigate the system, and the TV channels had variable volume levels, but a nice idea. Also fun was the ice machines and drinks vending machine on each floor instead of minibar (probably no space for one in the room...), very retro, plus a coffee machine for free hot drinks. The rooms on the road are noisy, but the double glazing's effective, so you probably need the air con during a warm evening.

We ate a light supper from the bar menu, and the food was delicious - salads and dips and drinks. Service here, and at check-out was smiling and helpful. At breakfast (also great - with an a la carte selection if you don't fancy the full, and slightly pricey, buffet), they apologised for laughing, but it was really nice to see people enjoying their morning. There are also magazines and second-hand paperback Penguins to read.

At weekends, the City's very quiet, so bear that in mind if you want to explore - not many places will be open to eat unless you walk or get on the bus! But it's a good place to stay, with personal touches and good last minute offers.

Smiths of Smithfield - Reasonable food, awful customers by bagpuss72

bagpuss72 — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 18:22:54 +0000

Review by bagpuss72

Rating: 2.00

Phone: 020 7251 7950

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

Tags: british, lively, crowded

This is one of those places which satisfies the need of the modern urban dweller to "do something" with their breakfast time at the weekend in case they are overcome with feelings of having missed a trick. Unfortunately, the type of people who eat here are a very good reason for avoiding a repeat visit. Yes, there are groups of foreign students and tourists. Yes there are the yummy mummys along with their gormless hubbies. Worst of all though are those London types we all love to hate; shouting, braying, constantly bellowing on their mobiles, an over-inflated sense of their own self-importance. Guaranteed to send a shudder down the spine of any self-respecting individual.

The food on the other hand is better, though without a doubt, extremely overpriced. Posher sausages, bacon and eggs are still just sausage, bacon and eggs. Cheap meat and eggs. Presentation is good, portions are small, service is appalling and the tables are jammed so close together you can tell the brand of deoderant your neighbours are wearing.

If you can stand the people, the crush, the couldn't-care-less staff and the feeling of being fleeced when the bill comes then by all means enjoy the reasonable quality food. If you have even a little bit of self-respect, go elsewhere.This is one of those places which satisfies the need of the modern urban dweller to "do something" with their breakfast time at the weekend in case they are overcome with feelings of having missed a trick. Unfortunately, the type of people who eat here are a very good reason for avoiding a repeat visit. Yes, there are groups of foreign students and tourists. Yes there are the yummy mummys along with their gormless hubbies. Worst of all though are those London types we all love to hate; shouting, braying, constantly bellowing on their mobiles, an over-inflated sense of their own self-importance. Guaranteed to send a shudder down the spine of any self-respecting individual.

The food on the other hand is better, though without a doubt, extremely overpriced. Posher sausages, bacon and eggs are still just sausage, bacon and eggs. Cheap meat and eggs. Presentation is good, portions are small, service is appalling and the tables are jammed so close together you can tell the brand of deoderant your neighbours are wearing.

If you can stand the people, the crush, the couldn't-care-less staff and the feeling of being fleeced when the bill comes then by all means enjoy the reasonable quality food. If you have even a little bit of self-respect, go elsewhere.

Tinseltown 24 Hour Diner - 24 hour food which is rare in London by hammerhead

hammerhead — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:24:52 +0000

Review by hammerhead

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7689 2424

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

Tags: american, lively, bar

US style dinner near Old Street (all Halal food as well including halal bacon made from veal for the all day breakfast), an essential stop if your looking for decent food at anytime including early mornings! The main attraction here is the milkshakes which are massive US style with all sorts of toppings like Oreo Cookies and Coke Floats so pretty unique and many people go there just for the desserts. The main food is pretty good and wide ranging, from the US burger style (fills you up) and noodle dishes as well (which I was impressed with) so I give a thumbs up on the food. The decor is diner style but I find the tables a bit grubby as are the toilets. Waitress style service is good and some people may like the MTV huge LCD screens everywhere as it makes it lively but I'm no such a big fan. Can be queues on fri and sat nights as can get very busy, try Hampstead one as may be better from what I have heard.US style dinner near Old Street (all Halal food as well including halal bacon made from veal for the all day breakfast), an essential stop if your looking for decent food at anytime including early mornings! The main attraction here is the milkshakes which are massive US style with all sorts of toppings like Oreo Cookies and Coke Floats so pretty unique and many people go there just for the desserts. The main food is pretty good and wide ranging, from the US burger style (fills you up) and noodle dishes as well (which I was impressed with) so I give a thumbs up on the food. The decor is diner style but I find the tables a bit grubby as are the toilets. Waitress style service is good and some people may like the MTV huge LCD screens everywhere as it makes it lively but I'm no such a big fan. Can be queues on fri and sat nights as can get very busy, try Hampstead one as may be better from what I have heard.

Darbucka - Good ambience, poor food by Foodietravels

Foodietravels — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 11:42:39 +0000

Review by Foodietravels

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 7490 8772

Website: http://www.darbucka.com

Tags: middle eastern, lively, shisha

Place looks great, lots of events take place in the downstairs area (might be too noisy for a cosy romantic dinner). Food is below average, although servings are big and service is poor. Price is extortion for the quality. I'm still looking for a decent couscous in London.Place looks great, lots of events take place in the downstairs area (might be too noisy for a cosy romantic dinner). Food is below average, although servings are big and service is poor. Price is extortion for the quality. I'm still looking for a decent couscous in London.

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.

Anexo - Decent Spanish cuisine by Rhydster

Rhydster — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 19:45:38 +0000

Review by Rhydster

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7250 3401

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

Tags: bar, mediterranean, spanish

I went here for a birthday meal once and it wasn't a bad experience.

The good: the tables were ready for all the numbers and we had our own TV screen, as there was an important football match on. The food was decent Spanish tapas, with the menu offering various pork and cheese appetisers as well as a variety of Paellas.

The table service is friendly and attentive, offering you a wide variety of drinks from the bar. It's relatively well priced for a London Spanish restaurant (some of which make you think itâ¬"s better value to take a Ryan Air flight to Spain for a day of eating out).

Whilst Ternmills was open you could get a discount entry if you had eaten here first.

The bad: Paella was a bit too salty.
I went here for a birthday meal once and it wasn't a bad experience.

The good: the tables were ready for all the numbers and we had our own TV screen, as there was an important football match on. The food was decent Spanish tapas, with the menu offering various pork and cheese appetisers as well as a variety of Paellas.

The table service is friendly and attentive, offering you a wide variety of drinks from the bar. It's relatively well priced for a London Spanish restaurant (some of which make you think itâ¬"s better value to take a Ryan Air flight to Spain for a day of eating out).

Whilst Ternmills was open you could get a discount entry if you had eaten here first.

The bad: Paella was a bit too salty.