Latest reviews for Restaurants in Covent Garden, London, United Kingdom

Takari - dinner by rachel1bt

rachel1bt — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 12:17:09 +0000

Review by rachel1bt

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7836 1628

Tags: indian, good value, family & home feel

Takari was a really good find. It has a great location at the foot of the theatre land, and a really cosy atmosphere.The service was very attentive and helpful and the food was excellent, especially the Jungle Curry. I normally prefer Vindaloo but in this case the quality and lightness of the rice made me enjoy the Jungle Curry and maki even more, and the fish was extremely fresh as I would have expected. All in all a really good place to go for quality Indian food!Takari was a really good find. It has a great location at the foot of the theatre land, and a really cosy atmosphere.The service was very attentive and helpful and the food was excellent, especially the Jungle Curry. I normally prefer Vindaloo but in this case the quality and lightness of the rice made me enjoy the Jungle Curry and maki even more, and the fish was extremely fresh as I would have expected. All in all a really good place to go for quality Indian food!

Christopher's American Grill - A beautiful dining experience... by Gibbles

Gibbles — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:41:58 +0000

Review by Gibbles

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7240 4222

Website: http://www.christophersgrill.com

Tags: american, expensive, good value

We had dinner at 'Christopher's American restaurant' on a Saturday evening, and were mightily impressed from the word go. It has a lovely understated ambience, all white tables and crisp white decor, with beautiful large windows to let the early evening light filter through.
The staff were uniformly excellent, and their professional attention to detail was a big plus at this restaurant.
The pre-theatre dinner menu offers good value for money, and the quality of all three courses was very high. The smoked tomato soup was absolutley perfect, and I'm a soup aficionado. The portion sizes were perfect, so that three courses didn't make us feel we had to be rolled out and into the theatre.
All in all, a lovely, lovely dining experience. Christopher's is first class. Go!We had dinner at 'Christopher's American restaurant' on a Saturday evening, and were mightily impressed from the word go. It has a lovely understated ambience, all white tables and crisp white decor, with beautiful large windows to let the early evening light filter through.
The staff were uniformly excellent, and their professional attention to detail was a big plus at this restaurant.
The pre-theatre dinner menu offers good value for money, and the quality of all three courses was very high. The smoked tomato soup was absolutley perfect, and I'm a soup aficionado. The portion sizes were perfect, so that three courses didn't make us feel we had to be rolled out and into the theatre.
All in all, a lovely, lovely dining experience. Christopher's is first class. Go!

Wahaca - wahaca is cool by kamus

kamus — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:38:52 +0000

Review by kamus

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7240 1883

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

Tags: lively, cheap eat, good value

:):)

Terroirs - by barbd

barbd — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:36:53 +0000

Review by barbd

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7036 0660

Website: www.terroirswinebar.com

Tags: lively, french, good value

I love food served this way. The staff know their stuff, and are happy to guide you towards the most amazing wine as you order from one of the most fun menus I've had the pleasure of reading in quite some time!I love food served this way. The staff know their stuff, and are happy to guide you towards the most amazing wine as you order from one of the most fun menus I've had the pleasure of reading in quite some time!

Chez Gerard - Great Location! by DCMWhite

DCMWhite — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 11:29:32 +0000

Review by DCMWhite

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7379 0666

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

Tags: french, expensive, lively

Can't say enough good things about this place!
It's been here for ages, never seems to be not busy.
Although it's in the heart of Covent Garden, it's not packed only with tourists as you'd expect. I guess it's due to the fact that the entrances are up steep granite stairs. I was introduced by a friend and most everyone I bring haven't been there before, so it's a hidden gem for sure.
The French cuisine may be from a "chain" menu but it's all freshly cooked which is very unusual for large companies these days. There's always new daily specials too.
The bar is a great meeting place, huge terrace on the balcony for smirting!
The staff are always a good looking bunch - never too up-themselves.Can't say enough good things about this place!
It's been here for ages, never seems to be not busy.
Although it's in the heart of Covent Garden, it's not packed only with tourists as you'd expect. I guess it's due to the fact that the entrances are up steep granite stairs. I was introduced by a friend and most everyone I bring haven't been there before, so it's a hidden gem for sure.
The French cuisine may be from a "chain" menu but it's all freshly cooked which is very unusual for large companies these days. There's always new daily specials too.
The bar is a great meeting place, huge terrace on the balcony for smirting!
The staff are always a good looking bunch - never too up-themselves.

Tamarai - ABSOLUTELY DISGRACEFUL CUSTOMER SERVICE by carefactornil

carefactornil — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 11:06:57 +0000

Review by carefactornil

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 7831 9399

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

Tags: thai, good value, oriental

I've been to Tamarai twice this year and had a great time, both times. The 1st was just with my partner and I was very impressed with the venue, and particularly the food and drinks. The staff were very nice too. I was so impressed (and it was so nice to be that impressed) that I invited a group of friends there for another meal a few weeks later. Since then I've been out of the country all summer but was looking forward to coming and eating there again.

Unfortunately, as things stand right now, that won't be the case. One of my friends who I brought with me the 2nd time, was also impressed when she came that time. So much so that she booked a meal on 20th August for her and another friend. When I came back to London recently I suggested she & I return to Tamarai but she said "never again" so naturally I wanted to know why.

She recounted her experience of the 20th August and being heavily involved in customer service, frankly I'm shocked. I won't go into all of the details but it seems the meal started well enough but later on they ordered more drinks with their meal and this took a while to come. When they did, the waitress managed to spill her drink on her so that it completely soaked her clothes she was wearing. It's a restaurant, these things happen from time to time. In my experience of such matters, the restaurant usually bends over backwards to make things right, especially the nicer establishments. What happened from then on was far from that and she and her friend ended up leaving the restaurant furious by the way it was handled. The restaurant tried to charge for the drink they spilled, nothing in particular was done to try and appease them, and when they complained about the service and the way it was handled they were made to feel even worse by the restaurant manager that night (this may even be you, they didn't provide me their name). At the very, very least I'd have expected the manager to offer to pay for dry cleaning without prompting. But they tried to persuade her that it wouldn't stain, she should try and wash it and if it didn't come out she should bring it back, show them the evidence and then they might do something about it! They ended up feeling terrible from the way they were treated and that they were the ones who had done something wrong. Nothing was done about the bill, they didn't even get a "thanks" or a "good bye", as if the staff didn't want to ever see them again. It looks like they'll get their wish.

Consequently, my looking forward to experiencing your admittedly outstanding food and drinks has been brought to an abrupt halt. Bad customer service doesn't necessarily just affect the people directly involved, they have a habit of telling their friends too. I tried mentioning the above to the restaurant manager but no reply.

Looking at other review websites it seems this experience is commonplace.I've been to Tamarai twice this year and had a great time, both times. The 1st was just with my partner and I was very impressed with the venue, and particularly the food and drinks. The staff were very nice too. I was so impressed (and it was so nice to be that impressed) that I invited a group of friends there for another meal a few weeks later. Since then I've been out of the country all summer but was looking forward to coming and eating there again.

Unfortunately, as things stand right now, that won't be the case. One of my friends who I brought with me the 2nd time, was also impressed when she came that time. So much so that she booked a meal on 20th August for her and another friend. When I came back to London recently I suggested she & I return to Tamarai but she said "never again" so naturally I wanted to know why.

She recounted her experience of the 20th August and being heavily involved in customer service, frankly I'm shocked. I won't go into all of the details but it seems the meal started well enough but later on they ordered more drinks with their meal and this took a while to come. When they did, the waitress managed to spill her drink on her so that it completely soaked her clothes she was wearing. It's a restaurant, these things happen from time to time. In my experience of such matters, the restaurant usually bends over backwards to make things right, especially the nicer establishments. What happened from then on was far from that and she and her friend ended up leaving the restaurant furious by the way it was handled. The restaurant tried to charge for the drink they spilled, nothing in particular was done to try and appease them, and when they complained about the service and the way it was handled they were made to feel even worse by the restaurant manager that night (this may even be you, they didn't provide me their name). At the very, very least I'd have expected the manager to offer to pay for dry cleaning without prompting. But they tried to persuade her that it wouldn't stain, she should try and wash it and if it didn't come out she should bring it back, show them the evidence and then they might do something about it! They ended up feeling terrible from the way they were treated and that they were the ones who had done something wrong. Nothing was done about the bill, they didn't even get a "thanks" or a "good bye", as if the staff didn't want to ever see them again. It looks like they'll get their wish.

Consequently, my looking forward to experiencing your admittedly outstanding food and drinks has been brought to an abrupt halt. Bad customer service doesn't necessarily just affect the people directly involved, they have a habit of telling their friends too. I tried mentioning the above to the restaurant manager but no reply.

Looking at other review websites it seems this experience is commonplace.

Tossed Salad Bar - Disorganised mess by emmanx

emmanx — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 14:13:24 +0000

Review by emmanx

Rating: 3.00

Tags: crowded, business, cheap eat

Just started working in the area a couple of weeks ago and already had two very dissapointing visits to Tossed on St. Martin's lane. The first time I happened to be helped by someone who had just started so I decided to be forgiving and give the place a second go. Mistake.

The salad bar staff have no specific work area so they just run around getting in each other's way. My server gave me lip because I asked for a wrap but didn't have a base salad in my hands. Apparently, a wrap without a tonne of lettuce is weird. After he put the ingredients in a bowl he passed it on to someone else who had no idea what they were doing - the process was about 15 minutes, bit much for someone on their lunchbreak run

I got bored of watching her so I walked over to the till waiting for my food. I got harrassed to pay before I received it, which I refused. Result? Dirty look.

After she finally managed to finish my wrap, she handed it over to someone else, who gave it to another customer who was waiting for another wrap. By the time I caught on, she walked off with it. At that point, I left and I will NEVER go back. Boo hiss.

AfterJust started working in the area a couple of weeks ago and already had two very dissapointing visits to Tossed on St. Martin's lane. The first time I happened to be helped by someone who had just started so I decided to be forgiving and give the place a second go. Mistake.

The salad bar staff have no specific work area so they just run around getting in each other's way. My server gave me lip because I asked for a wrap but didn't have a base salad in my hands. Apparently, a wrap without a tonne of lettuce is weird. After he put the ingredients in a bowl he passed it on to someone else who had no idea what they were doing - the process was about 15 minutes, bit much for someone on their lunchbreak run

I got bored of watching her so I walked over to the till waiting for my food. I got harrassed to pay before I received it, which I refused. Result? Dirty look.

After she finally managed to finish my wrap, she handed it over to someone else, who gave it to another customer who was waiting for another wrap. By the time I caught on, she walked off with it. At that point, I left and I will NEVER go back. Boo hiss.

After

H.K Diner Restaurant - by liangliang

liangliang — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 17:47:33 +0000

Review by liangliang

Rating: 5.00

Tags: lively, malaysian, vegetarian

have gone thee twice , excellenthave gone thee twice , excellent

La Tasca - by Ludovic

Ludovic — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 22:30:00 +0000

Review by Ludovic

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 7240 9062

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

Tags: spanish, cosy, lively

Avoid like plague unless you're really interested into finding out how tourists can be (badly) treated in London ; probably the worst paella I've ever had, we almost walked out as the service was agonisingly slow.Avoid like plague unless you're really interested into finding out how tourists can be (badly) treated in London ; probably the worst paella I've ever had, we almost walked out as the service was agonisingly slow.

Rules - Rules Rules! by chrisp

chrisp — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:45:40 +0000

Review by chrisp

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7379 0258

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

Tags: british, expensive, romantic

Looking back now, to those bleak, monochrome days before I ate the Rules grouse, I suppose I wasn't quite sure what to expect. I had high hopes, of course, mainly thanks to Simon Majumdar and his giddy tour of the kitchens a few weeks back, and was also looking forward to trying the cocktails in the (still relatively new) Rules Bar upstairs. But it seemed like an odd venue - I was worried that, sitting on the reputation as London's Oldest Restaurant and therefore able to suck in enough heritage-starved American tourists and blousy Old Boys to keep the profits ticking over through good times and bad, that Rules didn't actually need to be any good at all. And, it goes without saying, very few of the places that don't need to be good actually, well, are. I was worried it would be staid, overpriced, stuffy, stifling and stressful. In the end, it was none of those things, and in fact turned out to the most wonderful evening I've enjoyed in a very long time.

Events began in the dark-panelled, carpeted luxury of the upstairs bar, and with the creation of a drink called the Golden Negroni. Like all good cocktails, there was that balance of familiar comforting flavours and just a hint of the mysterious. Apparently lurking in it somewhere was a touch of Poire William. It was remarkably easy to drink. While waiting for various members of our party to arrive, I was invited to sit at the bar itself and watch the mixing of my next order up close. Called the Edge, it contained fresh grated horseradish and tasted of cosy evenings in front of a log fire. Perhaps not very seasonal, but delicious nonetheless.

After an hour or so of blissful contentment which passed as if it was five minutes, it was time to move downstairs and take our seats for dinner. With its high ceilings and walls covered in memorabilia and paraphernalia, Rules feels every one of its 211 years old. How nice, though, to be in a restaurant that has gathered its mementos and photographs honestly and gradually over many years, instead of buying them all at once in a bid to invent an illustrious past like so many gastropubs. This is a place with real history, and a confidence in its own reputation as a London dining destination. And we were about to find out why.

My starter was Morecambe Bay potted shrimps, one of my favourite comfort foods at the best of times, but here, thanks to Rules' use of lobster butter to bind the sweet crustaceans together, it took on a new, luxurious identity. I will admit that my knowledge of potted shrimp was previously limited to the little plastic pots you can buy at foodie markets, but even so, these were lovely. And although my dish came on the back of a recommendation from His Maj, the standards of the other starters on our table were equally high - in particularly a gorgeous dressed crab with a perfectly balanced brown meat mix.

And then the grouse. It will give you an idea of how very reasonable the prices are in this restaurant when I tell you that this labour-intensive, hand caught game bird was at only Â£27.50 the most expensive item on the Rules menu last night. But in this blogger's humble opinion, the experience it delivered was close to priceless. Served with crispy bacon, some duck liver patÃ© on toast and the traditional game chips, the only slightly unusual element was a few sprigs of highland heather protruding from the back of the bird. And yet almost before the first bite of the gorgeously pink, moist meat had reached my lips, I knew this was going to be something special. The smell - oh, lordy, the smell - it was of open countryside, highland moors and healthy living. It was an aroma that did more than simply get the taste buds going, it assaulted my emotions directly, whisking me back to childhood trips to Cumbria and of long walks on hot summer's days. And it was no less affecting in the mouth - to call the flavour "gamey" is to not even touch the surface of how extraordinarily, wonderfully powerful the flavour of this little bird was - a deep, rich flavour like no other animal I've ever tasted. I ate in stunned, intense silence, methodically pulling every bit of the carcass apart and savouring every last morsel of offal from inside and out. Later in the evening I caught a glimpse of myself in the bathroom mirror; I had grouse blood splattered down the front of my white shirt and looked like Sweeney Todd after a particularly busy day. I was so overwhelmed I hadn't even noticed at the time.

After dinner, we moved back upstairs once again and allowed Brian Silva, the head barman, to gently bring us down from our game-fuelled high with a plate of Colton Basset stilton and Pedro Ximines dessert sherry. We chatted happily across the bar and drank wonderful cocktails until we were the last people in the room. It was a magical evening, one of those nights where every element of every bite and slurp brings joy and each moment slides blissfully into the next. But it was the grouse that was the star of an evening not short of highlights. That I recommend Rules as a restaurant should by now be obvious - you absolutely, positively have to go, and soon, before the season is over. It's just too good to miss.Looking back now, to those bleak, monochrome days before I ate the Rules grouse, I suppose I wasn't quite sure what to expect. I had high hopes, of course, mainly thanks to Simon Majumdar and his giddy tour of the kitchens a few weeks back, and was also looking forward to trying the cocktails in the (still relatively new) Rules Bar upstairs. But it seemed like an odd venue - I was worried that, sitting on the reputation as London's Oldest Restaurant and therefore able to suck in enough heritage-starved American tourists and blousy Old Boys to keep the profits ticking over through good times and bad, that Rules didn't actually need to be any good at all. And, it goes without saying, very few of the places that don't need to be good actually, well, are. I was worried it would be staid, overpriced, stuffy, stifling and stressful. In the end, it was none of those things, and in fact turned out to the most wonderful evening I've enjoyed in a very long time.

Events began in the dark-panelled, carpeted luxury of the upstairs bar, and with the creation of a drink called the Golden Negroni. Like all good cocktails, there was that balance of familiar comforting flavours and just a hint of the mysterious. Apparently lurking in it somewhere was a touch of Poire William. It was remarkably easy to drink. While waiting for various members of our party to arrive, I was invited to sit at the bar itself and watch the mixing of my next order up close. Called the Edge, it contained fresh grated horseradish and tasted of cosy evenings in front of a log fire. Perhaps not very seasonal, but delicious nonetheless.

After an hour or so of blissful contentment which passed as if it was five minutes, it was time to move downstairs and take our seats for dinner. With its high ceilings and walls covered in memorabilia and paraphernalia, Rules feels every one of its 211 years old. How nice, though, to be in a restaurant that has gathered its mementos and photographs honestly and gradually over many years, instead of buying them all at once in a bid to invent an illustrious past like so many gastropubs. This is a place with real history, and a confidence in its own reputation as a London dining destination. And we were about to find out why.

My starter was Morecambe Bay potted shrimps, one of my favourite comfort foods at the best of times, but here, thanks to Rules' use of lobster butter to bind the sweet crustaceans together, it took on a new, luxurious identity. I will admit that my knowledge of potted shrimp was previously limited to the little plastic pots you can buy at foodie markets, but even so, these were lovely. And although my dish came on the back of a recommendation from His Maj, the standards of the other starters on our table were equally high - in particularly a gorgeous dressed crab with a perfectly balanced brown meat mix.

And then the grouse. It will give you an idea of how very reasonable the prices are in this restaurant when I tell you that this labour-intensive, hand caught game bird was at only Â£27.50 the most expensive item on the Rules menu last night. But in this blogger's humble opinion, the experience it delivered was close to priceless. Served with crispy bacon, some duck liver patÃ© on toast and the traditional game chips, the only slightly unusual element was a few sprigs of highland heather protruding from the back of the bird. And yet almost before the first bite of the gorgeously pink, moist meat had reached my lips, I knew this was going to be something special. The smell - oh, lordy, the smell - it was of open countryside, highland moors and healthy living. It was an aroma that did more than simply get the taste buds going, it assaulted my emotions directly, whisking me back to childhood trips to Cumbria and of long walks on hot summer's days. And it was no less affecting in the mouth - to call the flavour "gamey" is to not even touch the surface of how extraordinarily, wonderfully powerful the flavour of this little bird was - a deep, rich flavour like no other animal I've ever tasted. I ate in stunned, intense silence, methodically pulling every bit of the carcass apart and savouring every last morsel of offal from inside and out. Later in the evening I caught a glimpse of myself in the bathroom mirror; I had grouse blood splattered down the front of my white shirt and looked like Sweeney Todd after a particularly busy day. I was so overwhelmed I hadn't even noticed at the time.

After dinner, we moved back upstairs once again and allowed Brian Silva, the head barman, to gently bring us down from our game-fuelled high with a plate of Colton Basset stilton and Pedro Ximines dessert sherry. We chatted happily across the bar and drank wonderful cocktails until we were the last people in the room. It was a magical evening, one of those nights where every element of every bite and slurp brings joy and each moment slides blissfully into the next. But it was the grouse that was the star of an evening not short of highlights. That I recommend Rules as a restaurant should by now be obvious - you absolutely, positively have to go, and soon, before the season is over. It's just too good to miss.

Bi Won - Little Bi Won-der by Litro_K

Litro_K — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 00:25:31 +0000

Review by Litro_K

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7580 2660

Tags: good value, family & home feel, korean

Bi Won serves really good, honest food that has never disappointed each time I've come here. The staff are sweet, polite, and they never rush you. Try the Korean barbecue that they cook at your table (fun to watch, for starters!) - the beef fillet, pork belly and prawns are all excellent. The mixed seafood noodles are also particularly good. And the mark of a great Korean restaurant? Flawless kimchee, which they have in spades. It's good value and definitely deserves a look if you're in the area.Bi Won serves really good, honest food that has never disappointed each time I've come here. The staff are sweet, polite, and they never rush you. Try the Korean barbecue that they cook at your table (fun to watch, for starters!) - the beef fillet, pork belly and prawns are all excellent. The mixed seafood noodles are also particularly good. And the mark of a great Korean restaurant? Flawless kimchee, which they have in spades. It's good value and definitely deserves a look if you're in the area.

The Rock & Sole Plaice - good if you like burnt chips and scrag ends by Alice2009

Alice2009 — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 23:55:27 +0000

Review by Alice2009

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 7836 3785

Tags: british, cheap eat, crowded

I went to this place this evening with a friend, having paid for a packet of chips to eat out we went on our way. Only to discover that we had been given a bag of burnt chips and scrag ends, bits left in fryer too long and no longer able to be described as potato. Obviously they saw us coming and thought, 'lets give them our rubbish and then take their money'. Charming. I would have happily gone back and and demanded a refund but my friend has an aversion to complaining. Needless to say we won't be going back. And they don't let take way customers use the ketchup on the tables, I guess its all about the profit margins but a little customer service wouldn't go amiss.I went to this place this evening with a friend, having paid for a packet of chips to eat out we went on our way. Only to discover that we had been given a bag of burnt chips and scrag ends, bits left in fryer too long and no longer able to be described as potato. Obviously they saw us coming and thought, 'lets give them our rubbish and then take their money'. Charming. I would have happily gone back and and demanded a refund but my friend has an aversion to complaining. Needless to say we won't be going back. And they don't let take way customers use the ketchup on the tables, I guess its all about the profit margins but a little customer service wouldn't go amiss.

Souk Medina - Excellent! by sharon77

sharon77 — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 12:58:32 +0000

Review by sharon77

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7240 1796

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

Tags: good value, north african, moroccan

Away from the madding crowds of Covent Garden's main square, Souk Medina is a jewel in the heart of London. Conveniently located just a 5min walk from Long Acre, you'll find a glorious touch of Morocco.

It's hard to imagine from street level, but this place is huge, split over two levels with lots of great rooms to choose from. Once you enter you're transported in to a Moroccan haven. Traditional inspired decor and gentle mood lighting this is a great venue for both groups of friends and couples alike, which offers affordable food, a fun atmosphere (especially the belly dancers) and a relaxed crowd.

Our waiter was excellent. He had a great sense of humour and was always on hand to offer advice without being pushy and rushing us to order. It also has a good wine list. We opted for the Moroccan house white and we weren't disappointed.

The food was amazingly fast and delicious, and having had more than my fair share of Moroccan fare, we were very happy with our food. The calamari and haloumi starters were perfect, the calamari almost melting in your moth, and the lamb tagines simply divine!

I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for somewhere a bit different in London to eat. It gets very busy so booking is essential. I can't wait to go again!Away from the madding crowds of Covent Garden's main square, Souk Medina is a jewel in the heart of London. Conveniently located just a 5min walk from Long Acre, you'll find a glorious touch of Morocco.

It's hard to imagine from street level, but this place is huge, split over two levels with lots of great rooms to choose from. Once you enter you're transported in to a Moroccan haven. Traditional inspired decor and gentle mood lighting this is a great venue for both groups of friends and couples alike, which offers affordable food, a fun atmosphere (especially the belly dancers) and a relaxed crowd.

Our waiter was excellent. He had a great sense of humour and was always on hand to offer advice without being pushy and rushing us to order. It also has a good wine list. We opted for the Moroccan house white and we weren't disappointed.

The food was amazingly fast and delicious, and having had more than my fair share of Moroccan fare, we were very happy with our food. The calamari and haloumi starters were perfect, the calamari almost melting in your moth, and the lamb tagines simply divine!

I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for somewhere a bit different in London to eat. It gets very busy so booking is essential. I can't wait to go again!

Sofra - the portions are not as generous as they look by Ballencrieff

Ballencrieff — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 22:00:01 +0000

Review by Ballencrieff

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7240 3773

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

Tags: turkish, good value, lively

went with a party from work. this was the only Halal restaurant in walking distance, and therefore useful if you have Muslims within your group.

staff were lovely. food was nice. although some dishes did seem to come in a water-logged plates. the meat dishes looked like they were enormous but, as it turned out, it was mainly meat on (giant) bone, so not as daunting as they looked.

recommended for sure. nice ambience too. by the way, our Turkish colleague said that: while the staff here are definitely Turkish, the food definitely is NOT. more greek/mediterranean really.went with a party from work. this was the only Halal restaurant in walking distance, and therefore useful if you have Muslims within your group.

staff were lovely. food was nice. although some dishes did seem to come in a water-logged plates. the meat dishes looked like they were enormous but, as it turned out, it was mainly meat on (giant) bone, so not as daunting as they looked.

recommended for sure. nice ambience too. by the way, our Turkish colleague said that: while the staff here are definitely Turkish, the food definitely is NOT. more greek/mediterranean really.

Konaki Greek Restaurant - Perfect Greek Food by GeorgeClark

GeorgeClark — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:36:34 +0000

Review by GeorgeClark

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7580 9730

Tags: greek, family & home feel, good value

As a Cypriot, this is our 'family' restaurant and does help that my Dad knows the chef but for over 20 years we have been coming to this lovely cute restaurant with an amazing Meze spread that you will be silly to order anything else. Such a convenient location, no rush to get you off your table, fantastic long-standing staff and brilliant ambience. You do need to book a couple of days in advance, but a little planning does you good. It is such that to patronise another Greek restaurant will feel treacherous and give too much guilt, and as a Greek, we have too much of that already. Enjoy, Cheers and Yamas !!As a Cypriot, this is our 'family' restaurant and does help that my Dad knows the chef but for over 20 years we have been coming to this lovely cute restaurant with an amazing Meze spread that you will be silly to order anything else. Such a convenient location, no rush to get you off your table, fantastic long-standing staff and brilliant ambience. You do need to book a couple of days in advance, but a little planning does you good. It is such that to patronise another Greek restaurant will feel treacherous and give too much guilt, and as a Greek, we have too much of that already. Enjoy, Cheers and Yamas !!

Mermaids Tail - Navy Boys chasing the Mermaids Tail by Boys_in_Blue

Boys_in_Blue — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 21:54:49 +0000

Review by Boys_in_Blue

Rating: 5.00

Tags: lively, good value, british

We had been to the Angus Steak House in Leicester Square the day before and had an amazing steak but today we only had a couple of hours so we decided to eat at another of their restaurants. We only wanted dessert and we werenâ¬"t disappointed. There were eight of us and some restaurants dont like such a big group of boys, but they were more than happy to seat us. They immediately put a group of tables together outside on the terrace and were more than happy to serve us. We had such a funny waiter who had us in stitches. There was a premier being set up right in front of us â¬ and we spotted a couple of comedians Sean Lock and Jason Manford from 8 out of 10 cats. Couldnâ¬"t get much better, sitting in the sunshine being served more and more desserts.
What a lovely restaurant â¬ inside was fantastic with massive murals on the walls and traditional fish and chip restaurant decor. The fish and chips looked great â¬ massive portions (shame we had our dinner on the ship)
We asked for them to make platters of desserts so we could all have some of each â¬ it was a fight among the boys to get to the Apple Pie and Custard but by the end we could hardly move. We went through, cheesecake, chocolate fudge cake, treacle sponge, strawberries and ice cream and we even had deep fried mars bar (and it was great). They were the best desserts Iâ¬"ve ever had (just wish they delivered to the ship).
Iâ¬"m just glad we stopped when we did, our buttons were ready to pop as we made our way back to the ship. We had such good meals in Angus and Mermaids Tail it really made our trip to London and we are already looking forward to returning (definitely be having the fish and chips next time).

We had been to the Angus Steak House in Leicester Square the day before and had an amazing steak but today we only had a couple of hours so we decided to eat at another of their restaurants. We only wanted dessert and we werenâ¬"t disappointed. There were eight of us and some restaurants dont like such a big group of boys, but they were more than happy to seat us. They immediately put a group of tables together outside on the terrace and were more than happy to serve us. We had such a funny waiter who had us in stitches. There was a premier being set up right in front of us â¬ and we spotted a couple of comedians Sean Lock and Jason Manford from 8 out of 10 cats. Couldnâ¬"t get much better, sitting in the sunshine being served more and more desserts.
What a lovely restaurant â¬ inside was fantastic with massive murals on the walls and traditional fish and chip restaurant decor. The fish and chips looked great â¬ massive portions (shame we had our dinner on the ship)
We asked for them to make platters of desserts so we could all have some of each â¬ it was a fight among the boys to get to the Apple Pie and Custard but by the end we could hardly move. We went through, cheesecake, chocolate fudge cake, treacle sponge, strawberries and ice cream and we even had deep fried mars bar (and it was great). They were the best desserts Iâ¬"ve ever had (just wish they delivered to the ship).
Iâ¬"m just glad we stopped when we did, our buttons were ready to pop as we made our way back to the ship. We had such good meals in Angus and Mermaids Tail it really made our trip to London and we are already looking forward to returning (definitely be having the fish and chips next time).

Le Cafe Du Jardin - Yes but no by oindroi

oindroi — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:13:20 +0000

Review by oindroi

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7836 8760

Tags: live music, modern british, vegetarian dishes

Maybe they were tired.
It was 10pm. But - as we spotted in the window - that's when the bargain set meals start again - yaaay!
A lot of people were leaving, a table for 20 and boy, were they taking their time. Apparently that's why we could not be given a menu for the first five minutes.
We were not given the set menu details, we had to ask. Hm.
Then it turns out that vegetables are separate from the set menu. Hm
Then the Sauvignon Blanc, despite assurances, was rather tepid.
This is what Old London used to be, before we discovered that Berlin was fab etc.
Come on boys and girls.
Unimpressed.Maybe they were tired.
It was 10pm. But - as we spotted in the window - that's when the bargain set meals start again - yaaay!
A lot of people were leaving, a table for 20 and boy, were they taking their time. Apparently that's why we could not be given a menu for the first five minutes.
We were not given the set menu details, we had to ask. Hm.
Then it turns out that vegetables are separate from the set menu. Hm
Then the Sauvignon Blanc, despite assurances, was rather tepid.
This is what Old London used to be, before we discovered that Berlin was fab etc.
Come on boys and girls.
Unimpressed.

Yu-foria Frozen Yoghurt Co. - something else! by Ben_49

Ben_49 — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 16:19:34 +0000

Review by Ben_49

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 02072405532

Website: www.yu-foria.com

Tags: italian, lively, good value

This place is great. Its completely different to other frozen yoghurt places i've tried. The yoghurt is really dense and tangy, and they've got a mad interior with loads of wood and plants. its good value too... the toppings a way cheaper than other places offer.This place is great. Its completely different to other frozen yoghurt places i've tried. The yoghurt is really dense and tangy, and they've got a mad interior with loads of wood and plants. its good value too... the toppings a way cheaper than other places offer.

Belgo Centraal - Cheap Lobsters! by chrisp

chrisp — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 16:36:12 +0000

Review by chrisp

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7813 2233

Website: http://www.belgo-restaurants.com

Tags: lively, crowded, good value

Lobster! One of my favourite things in the world and also something I never order in this country, for one reason only - the price. In the US and Canada these beauties can be picked up for $7 a pound, and even with the currency not what it used to be, that's still a bargain compared to the 1 1/2lb specimen I saw in Borough the other week on sale for Â£19. Sorry, I'd rather do without until my next stateside holiday.

But Belgo, the mini chain of Belgian moules-frites restaurants, think they've cracked it - literally. This month, until the end of the month, they are running a "Lobsterfest" menu, consisting of our favourite crustaceans served a modest amount of different ways, all for a VERY modest amount of money. And to get the 'fest off to a good start, they invited a modest number of food bloggers and press people to sample the new menu.

Given that I was on a freebie, cost shouldn't have been a concern at all, but as I said, the sample menu we were shown confirmed the prices were indeed very low. Worryingly low in fact - Â£5 for a lobster bisque? Â£8.80 for half a lobster? Without wanting to seem ungrateful I did wonder what corners they must have been cutting to make a profit on serving what is usually a premium seafood. But when the food arrived, my fears were largely assuaged. The bisque was my favourite thing of all - rich and fishy and salty, and though it had probably been bulked out with fish stock was none the worse for it in this price bracket.

The half lobster dishes, including a thermidore, a red thai spiced one and a salad, were perfectly decent for the price and at were presented well, legs and all. The lobsters, I'm assured, are flown in from Nova Scotia on a regular basis, never frozen and cooked to order from live. I would have liked to have the option of a boiled specimen - all the better for sucking the meat out of the legs - but really, given the scarcity of affordable lobster in London and the fact that Belgo is a smart, buzzy space with very capable service and is so massive you're more or less always guaranteed a table, to grumble about details seems pointless.

So well done Belgo for bravely attempting to bring lovely lobster to the masses, and good luck with your future endeavours. When you feel ready to launch your Â£5 Iranian Caviar Credit Crunch Menu or a Â£8 Milk-fed LozÃ¨re Lamb Sunday Lunch, give me a call.Lobster! One of my favourite things in the world and also something I never order in this country, for one reason only - the price. In the US and Canada these beauties can be picked up for $7 a pound, and even with the currency not what it used to be, that's still a bargain compared to the 1 1/2lb specimen I saw in Borough the other week on sale for Â£19. Sorry, I'd rather do without until my next stateside holiday.

But Belgo, the mini chain of Belgian moules-frites restaurants, think they've cracked it - literally. This month, until the end of the month, they are running a "Lobsterfest" menu, consisting of our favourite crustaceans served a modest amount of different ways, all for a VERY modest amount of money. And to get the 'fest off to a good start, they invited a modest number of food bloggers and press people to sample the new menu.

Given that I was on a freebie, cost shouldn't have been a concern at all, but as I said, the sample menu we were shown confirmed the prices were indeed very low. Worryingly low in fact - Â£5 for a lobster bisque? Â£8.80 for half a lobster? Without wanting to seem ungrateful I did wonder what corners they must have been cutting to make a profit on serving what is usually a premium seafood. But when the food arrived, my fears were largely assuaged. The bisque was my favourite thing of all - rich and fishy and salty, and though it had probably been bulked out with fish stock was none the worse for it in this price bracket.

The half lobster dishes, including a thermidore, a red thai spiced one and a salad, were perfectly decent for the price and at were presented well, legs and all. The lobsters, I'm assured, are flown in from Nova Scotia on a regular basis, never frozen and cooked to order from live. I would have liked to have the option of a boiled specimen - all the better for sucking the meat out of the legs - but really, given the scarcity of affordable lobster in London and the fact that Belgo is a smart, buzzy space with very capable service and is so massive you're more or less always guaranteed a table, to grumble about details seems pointless.

So well done Belgo for bravely attempting to bring lovely lobster to the masses, and good luck with your future endeavours. When you feel ready to launch your Â£5 Iranian Caviar Credit Crunch Menu or a Â£8 Milk-fed LozÃ¨re Lamb Sunday Lunch, give me a call.

Bistro Savoir Faire - No mortgage french by BostonDave

BostonDave — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 23:21:55 +0000

Review by BostonDave

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7436 0707

Tags: french, good value, romantic

This is a great unpretentious French spot that I make a point of getting to every time I'm in London. Well prepared food at excellent prices. Try the duck!!This is a great unpretentious French spot that I make a point of getting to every time I'm in London. Well prepared food at excellent prices. Try the duck!!