Latest reviews in Farringdon, London, United Kingdom

Golden Fish Bar - The best you can buy by faders321

faders321 — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 18:47:53 +0000

Review by faders321

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7837 3574

Tags: bargain, friendly staff, local

Fish and Chips are a great British tradition, in a survey I looked at a few weeks ago over 50% of people think thatâ¬"s one of the main parts of British culture. Apart from that they are just very tasty. Most fish and chip shops will also sell other things ranging from sausages to pies and bread rolls so if youâ¬"re not6 a fish person then itâ¬"s okay youâ¬"ll find something else tasty you like. One of my favourite fish and chip shops is Golden Fish Bar and when Iâ¬"m in the area I always make sure I pay it a visit. They give you huge portions of food and I always end up leaving some of it but if you only want a snack itâ¬"s a great place to go and buy some chips to share with somebody else. Whatâ¬"s different about this fish and chip shop is that it also has a restaurant part you can eat in up until 2pm and then you can just order takeaway food. There chips are always really tasty and the batter on the fish is perfect.Fish and Chips are a great British tradition, in a survey I looked at a few weeks ago over 50% of people think thatâ¬"s one of the main parts of British culture. Apart from that they are just very tasty. Most fish and chip shops will also sell other things ranging from sausages to pies and bread rolls so if youâ¬"re not6 a fish person then itâ¬"s okay youâ¬"ll find something else tasty you like. One of my favourite fish and chip shops is Golden Fish Bar and when Iâ¬"m in the area I always make sure I pay it a visit. They give you huge portions of food and I always end up leaving some of it but if you only want a snack itâ¬"s a great place to go and buy some chips to share with somebody else. Whatâ¬"s different about this fish and chip shop is that it also has a restaurant part you can eat in up until 2pm and then you can just order takeaway food. There chips are always really tasty and the batter on the fish is perfect.

Fabric - Quality night out by harmargazza

harmargazza — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 14:05:41 +0000

Review by harmargazza

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7336 8898

Website: http://www.fabriclondon.com

Tags: dance, underground, young and fun

Fabric is one of the best night clubs around. It has 3 dance floors and always has top quailty dj's playing.

The place is massive with loads of rooms leading off of one another.

The only let down is the price but hey this is London.Fabric is one of the best night clubs around. It has 3 dance floors and always has top quailty dj's playing.

The place is massive with loads of rooms leading off of one another.

The only let down is the price but hey this is London.

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.

St. Paul's Cathedral - wow by carum

carum — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 21:39:42 +0000

Review by carum

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7236 4128

Website: http://www.stpaulscathedral.org.uk

Wow

St Paul's Cathedral is vast. The interior of the cathedral is spectacular. Not to be missed.
It is possible to walk up to the famed whispering gallery which is a real spectacle and ten times more exciting than anything else in London. It is amazing to think that the building is so old and to think that something so spectacular dates from the 1600â¬"s and the times of the Stuarts and wren. It is also fascinating that the cathedral survived the blitz and world war with it being right at the centre of London. St Paul's Cathedral is an essential part of the London skyline.
Wow

St Paul's Cathedral is vast. The interior of the cathedral is spectacular. Not to be missed.
It is possible to walk up to the famed whispering gallery which is a real spectacle and ten times more exciting than anything else in London. It is amazing to think that the building is so old and to think that something so spectacular dates from the 1600â¬"s and the times of the Stuarts and wren. It is also fascinating that the cathedral survived the blitz and world war with it being right at the centre of London. St Paul's Cathedral is an essential part of the London skyline.

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.

The Viaduct Tavern - absolutely cacked myself by andybrown

andybrown — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 00:41:19 +0000

Review by andybrown

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7600 1863

Tags: food, after work crowd, good beer

I will admit that this pub is often full of lawyers and bankers, braying mindlessly at each other in mockney as they whomp down large amounts of the blandest lager they can find. However, this is one of the few places where they can effortlessly be ignored, through one or more of the following ways:

1 - admire the beautiful, original Victorian furnishings, mirrors, glass, etc, etc.
2 - get drunk in the old-fashioned way, on either numerous types of gin, or the delectable London Porter, invented for the specific benefit of the Smithfield Market meat carriers.
3 - take in the view, the Old Bailey, the 16th century church of St Sepulchre, the engineering wonder of Holborn Viaduct, etc.
4 - scare yourself absolutely and completely shitless.

Now, the more astute of you may have noticed that, of the four options, one tends to stick out somewhat. And it's the one that leads most people to think "no, let's not go there, if i want to be scared i can go to romford". and that is true up to a point, but what you're missing my darlings is the source of that fear. Will it help if i say i was rendered numb and terrified by the lime cordial in the cellar? No?

The Viaduct is built on the cellars/foundations/cells of the Giltspur Street Compter, an old remand prison in the Old City of London, which took the overflow from Newgate across the road. The misery of prison existence was almost unthinkable, what with the total corruption of the warders who weren't obliged to feed the prisoners. Some inevitably died in these cold dank places. Now I'm a rational human being, even after a couple of beers, so when I say that I felt something, you can be forgiven for assuming it was the barmaid's bottom.
But I did. I went down into the cellars, and it was all very interesting, and they took me round, and showed me the cells, and the cell numbers, and we got to cell where they stored lime cordial and somesuch other liquids, she opened the door, I went to enter...

and i couldn't. it was as if something was holding me there, pushing me. that's the only way i can describe it. like a forcefield. and, try as i might, my legs wouldn't obey, and i stood there in perfect terror as the lady showing me around told me someone had died in that cell, and the staff didn't like to be down in the cellar in the night time on their own because sometimes the lights went off and the doors locked themselves and noises were heard, terrible noises of pain and loneliness, echoing through the old bricks, cracked walls, and rusted iron bars in the awful, total blackness.

so you see, the lawyers and the bankers don't bother me at all. i don't even see them. i sit there and nurse my pint, and wonder how one experience can overturn a lifetime of reason. it's a good place, the Viaduct. But I wouldn't bloody work there.I will admit that this pub is often full of lawyers and bankers, braying mindlessly at each other in mockney as they whomp down large amounts of the blandest lager they can find. However, this is one of the few places where they can effortlessly be ignored, through one or more of the following ways:

1 - admire the beautiful, original Victorian furnishings, mirrors, glass, etc, etc.
2 - get drunk in the old-fashioned way, on either numerous types of gin, or the delectable London Porter, invented for the specific benefit of the Smithfield Market meat carriers.
3 - take in the view, the Old Bailey, the 16th century church of St Sepulchre, the engineering wonder of Holborn Viaduct, etc.
4 - scare yourself absolutely and completely shitless.

Now, the more astute of you may have noticed that, of the four options, one tends to stick out somewhat. And it's the one that leads most people to think "no, let's not go there, if i want to be scared i can go to romford". and that is true up to a point, but what you're missing my darlings is the source of that fear. Will it help if i say i was rendered numb and terrified by the lime cordial in the cellar? No?

The Viaduct is built on the cellars/foundations/cells of the Giltspur Street Compter, an old remand prison in the Old City of London, which took the overflow from Newgate across the road. The misery of prison existence was almost unthinkable, what with the total corruption of the warders who weren't obliged to feed the prisoners. Some inevitably died in these cold dank places. Now I'm a rational human being, even after a couple of beers, so when I say that I felt something, you can be forgiven for assuming it was the barmaid's bottom.
But I did. I went down into the cellars, and it was all very interesting, and they took me round, and showed me the cells, and the cell numbers, and we got to cell where they stored lime cordial and somesuch other liquids, she opened the door, I went to enter...

and i couldn't. it was as if something was holding me there, pushing me. that's the only way i can describe it. like a forcefield. and, try as i might, my legs wouldn't obey, and i stood there in perfect terror as the lady showing me around told me someone had died in that cell, and the staff didn't like to be down in the cellar in the night time on their own because sometimes the lights went off and the doors locked themselves and noises were heard, terrible noises of pain and loneliness, echoing through the old bricks, cracked walls, and rusted iron bars in the awful, total blackness.

so you see, the lawyers and the bankers don't bother me at all. i don't even see them. i sit there and nurse my pint, and wonder how one experience can overturn a lifetime of reason. it's a good place, the Viaduct. But I wouldn't bloody work there.

Dans Le Noir - What an experience! by baks162

baks162 — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 09:31:53 +0000

Review by baks162

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7253 1100

Website: http://www.danslenoir.com

Tags: lively, restaurant, romantic

This restaurant is more for the experience rather than the food.

A bunch of us went there a couple of months back after reading about it. It didnt dissapoint. When you arrive, you are given lockers to put all your belongings in (you arent allowed to take your mobile phones, watches, etc to the dining area) and then led by a blind waiter into the dark dining area. And trust me, it is dark and you cant see a thing!

We ordered the vegetarian surprise dish - it tasted average but it was exciting trying to figure out what was on the plate! Woudl recommending not ordering any wine - if you miss the glass in the dark...!!

By the end of the evening, I mused to myself - how important is our sight.This restaurant is more for the experience rather than the food.

A bunch of us went there a couple of months back after reading about it. It didnt dissapoint. When you arrive, you are given lockers to put all your belongings in (you arent allowed to take your mobile phones, watches, etc to the dining area) and then led by a blind waiter into the dark dining area. And trust me, it is dark and you cant see a thing!

We ordered the vegetarian surprise dish - it tasted average but it was exciting trying to figure out what was on the plate! Woudl recommending not ordering any wine - if you miss the glass in the dark...!!

By the end of the evening, I mused to myself - how important is our sight.

The Coach & Horses - Perfectly tucked away... a hidden gem. by foodbymark

foodbymark — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 02:27:36 +0000

Review by foodbymark

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7837 1336

Website: http://www.thecoachandhorses.com/

Tags: gastro pub, british, good food

Coach and Horses is perfectly tucked away in Farringdon, parked nearly behind the Observer - it is a true gastropub and although we were expecting more of a lazy Sunday lunch we were presented with a menu with 4 options per course. I like it when menus are this simple and full of seasonal items.

The Cold Almond Soup was absolutely delicious and opting for Pork Loin for the main, I was certainly not disappointed. Everything was fresh. Two of four of the party opted for the Polenta, Caponta and Gorgonzola vegetarian option (the only option at that) and it was delicious.

I was also surprised by the substantial wine list with many served by the glass. The staff although minimal on a Sunday afternoon were attentive and we had zero complaints, only compliments.

I would certainly go back and have since.Coach and Horses is perfectly tucked away in Farringdon, parked nearly behind the Observer - it is a true gastropub and although we were expecting more of a lazy Sunday lunch we were presented with a menu with 4 options per course. I like it when menus are this simple and full of seasonal items.

The Cold Almond Soup was absolutely delicious and opting for Pork Loin for the main, I was certainly not disappointed. Everything was fresh. Two of four of the party opted for the Polenta, Caponta and Gorgonzola vegetarian option (the only option at that) and it was delicious.

I was also surprised by the substantial wine list with many served by the glass. The staff although minimal on a Sunday afternoon were attentive and we had zero complaints, only compliments.

I would certainly go back and have since.

Fresh Italy Ltd - Fresh Italy by kranti

kranti — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 22:52:01 +0000

Review by kranti

Rating: 3.00The Fresh Italy take-away/restaurant is part of a small chain selling pasta and gnocchi in takeaway coffee cups.

The branch on Ludgate Hill is a short walk from St Pauls or Blackfriars tube stations. The restaurant provides both eat-in and take away options (similar to the Pret a Manger or Eat chains). Once you have chosen what to order, it is prepared freshly in front of you in an open kitchen behind the pay counter. There is a 'meal deal' option if you want more than just the pasta (e.g. fruit, drink, bread, salad). The food is good and is served hot. The queues are large but move quickly. Quite often there is no space to sit and eat at lunchtime. Fresh Italy provides relatively good value for money in the area with a change from the usual sandwich.The Fresh Italy take-away/restaurant is part of a small chain selling pasta and gnocchi in takeaway coffee cups.

The branch on Ludgate Hill is a short walk from St Pauls or Blackfriars tube stations. The restaurant provides both eat-in and take away options (similar to the Pret a Manger or Eat chains). Once you have chosen what to order, it is prepared freshly in front of you in an open kitchen behind the pay counter. There is a 'meal deal' option if you want more than just the pasta (e.g. fruit, drink, bread, salad). The food is good and is served hot. The queues are large but move quickly. Quite often there is no space to sit and eat at lunchtime. Fresh Italy provides relatively good value for money in the area with a change from the usual sandwich.

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/

Tags: british, lively, expensive

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.

Le Cafe - Psssst! by Lacrimosa

Lacrimosa — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 21:20:18 +0000

Review by Lacrimosa

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7831 8139

Tags: takeaway, friendly, busy

Okay, it's time to 'fess up. I've known about Le CafÃ© for ages, but have been reluctant to mention it here on Trusted Places because I'm mean and selfish and thinking only of myself. In London there's an awful lot of stomachs to fill every lunchtime, and I have absolutely no shame in prioritising my own. So shoot me!

Le CafÃ© is an absolute gem of a lunchtime takeaway cafe. The owner used to run a restaurant but gave it up in favour of shorter hours. Situated just off Gray's Inn Road, it's the sort of place that you probably wouldn't notice if you passed it, if only because there's so many small, independently run cafes around Clerkenwell. The only reason I know about it is through word of mouth, having often worked nearby. It's a tiny place half taken up with the usual counter filled with a selection of sandwich fillings and tasty things to put in salad boxes, all of which are freshly prepared and very reasonably priced. However the star of the show is most definitely the hot food. Every day there's a couple of special dishes, usually a meat or fish dish and something vegetarian like pasta, but it's blindingly obvious that the owner's passion is for meat and fish - indeed he gets up early every weekday to fetch it from the market himself, choosing from the likes of salmon, salt beef, chicken, sea bream, lambs kidneys, cod fillet, pork fillet, or lamb shank. These might end up in dishes such as Pork Fillet with Apple and Cider - one of my personal favourites - or maybe Cod Fillet with Lime and Shallots. Another day it might be a casserole or kebabs. The lamb shank seems to be a particular crowd pleaser, selling out in a matter of minutes, and he'll happily take it off the bone for you if you prefer. Everything comes with mashed potatoes, rice or vegetables, or a combination of all three if that's what you fancy.

But that's not all. There's soup too (you'll be given a bit to try if you look the least bit indecisive about it) and what he modestly calls "bangers and mash". Many people don't realise that the "bangers" vary too from day to day - perhaps pork and apple one day, followed by venison the next - so it's worth asking what they are. He'll serve them with gravy for you. In fact if you manage to get a seat at one of the few tiny tables inside or outside, and say "just bring me whatever you recommend today, please" he'll do just that, although you might want to check the menu first if you loathe kidney. Clearly a man with strong opinions about food! I once overheard him politely refuse to sell a girl a microwaved smoked salmon bagel, on the grounds that microwaving the smoked salmon might give her food poisoning. (She unwisely flounced off in a huff, presumably to order it somewhere less scrupulous.)

And the price of all these savoury meaty fishy delights? Â£3.95. That's the 2008 price - unbelievably, it was just Â£3.50 back in 2007. My tip is to get there early, preferably between midday and 12.30pm, as they do tend to sell out of the hot food quite quickly. Not only is it great value, but you'll likely be served with a smile and a joke. Regulars are remembered, pleasantries exchanged, and I was hugely touched to be quietly handed a box of Portuguese yoghurt coated nuts on the last day of 2007 before the city shut down for Christmas. Unbeknown to him, it was one of the very few presents I received that year. Priceless.Okay, it's time to 'fess up. I've known about Le CafÃ© for ages, but have been reluctant to mention it here on Trusted Places because I'm mean and selfish and thinking only of myself. In London there's an awful lot of stomachs to fill every lunchtime, and I have absolutely no shame in prioritising my own. So shoot me!

Le CafÃ© is an absolute gem of a lunchtime takeaway cafe. The owner used to run a restaurant but gave it up in favour of shorter hours. Situated just off Gray's Inn Road, it's the sort of place that you probably wouldn't notice if you passed it, if only because there's so many small, independently run cafes around Clerkenwell. The only reason I know about it is through word of mouth, having often worked nearby. It's a tiny place half taken up with the usual counter filled with a selection of sandwich fillings and tasty things to put in salad boxes, all of which are freshly prepared and very reasonably priced. However the star of the show is most definitely the hot food. Every day there's a couple of special dishes, usually a meat or fish dish and something vegetarian like pasta, but it's blindingly obvious that the owner's passion is for meat and fish - indeed he gets up early every weekday to fetch it from the market himself, choosing from the likes of salmon, salt beef, chicken, sea bream, lambs kidneys, cod fillet, pork fillet, or lamb shank. These might end up in dishes such as Pork Fillet with Apple and Cider - one of my personal favourites - or maybe Cod Fillet with Lime and Shallots. Another day it might be a casserole or kebabs. The lamb shank seems to be a particular crowd pleaser, selling out in a matter of minutes, and he'll happily take it off the bone for you if you prefer. Everything comes with mashed potatoes, rice or vegetables, or a combination of all three if that's what you fancy.

But that's not all. There's soup too (you'll be given a bit to try if you look the least bit indecisive about it) and what he modestly calls "bangers and mash". Many people don't realise that the "bangers" vary too from day to day - perhaps pork and apple one day, followed by venison the next - so it's worth asking what they are. He'll serve them with gravy for you. In fact if you manage to get a seat at one of the few tiny tables inside or outside, and say "just bring me whatever you recommend today, please" he'll do just that, although you might want to check the menu first if you loathe kidney. Clearly a man with strong opinions about food! I once overheard him politely refuse to sell a girl a microwaved smoked salmon bagel, on the grounds that microwaving the smoked salmon might give her food poisoning. (She unwisely flounced off in a huff, presumably to order it somewhere less scrupulous.)

And the price of all these savoury meaty fishy delights? Â£3.95. That's the 2008 price - unbelievably, it was just Â£3.50 back in 2007. My tip is to get there early, preferably between midday and 12.30pm, as they do tend to sell out of the hot food quite quickly. Not only is it great value, but you'll likely be served with a smile and a joke. Regulars are remembered, pleasantries exchanged, and I was hugely touched to be quietly handed a box of Portuguese yoghurt coated nuts on the last day of 2007 before the city shut down for Christmas. Unbeknown to him, it was one of the very few presents I received that year. Priceless.

Club Gascon - Club Gascon - 06 June 2008 by Food_Snob

Food_Snob — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 08:06:57 +0000

Review by Food_Snob

Rating: 2.00

Phone: 020 7796 0600

Website: http://www.clubgascon.com

Tags: french, expensive, business

Full Critique:

http://foodsnobblog.wordpress.com/category/restaurant-reviews/club-gascon-restaurant-reviews/

The menu here, although characteristic of the rich and hearty cuisine of Gascony, features classic dishes interlaced with modern and exotic twists, for example, confit of organic salmon, violet tea & citrus chutney and asparagus coulis, eucalyptus jelly & baby lobster. Furthermore, it is difficult to find a review not written in overwhelming praise; the inventiveness and skill of Pascal Aussignac (previously of Guy Savoy and CarrÃ© des Feuillants) is lauded and the foie gras dishes branded the best London has to offer.

Having eagerly made reservations a few days prior, I arrived promptly at seven, salivating in anticipation of what was to follow; expectations were high. The â¬Üreceptionistâ¬" greeted me warmly and showed me to my table. The restaurant was deserted, but it was still early. Soon K and D, two friends who would be joining me, arrived and our charming serveuse handed around menus, explaining how one was to order; reports of the notoriously â¬Üchaoticâ¬" and â¬Ücomplicatedâ¬" menu proved, in my opinion, unfounded. The dishes, broken down into five categories, la route de sel, le potager, lâ¬"oceane, les foies gras and les pasturages, are served tapas style and generally become heavier as you move down through the sections. Three dishes each were suggested as sufficient.

Such a wide selection meant it took a while to â¬Ümutuallyâ¬" decide on what to order. I quickly found my initial (selfish) joy at being able to try more dishes dining as a group replaced by the sour disappointment of how much our tastes diverged e.g. one friend is not fond of game and another, apparently, cannot mix red meat and white during the same dinner. Once dishes were finally agreed upon, I was somewhat miffed: one dish I had had my eye on since initial inspection of the menu, glazed black cod, lillet & coconut, smoked salt, was chosen by BOTH friends: I did not mind so much that someone else had ordered â¬Ümyâ¬" dish, but why break that cardinal rule and order the same dish twice? I realise full well that it is a little pathetic, but I cannot help it, I have my â¬Üprinciplesâ¬" (chronic OCD sufferer) and I was not happy. Whatever! Needless to say, I tried to be as obliging as possible so that we might all share freely.

During the well earned rest that followed ordering, I asked about photographing the food, but was informed, after that the chef, would be appreciated it if I refrained from this. Quelle deception!

It took the arrival of the bread basket, offering a selection of cereal, raison and fennel, rye or white baguette, to raise my spirits. I like bread, but I adore hot bread and at CG, it is baked on site and served piping hot. I tried each variety, of course, and found rye a clear winner.

An amuse bouche of eucalyptus granitÃ©, melon and salsify followed; this did not really work for me and was instantly forgettable. Our starters looked good, were interestingly presented and the portions were of standard starter size, except for my generous duck carpaccio, spring truffle & crispy artichoke. Unfortunately, this looked better than it tasted; the flavour was distinctive and the idea of carpaccio of duck was new to me, so though I am glad I tried it, I would not order it again. Additionally, the artichoke came sliced in the form of large â¬Ücrispsâ¬", which I did not at all care for. My companions did not seem especially impressed either. After sampling each otherâ¬"s dishes, K decided the texture of her abalone & razor clams fricassee, velvety parsnip & seaweed tartare was rather putting her off, thus setting in motion a mini merry-go-round that ended with K having Dâ¬"s aligot, juicy mousserons & wild garlic, D my duck and me the abalone and razor clams, well, just razor clams (K had already eaten the single small abalone morsel). I was pleased with this result; the fat clams were delightful, whilst the consistency of the aligot was, in my opinion, a little â¬Üplasticâ¬", though the juicy mousserons floating within were indeed moreish.

Next came embers grilled artichokes, barigoule & diablo sauce for K and two foie gras dishes, ouzo foie gras delight and pressed duck foie gras, king crab & hot tomato jus for D and me, respectively. This time, I thought the portions were relatively stingy. The barigoule consisted of three mini artichoke heads; the ouzo delight was a small brick of pÃ¢tÃ©, similar sized brioche slice and dice-sized cube of ouzo jelly; and the foie gras and crab comprised small slivers of terrine and four scrawny crab claws (the absence of actual crab meat on them suggests they were there just for decoration). Further, it came on a craggy stone slab, inhibiting me from safely pouring out the tomato sauce (initially incorrectly served with Kâ¬"s dish). Taste-wise, I found the barigoule quite bland and maybe a little overcooked, the foies gras were both smooth and flavoursome, but the combinations on either dish did not thrill me. Actually, this is not a fair comment as the lack of crab and impracticality of the tomato mix meant I was left with a serving of â¬Üstraightâ¬" foie gras. The ouzo jelly was the star of this course.

With the final course due, I was dissatisfied and desperate for things to improve. And they did, a little. The black cod, served differently to reviews, came in a bowl with the fish immersed in a white froth. My seared loin veal, sea urchin jus, milla fritter looked nice, if again not plentiful; a couple of slices of pink meat with some milla fritters (these turned out to be basic and boring potato croquettes). The veal was overcooked for me, preferring it to melt in my mouth; the fritters were dull; and the powerful, sharp sea urchin jus did not successfully link the dishâ¬"s flavours together. Nevertheless, I would not describe the dish as bad, just lacklustre. The cod was the mealâ¬"s highlight for both K and D; I was unable to try the fish together with the dishâ¬"s supporting ingredients, but the scraps I did sample, though I have had better elsewhere, were well cooked.

A pre-dessert/palate cleanser of rhubarb sorbet, balsamic vinegar and celery followed. This was the most pleasant surprise of the meal with the diverse and distinct flavours delivering a cool sharp zing.

Dessert, my favourite course, was still to come. We ordered the choco bar, red hot chilli berries and white chocolate boule, lime & pineapple. By this stage, the restaurant had indeed filled out with a well-dressed crowd of young professionals â¬ not surprising given the proximity to the City â¬ and this crowd was probably why we had to wait so long for desserts. Uncomfortably long. When they finally arrived, they were, as pudding ought to be, a feast for the eyes. The boule, an egg of white chocolate, came with a warm pineapple jus served Ã la Ducasse that melted the head of the egg revealing the precious, sweet and acidic lime and pineapple within. It was a nice combination. The choco bar, a chocolate sponge served with coffee ice cream and dark chocolate syrup, though decent, lacked that one characteristic essential to all good, especially good chocolate, desserts â¬ indulgence. Puddings should be guilty pleasures, naughty extravagances and this sponge was wanting of any real depth or luxury. The red hot chilli berries looked most impressive; a raspberry millefeuille with a raspberry sorbet, still within the ladle, and, I think, red pepper gel alongside. The raspberries were amazingly fresh; this is unfortunately the best I have to say about this dish. The sorbet was refreshing, but spoilt by a few hard lumps of ice and the gel was devoid of any genuine punch, which was what I was looking for from RED HOT CHILLI berries.

I would rather not mention the petit fours â¬ one chocolate dusted almond each and some chocolate raisons â¬ but I have, for the record of course (:P).

Overall, the food was not actually bad, but it was not great, not good, just decent and failed to justify its hefty price (Â£227.00 for three, including service and a Â£42.00 bottle of wine). The service was decent and contrary to what I have read, polite and friendly, if at times a little sloppy and inefficient (dropping of cutlery, wrong dishes to wrong diner, requested butter not delivered) and deteriorated as the night wore on. One personal annoyance was that the waiter explaining our dishes mumbled every description in a barely audible whisper. Further, though I did not see the wine list myself, I was told there was a dearth of more reasonably priced wines. I was also let down by the absence of many of what I thought were signature dishes e.g. foie gras ice cream, foie gras popcorn, duck confit, smoked eel croustillant and (amazing) frites (I know what you are thinking â¬ stop reading so many reviews!).

The experience fell way short of what I wanted and what I expected from this Michelin starred restaurant, but in writing this critique, I may have been severe. Many of those glowing reviews that elevated my hopes so high were indeed a little old, so maybe the kitchen is becoming complacent or maybe it was just a bad nightâ¬¦another dish, another day, things could have been different. There were other dishes I would have liked to sample and considering that the menu is updated monthly and ordering le marche (four course set menu for Â£42.00) is pretty good value, I do believe I would consider returning. After all, everyone deserves a second chance.

57 West Smithfield, London, EC1A 9DS
tel: 020 7796 0600
nearest tube: Barbican, Farringdon
www.clubgascon.com

Full Critique:

http://foodsnobblog.wordpress.com/category/restaurant-reviews/club-gascon-restaurant-reviews/

The menu here, although characteristic of the rich and hearty cuisine of Gascony, features classic dishes interlaced with modern and exotic twists, for example, confit of organic salmon, violet tea & citrus chutney and asparagus coulis, eucalyptus jelly & baby lobster. Furthermore, it is difficult to find a review not written in overwhelming praise; the inventiveness and skill of Pascal Aussignac (previously of Guy Savoy and CarrÃ© des Feuillants) is lauded and the foie gras dishes branded the best London has to offer.

Having eagerly made reservations a few days prior, I arrived promptly at seven, salivating in anticipation of what was to follow; expectations were high. The â¬Üreceptionistâ¬" greeted me warmly and showed me to my table. The restaurant was deserted, but it was still early. Soon K and D, two friends who would be joining me, arrived and our charming serveuse handed around menus, explaining how one was to order; reports of the notoriously â¬Üchaoticâ¬" and â¬Ücomplicatedâ¬" menu proved, in my opinion, unfounded. The dishes, broken down into five categories, la route de sel, le potager, lâ¬"oceane, les foies gras and les pasturages, are served tapas style and generally become heavier as you move down through the sections. Three dishes each were suggested as sufficient.

Such a wide selection meant it took a while to â¬Ümutuallyâ¬" decide on what to order. I quickly found my initial (selfish) joy at being able to try more dishes dining as a group replaced by the sour disappointment of how much our tastes diverged e.g. one friend is not fond of game and another, apparently, cannot mix red meat and white during the same dinner. Once dishes were finally agreed upon, I was somewhat miffed: one dish I had had my eye on since initial inspection of the menu, glazed black cod, lillet & coconut, smoked salt, was chosen by BOTH friends: I did not mind so much that someone else had ordered â¬Ümyâ¬" dish, but why break that cardinal rule and order the same dish twice? I realise full well that it is a little pathetic, but I cannot help it, I have my â¬Üprinciplesâ¬" (chronic OCD sufferer) and I was not happy. Whatever! Needless to say, I tried to be as obliging as possible so that we might all share freely.

During the well earned rest that followed ordering, I asked about photographing the food, but was informed, after that the chef, would be appreciated it if I refrained from this. Quelle deception!

It took the arrival of the bread basket, offering a selection of cereal, raison and fennel, rye or white baguette, to raise my spirits. I like bread, but I adore hot bread and at CG, it is baked on site and served piping hot. I tried each variety, of course, and found rye a clear winner.

An amuse bouche of eucalyptus granitÃ©, melon and salsify followed; this did not really work for me and was instantly forgettable. Our starters looked good, were interestingly presented and the portions were of standard starter size, except for my generous duck carpaccio, spring truffle & crispy artichoke. Unfortunately, this looked better than it tasted; the flavour was distinctive and the idea of carpaccio of duck was new to me, so though I am glad I tried it, I would not order it again. Additionally, the artichoke came sliced in the form of large â¬Ücrispsâ¬", which I did not at all care for. My companions did not seem especially impressed either. After sampling each otherâ¬"s dishes, K decided the texture of her abalone & razor clams fricassee, velvety parsnip & seaweed tartare was rather putting her off, thus setting in motion a mini merry-go-round that ended with K having Dâ¬"s aligot, juicy mousserons & wild garlic, D my duck and me the abalone and razor clams, well, just razor clams (K had already eaten the single small abalone morsel). I was pleased with this result; the fat clams were delightful, whilst the consistency of the aligot was, in my opinion, a little â¬Üplasticâ¬", though the juicy mousserons floating within were indeed moreish.

Next came embers grilled artichokes, barigoule & diablo sauce for K and two foie gras dishes, ouzo foie gras delight and pressed duck foie gras, king crab & hot tomato jus for D and me, respectively. This time, I thought the portions were relatively stingy. The barigoule consisted of three mini artichoke heads; the ouzo delight was a small brick of pÃ¢tÃ©, similar sized brioche slice and dice-sized cube of ouzo jelly; and the foie gras and crab comprised small slivers of terrine and four scrawny crab claws (the absence of actual crab meat on them suggests they were there just for decoration). Further, it came on a craggy stone slab, inhibiting me from safely pouring out the tomato sauce (initially incorrectly served with Kâ¬"s dish). Taste-wise, I found the barigoule quite bland and maybe a little overcooked, the foies gras were both smooth and flavoursome, but the combinations on either dish did not thrill me. Actually, this is not a fair comment as the lack of crab and impracticality of the tomato mix meant I was left with a serving of â¬Üstraightâ¬" foie gras. The ouzo jelly was the star of this course.

With the final course due, I was dissatisfied and desperate for things to improve. And they did, a little. The black cod, served differently to reviews, came in a bowl with the fish immersed in a white froth. My seared loin veal, sea urchin jus, milla fritter looked nice, if again not plentiful; a couple of slices of pink meat with some milla fritters (these turned out to be basic and boring potato croquettes). The veal was overcooked for me, preferring it to melt in my mouth; the fritters were dull; and the powerful, sharp sea urchin jus did not successfully link the dishâ¬"s flavours together. Nevertheless, I would not describe the dish as bad, just lacklustre. The cod was the mealâ¬"s highlight for both K and D; I was unable to try the fish together with the dishâ¬"s supporting ingredients, but the scraps I did sample, though I have had better elsewhere, were well cooked.

A pre-dessert/palate cleanser of rhubarb sorbet, balsamic vinegar and celery followed. This was the most pleasant surprise of the meal with the diverse and distinct flavours delivering a cool sharp zing.

Dessert, my favourite course, was still to come. We ordered the choco bar, red hot chilli berries and white chocolate boule, lime & pineapple. By this stage, the restaurant had indeed filled out with a well-dressed crowd of young professionals â¬ not surprising given the proximity to the City â¬ and this crowd was probably why we had to wait so long for desserts. Uncomfortably long. When they finally arrived, they were, as pudding ought to be, a feast for the eyes. The boule, an egg of white chocolate, came with a warm pineapple jus served Ã la Ducasse that melted the head of the egg revealing the precious, sweet and acidic lime and pineapple within. It was a nice combination. The choco bar, a chocolate sponge served with coffee ice cream and dark chocolate syrup, though decent, lacked that one characteristic essential to all good, especially good chocolate, desserts â¬ indulgence. Puddings should be guilty pleasures, naughty extravagances and this sponge was wanting of any real depth or luxury. The red hot chilli berries looked most impressive; a raspberry millefeuille with a raspberry sorbet, still within the ladle, and, I think, red pepper gel alongside. The raspberries were amazingly fresh; this is unfortunately the best I have to say about this dish. The sorbet was refreshing, but spoilt by a few hard lumps of ice and the gel was devoid of any genuine punch, which was what I was looking for from RED HOT CHILLI berries.

I would rather not mention the petit fours â¬ one chocolate dusted almond each and some chocolate raisons â¬ but I have, for the record of course (:P).

Overall, the food was not actually bad, but it was not great, not good, just decent and failed to justify its hefty price (Â£227.00 for three, including service and a Â£42.00 bottle of wine). The service was decent and contrary to what I have read, polite and friendly, if at times a little sloppy and inefficient (dropping of cutlery, wrong dishes to wrong diner, requested butter not delivered) and deteriorated as the night wore on. One personal annoyance was that the waiter explaining our dishes mumbled every description in a barely audible whisper. Further, though I did not see the wine list myself, I was told there was a dearth of more reasonably priced wines. I was also let down by the absence of many of what I thought were signature dishes e.g. foie gras ice cream, foie gras popcorn, duck confit, smoked eel croustillant and (amazing) frites (I know what you are thinking â¬ stop reading so many reviews!).

The experience fell way short of what I wanted and what I expected from this Michelin starred restaurant, but in writing this critique, I may have been severe. Many of those glowing reviews that elevated my hopes so high were indeed a little old, so maybe the kitchen is becoming complacent or maybe it was just a bad nightâ¬¦another dish, another day, things could have been different. There were other dishes I would have liked to sample and considering that the menu is updated monthly and ordering le marche (four course set menu for Â£42.00) is pretty good value, I do believe I would consider returning. After all, everyone deserves a second chance.

57 West Smithfield, London, EC1A 9DS
tel: 020 7796 0600
nearest tube: Barbican, Farringdon
www.clubgascon.com

Barcelona Tapas Bar & Restaurant - SO GOOD by wkent

wkent — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 12:58:42 +0000

Review by wkent

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7329 5111

Website: http://www.barcelona-tapas.com

Tags: tapas, toptable, vegetarian dishes

Had a great experience here, really good food and a great ambiance. Also really enjoyed the cured meats and cheeses. I definitely recommend this restaurant! Had a great experience here, really good food and a great ambiance. Also really enjoyed the cured meats and cheeses. I definitely recommend this restaurant!

The Jerusalem Tavern - Ancient ales by chrisp

chrisp — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 14:56:50 +0000

Review by chrisp

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7490 4281

Tags: independent pub, traditional pub, relaxed

A charming pub, tucked away behind St. John's gate in Farringdon. The ancient building oozes character and full marks to the management in bravely serving only organic and independent ales. The bar staff are as friendly as you'd like and they'll even serve your pint in a sturdy plastic glass if you want to soak up the sun outside (or, as on the occasion I visited, huddle in the alleyway and shelter from the rain). Highly recommended, rain or shine.A charming pub, tucked away behind St. John's gate in Farringdon. The ancient building oozes character and full marks to the management in bravely serving only organic and independent ales. The bar staff are as friendly as you'd like and they'll even serve your pint in a sturdy plastic glass if you want to soak up the sun outside (or, as on the occasion I visited, huddle in the alleyway and shelter from the rain). Highly recommended, rain or shine.

Tart Restaurant & Bar - Fantastic find by lenalouise

lenalouise — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 14:45:28 +0000

Review by lenalouise

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7253 3003

Website: www.tartbar.co.uk

Tags: lively, french, romantic

After reading that itâ¬"d be 50% off food at lunchtime for the first month of opening, I quickly rocked on down to Tart with my eating buddy as the website made it look like an interesting place. I was intrigued by the promise of naughty pictures anyway! It is located about 5 minutes away from Farringdon station and fairly easy to find. Upon arrival, we were greeted with a very warm welcome from the French waiter (he might have been the manager, not sure) and seated halfway into the restaurant. Itâ¬"s quite narrow but goes far back into the building. The bar is situated near the front of the restaurant with a very glamorous looking chandelier hanging near to the entrance. Halfway through the restaurant were a couple of tables with very colourful, funky seats which is where we were sitting. Further on is another dining room with the toilets downstairs.

The lunchtime menu had a good choice of dishes. Usually, I find that with lunchtime deals, itâ¬"s more difficult to find something that you havenâ¬"t tried anywhere else. We decided to go for a starter and main each. I had wood pigeon, beetroot puree and pancetta with a chocolate reduction. Sam had a ham hock terrine with pickles and pear chutney. My pigeon was perfectly cooked, still pink and tender in the middle. I was curious as to how the chocolate reduction would work with the dish but the flavours went really well. The sauce was only slightly chocolaty but combined with the deep gamey flavours of the pigeon and the slightly sour flavour of the beetroot, it was just unbelievable! I just love it when you go and eat somewhere and get something where all the things on the plate unite and work perfectly well with each other. It worked texture-wise as well. You have the slightly crispy skin of the pigeon, the tenderness of the meat, the smoothness of the beetroot, the crunch of the salad. Iâ¬"d say itâ¬"s in my top 10 restaurant dishes that Iâ¬"ve had ever. Samâ¬"s terrine was pretty good too, it was fairly moist (for a terrine) which was nice and I especially liked the pear chutney that came with it.

Almost forgot, the bread was pretty unique. It was a sweet potato bread that they make themselves and it was refreshing to be given a bread that is a bit different. I gobbled it up pretty quickly and I think they realised how much we loved it and gave us a second helping, yay!

Now the mainsâ¬¦ I had a slow roasted belly of pork served with cocotte potatoes and roast vegetables. Sam had a chicken breast with mushroom risotto. I think I was slightly disappointed with the mains at the time as the starters we just had were so fantastic but I did enjoy it. Iâ¬"ve had quite a few belly of pork dishes now so itâ¬"s difficult to top the best ones and I think Iâ¬"m a bit bored of having seasonal vegetables/potatoes with dishes. Itâ¬"s just a bit too easy isnâ¬"t it? Lol. Samâ¬"s chicken with risotto was perfectly cooked but nothing special.

The service is really good here. The French guy was obviously so passionate about his food and came over and recommended things and explained some of the dishes. He was raving on about the Tartinis which are cocktails that taste like desserts. We couldnâ¬"t resist and ended up trying two of themâ¬¦.the Lemon Meringue tartini and the Apple Tarte Tatin one. Both delicious and highly alcoholic! They do actually taste like their respective desserts aswell. My favourite was the tarte tatin which came with an apple crisp. The only thing missing is the flaky pastry! Somehow they managed to incorporate the deep caramel flavours and spices into the drink. If you do come here, you have to try one!

With the 50% off, our meal turned into a bargain as the food and drink was very high quality. I think the tartinis alone were Â£7 for each one. With a starter and a main each, everything came to only Â£45 which is awesome. Iâ¬"d definitely come back again but maybe for a treat rather than making it a regular place. Hopefully after reading this review, more people will try it out as I want them to do well!
After reading that itâ¬"d be 50% off food at lunchtime for the first month of opening, I quickly rocked on down to Tart with my eating buddy as the website made it look like an interesting place. I was intrigued by the promise of naughty pictures anyway! It is located about 5 minutes away from Farringdon station and fairly easy to find. Upon arrival, we were greeted with a very warm welcome from the French waiter (he might have been the manager, not sure) and seated halfway into the restaurant. Itâ¬"s quite narrow but goes far back into the building. The bar is situated near the front of the restaurant with a very glamorous looking chandelier hanging near to the entrance. Halfway through the restaurant were a couple of tables with very colourful, funky seats which is where we were sitting. Further on is another dining room with the toilets downstairs.

The lunchtime menu had a good choice of dishes. Usually, I find that with lunchtime deals, itâ¬"s more difficult to find something that you havenâ¬"t tried anywhere else. We decided to go for a starter and main each. I had wood pigeon, beetroot puree and pancetta with a chocolate reduction. Sam had a ham hock terrine with pickles and pear chutney. My pigeon was perfectly cooked, still pink and tender in the middle. I was curious as to how the chocolate reduction would work with the dish but the flavours went really well. The sauce was only slightly chocolaty but combined with the deep gamey flavours of the pigeon and the slightly sour flavour of the beetroot, it was just unbelievable! I just love it when you go and eat somewhere and get something where all the things on the plate unite and work perfectly well with each other. It worked texture-wise as well. You have the slightly crispy skin of the pigeon, the tenderness of the meat, the smoothness of the beetroot, the crunch of the salad. Iâ¬"d say itâ¬"s in my top 10 restaurant dishes that Iâ¬"ve had ever. Samâ¬"s terrine was pretty good too, it was fairly moist (for a terrine) which was nice and I especially liked the pear chutney that came with it.

Almost forgot, the bread was pretty unique. It was a sweet potato bread that they make themselves and it was refreshing to be given a bread that is a bit different. I gobbled it up pretty quickly and I think they realised how much we loved it and gave us a second helping, yay!

Now the mainsâ¬¦ I had a slow roasted belly of pork served with cocotte potatoes and roast vegetables. Sam had a chicken breast with mushroom risotto. I think I was slightly disappointed with the mains at the time as the starters we just had were so fantastic but I did enjoy it. Iâ¬"ve had quite a few belly of pork dishes now so itâ¬"s difficult to top the best ones and I think Iâ¬"m a bit bored of having seasonal vegetables/potatoes with dishes. Itâ¬"s just a bit too easy isnâ¬"t it? Lol. Samâ¬"s chicken with risotto was perfectly cooked but nothing special.

The service is really good here. The French guy was obviously so passionate about his food and came over and recommended things and explained some of the dishes. He was raving on about the Tartinis which are cocktails that taste like desserts. We couldnâ¬"t resist and ended up trying two of themâ¬¦.the Lemon Meringue tartini and the Apple Tarte Tatin one. Both delicious and highly alcoholic! They do actually taste like their respective desserts aswell. My favourite was the tarte tatin which came with an apple crisp. The only thing missing is the flaky pastry! Somehow they managed to incorporate the deep caramel flavours and spices into the drink. If you do come here, you have to try one!

With the 50% off, our meal turned into a bargain as the food and drink was very high quality. I think the tartinis alone were Â£7 for each one. With a starter and a main each, everything came to only Â£45 which is awesome. Iâ¬"d definitely come back again but maybe for a treat rather than making it a regular place. Hopefully after reading this review, more people will try it out as I want them to do well!

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.

Exmouth Market - Not just for the weekend! by tanzanitelilac

tanzanitelilac — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 18:11:42 +0000

Review by tanzanitelilac

Rating: 5.00

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

Tags: chilled out, delicatessen, mediterranean

Although there is not the range of stalls during the week, if you are in the area at lunchtime then there is plenty of food to choose from.

There is a glorious Thai van offering a selection of dishes with sweet chilli sauce and a smile, who are there every day, on Thursdays and Fridays you have Gujarat Rasoi, a delightful family run Indian stall offering a choice of vegetarian meals and the acclaimed Moro who make their food affordable and moreish with choices of Moroccan spiced lamb on flatbread or Paella for a bargainous Â£5. T

here is the Ghanaian stall offering fragrant food that you can smell a mile off or Brindisa with its sausages, the crepe van and a healthy stall offering a variety of salads. I could go on but there is truly something for everyone here.Although there is not the range of stalls during the week, if you are in the area at lunchtime then there is plenty of food to choose from.

There is a glorious Thai van offering a selection of dishes with sweet chilli sauce and a smile, who are there every day, on Thursdays and Fridays you have Gujarat Rasoi, a delightful family run Indian stall offering a choice of vegetarian meals and the acclaimed Moro who make their food affordable and moreish with choices of Moroccan spiced lamb on flatbread or Paella for a bargainous Â£5. T

here is the Ghanaian stall offering fragrant food that you can smell a mile off or Brindisa with its sausages, the crepe van and a healthy stall offering a variety of salads. I could go on but there is truly something for everyone here.

Santore - Great food by tanzanitelilac

tanzanitelilac — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 17:28:34 +0000

Review by tanzanitelilac

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7812 1488

Tags: italian, family & home feel, good value

Having decided on an impromptu supper, we were deciding where to go when we chanced upon Santore's pre-theatre menu. Although the price of this lovely Italian restaurant put it out of my reach for more than a very special occasion, this was an offer not to be missed and we were not disappointed. The starters were standard fare, but beautifuly executed but it was the lovely pizzas, light and with an authentic choice of topping that was truly great. I have recommended this restaurant to friends, something I do not often do what with there being so many restaurants to choose from in London, but I will definitely be back.Having decided on an impromptu supper, we were deciding where to go when we chanced upon Santore's pre-theatre menu. Although the price of this lovely Italian restaurant put it out of my reach for more than a very special occasion, this was an offer not to be missed and we were not disappointed. The starters were standard fare, but beautifuly executed but it was the lovely pizzas, light and with an authentic choice of topping that was truly great. I have recommended this restaurant to friends, something I do not often do what with there being so many restaurants to choose from in London, but I will definitely be back.