Latest reviews in Farringdon, London, United Kingdom

Match EC1 - Tried and Tested by rissy82

rissy82 — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:43:34 +0000

Review by rissy82

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7250 4002

Website: http://www.matchbar.com

I work around the corner from Match and every time I pop in it never disappoints. The food's good and the staff are really nice. The drinks are really good too- I thought I knew what a mojito was meant to taste like until I had one here.I work around the corner from Match and every time I pop in it never disappoints. The food's good and the staff are really nice. The drinks are really good too- I thought I knew what a mojito was meant to taste like until I had one here.

Fabrizio - Frabizio knows his stuff by Dot01

Dot01 — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:06:03 +0000

Review by Dot01

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7430 1503

Website: http://fabriziorestaurant.co.uk

Tags: italian, good value, family & home feel

I went here for lunch and it was lovely. The maitre d was passionate about what he offered (he could talk about any dish or wine on the menu extensively) without being overwhelming. It was relaxed but busy for lunch. I agree that I wouldn't like to have been sat downstairs though. I like the decor but then I do go for rustic charm!

I had the spicy scallop and lentil salad which was not as I would describe a salad as there were a lot of lentils and a few salad leaves. But it was absolutely delicious and something I would cook for myself for dinner if only I knew how!I went here for lunch and it was lovely. The maitre d was passionate about what he offered (he could talk about any dish or wine on the menu extensively) without being overwhelming. It was relaxed but busy for lunch. I agree that I wouldn't like to have been sat downstairs though. I like the decor but then I do go for rustic charm!

I had the spicy scallop and lentil salad which was not as I would describe a salad as there were a lot of lentils and a few salad leaves. But it was absolutely delicious and something I would cook for myself for dinner if only I knew how!

Club Mangia, The Punch Tavern - Great friendly pub! by KellyMcAuley12

KellyMcAuley12 — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:56:27 +0000

Review by KellyMcAuley12

Rating: 4.00

Tags: breakfast, good value, cheap eat

Lovely British Food!Lovely British Food!

Cafe Kick - by sokratis

sokratis — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 09:31:12 +0000

Review by sokratis

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7837 8077

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

Tags: friendly, relaxed, young and fun

Celebratory drinks at Cafe Kick last night. Made some new friends: Hunny Bunny and...can't remember the other one, but had rasberry and straweberry. Another great night.Celebratory drinks at Cafe Kick last night. Made some new friends: Hunny Bunny and...can't remember the other one, but had rasberry and straweberry. Another great night.

The Hat and Tun - by LittleIsla

LittleIsla — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:11:34 +0000

Review by LittleIsla

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7242 4747

Website: http://www.thehatandtun.com/

Tags: food, pub, gastropub

This is another lovely little pub, just away from the usual Clerkenwell haunts. I was telling the staff in The Well how much I liked there place, and they recommended I try this place, a sister pub, and was equally enjoyable. It is an oldy sort of pub, that has a really nice drinks list and some really tasty nibbles.This is another lovely little pub, just away from the usual Clerkenwell haunts. I was telling the staff in The Well how much I liked there place, and they recommended I try this place, a sister pub, and was equally enjoyable. It is an oldy sort of pub, that has a really nice drinks list and some really tasty nibbles.

Bleeding Heart Tavern - Bleeding awful more like...! by oogywawa

oogywawa — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 01:01:31 +0000

Review by oogywawa

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 7404 0333

Tags: food, english, air conditioning

Adnams should hang their heads in shame. This place does everything wrong with the superb beer that they brew in deepest Suffolk in that wonderful upmarket seaside town of theirs.

I should have spotted the warning signs - most people were on wine, but alas not. Both pints that we ordered were flatter than a witches t#t, warmer than bearable and to add insult to injury served in steaming glasses straight from the dishwasher from an inept and disinterested employee.

Picture the scene - empty table, 2 half drunk pints, door swinging in the breezeAdnams should hang their heads in shame. This place does everything wrong with the superb beer that they brew in deepest Suffolk in that wonderful upmarket seaside town of theirs.

I should have spotted the warning signs - most people were on wine, but alas not. Both pints that we ordered were flatter than a witches t#t, warmer than bearable and to add insult to injury served in steaming glasses straight from the dishwasher from an inept and disinterested employee.

Picture the scene - empty table, 2 half drunk pints, door swinging in the breeze

Dovetail - i agree.. by charlottalot

charlottalot — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 18:37:17 +0000

Review by charlottalot

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7490 7321

Website: http://www.belgianbars.com

Tags: relaxed, friendly, excellent pub food

This little bar is fantastic to echo the adoration below. Amazing Belgian beer selection, and cozy quaint atmosphere. If you love Belgian beers, you must check this place out.This little bar is fantastic to echo the adoration below. Amazing Belgian beer selection, and cozy quaint atmosphere. If you love Belgian beers, you must check this place out.

St. John - perfect little snack by charlottalot

charlottalot — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 18:31:41 +0000

Review by charlottalot

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7251 0848

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

Tags: british, lively, expensive

This is a great place, and if you have the need for a quick snack and drink, then pop in early evening for some Welsh rarebit, and a glass of red. Really nice atmosphere too.This is a great place, and if you have the need for a quick snack and drink, then pop in early evening for some Welsh rarebit, and a glass of red. Really nice atmosphere too.

Taberna Etrusca - Excellent Italian by sokratis

sokratis — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 20:27:10 +0000

Review by sokratis

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7248 5552

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

Tags: italian, good value, restaurant

This is an excellent spot for a business lunch near the City.
It's got an authentic Italian feel to it with old school posters hung on the walls. You will (expectedly) find quite a few suits, but the atmosphere remains relaxed. One small oddity is the pulpit that the receptionist sits in, but donâ¬"t let that put you off ï`
The thing that impressed me most with Taberna Etrusca was the service. We did go for a late lunch at 2pm and there were many customers left, but the speed that our plates came through was phenomenal. Excellent flow to the meal with a piping hot plate of spaghetti arriving as it should.
Both me and my friend went for Â£16 two-course offer, which did not disappoint. The deep-fried (sorry, I canâ¬"t call it Tempura as it said on the menu, because itâ¬"s not) white-bait and prawn was ok, but the Spaghetti Aragosta (lobster or langoustine) was delicious. Very well seaoned and well portioned, it was as good as any hearty spaghetti meal should be.
We didnâ¬"t try dessert as I was quite full with the starter and main course.
Overall, a definite recommendation for a simple, decent Italian meal that wonâ¬"t break the bank and will deliver on quality.
This is an excellent spot for a business lunch near the City.
It's got an authentic Italian feel to it with old school posters hung on the walls. You will (expectedly) find quite a few suits, but the atmosphere remains relaxed. One small oddity is the pulpit that the receptionist sits in, but donâ¬"t let that put you off ï`
The thing that impressed me most with Taberna Etrusca was the service. We did go for a late lunch at 2pm and there were many customers left, but the speed that our plates came through was phenomenal. Excellent flow to the meal with a piping hot plate of spaghetti arriving as it should.
Both me and my friend went for Â£16 two-course offer, which did not disappoint. The deep-fried (sorry, I canâ¬"t call it Tempura as it said on the menu, because itâ¬"s not) white-bait and prawn was ok, but the Spaghetti Aragosta (lobster or langoustine) was delicious. Very well seasoned and well portioned, it was as good as any hearty spaghetti meal should be.
We didnâ¬"t try dessert as I was quite full with the starter and main course.
Overall, a definite recommendation for a simple, decent Italian meal that wonâ¬"t break the bank and will deliver on quality.

26 Smithfield - Review by pbelly

pbelly — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 10:29:53 +0000

Review by pbelly

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 72482464

Tags: entertainment, toptable

From what could actually make the perfect music Venue (I was in there over a year ago where music was played on all three floors - with bands on the roof! - can't remember who those promoters were, but they were amazing) 26 Smithfield fails to deliver on the basis that the food and drinks are just too expensive, especially now in a time of the credit crunch. Generally the ambience is geared around drawing in high paying customers so unless you're a city slicker rolling in dosh, go find yourself a pub for the locals and the nightly Smithfield butchers.From what could actually make the perfect music Venue (I was in there over a year ago where music was played on all three floors - with bands on the roof! - can't remember who those promoters were, but they were amazing) 26 Smithfield fails to deliver on the basis that the food and drinks are just too expensive, especially now in a time of the credit crunch. Generally the ambience is geared around drawing in high paying customers so unless you're a city slicker rolling in dosh, go find yourself a pub for the locals and the nightly Smithfield butchers.

Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese - love it.. by CityCat

CityCat — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 18:20:19 +0000

Review by CityCat

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7353 6170

Website: http://www.yeoldecheshirecheese.com

Tags: cosy, lively, crowded

Most of it has been said by others, but what a great old pub! You feel like you're going to bump into some Dickensian characters as soon as you enter and start wandering through it. Loads of fun.Most of it has been said by others, but what a great old pub! You feel like you're going to bump into some Dickensian characters as soon as you enter and start wandering through it. Loads of fun.

The Larder - Shocking! by bakerga1

bakerga1 — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 10:16:52 +0000

Review by bakerga1

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 7608 1558

Website: http://www.thelarderrestaurant.com/

Tags: lively, british, french

I have to say that this was one of the worst restaurants that I have ever, ever has the displeasure of visiting.

We arrived at 8pm for our booking and the place did seem very nice. However, the service was appalling. It took an hour for us to get our first drink and even then they arrived sporadically. We asked for some water and this then took another 15 minutes. So, just to re-cap we had been in the restaurant for 1 hour and 15 minutes and only just got our drinks.

When we finally ordered, there was a sense of relief around the table, given that it was now 9.30pm. However the staff then came to inform us that they did not have all of the starters we had ordered.....then some 15 minutes later we were told that some of our main courses had run out. Shocked - yes we were.

Needless to say, we demanded the bill and paid for the drinks and promptly left at about 10pm. The manager was applogectic, but to be honest, it was too little and too late, especially having not eaten a thing.

Absolutely shocking restaurant. From what I saw, the food did look lovely, we were just not prepared to wait 2 or more hours for it!!!!

Would not return.I have to say that this was one of the worst restaurants that I have ever, ever has the displeasure of visiting.

We arrived at 8pm for our booking and the place did seem very nice. However, the service was appalling. It took an hour for us to get our first drink and even then they arrived sporadically. We asked for some water and this then took another 15 minutes. So, just to re-cap we had been in the restaurant for 1 hour and 15 minutes and only just got our drinks.

When we finally ordered, there was a sense of relief around the table, given that it was now 9.30pm. However the staff then came to inform us that they did not have all of the starters we had ordered.....then some 15 minutes later we were told that some of our main courses had run out. Shocked - yes we were.

Needless to say, we demanded the bill and paid for the drinks and promptly left at about 10pm. The manager was applogectic, but to be honest, it was too little and too late, especially having not eaten a thing.

Absolutely shocking restaurant. From what I saw, the food did look lovely, we were just not prepared to wait 2 or more hours for it!!!!

Would not return.

Hat & Feathers - Awful by chrisp

chrisp — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:06:04 +0000

Review by chrisp

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 7490 2244

Website: http://www.hatandfeathers.com/

Tags: gastro pub, romantic, french

Never let it be said I don't give restaurants a fair hearing. I am open-minded, even of temperament and balanced of judgement. I will gather all available information, weigh up the pros and cons and deliver an objective verdict which meticulously details the relevant points, whether good or bad. Usually. It's just that some places don't deserve a fair hearing. They need abusing, locking up and shutting down. They need barricading, quarantining and fire-bombing. They need 100ft-high billboards with giant spot lit lettering, carried over London by a phalanx of helicopters, reading "NEVER EVER HAVE LUNCH AT THE HAT AND FEATHERS". Ahem.

It may seem like I'm over-reacting, but picture the scene. Beer garden at the aforementioned Hat and Feathers pub in Clerkenwell, on a blazing hot summer's day. "Chef", sweating profusely onto the gas grille, has just produced what looks like a large grey turd from a shelf behind the counter and is pressing it into the heat. On closer inspection, the turd turns out to be a pre-cooked beefburger, solid with cold, congealed fat. After about three minutes of this activity, long enough to turn the outside black but presumably to still have a nice dense heart of lukewarm grease within, he proudly places the meat into a cold burger bun and pops a nice cold slice of Kraft cheese on top. A side order of undressed salad completes the dish.

I watched this horror unfold open-mouthed. Fortunately - oh, so fortunately - I had not yet selected my own food, so was able to cross the turdburger off the mental list and opted instead for "beef skewers". Ordering was another exercise in the bizarre and unpleasant. Approaching the bar, I couldn't help noticing the waitress had something in her mouth, and was staring wide-eyed at me as I advanced. Just as I began to speak, she reeled over and spat whatever it was (I'd really rather not ever know) into the nearest bin, then bounced back upright, saliva dribbling down her chin like an eager basset hound. It was, to say the least, off-putting, but I mumbled my order and escaped back to the beer garden before she turned into a werewolf.

The beef skewers were tiny, chewy and accompanied by a desperately depressing unseasoned green salad and bought-in pitta bread. With no accompanying sauce or moisture of any kind, it was a chore to eat even this meagre amount of food. Even worse though was a side order of chips, anaemic and flabby and reeking of old oil, the nastiest I think I've ever been served in London. A friend's salmon steak was tasteless, tiny, shrivelled and dripping in oil, and even came with a sneering Â£2 supplement.

And there we have probably the most awful lunch I've had anywhere for a very long time. If I was feeling even slightly charitable I suppose I could point out that Â£10 is not very much to spend on lunch, and the option of a beer garden will be attractive to some. But if any restaurant cares so little about their customers that they're shamelessly serving REHEATED BURGERS under the pretext of a "credit crunch" menu, then I don't have to be in the least bit generous in return. The Hat and Feathers is a cynical, incompetent establishment serving - almost literally - shit food. Please do yourself and the world a favour, and never ever go.Never let it be said I don't give restaurants a fair hearing. I am open-minded, even of temperament and balanced of judgement. I will gather all available information, weigh up the pros and cons and deliver an objective verdict which meticulously details the relevant points, whether good or bad. Usually. It's just that some places don't deserve a fair hearing. They need abusing, locking up and shutting down. They need barricading, quarantining and fire-bombing. They need 100ft-high billboards with giant spot lit lettering, carried over London by a phalanx of helicopters, reading "NEVER EVER HAVE LUNCH AT THE HAT AND FEATHERS". Ahem.

It may seem like I'm over-reacting, but picture the scene. Beer garden at the aforementioned Hat and Feathers pub in Clerkenwell, on a blazing hot summer's day. "Chef", sweating profusely onto the gas grille, has just produced what looks like a large grey turd from a shelf behind the counter and is pressing it into the heat. On closer inspection, the turd turns out to be a pre-cooked beefburger, solid with cold, congealed fat. After about three minutes of this activity, long enough to turn the outside black but presumably to still have a nice dense heart of lukewarm grease within, he proudly places the meat into a cold burger bun and pops a nice cold slice of Kraft cheese on top. A side order of undressed salad completes the dish.

I watched this horror unfold open-mouthed. Fortunately - oh, so fortunately - I had not yet selected my own food, so was able to cross the turdburger off the mental list and opted instead for "beef skewers". Ordering was another exercise in the bizarre and unpleasant. Approaching the bar, I couldn't help noticing the waitress had something in her mouth, and was staring wide-eyed at me as I advanced. Just as I began to speak, she reeled over and spat whatever it was (I'd really rather not ever know) into the nearest bin, then bounced back upright, saliva dribbling down her chin like an eager basset hound. It was, to say the least, off-putting, but I mumbled my order and escaped back to the beer garden before she turned into a werewolf.

The beef skewers were tiny, chewy and accompanied by a desperately depressing unseasoned green salad and bought-in pitta bread. With no accompanying sauce or moisture of any kind, it was a chore to eat even this meagre amount of food. Even worse though was a side order of chips, anaemic and flabby and reeking of old oil, the nastiest I think I've ever been served in London. A friend's salmon steak was tasteless, tiny, shrivelled and dripping in oil, and even came with a sneering Â£2 supplement.

And there we have probably the most awful lunch I've had anywhere for a very long time. If I was feeling even slightly charitable I suppose I could point out that Â£10 is not very much to spend on lunch, and the option of a beer garden will be attractive to some. But if any restaurant cares so little about their customers that they're shamelessly serving REHEATED BURGERS under the pretext of a "credit crunch" menu, then I don't have to be in the least bit generous in return. The Hat and Feathers is a cynical, incompetent establishment serving - almost literally - shit food. Please do yourself and the world a favour, and never ever go.

Dose Espresso - Good little snack by elliestubbs

elliestubbs — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 12:36:38 +0000

Review by elliestubbs

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7600 0382

Website: http://www.dose-espresso.com/

Tags: cosy, quick bite, coffee

Although expensive the toast is delicious and perfect for 11 o'clock snacks! Would recommend.Although expensive the toast is delicious and perfect for 11 o'clock snacks! Would recommend.

The Clerkenwell Dining Room & Bar - Top drawer by AlexWoods

AlexWoods — Fri, 29 May 2009 16:36:25 +0000

Review by AlexWoods

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7253 9000

Website: www.theclerkenwell.com

Tags: french, business, international

Now then. The Clerkenwell is probably at the top end, price wise, of eateries in the area and I have to admit that were it not for taking advantage of the 50% off TT deal, I probably wouldn't have suggested lunching there with my colleagues. Having done so, I would not hesitate to go again, discount or no discount.

The restaurant itself is lovely. Deceptively large, very well appointed, modern, fresh and comfortable. The music was a little loud, to the point of being intrusive, which was a great shame, but otherwise very nice indeed.

The menu I like. Varied, balanced and interesting, I was torn between several delicious sounding dishes. I settled for chicken liver parfait, carrot and garlic chutney to start. The parfait was delicious â¬ creamy, rich and silky smooth! The chutney was a real high light though. Iâ¬"m a bit of a sucker for a good chutney anyway, but Hubba hubba! Sweet, sour, savoury, crunchy and crowned with a bushel of oh-so-very microgreens â¬ tres chic donâ¬"cha know?! Colleagues enjoyed seared scallops, aubergine pakora and curry spices, which just looked and smelled (and, I was assured, tasted) heavenly, and field mushrooms, crisp polenta cake, balsamic and pomegranate glaze, which looked very handsome indeed.

Choosing an entrÃ©e was a challenge but eventually I was won over by the hake (or rather by the squid, mussel, red pepper and pesto potage it came with) and man was that a good idea! A perfectly sized and cooked piece of fish was topped with a generous smear of tart pesto and swam in the most delicious, sweet seafood potage. The microgreens made another appearance in quantity, and a welcome element it was too!

We didnâ¬"t have dessert, but they looked delicious, and we were treated to some delicious dark, bitter truffles with the bill.

I was impressed by the wine list. Pretty Old World, but very varied, and at least a dozen reds and whites available by the carafe, which I applaud! More carafes, Restaurants of London! More!

The service we thought could have been a little sharper. We lunched, not necessarily by choice, at a leisurely pace which was made all the more frustrating by the rather dopey young man who kept wandering past tables with out really paying much attention to what was actually going on. He was however, like his colleagues, charming and I do think being a nice waiter can disguise, up to a point, some short comings in efficiency.
Now then. The Clerkenwell is probably at the top end, price wise, of eateries in the area and I have to admit that were it not for taking advantage of the 50% off TT deal, I probably wouldn't have suggested lunching there with my colleagues. Having done so, I would not hesitate to go again, discount or no discount.

The restaurant itself is lovely. Deceptively large, very well appointed, modern, fresh and comfortable. The music was a little loud, to the point of being intrusive, which was a great shame, but otherwise very nice indeed.

The menu I like. Varied, balanced and interesting, I was torn between several delicious sounding dishes. I settled for chicken liver parfait, carrot and garlic chutney to start. The parfait was delicious â¬ creamy, rich and silky smooth! The chutney was a real high light though. Iâ¬"m a bit of a sucker for a good chutney anyway, but Hubba hubba! Sweet, sour, savoury, crunchy and crowned with a bushel of oh-so-very microgreens â¬ tres chic donâ¬"cha know?! Colleagues enjoyed seared scallops, aubergine pakora and curry spices, which just looked and smelled (and, I was assured, tasted) heavenly, and field mushrooms, crisp polenta cake, balsamic and pomegranate glaze, which looked very handsome indeed.

Choosing an entrÃ©e was a challenge but eventually I was won over by the hake (or rather by the squid, mussel, red pepper and pesto potage it came with) and man was that a good idea! A perfectly sized and cooked piece of fish was topped with a generous smear of tart pesto and swam in the most delicious, sweet seafood potage. The microgreens made another appearance in quantity, and a welcome element it was too!

We didnâ¬"t have dessert, but they looked delicious, and we were treated to some delicious dark, bitter truffles with the bill.

I was impressed by the wine list. Pretty Old World, but very varied, and at least a dozen reds and whites available by the carafe, which I applaud! More carafes, Restaurants of London! More!

The service we thought could have been a little sharper. We lunched, not necessarily by choice, at a leisurely pace which was made all the more frustrating by the rather dopey young man who kept wandering past tables with out really paying much attention to what was actually going on. He was however, like his colleagues, charming and I do think being a nice waiter can disguise, up to a point, some short comings in efficiency.

Leon - Fast food but not as we know it by Sarah_W

Sarah_W — Wed, 20 May 2009 09:36:46 +0000

Review by Sarah_W

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7489 1580

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

Tags: lively, cheap eat, takeaway

A colleague recently introduced me to Leonâ¬"s, a fun and healthy variation on the fast food concept. This is a small but growing chain, with currently eight branches in central London â¬ we went to the one at Ludgate Circus. As it was lunchtime on a working day (this particular branch is only open Monday to Friday, by the way), the place was heaving, but we joined the queues at the counter and were soon served briskly but with a smile. We were able to find somewhere to sit towards the back of the restaurant â¬ there is a lot more space than you might realise so do hunt around.

The atmosphere here really appealed to me. OK itâ¬"s not a place for a romantic dinner for two, and probably not the place to bring an elderly aunt up from the country, but for good food in a hurry itâ¬"s great, and the eclectic mix of seating and different vibes in different parts of the space works very well. Youâ¬"ll find squishy chairs for relaxing over coffee (well, perhaps not relaxing exactly during the lunchtime rush!), old wooden tables, bright stools and odd chairs. The walls are adorned with the same fun mixture of old and new, and it all works really well.

But the food is what Leonâ¬"s is mainly about, and itâ¬"s good â¬ both tasty-good ad good for you! Their ethos is all about healthy eating and sustainability, so they source their seasonal, organic ingredients from trusted farms, and the menu changes accordingly, but some items are staples. Everyone raves about the Moroccan meatballs, which Iâ¬"ve yet to try, but I can recommend the excellent hummus and accompanying flatbread, and the soups, which are packed with flavour. Check out the website to see whatâ¬"s on offer for this season.A colleague recently introduced me to Leonâ¬"s, a fun and healthy variation on the fast food concept. This is a small but growing chain, with currently eight branches in central London â¬ we went to the one at Ludgate Circus. As it was lunchtime on a working day (this particular branch is only open Monday to Friday, by the way), the place was heaving, but we joined the queues at the counter and were soon served briskly but with a smile. We were able to find somewhere to sit towards the back of the restaurant â¬ there is a lot more space than you might realise so do hunt around.

The atmosphere here really appealed to me. OK itâ¬"s not a place for a romantic dinner for two, and probably not the place to bring an elderly aunt up from the country, but for good food in a hurry itâ¬"s great, and the eclectic mix of seating and different vibes in different parts of the space works very well. Youâ¬"ll find squishy chairs for relaxing over coffee (well, perhaps not relaxing exactly during the lunchtime rush!), old wooden tables, bright stools and odd chairs. The walls are adorned with the same fun mixture of old and new, and it all works really well.

But the food is what Leonâ¬"s is mainly about, and itâ¬"s good â¬ both tasty-good ad good for you! Their ethos is all about healthy eating and sustainability, so they source their seasonal, organic ingredients from trusted farms, and the menu changes accordingly, but some items are staples. Everyone raves about the Moroccan meatballs, which Iâ¬"ve yet to try, but I can recommend the excellent hummus and accompanying flatbread, and the soups, which are packed with flavour. Check out the website to see whatâ¬"s on offer for this season.

City Snacks - Good honest cafe by dazmundo

dazmundo — Wed, 13 May 2009 11:45:52 +0000

Review by dazmundo

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7689 0657

Tags: quick bite, takeaway, average brew

you get what you expect, it's clean, reasonably priced and friendly.

Proper British cafe food all the usual suspects on the menu.

Served quickly.you get what you expect, it's clean, reasonably priced and friendly.

Proper British cafe food all the usual suspects on the menu.

Served quickly.

Charterhouse Bar - A great night out... by jobegg

jobegg — Tue, 12 May 2009 10:09:33 +0000

Review by jobegg

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7608 0858

Website: http://www.charterhouse-bar.co.uk

Tags: bar, friendly, electronica

The building is really cool and inside its surprisingly bigger than I thought it would be, its set over two floors with the DJ playing upstairs later in the night. I was there on a Friday night and they had a happy hour running till 7pm, which pleased my wallet, drinks after were reasonably priced, the bar staff were really friendly and laid back and generally it was a nice crowd and pretty busy with a good atmosphere. Will definitely go and check this place out again.The building is really cool and inside its surprisingly bigger than I thought it would be, its set over two floors with the DJ playing upstairs later in the night. I was there on a Friday night and they had a happy hour running till 7pm, which pleased my wallet, drinks after were reasonably priced, the bar staff were really friendly and laid back and generally it was a nice crowd and pretty busy with a good atmosphere. Will definitely go and check this place out again.

Tart Restaurant & Bar - Excellent Bar by celineinlondon

celineinlondon — Tue, 05 May 2009 21:34:12 +0000

Review by celineinlondon

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7253 3003

Website: www.tartbar.co.uk

Tags: romantic, lively, good value

Tres cool bar. Les cocktails sont exotiques et les tapas sont superb. Le service est impecable. Une belle soire a Londres.Tres cool bar. Les cocktails sont exotiques et les tapas sont superb. Le service est impecable. Une belle soire a Londres.

Betjeman's - I�"ve just had a marvellous lunch... by AlexWoods

AlexWoods — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 15:23:02 +0000

Review by AlexWoods

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7600 7778

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

Tags: bar, good value, international

Iâ¬"ve just had a marvellous lunch at Betjemanâ¬"s. Tucked away in the warren to the south of Smithfield, Betjemanâ¬"s is a charming little restaurant that Iâ¬"ve often admired from across the road at the Rising Sun. They have a lunch time set menu, £18.50 for two courses or £22.50 for three. Including a glass of wine, I think this was value for money indeed. While there are cheaper options for lunch in the locale, I think this was excellent and my mother, with whom I had the pleasure of lunching, and I left very full (though I did stretch the definition of lunch â¬Shourâ¬ to almost breaking point.)

I started with a chicken and black pudding terrine, which was coarse and chunky where nature intended it to be, while deliciously creamy in between. A little salty, a little sweet and a little subtle. My mother had smoked salmon served on a small mountain of cream cheese and rye bread. Both dishes were very generous indeed. For my main course I had smoked haddock served with a poached egg, spinach and kedgeree rice. The haddock had, I think, been cooked just a little too long but that was a very minor offence in an otherwise perfect meal. It was seasoned rather than spiced, beautifully balanced and a very well constructed dish. My mother had roast duck breast served withâ¬¦ duck leg â¬Sshepherds pieâ¬ and braised red cabbage. Despite its unfortunate name (we decided it would much better be called â¬SWetlands Nature Reserve Keepers Pieâ¬. Rolls off the tongue, donâ¬"t you think?) the shepherds pie was very nice, as was the duck breast. We had quite a conversation over the subject of braised red cabbage and that, more often than not, one has to really struggle to taste the cabbage through the flavours of that in which it is braised. Not so in this case. Well done!

I would suggest that the music was perhaps a little loud, and when we walked in there was a not insignificant smell of fish which, while not being unpleasant, was attleâ¬¦ prevailing. These are but minor nits at which to pick. The restaurant itself is charming. Very comfortable, very well appointed and welcoming, and the staff were quite charming and attentive. I wouldnâ¬"t describe it as an informal atmosphere by any means, but I certainly felt at ease.Iâ¬"ve just had a marvellous lunch at Betjemanâ¬"s. Tucked away in the warren to the south of Smithfield, Betjemanâ¬"s is a charming little restaurant that Iâ¬"ve often admired from across the road at the Rising Sun. They have a lunch time set menu, £18.50 for two courses or £22.50 for three. Including a glass of wine, I think this was value for money indeed. While there are cheaper options for lunch in the locale, I think this was excellent and my mother, with whom I had the pleasure of lunching, and I left very full (though I did stretch the definition of lunch â¬Shourâ¬ to almost breaking point.)

I started with a chicken and black pudding terrine, which was coarse and chunky where nature intended it to be, while deliciously creamy in between. A little salty, a little sweet and a little subtle. My mother had smoked salmon served on a small mountain of cream cheese and rye bread. Both dishes were very generous indeed. For my main course I had smoked haddock served with a poached egg, spinach and kedgeree rice. The haddock had, I think, been cooked just a little too long but that was a very minor offence in an otherwise perfect meal. It was seasoned rather than spiced, beautifully balanced and a very well constructed dish. My mother had roast duck breast served withâ¬¦ duck leg â¬Sshepherds pieâ¬ and braised red cabbage. Despite its unfortunate name (we decided it would much better be called â¬SWetlands Nature Reserve Keepers Pieâ¬. Rolls off the tongue, donâ¬"t you think?) the shepherds pie was very nice, as was the duck breast. We had quite a conversation over the subject of braised red cabbage and that, more often than not, one has to really struggle to taste the cabbage through the flavours of that in which it is braised. Not so in this case. Well done!

I would suggest that the music was perhaps a little loud, and when we walked in there was a not insignificant smell of fish which, while not being unpleasant, was a littleâ¬¦ prevailing. These are but minor nits at which to pick. The restaurant itself is charming. Very comfortable, very well appointed and welcoming, and the staff were quite charming and attentive. I wouldnâ¬"t describe it as an informal atmosphere by any means, but I certainly felt at ease.