Latest reviews for Others in Farringdon, London, United Kingdom

Brindisa - Fantastic independent Spanish deli by Niamheen

Niamheen — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 16:11:15 +0000

Review by Niamheen

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7713 1666

Website: http://www.brindisa.com

Tags: spanish, delicatessen, rare finds

I have a mild obssession with Brindisa. Ok, it's not so mild, it's a full on bona fide obssession. I start to think about it, and I can't think about anything else, I want to go there. This happens several times a week.

It all started quite innocently with a hunt for judion beans many years ago, those giant butter beans used in Spanish cooking. Even in a great sprawling city like London they are hard to find. Until you find Brindisa that is. A quick dash around the shop revealed many types of pulses, spices, meats, cheeses, chorizo, morcilla, even paella pans. I was hooked.

Then I discovered the stew and the sandwiches, the homemade tortilla and the gazpacho and for a while it was game over for all other lunch options. The staff are so friendly and knowledgable, it's a pleasure to shop there. Some of the produce is very expensive, but it's a worthwhile spend for most of it. For lunch you can't really go wrong with takeaway options like a fabulous roll with jamon iberico & *good* tomatoes for Â£3.95, or, chorizo & chickpea stew with bread for Â£4. They also support small time independent producers, ethically they've got things covered.

It's worth going for their cooking chorizo alone, it's my favourite by far and delis in the know also stock it. I love it there and I'll continue to go there as often as is reasonable. I'll probably be explaining it to a heart surgeon in years to come, but it will have been worth it*.

* Disclaimer: I hope this doesn't happen and if my future heart surgeon is reading this, sincere apologies and feel free to slap me around the head.I have a mild obssession with Brindisa. Ok, it's not so mild, it's a full on bona fide obssession. I start to think about it, and I can't think about anything else, I want to go there. This happens several times a week.

It all started quite innocently with a hunt for judion beans many years ago, those giant butter beans used in Spanish cooking. Even in a great sprawling city like London they are hard to find. Until you find Brindisa that is. A quick dash around the shop revealed many types of pulses, spices, meats, cheeses, chorizo, morcilla, even paella pans. I was hooked.

Then I discovered the stew and the sandwiches, the homemade tortilla and the gazpacho and for a while it was game over for all other lunch options. The staff are so friendly and knowledgable, it's a pleasure to shop there. Some of the produce is very expensive, but it's a worthwhile spend for most of it. For lunch you can't really go wrong with takeaway options like a fabulous roll with jamon iberico & *good* tomatoes for Â£3.95, or, chorizo & chickpea stew with bread for Â£4. They also support small time independent producers, ethically they've got things covered.

It's worth going for their cooking chorizo alone, it's my favourite by far and delis in the know also stock it. I love it there and I'll continue to go there as often as is reasonable. I'll probably be explaining it to a heart surgeon in years to come, but it will have been worth it*.

* Disclaimer: I hope this doesn't happen and if my future heart surgeon is reading this, sincere apologies and feel free to slap me around the head.

Crussh - Great food, ouchy prices by messydesk

messydesk — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 19:39:16 +0000

Review by messydesk

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7489 5916

Website: http://www.crussh.com

Tags: sandwiches, juice bar take away healthy, soups

I go to Crussh a lot for my breakfast, but only for the first week after payday. They're a small chain, primarily of juice bars but with a small selection of ultra-healthy food. The smoothies really are awesome, not too thick, not to apple-juicy, unusual and tasty combinations with interesting ingredients, I can't get enough of them. The other thing that really draws me to them in the mornings is their porridge. They sell two varieties, normal hot porridge (made with soya milk, but not actually vegan at last asking although they told me they were considering changing the recipe) and 'summer porridge' which seems to be made with yoghurt rather than milk. They are both really excellent and you can have toppings such as honey or fresh banana to go with it. It's so good and just what I need to start the day.
The rest of the food is very good, they have good salads, wheat-free sandwiches and some noodle meals. All taste really good but are shockingly expensive. The superfood salad is about Â£8 for example, it's a good dish with fresh tasting, varied ingredients but my god, there's just no need for that sort of price tag.
Alas, I keep going back. Healthy food is my biggest weakness and it seems that I will pay for the privileged.I go to Crussh a lot for my breakfast, but only for the first week after payday. They're a small chain, primarily of juice bars but with a small selection of ultra-healthy food. The smoothies really are awesome, not too thick, not to apple-juicy, unusual and tasty combinations with interesting ingredients, I can't get enough of them. The other thing that really draws me to them in the mornings is their porridge. They sell two varieties, normal hot porridge (made with soya milk, but not actually vegan at last asking although they told me they were considering changing the recipe) and 'summer porridge' which seems to be made with yoghurt rather than milk. They are both really excellent and you can have toppings such as honey or fresh banana to go with it. It's so good and just what I need to start the day.
The rest of the food is very good, they have good salads, wheat-free sandwiches and some noodle meals. All taste really good but are shockingly expensive. The superfood salad is about Â£8 for example, it's a good dish with fresh tasting, varied ingredients but my god, there's just no need for that sort of price tag.
Alas, I keep going back. Healthy food is my biggest weakness and it seems that I will pay for the privileged.

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.

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.

Sweet - Staff Anything But! by Litro_K

Litro_K — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 20:04:06 +0000

Review by Litro_K

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 7713 6777

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

This place has some of the best cakes I've eaten in a while.

It also has some of the rudest, most disinterested staff I've ever encountered.

We had our order taken inside and it took the waitress foooooreveeeeer to make two cappuccinos and a hot chocolate. Then, when we were two minutes into drinking them outside, an angry looking different waitress came and took our cake plates moments after the last bites had made it into our mouths, clinking loudly as she went. A startled cry of 'we weren't finished!' did nothing to dissaude her. She was determined to hustle our plates and cups away from us. And the cakes were marvellous. Really. I had one of the best pasteis de nata ever. It's a crying shame to have to give it one star, but there you go.This place has some of the best cakes I've eaten in a while.

It also has some of the rudest, most disinterested staff I've ever encountered.

We had our order taken inside and it took the waitress foooooreveeeeer to make two cappuccinos and a hot chocolate. Then, when we were two minutes into drinking them outside, an angry looking different waitress came and took our cake plates moments after the last bites had made it into our mouths, clinking loudly as she went. A startled cry of 'we weren't finished!' did nothing to dissaude her. She was determined to hustle our plates and cups away from us. And the cakes were marvellous. Really. I had one of the best pasteis de nata ever. It's a crying shame to have to give it one star, but there you go.

Tohum - Nice & dry by sizemore

sizemore — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 22:48:44 +0000

Review by sizemore

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 0207 812 1333

Tags: delicatessen, exmouth market, healthy food

Got to Exmouth Market just as it got dark and began to rain. Seeing the welcoming lights of Tohum and not having been before we nipped in for a quick coffee.

It's a small deli with a nice family feel and once inside we couldn't resist trying some of the food too. The salads were huge and lovely and both the hot chocolates and coffee got thumbs up from our little group.

Oh and they sell oats milk too. Bonus!Got to Exmouth Market just as it got dark and began to rain. Seeing the welcoming lights of Tohum and not having been before we nipped in for a quick coffee.

It's a small deli with a nice family feel and once inside we couldn't resist trying some of the food too. The salads were huge and lovely and both the hot chocolates and coffee got thumbs up from our little group.

Oh and they sell oats milk too. Bonus!

Antimony Balance - by megha

megha — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 17:10:45 +0000

Review by megha

Rating: 5.00

Tags: rare finds, helpful staff, healthy food

Hi all , I have been to antimony and yeah they are best juice bar around town.I love berry blast and wheat grass shots.they are quite ethical,worry about carbon footprints and i just love the place for what it is.Hi all , I have been to antimony and yeah they are best juice bar around town.I love berry blast and wheat grass shots.they are quite ethical,worry about carbon footprints and i just love the place for what it is.

Juice Bar - Just juice! by Lacrimosa

Lacrimosa — Thu, 17 May 2007 19:01:39 +0000

Review by Lacrimosa

Rating: 5.00

Tags: friendly, good value, kiosk

This juice bar is essentially a market stall along Leather Lane, near the corner of St Cross Street, run by a very pleasant South American couple. I don't know exactly when they're there, but certainly every weekday from early morning through to lunch time. Neither do I know what to call this place, so I'm imaginatively calling it 'Juice Bar'.

Anyway, they do juice. Just that. A wide range of freshly juiced fruit and vegetables in any combination you like, although they've got a long list of suggestions to help you decide. Nothing is juiced in advance, thus losing precious vitamins and minerals; it's juiced right there in front of you while you wait (or, if you're cheeky, while you go get a bagel). I usually order apple with lots of lime and ginger, which turbo-charges me for the rest of the morning. Two generous sizes are available at £2 and £3, and they don't ever top it up with water like I've seen them do in Fresh & Wild.

Brilliant!

Nearest tubes, Chancery Lane and Farringdon.This juice bar is essentially a market stall along Leather Lane, near the corner of St Cross Street, run by a very pleasant South American couple. I don't know exactly when they're there, but certainly every weekday from early morning through to lunch time. Neither do I know what to call this place, so I'm imaginatively calling it 'Juice Bar'.

Anyway, they do juice. Just that. A wide range of freshly juiced fruit and vegetables in any combination you like, although they've got a long list of suggestions to help you decide. Nothing is juiced in advance, thus losing precious vitamins and minerals; it's juiced right there in front of you while you wait (or, if you're cheeky, while you go get a bagel). I usually order apple with lots of lime and ginger, which turbo-charges me for the rest of the morning. Two generous sizes are available at £2 and £3, and they don't ever top it up with water like I've seen them do in Fresh & Wild.

Brilliant!

Nearest tubes, Chancery Lane and Farringdon.