Latest reviews in Finsbury Park, London, United Kingdom

The Old Dairy - yum by abcjess

abcjess — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:58:07 +0000

Review by abcjess

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7263 3337

confusing but exciting layout â¬ it was an adventure trying to find out where the restaurant section was. The staff were a bit passive at the beginning, (but I was attending a birthday party of someone related to the owner) I found it a little cheeky how customer service improved once they knew who we were.

The food was nice and gourmet compared to your usual pub grub. I believe the chef was French and the small (but delicious) menu had us stuffed. Not sure about prices since we didnâ¬"t pay but I remember it reasonable for what was on the plate.

confusing but exciting layout â¬ it was an adventure trying to find out where the restaurant section was. The staff were a bit passive at the beginning, (but I was attending a birthday party of someone related to the owner) I found it a little cheeky how customer service improved once they knew who we were.

The food was nice and gourmet compared to your usual pub grub. I believe the chef was French and the small (but delicious) menu had us stuffed. Not sure about prices since we didnâ¬"t pay but I remember it reasonable for what was on the plate.

Diyarbakir Restaurant Ltd - Not a good experience by izolda

izolda — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 16:19:19 +0000

Review by izolda

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 88092777

Tags: turkish, cheap eat

Had food poisoning after visiting this place which lasted a week, so wouldn't recommend it to anyone unless immune to the pathogens that frequent these sorts of places. This is a run of the mill turkish kebbab joint cum restaurant that I made the mistake of visiting when I first arrived in the UK. The cooked food is pre-prepared and is reheated - I actually wouldn't put it past them topping up the same three dishes daily, which is unjygienic to put it mildly. The food didn't taste bad though, and a lot of the locals were in enjoying a meal which is what attracted me and my friend to the restaurant. However given the fact that we both came down with food poisoning this was obviously not a coincidence. To be avoided.Had food poisoning after visiting this place which lasted a week, so wouldn't recommend it to anyone unless immune to the pathogens that frequent these sorts of places. This is a run of the mill turkish kebbab joint cum restaurant that I made the mistake of visiting when I first arrived in the UK. The cooked food is pre-prepared and is reheated - I actually wouldn't put it past them topping up the same three dishes daily, which is unjygienic to put it mildly. The food didn't taste bad though, and a lot of the locals were in enjoying a meal which is what attracted me and my friend to the restaurant. However given the fact that we both came down with food poisoning this was obviously not a coincidence. To be avoided.

Jai Krishna - yummy in my tummy by slickmasta

slickmasta — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 00:34:01 +0000

Review by slickmasta

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7272 1680

Tags: indian, cheap eat, lively

named after a popular hindu god jai krishna is one helluva place, from paneer dosa -(indian cottage cheese) to the rajma i had here is lush, brilliantm its mouthwatering, yes it seems like a shabby place on the surface but i'm not complaining as i love indian food, this is my 3rd review on indian foods and that is testimony to that, anyway jai krishna has lovely daals, if u wanna experiment pls go ahead with little over a fiver and you could order an indian meal fit for a size of a king, low price - high on tsate. also for starters i knw it sounds crazy but give indian sweets like gulab jamun or rasgoola a sure try - lovely dessert - but mind the cals. cheers.named after a popular hindu god jai krishna is one helluva place, from paneer dosa -(indian cottage cheese) to the rajma i had here is lush, brilliantm its mouthwatering, yes it seems like a shabby place on the surface but i'm not complaining as i love indian food, this is my 3rd review on indian foods and that is testimony to that, anyway jai krishna has lovely daals, if u wanna experiment pls go ahead with little over a fiver and you could order an indian meal fit for a size of a king, low price - high on tsate. also for starters i knw it sounds crazy but give indian sweets like gulab jamun or rasgoola a sure try - lovely dessert - but mind the cals. cheers.

Diyarbakir - Fantastic turkish food! by t_moussa

t_moussa — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 18:45:27 +0000

Review by t_moussa

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 8809 2777

Tags: turkish, lively, takeaway

Having been introduced to this place last year it has become one of my favourite restaurants. It's popularity and quality of food is proved by the fact that it is always busy, so be prepared to wait 10 minutes, at the most for seats during evenings.

From the outside it may look like your run of the mill place but it is very different to your bog standard kebab and burger place. It is an Ocakbasi (a turkish style grill) The food here is fantastic and freshly prepared; you can watch as they grill your meat, prepare your salad and dish onto your plate from your seats. The staff working are always very friendly and welcome you with smiles. The decor is very simple and the walls are adorned with photos of turkey and other cultural artifacts.

My reccommendation would be to get the mixed kebab which comes with rice, chicken shish, lamb shish, kofte and some doner if there's any left. This costs Â£9 but is so worth the money as it comes with salad, sometimes olives, a dish of chili sauce and a plate of cacik (yoghurt like dip) as well as a bowl of bread which is refilled at no extra cost. The lamacun's (turkish pizza) are also delicious and cheap, around Â£2? After your meal, you are given sweet turkish tea for free, which apparently aids the digestion of your meal.

Green lanes is full of turkish restaurants but I have never felt the need to discover them as this one fufils all my needs! Food, staff and people are great!Having been introduced to this place last year it has become one of my favourite restaurants. It's popularity and quality of food is proved by the fact that it is always busy, so be prepared to wait 10 minutes, at the most for seats during evenings.

From the outside it may look like your run of the mill place but it is very different to your bog standard kebab and burger place. It is an Ocakbasi (a turkish style grill) The food here is fantastic and freshly prepared; you can watch as they grill your meat, prepare your salad and dish onto your plate from your seats. The staff working are always very friendly and welcome you with smiles. The decor is very simple and the walls are adorned with photos of turkey and other cultural artifacts.

My reccommendation would be to get the mixed kebab which comes with rice, chicken shish, lamb shish, kofte and some doner if there's any left. This costs Â£9 but is so worth the money as it comes with salad, sometimes olives, a dish of chili sauce and a plate of cacik (yoghurt like dip) as well as a bowl of bread which is refilled at no extra cost. The lamacun's (turkish pizza) are also delicious and cheap, around Â£2? After your meal, you are given sweet turkish tea for free, which apparently aids the digestion of your meal.

Green lanes is full of turkish restaurants but I have never felt the need to discover them as this one fufils all my needs! Food, staff and people are great!

Cats Cafe Des Artistes - Very nice indeed by annepotter1984

annepotter1984 — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 16:43:53 +0000

Review by annepotter1984

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7281 5557

Website: http://www.cats-cafe-des-artistes.co.uk

Tags: thai, live music, romantic

I think I would give this restaurant an eight out of ten. I really liked the food that they served, and I found that the prices were quite reasonable as well. The service was not too bad, and the staff were very friendly. I really liked the decor on the walls, and the best feature in my opinion was the really nice fountain. This was a good touch, and gave the place a really nice atmosphere. The wines were acceptable too, so much so that we were quite merry by the end of the meal! I can see myself going back there many times in the future. Great food, great wine, great atmosphere and a lovely chilled out ambiance. Very much recommended.I think I would give this restaurant an eight out of ten. I really liked the food that they served, and I found that the prices were quite reasonable as well. The service was not too bad, and the staff were very friendly. I really liked the decor on the walls, and the best feature in my opinion was the really nice fountain. This was a good touch, and gave the place a really nice atmosphere. The wines were acceptable too, so much so that we were quite merry by the end of the meal! I can see myself going back there many times in the future. Great food, great wine, great atmosphere and a lovely chilled out ambiance. Very much recommended.

Pappagone - Italian Ice cream and Pizza by koro

koro — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 17:59:26 +0000

Review by koro

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7263 2114

Website: http://www.pizzeria-pappagone.com/

Tags: italian, family & home feel, good value

me and my beloved we went on Saturday to Pappagone. It was so busy... luckly we booked the table - I am italian and my love is English - he had a nice Spaghetti Bolognese with the house wine and my self I had a very nice Pizza - I also treated myself with a beautyful and nice italian ice cream...well the bill was not so expensive and the meal was nice - the staff as well was lovely and all around me I can see people enjoing the food and the companyme and my beloved we went on Saturday to Pappagone. It was so busy... luckly we booked the table - I am italian and my love is English - he had a nice Spaghetti Bolognese with the house wine and my self I had a very nice Pizza - I also treated myself with a beautyful and nice italian ice cream...well the bill was not so expensive and the meal was nice - the staff as well was lovely and all around me I can see people enjoing the food and the company

Rowans - Rowans by kad

kad — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 18:42:41 +0000

Review by kad

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 8800 1950

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

Tags: bar, arcade games, pool tables

Rowans is ok. Arcade area and bar area too. Not bad. parking a bit of a nightmare.Rowans is ok. Arcade area and bar area too. Not bad. parking a bit of a nightmare.

Petek - Really good Turkish by Cate_Brisby

Cate_Brisby — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 11:16:10 +0000

Review by Cate_Brisby

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7619 3933

Tags: turkish, lively, cosy

Decided to eat here based on other previous good reviews and I was not disappointed. The food was extremely good, fresh and served promptly. I had prawns with monkfish and my boyfriend had a selection of chicken and lamb kebabs which were both succulent and well flavoured. The portions are pretty large, well presented and good value. The only criticism I would make was that service was a little lax and then rushed when we did receive it, but it was nine o'clock on a Friday so a pretty minor point and it definitely wouldn't prevent me returningDecided to eat here based on other previous good reviews and I was not disappointed. The food was extremely good, fresh and served promptly. I had prawns with monkfish and my boyfriend had a selection of chicken and lamb kebabs which were both succulent and well flavoured. The portions are pretty large, well presented and good value. The only criticism I would make was that service was a little lax and then rushed when we did receive it, but it was nine o'clock on a Friday so a pretty minor point and it definitely wouldn't prevent me returning

Yildiz - what a find by DebE17

DebE17 — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 16:29:59 +0000

Review by DebE17

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7354 3899

This is a fantastic little restaurant. Reasonably priced, great quality food and friendly staff. If you haven't been here you don't know what you are missing.This is a fantastic little restaurant. Reasonably priced, great quality food and friendly staff. If you haven't been here you don't know what you are missing.

The Larrik - Not bad at all by Sami

Sami — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 18:21:11 +0000

Review by Sami

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7272 5395

Tags: live music, food, friendly

The Larrik is an absolutely massive pub. Huge. At least by my standards - I couldn't believe how big it was - and is right across the street from the even larger Old Dairy.

Friendly service, lots of board games, decent food - some of it pretty damn good and free wifi are the best parts. They do something that I hadn't seen before but have been told that is relatively common - a whole roast chicken on Sundays, to split amongst you and your friends.

They have live music some nights of the week and on other nights - generally big game nights, show sports on the big drop down screen - you sports fans, you know what I'm talking about, but I have no idea what it's called!

An interesting crowd and very reflective of the local population; it's always pretty busy (I walk by every day) and it ranges from arty students to builders in for a drink after work.The Larrik is an absolutely massive pub. Huge. At least by my standards - I couldn't believe how big it was - and is right across the street from the even larger Old Dairy.

Friendly service, lots of board games, decent food - some of it pretty damn good and free wifi are the best parts. They do something that I hadn't seen before but have been told that is relatively common - a whole roast chicken on Sundays, to split amongst you and your friends.

They have live music some nights of the week and on other nights - generally big game nights, show sports on the big drop down screen - you sports fans, you know what I'm talking about, but I have no idea what it's called!

An interesting crowd and very reflective of the local population; it's always pretty busy (I walk by every day) and it ranges from arty students to builders in for a drink after work.

The Noble - Nice for a drink if you're in the area by Sami

Sami — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 19:53:59 +0000

Review by Sami

Rating: 3.00

Tags: relaxed, young and fun, friendly

Food - 3.5
Service - 4
Ambience - 3.5

I thought I might start out that way, in order to help me group my thoughts about our meal here recently.

As you leave Finsbury Park station and walk along Stroud Green Road towards the yuppier and more gentrified Crouch End, it is an obvious fact that the restaurants will change from your typical kebab shop, up the range to a cute, local gastropub.

The Noble is one of these. Just up the road from the Old Dairy which is a larger, more expensive and more popular gastropub, it is quietly perched on the corner of Crouch Hill and provides an alternative to the other two of the trio (the aforementioned Old Dairy, and the Larrik). We decided to come here as opposed to the Old Dairy (where I am going tonight and will duly post a review) because it was cheaper and as both change their menus on a regular basis, the Noble's menu appealed to us more at that point in time.

The food was decent - good - not exceptional, but very filling, fresh, and someone has taken the time and care to think about what is fresh at the moment and suits the climate. This was clear as through our time spent having our dinner, mains were crossed off the large chalk board in the centre of the small dining area and subsequently replaced with another option.

We had no starters but steak and a mushroom risotto. The steak was good, cooked the way we had asked, and came with fat chips and some vegetables and a very nice Stilton sauce. While my boyfriend and friend were really, really pleased with theirs, I was just... happy. It was good, but I wasn't over the moon. Another friend had the risotto and she loved it. I wish we had tried their homemade bread - a huge, exceptionally long crusty loaf - and any place that makes their own bread definitely earns brownie points for the effort.

The service is friendly and there are a few comfortable couches scattered around the room. It's a cozy spot and I would go there again, but for the fact that we live in London and are absolutely spoiled for choice.Food - 3.5
Service - 4
Ambience - 3.5

I thought I might start out that way, in order to help me group my thoughts about our meal here recently.

As you leave Finsbury Park station and walk along Stroud Green Road towards the yuppier and more gentrified Crouch End, it is an obvious fact that the restaurants will change from your typical kebab shop, up the range to a cute, local gastropub.

The Noble is one of these. Just up the road from the Old Dairy which is a larger, more expensive and more popular gastropub, it is quietly perched on the corner of Crouch Hill and provides an alternative to the other two of the trio (the aforementioned Old Dairy, and the Larrik). We decided to come here as opposed to the Old Dairy (where I am going tonight and will duly post a review) because it was cheaper and as both change their menus on a regular basis, the Noble's menu appealed to us more at that point in time.

The food was decent - good - not exceptional, but very filling, fresh, and someone has taken the time and care to think about what is fresh at the moment and suits the climate. This was clear as through our time spent having our dinner, mains were crossed off the large chalk board in the centre of the small dining area and subsequently replaced with another option.

We had no starters but steak and a mushroom risotto. The steak was good, cooked the way we had asked, and came with fat chips and some vegetables and a very nice Stilton sauce. While my boyfriend and friend were really, really pleased with theirs, I was just... happy. It was good, but I wasn't over the moon. Another friend had the risotto and she loved it. I wish we had tried their homemade bread - a huge, exceptionally long crusty loaf - and any place that makes their own bread definitely earns brownie points for the effort.

The service is friendly and there are a few comfortable couches scattered around the room. It's a cozy spot and I would go there again, but for the fact that we live in London and are absolutely spoiled for choice.

Chez Liline - I've fallen in love with Mauritian food! by dloizou

dloizou — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 17:37:13 +0000

Review by dloizou

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7263 6550

Tags: good value, seafood, family & home feel

Having read mixed reviews about this place on other sites, I was unsure what to expect. All I can say was that I was pleasently suprised.

This small resturant offered my party of 5 fantastic meals of typical Mauritian / Southern French style - with some of the best fish/seafood I have ever tasted and quality French desserts which were delicious.

If you don't like fish, then this is not the place for you as the menu is all seafood - if you are a seafood lover you can be sure the seafood is fresh as the resutrant is owned by the same people who own the fish monger next door.

I had read reports that the decor was drab and that the staff were unpleasent and that you can expect to wait a long time for your food. Here is my opinion on each:

Decor: is typical of that of a resturant in Mauritius. Pictures on the walls and some ornamental fish, crisp linen tableclothes and napkins and ambiant lighting all seemed fine to me.

Staff: we visited on a Saturday night, we had a booking for 8pm and by 9pm, the resturant was nearly full. There was only one waiter on and he was not pleasant nor unpleasant, he was just busy trying to attend to all the guests. He addressed our needs as quickly as he could, and when things had died down (about 11pm) he stopped by for a chat. Overall the service was average.

Food: The quality of the food served was fantastic. Everyone in my party commented on how good each of their courses where. We did wait a little while between orders and food but where given bread to hold us over, and I feel the wait was worth it. The portions were good and the side dishes were lovely. I can't wait to go back to try more things as the flavours were just so magnificent.

Other notes: I had heard about a special Â£15 3 course menu but this is unavailable on weekends. Our meal came to about Â£22 a head with wine, main course, sides and a dessert each.

Having read mixed reviews about this place on other sites, I was unsure what to expect. All I can say was that I was pleasently suprised.

This small resturant offered my party of 5 fantastic meals of typical Mauritian / Southern French style - with some of the best fish/seafood I have ever tasted and quality French desserts which were delicious.

If you don't like fish, then this is not the place for you as the menu is all seafood - if you are a seafood lover you can be sure the seafood is fresh as the resutrant is owned by the same people who own the fish monger next door.

I had read reports that the decor was drab and that the staff were unpleasent and that you can expect to wait a long time for your food. Here is my opinion on each:

Decor: is typical of that of a resturant in Mauritius. Pictures on the walls and some ornamental fish, crisp linen tableclothes and napkins and ambiant lighting all seemed fine to me.

Staff: we visited on a Saturday night, we had a booking for 8pm and by 9pm, the resturant was nearly full. There was only one waiter on and he was not pleasant nor unpleasant, he was just busy trying to attend to all the guests. He addressed our needs as quickly as he could, and when things had died down (about 11pm) he stopped by for a chat. Overall the service was average.

Food: The quality of the food served was fantastic. Everyone in my party commented on how good each of their courses where. We did wait a little while between orders and food but where given bread to hold us over, and I feel the wait was worth it. The portions were good and the side dishes were lovely. I can't wait to go back to try more things as the flavours were just so magnificent.

Other notes: I had heard about a special Â£15 3 course menu but this is unavailable on weekends. Our meal came to about Â£22 a head with wine, main course, sides and a dessert each.

Mari e Monti - A cafe that I actually like! by Sami

Sami — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 13:34:23 +0000

Review by Sami

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7272 3302

Tags: cosy, quick bite, friendly

I'm not one to eat in cafes. They conjure images of canned beans and people that I generally make it a habit to stay away from... things that I really don't like, in general.

However, this little spot just down the street from my house seems to have broken out of the mold with their NOT greasy breakfast and variety of freshly squeezed juices. From what I could gather from our waitress, it's run by an Italian family and they do various different Italian dishes/specials every day which seem like they would be pretty good, judging from my delicious breakfast the other day. It was just your standard fry up - eggs, bacon, hash browns, fried mushrooms and tomatoes - but it was really, really lovely.

I'm looking forward to going again - it was cheap, friendly, and a nice environment to have an easygoing breakfast and a mull over the newspaper. And it's just around the corner from my house...I'm not one to eat in cafes. They conjure images of canned beans and people that I generally make it a habit to stay away from... things that I really don't like, in general.

However, this little spot just down the street from my house seems to have broken out of the mold with their NOT greasy breakfast and variety of freshly squeezed juices. From what I could gather from our waitress, it's run by an Italian family and they do various different Italian dishes/specials every day which seem like they would be pretty good, judging from my delicious breakfast the other day. It was just your standard fry up - eggs, bacon, hash browns, fried mushrooms and tomatoes - but it was really, really lovely.

I'm looking forward to going again - it was cheap, friendly, and a nice environment to have an easygoing breakfast and a mull over the newspaper. And it's just around the corner from my house...

La Porchetta - Not too bad for a pizza by Sami

Sami — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 21:06:50 +0000

Review by Sami

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7281 2892

Tags: italian, takeaway, cheap eat

I am admittedly obsessed with pizza - if I could only ever have a few ingredients in my life for the remainder of my time here, I would choose flour, cheese, and tomatoes.

And since I no longer live close to what I consider to be the very best pizza restaurant in this world (Fantozzi in Southgate), I have to make do with what's local.

So La Porchetta it is.

Great sauce - the basil really comes through, very fresh toppings, extremely large portions - it's rather good. It's quite good. But it's not Fantozzi, nor will it ever be. But you won't go wrong with this chain - you will leave full and happy. And smiling at the sometimes surly, sometimes cheerful Italian students that make up the staff - they are very cute, even on a bad day. Or maybe I'm just a sucker for the accents...I am admittedly obsessed with pizza - if I could only ever have a few ingredients in my life for the remainder of my time here, I would choose flour, cheese, and tomatoes.

And since I no longer live close to what I consider to be the very best pizza restaurant in this world (Fantozzi in Southgate), I have to make do with what's local.

So La Porchetta it is.

Great sauce - the basil really comes through, very fresh toppings, extremely large portions - it's rather good. It's quite good. But it's not Fantozzi, nor will it ever be. But you won't go wrong with this chain - you will leave full and happy. And smiling at the sometimes surly, sometimes cheerful Italian students that make up the staff - they are very cute, even on a bad day. Or maybe I'm just a sucker for the accents...

Four Seasons Supermarket - Above average local by savagepink

savagepink — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 13:11:15 +0000

Review by savagepink

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 8800 3453

Tags: mediterranean, fresh vegetables, off licence

Usually have good quality fresh veg, big selection of Turkish and Polish deli goods, and the usual household items. Decent selection of wines. Ice. Newspapers. Recently added Oyster cards to their list of available services. Open til 11pm.Usually have good quality fresh veg, big selection of Turkish and Polish deli goods, and the usual household items. Decent selection of wines. Ice. Newspapers. Recently added Oyster cards to their list of available services. Open til 11pm.

Nando's Chickenland - by Sami

Sami — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 13:55:09 +0000

Review by Sami

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7263 7447

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

Tags: portuguese, vegetarian dishes, air conditioning

I feel a bit pathetic adding a review to TP about Nando's; however, it goes without saying that the value/quality ratio is pretty damn good.

I've noticed, though, that when I go during peak periods, they don't give me as large of a portion of french fries.

Ok, now I feel even more pathetic for mentioning that, but this is definitely one of my favourite cheap eats in the city.

Oh, I want some chicken now...I feel a bit pathetic adding a review to TP about Nando's; however, it goes without saying that the value/quality ratio is pretty damn good.

I've noticed, though, that when I go during peak periods, they don't give me as large of a portion of french fries.

Ok, now I feel even more pathetic for mentioning that, but this is definitely one of my favourite cheap eats in the city.

Oh, I want some chicken now...

Exquisito - by Sami

Sami — Wed, 09 May 2007 19:00:06 +0000

Review by Sami

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 7359 9529

Tags: mexican, bad food, tex mex

So right after buying my Time Out Cheap Eats guide, I set about marking the places I wanted to go to. I crave tex-mex on a regular basis and I've been finding it IMPOSSIBLE to get good tex-mex in London, so I was really quite pleased to find a tex-mex joint in North London which, according to my book, was really quite good.

WRONG.

Maybe I went on an off night, but I have a hard time believing that restaurants have "off nights." I grew up in 2 restaurants, one of them one of the best restaurants in my home city in Canada, and they didn't have off nights. A restaurant cannot afford to have off nights, end of.

Anyway - nachos and stuffed mushrooms for starters. Portions were small, mushrooms were boring, and the presentation of my nachos was terrible. A towering pile of cold corn chips with a smattering of melted cheese and giant spoons of salsa, sour cream, and guac tossed onto the plate. I love the dips, but not thrown on cold chips and not when the tower of chips is so high that the toppings aren't spread around enough so that each chip has a little bit of topping on it. I know it's picky, but that is not the way nachos should be served and I hate paying for something in a restaurant when I know I can do it so much better. One of the main arguments as to eating in a restaurant is to eat something you don't have the technical ability to execute!

Depressing, but I ploughed on and ordered chicken enchiladas. An enchilada should be made with a corn tortilla and baked with chile sauce on top, sometimes with cheese put on before putting the entire dish in the oven. My enchilada was a cold flour wrap, with lukewarm chicken, and drowning in salsa that tasted like it came out of a jar and had just come out of the fridge. In all honesty, the chicken wraps that Marks & Spencer does was better than this!! Everything was just so very, very wrong.

Please don't go here. Save your money and try to do tex-mex at home, because it's not worth it here. Apparently there is a Mexican restaurant supplier that makes meals on Fridays in the Victoria area and is supposed to be very good - if anyone has any info, please pass it on!So right after buying my Time Out Cheap Eats guide, I set about marking the places I wanted to go to. I crave tex-mex on a regular basis and I've been finding it IMPOSSIBLE to get good tex-mex in London, so I was really quite pleased to find a tex-mex joint in North London which, according to my book, was really quite good.

WRONG.

Maybe I went on an off night, but I have a hard time believing that restaurants have "off nights." I grew up in 2 restaurants, one of them one of the best restaurants in my home city in Canada, and they didn't have off nights. A restaurant cannot afford to have off nights, end of.

Anyway - nachos and stuffed mushrooms for starters. Portions were small, mushrooms were boring, and the presentation of my nachos was terrible. A towering pile of cold corn chips with a smattering of melted cheese and giant spoons of salsa, sour cream, and guac tossed onto the plate. I love the dips, but not thrown on cold chips and not when the tower of chips is so high that the toppings aren't spread around enough so that each chip has a little bit of topping on it. I know it's picky, but that is not the way nachos should be served and I hate paying for something in a restaurant when I know I can do it so much better. One of the main arguments as to eating in a restaurant is to eat something you don't have the technical ability to execute!

Depressing, but I ploughed on and ordered chicken enchiladas. An enchilada should be made with a corn tortilla and baked with chile sauce on top, sometimes with cheese put on before putting the entire dish in the oven. My enchilada was a cold flour wrap, with lukewarm chicken, and drowning in salsa that tasted like it came out of a jar and had just come out of the fridge. In all honesty, the chicken wraps that Marks & Spencer does was better than this!! Everything was just so very, very wrong.

Please don't go here. Save your money and try to do tex-mex at home, because it's not worth it here. Apparently there is a Mexican restaurant supplier that makes meals on Fridays in the Victoria area and is supposed to be very good - if anyone has any info, please pass it on!

Faltering Fullback - Schizophrenia by tgscott

tgscott — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 11:06:07 +0000

Review by tgscott

Rating: 5.00

Tags: ''local, ''thai, pub''

This seems to be about the only place worth spending any serious drinking time in, around Finsbury Park.

I've heard many people comment how much they'd like to live on Perth Road. Why? It's just an ordinary terraced street?! Well, with some further questioning it usually ends up being something to do with being close to the Fullback. That's quite a compliment.

The Fullback is a funny place - a rugby pub which shows football, an Irish pub with a Thai kitchen. A locals bar, a cosy room for couples and readers, a hard-drinker area, and a room for hedonists (where the jukebox isn't at all bad).

If you haven't been, you should have.This seems to be about the only place worth spending any serious drinking time in, around Finsbury Park.

I've heard many people comment how much they'd like to live on Perth Road. Why? It's just an ordinary terraced street?! Well, with some further questioning it usually ends up being something to do with being close to the Fullback. That's quite a compliment.

The Fullback is a funny place - a rugby pub which shows football, an Irish pub with a Thai kitchen. A locals bar, a cosy room for couples and readers, a hard-drinker area, and a room for hedonists (where the jukebox isn't at all bad).

If you haven't been, you should have.