Latest reviews in Gospel Oak, London, United Kingdom

Bangalore Brasserie - by easymarc123

easymarc123 — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 12:42:05 +0000

Review by easymarc123

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7267 7550

The food at this place is the best Indian food I've had in any restaurant, and I am a huge Indophile.
Having been there a lot I can recommend any of the balti specials -especially the palok dishes - but regularly return to Chicken Mirchi.
It's pretty cheap for London, the food is amazing, and the staff really friendly. The only problem is that it's rarely busy - probably due to location - which can make it feel slightly vacuous - on the plus side of this, you'll get your food quicker! I love this place and still maintain it's the best Indian in London.The food at this place is the best Indian food I've had in any restaurant, and I am a huge Indophile.
Having been there a lot I can recommend any of the balti specials -especially the palok dishes - but regularly return to Chicken Mirchi.
It's pretty cheap for London, the food is amazing, and the staff really friendly. The only problem is that it's rarely busy - probably due to location - which can make it feel slightly vacuous - on the plus side of this, you'll get your food quicker! I love this place and still maintain it's the best Indian in London.

The Spice - by stavros

stavros — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 23:49:53 +0000

Review by stavros

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7482 2700

Tags: indian, conservatory, takeaway

I just ordered some food from The Spice, and everything was great. The Tandoori chicken was very well presented and tasty, and the Vindaloo chicken was also very tasty but very very hot. It was quite filling for 9 pounds (partly due to the pint of milk I had to drink to get rid of the burning), and overall I would recommend it without hesitation. Even the guy who delivered the food was very nice and polite!I just ordered some food from The Spice, and everything was great. The Tandoori chicken was very well presented and tasty, and the Vindaloo chicken was also very tasty but very very hot. It was quite filling for 9 pounds (partly due to the pint of milk I had to drink to get rid of the burning), and overall I would recommend it without hesitation. Even the guy who delivered the food was very nice and polite!

The Lock Tavern - camden institution by sarahbean

sarahbean — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 12:29:45 +0000

Review by sarahbean

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7482 7163

Website: http://www.lock-tavern.co.uk

Tags: beer garden, cool, trendy

The Lock is probably the best place to go in Camden. Been going for years so they gave me a regulars card which means I don't have to queue on weekend which is a bonus.

I generally gof ro the music programming and have seen some amazing djs, LCD Soundsystem, Simian Mobile Disco, Hot Chip, Vampire Weekend, play there in such an intimate atmosphere.

The garden and terrace are also great to whiling away a lazy Saturday or Sunday with a roast and usually a bloody Mary.

Only let down is the toilets which need a major overhaul, major!The Lock is probably the best place to go in Camden. Been going for years so they gave me a regulars card which means I don't have to queue on weekend which is a bonus.

I generally gof ro the music programming and have seen some amazing djs, LCD Soundsystem, Simian Mobile Disco, Hot Chip, Vampire Weekend, play there in such an intimate atmosphere.

The garden and terrace are also great to whiling away a lazy Saturday or Sunday with a roast and usually a bloody Mary.

Only let down is the toilets which need a major overhaul, major!

Marathon Kebab - last call for the marathon by Dsaoirse

Dsaoirse — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 01:27:06 +0000

Review by Dsaoirse

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7485 3814

Tags: lively, turkish, crowded

the marathon is as famous as camden itself ...old heads and head the balls, everyone who is anyone in the music or art world has used it and loved it for years..keith richards, shane mc'gowan and paul weller are all on record saying some of the best nights of their lives were spent there in the company of danny blue..the marathon is historic ..and signaled the great alliance b'tween the irish and greek/turkish in london .. the dionysian shebeen ..camden council and the cops should be hung for meddling with the rare find that 'the marathon' is..personally, i blame the stage school bunny winehouse and pete pathetic doherty..for bringing in hordes of equally dull stage school and hooray well-off spring brats that stink up camden..they've ruined the place..and now it looks like our only salvation and last chance saloon is under threat..having to close down at one o'clock..and keep the middle class raffle riffs from the door!the marathon is as famous as camden itself ...old heads and head the balls, everyone who is anyone in the music or art world has used it and loved it for years..keith richards, shane mc'gowan and paul weller are all on record saying some of the best nights of their lives were spent there in the company of danny blue..the marathon is historic ..and signaled the great alliance b'tween the irish and greek/turkish in london .. the dionysian shebeen ..camden council and the cops should be hung for meddling with the rare find that 'the marathon' is..personally, i blame the stage school bunny winehouse and pete pathetic doherty..for bringing in hordes of equally dull stage school and hooray well-off spring brats that stink up camden..they've ruined the place..and now it looks like our only salvation and last chance saloon is under threat..having to close down at one o'clock..and keep the middle class raffle riffs from the door!

Pang's Take Away - The Best! by serendipity

serendipity — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 01:57:19 +0000

Review by serendipity

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7428 5818

Tags: chinese

I have been going to Pang's for few years now and always greeted by cheerful smile no matter what their day was like! Always happy to order food from them - either by phone - and pick up few minutes later as live just nearby or walk in and wait for my tasty meal to be prepared.
Everytime me and my boyfriend have a taste for something delicious this is the first place we go to! Absolutely wonderful Prawn crackers and sesame prawn toast is usually our starter, followed by my favourite sweet and sour chicken balls or prawns. Can't get enough of it and when full - leave some bits for the next day - and still tastes superb! Also tried their fish in various styles - gotta be careful as their "hot and spicy" is really as it says!
Fresh and never overcooked or undercooked - just PERFECT! The Best place for your takeaways!!!I have been going to Pang's for few years now and always greeted by cheerful smile no matter what their day was like! Always happy to order food from them - either by phone - and pick up few minutes later as live just nearby or walk in and wait for my tasty meal to be prepared.
Everytime me and my boyfriend have a taste for something delicious this is the first place we go to! Absolutely wonderful Prawn crackers and sesame prawn toast is usually our starter, followed by my favourite sweet and sour chicken balls or prawns. Can't get enough of it and when full - leave some bits for the next day - and still tastes superb! Also tried their fish in various styles - gotta be careful as their "hot and spicy" is really as it says!
Fresh and never overcooked or undercooked - just PERFECT! The Best place for your takeaways!!!

Gilgamesh - Gilgamesh is definitely not Godlike by Julian40_06

Julian40_06 — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 09:31:44 +0000

Review by Julian40_06

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 7482 5757

Website: http://www.gilgameshbar.com/

Tags: thai, lively, expensive

This is perhaps one of the worst restaurants I have had the misfortune to eat in.

The decor is fantastic, with beautifully carved hardwood paneling throughout the restaurant. Unfortunately the wow factor stopped right there.

The security guards on the front door apparently cannot count from 1 to 9 and kept two members of our party kicking their heels at the front entrance while the person who made the booking was called back downstairs to explain the rudiments of mathematics.

The experience went downhill rapidly from there.

We were booked into the smaller of the two restaurant dining areas, the entrance to which was overseen by yet another security guard and an attractive if vacuous young woman who attached a gold identity band around the wrist of each guest. The two plastic surgeons in our group felt immediately at home. I began to suspect we might need their services before the night was out, to surgically remove our frowns.

We were shown to our table by a gentleman who may or may not have shaved sometime in the last six days, the lighting being dim and somewhat red, it was difficult to tell. The table was ridiculously small for a table of nine people, with approximately 5 1/2 inches per person.

Even before we had finished disentangling limbs, the man with the greasy pony tail and unshaven jaw was back with a fixed menu sheet. Â£45 per person was the headline at the top of the page, clearly indicating the establishment's priorities. They had tried to make the menu look substantial by double spacing the items on the page, but the list of dishes finished sadly short of the bottom of the page. I didn't bother looking at the wine list. I very much suspect that it would have come with a lien on close family members.

I was by this time becoming a little alarmed and the arctic chill down my back was not just from the over enthusiastic air conditioning which was threatening to give me hypothermia. I was seriously thinking of requesting a parka jacket. By the time the first course arrived I was shivering with enthusiasm.I was really looking forward to leaving. Two of our party immediately bailed out at this point. I heartily wished I had joined them.

The food was, well, edible. One of the other reviewers extolled the virtues of the fried squid. I have to agree that it was the highlight, served in small paper flutes. It was just like being at Southend. Unfortunately I would have to disagree with the reviewer who prized it so highly. While the squid was tender and the batter crispy, it had no pizzazz to set it apart. Sadly for the chef, I had gone to China town the previous Saturday and had eaten fried squid from the hands of a master of the art. This came no where close.

The remaining dishes of the entrees were lacking in any real substance. The duck spring rolls, cut in half and rationed, were lacking in any substantial flavor and the Scallop Sui Mai was sticky and unappetizing. The freezing air conditioning rapidly chilled any warm food on the table, but the shivering was burning calories and this sharpened the appetite, so all was not lost.

Before the last of the first course morsels had been eaten the waitress who had assisted in delivering the first course was back demanding to know whether we had finished, with as much charm as a serial killer.

The main course consisting of Green Chicken Curry Lime Leaves and Thai Basil, Duck & Watermelon Salad, Hoba Miso Chilean Seabass, Stir Fried Asian Greens, Jasmine Rice arrived with unseemly haste. Then again, by this time I had stopped shivering from the cold, which is usually an indication that hypothermia has progressed to the euphoria stage, I needed all the sustenance I could get as quickly as possible.

The Green Chicken Curry had about as much punch as pea soup. The thin sauce was populated by limp vegetables and a few straggly pieces of chicken. I almost requested a straining spoon to assist in the hunt for protein. The Seabass was good. Cooked to perfection, delicately flavored and truly a delight. If I didn't have to fight my fellow guests for a taste of this, it would have been truly enjoyable, however the portion was miserly. It was fortunate that the disposable chopsticks were sharpened at one end providing an adequate weapon. With concentration camp rationing, the hungry inmate needs every break he can get. The Duck and Watermelon was interesting. Watermelon soaked in duck fat is an interesting combination. There were a few obscure brown pieces mixed in with the watermelon, but one had the distinct impression that they were an afterthought and may or may not have been a duck at some point in the distant past.

The fired Asian greens and the rice were quite frankly a joke. The vegetables were limp and tired and the rice was overcooked with the consistency of soggy cardboard.

The waitress returned before long demanding 'have you finished yet?'. The shivering had returned by this time or I might have mentioned a few things about good service.

The final course was Green Tea Brulee with Jasmine & White Peach sorbet which were both excellent if lacking in generosity.

The final insult of the evening was the waitress returning to harass the poor gentleman, our host, who had booked us into the establishment to settle the bill as quickly as possible as they had already sold the table to another party for Â£350 without any food and the dancing was about to begin so could we please pay up and leave. I would not have been terribly surprised to see Basil Fawlty goose step past the table it this point.

At Â£63 per head this was possibly one of the worst meals I have ever experienced. The party who took possession of the table following our peremptory eviction, had probably had the misfortune of dining here before, so they were happy enough to stump up the Â£350 without having to experience the heart rending disappointment of having to smile through three courses of generally ordinary food and a complete absence of hospitality.

If it had not been for the excellent and entertaining company at the table I would seriously have thought about leaving before the first course had been cleared. I have to say I really enjoyed the evening and the enjoyable conversation. It almost made me forget the restaurant.This is perhaps one of the worst restaurants I have had the misfortune to eat in.

The decor is fantastic, with beautifully carved hardwood paneling throughout the restaurant. Unfortunately the wow factor stopped right there.

The security guards on the front door apparently cannot count from 1 to 9 and kept two members of our party kicking their heels at the front entrance while the person who made the booking was called back downstairs to explain the rudiments of mathematics.

The experience went downhill rapidly from there.

We were booked into the smaller of the two restaurant dining areas, the entrance to which was overseen by yet another security guard and an attractive if vacuous young woman who attached a gold identity band around the wrist of each guest. The two plastic surgeons in our group felt immediately at home. I began to suspect we might need their services before the night was out, to surgically remove our frowns.

We were shown to our table by a gentleman who may or may not have shaved sometime in the last six days, the lighting being dim and somewhat red, it was difficult to tell. The table was ridiculously small for a table of nine people, with approximately 5 1/2 inches per person.

Even before we had finished disentangling limbs, the man with the greasy pony tail and unshaven jaw was back with a fixed menu sheet. Â£45 per person was the headline at the top of the page, clearly indicating the establishment's priorities. They had tried to make the menu look substantial by double spacing the items on the page, but the list of dishes finished sadly short of the bottom of the page. I didn't bother looking at the wine list. I very much suspect that it would have come with a lien on close family members.

I was by this time becoming a little alarmed and the arctic chill down my back was not just from the over enthusiastic air conditioning which was threatening to give me hypothermia. I was seriously thinking of requesting a parka jacket. By the time the first course arrived I was shivering with enthusiasm.I was really looking forward to leaving. Two of our party immediately bailed out at this point. I heartily wished I had joined them.

The food was, well, edible. One of the other reviewers extolled the virtues of the fried squid. I have to agree that it was the highlight, served in small paper flutes. It was just like being at Southend. Unfortunately I would have to disagree with the reviewer who prized it so highly. While the squid was tender and the batter crispy, it had no pizzazz to set it apart. Sadly for the chef, I had gone to China town the previous Saturday and had eaten fried squid from the hands of a master of the art. This came no where close.

The remaining dishes of the entrees were lacking in any real substance. The duck spring rolls, cut in half and rationed, were lacking in any substantial flavor and the Scallop Sui Mai was sticky and unappetizing. The freezing air conditioning rapidly chilled any warm food on the table, but the shivering was burning calories and this sharpened the appetite, so all was not lost.

Before the last of the first course morsels had been eaten the waitress who had assisted in delivering the first course was back demanding to know whether we had finished, with as much charm as a serial killer.

The main course consisting of Green Chicken Curry Lime Leaves and Thai Basil, Duck & Watermelon Salad, Hoba Miso Chilean Seabass, Stir Fried Asian Greens, Jasmine Rice arrived with unseemly haste. Then again, by this time I had stopped shivering from the cold, which is usually an indication that hypothermia has progressed to the euphoria stage, I needed all the sustenance I could get as quickly as possible.

The Green Chicken Curry had about as much punch as pea soup. The thin sauce was populated by limp vegetables and a few straggly pieces of chicken. I almost requested a straining spoon to assist in the hunt for protein. The Seabass was good. Cooked to perfection, delicately flavored and truly a delight. If I didn't have to fight my fellow guests for a taste of this, it would have been truly enjoyable, however the portion was miserly. It was fortunate that the disposable chopsticks were sharpened at one end providing an adequate weapon. With concentration camp rationing, the hungry inmate needs every break he can get. The Duck and Watermelon was interesting. Watermelon soaked in duck fat is an interesting combination. There were a few obscure brown pieces mixed in with the watermelon, but one had the distinct impression that they were an afterthought and may or may not have been a duck at some point in the distant past.

The fired Asian greens and the rice were quite frankly a joke. The vegetables were limp and tired and the rice was overcooked with the consistency of soggy cardboard.

The waitress returned before long demanding 'have you finished yet?'. The shivering had returned by this time or I might have mentioned a few things about good service.

The final course was Green Tea Brulee with Jasmine & White Peach sorbet which were both excellent if lacking in generosity.

The final insult of the evening was the waitress returning to harass the poor gentleman, our host, who had booked us into the establishment to settle the bill as quickly as possible as they had already sold the table to another party for Â£350 without any food and the dancing was about to begin so could we please pay up and leave. I would not have been terribly surprised to see Basil Fawlty goose step past the table it this point.

At Â£63 per head this was possibly one of the worst meals I have ever experienced. The party who took possession of the table following our peremptory eviction, had probably had the misfortune of dining here before, so they were happy enough to stump up the Â£350 without having to experience the heart rending disappointment of having to smile through three courses of generally ordinary food and a complete absence of hospitality.

If it had not been for the excellent and entertaining company at the table I would seriously have thought about leaving before the first course had been cleared. I have to say I really enjoyed the evening and the enjoyable conversation. It almost made me forget the restaurant.

Blue Moon Cafe - Favorite Thai Cafe by mrhollow

mrhollow — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 01:33:45 +0000

Review by mrhollow

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7267 8672

Tags: thai, romantic, crowded

Favorite Food Good value.

Favorite Food Good value.

Town Cafe - i'm a regular! by nubianprincess

nubianprincess — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 22:44:47 +0000

Review by nubianprincess

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7267 6450

Tags: quick bite, takeaway, good brew

i work round the corner here and often go here for lunch a few times a week. The staff are friendly, the food is really nice and the portions are massive!
It's always busy (not in a bad way) and quite often with kids (with their parents) and it's a place that i would call family friendly, as well as if you're in the area and just want a cup of tea or a bit of lunch.
I've never had a bad meal here and would definitely recommend.i work round the corner here and often go here for lunch a few times a week. The staff are friendly, the food is really nice and the portions are massive!
It's always busy (not in a bad way) and quite often with kids (with their parents) and it's a place that i would call family friendly, as well as if you're in the area and just want a cup of tea or a bit of lunch.
I've never had a bad meal here and would definitely recommend.

Red - disappointing by nubianprincess

nubianprincess — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 22:41:38 +0000

Review by nubianprincess

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7482 7300

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

Tags: takeaway, terrace, mediterranean

i went here for a work leaving lunch this week. The actual venue looks appealing and the decor is inviting. The food was good and it was a large portion. Unfortunately the meals took a long time to arrive- about 1 hour- and then a few of our orders were not correct. This took a while to rectify too. The waiter we had was a bit flustered and certainly didn't appear to have graduated from' waiter etiquette school'! One of the younger waiters was more attentive and helped clarify the bill, as again there were some mistakes there too. Our experience didn't appear to be isolated- the people on the table next to us also had incorrect orders and were in the restaurant even longer than us!

That said, the food was good and i would like to think that this was just a bad day for them. One of my work colleagues went a couple of weeks before and said that she had no problems.

It's not the cheapest meal, but it is close to the station and if i was meeting friends and in and around the area then i would try it again.i went here for a work leaving lunch this week. The actual venue looks appealing and the decor is inviting. The food was good and it was a large portion. Unfortunately the meals took a long time to arrive- about 1 hour- and then a few of our orders were not correct. This took a while to rectify too. The waiter we had was a bit flustered and certainly didn't appear to have graduated from' waiter etiquette school'! One of the younger waiters was more attentive and helped clarify the bill, as again there were some mistakes there too. Our experience didn't appear to be isolated- the people on the table next to us also had incorrect orders and were in the restaurant even longer than us!

That said, the food was good and i would like to think that this was just a bad day for them. One of my work colleagues went a couple of weeks before and said that she had no problems.

It's not the cheapest meal, but it is close to the station and if i was meeting friends and in and around the area then i would try it again.

Cottons - What a disappointment :-( by AlexWoods

AlexWoods — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 10:46:18 +0000

Review by AlexWoods

Rating: 2.00

Phone: 020 7485 8388

Tags: african & caribbean, lively, good value

Having read the numerous good reviews of this place, and having had it recommended by a former work colleague who was from Trinidad, I expect great things, and I was sadly disappointed.

The food really wasn't very good. My baby back pork ribs (both of them. For the best part of a fiver? A little cheeky) were spicy, but cold. They were served with a very few slices of fried onion, which was cold, tough and pretty unpleasant on the palate. My Better Half's crab claws were similarly meagre and disappointing and came in at a fiver.

We both had jerk meat platters which were pretty poor. For a start, there wasn't very much of it, secondly it was again cold and my fried plantain just tasted burnt.

I apologise for the slightly dispassionate review. Those of you who have read others will understand that this is uncharacteristic. It was just such a disappointing meal that it's left me some what deflated.

Shame really. I was expecting something pretty good.Having read the numerous good reviews of this place, and having had it recommended by a former work colleague who was from Trinidad, I expect great things, and I was sadly disappointed.

The food really wasn't very good. My baby back pork ribs (both of them. For the best part of a fiver? A little cheeky) were spicy, but cold. They were served with a very few slices of fried onion, which was cold, tough and pretty unpleasant on the palate. My Better Half's crab claws were similarly meagre and disappointing and came in at a fiver.

We both had jerk meat platters which were pretty poor. For a start, there wasn't very much of it, secondly it was again cold and my fried plantain just tasted burnt.

I apologise for the slightly dispassionate review. Those of you who have read others will understand that this is uncharacteristic. It was just such a disappointing meal that it's left me some what deflated.

Shame really. I was expecting something pretty good.

Belgo Noord - mussels and chips galore by brenna

brenna — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 16:06:24 +0000

Review by brenna

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7267 0718

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

Tags: good value, lively, belgian

If you love mussels and chips, Belgo's is your place. With an industrial decor, Belgo also has a huge selection of beers on offer.If you love mussels and chips, Belgo's is your place. With an industrial decor, Belgo also has a huge selection of beers on offer.

Gulshaan - by LOVEANDKATE

LOVEANDKATE — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 18:41:26 +0000

Review by LOVEANDKATE

Rating: 4.00

Tags: indian, good value

I totally love this Indian - its not a great place to sit in and eat - but what it lacks in decor and ambiance - it surprises in taste and service.

I usually get take away - its really efficient and they have some interesting specials.

It tastes really fresh and the butter murgh is especially good.I totally love this Indian - its not a great place to sit in and eat - but what it lacks in decor and ambiance - it surprises in taste and service.

I usually get take away - its really efficient and they have some interesting specials.

It tastes really fresh and the butter murgh is especially good.

Abbey Tavern - Nice pub by nispero

nispero — Wed, 13 May 2009 15:53:32 +0000

Review by nispero

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7485 2131

Tags: live music, cool, relaxed

The Abbey tavern is a very nice pub located in Kentish Town. The pub has a lot of space with sofas and tables but the best part for me is the garden. It is really nice and it has a lot of heaters so you can be outside also when the weather is not so nice.
They have a huge selection of food and some nice beers like Hoeggarden.
They also have free concerts twice per week.The Abbey tavern is a very nice pub located in Kentish Town. The pub has a lot of space with sofas and tables but the best part for me is the garden. It is really nice and it has a lot of heaters so you can be outside also when the weather is not so nice.
They have a huge selection of food and some nice beers like Hoeggarden.
They also have free concerts twice per week.

The Enterprise - by benantiben

benantiben — Thu, 07 May 2009 16:41:50 +0000

Review by benantiben

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7485 2659

Tags: food

This is my favourite pub in all the world. It's been my local for about 4 years and I just love the place and all the other locals who drink there. It's a proper pub. Not too clean but always good fun and Friday and Saturday nights are always ridiculous. DJ Sue who plays the most amazing old school 50's and 60's rare vinyl you've ever heard and DJ Keir from Bloody Awful Poetry most Saturday's playing classic and offbeat rock and pop tunes. Both of them will make you dance.

Great little live room upstairs as well - love it!This is my favourite pub in all the world. It's been my local for about 4 years and I just love the place and all the other locals who drink there. It's a proper pub. Not too clean but always good fun and Friday and Saturday nights are always ridiculous. DJ Sue who plays the most amazing old school 50's and 60's rare vinyl you've ever heard and DJ Keir from Bloody Awful Poetry most Saturday's playing classic and offbeat rock and pop tunes. Both of them will make you dance.

Great little live room upstairs as well - love it!

The Old Eagle - Great atmosphere, great beer, great pub. by AlexWoods

AlexWoods — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 16:59:10 +0000

Review by AlexWoods

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7485 3134

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

Tags: relaxed, food, friendly

When my old man was a young man and he lived in Camden Town he used to pull pints in the Old Eagle. By all accounts it was a very different kettle of fish in those days. Still, when he came to visit over the Easter weekend we had a family outing to investigate his old haunt.

Thereâ¬"s a subtle Oirish theme going on here, hardly to be wondered at, not in a tacky Oâ¬"Neils way. In fact, were it not for the Irish barman (who carried himself very much as if he was the guvâ¬"nor of the establishment) we probably wouldnâ¬"t have noticed the odd ceildh poster here and there.

I really like the place. The walls are festooned with pictures, which vary in quality, and the bar is deck out in all kinds of tat â¬ Toby jugs, ornaments and the like. There are a couple of knackered old sofas which contribute to the cosy, relaxed atmosphere, some pretty unobtrusive music, nightlights and flowers every where, itâ¬"s just a really nice, unpretentious boozer.

They boast a Thai food menu (which Iâ¬"m all in favour â¬ brilliant pub food! Quick, delicious, plenty of ballast!) which I shall try and report back on soon!

In the beer department they had a pretty standard range, with Old Speckled Hen and Green King IPA on draft, both of which were delicious.

Having not been back to this part of Camden since he left University, we had to put up with an awful lot of reminiscing from the Pater - lengthy monologues about how youâ¬"d have the saloon bar that side, and the partition was by that door, which even then had been bricked up, but the tiling on the front door step was still the same, etc etc, but that kind of add to the quaint, cosy charm of the place. Itâ¬"s obviously a very different place now - â¬SDamn sight less seedy than it used to beâ¬ as a tear trickled down his cheek. And a good thing too. If I lived any closer Iâ¬"d probably be there every night. As it is every other will have to do.
When my old man was a young man and he lived in Camden Town he used to pull pints in the Old Eagle. By all accounts it was a very different kettle of fish in those days. Still, when he came to visit over the Easter weekend we had a family outing to investigate his old haunt.

Thereâ¬"s a subtle Oirish theme going on here, hardly to be wondered at, not in a tacky Oâ¬"Neils way. In fact, were it not for the Irish barman (who carried himself very much as if he was the guvâ¬"nor of the establishment) we probably wouldnâ¬"t have noticed the odd ceildh poster here and there.

I really like the place. The walls are festooned with pictures, which vary in quality, and the bar is deck out in all kinds of tat â¬ Toby jugs, ornaments and the like. There are a couple of knackered old sofas which contribute to the cosy, relaxed atmosphere, some pretty unobtrusive music, nightlights and flowers every where, itâ¬"s just a really nice, unpretentious boozer.

They boast a Thai food menu (which Iâ¬"m all in favour â¬ brilliant pub food! Quick, delicious, plenty of ballast!) which I shall try and report back on soon!

In the beer department they had a pretty standard range, with Old Speckled Hen and Green King IPA on draft, both of which were delicious.

Having not been back to this part of Camden since he left University, we had to put up with an awful lot of reminiscing from the Pater - lengthy monologues about how youâ¬"d have the saloon bar that side, and the partition was by that door, which even then had been bricked up, but the tiling on the front door step was still the same, etc etc, but that kind of added to the quaint, cosy charm of the place. Itâ¬"s obviously a very different place now - â¬SDamn sight less seedy than it used to beâ¬ as a tear trickled down his cheek. And a good thing too. If I lived any closer Iâ¬"d probably be there every night. As it is every other will have to do.

The Fortune Express - It's not bad by apple_pi

apple_pi — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 12:56:41 +0000

Review by apple_pi

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7272 0091

Tags: chinese

Not the best chinese food I've eaten, but it is certainly better than most of the other places in the area. They have managed to murder some of my favourite chinese dishes. Whilst some others are quite pleasant. Unfortunately lunchtime is not the best time to go there as it is swarmed by school children, a small minority of which can be quite arrogant and rude. A positive thing to note is that you can see the food being cooked. Although, I don't appreciate being told that their barbeque sauce is homemade and then seeing large quantities of ready made tinned barbeque sauce stacked in the corner.Not the best chinese food I've eaten, but it is certainly better than most of the other places in the area. They have managed to murder some of my favourite chinese dishes. Whilst some others are quite pleasant. Unfortunately lunchtime is not the best time to go there as it is swarmed by school children, a small minority of which can be quite arrogant and rude. A positive thing to note is that you can see the food being cooked. Although, I don't appreciate being told that their barbeque sauce is homemade and then seeing large quantities of ready made tinned barbeque sauce stacked in the corner.

Phoenicia - Great by apple_pi

apple_pi — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 22:19:04 +0000

Review by apple_pi

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7267 1267

Tags: mediterranean, delicatessen, rare finds

Huge selection at excellent value. The baclava is my favourite.Huge selection at excellent value. The baclava is my favourite.

Bar Lorca Tufnell Park - Has its uses by curlyfries

curlyfries — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 13:14:24 +0000

Review by curlyfries

Rating: 2.00Having managed to avoid this place for years I ended up in here as a bit of a last resort a couple of weeks ago since there aren't exactly a wealth of places to hang out late at night around this part of town. Totally lacking in any atmosphere at all, the interior is dreadful but the mohitos are surprisingly good.Having managed to avoid this place for years I ended up in here as a bit of a last resort a couple of weeks ago since there aren't exactly a wealth of places to hang out late at night around this part of town. Totally lacking in any atmosphere at all, the interior is dreadful but the mohitos are surprisingly good.

The Bull & Last - by sokratis

sokratis — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 18:34:10 +0000

Review by sokratis

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7267 3641

Tags: food, mediterranean, vegetarian dishes

Bull & Last pub quiz on Sunday was excellent. We came third, but only by a whisker. It was the biblical references that cost us the 3 bottles of wine second prize. Still very friendly atmosphere and the freshest pint of San Miguel I've had in a while. The bavette steak was ok, but next time I'm trying the beef pie.Bull & Last pub quiz on Sunday was excellent. We came third, but only by a whisker. It was the biblical references that cost us the 3 bottles of wine second prize. Still very friendly atmosphere and the freshest pint of San Miguel I've had in a while. The bavette steak was ok, but next time I'm trying the beef pie.

B & M Seafoods - Good quality produce comes at a price.... by AlexWoods

AlexWoods — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 10:35:21 +0000

Review by AlexWoods

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7485 0346

Tags: value for money, good service, bad

While I appreciate that feeling ripped off is not a recommendation, I feel that sjt is being a little harsh on B&M Seafood (and has every right to be so!)

We are, however, both agreed that the quality of the produce is top drawer. I went on Saturday as part of a recon mission, and was so impressed at how delicious and fresh the fish looked that I purchased a mackerel for my lunch and a red gurnard for myself and "The Dorris", as she loathes to be called, for Sunday evening.

The mackerel was so bright eyed I could imagine the beautiful tiger-striped beasty was but playing a trick on me and waiting to spring up at any moment and make a bid for freedom. Simple treatment (baked on a bed of bay leaves, parboiled potatoes, lemon and shallots - DELICIOUS!), one of the tastiest mackerel I've had since the last time I went fishing for them myself.

The gurnard was of similarly high quality. If you have not yet indulged in the delights of gurnard I urge you to do so! Many older cook books describe it as "insipid", "bitter", and many discount it as not being worth eating at all. This is nonsense. It's firm, white, meaty flesh is very tasty indeed and stands up well to pot-roasting, addition to stews and soups, and bakes very well wrapped in pancetta or streaky bacon, much like monk fish. With an anchovy butter or slightly piquant parsley sauce, it is rapidly becoming one of my favourite fish. This is rapidly becoming an essay rather than a review. Back to the point.

The fish were delicious, the monger knowledgeable, amiable and cooperative. I asked if he had any off cuts I could use for stock and walked out with 4 bright, fresh sea bass carcasses and heads.

Now, one can pay less than £8 for a mackerel and a gurnard, but both fish were large enough to produce two generous meals. Bearing this in mind along with the quality of the fish and service, I would not hesitate to highly recommend this place, and do not begrudge paying the £8 I parted with.

B&M are not just fishmongers but butchers also. The range of meat was impressive, though stock slightly depleted by a Saturday afternoon, and looked very delicious indeed. I asked about ordering a joint for Easter Sunday and was assured that there would be not need as meat is delivered every Friday, but they would make sure there was a shoulder of lamb set aside for me. That kind of service is what makes me smile.

All in all, it isnâ¬"t cheap. Certainly not as cheap as your local supermarket (which doesnâ¬"t really break my heart!) but you get what you pay for, and more.While I appreciate that feeling ripped off is not a recommendation, I feel that sjt is being a little harsh on B&M Seafood (and has every right to be so!)

We are, however, both agreed that the quality of the produce is top drawer. I went on Saturday as part of a recon mission, and was so impressed at how delicious and fresh the fish looked that I purchased a mackerel for my lunch and a red gurnard for myself and "The Dorris", as she loathes to be called, for Sunday evening.

The mackerel was so bright eyed I could imagine the beautiful tiger-striped beasty was but playing a trick on me and waiting to spring up at any moment and make a bid for freedom. Simple treatment (baked on a bed of bay leaves, parboiled potatoes, lemon and shallots - DELICIOUS!), one of the tastiest mackerel I've had since the last time I went fishing for them myself.

The gurnard was of similarly high quality. If you have not yet indulged in the delights of gurnard I urge you to do so! Many older cook books describe it as "insipid", "bitter", and many discount it as not being worth eating at all. This is nonsense. It's firm, white, meaty flesh is very tasty indeed and stands up well to pot-roasting, addition to stews and soups, and bakes very well wrapped in pancetta or streaky bacon, much like monk fish. With an anchovy butter or slightly piquant parsley sauce, it is rapidly becoming one of my favourite fish. This is rapidly becoming an essay rather than a review. Back to the point.

The fish were delicious, the monger knowledgeable, amiable and cooperative. I asked if he had any off cuts I could use for stock and walked out with 4 bright, fresh sea bass carcasses and heads.

Now, one can pay less than £8 for a mackerel and a gurnard, but both fish were large enough to produce two generous meals. Bearing this in mind along with the quality of the fish and service, I would not hesitate to highly recommend this place, and do not begrudge paying the £8 I parted with.

B&M are not just fishmongers but butchers also. The range of meat was impressive, though stock slightly depleted by a Saturday afternoon, and looked very delicious indeed. I asked about ordering a joint for Easter Sunday and was assured that there would be not need as meat is delivered every Friday, but they would make sure there was a shoulder of lamb set aside for me. That kind of service is what makes me smile.

All in all, it isnâ¬"t cheap. Certainly not as cheap as your local supermarket (which doesnâ¬"t really break my heart!) but you get what you pay for, and more.