Latest reviews for Restaurants in Holborn, London, United Kingdom

Takari - by Peteryth

Peteryth — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:45:45 +0000

Review by Peteryth

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7836 1628

The most original food in a good sence that we've had. service brilliant, Atmosphere fun. We enjoyed our selves, You will as well.The most original food in a good sence that we've had. service brilliant, Atmosphere fun. We enjoyed our selves, You will as well.

Spaghetti House - Re: Genuine, delicious Italian cuisine by AlexWoods

AlexWoods — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 17:22:51 +0000

Review by AlexWoods

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7405 6658

Website: http://www.spaghetti-house.co.uk

Tags: italian, lively, good value

I cannot rate this place highly enough. I shall leave a more comprehensive review when I have the time but for now suffice it to say that this is the best Italian eatery I have been to. Quality fare, simply cooked. Hugely generous servings, reasonably priced, charming staff, and just excellent, excellent delious fresh food.I cannot rate this place highly enough. I shall leave a more comprehensive review when I have the time but for now suffice it to say that this is the best Italian eatery I have been to. Quality fare, simply cooked. Hugely generous servings, reasonably priced, charming staff, and just excellent, excellent delious fresh food.

San Francesco - Feels like home by DrKnowledge

DrKnowledge — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 23:30:04 +0000

Review by DrKnowledge

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7836 6354

Tags: italian, family & home feel, lively

My wife and I have been coming here for years and wouldn't miss it on our trips to London. Mr. Italo Muro, the owner, and Joe, the head waiter will treat you like part of the family. This place is about great food, ambiance, and people that treat you like you've come to their home for supper. Can't imagine a trip to London without going there to see our friends and have a great evening.My wife and I have been coming here for years and wouldn't miss it on our trips to London. Mr. Italo Muro, the owner, and Joe, the head waiter will treat you like part of the family. This place is about great food, ambiance, and people that treat you like you've come to their home for supper. Can't imagine a trip to London without going there to see our friends and have a great evening.

Abeno - Nice place with authentic food by Jongleur

Jongleur — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 20:14:42 +0000

Review by Jongleur

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7405 3211

Tags: japanese, good value, family & home feel

This is the only London restaurant I know of where you can have real Japanese okonomiyaki prepared right in front of you. Okonomiyaki is something like an omelette and something like a pizza â¬ a thick pancake of eggs, rice and extra fillings of your choice (cheese, bacon, vegetables etc) which is mixed up to order and then cooked with artistry on a hot plate in the middle of your table. The hot plate is a novelty if you like that kind of thing but I had more fun flicking drops of Coke onto it to watch them dance across the table :-) Service is friendly and there are plenty options on the menu for those who donâ¬"t want a version of the signature dish.This is the only London restaurant I know of where you can have real Japanese okonomiyaki prepared right in front of you. Okonomiyaki is something like an omelette and something like a pizza â¬ a thick pancake of eggs, rice and extra fillings of your choice (cheese, bacon, vegetables etc) which is mixed up to order and then cooked with artistry on a hot plate in the middle of your table. The hot plate is a novelty if you like that kind of thing but I had more fun flicking drops of Coke onto it to watch them dance across the table :-) Service is friendly and there are plenty options on the menu for those who donâ¬"t want a version of the signature dish.

Thai Garden Cafe - Tasty, quick, and excellent value by Litro_K

Litro_K — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 19:10:13 +0000

Review by Litro_K

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7323 1494

Tags: thai, crowded, cheap eat

I definitely agree with Sami (below)- this is a well-worn lunchtime favourite. Two courses for Â£6.95? Bloody marvellous.

The food is tasty, the menu has many choices to suit everyone, and it's a pleasant place to sit yourself, in a leafy street opposite the British Museum. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone in the area at lunchtime. Go early, as it gets fairly busy!I definitely agree with Sami (below)- this is a well-worn lunchtime favourite. Two courses for Â£6.95? Bloody marvellous.

The food is tasty, the menu has many choices to suit everyone, and it's a pleasant place to sit yourself, in a leafy street opposite the British Museum. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone in the area at lunchtime. Go early, as it gets fairly busy!

Wagamama - Dinner by dee234

dee234 — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 19:10:46 +0000

Review by dee234

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7323 9223

Website: http://www.wagamama.com

Tags: japanese, good value, lively

Wnet here after a long hard day shopping. ALso used the buy one get one free main meal vouchers. Food was fab and service great. No complaints at all!Wnet here after a long hard day shopping. ALso used the buy one get one free main meal vouchers. Food was fab and service great. No complaints at all!

Bi Won - Korean heaven by acrobat

acrobat — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:49:29 +0000

Review by acrobat

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7580 2660

Tags: good value, korean, family & home feel

This little restaurant near the British restaurant is a haven from the impending cold autumn evenings ahead - what better way to warm up than over a hot grill?

There are two grill tables at the back and if you are after the grill it is best to go for these - for the sampling of beef tongue, pork belly and other meaty delights. But Korean food is far from only about grilling and the Chige and Bi Bin Ba are both fabulous as well.

There is a small selection of beers and some nice Japanese sake and Korean soju as well and all of that for less than 20 quid.This little restaurant near the British restaurant is a haven from the impending cold autumn evenings ahead - what better way to warm up than over a hot grill?

There are two grill tables at the back and if you are after the grill it is best to go for these - for the sampling of beef tongue, pork belly and other meaty delights. But Korean food is far from only about grilling and the Chige and Bi Bin Ba are both fabulous as well.

There is a small selection of beers and some nice Japanese sake and Korean soju as well and all of that for less than 20 quid.

My Old Dutch Pancake House - delicious by abcjess

abcjess — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 20:03:16 +0000

Review by abcjess

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7242 5200

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

Tags: good value, family & home feel, pancakes

I went to this branch today after reading the reviews below â¬ they really are as big as your face! But I found them surprisingly okay to get through considering the portions. I ordered the pear and cinnamon with ice cream and had a delicious tropical smoothie (which tasted a lot like â¬Sinnocent strawberry and bananaâ¬

Strada - Strada by Barney752

Barney752 — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 14:58:01 +0000

Review by Barney752

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7405 6293

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

Tags: italian, family & home feel, air conditioning

I am always surprised that strada is not more well known. Founded by a disgrunted pizza express employee who became disellusioned by the companys sub par pizzas, he decided to set up his own pizza company with a simple ethos, great pizzas at competative prices. Strada has achieved that. A pizza from strada is big, doughy and most importantly very very tasty. the prices are almost identical to pizza express but the pizzas themselves are far from similar, much bigger and much nicer. The decor is ambient and slightly old school. Mixing vintage italient pizzaria with a modern twist, which on the whole works. The staff are neither friendly or rude, but i reccomend this restaurant to any pizza lovers.I am always surprised that strada is not more well known. Founded by a disgrunted pizza express employee who became disellusioned by the companys sub par pizzas, he decided to set up his own pizza company with a simple ethos, great pizzas at competative prices. Strada has achieved that. A pizza from strada is big, doughy and most importantly very very tasty. the prices are almost identical to pizza express but the pizzas themselves are far from similar, much bigger and much nicer. The decor is ambient and slightly old school. Mixing vintage italient pizzaria with a modern twist, which on the whole works. The staff are neither friendly or rude, but i reccomend this restaurant to any pizza lovers.

Ultimate Burger - really are the ultimate burgers! by jlonners

jlonners — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 18:17:44 +0000

Review by jlonners

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7436 6641

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

Tags: vegetarian dishes, gourmet hamburgers

I wasnâ¬"t thrilled at the idea of eating in a burger bar, especially as my friend was vegetarian! The dÃ©cor isnâ¬"t totally like a fast food bar, its more wooden tables and metal chairs, but still it isnâ¬"t a posh place to go. The burgers truly are awesome though (or rather ultimate as we kept joking to each other all night!), mine was topped with stilton and I had it in a wrap rather than a bun, it was totally gorgeous!!!! My friendâ¬"s tofu affair was I was told lovely! There is a huge choice of burgers and toppings and my mouth is watering just thinking about it. This one is in the heart of Bloomsbury/holborn so in easy reach of the bars before hand too. It opens late and the service was fast and unobtrusive. Give it a try.I wasnâ¬"t thrilled at the idea of eating in a burger bar, especially as my friend was vegetarian! The dÃ©cor isnâ¬"t totally like a fast food bar, its more wooden tables and metal chairs, but still it isnâ¬"t a posh place to go. The burgers truly are awesome though (or rather ultimate as we kept joking to each other all night!), mine was topped with stilton and I had it in a wrap rather than a bun, it was totally gorgeous!!!! My friendâ¬"s tofu affair was I was told lovely! There is a huge choice of burgers and toppings and my mouth is watering just thinking about it. This one is in the heart of Bloomsbury/holborn so in easy reach of the bars before hand too. It opens late and the service was fast and unobtrusive. Give it a try.

Zhaal - Okay by bobidiot

bobidiot — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 21:46:50 +0000

Review by bobidiot

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7323 3522

Tags: indian, vegetarian dishes, takeaway

This restaurant is lovely. It is a traditional Indian style restaurant with a very warm and friendly atmosphere. We have been there many times, and they often have offers when four people, and also for buffet dining. The staff are always dressed very smartly and are very very polite, opening and closing the doors etc. I can highly recommend their boona dish, but I would avoid veggie dishes as they put far too many tomatoes and onions in them! On the down side, I did not think it was in the best area. There were perhaps a few dodgy looking people loitering in the nearby area, but I still recommend the restaurant as the food is very nice.This restaurant is lovely. It is a traditional Indian style restaurant with a very warm and friendly atmosphere. We have been there many times, and they often have offers when four people, and also for buffet dining. The staff are always dressed very smartly and are very very polite, opening and closing the doors etc. I can highly recommend their boona dish, but I would avoid veggie dishes as they put far too many tomatoes and onions in them! On the down side, I did not think it was in the best area. There were perhaps a few dodgy looking people loitering in the nearby area, but I still recommend the restaurant as the food is very nice.

Edokko - Some of the best Japanese food in London by Alita

Alita — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 14:26:14 +0000

Review by Alita

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7242 3490

Tags: japanese, business, expensive

A traditionally styled Japanese restaurant with a sunken table area upstairs and booths and sushi bar downstairs. Book ahead, as even on week nights most tables will be reserved, though you'll probably always get a place at the bar.

The sashimi was fresh and tasty and the mackerel sushi in particular is wonderfully prepared and very much recommended. Edammame and noodle soups all fine and properly seasoned, as they should be. There's also a hidden Japanese menu with some more exotic items for those in the know! Dessert was the traditional variety of ice creams: green tea, red bean and sesame. You might want to skip dessert though as every time I've eaten here we've received some complimentary slices of melon to finish the meal, which is a nice touch and more than enough to satisfy a sweet tooth.

Our bill has almost always been around Â£100 for two with Japanese beers and tea.A traditionally styled Japanese restaurant with a sunken table area upstairs and booths and sushi bar downstairs. Book ahead, as even on week nights most tables will be reserved, though you'll probably always get a place at the bar.

The sashimi was fresh and tasty and the mackerel sushi in particular is wonderfully prepared and very much recommended. Edammame and noodle soups all fine and properly seasoned, as they should be. There's also a hidden Japanese menu with some more exotic items for those in the know! Dessert was the traditional variety of ice creams: green tea, red bean and sesame. You might want to skip dessert though as every time I've eaten here we've received some complimentary slices of melon to finish the meal, which is a nice touch and more than enough to satisfy a sweet tooth.

Our bill has almost always been around Â£100 for two with Japanese beers and tea.

Great Queen Street - Great stuff by chrisp

chrisp — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 14:03:53 +0000

Review by chrisp

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7242 0622

Tags: lively, good value, british

Like a celebrity wearing sunglasses indoors, 32 Great Queen Street likes to think it's something special, from the conspicuously nameless frontage and dark wood panelling. Inside however it's business as usual in the standard gastropub style - bare wood tables, rickety chairs, tumblers instead of wine glasses. It's a recipe that's worked well enough for its sister pubs the Anchor & Hope and Eagle, and judging by the noisy room full of happy customers on the evening we visited, it's got off to a very good start here too.

The first thing I noticed after I'd sat down was that the room appeared to be full of chefs; it was only after a few minutes it dawned on me that the waiting staff all were wearing chef's aprons. I suppose this isn't a big deal but it made me slightly guilty trying to ask for something, as if I wasn't supposed to be bothering them. Still, I soon got over it.

There were all sorts of interesting things on the minimalist menu - brawn, snails, fois gras, artichoke - quite an eclectic selection and it made exciting reading. However the trend towards stripped down descriptions of the items was a bit extreme. I had no idea what the 'Terrine' was a terrine of, or what 'crab on toast' was going to look like, but I suppose the mystery was appealing in a way. In the end I plumped for 'Brawn'.

This looked lovely on the plate, a rustic presentation but just tidy enough, and having had no idea what to expect from the description in the menu I was very pleasantly surprised. The texture of the brawn itself (ironically a kind of terrine) was interesting, with some big chunks of meat held together by a tasty pate, and cutting through the fat was a good sharp spray of mustard vinaigrette. A perfect introduction to something I'd never tried before - subtle, herby and great fresh ingredients.

The main was "Rabbit, snails and Spanish rice", so being the adventurous type I am it was a natural choice. It turned out to be a kind of risotto, bursting with gorgeous flavours and perfectly seasoned. The snails were superb, not drowned by the other ingredients at all, and nice and fleshy. In fact the only thing that stopped this dish short of perfection were a couple of horrible dry pieces of (I think) rabbit liver that I had to leave uneaten. Fair enough to use them in cooking the stock, but they had no place on the plate. Otherwise though, a good, bold main course.

The dessert was another hit - a Muscat Caramel Custard which tasted rich and satisfying, even if it looked a bit saggy on the plate. I had this with a glass of Muscat dessert wine - why not? - but the Â£10 house white we had been chucking down our necks all evening was also perfectly good.

It was about this time that I began to notice the overwhelming array of aromas filling the room from all the other dishes. Everything smelt incredible, of fresh ingredients and rustic French flavours; every time a waiter rushed past with another serving you could almost see other diner's nostrils flaring. Calm and sophisticated this restaurant is not, but for sheer exhilarating pleasure and market fresh food at very reasonable prices (the bill came to Â£38 each, including more than enough wine), you can certainly do no better in this part of town.Like a celebrity wearing sunglasses indoors, 32 Great Queen Street likes to think it's something special, from the conspicuously nameless frontage and dark wood panelling. Inside however it's business as usual in the standard gastropub style - bare wood tables, rickety chairs, tumblers instead of wine glasses. It's a recipe that's worked well enough for its sister pubs the Anchor & Hope and Eagle, and judging by the noisy room full of happy customers on the evening we visited, it's got off to a very good start here too.

The first thing I noticed after I'd sat down was that the room appeared to be full of chefs; it was only after a few minutes it dawned on me that the waiting staff all were wearing chef's aprons. I suppose this isn't a big deal but it made me slightly guilty trying to ask for something, as if I wasn't supposed to be bothering them. Still, I soon got over it.

There were all sorts of interesting things on the minimalist menu - brawn, snails, fois gras, artichoke - quite an eclectic selection and it made exciting reading. However the trend towards stripped down descriptions of the items was a bit extreme. I had no idea what the 'Terrine' was a terrine of, or what 'crab on toast' was going to look like, but I suppose the mystery was appealing in a way. In the end I plumped for 'Brawn'.

This looked lovely on the plate, a rustic presentation but just tidy enough, and having had no idea what to expect from the description in the menu I was very pleasantly surprised. The texture of the brawn itself (ironically a kind of terrine) was interesting, with some big chunks of meat held together by a tasty pate, and cutting through the fat was a good sharp spray of mustard vinaigrette. A perfect introduction to something I'd never tried before - subtle, herby and great fresh ingredients.

The main was "Rabbit, snails and Spanish rice", so being the adventurous type I am it was a natural choice. It turned out to be a kind of risotto, bursting with gorgeous flavours and perfectly seasoned. The snails were superb, not drowned by the other ingredients at all, and nice and fleshy. In fact the only thing that stopped this dish short of perfection were a couple of horrible dry pieces of (I think) rabbit liver that I had to leave uneaten. Fair enough to use them in cooking the stock, but they had no place on the plate. Otherwise though, a good, bold main course.

The dessert was another hit - a Muscat Caramel Custard which tasted rich and satisfying, even if it looked a bit saggy on the plate. I had this with a glass of Muscat dessert wine - why not? - but the Â£10 house white we had been chucking down our necks all evening was also perfectly good.

It was about this time that I began to notice the overwhelming array of aromas filling the room from all the other dishes. Everything smelt incredible, of fresh ingredients and rustic French flavours; every time a waiter rushed past with another serving you could almost see other diner's nostrils flaring. Calm and sophisticated this restaurant is not, but for sheer exhilarating pleasure and market fresh food at very reasonable prices (the bill came to Â£38 each, including more than enough wine), you can certainly do no better in this part of town.

Pearl Restaurant & Bar - Glittering by chrisp

chrisp — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 13:28:14 +0000

Review by chrisp

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7829 7000

Website: http://www.renaissancehotel.com

Tags: posh, french, bar

Say what you like about dining offer sites like Toptable or Squaremeal, but there's absolutely no way I would have visited Pearl in Holborn on a random Tuesday night if I hadn't learned of the Â£30 set menu. Normally meals like these are "special occasion" events, and I think it's fantastic that just for turning up slightly early (actually 7:30 isn't even really that early) on a weekday evening you can have starry food in spectacular surroundings for almost half the price of the normal dinner menu.

And the surroundings were almost worth paying Â£30 for on their own - a huge high-ceiling room, marble columns, sumptuous chandeliers dripping with glass pearls and well-spaced, round tables laid with fresh flowers. Our welcome, and treatment throughout the evening was the ideal of charm and efficiency, and what's more the staff seemed to genuinely enjoy being there. The sommelier in particular was so enthusiastic about his craft he introduced each glass of wine as if they were priceless artifacts in the British Museum. And speaking of wine, Pearl is the proud owner of a Cruvinet system, a clever piece of kit which can keep opened bottles of rare and exotic wines for a long period of time, allowing punters to try just one glass at a time. I took full advantage.

Even on our cheapo Toptable menu we were presented with prestarters of Scallop Cerviche (delicate and fresh), Smoked Eel (nice enough, if a bit cloying), Ratatouille and Venison carpaccio with parmesan, the latter two which were tried by my dining companion who liked the Rat but thought the venison was swamped by the cheese.

Shockingly for me, I went for the vegetarian option for starter - Terrine of baby leeks with tarragon mayonnaise and shaved asparagus. Technically at least this was a very impressive presentation, with the leeks packed vertically inside a tightly-bound block. However they did just taste like... cold leeks, nice but hardly mind-blowing. Accompanying potato bites and the tarragon mayonnaise were great though. And though I hardly ever do this, I will just mention my companion's quail breast with chicken liver parfait, which was as dreamy and decadent as any starter I've ever tried. Clearly the wrong choice there, never mind.

Next course was grilled pork fillet with roast shrimp, kind of a surf and turf deal. The pork was cooked expertly, as you might expect, and the lentil salsa was actually a great accompanyment, not overpowering the meat but contrasting nicely in texture. Way over on the other end of the plate was a prawn tail which I embarassingly bit into without realising it still had a shell on. Oh dear. Anyway, once I had choked and fished around inside my mouth for the bits of shell for a minute or two whilst my companion looked nervously around the room and attempted to ignore me, I managed to swallow some, and it was pretty good. Not the freshest bit of seafood I've ever had and the red pepper sauce perhaps could have done with a bit more seasoning, but overall a very interesting dish.

Unfortunately, again, the best main course was my companion's gnocchi which was rich and satisfying, heady with truffle and with great texture contrasts between the creamy gnocchi and small slices of crispy toast in each mouthful. This was a brilliantly concieved dish and if I had my time in Pearl again (which I surely will) I would have the quail followed by the gnocchi, followed by:

Salted caramel mousse with almond crumble and hazelnut ice cream, which was the best dessert I've had at any restaurant for years. By this point we were both quite full and it is testament to the greatness of this pudding that we both finished every scrap of it off, from the crispy sugar casing to the creamy and amazingly light caramel inside. Chunks of lovely (I think) bramley apple provided texture and moisture to the fluffy mousse and the hazlenut icecream was made perfectly. There was no part of this dessert that was anything less than brilliant.

So at Â£50 a head all in (for the food and 3 perfectly chosen glasses of wine including a delicate Muscat for dessert served in an extraordinarily tall glass) this is a meal to remember at almost a budget price. Just go now - have the quail, the gnocchi and the caramel and you'll die a happy diner.Say what you like about dining offer sites like Toptable or Squaremeal, but there's absolutely no way I would have visited Pearl in Holborn on a random Tuesday night if I hadn't learned of the Â£30 set menu. Normally meals like these are "special occasion" events, and I think it's fantastic that just for turning up slightly early (actually 7:30 isn't even really that early) on a weekday evening you can have starry food in spectacular surroundings for almost half the price of the normal dinner menu.

And the surroundings were almost worth paying Â£30 for on their own - a huge high-ceiling room, marble columns, sumptuous chandeliers dripping with glass pearls and well-spaced, round tables laid with fresh flowers. Our welcome, and treatment throughout the evening was the ideal of charm and efficiency, and what's more the staff seemed to genuinely enjoy being there. The sommelier in particular was so enthusiastic about his craft he introduced each glass of wine as if they were priceless artifacts in the British Museum. And speaking of wine, Pearl is the proud owner of a Cruvinet system, a clever piece of kit which can keep opened bottles of rare and exotic wines for a long period of time, allowing punters to try just one glass at a time. I took full advantage.

Even on our cheapo Toptable menu we were presented with prestarters of Scallop Cerviche (delicate and fresh), Smoked Eel (nice enough, if a bit cloying), Ratatouille and Venison carpaccio with parmesan, the latter two which were tried by my dining companion who liked the Rat but thought the venison was swamped by the cheese.

Shockingly for me, I went for the vegetarian option for starter - Terrine of baby leeks with tarragon mayonnaise and shaved asparagus. Technically at least this was a very impressive presentation, with the leeks packed vertically inside a tightly-bound block. However they did just taste like... cold leeks, nice but hardly mind-blowing. Accompanying potato bites and the tarragon mayonnaise were great though. And though I hardly ever do this, I will just mention my companion's quail breast with chicken liver parfait, which was as dreamy and decadent as any starter I've ever tried. Clearly the wrong choice there, never mind.

Next course was grilled pork fillet with roast shrimp, kind of a surf and turf deal. The pork was cooked expertly, as you might expect, and the lentil salsa was actually a great accompanyment, not overpowering the meat but contrasting nicely in texture. Way over on the other end of the plate was a prawn tail which I embarassingly bit into without realising it still had a shell on. Oh dear. Anyway, once I had choked and fished around inside my mouth for the bits of shell for a minute or two whilst my companion looked nervously around the room and attempted to ignore me, I managed to swallow some, and it was pretty good. Not the freshest bit of seafood I've ever had and the red pepper sauce perhaps could have done with a bit more seasoning, but overall a very interesting dish.

Unfortunately, again, the best main course was my companion's gnocchi which was rich and satisfying, heady with truffle and with great texture contrasts between the creamy gnocchi and small slices of crispy toast in each mouthful. This was a brilliantly concieved dish and if I had my time in Pearl again (which I surely will) I would have the quail followed by the gnocchi, followed by:

Salted caramel mousse with almond crumble and hazelnut ice cream, which was the best dessert I've had at any restaurant for years. By this point we were both quite full and it is testament to the greatness of this pudding that we both finished every scrap of it off, from the crispy sugar casing to the creamy and amazingly light caramel inside. Chunks of lovely (I think) bramley apple provided texture and moisture to the fluffy mousse and the hazlenut icecream was made perfectly. There was no part of this dessert that was anything less than brilliant.

So at Â£50 a head all in (for the food and 3 perfectly chosen glasses of wine including a delicate Muscat for dessert served in an extraordinarily tall glass) this is a meal to remember at almost a budget price. Just go now - have the quail, the gnocchi and the caramel and you'll die a happy diner.

Tas - Middle Eastern delight by Sarah_W

Sarah_W — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 16:40:27 +0000

Review by Sarah_W

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7637 4555

Website: http://www.tasrestaurant.com

Tags: good value, lively, turkish

One of a small chain, Tas is very good at satisfying mixed tastes within a group, especially if vegetarians are among them. As soon as you sit down youâ¬"re given baskets of good crusty bread, olives and a slightly spicy yoghurt based dip. You can then choose from the a la carte menu, or do as we did on a recent visit and go for the group one. This consists of a selection of meze served for the whole table, followed by a main course each chosen from a list of about ten. The meze are all suitable for vegetarians, and include hummus (my favourite), an aubergine and tomato salad, broad beans with sour cream, tabouleh, falafel and borek (another of my favourites, a filo pastry filled with feta cheese). The main course selection also includes several vegetarian dishes such as stuffed aubergines or spinach with potatoes. My own choice on this visit was tavuk guvech, a dish of chicken cooked with ginger, mushrooms, onion and tomato. This was moist and full of flavour, though the ginger could have come through more strongly for my taste. It was accompanied by good basmati rice. Other dishes sampled by our group, and tasted by all, included a very generous portion of mousakka and the Tas special, lamb cooked with potatoes, onion and oregano. The latter was perhaps a little salty, but generally the dishes were well-received.

The service was friendly and the crusty bread kept coming. We had no room for dessert but the fresh peppermint tea made a good end to the meal. The bill was a very reasonable Â£25 per person, which included a bottle of house white wine and some yoghurt drinks as well as all the food and teas, and service. The group menu itself costs Â£15.95 for the meze, main course and the various extras such as bread, olives and rice â¬ excellent value for central London.
One of a small chain, Tas is very good at satisfying mixed tastes within a group, especially if vegetarians are among them. As soon as you sit down youâ¬"re given baskets of good crusty bread, olives and a slightly spicy yoghurt based dip. You can then choose from the a la carte menu, or do as we did on a recent visit and go for the group one. This consists of a selection of meze served for the whole table, followed by a main course each chosen from a list of about ten. The meze are all suitable for vegetarians, and include hummus (my favourite), an aubergine and tomato salad, broad beans with sour cream, tabouleh, falafel and borek (another of my favourites, a filo pastry filled with feta cheese). The main course selection also includes several vegetarian dishes such as stuffed aubergines or spinach with potatoes. My own choice on this visit was tavuk guvech, a dish of chicken cooked with ginger, mushrooms, onion and tomato. This was moist and full of flavour, though the ginger could have come through more strongly for my taste. It was accompanied by good basmati rice. Other dishes sampled by our group, and tasted by all, included a very generous portion of mousakka and the Tas special, lamb cooked with potatoes, onion and oregano. The latter was perhaps a little salty, but generally the dishes were well-received.

The service was friendly and the crusty bread kept coming. We had no room for dessert but the fresh peppermint tea made a good end to the meal. The bill was a very reasonable Â£25 per person, which included a bottle of house white wine and some yoghurt drinks as well as all the food and teas, and service. The group menu itself costs Â£15.95 for the meze, main course and the various extras such as bread, olives and rice â¬ excellent value for central London.

Bistro Savoir Faire - Bustling Bistro by thamshere

thamshere — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 18:27:33 +0000

Review by thamshere

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7436 0707

Tags: french, romantic, good value

This is one of the few French places I know that's not pretentious or overpriced. Good, solid, classic French food at bargain prices. All the food I've had here has been of a high standard, though nothing has ever stood out as amazing, but I'd be happy to go back anytime to see what's new.

The staff are friendly and helpful, though I haven't had need to test their knowledge yet. The small tables can get a little crowded, but get one by the window anyway! This is one of the few French places I know that's not pretentious or overpriced. Good, solid, classic French food at bargain prices. All the food I've had here has been of a high standard, though nothing has ever stood out as amazing, but I'd be happy to go back anytime to see what's new.

The staff are friendly and helpful, though I haven't had need to test their knowledge yet. The small tables can get a little crowded, but get one by the window anyway!

Wolfe's Bar & Grill - Not as bad as some say by rogoff

rogoff — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 22:13:42 +0000

Review by rogoff

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7831 4422

Website: http://www.wolfes-grill.net/

Tags: american, bad, international

Some restaurants have a cool 70s retro styling but Wolfe's seems to have the actual fixtures and fittings that it had when it first opened in the 70s. I don't mind that except some of the seat covers looked like they hadn't been changed since then.

Once you get over that though, you might find that the food is actually quite good. The waitresses were on top of things and I definitely didn't have as bad an experience as some of the other reviewers here.

Would I rush back? No - there are much better restaurants in London.Some restaurants have a cool 70s retro styling but Wolfe's seems to have the actual fixtures and fittings that it had when it first opened in the 70s. I don't mind that except some of the seat covers looked like they hadn't been changed since then.

Once you get over that though, you might find that the food is actually quite good. The waitresses were on top of things and I definitely didn't have as bad an experience as some of the other reviewers here.

Would I rush back? No - there are much better restaurants in London.

Thai Dream - Hidden Thai restaurant in Bloomsbury by springwater

springwater — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 19:21:39 +0000

Review by springwater

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7242 5150

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

Tags: thai, good value, family & home feel

I live around the corner from this hidden gem...it was formerly Siam River Thai and has recently opened as Thai Dream after a refurbishment...under the new management.

As soon as you walk in you know have come to the right place for authentic thai food mirrored by the aroma, decor and romantic thai music ;)...the food was really good...

This place isnt busy at all mainly due to its location..so the service was great (we were the only ones there)...

give it a chance...highly recommended...my date really enjoyed it bcos she thought the waiter was cute!
I live around the corner from this hidden gem...it was formerly Siam River Thai and has recently opened as Thai Dream after a refurbishment...under the new management.

As soon as you walk in you know have come to the right place for authentic thai food mirrored by the aroma, decor and romantic thai music ;)...the food was really good...

This place isnt busy at all mainly due to its location..so the service was great (we were the only ones there)...

give it a chance...highly recommended...my date really enjoyed it bcos she thought the waiter was cute!

The Japanese Canteen - Alright for lunch but not cheap by greedoe

greedoe — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 17:03:56 +0000

Review by greedoe

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7405 4540

Website: http://www.thejapanesecanteen.co.uk/holborn.html

Tags: japanese, takeaway, crowded

I usually go for the ginger chicken bento box, which at Â£6.50 isn't the cheapest lunch around, especially if you're just looking for a change from a Â£2.00 sarnie. however, it is quite tasty, you get a few extras like miso soup, sesame spinach salad and pickled cucumber.

However, I've found their food preparation to be a bit hit and miss. The first time I had it, I discovered a ginger chicken nirvana in my mouth which they have yet to replicate. Maybe a change of menu item is warranted, but it would be nice to have a bit more consistency.I usually go for the ginger chicken bento box, which at Â£6.50 isn't the cheapest lunch around, especially if you're just looking for a change from a Â£2.00 sarnie. however, it is quite tasty, you get a few extras like miso soup, sesame spinach salad and pickled cucumber.

However, I've found their food preparation to be a bit hit and miss. The first time I had it, I discovered a ginger chicken nirvana in my mouth which they have yet to replicate. Maybe a change of menu item is warranted, but it would be nice to have a bit more consistency.

Konaki Greek Restaurant - Konaki Greek Restaurant by DrAlchemy

DrAlchemy — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 19:02:07 +0000

Review by DrAlchemy

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7580 9730

Tags: greek, cheap eat, family & home feel

Friendly, good value family Greek Restaurant. Close to British Museum.

We enjoyed the Â£12 set dinner menu comprising Houmus/Taramasalata, Moussaka and a Greek desert. Good value for a home-cooked style of meal - washed down with the enjoyable House Red, the bill came to around Â£40 for Dr and Mrs Alchemy.Friendly, good value family Greek Restaurant. Close to British Museum.

We enjoyed the Â£12 set dinner menu comprising Houmus/Taramasalata, Moussaka and a Greek desert. Good value for a home-cooked style of meal - washed down with the enjoyable House Red, the bill came to around Â£40 for Dr and Mrs Alchemy.