Latest reviews in Kentish Town, London, United Kingdom

Highgate Spice - Best take away by ShAbigail

ShAbigail — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 11:49:24 +0000

Review by ShAbigail

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7267 8726

Website: www.highgatespice.com

I regularly drop in at Highgate Spice; they serve a wonderful food, tasty and delicious. I will be booking my Xmas party.I regularly drop in at Highgate Spice; they serve a wonderful food, tasty and delicious. I will be booking my Xmas party.

Chewies - by JoeB77

JoeB77 — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 16:28:22 +0000

Review by JoeB77

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7267 6645

Website: www.chewiesbakery.com

Tags: cake, cupcakes

YUM!!! Had an amazing lunch here, with great cheese plate, rasperry cake and fantastic coffee. Will definitely pop back next time I'm in the area.YUM!!! Had an amazing lunch here, with great cheese plate, rasperry cake and fantastic coffee. Will definitely pop back next time I'm in the area.

Bangalore Brasserie - by easymarc123

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

Review by easymarc123

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7267 7550

Tags: indian, takeaway

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!

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.

The Grand Union - by adamt

adamt — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 17:23:05 +0000

Review by adamt

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7485 1837

Website: http://www.grandunioncamden.co.uK

Tags: cool, relaxed, friendly

What a great place, I went down on a Friday night after work, they call it Friday Club and it's aimed at the local businesses then carrying on all night, there were dj's from 6 playing great tunes and very lively and happy bar staff. We had a burger meal for 4.99 that was great. I will definitely be going again and would recommend it to anyone who can make it.What a great place, I went down on a Friday night after work, they call it Friday Club and it's aimed at the local businesses then carrying on all night, there were dj's from 6 playing great tunes and very lively and happy bar staff. We had a burger meal for 4.99 that was great. I will definitely be going again and would recommend it to anyone who can make it.

Eatzone Noodle House - Extremely, extremely tasty by curlyfries

curlyfries — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 20:39:24 +0000

Review by curlyfries

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7485 0152

Tags: good value, cheap eat, malaysian

I cannot believe how long I have lived round the corner from Eatzone and never eaten there. It has always appeared lifeless when I walked past so I never even thought of looking at the menu. However I gradually heard good words about it and started thinking maybe I should have a go...

...and tonight was the night. I've been ill for a few days and totally off my food (unheard of) so tonight was my 'I think I'd quite like to eat again' night and all I could think about was a big bowl of noodles. So off I went.

Still a bit spaced out from being poorly I looked at the menu, saw "char kwai teow" (Â£6.50), thought to myself "ate that in Malaysia; can't remember what it is but everything I ate in Malaysia was f*cking delicious", so picked that and some meat dumplings, because, well, when doesn't a meat dumpling perk you up?

There were a few people in there very contentedly eating big bowls of soup and mounds of fluffy white rice but there wasn't much of an atmosphere - well, why would there be in a white room with a few wooden benches - but who needs atmosphere for this kind of eating? I took my food away although I'd certainly go back there with a friend or a newspaper: can't say the staff were over-friendly but my food was ready in the time it took me to get to the cash machine and back.

And first meal in days or not, it was absolutely spot on. A generous helping of perfectly floppy, medium-thickness rice noodles, several enormous, meaty, curled-up prawns, thin strips of pork and a few bean sprouts, spring onions and some really tasty splatters of fried egg - and when do you ever say that about the egg you get in a takeaway? I literally could have been eating it in Malaysia, which is an extraordinary thing to say. The four steamed dumplings were plump and juicy and came with a zingy (sorry, awful word) dipping sauce for Â£4. Just what the doctored ordered. Which is good, because the first lot of antibiotics didn't work.

So I'd recommend a trip here wholeheartedly, it's excellent value and incredibly tasty and I'm rather pleased I'm moving away from K Town for a month because frankly, from now on I'm going to find it very hard to resist.I cannot believe how long I have lived round the corner from Eatzone and never eaten there. It has always appeared lifeless when I walked past so I never even thought of looking at the menu. However I gradually heard good words about it and started thinking maybe I should have a go...

...and tonight was the night. I've been ill for a few days and totally off my food (unheard of) so tonight was my 'I think I'd quite like to eat again' night and all I could think about was a big bowl of noodles. So off I went.

Still a bit spaced out from being poorly I looked at the menu, saw "char kwai teow" (Â£6.50), thought to myself "ate that in Malaysia; can't remember what it is but everything I ate in Malaysia was f*cking delicious", so picked that and some meat dumplings, because, well, when doesn't a meat dumpling perk you up?

There were a few people in there very contentedly eating big bowls of soup and mounds of fluffy white rice but there wasn't much of an atmosphere - well, why would there be in a white room with a few wooden benches - but who needs atmosphere for this kind of eating? I took my food away although I'd certainly go back there with a friend or a newspaper: can't say the staff were over-friendly but my food was ready in the time it took me to get to the cash machine and back.

And first meal in days or not, it was absolutely spot on. A generous helping of perfectly floppy, medium-thickness rice noodles, several enormous, meaty, curled-up prawns, thin strips of pork and a few bean sprouts, spring onions and some really tasty splatters of fried egg - and when do you ever say that about the egg you get in a takeaway? I literally could have been eating it in Malaysia, which is an extraordinary thing to say. The four steamed dumplings were plump and juicy and came with a zingy (sorry, awful word) dipping sauce for Â£4. Just what the doctored ordered. Which is good, because the first lot of antibiotics didn't work.

So I'd recommend a trip here wholeheartedly, it's excellent value and incredibly tasty and I'm rather pleased I'm moving away from K Town for a month because frankly, from now on I'm going to find it very hard to resist.

Fifty Five Bar & Lounge - Great night out by sweetcharidee

sweetcharidee — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:11:12 +0000

Review by sweetcharidee

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7424 9054

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

Tags: friendly, relaxed, young and fun

I had a great night out here recently for a friend's birthday. Fifty Five excels in what it does: cocktails, music and atmosphere.

It's all about the fun and we had our fill of it! The staff are friendly and welcoming and genuinely want you to have a good time. I would highly recommend this bar to anyone wanting a great night out.

I had a great night out here recently for a friend's birthday. Fifty Five excels in what it does: cocktails, music and atmosphere.

It's all about the fun and we had our fill of it! The staff are friendly and welcoming and genuinely want you to have a good time. I would highly recommend this bar to anyone wanting a great night out.

Spaghetti House - If it's open... please go on in. by curlyfries

curlyfries — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 19:01:01 +0000

Review by curlyfries

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7485 7984

Tags: cosy, italian, lively

Here, here: this place is a cracker. Huge plates of tasty, filling food at ludicrously cheap prices in a very warm and friendly little room filled with an interesting mix of people. One thing: never have any idea when it's going to be open. Love it.Here, here: this place is a cracker. Huge plates of tasty, filling food at ludicrously cheap prices in a very warm and friendly little room filled with an interesting mix of people. One thing: never have any idea when it's going to be open. Love it.

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.

Mins Cafe - good local by Molls

Molls — Mon, 04 May 2009 19:26:25 +0000

Review by Molls

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7209 5596

Tags: indian, good value, family & home feel

Excellent food to eat in or take away - staff will explain menu and try and adapt dishes to taste. This cafe hasno drinks licence ut this adds to the charm.Excellent food to eat in or take away - staff will explain menu and try and adapt dishes to taste. This cafe hasno drinks licence ut this adds to the charm.

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.

Flaxon Ptootch - by sokratis

sokratis — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 16:58:16 +0000

Review by sokratis

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7267 5323

Tags: rare finds, helpful staff

Not just a hairdresser, but an art gallery as well Flaxton Ptooch is 'the beating heart of Kentish Town' according to its owner Michael.

Local artists display their work on the walls and there are regular events to celebrate each opening. Michael's family lives in the upstairs flat and if you're lucky you may even be offered some cake by his 6-year old son (I was).

I used to go there, when my hair was long(ish) and needed a real haircut rather than a zip with clippers. It's not just the fact that Michael is great at his job, but also because he cares, supports and really enjoys being part of the local community.

Not just a hairdresser, but an art gallery as well Flaxton Ptooch is 'the beating heart of Kentish Town' according to its owner Michael.

Local artists display their work on the walls and there are regular events to celebrate each opening. Michael's family lives in the upstairs flat and if you're lucky you may even be offered some cake by his 6-year old son (I was).

I used to go there, when my hair was long(ish) and needed a real haircut rather than a zip with clippers. It's not just the fact that Michael is great at his job, but also because he cares, supports and really enjoys being part of the local community.