Latest reviews in Leicester Square, London, United Kingdom

Foyles Cafe - One of my favorites in London by tomaplaw

tomaplaw — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:00:14 +0000

Review by tomaplaw

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7437 5660

Foyles Jazz Cafe is the perfect place to take a classic novel and relax into your chair absorbing the atmosphere around you. I often go there to write, as they offer everything from tea and cafe to red wine and olives - all at a reasonable price.
The cafe does get busy between 5 - 7, so finding a chair can be tricky. They often have live bands come to play, which can actually be too noisy at times, but it's something you get used to. One thing that does annoy me, is the amount of red wine you get for 3 pounds - especially at the end of the day (mind you only one of the staff members does this, so stay clear of the skinny 30 - 40yo guy with black hair lol).Foyles Jazz Cafe is the perfect place to take a classic novel and relax into your chair absorbing the atmosphere around you. I often go there to write, as they offer everything from tea and cafe to red wine and olives - all at a reasonable price.
The cafe does get busy between 5 - 7, so finding a chair can be tricky. They often have live bands come to play, which can actually be too noisy at times, but it's something you get used to. One thing that does annoy me, is the amount of red wine you get for 3 pounds - especially at the end of the day (mind you only one of the staff members does this, so stay clear of the skinny 30 - 40yo guy with black hair lol).

Piccolo Diavolo - Like being in Italy by pinotlover

pinotlover — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 22:02:41 +0000

Review by pinotlover

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7437 1024

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

Tags: italian, family & home feel, good value

Small traditional Italian cafe with friendly and cheerful Italian staff who were fabulous with the children. Food nice, not outstanding, but good value for money. The pizzas are enormous and the veal was very good. Be aware that you do need to order vegetables as a side dish. The lemon sorbet - served inside a hollowed out frozen lemon - was a fine way to finish. It was pleasant to feel we could linger without being pushed out the door to make way for more diners. We will return.Small traditional Italian cafe with friendly and cheerful Italian staff who were fabulous with the children. Food nice, not outstanding, but good value for money. The pizzas are enormous and the veal was very good. Be aware that you do need to order vegetables as a side dish. The lemon sorbet - served inside a hollowed out frozen lemon - was a fine way to finish. It was pleasant to feel we could linger without being pushed out the door to make way for more diners. We will return.

Golden Dragon - Appalling service by cindy1005

cindy1005 — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:47:51 +0000

Review by cindy1005

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 7734 1073

Tags: chinese, lively, expensive

I visited this restaurant 2 days ago with a friend. While dishing out the rice, I was apalled to notice three chips ranging in width from about 2 cm to 2 inches in the rim of the bowl. The bowl was made of some kind of material similar to melamine and was discoloured on the outside, and blackened on the base. It put me off my food. When the waitress came to clear the table, she asked if everything was alright. I said, ''Actually no, I'm apalled to be served food in a bowl in this state. I wouldn't even use this in my own house. It really is unacceptable and insulting.'' Instead of apologizing, the waitress had the audacity to LAUGH! I was not amused. She then proceeded to rip the top tablecloth off the table from under us, even though we still had our full cups of tea and other drinks on the table, and were clearly not finished. I was really annoyed by then. While waiting on the bill to arrive, I happened to glance at the table behind me and noticed that they had a bowl of rice, which on first glance appeared to have a scalloped edge, but then to my horror I realized it wasn't a scalloped pattern, but in fact, was so severely chipped around the perimeter, it appeared to be scalloped! The toilets upstairs were out of order. When we went downstairs, we were approached by a woman who screeched at us '' You want toilet, it is that way'' with a mouth full of food.

I will never dine in that establishment again, nor would I recommend it to anyone. Their lack of respect and service is appalling and completely unacceptable. They also add 12.5% service charge to the bill, when they clearly don't even know the meaning of the word service.I visited this restaurant 2 days ago with a friend. While dishing out the rice, I was apalled to notice three chips ranging in width from about 2 cm to 2 inches in the rim of the bowl. The bowl was made of some kind of material similar to melamine and was discoloured on the outside, and blackened on the base. It put me off my food. When the waitress came to clear the table, she asked if everything was alright. I said, ''Actually no, I'm apalled to be served food in a bowl in this state. I wouldn't even use this in my own house. It really is unacceptable and insulting.'' Instead of apologizing, the waitress had the audacity to LAUGH! I was not amused. She then proceeded to rip the top tablecloth off the table from under us, even though we still had our full cups of tea and other drinks on the table, and were clearly not finished. I was really annoyed by then. While waiting on the bill to arrive, I happened to glance at the table behind me and noticed that they had a bowl of rice, which on first glance appeared to have a scalloped edge, but then to my horror I realized it wasn't a scalloped pattern, but in fact, was so severely chipped around the perimeter, it appeared to be scalloped! The toilets upstairs were out of order. When we went downstairs, we were approached by a woman who screeched at us '' You want toilet, it is that way'' with a mouth full of food.

I will never dine in that establishment again, nor would I recommend it to anyone. Their lack of respect and service is appalling and completely unacceptable. They also add 12.5% service charge to the bill, when they clearly don't even know the meaning of the word service.

Cafe Vergnano - Their Coffee Means Business by laissezfare

laissezfare — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:43:03 +0000

Review by laissezfare

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 8922 6308

Tags: amazing brew, quick bite, london

[This is part of a larger review of London coffee houses which can be found here: http://wp.me/pwXBH-or]

Set along the shop-fronts on an unlikely stretch of Charing Cross Road (unlikely in the sense that you donâ¬"t expect a serious coffee house here amongst the touristy drek), it is none other than CaffÃ¨ Vergnano 1882. I have been in a number of times now and havenâ¬"t exactly gotten to the bottom of what the 1882 stands for (okay, I havenâ¬"t really tried to find out), but that is beside the point. The small chain has been set up by Luciano Franchi, whose family has been working for three generations in the London food industry. They apparently supply coffee and related machinery to the Italian Embassy, for whatever thatâ¬"s worth.

But the best thing about walking into CaffÃ¨ Vergnano is seeing their gargantuan silver madame, the holy grail of espresso fabrication, the elegant and maniacal stainless steel workhorse that pumps dark brown blood through its veins, the aortic arch from which the pulse of Vergananoâ¬"s espresso emanates. Yeah, itâ¬"s the big honkinâ¬" shiny espresso machine that you canâ¬"t miss from window. It is the Elektra Belle Epoque, and on its crown is perched a peering eagle.

To make a long story short, it makes a mean cup of espresso. Their own blend of espresso is composed of seven single-origin beans (including the elusive and expensive Nicaraguan Maragogype) and it is one of the nicer ones Iâ¬"ve had, certainly one of the top in London. It has a full and broad flavor spectrum and, to me, has a tad more bitterness beneath it than Monmouthâ¬"s, though without being cloying. My favorite incarnation of Vergnanoâ¬"s espresso is a double macchiato, with the little bit of foam providing a tiny cushion of creaminess to offset the fine espresso flavor.

The other thing I like about Vergnano is that it is sort of like an Italian espresso bar. You can order your drink and have it standing up at the counter â¬ or if you want you can sit down or walk out with it. With each coffee they also give you a little Italian biscuit or chocolate (I have never figured out if itâ¬"s the drink you order or the luck of the draw that determines which one you get), and I think itâ¬"s a great little touch. I would probably describe the service at the Charing Cross Road branch as â¬Üprofessionalâ¬". Itâ¬"s not warm, itâ¬"s not touchy, itâ¬"s not personal, but itâ¬"s not rude or mean either. They are just there doing their job and trying to provide you with a good drink.

The gist of it: I havenâ¬"t been to their other branches, but I think that this one is great. No-nonsense accomplished espresso drinks and the holy grail of coffee machines staring you in the face. Plus you get a little treat with your coffee and can stand at the bar.[This is part of a larger review of London coffee houses which can be found here: http://wp.me/pwXBH-or]

Set along the shop-fronts on an unlikely stretch of Charing Cross Road (unlikely in the sense that you donâ¬"t expect a serious coffee house here amongst the touristy drek), it is none other than CaffÃ¨ Vergnano 1882. I have been in a number of times now and havenâ¬"t exactly gotten to the bottom of what the 1882 stands for (okay, I havenâ¬"t really tried to find out), but that is beside the point. The small chain has been set up by Luciano Franchi, whose family has been working for three generations in the London food industry. They apparently supply coffee and related machinery to the Italian Embassy, for whatever thatâ¬"s worth.

But the best thing about walking into CaffÃ¨ Vergnano is seeing their gargantuan silver madame, the holy grail of espresso fabrication, the elegant and maniacal stainless steel workhorse that pumps dark brown blood through its veins, the aortic arch from which the pulse of Vergananoâ¬"s espresso emanates. Yeah, itâ¬"s the big honkinâ¬" shiny espresso machine that you canâ¬"t miss from window. It is the Elektra Belle Epoque, and on its crown is perched a peering eagle.

To make a long story short, it makes a mean cup of espresso. Their own blend of espresso is composed of seven single-origin beans (including the elusive and expensive Nicaraguan Maragogype) and it is one of the nicer ones Iâ¬"ve had, certainly one of the top in London. It has a full and broad flavor spectrum and, to me, has a tad more bitterness beneath it than Monmouthâ¬"s, though without being cloying. My favorite incarnation of Vergnanoâ¬"s espresso is a double macchiato, with the little bit of foam providing a tiny cushion of creaminess to offset the fine espresso flavor.

The other thing I like about Vergnano is that it is sort of like an Italian espresso bar. You can order your drink and have it standing up at the counter â¬ or if you want you can sit down or walk out with it. With each coffee they also give you a little Italian biscuit or chocolate (I have never figured out if itâ¬"s the drink you order or the luck of the draw that determines which one you get), and I think itâ¬"s a great little touch. I would probably describe the service at the Charing Cross Road branch as â¬Üprofessionalâ¬". Itâ¬"s not warm, itâ¬"s not touchy, itâ¬"s not personal, but itâ¬"s not rude or mean either. They are just there doing their job and trying to provide you with a good drink.

The gist of it: I havenâ¬"t been to their other branches, but I think that this one is great. No-nonsense accomplished espresso drinks and the holy grail of coffee machines staring you in the face. Plus you get a little treat with your coffee and can stand at the bar.

Monmouth Coffee Company - The Bean's Knees by laissezfare

laissezfare — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:39:24 +0000

Review by laissezfare

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7645 3560

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

Tags: amazing brew, rare finds, cosy

This is part of a larger review of London coffee houses which can be found here: http://wp.me/pwXBH-or]

Having tried all of their espresso based drinks and their black coffee (Americano), I have settled on â¬Üdry cappuccinoâ¬" as my beverage of choice, although all their drinks are fantastic and they probably do make the best Americano Iâ¬"ve had in London. Their house espresso blend has a nice intensity, lots of chocolate on the palate and is very smooth, with an almost velvety mouth feel. To me, it has a lovely rich, round flavor that beautifully balances the sweeter fruity notes with a not-too-harsh streak of acidity. Paired with the dense and luxurious yet butterfly-light foam from Monmouthâ¬"s organic milk to balance the just slightly bitter tannic undertones of the espresso, it is a very competent, highly enjoyable espresso drink and does the trick for me every time.

The gist of it: Their drinks are consistently good, and I just like the charm of the place and the impressive knowledge and passion of most of the staff. I mean, they have a wooden bench and table for one person â¬ how quirky and great is that? They also sell a wide range of coffee beans that are painstakingly sourced from around the world and can tell you all about the differences between them. There is normally a long queue if you donâ¬"t know what times to go, but I like that itâ¬"s on a little street in Covent Garden, that remains slightly funky and has a nice vibe and independent streak about it. I donâ¬"t really like the one across from Borough Market as it is too large and too busy.This is part of a larger review of London coffee houses which can be found here: http://wp.me/pwXBH-or]

Having tried all of their espresso based drinks and their black coffee (Americano), I have settled on â¬Üdry cappuccinoâ¬" as my beverage of choice, although all their drinks are fantastic and they probably do make the best Americano Iâ¬"ve had in London. Their house espresso blend has a nice intensity, lots of chocolate on the palate and is very smooth, with an almost velvety mouth feel. To me, it has a lovely rich, round flavor that beautifully balances the sweeter fruity notes with a not-too-harsh streak of acidity. Paired with the dense and luxurious yet butterfly-light foam from Monmouthâ¬"s organic milk to balance the just slightly bitter tannic undertones of the espresso, it is a very competent, highly enjoyable espresso drink and does the trick for me every time.

The gist of it: Their drinks are consistently good, and I just like the charm of the place and the impressive knowledge and passion of most of the staff. I mean, they have a wooden bench and table for one person â¬ how quirky and great is that? They also sell a wide range of coffee beans that are painstakingly sourced from around the world and can tell you all about the differences between them. There is normally a long queue if you donâ¬"t know what times to go, but I like that itâ¬"s on a little street in Covent Garden, that remains slightly funky and has a nice vibe and independent streak about it. I donâ¬"t really like the one across from Borough Market as it is too large and too busy.

Le Beaujolais - Get away from Charing Cross Road by Dot01

Dot01 — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:11:22 +0000

Review by Dot01

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7836 2955

Tags: relaxed, friendly, mature

I just came here for a bottle of wine with a friend and it is the perfect find when you are stressed out with the noise and tourists up and down charing cross road. It's such a relief to land here and find a cosy corner for a nice chat.

I did find the mix of French and English themes in the decor a bit confusing - the French bit would have been fine on its own but I'm sure there's a good story behind it which I'll have to enquire about next time.I just came here for a bottle of wine with a friend and it is the perfect find when you are stressed out with the noise and tourists up and down charing cross road. It's such a relief to land here and find a cosy corner for a nice chat.

I did find the mix of French and English themes in the decor a bit confusing - the French bit would have been fine on its own but I'm sure there's a good story behind it which I'll have to enquire about next time.

Plum Valley - Excellent Dim Sum - highly impressed by ilovelucy

ilovelucy — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:13:12 +0000

Review by ilovelucy

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7287 2539

Tags: chinese, romantic, expensive

Plum Valley is situated right in the heart of Chinatown but bares no resemblance to its counterparts in terms of cuisine, dÃ©cor and service. The restaurant serves a variety of Dim Sum dishes all day along with popular and also new innovative main Chinese dishes. The menu was not as expansive as other Chinese restaurants on Gerrard street, but there was a good choice nonetheless, with well thought-out dishes sitting beside tried and tested favourites.

As it was lunchtime, my friend and I opted for the Dim Sum menu. Being of Chinese origin we both think it is a bit odd to eat Dim Sum in the evenings but welcomed a restaurant to do so in Chinatown. In my opinion, Plum Valley fills the narrow void left between the Ping Pong dim sum restaurant chain and traditional Chinese restaurants. I would say that it is similar to Yauatcha but holds on to its Chinese identity far better with dishes averaging at Â£3.80 which most Chinese people are not likely to baulk at, whereas the bill at Yauatcha would make many choke on their tea.

The dÃ©cor and style of the restaurant was most impressive with dark wooden walls, tables and slate grey floors â¬ lighting was low in keeping with the ambience of the restaurant (a feature that may not be too popular in the Summer). Waitresses and the hostess were friendly and unobtrusive. My friend and I chose our dishes, our rule of thumb is 3 dishes per person and one for luck. Instead of opting for the usual Vietnamese spring rolls, turnip paste, har gau, shao mai, cheung fun etc we decided to choose some more eccentric dishes - scallop dumplings, wasabi prawn dumpling, black cod rolls, thai chicken dumplings, beancurd wrapped shrimp in cheung fun, fish and squid rolls with preserved egg. All were delicious and presented beautifully â¬ the freshness and quality of the ingredients were easily identifiable. I particularly liked the fish and squid rolls with preserved egg â¬ all the flavours worked really well and it looked amazing on the plate. The scallop dumplings and the cheung fun were also a highlight. We were happily full at the end of the meal with the bill working out to a very reasonable Â£33 including service. My only small gripe was the jasmine flower tea served in oversized wine glasses - very unusual but this really did not offend too much. Unsurprisingly we left the restuarant smiling from the whole experience.
Plum Valley is situated right in the heart of Chinatown but bares no resemblance to its counterparts in terms of cuisine, dÃ©cor and service. The restaurant serves a variety of Dim Sum dishes all day along with popular and also new innovative main Chinese dishes. The menu was not as expansive as other Chinese restaurants on Gerrard street, but there was a good choice nonetheless, with well thought-out dishes sitting beside tried and tested favourites.

As it was lunchtime, my friend and I opted for the Dim Sum menu. Being of Chinese origin we both think it is a bit odd to eat Dim Sum in the evenings but welcomed a restaurant to do so in Chinatown. In my opinion, Plum Valley fills the narrow void left between the Ping Pong dim sum restaurant chain and traditional Chinese restaurants. I would say that it is similar to Yauatcha but holds on to its Chinese identity far better with dishes averaging at Â£3.80 which most Chinese people are not likely to baulk at, whereas the bill at Yauatcha would make many choke on their tea.

The dÃ©cor and style of the restaurant was most impressive with dark wooden walls, tables and slate grey floors â¬ lighting was low in keeping with the ambience of the restaurant (a feature that may not be too popular in the Summer). Waitresses and the hostess were friendly and unobtrusive. My friend and I chose our dishes, our rule of thumb is 3 dishes per person and one for luck. Instead of opting for the usual Vietnamese spring rolls, turnip paste, har gau, shao mai, cheung fun etc we decided to choose some more eccentric dishes - scallop dumplings, wasabi prawn dumpling, black cod rolls, thai chicken dumplings, beancurd wrapped shrimp in cheung fun, fish and squid rolls with preserved egg. All were delicious and presented beautifully â¬ the freshness and quality of the ingredients were easily identifiable. I particularly liked the fish and squid rolls with preserved egg â¬ all the flavours worked really well and it looked amazing on the plate. The scallop dumplings and the cheung fun were also a highlight. We were happily full at the end of the meal with the bill working out to a very reasonable Â£33 including service. My only small gripe was the jasmine flower tea served in oversized wine glasses - very unusual but this really did not offend too much. Unsurprisingly we left the restuarant smiling from the whole experience.

Terroirs - by barbd

barbd — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:36:53 +0000

Review by barbd

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7036 0660

Website: www.terroirswinebar.com

Tags: lively, french, good value

I love food served this way. The staff know their stuff, and are happy to guide you towards the most amazing wine as you order from one of the most fun menus I've had the pleasure of reading in quite some time!I love food served this way. The staff know their stuff, and are happy to guide you towards the most amazing wine as you order from one of the most fun menus I've had the pleasure of reading in quite some time!

Ruby Blue - Good club ignoring the incompetent management by Peter_James

Peter_James — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 02:45:46 +0000

Review by Peter_James

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7287 8050

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

Tags: relaxed, cool & smart, cheap

I have been to Ruby Blue (club) a few times over the past few years and have generally enjoyed myself there. Tonight was no exception. Good mix of clientle (i.e. middle-aged and young), very good music with two floors - one for commercial House the other for R&B/Hip-Hop. Drinks prices are fair for a central London club however I was surprised at the Â£15 entrance on a Saturday - could have sworn I've paid Â£10 in the past.

Anyway the reason which prompted me to review tonight... I was left with a sour taste in my mouth.

Don't get me wrong, this is generally a good club. But tonight I paid Â£3.80 for a bottle of beer with a Â£10 note. The bar assistant gave me back Â£1.20. I smiled looking confused at the change in my hand, and she smiled back, "You gave me ten right?" "Yes!" So she went back to the till. But instead of giving me my Â£5 back, she had a word with her supervisor. I had to explain to the supervisor my situation. She seemed sympathetic but then insisted that she could not get money out of the till and I would need to speak to the manager. She offered two cocktails as an alternative but I declined and wanted to speak to the manager.

Enter Peter Keane, one of the managers (I had to almost force his name out of him). He was utterly useless and I can't believe he accused me of lying, "That bar staff has been with us for 2 years". Seriously, what happened to "the Customer is always right"?! Who the hell goes to bars trying to scam Â£5 notes anyway? He completely took me for an idiot and I felt really insulted when he offered two shots as compensation. When I said his supervisor offered me two cocktails he said, "No, that's too expensive". It was not until I asked for his name at the end of a 10 minute argument that I managed to rightfully get my Â£5 back. I know it's only Â£5 but it's the principal. And if this is how Mr Keane treats his customers then he seriously needs some Customer Relationship Management lessons.

A good night, ignoring incompetent management.I have been to Ruby Blue (club) a few times over the past few years and have generally enjoyed myself there. Tonight was no exception. Good mix of clientle (i.e. middle-aged and young), very good music with two floors - one for commercial House the other for R&B/Hip-Hop. Drinks prices are fair for a central London club however I was surprised at the Â£15 entrance on a Saturday - could have sworn I've paid Â£10 in the past.

Anyway the reason which prompted me to review tonight... I was left with a sour taste in my mouth.

Don't get me wrong, this is generally a good club. But tonight I paid Â£3.80 for a bottle of beer with a Â£10 note. The bar assistant gave me back Â£1.20. I smiled looking confused at the change in my hand, and she smiled back, "You gave me ten right?" "Yes!" So she went back to the till. But instead of giving me my Â£5 back, she had a word with her supervisor. I had to explain to the supervisor my situation. She seemed sympathetic but then insisted that she could not get money out of the till and I would need to speak to the manager. She offered two cocktails as an alternative but I declined and wanted to speak to the manager.

Enter Peter Keane, one of the managers (I had to almost force his name out of him). He was utterly useless and I can't believe he accused me of lying, "That bar staff has been with us for 2 years". Seriously, what happened to "the Customer is always right"?! Who the hell goes to bars trying to scam Â£5 notes anyway? He completely took me for an idiot and I felt really insulted when he offered two shots as compensation. When I said his supervisor offered me two cocktails he said, "No, that's too expensive". It was not until I asked for his name at the end of a 10 minute argument that I managed to rightfully get my Â£5 back. I know it's only Â£5 but it's the principal. And if this is how Mr Keane treats his customers then he seriously needs some Customer Relationship Management lessons.

A good night, ignoring incompetent management.

Herbie Frogg - OK Clothes, Dreadful Service by josephkelly

josephkelly — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 21:41:41 +0000

Review by josephkelly

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 7734 4206

Jermyn Street is home to many great shops to buy men's clothing, so there is a lot of competition. I have visited Herbie Frogg a few times and I consistently received poor service. It is unfortunate because some of the clothes are acceptable, particularly for the price. However, it is not worth a visit given the poor treatment from staff (they are out-of-date, rude and unprofessional) you are likely to receive, which is likely why they now have signs indicating they are closing down... let's hope a better shop takes its place.Jermyn Street is home to many great shops to buy men's clothing, so there is a lot of competition. I have visited Herbie Frogg a few times and I consistently received poor service. It is unfortunate because some of the clothes are acceptable, particularly for the price. However, it is not worth a visit given the poor treatment from staff (they are out-of-date, rude and unprofessional) you are likely to receive, which is likely why they now have signs indicating they are closing down... let's hope a better shop takes its place.

Tossed Salad Bar - Disorganised mess by emmanx

emmanx — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 14:13:24 +0000

Review by emmanx

Rating: 3.00

Tags: crowded, business, cheap eat

Just started working in the area a couple of weeks ago and already had two very dissapointing visits to Tossed on St. Martin's lane. The first time I happened to be helped by someone who had just started so I decided to be forgiving and give the place a second go. Mistake.

The salad bar staff have no specific work area so they just run around getting in each other's way. My server gave me lip because I asked for a wrap but didn't have a base salad in my hands. Apparently, a wrap without a tonne of lettuce is weird. After he put the ingredients in a bowl he passed it on to someone else who had no idea what they were doing - the process was about 15 minutes, bit much for someone on their lunchbreak run

I got bored of watching her so I walked over to the till waiting for my food. I got harrassed to pay before I received it, which I refused. Result? Dirty look.

After she finally managed to finish my wrap, she handed it over to someone else, who gave it to another customer who was waiting for another wrap. By the time I caught on, she walked off with it. At that point, I left and I will NEVER go back. Boo hiss.

AfterJust started working in the area a couple of weeks ago and already had two very dissapointing visits to Tossed on St. Martin's lane. The first time I happened to be helped by someone who had just started so I decided to be forgiving and give the place a second go. Mistake.

The salad bar staff have no specific work area so they just run around getting in each other's way. My server gave me lip because I asked for a wrap but didn't have a base salad in my hands. Apparently, a wrap without a tonne of lettuce is weird. After he put the ingredients in a bowl he passed it on to someone else who had no idea what they were doing - the process was about 15 minutes, bit much for someone on their lunchbreak run

I got bored of watching her so I walked over to the till waiting for my food. I got harrassed to pay before I received it, which I refused. Result? Dirty look.

After she finally managed to finish my wrap, she handed it over to someone else, who gave it to another customer who was waiting for another wrap. By the time I caught on, she walked off with it. At that point, I left and I will NEVER go back. Boo hiss.

After

H.K Diner Restaurant - by liangliang

liangliang — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 17:47:33 +0000

Review by liangliang

Rating: 5.00

Tags: lively, malaysian, vegetarian

have gone thee twice , excellenthave gone thee twice , excellent

Melanie Italian Restaurant - by DIMCD5

DIMCD5 — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 09:06:53 +0000

Review by DIMCD5

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7437 4006

Very friendly, lovely food, nice atmosphere.Very friendly, lovely food, nice atmosphere.

The Fitzroy Patisserie - Avoid this place by jmd

jmd — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 14:18:50 +0000

Review by jmd

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 7388 7928

Tags: cafe

The most ridiculously over priced cafe in the area. Â£5 for toast & coffee ! Cheap & nasty ingredients & sour service at the tills. Plenty of much better places on the surrounding side streetsThe most ridiculously over priced cafe in the area. Â£5 for toast & coffee ! Cheap & nasty ingredients & sour service at the tills. Plenty of much better places on the surrounding side streets

Leicester Square Bar and Restaurant - by MartaZ

MartaZ — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 13:10:27 +0000

Review by MartaZ

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7451 0191

Website: http://www.radissonedwardian.com/hotels/gbpastor/dinings

Tags: brasserie, business, hotel bar

I loved the place. The furniture and the feel of the restaurant is lush, posh and cool. Staff were very friendly and helpful and i loved the food. We had a sea food platter to share along with egg benedict and poached egg on toasted muffin - both delicious. I had a haddock with mashed potato and steamed veg - wich was really tasty. My husband went for steak - which was tender and cooked to perfection. A wide selection of wines and spirits will make it a hard choice, but ask for recommendation and you will not be disappointed. All in all, we had a great evening and even though the prices might feel a bit steep, it was truly worth it.I loved the place. The furniture and the feel of the restaurant is lush, posh and cool. Staff were very friendly and helpful and i loved the food. We had a sea food platter to share along with egg benedict and poached egg on toasted muffin - both delicious. I had a haddock with mashed potato and steamed veg - wich was really tasty. My husband went for steak - which was tender and cooked to perfection. A wide selection of wines and spirits will make it a hard choice, but ask for recommendation and you will not be disappointed. All in all, we had a great evening and even though the prices might feel a bit steep, it was truly worth it.

Jom Makan - Very rude staff. Food was 'okay' by Zahasman

Zahasman — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 01:43:44 +0000

Review by Zahasman

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 7925 2402

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

Tags: malaysian, good value, cheap eat

I just came back from Buka Puasa at Jom Makan today, a day before Raya. It was the most uncomfortable meal i have ever had in my life. But i do have some positive and some negative feedback to be fair.

The positive side of thing is that their Satay (with the peanut sauce) is very close to authentic. And so does their beef rendang which was absolutely brilliant. As the dinner was for my Raya celebration, having an authentic beef rendang definitely brought me back home.

The ugly side is, unfortunately, a lot. First of all their Roti Canai.... it did not come with any curry! This is absolutely a let down and a shock to me considering that im a Malaysian eating in a Malaysian restaurant. Although the Roti Canai bread itself is authentic, but there's no point eating Roti Canai without a curry to be dipped with. It wouldn't cost a dime to add a small curry to it and i wonder why they would leave this open for complaint.

But the biggest let down was their staff service, and this is the real reason why I said it was the most uncomfortable meal I have ever had. Their staff kept eyeing on us to make sure we finish our food fast so that we can leave early for their next customers - worse is they made this very obvious. At one point their manager (the bald guy who kept running around) even shouted at us saying that they have customers outside queing and they will lose customers if we dont leave soon (yes, shouted). How can a manager embarrassed us like that in front of other customers while we were having a meal? I have never felt so abused and insulted as a customer. Substitute that with a nice talk we would have left the premise happily.

So no, I will not recommend anyone to come to this place and I will also never return to this place. We had such a bad experience to do otherwise.I just came back from Buka Puasa at Jom Makan today, a day before Raya. It was the most uncomfortable meal i have ever had in my life. But i do have some positive and some negative feedback to be fair.

The positive side of thing is that their Satay (with the peanut sauce) is very close to authentic. And so does their beef rendang which was absolutely brilliant. As the dinner was for my Raya celebration, having an authentic beef rendang definitely brought me back home.

The ugly side is, unfortunately, a lot. First of all their Roti Canai.... it did not come with any curry! This is absolutely a let down and a shock to me considering that im a Malaysian eating in a Malaysian restaurant. Although the Roti Canai bread itself is authentic, but there's no point eating Roti Canai without a curry to be dipped with. It wouldn't cost a dime to add a small curry to it and i wonder why they would leave this open for complaint.

But the biggest let down was their staff service, and this is the real reason why I said it was the most uncomfortable meal I have ever had. Their staff kept eyeing on us to make sure we finish our food fast so that we can leave early for their next customers - worse is they made this very obvious. At one point their manager (the bald guy who kept running around) even shouted at us saying that they have customers outside queing and they will lose customers if we dont leave soon (yes, shouted). How can a manager embarrassed us like that in front of other customers while we were having a meal? I have never felt so abused and insulted as a customer. Substitute that with a nice talk we would have left the premise happily.

So no, I will not recommend anyone to come to this place and I will also never return to this place. We had such a bad experience to do otherwise.

The Stockpot - by guihnz

guihnz — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 19:01:38 +0000

Review by guihnz

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7287 1066

Tags: cheap eat, british, takeaway

Not the best service in London but I confirm the "good value for money"...Not the best service in London but I confirm the "good value for money"...

Angel & Crown - Watered down beer scam . by peteros

peteros — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 15:48:34 +0000

Review by peteros

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 7557 9841

Tags: traditional, tv for sporting events

I'm afraid I caught the barman watering down my beer . They've got a scam going on .I'm afraid I caught the barman watering down my beer . They've got a scam going on .

Cafe Boheme - Not Bad. by taryneast

taryneast — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 22:54:25 +0000

Review by taryneast

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7734 0623

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

Tags: french, lively, romantic

I arrived in the late afternoon for a late lunch/early dinner. The place had a nice atmosphere with live music playing and lively people relaxing at the bar - but not too crowded.
I was quickly seated - though I had to ask for a nicer table by the window as I had been directed towards the deeper-in tables... but I like to read and like the light.
I was a bit disappointed to find out that the crepes I'd seen on the menu at the front door were breakfast-only, but instead I chose a berry-ice-cream dessert plate with real vanilla and berry ice-cream as well as fresh fruit sprinkled on top - and was pretty pleased :)

I also had a coffee - that wasn't too bad. Nice and large, but still good full flavour and nice creamy milk, with just a hint of bitterness to start. I sipped it slowly and enjoyed the last of the sunshine.I arrived in the late afternoon for a late lunch/early dinner. The place had a nice atmosphere with live music playing and lively people relaxing at the bar - but not too crowded.
I was quickly seated - though I had to ask for a nicer table by the window as I had been directed towards the deeper-in tables... but I like to read and like the light.
I was a bit disappointed to find out that the crepes I'd seen on the menu at the front door were breakfast-only, but instead I chose a berry-ice-cream dessert plate with real vanilla and berry ice-cream as well as fresh fruit sprinkled on top - and was pretty pleased :)

I also had a coffee - that wasn't too bad. Nice and large, but still good full flavour and nice creamy milk, with just a hint of bitterness to start. I sipped it slowly and enjoyed the last of the sunshine.

Assa - Tasty food, great service, perfect price. by taryneast

taryneast — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 22:40:47 +0000

Review by taryneast

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7240 8256

Tags: good value, cheap eat, korean

This is a really great hole-in-the-wall style korean restaurant. I had rice cake in chilli sauce and it was full-flavoured and perfectly cooked, served on sizzling hotplate.
Be warned, the place is tiny, so it's not a place for big groups of people - but a small group will fit in, though it seems pretty popular, so you may have to squeeze in.
But, it's well worth the time to wait for a table!
Really tasty food for low, low prices.This is a really great hole-in-the-wall style korean restaurant. I had rice cake in chilli sauce and it was full-flavoured and perfectly cooked, served on sizzling hotplate.
Be warned, the place is tiny, so it's not a place for big groups of people - but a small group will fit in, though it seems pretty popular, so you may have to squeeze in.
But, it's well worth the time to wait for a table!
Really tasty food for low, low prices.