Latest reviews for Restaurants in Primrose Hill, London, United Kingdom

Belgo Noord - Solid by StarvinMarvin

StarvinMarvin — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 12:13:11 +0000

Review by StarvinMarvin

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7267 0718

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

This place is a sure bet for a good solid meal. Yes, it's a chain, but it's quite quirky still and the food is delicious. It's not amazingly adventurous, but the brasserie style food it does serve is scrummy.

The restaurant has some large tables, so it's great for large parties of people, and if you're into Belgian beers, and beer in general, there are MANY to choose from. Some of them are pretty pricey, but they are pretty special too!

This isn't a romantic, cosey rendevouz, but it is good, tasty food in a lively atmosphere with a bit of a twist.This place is a sure bet for a good solid meal. Yes, it's a chain, but it's quite quirky still and the food is delicious. It's not amazingly adventurous, but the brasserie style food it does serve is scrummy.

The restaurant has some large tables, so it's great for large parties of people, and if you're into Belgian beers, and beer in general, there are MANY to choose from. Some of them are pretty pricey, but they are pretty special too!

This isn't a romantic, cosey rendevouz, but it is good, tasty food in a lively atmosphere with a bit of a twist.

Feng Sushi - Not as good as Asakusa by lenalouise

lenalouise — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:07:46 +0000

Review by lenalouise

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7483 2929

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

Tags: japanese, quiet, restaurant

Me and my friend Michelle originally wanted to go to Asakusa, somewhere that I had been raving on about to her for a while but unfortunately it was still closed from the New Year holidays so off we went to nearby Feng Sushi. We were the only customers there which is understandable as I guess most people would opt for the takeaway option. Indeed, the phone didn't stop ringing. We were happy to be out of the freezing cold anyway.

Apart from the fact that we were the only ones in there, Feng Sushi is quite nice as a restaurant. I could happily sit in there for a few hours, chatting and drinking green tea. As we were looking at the menu, I was quite shocked at how expensive it is compared to Asakusa. To share, we had a 22 piece mixed sushi plate, a king prawn tempura hand roll each and an eel maki roll which all came to Â£40 with green tea.

The food looked the part, it was presented well and looked authentic but the fish lacked on flavour. The tempura hand roll wasn't as crispy and light as it should be but the eel maki was spot on. I don't think I will come here again, it's just too expensive for what it is. I'd much prefer Asakusa by miles and left feeling a bit unsatisfied.Me and my friend Michelle originally wanted to go to Asakusa, somewhere that I had been raving on about to her for a while but unfortunately it was still closed from the New Year holidays so off we went to nearby Feng Sushi. We were the only customers there which is understandable as I guess most people would opt for the takeaway option. Indeed, the phone didn't stop ringing. We were happy to be out of the freezing cold anyway.

Apart from the fact that we were the only ones in there, Feng Sushi is quite nice as a restaurant. I could happily sit in there for a few hours, chatting and drinking green tea. As we were looking at the menu, I was quite shocked at how expensive it is compared to Asakusa. To share, we had a 22 piece mixed sushi plate, a king prawn tempura hand roll each and an eel maki roll which all came to Â£40 with green tea.

The food looked the part, it was presented well and looked authentic but the fish lacked on flavour. The tempura hand roll wasn't as crispy and light as it should be but the eel maki was spot on. I don't think I will come here again, it's just too expensive for what it is. I'd much prefer Asakusa by miles and left feeling a bit unsatisfied.

inSpiral Lounge - Hippies, hotties, vegans & party people by jeu198

jeu198 — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 02:11:44 +0000

Review by jeu198

Rating: 5.00

Tags: vegetarian, international, good value

This is a lovely little place right by the river on Camden High Street. Upstairs there is a bar serving amazing hippy style vegan food, beers, hot drinks (their Chai is outstanding), a small dance floor and some net connected computers. I dunno if they charge to go on them cos I didn't ask (it was NYE!).

Downstairs there is another little lounge/ eating area, toilets and a wonderful smoking area covered but outside right on the river. I imagine in summer during the day it would be wonderful sitting out there.

The thing that really struck me about this place however was the clientÃ¨le. I have never seen so many hot girls in the same place at the same time. Truly outstanding! Coming from Southampton where the average girl scores the same on the pint scale as they do out of 10 (3-4) to come to inSpiral and see not one girl scoring less than 7/10 was really something special.

Bravo. This is one place I shall definitely be revisiting!This is a lovely little place right by the river on Camden High Street. Upstairs there is a bar serving amazing hippy style vegan food, beers, hot drinks (their Chai is outstanding), a small dance floor and some net connected computers. I dunno if they charge to go on them cos I didn't ask (it was NYE!).

Downstairs there is another little lounge/ eating area, toilets and a wonderful smoking area covered but outside right on the river. I imagine in summer during the day it would be wonderful sitting out there.

The thing that really struck me about this place however was the clientÃ¨le. I have never seen so many hot girls in the same place at the same time. Truly outstanding! Coming from Southampton where the average girl scores the same on the pint scale as they do out of 10 (3-4) to come to inSpiral and see not one girl scoring less than 7/10 was really something special.

Bravo. This is one place I shall definitely be revisiting!

Nambu-Tei - one of the best by grapppaman

grapppaman — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 12:05:25 +0000

Review by grapppaman

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7486 5026

Tags: japanese, lively, good value

of course, the reason 'sjspage' found Nambu-Tei hard to find is that the map is incorrect (it is in an arcade that gives directly onto Baker St that runs across into Melcombe Street. It is also nowhere near Lisson Grove. Having said that, this is one of the most reliable, high quality excellent value japanese restaurants in London and it has been my family's favourite for nearly 20 years. Sashimi/sushi is fresh and varied. (Uni is always on the menu) The service is wonderful and attentive. Consistently wonderful.of course, the reason 'sjspage' found Nambu-Tei hard to find is that the map is incorrect (it is in an arcade that gives directly onto Baker St that runs across into Melcombe Street. It is also nowhere near Lisson Grove. Having said that, this is one of the most reliable, high quality excellent value japanese restaurants in London and it has been my family's favourite for nearly 20 years. Sashimi/sushi is fresh and varied. (Uni is always on the menu) The service is wonderful and attentive. Consistently wonderful.

Cafe Bintang - An extra star for BYO? by up_shiraz

up_shiraz — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 21:54:21 +0000

Review by up_shiraz

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7428 9603

Tags: malaysian, thai, good value

We were looking for a spot to eat quickly before a Manu Chao gig (5 stars for that one!) at the Forum in Kentish Town and this really fit the bill well. It's small, atmospheric and quick. This is proper fast food.

And unlike other fast food, you can bring your own booze here. If you haven't worked it out by now...then yes, this is something i get pretty excited about. Nothing like a good credit crunch to make you wonder about the size of restaurant booze mark-ups!

We arrived early, before a couple of Christmas-looking parties and got stuck in. Beer and wine cost 50p and Â£2 per bottle corkage respectively so it's gloriously affordable. Mixed starters were fine, if unexciting. The mains from the mixed Thai, Malaysian and possibly Indonesian menu, were all lovely. Pad Thai was juicy and plentiful, if a bit more tomato-ey than I ever remember in Thailand. A spicy chicken dish was fruity and interesting (foolishly i hadn't read the reviews below - but we didn't suffer, they were fine chunks of breast). A Malay beef dish was probably the stand-out. Delightful flavour.

So probably a strong 3 stars for the food. The service was good, and the beachside shack atmosphere is very cool. That BYO box gets a big tick though and pushes it up to 4 stars. Only Â£13 a head. Lovely jubbly!We were looking for a spot to eat quickly before a Manu Chao gig (5 stars for that one!) at the Forum in Kentish Town and this really fit the bill well. It's small, atmospheric and quick. This is proper fast food.

And unlike other fast food, you can bring your own booze here. If you haven't worked it out by now...then yes, this is something i get pretty excited about. Nothing like a good credit crunch to make you wonder about the size of restaurant booze mark-ups!

We arrived early, before a couple of Christmas-looking parties and got stuck in. Beer and wine cost 50p and Â£2 per bottle corkage respectively so it's gloriously affordable. Mixed starters were fine, if unexciting. The mains from the mixed Thai, Malaysian and possibly Indonesian menu, were all lovely. Pad Thai was juicy and plentiful, if a bit more tomato-ey than I ever remember in Thailand. A spicy chicken dish was fruity and interesting (foolishly i hadn't read the reviews below - but we didn't suffer, they were fine chunks of breast). A Malay beef dish was probably the stand-out. Delightful flavour.

So probably a strong 3 stars for the food. The service was good, and the beachside shack atmosphere is very cool. That BYO box gets a big tick though and pushes it up to 4 stars. Only Â£13 a head. Lovely jubbly!

Gilgamesh - Depends what you want by lesleyI

lesleyI — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 12:18:30 +0000

Review by lesleyI

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7482 5757

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

Tags: thai, lively, expensive

With this restaurant, I think it depends what you want.

If you want an experience and the food doesn't need to be perfect, then Gilgamesh is perfect. It is as visually stunning as everyone has said. It's huge and vibrant, and the big windows all down one side onto the railway are exciting.

But the food definitely doesn't match up. The dishes read well on the menu, but are only OK in the mouth.

I went with my husband and a bunch of teenagers and opinions were split on sex. The girls loved it. The boys thought it was all style and no substance.With this restaurant, I think it depends what you want.

If you want an experience and the food doesn't need to be perfect, then Gilgamesh is perfect. It is as visually stunning as everyone has said. It's huge and vibrant, and the big windows all down one side onto the railway are exciting.

But the food definitely doesn't match up. The dishes read well on the menu, but are only OK in the mouth.

I went with my husband and a bunch of teenagers and opinions were split on sex. The girls loved it. The boys thought it was all style and no substance.

El Parador - Great Local by stantoncarlisle

stantoncarlisle — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 14:23:11 +0000

Review by stantoncarlisle

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7387 2789

Tags: spanish, good value, family & home feel

This is one of the great Camden restaurants - excellent food at fairly nice prices. I've heard people raving about really lowgrade joints nearby as if they've made a major discovery. Its not trendy - just good food, friendly, professional staff and none of the usual down-at-heel, couldn't care less vibe that haunts other places up Camden High Street and beyond. Basically this is what a local no-nonsense restaurant should be.This is one of the great Camden restaurants - excellent food at fairly nice prices. I've heard people raving about really lowgrade joints nearby as if they've made a major discovery. Its not trendy - just good food, friendly, professional staff and none of the usual down-at-heel, couldn't care less vibe that haunts other places up Camden High Street and beyond. Basically this is what a local no-nonsense restaurant should be.

Viet-anh Cafe - Twelve stars by curlyfries

curlyfries — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 15:08:59 +0000

Review by curlyfries

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7284 4082

Tags: vietnamese, cheap eat, lively

I've probably spent more time sitting in Viet-anh than in my own flat: it's one of my favourite places in the whole world. The staff are brilliant, the service mega-speedy and though there's a constant turnover of people stuffing their faces (foodbymark is right) there's no pressure to feel like you need to get your belly full double time before you get kicked out.

The prawn satay, deep fried chilli squid and steamed dumplings are all faultless starters and you can't go wrong with a Vietnamese curry, lemongrass dish or any of the soups (either a pho or the bun rieu) for a main, accompanied with a pot of jasmine tea (free constant refills) or a Tsing-Tao. All incredibly tasty treats, and all at bargainous prices.

Viet-anh is a warm, cosy, lively, great place to cram in a few friends or sit with a book on your own - I love it so much I've even sat outside when it's raining (what an idiot). You can take out, but it's never quite the same in front of the telly.I've probably spent more time sitting in Viet-anh than in my own flat: it's one of my favourite places in the whole world. The staff are brilliant, the service mega-speedy and though there's a constant turnover of people stuffing their faces (foodbymark is right) there's no pressure to feel like you need to get your belly full double time before you get kicked out.

The prawn satay, deep fried chilli squid and steamed dumplings are all faultless starters and you can't go wrong with a Vietnamese curry, lemongrass dish or any of the soups (either a pho or the bun rieu) for a main, accompanied with a pot of jasmine tea (free constant refills) or a Tsing-Tao. All incredibly tasty treats, and all at bargainous prices.

Viet-anh is a warm, cosy, lively, great place to cram in a few friends or sit with a book on your own - I love it so much I've even sat outside when it's raining (what an idiot). You can take out, but it's never quite the same in front of the telly.

Hache Burger Connoisseurs - Possibly the best burgers... by hollowlegs

hollowlegs — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 14:57:27 +0000

Review by hollowlegs

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7485 9100

Tags: good value, american, lively

Yesterday I asked the question of where to find a good cheap eat in Camden. I was pointed in the direction of Hache and we certainly weren't disappointed.

We arrived here (on a Weds night) at just past 7pm. We were sat in the front section on one of the last tables available, which proved rather chilly as many more people came in (and were told they'd have a 15 min wait). It's worth booking for a warmer seat.

After much deliberation (there are many choices), I settled on a medium rare beef burger with stilton, and to share some frites and wedges. My burger came perfectly cooked and with just the right accompaniments; a little red onion, some lettuce and one slice of tomato. The floury bun held together well. It's a fine testament to the quality of the burger when one almost bites the tips of the fingers off in the haste to eat more of it (not that I did ... eh hem).

Frites and wedges were very nice indeed, especially the accompanying garlic mayo and salsa; they are quite large and we happily shared 2 portions between 4 of us.

All in all, a great burger and I would certainly return. With a bottle of wine, we paid Â£61 between us which is very reasonable. One quibble I had is that I had to ask for the bill twice and then go up to the counter to get them to sort it out, but we were in a rush.Yesterday I asked the question of where to find a good cheap eat in Camden. I was pointed in the direction of Hache and we certainly weren't disappointed.

We arrived here (on a Weds night) at just past 7pm. We were sat in the front section on one of the last tables available, which proved rather chilly as many more people came in (and were told they'd have a 15 min wait). It's worth booking for a warmer seat.

After much deliberation (there are many choices), I settled on a medium rare beef burger with stilton, and to share some frites and wedges. My burger came perfectly cooked and with just the right accompaniments; a little red onion, some lettuce and one slice of tomato. The floury bun held together well. It's a fine testament to the quality of the burger when one almost bites the tips of the fingers off in the haste to eat more of it (not that I did ... eh hem).

Frites and wedges were very nice indeed, especially the accompanying garlic mayo and salsa; they are quite large and we happily shared 2 portions between 4 of us.

All in all, a great burger and I would certainly return. With a bottle of wine, we paid Â£61 between us which is very reasonable. One quibble I had is that I had to ask for the bill twice and then go up to the counter to get them to sort it out, but we were in a rush.

Lemonia - Lemonia by foodrambler

foodrambler — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 23:52:46 +0000

Review by foodrambler

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7586 7454

Tags: greek, good value, lively

This Greek-Cypriot Primrose Hill staple has been here since I was born, so nearly three decades... The enormous restaurant is always packed full of people, from the leopard skin clad, botoxed ladies who lunch to families who enjoy the child-friendly atmosphere. I haven't been in there since I was small and was half expecting to have my cheeks pinched by the owner accompanied by a "my hasn't she grown!" But I guess I look a bit different now. Last night the meze starters were really tasty, from the smooth hummous to the tangy tarama salata, but the mains were overpriced for rather small portions. They did serve the largest scallops I've ever seen though, with fat orange coral still attached. Why anyone ever detaches that bit, I don't know. What on earth do they do with it?This Greek-Cypriot Primrose Hill staple has been here since I was born, so nearly three decades... The enormous restaurant is always packed full of people, from the leopard skin clad, botoxed ladies who lunch to families who enjoy the child-friendly atmosphere. I haven't been in there since I was small and was half expecting to have my cheeks pinched by the owner accompanied by a "my hasn't she grown!" But I guess I look a bit different now. Last night the meze starters were really tasty, from the smooth hummous to the tangy tarama salata, but the mains were overpriced for rather small portions. They did serve the largest scallops I've ever seen though, with fat orange coral still attached. Why anyone ever detaches that bit, I don't know. What on earth do they do with it?

Bento Cafe - Sum by gingerbeardman

gingerbeardman — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 11:17:47 +0000

Review by gingerbeardman

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7482 3990

Tags: japanese, sushi, good value

Decent sushi, and food but the service leaves a lot to be desired in the few times I have been there.Decent sushi, and food but the service leaves a lot to be desired in the few times I have been there.

Goodfare Restaurant - Dreadful by curlyfries

curlyfries — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 22:36:32 +0000

Review by curlyfries

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 7485 2230

Tags: italian, takeaway, vegetarian dishes

The only reason I have given this place a star is because I can't post my review without it: the meal I ate at Goodfare is without question one of the worst meals I have ever eaten.

If my other half had wanted a really bad quality 7" frozen pizza we'd have stopped at the corner shop on the way home. I, for reasons still unknown to me, chose the bolognese risotto, which turned out to be a sickly serving of gloopy meat sauce sliding off a huge pile of tasteless boil-in-the-bag rice. I have a feeling we had some half-decent antipasti to start, but I'll bet that all fell out of a packet too.

I can't believe we paid for our meal. It is incredibly rare that I leave any scraps on my plate, but entirely unheard of that I can barely eat it. I'd love to think they maybe were having an off day, but that wouldn't explain why we were the only people in there. On a Friday night.The only reason I have given this place a star is because I can't post my review without it: the meal I ate at Goodfare is without question one of the worst meals I have ever eaten.

If my other half had wanted a really bad quality 7" frozen pizza we'd have stopped at the corner shop on the way home. I, for reasons still unknown to me, chose the bolognese risotto, which turned out to be a sickly serving of gloopy meat sauce sliding off a huge pile of tasteless boil-in-the-bag rice. I have a feeling we had some half-decent antipasti to start, but I'll bet that all fell out of a packet too.

I can't believe we paid for our meal. It is incredibly rare that I leave any scraps on my plate, but entirely unheard of that I can barely eat it. I'd love to think they maybe were having an off day, but that wouldn't explain why we were the only people in there. On a Friday night.

Asakusa - Real Mom and Pop place by stantoncarlisle

stantoncarlisle — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 12:11:19 +0000

Review by stantoncarlisle

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7388 8399

Tags: japanese, good value, sushi

Step out of Camden into Japan! Asakusa has the feel and downhome buzz of real Japanese Mom and Pop place. And the worn but thick carpet and the wooden pub beams on the ceiling add to the over all effect. The salads are excellent. The ingredients fresh. The pork with the Bulldog sauce dip was scrumptious. Crab soup with egg was a tasty, fishy starter. All the dishes I tried were excellent but what makes this place is the welcoming feel and sense of relaxed theatre. Prices are reasonable too - many of the Japanese clientele come after 8 - if you want a table book before then and you'll have no problem.Step out of Camden into Japan! Asakusa has the feel and downhome buzz of real Japanese Mom and Pop place. And the worn but thick carpet and the wooden pub beams on the ceiling add to the over all effect. The salads are excellent. The ingredients fresh. The pork with the Bulldog sauce dip was scrumptious. Crab soup with egg was a tasty, fishy starter. All the dishes I tried were excellent but what makes this place is the welcoming feel and sense of relaxed theatre. Prices are reasonable too - many of the Japanese clientele come after 8 - if you want a table book before then and you'll have no problem.

Mestizo - Dia de los Muertos - the real thing by ramanauskas

ramanauskas — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 07:39:58 +0000

Review by ramanauskas

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7387 4064

Website: http://www.mestizomx.com

Tags: mexican, good value, lively

Mestizo is a good place to go any time of the year if you're looking for authentic Maxican cooking and and an enormous range of excellent tequilas. However it may be worth saving up your first visit for one of their special occasions. During September they often have a week of menus from different parts of Mexico, where you can sample a huge range of dished you won't find anywhere else in London, or possibly in Europe, and be sent on your way with a gift of mole sauce or a jar of chilis. For The Day of The Dead (November 1st) the restaurant is decorated in suitably ghoulish style, complete with an alter where you can leave offerings for your dear departed gran/Uncle Bob/tabby cat.

However if you do book for November 1st, make sure you get a table upstairs. I made the mistake of booking a party a couple of years ago and got a table in the basement with bright lights and no party vibe. The ground floor is much more atmospheric, so much so that you can quite forget you're on the Euston road with buses and ambulances whizzing past outside!

You can choose from two different menus, one for the starters and main courses and one for antojitos and tacos. As a greedy person I find their tacos a bit small, so I go for the main courses. The mole poblano hits the spot every time. Do start with a tequila cocktail (the bartender I think knows every combination) and the house red is good value if there's a crowd of you. However you may need to be patient with the staff, who usually seem to be relatives of the manager and newly arrived in England. Speaking Spanish helps if you want to order quickly.

Finally, if you're coming up from Warren Street and you think there can't possibly be a restaurant on this stretch of Euston Road, just keep walking and you'll find it (left hand side).Mestizo is a good place to go any time of the year if you're looking for authentic Maxican cooking and and an enormous range of excellent tequilas. However it may be worth saving up your first visit for one of their special occasions. During September they often have a week of menus from different parts of Mexico, where you can sample a huge range of dished you won't find anywhere else in London, or possibly in Europe, and be sent on your way with a gift of mole sauce or a jar of chilis. For The Day of The Dead (November 1st) the restaurant is decorated in suitably ghoulish style, complete with an alter where you can leave offerings for your dear departed gran/Uncle Bob/tabby cat.

However if you do book for November 1st, make sure you get a table upstairs. I made the mistake of booking a party a couple of years ago and got a table in the basement with bright lights and no party vibe. The ground floor is much more atmospheric, so much so that you can quite forget you're on the Euston road with buses and ambulances whizzing past outside!

You can choose from two different menus, one for the starters and main courses and one for antojitos and tacos. As a greedy person I find their tacos a bit small, so I go for the main courses. The mole poblano hits the spot every time. Do start with a tequila cocktail (the bartender I think knows every combination) and the house red is good value if there's a crowd of you. However you may need to be patient with the staff, who usually seem to be relatives of the manager and newly arrived in England. Speaking Spanish helps if you want to order quickly.

Finally, if you're coming up from Warren Street and you think there can't possibly be a restaurant on this stretch of Euston Road, just keep walking and you'll find it (left hand side).

Bar Gansa - A Taste of Spain by thamshere

thamshere — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 20:51:44 +0000

Review by thamshere

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7267 8909

Tags: spanish, lively, good value

This tapas bar feels like a bit of a Camden institution to me. Itâ¬"s been sat quietly on Inverness Street for as along as I can remember. It pretty much keeps itself to itself, which is good, because if any more people knew about it youâ¬"d never be able to get a seat. The atmosphere is perfect so far as tapas joints go. Hearty, homely, busy, intimate and full of laughs and sangria.

We arrived at Bar Gansa on a Saturday night around 9 oâ¬"clock with six people with some sort of idea in our minds that booking a table would be unnescesary. Thankfully we were proven right. The friendly staff shoved a few tables together in what seemed like barely enough space for four, but we fitted in alright. Knowing a little about tapas I knew what I liked, as did a few others in the group. Together we came up with a list of dishes, we figured two or three per person would be about right, and went ahead and ordered.

Almost.

We were told as we began that the kitchen was out of chorizo. Not a good sign for anywhere Spanish. Oh, and pork. No lomo. No jamon iberico or serrano. As we scanned the menu to see what was left we considered finding somewhere else, but in the face of the late hour and uncertain seating we decided to soldier on. Besides, we already had our Sangria. We were told it had been a particularly busy night but for a kitchen to run out of so many important basics seems more like a lack of foresight, especially if the staples are cured meats - surely over-stocking can never hurt? Itâ¬"s not like theyâ¬"re going to go off tomorrow.

Luckily for us there was still pollo aplenty so we made the best of that, ordering three chicken dishes, some prawns and a variety of veg such as the classic patatas bravas and some garlic mushrooms. None of it really stood out as amazing, but the quality was consistently good across the board with none of the dishes letting down the side. The chicken was juicy, the sauces rich, the patatas very bravary. The only downside was that we hadnâ¬"t ordered quite enough and managed to pick the dishes clean.

The bill came in at a very pleasant 15 quid each, though I donâ¬"t think an extra dish each would have gone amiss, so perhaps 20 is a more reasonable average. Iâ¬"ll be heading back soon, hopefully this time with a booking and a little earlier in the day so I can sample the real meat.

It was rather an unwelcome return to reality when we left to find ourselves in Camden on a cold September day with a fine mist of rain insisting its way through the air. It made me want to go back inside and order another jug of sangira.This tapas bar feels like a bit of a Camden institution to me. Itâ¬"s been sat quietly on Inverness Street for as along as I can remember. It pretty much keeps itself to itself, which is good, because if any more people knew about it youâ¬"d never be able to get a seat. The atmosphere is perfect so far as tapas joints go. Hearty, homely, busy, intimate and full of laughs and sangria.

We arrived at Bar Gansa on a Saturday night around 9 oâ¬"clock with six people with some sort of idea in our minds that booking a table would be unnescesary. Thankfully we were proven right. The friendly staff shoved a few tables together in what seemed like barely enough space for four, but we fitted in alright. Knowing a little about tapas I knew what I liked, as did a few others in the group. Together we came up with a list of dishes, we figured two or three per person would be about right, and went ahead and ordered.

Almost.

We were told as we began that the kitchen was out of chorizo. Not a good sign for anywhere Spanish. Oh, and pork. No lomo. No jamon iberico or serrano. As we scanned the menu to see what was left we considered finding somewhere else, but in the face of the late hour and uncertain seating we decided to soldier on. Besides, we already had our Sangria. We were told it had been a particularly busy night but for a kitchen to run out of so many important basics seems more like a lack of foresight, especially if the staples are cured meats - surely over-stocking can never hurt? Itâ¬"s not like theyâ¬"re going to go off tomorrow.

Luckily for us there was still pollo aplenty so we made the best of that, ordering three chicken dishes, some prawns and a variety of veg such as the classic patatas bravas and some garlic mushrooms. None of it really stood out as amazing, but the quality was consistently good across the board with none of the dishes letting down the side. The chicken was juicy, the sauces rich, the patatas very bravary. The only downside was that we hadnâ¬"t ordered quite enough and managed to pick the dishes clean.

The bill came in at a very pleasant 15 quid each, though I donâ¬"t think an extra dish each would have gone amiss, so perhaps 20 is a more reasonable average. Iâ¬"ll be heading back soon, hopefully this time with a booking and a little earlier in the day so I can sample the real meat.

It was rather an unwelcome return to reality when we left to find ourselves in Camden on a cold September day with a fine mist of rain insisting its way through the air. It made me want to go back inside and order another jug of sangira.

L'Absinthe - ... does make the heart grow fonder ;-) by curlynewf

curlynewf — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 19:32:51 +0000

Review by curlynewf

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7483 4848

Website: http://www.primrosehill.com/fd/labsinthe.html

Tags: french, lively, expensive

Thoroughly enjoyed this place. We went for Sunday brunch and started with espressos and champagne. We skipped the starters and went straight to the mains: Coley and Salmon both served with buttered spinach. Lots of flavour, simply done and sensibly sized portions. To finish we had the Coffee CrÃ¨me BrÃ»lÃ©e - hot and crispy on top and cool and creamy underneath. Perfect for two (as it's large). The service was pleasant and friendly but a little on the slow side. We actually didn't mind the slowness ourselves as we had time to kill and were catching up, but if you're in a rush keep that in mind.

We need more places like this, simple little neighborhood spots with atmosphere and authentic food. I will go back.Thoroughly enjoyed this place. We went for Sunday brunch and started with espressos and champagne. We skipped the starters and went straight to the mains: Coley and Salmon both served with buttered spinach. Lots of flavour, simply done and sensibly sized portions. To finish we had the Coffee CrÃ¨me BrÃ»lÃ©e - hot and crispy on top and cool and creamy underneath. Perfect for two (as it's large). The service was pleasant and friendly but a little on the slow side. We actually didn't mind the slowness ourselves as we had time to kill and were catching up, but if you're in a rush keep that in mind.

We need more places like this, simple little neighborhood spots with atmosphere and authentic food. I will go back.

Camden Tandoori Restaurant - They serve Cockroaches by pyro

pyro — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 10:27:58 +0000

Review by pyro

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 7482 2717

Tags: indian, takeaway, vegetarian dishes

I used to live in a flat right above Camden Tandoori, so as soon as I moved in I ordered some take-away, because I just love Indian food! In my opinion, the quality of food was below average, but it didn't really matter.

I was terrified when I realised that there were COCKROACHES in my flat! So I went downstairs to check what was going on and all I got was a rude old man (the owner I think) telling me that they come from a motorcycle shop next door! So I called my estate agents and when a pest control guy came round and put stuff down, he said that until they get rid of them downstairs in the restaurant, there's no chance I will.

I know there are not many indian restaurants in Camden, but eating there is health-hazardous and I'm sure you can do better than with cockroach and mice footprint on your food.I used to live in a flat right above Camden Tandoori, so as soon as I moved in I ordered some take-away, because I just love Indian food! In my opinion, the quality of food was below average, but it didn't really matter.

I was terrified when I realised that there were COCKROACHES in my flat! So I went downstairs to check what was going on and all I got was a rude old man (the owner I think) telling me that they come from a motorcycle shop next door! So I called my estate agents and when a pest control guy came round and put stuff down, he said that until they get rid of them downstairs in the restaurant, there's no chance I will.

I know there are not many indian restaurants in Camden, but eating there is health-hazardous and I'm sure you can do better than with cockroach and mice footprint on your food.

Fishworks Seafood Cafe - by k_thrn

k_thrn — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 17:45:16 +0000

Review by k_thrn

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7586 9760

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

Tags: seafood, outside tables

Great value kids meal. Moules frites with two veg and ice cream for around Â£6.Great value kids meal. Moules frites with two veg and ice cream for around Â£6.

Snazz Sichuan - Numbing territory. by bellaphon

bellaphon — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 22:42:40 +0000

Review by bellaphon

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7388 0808

Tags: chinese, good value, sichuan

Paresthesia (sensation of numbness) of the mouth is part and parcel of dining at this place. Thankfully this manifestation is not at all chronic, but downright alluring. Secondly thereâ¬"s also the small matter of the Scoville scale, if you thought that the Vindaloo dish was only fit for the chilli heroes; well not here it doesnâ¬"t, it simply turns the hotness of the Vindaloo into the pussycat category. Lastly, discerning foodies who crave entrails and offal, your nirvana is here.

Iâ¬"ve been here a few times and I still canâ¬"t make my mind whether Bar Shu or Snazz Sichuan is the definitive Sichuan joint in London. I suppose that the ambience of Bar Shu is more luxurious and warmer and the cooking at Snazz measurably more authentic. We started with some outstanding Sichuan-style marinated beef slices (a very hot tasting cold dish). The next two dishes ordered were not for the offally challenged; Fire-exploded beef tripe (mild!!) and Special cooked pigâ¬"s blood (think red tofu) casserole (devastatingly hot, my dining companion thought it was very nearly inedible). These dishes were a testament to the chefâ¬"s understanding on turning the acquired blandness of offal into total yumminess. The final dish of Fried bitter melon with green and red pepper was requisite in providing calm and normality to the taste buds after the chilli frenzy. Dishes I also recommend from my past visits include Fish soup with pickled greens and Fire-exploded kidney flowers.

The friendly waiter kept reminding us that this is the real Chinese food and it has no equals. Thatâ¬"s all very well, but methinks Cantonese cuisine is more universally acceptable. I love this place and so should Fergus Henderson, what with pigâ¬"s tail, chitterlings, ears, tripe, tongue, etc.
Paresthesia (sensation of numbness) of the mouth is part and parcel of dining at this place. Thankfully this manifestation is not at all chronic, but downright alluring. Secondly thereâ¬"s also the small matter of the Scoville scale, if you thought that the Vindaloo dish was only fit for the chilli heroes; well not here it doesnâ¬"t, it simply turns the hotness of the Vindaloo into the pussycat category. Lastly, discerning foodies who crave entrails and offal, your nirvana is here.

Iâ¬"ve been here a few times and I still canâ¬"t make my mind whether Bar Shu or Snazz Sichuan is the definitive Sichuan joint in London. I suppose that the ambience of Bar Shu is more luxurious and warmer and the cooking at Snazz measurably more authentic. We started with some outstanding Sichuan-style marinated beef slices (a very hot tasting cold dish). The next two dishes ordered were not for the offally challenged; Fire-exploded beef tripe (mild!!) and Special cooked pigâ¬"s blood (think red tofu) casserole (devastatingly hot, my dining companion thought it was very nearly inedible). These dishes were a testament to the chefâ¬"s understanding on turning the acquired blandness of offal into total yumminess. The final dish of Fried bitter melon with green and red pepper was requisite in providing calm and normality to the taste buds after the chilli frenzy. Dishes I also recommend from my past visits include Fish soup with pickled greens and Fire-exploded kidney flowers.

The friendly waiter kept reminding us that this is the real Chinese food and it has no equals. Thatâ¬"s all very well, but methinks Cantonese cuisine is more universally acceptable. I love this place and so should Fergus Henderson, what with pigâ¬"s tail, chitterlings, ears, tripe, tongue, etc.

Cottons - Unique! by expired2008

expired2008 — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 22:01:55 +0000

Review by expired2008

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7485 8388

Tags: lively, african & caribbean, good value

Iâ¬"ve never been to a carribean restaurant before so this was an eye opener for me! My friends have all been here and have raved about it, so I took the plunge and Iâ¬"m so glad I did! Cottons if a fantastically lively and friendly place to go, both as a group and as a couple. The staff are so friendly, Iâ¬"ve never seen one person smile so much! The waiter had a fabulous sense of humour! The food was brilliant, Iâ¬"d recommend it all! But maybe it was because of the amazing cocktails we had - I would definitely recommend these! Without doubt, you have to go here!Iâ¬"ve never been to a carribean restaurant before so this was an eye opener for me! My friends have all been here and have raved about it, so I took the plunge and Iâ¬"m so glad I did! Cottons if a fantastically lively and friendly place to go, both as a group and as a couple. The staff are so friendly, Iâ¬"ve never seen one person smile so much! The waiter had a fabulous sense of humour! The food was brilliant, Iâ¬"d recommend it all! But maybe it was because of the amazing cocktails we had - I would definitely recommend these! Without doubt, you have to go here!