Latest reviews for Restaurants in Shacklewell, London, United Kingdom

Beyti Restaurant - Great Turkish Restaurant-but don't tell everyone! by Kaya007

Kaya007 — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 11:18:10 +0000

Review by Kaya007

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7704 3165

This restaurant was reccommended by a friend about a year ago and since then I make regular (at least monthly) trips here, taking any friends or family who are visiting, they even have a decent vegetarian choice.

The starters are delicious and I usually go for Borek (light pastries) Kofte (meatballs) Dolma (stuffed vine leaves) and too many more to mention!

A particular reccomandation for main courses are the speciality kebabs, served with layers of meat, bread, yoghurt and sauces ranging from mild to wild!

The service is excellent and I would have no hesitation in announcing this to be the best Turkish Restaurant in Green Lanes!

NB, best to book on Saturday evenings but if you don't mind the wait the staff will come and find you when a table is ready if you go for a drink across the road!

Top marks!

KayaThis restaurant was reccommended by a friend about a year ago and since then I make regular (at least monthly) trips here, taking any friends or family who are visiting, they even have a decent vegetarian choice.

The starters are delicious and I usually go for Borek (light pastries) Kofte (meatballs) Dolma (stuffed vine leaves) and too many more to mention!

A particular reccomandation for main courses are the speciality kebabs, served with layers of meat, bread, yoghurt and sauces ranging from mild to wild!

The service is excellent and I would have no hesitation in announcing this to be the best Turkish Restaurant in Green Lanes!

NB, best to book on Saturday evenings but if you don't mind the wait the staff will come and find you when a table is ready if you go for a drink across the road!

Top marks!

Kaya

Sariyer Balik - by gecko

gecko — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:27:05 +0000

Review by gecko

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 7275 7681

Tags: turkish, takeaway, family & home feel

VERY BADDDDDDD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!VERY BADDDDDDD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fifty Six - by savagepink

savagepink — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 14:39:24 +0000

Review by savagepink

Rating: 2.00

Phone: 020 7359 6377

Website: http://www.fifty-six.co.uk/

Tags: lively, romantic, european

I am surprised at how enthusiastic people are about this place, and it's true it does always seem to be full.

I found it lacking - European dishes cooked by people who had never tasted an authentic version. Like something out of 1980's London.

The food is serviceable and the staff pleasant, but with London so full of great ethnic restaurants and authentic regional European cooking, I don't think Fifty-Six measures up.

Definitely not a place for serious foodies.I am surprised at how enthusiastic people are about this place, and it's true it does always seem to be full.

I found it lacking - European dishes cooked by people who had never tasted an authentic version. Like something out of 1980's London.

The food is serviceable and the staff pleasant, but with London so full of great ethnic restaurants and authentic regional European cooking, I don't think Fifty-Six measures up.

Definitely not a place for serious foodies.

Lemon Monkey - by savagepink

savagepink — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 11:42:56 +0000

Review by savagepink

Rating: 4.00

Tags: romantic, french, brasserie

Great little coffee and cake shop which also does cheese and charcuterie platters, with wine. They sell some deli-type groceries too. Lovely friendly staff.

Note: not an indian restaurant or a French brasserie!Great little coffee and cake shop which also does cheese and charcuterie platters, with wine. They sell some deli-type groceries too. Lovely friendly staff.

Note: not an indian restaurant or a French brasserie!

Clicia - by beccywiseman

beccywiseman — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 14:22:19 +0000

Review by beccywiseman

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7254 1025

Website: http://www.pidderia.com/clicia/index.php

Tags: turkish, romantic, good value

Clicia is great for a lazy weekend munch. Not too cramped but not as great an atmosphere as other Church Street cafÃ©s. The food is great.Clicia is great for a lazy weekend munch. Not too cramped but not as great an atmosphere as other Church Street cafÃ©s. The food is great.

The Gate - Lovely........... by lily15

lily15 — Wed, 27 May 2009 11:32:40 +0000

Review by lily15

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7923 9227

Tags: garden, mediterranean, cheap eat

Ive been dining here for a long time, i always go back for more delicious food and polite service. I enjoy most of their dishes and like the atmosphere, there is a 3 page menu and also you have most wines, spirits, beers and taps aswell. If im feeling hungry i will eat if im feeling to just have a drink thats what i will do. I enjoy the calm comfortable atmosphere, and i definatly will recomment it to anyone who is up to having a pleasent time..Ive been dining here for a long time, i always go back for more delicious food and polite service. I enjoy most of their dishes and like the atmosphere, there is a 3 page menu and also you have most wines, spirits, beers and taps aswell. If im feeling hungry i will eat if im feeling to just have a drink thats what i will do. I enjoy the calm comfortable atmosphere, and i definatly will recomment it to anyone who is up to having a pleasent time..

19 Numara Bos Cirrik II - fantastic food by umut

umut — Sat, 16 May 2009 15:05:52 +0000

Review by umut

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7249 9111

Tags: turkish, lively, romantic

i love the food, the shef cooked my shish just front of me on the barbecue with real charcoal.i love the food, the shef cooked my shish just front of me on the barbecue with real charcoal.

19 Numara Bos Cirrik - The best Turkish food in the area... by simonbk

simonbk — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 18:14:46 +0000

Review by simonbk

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7249 0400

Tags: turkish, family & home feel, lively

I have to say I really do rate this place. I've eaten in a number of Turkish restaurants in the area and 19 Numara Bos Cirrik always comes out on top. Busy most evenings but its worth the short wait for a seat.

Food-wise I've had a number dishes from the menu but today I shared a mixed kebab and a mixed pide.

Starting with the mixed kebab (chicken ÅxiÅx, Ã§Ã¶p ÅxiÅx (small lamb chunks), Adana (minced lamb) and lamb chops) the Adana was juicy and deliciously flavoured but the best of the meats were the chops. Crispy and well seasoned on the outside, tender on the inside. Probably worth a full order. The mixed kebab is served with rice, onion salad, shepherds salad and the most delicious of all the salads, Izgara soÄxan. Izgara soÄxan is made up of slices of grilled onion, pomegranate syrup, turnip juice, and sumac (a sour, purple-coloured powdered spice common in Turkish cooking). It works a treat with both the meats and the pide and should not be missed. If they forget to serve this salad be sure to get their attention and demand it.

The mixed pide (sort of a Turkish pizza) was also delicious and cooked to order. The mixed pide was topped with minced lamb, fresh tomatoes, green peppers, cheddar cheese and herbs. Hot, fresh and full of flavour this was great to share with the kebabs.

Worth noting as well is a Turkish snack that Cirrik does very well called Lamacun. Again a Turkish pizza of sorts but with a thinner crust, fewer but equally delicious toppings and usually served as a wrap stuffed with salad. At £1.50 you can't go wrong.

All in all 19 Numara Bos Cirrik offers the best Turkish food in the area, if not London. Great food at great prices. Not much else I can say.I have to say I really do rate this place. I've eaten in a number of Turkish restaurants in the area and 19 Numara Bos Cirrik always comes out on top. Busy most evenings but its worth the short wait for a seat.

Food-wise I've had a number dishes from the menu but today I shared a mixed kebab and a mixed pide.

Starting with the mixed kebab (chicken ÅxiÅx, Ã§Ã¶p ÅxiÅx (small lamb chunks), Adana (minced lamb) and lamb chops) the Adana was juicy and deliciously flavoured but the best of the meats were the chops. Crispy and well seasoned on the outside, tender on the inside. Probably worth a full order. The mixed kebab is served with rice, onion salad, shepherds salad and the most delicious of all the salads, Izgara soÄxan. Izgara soÄxan is made up of slices of grilled onion, pomegranate syrup, turnip juice, and sumac (a sour, purple-coloured powdered spice common in Turkish cooking). It works a treat with both the meats and the pide and should not be missed. If they forget to serve this salad be sure to get their attention and demand it.

The mixed pide (sort of a Turkish pizza) was also delicious and cooked to order. The mixed pide was topped with minced lamb, fresh tomatoes, green peppers, cheddar cheese and herbs. Hot, fresh and full of flavour this was great to share with the kebabs.

Worth noting as well is a Turkish snack that Cirrik does very well called Lamacun. Again a Turkish pizza of sorts but with a thinner crust, fewer but equally delicious toppings and usually served as a wrap stuffed with salad. At £1.50 you can't go wrong.

All in all 19 Numara Bos Cirrik offers the best Turkish food in the area, if not London. Great food at great prices. Not much else I can say.

Testi - The Lamb's Bollocks by chrisp

chrisp — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 11:27:55 +0000

Review by chrisp

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7249 7151

Tags: turkish, lively, good value

There's something commendably unapologetic about the way Testi, an Ocakbasi grill in Stoke Newington, displays it's most (in)famous ingredient in their front window. There, pride of place in one of those glass cabinets a high-street kebab shop may use to hold marinating chicken shish or lamb koftes, are a dozen alarmingly large raw lamb's testicles, looking like fleshy plums next to the more prosaic rib joints and kidneys. I had made a special journey to Testi to eat these things, and I wasn't about to change my mind, but I do have to admit to a certain amount of trepidation once I was staring at them in the flesh, so to speak. Not exactly the most appetising of items, are they? Pale and swollen, with strange dark slug-like tubes running down the side; it's largely a cultural thing I'm sure, but it's not hard to see why they are somewhat of a rarity at your local butchers or neighbourhood restaurant. It's also not too surprising you don't read much about them on food blogs or in the mainstream press, as attempting to write a review of a plate of testicles without slipping into Carry On territory is a bit of a minefield. Let's see how I do.

But before the main event, a couple of starters. The house hummus was a pretty standard affair - creamy and with good texture but missing anything to lift it out of the ordinary. And despite the house bread being fresh out of the oven it was strangely tasteless - this may be the style in these places, as all Turkish bread I've ever tried has been lacking in this department. However a plate of Albanian-style chopped liver was absolutely wonderful, the moist, char grilled meat balanced with the delicately pickled onions and the dish as a whole lifting these cheap ingredients into something really special. This plate was cleaned in record time.

So I imagine some of you are wondering what marinated, char grilled lamb's testicles taste like. The description 'offaly' is probably a little obvious, but it's true that the meat itself had that dense, smooth texture of, say, brain. Not unpleasant but rather unsatisfying, a little bit like Quorn. What made the dish was the spicy marinade, which created a lovely crust on the little nuggets of meat and added complexity to what I'm guessing raw is a rather uniform, uninteresting product. The main point is, I've tried it now, and didn't hate it, and so now I don't need to again. Job done.

Amongst the other mains brought to our table was a few grilled quail - perfectly seasoned, and benefitting very well from the char from the grill, and some genuinely superbly cooked lamb chops, again seasoned perfectly and boasting a generous blackened crust. Sides were also exceptional - roasted onions in a pomegranate pickle were a fresh and attractive balance of textures and flavours, and a salad was nicely dressed with fresh herbs and black olives.

Now, there were bits here and there that weren't perfect, obviously, but where it mattered Testi delivered in spades - fresh meat, fresh ingredients, well seasoned, well executed, cooked simply and presented honestly. It's everything you'd want in a local restaurant, and although it's not leagues ahead of others in the same style (Tas Firin, No19BC2, etc.) it just does everything across the board well enough to be that much ahead of the pack. I had a lovely evening, and I will certainly be back - only next time, perhaps I'll leave the testicles alone.... Damn, so close.There's something commendably unapologetic about the way Testi, an Ocakbasi grill in Stoke Newington, displays it's most (in)famous ingredient in their front window. There, pride of place in one of those glass cabinets a high-street kebab shop may use to hold marinating chicken shish or lamb koftes, are a dozen alarmingly large raw lamb's testicles, looking like fleshy plums next to the more prosaic rib joints and kidneys. I had made a special journey to Testi to eat these things, and I wasn't about to change my mind, but I do have to admit to a certain amount of trepidation once I was staring at them in the flesh, so to speak. Not exactly the most appetising of items, are they? Pale and swollen, with strange dark slug-like tubes running down the side; it's largely a cultural thing I'm sure, but it's not hard to see why they are somewhat of a rarity at your local butchers or neighbourhood restaurant. It's also not too surprising you don't read much about them on food blogs or in the mainstream press, as attempting to write a review of a plate of testicles without slipping into Carry On territory is a bit of a minefield. Let's see how I do.

But before the main event, a couple of starters. The house hummus was a pretty standard affair - creamy and with good texture but missing anything to lift it out of the ordinary. And despite the house bread being fresh out of the oven it was strangely tasteless - this may be the style in these places, as all Turkish bread I've ever tried has been lacking in this department. However a plate of Albanian-style chopped liver was absolutely wonderful, the moist, char grilled meat balanced with the delicately pickled onions and the dish as a whole lifting these cheap ingredients into something really special. This plate was cleaned in record time.

So I imagine some of you are wondering what marinated, char grilled lamb's testicles taste like. The description 'offaly' is probably a little obvious, but it's true that the meat itself had that dense, smooth texture of, say, brain. Not unpleasant but rather unsatisfying, a little bit like Quorn. What made the dish was the spicy marinade, which created a lovely crust on the little nuggets of meat and added complexity to what I'm guessing raw is a rather uniform, uninteresting product. The main point is, I've tried it now, and didn't hate it, and so now I don't need to again. Job done.

Amongst the other mains brought to our table was a few grilled quail - perfectly seasoned, and benefitting very well from the char from the grill, and some genuinely superbly cooked lamb chops, again seasoned perfectly and boasting a generous blackened crust. Sides were also exceptional - roasted onions in a pomegranate pickle were a fresh and attractive balance of textures and flavours, and a salad was nicely dressed with fresh herbs and black olives.

Now, there were bits here and there that weren't perfect, obviously, but where it mattered Testi delivered in spades - fresh meat, fresh ingredients, well seasoned, well executed, cooked simply and presented honestly. It's everything you'd want in a local restaurant, and although it's not leagues ahead of others in the same style (Tas Firin, No19BC2, etc.) it just does everything across the board well enough to be that much ahead of the pack. I had a lovely evening, and I will certainly be back - only next time, perhaps I'll leave the testicles alone.... Damn, so close.

Lemongrass - Lemongrass- Heaven has arrived!! by ingramjones

ingramjones — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 17:06:57 +0000

Review by ingramjones

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7254 2473

Website: http://www.lemongrassuk.com

Tags: thai, takeaway, toptable

Without a doubt my favourite resturant in N16. I only live round the corner and the food is fantastic. Well worth a visit.Without a doubt my favourite resturant in N16. I only live round the corner and the food is fantastic. Well worth a visit.

Rasa South Indian Vegetarian Restaurant - by Niamheen

Niamheen — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 17:30:28 +0000

Review by Niamheen

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7249 0344

Website: http://www.rasarestaurants.com

Tags: indian, takeaway, good value

Wonderful vegetarian Indian restaurant. Super cheap and great for groups or more intimate dinners. The service is always friendly and the food very authentic and delicious. Highly recommended!Wonderful vegetarian Indian restaurant. Super cheap and great for groups or more intimate dinners. The service is always friendly and the food very authentic and delicious. Highly recommended!

Mercado Bar & Cantina - Master of margheritas by ben1982

ben1982 — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 13:33:58 +0000

Review by ben1982

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7923 0555

Website: http://www.mercado-cantina.co.uk

Tags: bar, mexican, terrace

A vibrant colour scheme, latin party music and great happy hour deals help maintain this bar/restaurants happy vibe, in which all the standard mexican fare can be found. Particularly good are the steaks served with a rich cocoa bean sauce and substantial chillis, which come with a 'heat challenge' tag for the extra competitive.A vibrant colour scheme, latin party music and great happy hour deals help maintain this bar/restaurants happy vibe, in which all the standard mexican fare can be found. Particularly good are the steaks served with a rich cocoa bean sauce and substantial chillis, which come with a 'heat challenge' tag for the extra competitive.

Z Cafe Bar - London's best breakfast? by ben1982

ben1982 — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 13:37:16 +0000

Review by ben1982

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7275 7523

Website: http://www.zcafebar.com/

Tags: cosy, lively, turkish

Possibly. The turkish/english crossover menu includes virtually all elements of the 21st century breakfast, served in bustling environs surrounded by newspapers and all manner of flyers drawing attention to the creative side of N16. THe mixed menomen dish, tried once, will have you making pilgrimages to this cafe from wherever you awaken...Possibly. The turkish/english crossover menu includes virtually all elements of the 21st century breakfast, served in bustling environs surrounded by newspapers and all manner of flyers drawing attention to the creative side of N16. THe mixed menomen dish, tried once, will have you making pilgrimages to this cafe from wherever you awaken...

Booth's - Booth's by DerekJemimahson

DerekJemimahson — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 16:16:04 +0000

Review by DerekJemimahson

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7275 9809

Tags: italian, lively, bar

Boothâ¬"s is a funny old place. Itâ¬"s a cool basement bar, but also a family pizzeria. The food is very good value for money, itâ¬"s stone baked pizzas are the best in all Stoke Newington. As for its bar persona, it actually works very well. Thereâ¬"s a modest sized beer garden out front from which you can watch all the strange folk wander from boutique to boutique on trendy Church Street. The decoration in Boothâ¬"s is a bit dated, almost utilitarian, but this doesnâ¬"t detract much from the Boothâ¬"s experience and probably makes the place that little bit more relaxed. Well worth a visit.
Boothâ¬"s is a funny old place. Itâ¬"s a cool basement bar, but also a family pizzeria. The food is very good value for money, itâ¬"s stone baked pizzas are the best in all Stoke Newington. As for its bar persona, it actually works very well. Thereâ¬"s a modest sized beer garden out front from which you can watch all the strange folk wander from boutique to boutique on trendy Church Street. The decoration in Boothâ¬"s is a bit dated, almost utilitarian, but this doesnâ¬"t detract much from the Boothâ¬"s experience and probably makes the place that little bit more relaxed. Well worth a visit.

La Sera - Wonderful by Alita

Alita — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 22:46:21 +0000

Review by Alita

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7254 7666

Tags: seafood, good value, family & home feel

Fabulous, fresh, delicious fish at a fraction of the price you'd find in most fish restaurants. Side dishes are also fantastic. Delightful, efficient and friendly service each time. The owners are Turkish and make their own home made dessert called Revani which has to be tried to be believed!

The only minor downsides are the noise from the high street and perhaps a little too much butter on the King Scallops.Fabulous, fresh, delicious fish at a fraction of the price you'd find in most fish restaurants. Side dishes are also fantastic. Delightful, efficient and friendly service each time. The owners are Turkish and make their own home made dessert called Revani which has to be tried to be believed!

The only minor downsides are the noise from the high street and perhaps a little too much butter on the King Scallops.

Istanbul Iskembecisi - Istanbul Iskembecisi by bellaphon

bellaphon — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 21:14:10 +0000

Review by bellaphon

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7254 7291

Tags: turkish, good value, cheap eat

I only came here because of the reviews from both Kate Spicer and Charles Campion about the tripe soup. When one gets older the squeamish thing soon evaporates. Not quite offal rules, but hey, life's too short so give it a go. So the the raison d'Ãªtre for this pilgrimage was the Iskembe (Tripe Soup). DIY seasoning of salt, vinegar, lemon juice, crushed chilli and pepper is placed on the table at your behest. It tasted...cowish or of the farm. I loved it anyway. I thought that the ceremony involving the seasoning of this course made it worthwhile. I also had the Shish Kebab served with rice & salad. I think the Turks have the edge over the Lebanese joints on Edgware Road, they sure know their seasonings and grilling technique. My dining companion had a rather strange pudding known as Tavuk gÃ¶ÄxsÃ¼ that contained chicken; he thought it was rather moreish. Â£7.50 for two courses...no brainer. Service was excellent and friendly, however the ambience was rather dark and lost. Great place, authenticity beyond the realms.I only came here because of the reviews from both Kate Spicer and Charles Campion about the tripe soup. When one gets older the squeamish thing soon evaporates. Not quite offal rules, but hey, life's too short so give it a go. So the the raison d'Ãªtre for this pilgrimage was the Iskembe (Tripe Soup). DIY seasoning of salt, vinegar, lemon juice, crushed chilli and pepper is placed on the table at your behest. It tasted...cowish or of the farm. I loved it anyway. I thought that the ceremony involving the seasoning of this course made it worthwhile. I also had the Shish Kebab served with rice & salad. I think the Turks have the edge over the Lebanese joints on Edgware Road, they sure know their seasonings and grilling technique. My dining companion had a rather strange pudding known as Tavuk gÃ¶ÄxsÃ¼ that contained chicken; he thought it was rather moreish. Â£7.50 for two courses...no brainer. Service was excellent and friendly, however the ambience was rather dark and lost. Great place, authenticity beyond the realms.

Salt N Pepper - Excellent food by stml

stml — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 12:57:13 +0000

Review by stml

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7923 9155

Tags: indian, takeaway, curry

Stokie has plenty of curry restaurants, notably the original Rasa which has a fantastic reputation but for me personally it doesn't really live up to it - although I've had plenty of good meals there.

My hot tip is Salt N Pepper, who cook like a dream. I admit I've never eaten in, and it's not terribly inviting as it's almost always completely empty and silent, but it's my takeaway of choice.

The Chilli Paneer is definitely one of the best around. Highly recommended.

UPDATE 22/11/07: Shutters have been down for a while. Slightly worried it's shut down...Stokie has plenty of curry restaurants, notably the original Rasa which has a fantastic reputation but for me personally it doesn't really live up to it - although I've had plenty of good meals there.

My hot tip is Salt N Pepper, who cook like a dream. I admit I've never eaten in, and it's not terribly inviting as it's almost always completely empty and silent, but it's my takeaway of choice.

The Chilli Paneer is definitely one of the best around. Highly recommended.

UPDATE 22/11/07: Shutters have been down for a while. Slightly worried it's shut down...

Pizza Hut - Strangely off by savagepink

savagepink — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 12:26:54 +0000

Review by savagepink

Rating: 2.00

Phone: 020 7923 1133

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

Tags: pizzeria, takeaway, delivery

This is my local branch. Generally I opt for more "authentic" pizza, but sometimes nothing other than "trash pizza" will scratch the itch.

I usually avoid ordering from this branch as I find it below-par, even on the Pizza Hut scale. Don't know what they are doing wrong but they are always late, messy, and covered in grease.

Yeah I know... it's Pizza Hut! But it's a "7" on the PH scale. There is a Domino's near by, if you must indulge in the trash pizza experience.This is my local branch. Generally I opt for more "authentic" pizza, but sometimes nothing other than "trash pizza" will scratch the itch.

I usually avoid ordering from this branch as I find it below-par, even on the Pizza Hut scale. Don't know what they are doing wrong but they are always late, messy, and covered in grease.

Yeah I know... it's Pizza Hut! But it's a "7" on the PH scale. There is a Domino's near by, if you must indulge in the trash pizza experience.

Motherland - Lazy but great food by stml

stml — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 16:37:48 +0000

Review by stml

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 8806 9242

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

Tags: bar, garden, terrace

If you love West African food and aren't bothered by slightly weird restaurants, this is the place, but...

We went on a Saturday night and it was empty, which is never good. On ordering drinks we were told they didn't have any of the West African lagers on offer, only Nigerian Guinness and Stella. In cans. So it goes.

Then, when we came to order food, we discovered all the starters were off with one exception, as they'd "been really busy earlier." As we were the only customers, and there's a supermarket on the corner, this is a bit rich, but we were mollified that the available starter was fried plantain, and it was delicious - sweet and just the right mixture of crispy and soft. Mmm.

For main courses, we ordered variations on classic Ghanaian jollof rice, with various meats, fish and sauces (including a veggie option). All were delicious and quite spicy, although they did arrive at irregular intervals, meaning the first person served (of 3) was nearly finished by the time the last person was served.

Despite all this, and the strange mixture of African music and 50 Cent played throughout, we had a really good meal, that tasted delicious and felt authentic and home-cooked, the staff were really friendly throughout, and I would recommend Motherland - I just wish they'd put a little more effort in...If you love West African food and aren't bothered by slightly weird restaurants, this is the place, but...

We went on a Saturday night and it was empty, which is never good. On ordering drinks we were told they didn't have any of the West African lagers on offer, only Nigerian Guinness and Stella. In cans. So it goes.

Then, when we came to order food, we discovered all the starters were off with one exception, as they'd "been really busy earlier." As we were the only customers, and there's a supermarket on the corner, this is a bit rich, but we were mollified that the available starter was fried plantain, and it was delicious - sweet and just the right mixture of crispy and soft. Mmm.

For main courses, we ordered variations on classic Ghanaian jollof rice, with various meats, fish and sauces (including a veggie option). All were delicious and quite spicy, although they did arrive at irregular intervals, meaning the first person served (of 3) was nearly finished by the time the last person was served.

Despite all this, and the strange mixture of African music and 50 Cent played throughout, we had a really good meal, that tasted delicious and felt authentic and home-cooked, the staff were really friendly throughout, and I would recommend Motherland - I just wish they'd put a little more effort in...

Itto - Good pan-Asian food by AntonSh

AntonSh — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 14:03:49 +0000

Review by AntonSh

Rating: 4.00

Tags: good value

This place is small, but you can usually get a table. The cuisine is a mixture of Japanese, Chinese and Thai, with the big bowls of noodle soups and tempura being especially lovely. Everything is cooked to order and fresh, and the dishes are good value. The staff could be a bit more attenttive sometimes, but overall this restaurant is a beautiful contrast to the huge dreadful Thai place across the road. The decor is quirky and a bit DIY which adds to the informal and relaxed feel of the place. A meal for two shouldn't be much more than Â£20.This place is small, but you can usually get a table. The cuisine is a mixture of Japanese, Chinese and Thai, with the big bowls of noodle soups and tempura being especially lovely. Everything is cooked to order and fresh, and the dishes are good value. The staff could be a bit more attenttive sometimes, but overall this restaurant is a beautiful contrast to the huge dreadful Thai place across the road. The decor is quirky and a bit DIY which adds to the informal and relaxed feel of the place. A meal for two shouldn't be much more than Â£20.