Latest reviews for Restaurants in St Giles, London, United Kingdom

Yelo - yelo shmelo! by spaghead

spaghead — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 20:45:42 +0000

Review by spaghead

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 7729 4626

Website: http://www.yelothai.com

Tags: thai, outside tables, cocktails

we had the takeaway. it was awful. i never fill these things out, but felt inclined this timewe had the takeaway. it was awful. i never fill these things out, but felt inclined this time

Rhodes Twenty Four - Not worth the money by Imicola

Imicola — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 11:39:12 +0000

Review by Imicola

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 7877 7703

Tags: expensive, british, business

I ended up going here because they had messed up my booking in Vertigo up the stairs. I was with my parents for a birthday celebration and I have to say we were all very disappointed by the meal.

The service was quite professional, but they did make us feel a little out of place. however, all the service was VERY slow. This was a weekday lunch time, and the restaurant was quite busy, but it took us about 3 hours to have a 3 course meal which in my opinion is way too slow, as we had an appointment later in the day.

As for the food - I thought it was a real let down. The partidge sausages were a really horrible texture...far too smooth and almost mousse like, with not much flavour. Also the rhubarb cheesecake had a sponge base which I just thought was horrible, and again lacked flavour. The overall meal was just really disappointing, particularly when you consider how much it cost!

Also, the view is great, but we were seated as far from the window as you could get, so we didn't see much. And the restaurant seemed to be full of business people having lunch meetings which wasn't the most relaxing of situations for us. I definately wont be going here again!I ended up going here because they had messed up my booking in Vertigo up the stairs. I was with my parents for a birthday celebration and I have to say we were all very disappointed by the meal.

The service was quite professional, but they did make us feel a little out of place. however, all the service was VERY slow. This was a weekday lunch time, and the restaurant was quite busy, but it took us about 3 hours to have a 3 course meal which in my opinion is way too slow, as we had an appointment later in the day.

As for the food - I thought it was a real let down. The partidge sausages were a really horrible texture...far too smooth and almost mousse like, with not much flavour. Also the rhubarb cheesecake had a sponge base which I just thought was horrible, and again lacked flavour. The overall meal was just really disappointing, particularly when you consider how much it cost!

Also, the view is great, but we were seated as far from the window as you could get, so we didn't see much. And the restaurant seemed to be full of business people having lunch meetings which wasn't the most relaxing of situations for us. I definately wont be going here again!

Karma - mishmash by gilka

gilka — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 18:52:39 +0000

Review by gilka

Rating: 3.00

Tags: italian, good value, japanese

usually a place which offers you both Italian and Japanese food it a totally no-go but Karma is different.
The service is a bit slow-OH-YES don't come in a rush...
The portions are quite big and tasty!usually a place which offers you both Italian and Japanese food it a totally no-go but Karma is different.
The service is a bit slow-OH-YES don't come in a rush...
The portions are quite big and tasty!

St. John - The Bar at St. John by kristainlondon

kristainlondon — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 13:56:36 +0000

Review by kristainlondon

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7251 0848

Website: http://www.stjohnrestaurant.com/

Tags: british, lively, expensive

I love the bar at St. John more than anything. I like its no-frillsness. The service is always informed and friendly, and I like how over the years, I generally have seen the same few people over and over again.

When I'm in the bar, I normally just get a pint of Greenwich Meantime and a slice of Welsh Rarebit. The Welsh Rarebit is deliciously unctuous, cheesy, and spicy. You should order one. Soon.I love the bar at St. John more than anything. I like its no-frillsness. The service is always informed and friendly, and I like how over the years, I generally have seen the same few people over and over again.

When I'm in the bar, I normally just get a pint of Greenwich Meantime and a slice of Welsh Rarebit. The Welsh Rarebit is deliciously unctuous, cheesy, and spicy. You should order one. Soon.

The Clerkenwell Dining Room & Bar - on the french side of european by acrobat

acrobat — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 12:19:28 +0000

Review by acrobat

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7253 9000

Website: www.theclerkenwell.com

Tags: business, international, british

Though everyone, including the Clerkenwell Dinning Room itself, seems to style itself as European, it was defintaly more French influenced than anything else.

The mains were excellent - particularly the lamb and pork belly, though the portions for the sea food seemed small in comparison. And the wine was very full bodied but excellent.

Desserts were a bit more mixed - some were amazing (one of us declared the Chocolate fondant the best they'd ever tasted...), and the cheese selection was varied and very enjoyable. Though I am yet to convinced of ricotta cheese doing well in a cheese cake....

Service was very attentive, though a little over zealous on the water pouring - which is a obviously a good money spinner for them as it is Â£3.50 a bottle.

Otherwise it was very enjoyable and highly recommended.Though everyone, including the Clerkenwell Dinning Room itself, seems to style itself as European, it was defintaly more French influenced than anything else.

The mains were excellent - particularly the lamb and pork belly, though the portions for the sea food seemed small in comparison. And the wine was very full bodied but excellent.

Desserts were a bit more mixed - some were amazing (one of us declared the Chocolate fondant the best they'd ever tasted...), and the cheese selection was varied and very enjoyable. Though I am yet to convinced of ricotta cheese doing well in a cheese cake....

Service was very attentive, though a little over zealous on the water pouring - which is a obviously a good money spinner for them as it is Â£3.50 a bottle.

Otherwise it was very enjoyable and highly recommended.

Bleeding Heart Restaurant - great location - terrible food by meandmrjones

meandmrjones — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 01:28:29 +0000

Review by meandmrjones

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 7242 2056

Tags: french, cozy, romantic

The location of Bleeding Heart is fab - that courtyard, the tavern, the bistro, the restaurant. But the food is disappointing, sorry to say. Crispy stuff that isn't crispy, crunchy things that just aren't - it all says stale or leftover from the previous day. Shame, because the service is really top notch. And we weren't the only ones complaining the night we dined.
All of which would be galling enough in itself, were we not looking at a bill of Â£200-plus for four.
So you just walk away feeling doubly shafted.
High expectations, huge let-down.The location of Bleeding Heart is fab - that courtyard, the tavern, the bistro, the restaurant. But the food is disappointing, sorry to say. Crispy stuff that isn't crispy, crunchy things that just aren't - it all says stale or leftover from the previous day. Shame, because the service is really top notch. And we weren't the only ones complaining the night we dined.
All of which would be galling enough in itself, were we not looking at a bill of Â£200-plus for four.
So you just walk away feeling doubly shafted.
High expectations, huge let-down.

The Reliance - Traditional mediocre bar by CristinaA

CristinaA — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 14:30:14 +0000

Review by CristinaA

Rating: 2.00

Phone: 020 7729 6888

Tags: european, vegetarian dishes, cocktails

The Reliance is a traditional bar serving a wide range of real ales, Belgian beers and Czech lagers as well as wine and cocktails. Their food menu consists of classic pub grub, much of which is home-made.The Reliance is a traditional bar serving a wide range of real ales, Belgian beers and Czech lagers as well as wine and cocktails. Their food menu consists of classic pub grub, much of which is home-made.

Cafe El Paso - Far from Mexican by CristinaA

CristinaA — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 13:37:40 +0000

Review by CristinaA

Rating: 2.00

Phone: 020 7739 4202

Tags: lively, crowded, central

Could do with some work inside, not really what Iâ¬"d call an authentic Mexican bar/restaurant.

I guess it depends what youâ¬"re used to, Iâ¬"ve been to Mexico and southern parts of America heavily populated by Latin Americans and the food doesnâ¬"t taste like this. The food tastes like it's all pre-cooked or frozen, just standard Mexican style pub food.

Staff are friendly and attentive.
Could do with some work inside, not really what Iâ¬"d call an authentic Mexican bar/restaurant.

I guess it depends what youâ¬"re used to, Iâ¬"ve been to Mexico and southern parts of America heavily populated by Latin Americans and the food doesnâ¬"t taste like this. The food tastes like it's all pre-cooked or frozen, just standard Mexican style pub food.

Staff are friendly and attentive.

Cantaloupe - Perfect for big groups... by CristinaA

CristinaA — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 11:15:32 +0000

Review by CristinaA

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7729 5566

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

Tags: cool, lively, brazilian

Cantaloupe has tastey food and really good wine.

ven though it's busy most nights there's alway a chilled vibe and a lot of laughter.

I went for a meal for a friends birthday and will definitely be going back to CantaloupeCantaloupe has tastey food and really good wine.

ven though it's busy most nights there's alway a chilled vibe and a lot of laughter.

I went for a meal for a friends birthday and will definitely be going back to Cantaloupe

Cay Tre - Vietnamese by CristinaA

CristinaA — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 16:03:25 +0000

Review by CristinaA

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7729 8662

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

Tags: vietnamese, good value, lively

Always busy, a great place for dinner with friends or even a date.

At a snip of what you'd pay in the city.Always busy, a great place for dinner with friends or even a date.

At a snip of what you'd pay in the city.

Smithfield - Smithfield Gem by StarCrossd

StarCrossd — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 19:16:31 +0000

Review by StarCrossd

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 0870 442 2542

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

Tags: bar, smoking, lunch

I am unapologetic in saying that Bar and Grill is currently and has been for a while, one of my favourite restaurants in London. It has a very eclectic menu from steak to fajitas, pasta to shepherds pie so there should be something for everyone. The dÃ©cor is monochrome with large black corner seats with big white tablecloths lit by massive black chandeliers - however, it is cleverly lit enough to still somehow have a warm appearance. There isnâ¬"t a massive selection of vegetarian options, but I have still got by in recent visits without being bored by the menu â¬ possibly the awesome cocktails had some influence on my decision, made all the better for them being 2 for 1 in the early evening.
As with most trendy London restaurants, Bar and Grill isnâ¬"t the cheapest so it possibly isnâ¬"t for a regular meal, but for an occasion (or just maybe on pay day) the restaurant and the accompanying bar make for a good night out.
I am unapologetic in saying that Bar and Grill is currently and has been for a while, one of my favourite restaurants in London. It has a very eclectic menu from steak to fajitas, pasta to shepherds pie so there should be something for everyone. The dÃ©cor is monochrome with large black corner seats with big white tablecloths lit by massive black chandeliers - however, it is cleverly lit enough to still somehow have a warm appearance. There isnâ¬"t a massive selection of vegetarian options, but I have still got by in recent visits without being bored by the menu â¬ possibly the awesome cocktails had some influence on my decision, made all the better for them being 2 for 1 in the early evening.
As with most trendy London restaurants, Bar and Grill isnâ¬"t the cheapest so it possibly isnâ¬"t for a regular meal, but for an occasion (or just maybe on pay day) the restaurant and the accompanying bar make for a good night out.

Favela Chic - French Brazilian chic by CristinaA

CristinaA — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 15:31:58 +0000

Review by CristinaA

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7613 5228

Website: http://www.favelachic.com

Tags: brazilian, cool, friendly

French Brazilian, there's nowhere like this place in London. Interior has been creatively put together using re-cycled materials, tables are old school desks, matched up with chairs and disused benches, hanging mobiles with parrots, mirrors and dried flowers. They do their own take of delicious Brazilian cantina food.

I recommend Feijoda washed down with one of their perfect mojitos- www.favelachic.com

Music is eclectic,and mid week they usually have a live band playing.
French Brazilian, there's nowhere like this place in London. Interior has been creatively put together using re-cycled materials, tables are old school desks, matched up with chairs and disused benches, hanging mobiles with parrots, mirrors and dried flowers. They do their own take of delicious Brazilian cantina food.

I recommend Feijoda washed down with one of their perfect mojitos- www.favelachic.com

Music is eclectic,and mid week they usually have a live band playing.

Carnevale - by Mitnik

Mitnik — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 10:20:29 +0000

Review by Mitnik

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7250 3452

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

Tags: vegetarian, mediterranean, good value

not bad!not bad!

Great Eastern Dining Room - Pan- asian with style... by CristinaA

CristinaA — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 18:53:17 +0000

Review by CristinaA

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7613 4545

Website: http://www.rickerrestaurants.com

Tags: lively, romantic, bar

I like the clean cut, tasteful interior, although it gets very busy in the evenings (so book) you always feel like you have plenty of space. Service is good and food mediocre but a bit pricey .

It's the drinking that I enjoy the most, they serve good house wine and the basement is great start to a night out in Shoreditch.
I like the clean cut, tasteful interior, although it gets very busy in the evenings (so book) you always feel like you have plenty of space. Service is good and food mediocre but a bit pricey .

It's the drinking that I enjoy the most, they serve good house wine and the basement is great start to a night out in Shoreditch.

Giaconda Dining Room - A Dark Squeeze by intoxicating

intoxicating — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 09:09:29 +0000

Review by intoxicating

Rating: 2.00

Phone: 020 7240 3334

Tags: french, good value, british

â¬ÜMona Lisa looks as if she has just been sick, or is about to be...â¬"
[Noel Coward]

â¬ÜLA GIACONDAâ¬" is the Mona Lisaâ¬"s other name. It is also the inherited title of esteemed Australian chef, Paul Merronyâ¬"s most recent bistro. Despite blaring critical amplification, it turned out to be a tight, dank Soho grotto. That is not to cast aspersions on tight, dank, Soho grottos per se, many of which might be rather diverting. But on account of their lack of inclination towards a la carte dining, I will leave the critique of such latex perfumed premises to more specialist sitesâ¬¦

Doubtless thought went into the insolvent interior: bald walls, crappy coving, refectory plates and prickly thistles poking over exposed tabletops. All just about visible in the vague lighting. At the back of the claustrophobic room, shelves straight out of Farringdonâ¬"s â¬ÜVinotecaâ¬" display the much talked about cheap wine (mono-supplied from a firm with very generous credit terms). Most restaurant critics probably cannot distinguish Chardonnay from Charolais, and any allure of mild mark-ups was ruined by one-size fits all, squat glasses. My friend, (another) Paul, described their design as â¬Üover egging the egalitarian.â¬"

A Â£1 cover charge buys a regularly recharged carafe of sparkling water, net of floury ciabatta and olives marinated in red wine. This noble gesture, which was initially disarming, was unfortunately the mealâ¬"s high point.

Pinnyed waitresses dispense unnervingly cavalier customer servicer. There was no grill of the day because the butcher couldnâ¬"t be bothered to deliver the components. And was the tripe from a cow? â¬S-Oh you bet. A big old fat one!â¬

â¬Ü(Almost) Boneless & Crisped Pigs Trottersâ¬" translated into a slack, reformed mass. This mashed SPAM was plastered across too much mustard mayonnaise and bits of boiled egg. My friend, a competent cook, thought the inclusion of crisp apple discs (maybe caramelised) would have toned down the queasy, gelatinous cake.

We refreshed our palates with half a bottle of sour Champagne (Philipponnat) and then realised what a peculiar match trotters and bubbles make.

â¬ÜVitello Tonnato â¬Üâ¬SI did it my wayâ¬â¬" was grossly ugly: thickly sliced, lank and coarse like leather with a bernaise like sauce slurry. The bitter red leaves concealed more oviparous wedges.

A bottle of milky, infantile â¬"04 Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes (Dom. Heresztyn) was chastised by the thimble glassware. Bad glasses are like bad haircuts. They render grace unsightly.

My friend had â¬ÜItalian Pork Sausage Stew with Tomatoes & Polentaâ¬" (those promiscuous ampersand whores were tiring) â¬ a dejected heap of pasta embroiled with desiccated meatballs. Absolutely unremarkable, this was the stuff of nursery slopes.

A neighbourâ¬"s â¬ÜCrisp Roast Salmon with Deconstructed Piccalilliâ¬" was forcefully, arrestingly overpoweringly malodorous and slimy looking.

However the peek at the Piccalilli was naught compared with the gory filmic chaos about to ground itself amongst us. I was utterly disturbed by the ocular impact of the churned, lava flow of Eton Mess. A Poached Pear called to mind an unpeeled bullâ¬"s testicle / prolapse / purÃ©ed canvas of â¬ÜThe Screamâ¬" / worse.

JuranÃ§on La Magendia â¬"04, from grapes grown in Jurassic soil near the Pyrenees, helped slightly sweetly revive us. Incidentally, King Henri IV was christened with a version of this wine. The legend states that his lips were rubbed with garlic then wet with JuranÃ§on. That sounds far more appealing then excessive egg and gloatingly concept piccalilli.

Optional extra Chocolate Truffle Moomins were dark, solid and deliberately rough-hewn. You could probably take fingerprint records from them.

Despite being camouflaged amongst legendary music shops, there was no ambient music. Despite being named after the worldâ¬"s most famous portrait, there was an absence of art on walls, plates and palates. Despite an interesting sounding menu and reasonable ingredients, the stodgy dishes were routinely blurred into pulpy imprecision.

The loos, incidentally, are located at the end of a long, grubby corridor, via slopes and stairs, passed padlocked stores, in another building entirely.

I wanted to like 'The Giaconda Dining Rooms'. Indeed, I always want to like dining rooms. Eating out is (one) of the most pleasurable shared experiences. Ultimately, however, I was left aghast at the strident sycophantism lavished upon this deliberately charmless, airtight, buff, meaningless little space. If this is credit crunch dining, I may break a tooth on .

If you set course for Soho fuelled by a light wallet, might I suggest an alternative? â¬ÜAndrew Edmundsâ¬" is another tight, dark Soho grotto. Its wine list is equitable and wide-ranging. Unlike Giaconda, however, it is top to toe with romantic charm...â¬ÜMona Lisa looks as if she has just been sick, or is about to be...â¬"
[Noel Coward]

â¬ÜLA GIACONDAâ¬" is the Mona Lisaâ¬"s other name. It is also the inherited title of esteemed Australian chef, Paul Merronyâ¬"s most recent bistro. Despite blaring critical amplification, it turned out to be a tight, dank Soho grotto. That is not to cast aspersions on tight, dank, Soho grottos per se, many of which might be rather diverting. But on account of their lack of inclination towards a la carte dining, I will leave the critique of such latex perfumed premises to more specialist sitesâ¬¦

Doubtless thought went into the insolvent interior: bald walls, crappy coving, refectory plates and prickly thistles poking over exposed tabletops. All just about visible in the vague lighting. At the back of the claustrophobic room, shelves straight out of Farringdonâ¬"s â¬ÜVinotecaâ¬" display the much talked about cheap wine (mono-supplied from a firm with very generous credit terms). Most restaurant critics probably cannot distinguish Chardonnay from Charolais, and any allure of mild mark-ups was ruined by one-size fits all, squat glasses. My friend, (another) Paul, described their design as â¬Üover egging the egalitarian.â¬"

A Â£1 cover charge buys a regularly recharged carafe of sparkling water, net of floury ciabatta and olives marinated in red wine. This noble gesture, which was initially disarming, was unfortunately the mealâ¬"s high point.

Pinnyed waitresses dispense unnervingly cavalier customer servicer. There was no grill of the day because the butcher couldnâ¬"t be bothered to deliver the components. And was the tripe from a cow? â¬S-Oh you bet. A big old fat one!â¬

â¬Ü(Almost) Boneless & Crisped Pigs Trottersâ¬" translated into a slack, reformed mass. This mashed SPAM was plastered across too much mustard mayonnaise and bits of boiled egg. My friend, a competent cook, thought the inclusion of crisp apple discs (maybe caramelised) would have toned down the queasy, gelatinous cake.

We refreshed our palates with half a bottle of sour Champagne (Philipponnat) and then realised what a peculiar match trotters and bubbles make.

â¬ÜVitello Tonnato â¬Üâ¬SI did it my wayâ¬â¬" was grossly ugly: thickly sliced, lank and coarse like leather with a bernaise like sauce slurry. The bitter red leaves concealed more oviparous wedges.

A bottle of milky, infantile â¬"04 Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes (Dom. Heresztyn) was chastised by the thimble glassware. Bad glasses are like bad haircuts. They render grace unsightly.

My friend had â¬ÜItalian Pork Sausage Stew with Tomatoes & Polentaâ¬" (those promiscuous ampersand whores were tiring) â¬ a dejected heap of pasta embroiled with desiccated meatballs. Absolutely unremarkable, this was the stuff of nursery slopes.

A neighbourâ¬"s â¬ÜCrisp Roast Salmon with Deconstructed Piccalilliâ¬" was forcefully, arrestingly overpoweringly malodorous and slimy looking.

However the peek at the Piccalilli was naught compared with the gory filmic chaos about to ground itself amongst us. I was utterly disturbed by the ocular impact of the churned, lava flow of Eton Mess. A Poached Pear called to mind an unpeeled bullâ¬"s testicle / prolapse / purÃ©ed canvas of â¬ÜThe Screamâ¬" / worse.

JuranÃ§on La Magendia â¬"04, from grapes grown in Jurassic soil near the Pyrenees, helped slightly sweetly revive us. Incidentally, King Henri IV was christened with a version of this wine. The legend states that his lips were rubbed with garlic then wet with JuranÃ§on. That sounds far more appealing then excessive egg and gloatingly concept piccalilli.

Optional extra Chocolate Truffle Moomins were dark, solid and deliberately rough-hewn. You could probably take fingerprint records from them.

Despite being camouflaged amongst legendary music shops, there was no ambient music. Despite being named after the worldâ¬"s most famous portrait, there was an absence of art on walls, plates and palates. Despite an interesting sounding menu and reasonable ingredients, the stodgy dishes were routinely blurred into pulpy imprecision.

The loos, incidentally, are located at the end of a long, grubby corridor, via slopes and stairs, passed padlocked stores, in another building entirely.

I wanted to like 'The Giaconda Dining Rooms'. Indeed, I always want to like dining rooms. Eating out is (one) of the most pleasurable shared experiences. Ultimately, however, I was left aghast at the strident sycophantism lavished upon this deliberately charmless, airtight, buff, meaningless little space. If this is credit crunch dining, I may break a tooth on it.

If you set course for Soho fuelled by a light wallet, might I suggest an alternative? â¬ÜAndrew Edmundsâ¬" is another tight, dark Soho grotto. Its wine list is equitable and wide-ranging. Unlike Giaconda, however, it is top to toe with romantic charm...

Mudmee - Great value for your money by Passau

Passau — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 17:37:49 +0000

Review by Passau

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7247 0772

Tags: thai, lively, good value

I am from Thailand and I can guarantee that this restaurant serves you with an authentic Thai taste.I am from Thailand and I can guarantee that this restaurant serves you with an authentic Thai taste.

Haz Restaurant - Turkish delight! by srahman

srahman — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 13:28:48 +0000

Review by srahman

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7929 7923

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

Tags: turkish, good value, business

Been to Haz twice now, once to break fast during ramadan and once for lunch with colleagues. For the meal during ramadan, they were excellent. I was breaking my fast their and they provided dates and a small dish of salad and sweets. Fantastic. They provide a lamb dish which is cooked with walnuts which is very nice. The mixed grill is good too, the lamb particularly tender. However the rice and vegetable portions are a bit small, despite very good quality. Reasonable pricing too. Worth a butchers, definitelyBeen to Haz twice now, once to break fast during ramadan and once for lunch with colleagues. For the meal during ramadan, they were excellent. I was breaking my fast their and they provided dates and a small dish of salad and sweets. Fantastic. They provide a lamb dish which is cooked with walnuts which is very nice. The mixed grill is good too, the lamb particularly tender. However the rice and vegetable portions are a bit small, despite very good quality. Reasonable pricing too. Worth a butchers, definitely

Piada - piadino de abrruzo by herb

herb — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 12:57:38 +0000

Review by herb

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7253 0472

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

Tags: good value, italian, crowded

va bene, this is a type of food that you cant get in london, it's already dying in italy and it's hard to find, i first came here i found that the food is good and the atmosphere is just right.va bene, this is a type of food that you cant get in london, it's already dying in italy and it's hard to find, i first came here i found that the food is good and the atmosphere is just right.

Dans Le Noir - Dans le Very Clever for a One Off by Browners

Browners — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 12:41:18 +0000

Review by Browners

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7253 1100

Website: http://www.danslenoir.com

Tags: expensive, lively, romantic

In a sudden fit of bravery we decided to take our wonderful Client out for an adventurous dinner. She is based in the States so we rarely get to see each other face to face.

This will now seem like a non-sequitor...

So we took her to Dans le Noir in Farringdon for a fabulous night of dining in the dark. We are working on a project that is all about sensual experiences, so it made perfect sense to finish the day's hard work with a meal that would push all of our sensual boundaries.

Arriving at the restaurant we were greeted in the foyer by a collection of very engaging maitre d's. They made us put all of our kit in a locker so that no mobile phones or watches with illuminated faces could disturb the sheer blackness of the dining room.

I don't think any of us were ready for the attack on our senese that was to follow. After a quick cocktail to instil a bit of Dutch courage in all of us, we queued up behind a blind waitress/guide and were led into the pitch black room. Some squealed. Others were a bit more stoical. We found our table using our hands and all sat down around what we all thought was a round table, but turned out to be oblong!

We groped around the table looking for water glasses and bottles. The only way you can pour everyone's wine is to put your finger in the glass and keep pouring until your finger gets wet! Not very hygenic. But great fun.

We all spoke very loudly to begin with as we acclimatised to the dark. Towards the end of the meal our voices became more calm and we shouted a lot less! It's bizarre just how reliant we all are on our sense of sight.

I found it really hard to determine what I was eating and to be honest can't quite remember. Memory works very badly when you remove the sense of sight. My starter may have involved something resembling spring rolls filled with what I thought was minced chicken and somebody else thought was tuna - which turned out to be duck.

Likewise I got terribly confused by my main course which I still swear to the this day was lamb, but turned out to be a mixture of ostrich fillet on one side of the plate and venison on the other. But we all recognised the distinctive smell and flavour of the truffled risotto that acted as a division between the two meats.

Personally I loved the whole experience. There is something very liberating about being in the dark. It may have been the amount of wine I was drinking because I was thirsty and couldn't find my water glass... but I found myself saying things at a work dinner that I would never otherwise have said. I've never had so much fun chatting a joking around a (now clearly rectangular) table. Everything seems funnier in the dark.

Be careful about coming here if you know people are claustrophobic or are a bit strapped for cash as it isn't cheap. But remember you are coming here for an experience and not simply a meal. In many ways this is the idea of a restaurant pushed to the extreme. It's not about the food. It's about opening your mind and having an entertaining time. We learnt a lot about each other during the course of the meal and feel like we all bonded along the way.

Will any of us return? Unlikely. But not in a bad way. We've all been talking about the experience ever since and won't ever forget that crazy meal we all had in the dark! It's a great place to come if you want to break the ice.In a sudden fit of bravery we decided to take our wonderful Client out for an adventurous dinner. She is based in the States so we rarely get to see each other face to face.

This will now seem like a non-sequitor...

So we took her to Dans le Noir in Farringdon for a fabulous night of dining in the dark. We are working on a project that is all about sensual experiences, so it made perfect sense to finish the day's hard work with a meal that would push all of our sensual boundaries.

Arriving at the restaurant we were greeted in the foyer by a collection of very engaging maitre d's. They made us put all of our kit in a locker so that no mobile phones or watches with illuminated faces could disturb the sheer blackness of the dining room.

I don't think any of us were ready for the attack on our senese that was to follow. After a quick cocktail to instil a bit of Dutch courage in all of us, we queued up behind a blind waitress/guide and were led into the pitch black room. Some squealed. Others were a bit more stoical. We found our table using our hands and all sat down around what we all thought was a round table, but turned out to be oblong!

We groped around the table looking for water glasses and bottles. The only way you can pour everyone's wine is to put your finger in the glass and keep pouring until your finger gets wet! Not very hygenic. But great fun.

We all spoke very loudly to begin with as we acclimatised to the dark. Towards the end of the meal our voices became more calm and we shouted a lot less! It's bizarre just how reliant we all are on our sense of sight.

I found it really hard to determine what I was eating and to be honest can't quite remember. Memory works very badly when you remove the sense of sight. My starter may have involved something resembling spring rolls filled with what I thought was minced chicken and somebody else thought was tuna - which turned out to be duck.

Likewise I got terribly confused by my main course which I still swear to the this day was lamb, but turned out to be a mixture of ostrich fillet on one side of the plate and venison on the other. But we all recognised the distinctive smell and flavour of the truffled risotto that acted as a division between the two meats.

Personally I loved the whole experience. There is something very liberating about being in the dark. It may have been the amount of wine I was drinking because I was thirsty and couldn't find my water glass... but I found myself saying things at a work dinner that I would never otherwise have said. I've never had so much fun chatting a joking around a (now clearly rectangular) table. Everything seems funnier in the dark.

Be careful about coming here if you know people are claustrophobic or are a bit strapped for cash as it isn't cheap. But remember you are coming here for an experience and not simply a meal. In many ways this is the idea of a restaurant pushed to the extreme. It's not about the food. It's about opening your mind and having an entertaining time. We learnt a lot about each other during the course of the meal and feel like we all bonded along the way.

Will any of us return? Unlikely. But not in a bad way. We've all been talking about the experience ever since and won't ever forget that crazy meal we all had in the dark! It's a great place to come if you want to break the ice.

Malmaison Bar & Brasserie - Excellent private dining by DanWilkinson

DanWilkinson — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 17:09:39 +0000

Review by DanWilkinson

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7012 3700

Website: http://www.malmaison-london.com/

Tags: brasserie, london, breakfast

We literally spent weeks trying to find somewhere to celebrate the missus' birthday. She wanted a good meal in London, price no object, for her and 11 friends who appreciated good food, but who weren't necessarily *foodies*. Not one of the places we tried would take a booking for 12 without either charging up to Â£3,000 extra for the pleasure or dictating that we would all have to order the same thing. Not great. London, nil points.

However, on a trip to Manchester, we stayed in the Malmaison there (where the brasserie has got a lot better over time), and noticed a cosy-looking private dining room. On the offchance, we checked the London hotel and there was indeed a well-appointed room off to one side which seated exactly 12. Perfect.

Now, let's be clear: the main point of an evening like this is the company. Primarily we'd convened to celebrate a birthday, not for some monumental gastronomic event, but we were on the whole pleasantly surprised.

Ultra-fresh, briny oysters kicked the meal off for me, with me 'n' the missus sharing 6 each of the Fines de Claire and the locals. My taste, as usual, veered towards the French ones; smaller, but with a more concentrated flavour. A pretty good start, all in all.

On the subject of the main event, I should point out that one of my food-related hobby horses is that of British veal. It's many years now since British veal production was anything but entirely humane, and as a by-product of the dairy industry thousands of male calves are slaughtered each year, regardless of the demand for their meat. Eating British veal is a terrific way to support the British farming industry, and it's something I do whenever I can. It's also really rather good.

I should also point out that when I say veal, I'm talking about decently pink meat, rather than the anaemic jelly often served in the 70s, and I'm talking about a *cut* of meat, rather than some flattened, batted out piece of mystery meat that's been cruelly breaded and shallow-fried. A sure-fire way to ruin a perfectly good piece of veal, if you ask me.

I wasn't disappointed. My veal chop was a hefty beast, juicy and flavoursome, with a good meaty bite to it. Excellent stuff, and it gave me the opportunity to inflict my little veal rant on my fellow diners. Apparently the other dishes were equally as satisfactory, judging by the dozen well-cleaned plates the waitress carried off later on.

Dessert was the only low point. My blood orange sorbet was brilliant, sweet, tangy and refreshing, but most of our companions had chosen poorly, though through no fault of their own. An otherwise well-executed chocolate truffle cake was served with what was advertised as pistachio ice cream (woo) but what can only be described as marzipan ice cream (boo). No one in their right mind likes marzipan, and it's a bit of a shocker to inflict this on the unaware. If the chef was actually working with pistachios, something somewhere had gone horribly awry.

My only other gripe, and I find this about Malmaison in general, is that the wine list, whilst well-chosen, is ludicrously overpriced. We struggled to find much under Â£30, and when there's 12 of you drinking pretty enthusiastically, this does matter.

That said, the food is more than reasonable, and we got away for a very friendly price indeed. I can confidently say that, following several weeks of research, we may well have found one of the best places in London to host dinner for 12 without paying in the neighbourhood of Â£5,000 for the privilege.We literally spent weeks trying to find somewhere to celebrate the missus' birthday. She wanted a good meal in London, price no object, for her and 11 friends who appreciated good food, but who weren't necessarily *foodies*. Not one of the places we tried would take a booking for 12 without either charging up to Â£3,000 extra for the pleasure or dictating that we would all have to order the same thing. Not great. London, nil points.

However, on a trip to Manchester, we stayed in the Malmaison there (where the brasserie has got a lot better over time), and noticed a cosy-looking private dining room. On the offchance, we checked the London hotel and there was indeed a well-appointed room off to one side which seated exactly 12. Perfect.

Now, let's be clear: the main point of an evening like this is the company. Primarily we'd convened to celebrate a birthday, not for some monumental gastronomic event, but we were on the whole pleasantly surprised.

Ultra-fresh, briny oysters kicked the meal off for me, with me 'n' the missus sharing 6 each of the Fines de Claire and the locals. My taste, as usual, veered towards the French ones; smaller, but with a more concentrated flavour. A pretty good start, all in all.

On the subject of the main event, I should point out that one of my food-related hobby horses is that of British veal. It's many years now since British veal production was anything but entirely humane, and as a by-product of the dairy industry thousands of male calves are slaughtered each year, regardless of the demand for their meat. Eating British veal is a terrific way to support the British farming industry, and it's something I do whenever I can. It's also really rather good.

I should also point out that when I say veal, I'm talking about decently pink meat, rather than the anaemic jelly often served in the 70s, and I'm talking about a *cut* of meat, rather than some flattened, batted out piece of mystery meat that's been cruelly breaded and shallow-fried. A sure-fire way to ruin a perfectly good piece of veal, if you ask me.

I wasn't disappointed. My veal chop was a hefty beast, juicy and flavoursome, with a good meaty bite to it. Excellent stuff, and it gave me the opportunity to inflict my little veal rant on my fellow diners. Apparently the other dishes were equally as satisfactory, judging by the dozen well-cleaned plates the waitress carried off later on.

Dessert was the only low point. My blood orange sorbet was brilliant, sweet, tangy and refreshing, but most of our companions had chosen poorly, though through no fault of their own. An otherwise well-executed chocolate truffle cake was served with what was advertised as pistachio ice cream (woo) but what can only be described as marzipan ice cream (boo). No one in their right mind likes marzipan, and it's a bit of a shocker to inflict this on the unaware. If the chef was actually working with pistachios, something somewhere had gone horribly awry.

My only other gripe, and I find this about Malmaison in general, is that the wine list, whilst well-chosen, is ludicrously overpriced. We struggled to find much under Â£30, and when there's 12 of you drinking pretty enthusiastically, this does matter.

That said, the food is more than reasonable, and we got away for a very friendly price indeed. I can confidently say that, following several weeks of research, we may well have found one of the best places in London to host dinner for 12 without paying in the neighbourhood of Â£5,000 for the privilege.