Latest reviews for Restaurants in Stepney, London, United Kingdom

New Tayyabs - New Tayyabs - May 30 2008 by Food_Snob

Food_Snob — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 08:02:35 +0000

Review by Food_Snob

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7247 9543

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

Illustrated Critique:

http://foodsnobblog.wordpress.com/category/restaurant-reviews/new-tayyabs-restaurant-reviews/

Text-only Critique:

For those of you unfamiliar with New Tayyabs (and there cannot be many) it is one of Londonâ¬"s great bon marchÃ©s â¬ authentic Pakistani cuisine served in generous portions with a BYO policy and no corkage, all for under Â£20 a head. The restaurant is ubiquitous among blogs, restaurant reviews and discussion boards, always highly rated and recommended, indeed often highlighted as an essential stop for anyone visiting London.

Thus, equipped with my Google-sourced map of East Aldgate and a vivid sense of adventure, I set off in search of Fieldgate St and the legendary bastion of Asian cookery that is New Tayyabs. It is a short and straightforward journey â¬ I work in the City and am heading there after work on a Friday â¬ but I have the constant impression I am going the wrong way and in the wrong place. A few minutes walk from Aldgate East, leaves me on Fieldgate Street and although I know I must be close, I cannot shake my doubts; could one of Londonâ¬"s most popular eateries be hidden on this quiet backstreet between a mosque and apartment blocks? I am not sure what I expected: bright lights, hustle and bustle in the streets, long queues of hungry dinersâ¬¦.I cannot say, but expectations are high

When I reach the entrance, there is no fanfare, no circus awaiting me, instead a smiling waiter waiting to show me to a table. The dÃ©cor is simple, quaint and Asian in style, there is a carafe of water and assortment of condiments (chutney, raita, etc) already on each table and the simple menu offers a decent choice of starters (mostly tandoori dishes), chicken/meat/vegetarian mains (mainly karahi style), daily specials and customary rice/bread. Apologies if I start to hurry here, but I am eager to describe the food

I am placed very close to the kitchen and the aromas wafting towards me are exotic and enticing; this is probably why I proceed to order much more than I can finish! For starters (yes, plural, but at such prices why not?), I opt for lamb chops (Â£5.20), panner tikka (Â£2.80) and a sheekh kebab (80p).

The lamp chops with the dry meat main are arguably the two most talked about dishes on the menu and with good reason. The four large juicy chops have been smothered in a spicy garam masala marinade, which after roasting, encrusts the meat with a deep and rich, smoky flavoured coating. Possibly still intoxicated by those aforementioned aromas, I lose all sense of decorum and find myself unabashedly, but quite rightly, eating with, then licking clean, my fingers. The chops steal centre stage, but the sheekh kebab is also tasty and flavoursome and is served together with the chops upon a sizzling skillet, whilst the panner (below), resembling my favourite cheese, hellim (also known popularly as halloumi), is firm yet velvety and complements the meat well.

For the next course, I order the dry meat (Â£5.60) and karahi chicken (Â£5.60) with a nan (Â£0.80) and later, tandoori parata (Â£1.80). I cannot do the dry meat justice; it is simply the tastiest curry I have ever had. Beautiful morsels of lamb are roasted slowly until they literally melt into the satisfyingly intense sauce. What is left is the most delicious spicy caramel paste that should be lovingly ladled from the pot to the lips with the aid of a freshly-baked nan or parata (both excellent). The karahi is nice too, made with juicy chunks of chicken, but is thoroughly eclipsed by the lamb.

At this point, I am totally stuffed, well, almost totally as I still ask for a dessert. I know I will not, I cannot, fully appreciate it after such a gross amount of food, but as those that know me would testify, I cannot not order dessert. As I am relatively naÃ¯ve when it comes to Asian sweets, I ask the waiter for his recommendation and he brings a portion of gulab jamun (Â£2.00). These are basically small balls of dough, cream and flour in a sugar syrup infusion, somewhat similar to Turkish lokma. They are brought piping hot and prove intensely sweet; a decent offering, though not one I am eager to retry.

The bill comes to a princely sum of Â£24.60 â¬ regulars will tell you what an achievement it is to break the Â£20 barrier and one only realised by me ordering two starters and two mains i.e. enough food for two people

It is hard to find fault with New Tayyabs; at what they do, they are terrific. The food is delicious, the staff are friendly and there is a nice buzz generated by the open kitchen and large groups of diners. However, if I really wanted to be captious, I could complain that the waiter asked me twice whether I was ready for my main dishes, whilst I was still very obviously enjoying my starters and that my nan order was misplaced, forcing me to wait anxiously for something to dip into that delicious lamb dish, but such minor blunders can easily be forgiven.

I thoroughly enjoyed the meal and will surely return the next time I fancy a curry. Indeed, were I a bigger fan of Indian cuisine (I maybe eat it 2/3 times a year), I would most probably proclaim NT as one of my favourite London restaurants, but instead, I am afraid it will have to make do with being only my favourite Asian restaurant.

83 Fieldgate Street, London, E1 1JU
tel: 020 7247 6400
nearest tube: Aldgate East, Whitechapel
www.tayyabs.co.uk

Illustrated Critique:

http://foodsnobblog.wordpress.com/category/restaurant-reviews/new-tayyabs-restaurant-reviews/

Text-only Critique:

For those of you unfamiliar with New Tayyabs (and there cannot be many) it is one of Londonâ¬"s great bon marchÃ©s â¬ authentic Pakistani cuisine served in generous portions with a BYO policy and no corkage, all for under Â£20 a head. The restaurant is ubiquitous among blogs, restaurant reviews and discussion boards, always highly rated and recommended, indeed often highlighted as an essential stop for anyone visiting London.

Thus, equipped with my Google-sourced map of East Aldgate and a vivid sense of adventure, I set off in search of Fieldgate St and the legendary bastion of Asian cookery that is New Tayyabs. It is a short and straightforward journey â¬ I work in the City and am heading there after work on a Friday â¬ but I have the constant impression I am going the wrong way and in the wrong place. A few minutes walk from Aldgate East, leaves me on Fieldgate Street and although I know I must be close, I cannot shake my doubts; could one of Londonâ¬"s most popular eateries be hidden on this quiet backstreet between a mosque and apartment blocks? I am not sure what I expected: bright lights, hustle and bustle in the streets, long queues of hungry dinersâ¬¦.I cannot say, but expectations are high

When I reach the entrance, there is no fanfare, no circus awaiting me, instead a smiling waiter waiting to show me to a table. The dÃ©cor is simple, quaint and Asian in style, there is a carafe of water and assortment of condiments (chutney, raita, etc) already on each table and the simple menu offers a decent choice of starters (mostly tandoori dishes), chicken/meat/vegetarian mains (mainly karahi style), daily specials and customary rice/bread. Apologies if I start to hurry here, but I am eager to describe the food

I am placed very close to the kitchen and the aromas wafting towards me are exotic and enticing; this is probably why I proceed to order much more than I can finish! For starters (yes, plural, but at such prices why not?), I opt for lamb chops (Â£5.20), panner tikka (Â£2.80) and a sheekh kebab (80p).

The lamp chops with the dry meat main are arguably the two most talked about dishes on the menu and with good reason. The four large juicy chops have been smothered in a spicy garam masala marinade, which after roasting, encrusts the meat with a deep and rich, smoky flavoured coating. Possibly still intoxicated by those aforementioned aromas, I lose all sense of decorum and find myself unabashedly, but quite rightly, eating with, then licking clean, my fingers. The chops steal centre stage, but the sheekh kebab is also tasty and flavoursome and is served together with the chops upon a sizzling skillet, whilst the panner (below), resembling my favourite cheese, hellim (also known popularly as halloumi), is firm yet velvety and complements the meat well.

For the next course, I order the dry meat (Â£5.60) and karahi chicken (Â£5.60) with a nan (Â£0.80) and later, tandoori parata (Â£1.80). I cannot do the dry meat justice; it is simply the tastiest curry I have ever had. Beautiful morsels of lamb are roasted slowly until they literally melt into the satisfyingly intense sauce. What is left is the most delicious spicy caramel paste that should be lovingly ladled from the pot to the lips with the aid of a freshly-baked nan or parata (both excellent). The karahi is nice too, made with juicy chunks of chicken, but is thoroughly eclipsed by the lamb.

At this point, I am totally stuffed, well, almost totally as I still ask for a dessert. I know I will not, I cannot, fully appreciate it after such a gross amount of food, but as those that know me would testify, I cannot not order dessert. As I am relatively naÃ¯ve when it comes to Asian sweets, I ask the waiter for his recommendation and he brings a portion of gulab jamun (Â£2.00). These are basically small balls of dough, cream and flour in a sugar syrup infusion, somewhat similar to Turkish lokma. They are brought piping hot and prove intensely sweet; a decent offering, though not one I am eager to retry.

The bill comes to a princely sum of Â£24.60 â¬ regulars will tell you what an achievement it is to break the Â£20 barrier and one only realised by me ordering two starters and two mains i.e. enough food for two people

It is hard to find fault with New Tayyabs; at what they do, they are terrific. The food is delicious, the staff are friendly and there is a nice buzz generated by the open kitchen and large groups of diners. However, if I really wanted to be captious, I could complain that the waiter asked me twice whether I was ready for my main dishes, whilst I was still very obviously enjoying my starters and that my nan order was misplaced, forcing me to wait anxiously for something to dip into that delicious lamb dish, but such minor blunders can easily be forgiven.

I thoroughly enjoyed the meal and will surely return the next time I fancy a curry. Indeed, were I a bigger fan of Indian cuisine (I maybe eat it 2/3 times a year), I would most probably proclaim NT as one of my favourite London restaurants, but instead, I am afraid it will have to make do with being only my favourite Asian restaurant.

83 Fieldgate Street, London, E1 1JU
tel: 020 7247 6400
nearest tube: Aldgate East, Whitechapel
www.tayyabs.co.uk

Alishaan - Atmos by jovike

jovike — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 06:15:02 +0000

Review by jovike

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7392 2100

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

Tags: indian, lively, smoking

Good atmosphere with colourful decor - I hope they never repaint it!

I recommend the chicken dhansak here. It is superb, sweet and prepared in a way quite unlike anywhere else. The garlic, the balti and the bhoona are good. They also have prawn and fish dishes on their extensive menu which also features such staples as lassi and raita. I must try the roop chanda biran and the fish egg bora one day.

Friendly service. Sometimes busy with a few large parties.

The Alishaan is on Osborn Street, which is the southernmost section of Brick Lane. You can't miss the red neon.Good atmosphere with colourful decor - I hope they never repaint it!

I recommend the chicken dhansak here. It is superb, sweet and prepared in a way quite unlike anywhere else. The garlic, the balti and the bhoona are good. They also have prawn and fish dishes on their extensive menu which also features such staples as lassi and raita. I must try the roop chanda biran and the fish egg bora one day.

Friendly service. Sometimes busy with a few large parties.

The Alishaan is on Osborn Street, which is the southernmost section of Brick Lane. You can't miss the red neon.

Meraz Cafe - Best of the Rest. by deadleg21

deadleg21 — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 19:15:24 +0000

Review by deadleg21

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7247 2588

Tags: indian, good value, cheap eat

There is alot of indian competition in the area around brick lane but this one really stands out.
First of all the athetics of the resturant are alot nicer than some of the "cheaper" indians. The build quality of the furnishings is of high quality and the general feel of the restraunt is plesant.
There is a great selection of dishes from ones which will burn your mouth to the smooth dishes like butter chicken. I personally like really hot dishes and was happy they had a dish that challenged me and actualy made me sweat!
If you want an indian and your in the area check out this place first!.There is alot of indian competition in the area around brick lane but this one really stands out.
First of all the athetics of the resturant are alot nicer than some of the "cheaper" indians. The build quality of the furnishings is of high quality and the general feel of the restraunt is plesant.
There is a great selection of dishes from ones which will burn your mouth to the smooth dishes like butter chicken. I personally like really hot dishes and was happy they had a dish that challenged me and actualy made me sweat!
If you want an indian and your in the area check out this place first!.

Mirch Masala - Great food by drhk

drhk — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 13:44:26 +0000

Review by drhk

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7377 6700

Tags: indian, cheap, lively

Very nice place for a weekend meal with familyVery nice place for a weekend meal with family

Les Trois Garcons - hard to beat by toma

toma — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:26:58 +0000

Review by toma

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7613 1924

Website: http://www.lestroisgarcons.com

Tags: french, expensive, romantic

just about my favourite for a special occasion. although somewhat a victim of its own popularity; the food remains spectacular and the ambiance is certainly one-of-a-kind. the seared foie gras in particular is do die for. only criticism is how difficult it is to get a table and price- hard to escape for under Â£100pp with decent wine- but what do you expect?just about my favourite for a special occasion. although somewhat a victim of its own popularity; the food remains spectacular and the ambiance is certainly one-of-a-kind. the seared foie gras in particular is do die for. only criticism is how difficult it is to get a table and price- hard to escape for under Â£100pp with decent wine- but what do you expect?

Aladin Restaurant - The Best!! by Sandra8809

Sandra8809 — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 01:27:47 +0000

Review by Sandra8809

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7247 8210

Tags: lively, indian, good value

This place is great for an evening out with friends or family. The atmosphere in the restaurant is dazzling and the service well couldnt get any better. The food is amongst the best in its locality. Overall simply great and definetly worth a try.This place is great for an evening out with friends or family. The atmosphere in the restaurant is dazzling and the service well couldnt get any better. The food is amongst the best in its locality. Overall simply great and definetly worth a try.

Lahore Kebab House - My regular Curry House. by bellaphon

bellaphon — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 19:30:57 +0000

Review by bellaphon

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7488 2551

Tags: indian, good value, lively

I often dine by myself and this place with its canteen like atmosphere is perfect for solo dining. However the portions served at this place are often too big for a single diner to complete the course. Bring some friends instead, in fact bring loads, for the cooking is A1.

Always go for the specials that are featured on Wednesdays or the weekend like Nihari or Chicken on the bone curry. These specials are generally not readily available till 1pm, so take note. These guys do not cut corners with the seasonings or cooking of their dishes; which thus reflect and attract a welcoming presence of large groups of Asian diners. The Grilled Lamb Chops are de rigueur, you'll need to order this dish at least to justify the reason to revisit LKH again. Just imagine Tony Bourdain chomping on these, 'These are good, these are very good'. 'nuff said.

One minor quibble involves the waiters placing a bottle of a horrible tasting English mineral water on the table which you're obliged to pay for. I politely asked for tap water instead and his answer was ''but no, that is bad for you''.

Right I need to visit Tayyabs now for some serious correlations. In the meantime, LKH you're the best.I often dine by myself and this place with its canteen like atmosphere is perfect for solo dining. However the portions served at this place are often too big for a single diner to complete the course. Bring some friends instead, in fact bring loads, for the cooking is A1.

Always go for the specials that are featured on Wednesdays or the weekend like Nihari or Chicken on the bone curry. These specials are generally not readily available till 1pm, so take note. These guys do not cut corners with the seasonings or cooking of their dishes; which thus reflect and attract a welcoming presence of large groups of Asian diners. The Grilled Lamb Chops are de rigueur, you'll need to order this dish at least to justify the reason to revisit LKH again. Just imagine Tony Bourdain chomping on these, 'These are good, these are very good'. 'nuff said.

One minor quibble involves the waiters placing a bottle of a horrible tasting English mineral water on the table which you're obliged to pay for. I politely asked for tap water instead and his answer was ''but no, that is bad for you''.

Right I need to visit Tayyabs now for some serious correlations. In the meantime, LKH you're the best.

The Hawksmoor - Great Steaks by chrisp

chrisp — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 12:54:07 +0000

Review by chrisp

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7247 7392

Website: http://www.thehawksmoor.com

Tags: american, expensive, steak

It ought to be a cause of national shame that despite having some of the best small producers and fishing grounds in the world, British and Irish produce is generally ignored by our own restaurants and supermarkets. The finest fresh lobster and langoustine from the south coast, Welsh lamb and Scottish pedigree cattle are sold abroad, earning French and Spanish chefs the reputation for gastronomic excellence off the back of our own home-grown talent. Thankfully in recent years there has been a bit of a fightback, as interest in locally-sourced ingredients has increased and more restaurants and supermarkets (especially Waitrose, who deserve a special mention for their 'Local foods' section) are confident enough in their customers to market British food properly. But we are nowhere near equilibrium, and I still find it shocking that some uniformly beet-red slabs of 2nd-grade beef flown halfway across the world are regarded as the best you can eat in London.

So like a guardian angel sent from heaven to fight for British food on earth (or at least in our nation's capital) comes Hawskmoor on Commercial Road. All their meat is from a company called Ginger Pig, who regular Borough-market goers will recognise from their stall there. The menu is smallish - just a few different cuts of beef, a lamb and pork cut or two, and a scattering of sides. And it's not cheap either, my 600g sirloin coming in at a whopping Â£26.50. But if there's one thing that's self-evident as you cut through the charred crispy flesh into the rich, moist pink inside, is that it's worth every penny. There is simply nowhere else in the capital - nowhere in Europe I would hazard a guess - that has steaks of such stunning high quality, cooked perfectly. They are huge things too, thick with ribbons of fat that provide flavour and texture, almost a meal in themselves, but you'd be foolish not to try some of Hawskmoor's excellent side dishes, such as the rich garlicky spinach and the creamiest baked sweet potato you will ever have. Unfortunately this lunchtime the chips weren't up to the usual high standard - they tasted a bit dry - but this is not the norm based on numerous previous visits. Also the service can be hit and miss - one time we waited a whole hour before the food started to arrive, which was blamed on the macaroni cheese taking too long to make. Why they didn't have "up to an hour waiting time" stamped next to this item in the menu wasn't clear.

As if Hawksmoor wasn't happy enough with serving superb steaks, they also have a fantastic bar with a list of heritage cocktails that you will find nowhere else. My "Daiquiri No.2" was apparently one of Ernest Hemingway's favourites, although to be fair I've heard this about most cocktails. Boasting that your particular drink was favoured by Cuba's most famous alcoholic is a bit like saying you are attractive enough to sleep with Russell Brand. He wasn't that fussy, believe me.

I am told that even the non-meaty items on the menu such as the scallops and swordfish are worth having, so clearly there is talent in the kitchen beyond timing a 2-inch thick rib-eye to medium-rare. But it is the steaks that keep people coming back here. Knowledgeably sourced, perfectly cooked and honestly presented, there is no doubt that Hawksmoor serves the best steaks this side of the Atlantic.It ought to be a cause of national shame that despite having some of the best small producers and fishing grounds in the world, British and Irish produce is generally ignored by our own restaurants and supermarkets. The finest fresh lobster and langoustine from the south coast, Welsh lamb and Scottish pedigree cattle are sold abroad, earning French and Spanish chefs the reputation for gastronomic excellence off the back of our own home-grown talent. Thankfully in recent years there has been a bit of a fightback, as interest in locally-sourced ingredients has increased and more restaurants and supermarkets (especially Waitrose, who deserve a special mention for their 'Local foods' section) are confident enough in their customers to market British food properly. But we are nowhere near equilibrium, and I still find it shocking that some uniformly beet-red slabs of 2nd-grade beef flown halfway across the world are regarded as the best you can eat in London.

So like a guardian angel sent from heaven to fight for British food on earth (or at least in our nation's capital) comes Hawskmoor on Commercial Road. All their meat is from a company called Ginger Pig, who regular Borough-market goers will recognise from their stall there. The menu is smallish - just a few different cuts of beef, a lamb and pork cut or two, and a scattering of sides. And it's not cheap either, my 600g sirloin coming in at a whopping Â£26.50. But if there's one thing that's self-evident as you cut through the charred crispy flesh into the rich, moist pink inside, is that it's worth every penny. There is simply nowhere else in the capital - nowhere in Europe I would hazard a guess - that has steaks of such stunning high quality, cooked perfectly. They are huge things too, thick with ribbons of fat that provide flavour and texture, almost a meal in themselves, but you'd be foolish not to try some of Hawskmoor's excellent side dishes, such as the rich garlicky spinach and the creamiest baked sweet potato you will ever have. Unfortunately this lunchtime the chips weren't up to the usual high standard - they tasted a bit dry - but this is not the norm based on numerous previous visits. Also the service can be hit and miss - one time we waited a whole hour before the food started to arrive, which was blamed on the macaroni cheese taking too long to make. Why they didn't have "up to an hour waiting time" stamped next to this item in the menu wasn't clear.

As if Hawksmoor wasn't happy enough with serving superb steaks, they also have a fantastic bar with a list of heritage cocktails that you will find nowhere else. My "Daiquiri No.2" was apparently one of Ernest Hemingway's favourites, although to be fair I've heard this about most cocktails. Boasting that your particular drink was favoured by Cuba's most famous alcoholic is a bit like saying you are attractive enough to sleep with Russell Brand. He wasn't that fussy, believe me.

I am told that even the non-meaty items on the menu such as the scallops and swordfish are worth having, so clearly there is talent in the kitchen beyond timing a 2-inch thick rib-eye to medium-rare. But it is the steaks that keep people coming back here. Knowledgeably sourced, perfectly cooked and honestly presented, there is no doubt that Hawksmoor serves the best steaks this side of the Atlantic.

Rosa's - Highly recommended! by flambie

flambie — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 13:06:01 +0000

Review by flambie

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7247 5830

Tags: thai, good value, lively

Just visited this fab new restaurant and from the moment I crossed the threshold I knew that it was going to be great. The decor is simple yet stylish and elegant and the food was tasty and fresh, beautifully presented, with generous portions at a reasonable price. I am a huge fan of Thai food and Rosa's is now my restaurant of choice.Just visited this fab new restaurant and from the moment I crossed the threshold I knew that it was going to be great. The decor is simple yet stylish and elegant and the food was tasty and fresh, beautifully presented, with generous portions at a reasonable price. I am a huge fan of Thai food and Rosa's is now my restaurant of choice.

Pride Of Asia - real name of shame by wasi

wasi — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 00:38:55 +0000

Review by wasi

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7780 9321

Website: http://www.prideofasia.com

Tags: indian, vegetarian dishes, asian

this is one of the most un organised wedding management companys. they have not style of cooking and try to embed that they are the market leading companys. my family regret taking food from this company as they had ruined the element of the weeding by serving very poor standard food. i expected better from this company but regret to imform all you guys that it is a game they are playing. any way if i had to get food of these people it would never happen as they had lost their opportunity by running some one special day with un trained staff poor event management also very bad setup . they are not on time and the wedding was a shambles. now it is you choice to take food from these guysthis is one of the most un organised wedding management companys. they have not style of cooking and try to embed that they are the market leading companys. my family regret taking food from this company as they had ruined the element of the weeding by serving very poor standard food. i expected better from this company but regret to imform all you guys that it is a game they are playing. any way if i had to get food of these people it would never happen as they had lost their opportunity by running some one special day with un trained staff poor event management also very bad setup . they are not on time and the wedding was a shambles. now it is you choice to take food from these guys

Leon - pricey nonsense by gavinedwardsuk

gavinedwardsuk — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 14:11:07 +0000

Review by gavinedwardsuk

Rating: 2.00

Phone: 020 7247 4369

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

Tags: takeaway, international, free wifi

Leon milkshakes are awesome but i was disappointed with the chicken wrap and lemon quencher.

Expensive, small and only averagely tasty. Seating area was nice, clean and service was fairly quick but i'm not at all convinced so far.....

and Leon, if you sell a chicken wrap it would be nice to see more than a very mild spattering of Chicken! i know cabbage is cheap, so call it a cabbage wrap instead.Leon milkshakes are awesome but i was disappointed with the chicken wrap and lemon quencher.

Expensive, small and only averagely tasty. Seating area was nice, clean and service was fairly quick but i'm not at all convinced so far.....

and Leon, if you sell a chicken wrap it would be nice to see more than a very mild spattering of Chicken! i know cabbage is cheap, so call it a cabbage wrap instead.

L'Oasis - L'Oasis by mesh

mesh — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 15:00:17 +0000

Review by mesh

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7702 7051

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

Tags: food, good value, mediterranean

In an area not famed for its gastronomical delights, L'Oasis is true to its name. Out of the dingy drinking hole desert, arises L'Oasis that you have been looking for. Decent gastropub fare with a leaning on the Mediterranean (lovely gazpacho), with very large portions and a fair wine list. They also do mid-week wine tastings and it's also a stone's throw from 54 Mile End if you fancy a dance afterwards.

Only issue - try not to sit by the door - Stepney's multitude of passing sirens is sure to put you off any romantic sentiments as they can drown out the conversation a little.In an area not famed for its gastronomical delights, L'Oasis is true to its name. Out of the dingy drinking hole desert, arises L'Oasis that you have been looking for. Decent gastropub fare with a leaning on the Mediterranean (lovely gazpacho), with very large portions and a fair wine list. They also do mid-week wine tastings and it's also a stone's throw from 54 Mile End if you fancy a dance afterwards.

Only issue - try not to sit by the door - Stepney's multitude of passing sirens is sure to put you off any romantic sentiments as they can drown out the conversation a little.

Giraffe - Went downhill as it got busier by anise

anise — Wed, 14 May 2008 14:32:45 +0000

Review by anise

Rating: 2.00

Phone: 020 3116 2000

Website: http://www.giraffe.net

Tags: lively, good value, crowded

My goodness the staff here are chirpy - one wonders what they put in their coffee. We went here for dinner on a balmy Tuesday evening in May because we were too lazy to go home and cook. The starters were nice enough (chicken and vegetable dumplings and potato wedges were popular) - fairly predictable for this kind of venue but they arrived hot and fairly promptly. The waitress also worked out immediately that we were going to share them around generally, rather than each 'own' a plate and she offered to go and get us side plates, so that was great (I am used to going to the branch of Canteen next door where you may, on a bad day, need to ask for a knife to spread the butter onto your toast. That is if they remembered to give you butter. But that's another story.).

We ordered hamburgers for the main course and this was where it started to go wrong. The accompanying onion rings were cold and the burgers were dry. Not that they had been cooked to death (in fact they were nicely pink), it was just that the meat was not juicy at all. The dryness also extended to the buns. To add insult to injury, the presentation made the burgers so tall they were impossible to eat so we had to dismantle them - taking out the tomato slice and (optional extra) mushroom just to be able to give our poor aching jaws a chance of biting into them. All a bit disappointing really as the point of optional extras is that you want them to be part of the burger. The chips were fine though.My goodness the staff here are chirpy - one wonders what they put in their coffee. We went here for dinner on a balmy Tuesday evening in May because we were too lazy to go home and cook. The starters were nice enough (chicken and vegetable dumplings and potato wedges were popular) - fairly predictable for this kind of venue but they arrived hot and fairly promptly. The waitress also worked out immediately that we were going to share them around generally, rather than each 'own' a plate and she offered to go and get us side plates, so that was great (I am used to going to the branch of Canteen next door where you may, on a bad day, need to ask for a knife to spread the butter onto your toast. That is if they remembered to give you butter. But that's another story.).

We ordered hamburgers for the main course and this was where it started to go wrong. The accompanying onion rings were cold and the burgers were dry. Not that they had been cooked to death (in fact they were nicely pink), it was just that the meat was not juicy at all. The dryness also extended to the buns. To add insult to injury, the presentation made the burgers so tall they were impossible to eat so we had to dismantle them - taking out the tomato slice and (optional extra) mushroom just to be able to give our poor aching jaws a chance of biting into them. All a bit disappointing really as the point of optional extras is that you want them to be part of the burger. The chips were fine though.

Halal Restaurant - Chunky. by jovike

jovike — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 05:43:15 +0000

Review by jovike

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7709 0150

Tags: lively, good value, indian

Established in 1939, I first ate here in 1984. Consistently good value. Their chicken dhansak contains twice as much chicken as some other indian restaurants. The egg fried rice is superb. I've just tried the madras - excellent, not too hot. The bhuna is good too. I had a vindaloo which had one piece of potato in it - the rest was meat.

Their (very) spicy papadoms are small but a real treat.

Some unusual menu items: egg curry; meatball vindaloo. Seafood is prawns - no fish. They have almond, mango or pistachio kulfi for dessert.

One waiter is dumb, attached to a rope and the bill is accompanied by Murray Mints. They sometimes close early so don't leave it until the last minute. You might remember they once had other branches, one on Aldgate High Street, where Boots is now.

(This restaurant is on Alie Street, on the corner with Mark Street: Google Maps has it wrong.)Established in 1939, I first ate here in 1984. Consistently good value. Their chicken dhansak contains twice as much chicken as some other indian restaurants. The egg fried rice is superb. I've just tried the madras - excellent, not too hot. The bhuna is good too. I had a vindaloo which had one piece of potato in it - the rest was meat.

Their (very) spicy papadoms are small but a real treat.

Some unusual menu items: egg curry; meatball vindaloo. Seafood is prawns - no fish. They have almond, mango or pistachio kulfi for dessert.

One waiter is dumb, attached to a rope and the bill is accompanied by Murray Mints. They sometimes close early so don't leave it until the last minute. You might remember they once had other branches, one on Aldgate High Street, where Boots is now.

(This restaurant is on Alie Street, on the corner with Mark Street: Google Maps has it wrong.)

Dino's Grill & Restaurant - Rule by neilgrayshon

neilgrayshon — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 01:48:17 +0000

Review by neilgrayshon

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7247 6097

Tags: crowded, british, italian

If you want a fry (a good one) you can't beat Dino's. Well, some places have better sausages and the place is bleak(ish) but really, its proper. Always choose tea. If you want a fry (a good one) you can't beat Dino's. Well, some places have better sausages and the place is bleak(ish) but really, its proper. Always choose tea.

St John Bread & Wine - Scary animal bits = pretty tasty by kellytron

kellytron — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 16:48:05 +0000

Review by kellytron

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7251 0848

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

Tags: british, trendy, meat

My friend and I decided to slink in here one day for a quiet Sunday dinner while nursing hangovers and were pretty impressed. Granted, this may have been a dangerous call as a restaurant known for the assortment of animal parts on their menu and a hangover don't seem to go together, but it worked out well.

The menu changes daily with a variety of starters (great for sharing) and a couple of main options. They sell the bread to take way and it is well worth buying too.

First up, I found the service charming especially as we were asking lots of questions in an attempt to figure out exactly what part of the animal was being served. And we got to try some dessert for free! (but couldnâ¬"t fit in anything else after our sample)

I can't remember the details of the food but here is a summary. We shared four starter plates and one main)
Cuttle fish: (Really tasty. Generous portion.)
Quail: (I didn't really try this as its pinky purple flesh scared me. Maybe this is the right colour but my hangover wouldn't let me try it)
Pork belly bits (I forget its proper name: Really moreish. We ate these until we felt ill. And then ate some more.)
Blood cake and poached duck egg: (Pretty tasty but we had a fair bit of this left over as you can only eat so much blood.)
Venison (main): (Nice and succulent)

We shied away from the more 'scary' animail bits such as heart, but they are meant to do that really well if you like that sort of thing.

My friend and I decided to slink in here one day for a quiet Sunday dinner while nursing hangovers and were pretty impressed. Granted, this may have been a dangerous call as a restaurant known for the assortment of animal parts on their menu and a hangover don't seem to go together, but it worked out well.

The menu changes daily with a variety of starters (great for sharing) and a couple of main options. They sell the bread to take way and it is well worth buying too.

First up, I found the service charming especially as we were asking lots of questions in an attempt to figure out exactly what part of the animal was being served. And we got to try some dessert for free! (but couldnâ¬"t fit in anything else after our sample)

I can't remember the details of the food but here is a summary. We shared four starter plates and one main)
Cuttle fish: (Really tasty. Generous portion.)
Quail: (I didn't really try this as its pinky purple flesh scared me. Maybe this is the right colour but my hangover wouldn't let me try it)
Pork belly bits (I forget its proper name: Really moreish. We ate these until we felt ill. And then ate some more.)
Blood cake and poached duck egg: (Pretty tasty but we had a fair bit of this left over as you can only eat so much blood.)
Venison (main): (Nice and succulent)

We shied away from the more 'scary' animail bits such as heart, but they are meant to do that really well if you like that sort of thing.

Carluccio's - Pasta in a buzzy, modern environment by anise

anise — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 18:31:51 +0000

Review by anise

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7392 7662

Website: http://www.carluccios.com

Tags: lively, modern, friendly staff

This place gets very busy during the usual peak hours and so if you have not booked a table, a short wait may be inevitable. Once seated however, the busy-ness is useful to allow you to eat and drink at a leisurely pace (although there are though plenty of waiting staff around if you want to catch someone's eye to push the pace along more).

The wines here are well chosen and the food good. The specials are certainly worth looking at (today's starter was roasted peppers with grilled mozzarella and rocket. Very tasty it was too).

The menu is split into pastas, mains etc as you would expect. In particular I recommend the sautÃ©ed mushrooms and garlic with pappardelle, the texture of the pasta is lovely and the garlicky, mushroomy butter dresses it to perfection. My companion on the other hand loves the lasagne. We both loved the dessert wine with biscotti. I deny all charges of drunkenness.This place gets very busy during the usual peak hours and so if you have not booked a table, a short wait may be inevitable. Once seated however, the busy-ness is useful to allow you to eat and drink at a leisurely pace (although there are though plenty of waiting staff around if you want to catch someone's eye to push the pace along more).

The wines here are well chosen and the food good. The specials are certainly worth looking at (today's starter was roasted peppers with grilled mozzarella and rocket. Very tasty it was too).

The menu is split into pastas, mains etc as you would expect. In particular I recommend the sautÃ©ed mushrooms and garlic with pappardelle, the texture of the pasta is lovely and the garlicky, mushroomy butter dresses it to perfection. My companion on the other hand loves the lasagne. We both loved the dessert wine with biscotti. I deny all charges of drunkenness.

Chutneys - Chutney's Brick Lane by pgt38

pgt38 — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 15:50:48 +0000

Review by pgt38

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7247 9698

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

Tags: indian, lively, takeaway

As soon as we hit Brick Lane the touts we trying to guide us to a couple of restaurants. Not being able to recall the name of the last one I visted in the area we chose Chutneys. The criteria was a good menu, well priced for London and unlike it's neighbour fairly busy. The food was good, the service very swift and attentive and polite giving an enjoyable evening. As soon as we hit Brick Lane the touts we trying to guide us to a couple of restaurants. Not being able to recall the name of the last one I visted in the area we chose Chutneys. The criteria was a good menu, well priced for London and unlike it's neighbour fairly busy. The food was good, the service very swift and attentive and polite giving an enjoyable evening.

Scarlet Dot - A bit of Indian glamour in Spitalfields by GreenHippo

GreenHippo — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 13:59:16 +0000

Review by GreenHippo

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7375 0880

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

Tags: indian, bar, takeaway

When I was told by a friend that he had booked an Indian restaurant in Spitalfields I was not overjoyed by the idea. A combination of being in East London (!) and serving Indian food did not sound good to me - but I am a West London girl and the last time I went to India I was pretty sick! However, I was pleasantly by Scarlet.

It is one of the "new" restaurants in/near Spitalfields market. All of these restaurants are large, spacious, furnished with modern designs and pretty good. Scarlet is exactly that - red. With a bit of black thrown in for food measure. The cocktail list is good, even if the cocktails are a bit on the sweet side for my taste.

The food is Indian and quite spicy. It is also plentiful so go easy on the side dishes! The prawn dishes are excellent - very tasty indeed and the lentil dahl and aloo sag are also very good.

Service was a bit hit and miss. It is difficult to establish who is looking after you and even if you do manage this, we found that it was hard to catch our waiter's eye. It was one of those occasions where you feel that they are doing you a favour by letting you order something! Anyway, this could not detract from what was a pretty good meal and a huge step up from some of the more established Indian places in the region.

When I was told by a friend that he had booked an Indian restaurant in Spitalfields I was not overjoyed by the idea. A combination of being in East London (!) and serving Indian food did not sound good to me - but I am a West London girl and the last time I went to India I was pretty sick! However, I was pleasantly by Scarlet.

It is one of the "new" restaurants in/near Spitalfields market. All of these restaurants are large, spacious, furnished with modern designs and pretty good. Scarlet is exactly that - red. With a bit of black thrown in for food measure. The cocktail list is good, even if the cocktails are a bit on the sweet side for my taste.

The food is Indian and quite spicy. It is also plentiful so go easy on the side dishes! The prawn dishes are excellent - very tasty indeed and the lentil dahl and aloo sag are also very good.

Service was a bit hit and miss. It is difficult to establish who is looking after you and even if you do manage this, we found that it was hard to catch our waiter's eye. It was one of those occasions where you feel that they are doing you a favour by letting you order something! Anyway, this could not detract from what was a pretty good meal and a huge step up from some of the more established Indian places in the region.

Barcelona Tapas Bar & Restaurant - Loved! by wkent

wkent — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 12:54:59 +0000

Review by wkent

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7377 5111

Website: http://www.barcelona-tapas.com

Tags: spanish, bar, tapas

Love this restaurant! It had a variety of Spanish tapas, all really tasty! Definitely going to try some of their other locationsLove this restaurant! It had a variety of Spanish tapas, all really tasty! Definitely going to try some of their other locations