Latest reviews for Food & Drink in Tottenham Court Road, London, United Kingdom

Monmouth Coffee Company - These people know coffee ! by gastro1

gastro1 — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 09:26:17 +0000

Review by gastro1

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7645 3560

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

Tags: amazing brew, cosy, rare finds

Selecting , Roasting , Blending and preparing coffee is an a great skill. Unfortunateley despite the huge growth in coffee consumption in this country the vast majority of coffee chains and shops serve something tha ranges from tasteless to bitter.

Monmouth is a centre of excellence you get proper espresso , espresso machiato is perfect and a cappucino is what it should be rather than the coffee milkshakes served by the likes of Starbucks .Selecting , Roasting , Blending and preparing coffee is an a great skill. Unfortunateley despite the huge growth in coffee consumption in this country the vast majority of coffee chains and shops serve something tha ranges from tasteless to bitter.

Monmouth is a centre of excellence you get proper espresso , espresso machiato is perfect and a cappucino is what it should be rather than the coffee milkshakes served by the likes of Starbucks .

Patisserie Valerie - Relaxed breakfast by Julesdit

Julesdit — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 20:31:46 +0000

Review by Julesdit

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7437 3466

Website: http://www.patisserie-valerie.co.uk

Tags: cafe, seating area / eat in, hot / cold drinks

The sight of all the cakes and pastries that greats you when you enter this cafe is divine. Feeling slightly hungover from a fabulous night before, Patisserie Valerie was the perfect antidote and a great place for a relaxed sunday breakfast. If I didn't have a train to catch I would have loved to stay longer.The sight of all the cakes and pastries that greats you when you enter this cafe is divine. Feeling slightly hungover from a fabulous night before, Patisserie Valerie was the perfect antidote and a great place for a relaxed sunday breakfast. If I didn't have a train to catch I would have loved to stay longer.

Thorntons - yum by clubby2

clubby2 — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 20:33:53 +0000

Review by clubby2

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7836 2173

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

Tags: truffles

Thorntons at the piazza , covent garden are a good place to top up on all you chocolate favorites. The small bars like the truffle bar are a nice lunch time treat when you are on the go. There is a new selection of chocolate bars which have unusual flavours to them, such as the dark choc and balsamic vinegar bar, which is very good and nothing like you would imagine, the orange and cardemon bar is equally moorish and tasty. I think they have an offer on those right now which is 3 for Â£5, which is really great value. Thorntons are very good value and go down well when you give them as presents too. On the whole a good little shop in a busy location.Thorntons at the piazza , covent garden are a good place to top up on all you chocolate favorites. The small bars like the truffle bar are a nice lunch time treat when you are on the go. There is a new selection of chocolate bars which have unusual flavours to them, such as the dark choc and balsamic vinegar bar, which is very good and nothing like you would imagine, the orange and cardemon bar is equally moorish and tasty. I think they have an offer on those right now which is 3 for Â£5, which is really great value. Thorntons are very good value and go down well when you give them as presents too. On the whole a good little shop in a busy location.

The Tea House - turn over a new leaf! by Navajo_Pete

Navajo_Pete — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 15:26:16 +0000

Review by Navajo_Pete

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7240 7539

Tags: rare finds, covent garden, asian

A modest looking and unassuming frontage in between the shoe and fashion shops of Covent Gardenâ¬"s Neal Street, the Tea House is easily missed and overlooked.

Once inside, the shop oozes â¬Üqualityâ¬" wherever you look. Many of the tea pots and gorgeous looking crockery come at a price, but if you are a tea pot collector you can eat your heart out.

Much more affordable are the many different blends of tea and the huge selection of flavoured teas, many if attractive tins or boxes (these make useful gifts â¬ who doesnâ¬"t drink tea?).

This shop is also famous for its many specialist teas, including many different green teas and fine Indian teas. Although expensive when compared with the cheap & cheerful blends, these are some of the worldâ¬"s finest teas and who can place a value on that? Worth every penny!
A modest looking and unassuming frontage in between the shoe and fashion shops of Covent Gardenâ¬"s Neal Street, the Tea House is easily missed and overlooked.

Once inside, the shop oozes â¬Üqualityâ¬" wherever you look. Many of the tea pots and gorgeous looking crockery come at a price, but if you are a tea pot collector you can eat your heart out.

Much more affordable are the many different blends of tea and the huge selection of flavoured teas, many if attractive tins or boxes (these make useful gifts â¬ who doesnâ¬"t drink tea?).

This shop is also famous for its many specialist teas, including many different green teas and fine Indian teas. Although expensive when compared with the cheap & cheerful blends, these are some of the worldâ¬"s finest teas and who can place a value on that? Worth every penny!

Algerian Coffee Stores - dark & yummy by Navajo_Pete

Navajo_Pete — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 15:24:40 +0000

Review by Navajo_Pete

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7437 2480

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

Tags: take-away, soho, coffee

Aromatic and pungent treasure trove of good quality coffees in the heart of Soho. This shop has been here for many years and has only had minor updates or â¬Üimprovementsâ¬". It is still a quiet, relaxed and old-fashioned little retail outlet.

Iâ¬"m not sure whether the â¬ÜAlgerianâ¬" accolade is still applicable, as it stocks coffees from around the world. There are plenty of blends to suit any taste, but the highlight here is the range of specialist and single estate coffees.

Worth trying is the dense and dark smelling Ethiopian coffee. Once youâ¬"re here, buy the beans, at least a whole pound, and store them in the freezer.

The shop has a â¬Ücolonialâ¬" feel to it and is a feast for the senses, including the eyes.

You will also find here every accessory you could possibly need to brew the best coffee at home.
Aromatic and pungent treasure trove of good quality coffees in the heart of Soho. This shop has been here for many years and has only had minor updates or â¬Üimprovementsâ¬". It is still a quiet, relaxed and old-fashioned little retail outlet.

Iâ¬"m not sure whether the â¬ÜAlgerianâ¬" accolade is still applicable, as it stocks coffees from around the world. There are plenty of blends to suit any taste, but the highlight here is the range of specialist and single estate coffees.

Worth trying is the dense and dark smelling Ethiopian coffee. Once youâ¬"re here, buy the beans, at least a whole pound, and store them in the freezer.

The shop has a â¬Ücolonialâ¬" feel to it and is a feast for the senses, including the eyes.

You will also find here every accessory you could possibly need to brew the best coffee at home.

Sainsbury's - brilliant solution to last-minute shopping needs by Navajo_Pete

Navajo_Pete — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 17:56:13 +0000

Review by Navajo_Pete

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7580 7820

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

Tags: bakery, newspapers / magazines, bargain

This was one of the first of the new breed of inner-London Sainsbury stores and still going strong. It is conveniently located along TCR, where itâ¬"s not too busy and where there are some similarly sized stores nearby.

The store is not too vast and has an â¬Üopenâ¬" layout, with lower aisles and shelving, a good selection of chilled meals and snacks, a large â¬Üfresh salad & fruitâ¬" bar and all the usual supermarket items you would expect in a decent Sainsburyâ¬"s.

The wine department is not huge, but has a good selection of decent wines in the Â£5-9 bracket.

The atmosphere in the store is remarkably pleasant and relaxed â¬ not a mean achievement in such a fast-paced and competitive environment. I think this is because light levels are lower than usual and a lot of use is made of spot lights.
This was one of the first of the new breed of inner-London Sainsbury stores and still going strong. It is conveniently located along TCR, where itâ¬"s not too busy and where there are some similarly sized stores nearby.

The store is not too vast and has an â¬Üopenâ¬" layout, with lower aisles and shelving, a good selection of chilled meals and snacks, a large â¬Üfresh salad & fruitâ¬" bar and all the usual supermarket items you would expect in a decent Sainsburyâ¬"s.

The wine department is not huge, but has a good selection of decent wines in the Â£5-9 bracket.

The atmosphere in the store is remarkably pleasant and relaxed â¬ not a mean achievement in such a fast-paced and competitive environment. I think this is because light levels are lower than usual and a lot of use is made of spot lights.

Oddbins - nice Burgundies by Alsation

Alsation — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 15:17:42 +0000

Review by Alsation

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7836 6331

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

Tags: delivery, mail order, cigarettes & tobacco

This small off-licence used to be located right on the Seven Dials, but moved a few years ago. Its range is not as wide and deep as the larger Oddbins stores such as Farringdon, but it still has an amazing selection of (mostly) decent wines, with some real stunners hidden among the plonk.
The Oz and Sth American range is good, but some of the best value for money wines Iâ¬"ve bought here have been French, mainly Rhones. A good selection of Rhone and white Burgundy is complemented by interesting Sth African wines. Some good mid-price Clarets too.
To make life even more interesting, they have some excellent special offers on bottles and cans of beer. There is also a reasonable selection of spirits and even some cigars and accessories.
Last time I checked they also offered free glass hire.
Many of the staff seem to move on very fast, and recommendations by staff vary, with not everyone being terribly familiar with what they stock. Trust your own nose and palate and do some research at home before you set off.This small off-licence used to be located right on the Seven Dials, but moved a few years ago. Its range is not as wide and deep as the larger Oddbins stores such as Farringdon, but it still has an amazing selection of (mostly) decent wines, with some real stunners hidden among the plonk.
The Oz and Sth American range is good, but some of the best value for money wines Iâ¬"ve bought here have been French, mainly Rhones. A good selection of Rhone and white Burgundy is complemented by interesting Sth African wines. Some good mid-price Clarets too.
To make life even more interesting, they have some excellent special offers on bottles and cans of beer. There is also a reasonable selection of spirits and even some cigars and accessories.
Last time I checked they also offered free glass hire.
Many of the staff seem to move on very fast, and recommendations by staff vary, with not everyone being terribly familiar with what they stock. Trust your own nose and palate and do some research at home before you set off.

Greggs - Bread is so soft! by pindulgence

pindulgence — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 16:11:52 +0000

Review by pindulgence

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7323 9052

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

Tags: bargain, patisserie, sandwiches

Of all the bakers there are, for a chain based one i'd say Greggs is my favourite. I first experienced the delightful tastes when i was in kent, so i was really excited when i found this one! The staff are really nice, friendly and eager to serve. Polite too which is a bit of a rarity now a days! The sandwiches here are fabulous, some are prepackaged ready for the lunchtime rush and some, like baguettes are inthe counter with fresh fillings. They are all bursting at the seams with the amount of filling though! Their cakes and other savoury goodies are also delicious and so fresh!Of all the bakers there are, for a chain based one i'd say Greggs is my favourite. I first experienced the delightful tastes when i was in kent, so i was really excited when i found this one! The staff are really nice, friendly and eager to serve. Polite too which is a bit of a rarity now a days! The sandwiches here are fabulous, some are prepackaged ready for the lunchtime rush and some, like baguettes are inthe counter with fresh fillings. They are all bursting at the seams with the amount of filling though! Their cakes and other savoury goodies are also delicious and so fresh!

Gerry's Off Licence - excellent selection, some quality stuff by Alsation

Alsation — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 18:05:00 +0000

Review by Alsation

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7734 4215

Tags: soho, spirits, booze

Gerry's is a bit of a specialist shop when it comes to booze.
They seem to obtain stock of some of the weirdest and rarest spirits, including lots of different vodkas and gins.
What is perhaps less well-known is the fact that they stock an excellent selection of rare, high quality wines. They certainly stocked some pretty rare wines such as Ch Musar and a decent range of Clarets. They also have some nice Burgundies from boutique growers that are worth buying.
On the whole, Gerry's aim at the specialist end of the drinks market, rather than the top quality end.
Just a note when leaving the shop with your precious bottles: be very careful on the slippery pavements (stained with the filth and grease of the 100s of nearby restaurants) as many a treasured bottle has smashed onto the street instead of being drunk. Don't say we didn't warn you.Gerry's is a bit of a specialist shop when it comes to booze.
They seem to obtain stock of some of the weirdest and rarest spirits, including lots of different vodkas and gins.
What is perhaps less well-known is the fact that they stock an excellent selection of rare, high quality wines. They certainly stocked some pretty rare wines such as Ch Musar and a decent range of Clarets. They also have some nice Burgundies from boutique growers that are worth buying.
On the whole, Gerry's aim at the specialist end of the drinks market, rather than the top quality end.
Just a note when leaving the shop with your precious bottles: be very careful on the slippery pavements (stained with the filth and grease of the 100s of nearby restaurants) as many a treasured bottle has smashed onto the street instead of being drunk. Don't say we didn't warn you.

Scoop - Ice cream you can test by faders321

faders321 — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 18:12:06 +0000

Review by faders321

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7240 7086

Website: http://www.scoopgelato.com/

Tags: rare finds, bargain, helpful staff

Ice cream is one of my favourite foods and it comes in lots of different flavours which is what makes it so great. I often find that whilst I am out shopping I will get hungry and want some ice cream and so thatâ¬"s when I visit Scoop. I think itâ¬"s one of the best ice cream parlours there are. The great thing about it is that you can test the ice cream before you buy it, only a tiny bit but still it helps you to decide which one you want to buy. I personally loved most of the tester samples but in the end I managed to chose one. It was delicious and the quality of the ice cream was superb, very creamy and extremely tasty, 10 out of 10.
Ice cream is one of my favourite foods and it comes in lots of different flavours which is what makes it so great. I often find that whilst I am out shopping I will get hungry and want some ice cream and so thatâ¬"s when I visit Scoop. I think itâ¬"s one of the best ice cream parlours there are. The great thing about it is that you can test the ice cream before you buy it, only a tiny bit but still it helps you to decide which one you want to buy. I personally loved most of the tester samples but in the end I managed to chose one. It was delicious and the quality of the ice cream was superb, very creamy and extremely tasty, 10 out of 10.

Fernandez & Wells - Indulgence in Soho by Niamheen

Niamheen — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 22:01:23 +0000

Review by Niamheen

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7734 1546

Website: http://www.fernandezandwells.com/

Tags: italian, takeaway, expensive

It feels like I am letting you into a little secret, but I am sure Iâ¬"m not, itâ¬"s just that I liked this place so much, I almost want to keep it secret! I popped into Fernandez & Wells in Soho with a friend on Saturday evening. Iâ¬"d wanted to go for a while having seen it many times on treks around Soho. It looks so appealing, with legs of ham in the window, bottles of wine on the counter and lots of cheese behind. Thereâ¬"s blackboards outside and in advertising their wares.

They look like they know what theyâ¬"re doing, although looks can be deceptive - not in this instance. I was there only briefly but enjoyed a charcuterie plate with prosciutto, basque salami and chorizo with a glass of albarino. We were also offered some manchego to taste. It was delicious and well sourced, alot of time and attention had gone into these selections. The meats, served on slate and sliced wafer thin & melt in the mouth, the cheese aged and crumbly and the albarino a gorgeous white, delicious and light. I didnâ¬"t want to leave but we had dinner plans elsewhere, besides they close at 9pm (although that should be moving to 10pm soon).

It was refreshing just to sit there and be nosey, to soak it all in. The staff are really passionate and knowledgable, itâ¬"s a real treat. I will definitely be back to try more, and request their recommendations. I would recommend that you go too!It feels like I am letting you into a little secret, but I am sure Iâ¬"m not, itâ¬"s just that I liked this place so much, I almost want to keep it secret! I popped into Fernandez & Wells in Soho with a friend on Saturday evening. Iâ¬"d wanted to go for a while having seen it many times on treks around Soho. It looks so appealing, with legs of ham in the window, bottles of wine on the counter and lots of cheese behind. Thereâ¬"s blackboards outside and in advertising their wares.

They look like they know what theyâ¬"re doing, although looks can be deceptive - not in this instance. I was there only briefly but enjoyed a charcuterie plate with prosciutto, basque salami and chorizo with a glass of albarino. We were also offered some manchego to taste. It was delicious and well sourced, alot of time and attention had gone into these selections. The meats, served on slate and sliced wafer thin & melt in the mouth, the cheese aged and crumbly and the albarino a gorgeous white, delicious and light. I didnâ¬"t want to leave but we had dinner plans elsewhere, besides they close at 9pm (although that should be moving to 10pm soon).

It was refreshing just to sit there and be nosey, to soak it all in. The staff are really passionate and knowledgable, itâ¬"s a real treat. I will definitely be back to try more, and request their recommendations. I would recommend that you go too!

Gaby's Deli - Best falafel I've had in ages by coldclimate

coldclimate — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 23:47:11 +0000

Review by coldclimate

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7836 4233

Tags: mediterranean, turkish, delicatessen

I stopped in for falafel this evening, and it was excellent. For the centre of London it is cheap as chips. OK, so a can of coke is about 1.50, but a pitta stuff to bursting with falafel, tahini, crunchy salad and a bowl of good chilli sause was about a fiver.

The falafel themsleves were wonderfully crunky on the outside, and nicely chunky on the inside, not the lump of deep fried hummus or Mc Chickpea Nuggets that you sometimes get. The take out baklava to finish was also excellent.I stopped in for falafel this evening, and it was excellent. For the centre of London it is cheap as chips. OK, so a can of coke is about 1.50, but a pitta stuff to bursting with falafel, tahini, crunchy salad and a bowl of good chilli sause was about a fiver.

The falafel themsleves were wonderfully crunky on the outside, and nicely chunky on the inside, not the lump of deep fried hummus or Mc Chickpea Nuggets that you sometimes get. The take out baklava to finish was also excellent.

Lina Stores - by BasilKhalil

BasilKhalil — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 11:20:59 +0000

Review by BasilKhalil

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7437 6482

Tags: italian, deli, mediterranean

Very friendly owners, wide selection of great authentic Italian food.
Try their home-made pasta. Itâ¬"s the BEST!
Very friendly owners, wide selection of great authentic Italian food.
Try their home-made pasta. Itâ¬"s the BEST!

Well Dressed - by lou1982

lou1982 — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 17:08:27 +0000

Review by lou1982

Rating: 3.00

Tags: closed down

Used to love the hot wraps for my lunch - now has been replaced by another shop :(Used to love the hot wraps for my lunch - now has been replaced by another shop :(