Latest reviews in Tufnell Park, London, United Kingdom

Crystal Charcoal Restaurant - One of London's 5 best Kebab Houses! by AliZebu

AliZebu — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 22:28:49 +0000

Review by AliZebu

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7281 2846

'Crystal Restaurant' of Holloway Road is so highly regarded by Kebab fans that my expectations on my first visit were high - but easily met.

Firstly, it was not quite what I imagined in terms of conception. I had believed it to be an ocakbasi restaurant similar to 'Best Mangal' of North End Road with a large open Turkish BBQ in the centre but it was a smaller more intimate cafe type place that also serves burgers and rather more unusual - stews.

However, shop appearances aside, the Mixed Donner I ordered was truly EXCELLENT.
The busyness brought on by its local popularity meant both the Lamb & Chicken Donners (cuts of meat - schwarma style) were freshly carved from the spit and hence were perfectly cooked being both crispy and succulent.
The salad was basic but fresh and everything was thickly chopped. The Chilli Sauce was a nice thick one spooned on from a steel bowl - moderately hot but tasty. The Garlic Sauce was fine. The wrap was that floury Turkish "Village Bread" and while smaller than those served in Best Mangal the price was only Â£3.30 (Â£4.30 to eat in) so in comparison is good value for money.

Service wise they were fast, competent and prepared the kebab to my specifications albeit somewhat curtly. They seemed to be friendlier to the regular customers and were obviously used to serving many people promptly.

One visit is enough to convince me Crystal's is one of London's finest Kebab Houses and deserving of their reputation.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!'Crystal Restaurant' of Holloway Road is so highly regarded by Kebab fans that my expectations on my first visit were high - but easily met.

Firstly, it was not quite what I imagined in terms of conception. I had believed it to be an ocakbasi restaurant similar to 'Best Mangal' of North End Road with a large open Turkish BBQ in the centre but it was a smaller more intimate cafe type place that also serves burgers and rather more unusual - stews.

However, shop appearances aside, the Mixed Donner I ordered was truly EXCELLENT.
The busyness brought on by its local popularity meant both the Lamb & Chicken Donners (cuts of meat - schwarma style) were freshly carved from the spit and hence were perfectly cooked being both crispy and succulent.
The salad was basic but fresh and everything was thickly chopped. The Chilli Sauce was a nice thick one spooned on from a steel bowl - moderately hot but tasty. The Garlic Sauce was fine. The wrap was that floury Turkish "Village Bread" and while smaller than those served in Best Mangal the price was only Â£3.30 (Â£4.30 to eat in) so in comparison is good value for money.

Service wise they were fast, competent and prepared the kebab to my specifications albeit somewhat curtly. They seemed to be friendlier to the regular customers and were obviously used to serving many people promptly.

One visit is enough to convince me Crystal's is one of London's finest Kebab Houses and deserving of their reputation.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Big Red - Best chilli nachos - ever! by BiggseyMalone

BiggseyMalone — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:44:03 +0000

Review by BiggseyMalone

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7609 6662

Tags: pool, rock, late license

Great rock pub, pretty dingy lighting and a great jukebox, lots of Bruce Springsteen, Led Zep, Pink Floyd etc.

We live in South West London, quite a long way away but always make the journey specifically for the chilli nachos - seriously unbeatable. Always end up staying far too late, spending copious amounts on both the pool table and jukebox but well worth it.

If I lived closer we would eat those nachos at least twice a week!Great rock pub, pretty dingy lighting and a great jukebox, lots of Bruce Springsteen, Led Zep, Pink Floyd etc.

We live in South West London, quite a long way away but always make the journey specifically for the chilli nachos - seriously unbeatable. Always end up staying far too late, spending copious amounts on both the pool table and jukebox but well worth it.

If I lived closer we would eat those nachos at least twice a week!

Bangalore Brasserie - by easymarc123

easymarc123 — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 12:42:05 +0000

Review by easymarc123

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7267 7550

Tags: indian, takeaway

The food at this place is the best Indian food I've had in any restaurant, and I am a huge Indophile.
Having been there a lot I can recommend any of the balti specials -especially the palok dishes - but regularly return to Chicken Mirchi.
It's pretty cheap for London, the food is amazing, and the staff really friendly. The only problem is that it's rarely busy - probably due to location - which can make it feel slightly vacuous - on the plus side of this, you'll get your food quicker! I love this place and still maintain it's the best Indian in London.The food at this place is the best Indian food I've had in any restaurant, and I am a huge Indophile.
Having been there a lot I can recommend any of the balti specials -especially the palok dishes - but regularly return to Chicken Mirchi.
It's pretty cheap for London, the food is amazing, and the staff really friendly. The only problem is that it's rarely busy - probably due to location - which can make it feel slightly vacuous - on the plus side of this, you'll get your food quicker! I love this place and still maintain it's the best Indian in London.

The Spice - by stavros

stavros — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 23:49:53 +0000

Review by stavros

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7482 2700

Tags: indian, conservatory, takeaway

I just ordered some food from The Spice, and everything was great. The Tandoori chicken was very well presented and tasty, and the Vindaloo chicken was also very tasty but very very hot. It was quite filling for 9 pounds (partly due to the pint of milk I had to drink to get rid of the burning), and overall I would recommend it without hesitation. Even the guy who delivered the food was very nice and polite!I just ordered some food from The Spice, and everything was great. The Tandoori chicken was very well presented and tasty, and the Vindaloo chicken was also very tasty but very very hot. It was quite filling for 9 pounds (partly due to the pint of milk I had to drink to get rid of the burning), and overall I would recommend it without hesitation. Even the guy who delivered the food was very nice and polite!

Blue Moon Cafe - Favorite Thai Cafe by mrhollow

mrhollow — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 01:33:45 +0000

Review by mrhollow

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7267 8672

Tags: thai, romantic, crowded

Favorite Food Good value.

Favorite Food Good value.

Red - disappointing by nubianprincess

nubianprincess — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 22:41:38 +0000

Review by nubianprincess

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7482 7300

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

Tags: takeaway, terrace, mediterranean

i went here for a work leaving lunch this week. The actual venue looks appealing and the decor is inviting. The food was good and it was a large portion. Unfortunately the meals took a long time to arrive- about 1 hour- and then a few of our orders were not correct. This took a while to rectify too. The waiter we had was a bit flustered and certainly didn't appear to have graduated from' waiter etiquette school'! One of the younger waiters was more attentive and helped clarify the bill, as again there were some mistakes there too. Our experience didn't appear to be isolated- the people on the table next to us also had incorrect orders and were in the restaurant even longer than us!

That said, the food was good and i would like to think that this was just a bad day for them. One of my work colleagues went a couple of weeks before and said that she had no problems.

It's not the cheapest meal, but it is close to the station and if i was meeting friends and in and around the area then i would try it again.i went here for a work leaving lunch this week. The actual venue looks appealing and the decor is inviting. The food was good and it was a large portion. Unfortunately the meals took a long time to arrive- about 1 hour- and then a few of our orders were not correct. This took a while to rectify too. The waiter we had was a bit flustered and certainly didn't appear to have graduated from' waiter etiquette school'! One of the younger waiters was more attentive and helped clarify the bill, as again there were some mistakes there too. Our experience didn't appear to be isolated- the people on the table next to us also had incorrect orders and were in the restaurant even longer than us!

That said, the food was good and i would like to think that this was just a bad day for them. One of my work colleagues went a couple of weeks before and said that she had no problems.

It's not the cheapest meal, but it is close to the station and if i was meeting friends and in and around the area then i would try it again.

Cafe Metro - Cafe Metro by yasmine14

yasmine14 — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 11:59:47 +0000

Review by yasmine14

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7281 1883

Tags: quick bite, takeaway, quiet & relaxed

This cafe, in my opinion, is the best cafe in islington. The food is good and the servise is exceptional! It is a peaceful and clean cafe and i would really recommend it.This cafe, in my opinion, is the best cafe in islington. The food is good and the servise is exceptional! It is a peaceful and clean cafe and i would really recommend it.

The Grand Union - by adamt

adamt — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 17:23:05 +0000

Review by adamt

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7485 1837

Website: http://www.grandunioncamden.co.uK

Tags: cool, relaxed, friendly

What a great place, I went down on a Friday night after work, they call it Friday Club and it's aimed at the local businesses then carrying on all night, there were dj's from 6 playing great tunes and very lively and happy bar staff. We had a burger meal for 4.99 that was great. I will definitely be going again and would recommend it to anyone who can make it.What a great place, I went down on a Friday night after work, they call it Friday Club and it's aimed at the local businesses then carrying on all night, there were dj's from 6 playing great tunes and very lively and happy bar staff. We had a burger meal for 4.99 that was great. I will definitely be going again and would recommend it to anyone who can make it.

Eatzone Noodle House - Extremely, extremely tasty by curlyfries

curlyfries — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 20:39:24 +0000

Review by curlyfries

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7485 0152

Tags: good value, cheap eat, malaysian

I cannot believe how long I have lived round the corner from Eatzone and never eaten there. It has always appeared lifeless when I walked past so I never even thought of looking at the menu. However I gradually heard good words about it and started thinking maybe I should have a go...

...and tonight was the night. I've been ill for a few days and totally off my food (unheard of) so tonight was my 'I think I'd quite like to eat again' night and all I could think about was a big bowl of noodles. So off I went.

Still a bit spaced out from being poorly I looked at the menu, saw "char kwai teow" (Â£6.50), thought to myself "ate that in Malaysia; can't remember what it is but everything I ate in Malaysia was f*cking delicious", so picked that and some meat dumplings, because, well, when doesn't a meat dumpling perk you up?

There were a few people in there very contentedly eating big bowls of soup and mounds of fluffy white rice but there wasn't much of an atmosphere - well, why would there be in a white room with a few wooden benches - but who needs atmosphere for this kind of eating? I took my food away although I'd certainly go back there with a friend or a newspaper: can't say the staff were over-friendly but my food was ready in the time it took me to get to the cash machine and back.

And first meal in days or not, it was absolutely spot on. A generous helping of perfectly floppy, medium-thickness rice noodles, several enormous, meaty, curled-up prawns, thin strips of pork and a few bean sprouts, spring onions and some really tasty splatters of fried egg - and when do you ever say that about the egg you get in a takeaway? I literally could have been eating it in Malaysia, which is an extraordinary thing to say. The four steamed dumplings were plump and juicy and came with a zingy (sorry, awful word) dipping sauce for Â£4. Just what the doctored ordered. Which is good, because the first lot of antibiotics didn't work.

So I'd recommend a trip here wholeheartedly, it's excellent value and incredibly tasty and I'm rather pleased I'm moving away from K Town for a month because frankly, from now on I'm going to find it very hard to resist.I cannot believe how long I have lived round the corner from Eatzone and never eaten there. It has always appeared lifeless when I walked past so I never even thought of looking at the menu. However I gradually heard good words about it and started thinking maybe I should have a go...

...and tonight was the night. I've been ill for a few days and totally off my food (unheard of) so tonight was my 'I think I'd quite like to eat again' night and all I could think about was a big bowl of noodles. So off I went.

Still a bit spaced out from being poorly I looked at the menu, saw "char kwai teow" (Â£6.50), thought to myself "ate that in Malaysia; can't remember what it is but everything I ate in Malaysia was f*cking delicious", so picked that and some meat dumplings, because, well, when doesn't a meat dumpling perk you up?

There were a few people in there very contentedly eating big bowls of soup and mounds of fluffy white rice but there wasn't much of an atmosphere - well, why would there be in a white room with a few wooden benches - but who needs atmosphere for this kind of eating? I took my food away although I'd certainly go back there with a friend or a newspaper: can't say the staff were over-friendly but my food was ready in the time it took me to get to the cash machine and back.

And first meal in days or not, it was absolutely spot on. A generous helping of perfectly floppy, medium-thickness rice noodles, several enormous, meaty, curled-up prawns, thin strips of pork and a few bean sprouts, spring onions and some really tasty splatters of fried egg - and when do you ever say that about the egg you get in a takeaway? I literally could have been eating it in Malaysia, which is an extraordinary thing to say. The four steamed dumplings were plump and juicy and came with a zingy (sorry, awful word) dipping sauce for Â£4. Just what the doctored ordered. Which is good, because the first lot of antibiotics didn't work.

So I'd recommend a trip here wholeheartedly, it's excellent value and incredibly tasty and I'm rather pleased I'm moving away from K Town for a month because frankly, from now on I'm going to find it very hard to resist.

Cramers Butchers - by coomberc

coomberc — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 15:24:34 +0000

Review by coomberc

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7607 3208

great prices, really friendly family run place...and damn tasty.
caters for cheaper cuts as well for special occasions.great prices, really friendly family run place...and damn tasty.
caters for cheaper cuts as well for special occasions.

Peking Palace - Well worth repeated visits ! by EugeneNyunt

EugeneNyunt — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 08:09:58 +0000

Review by EugeneNyunt

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7281 8989

Website: http://www.thepekingpalace.com

Tags: chinese, family & home feel, lively

This nicely decked out restaurant serves the usual vegetarian delights to those with an Asian palate. No roadkill/ chicken, its fake meats are quite unlike the rubbery fare one might be more acquainted with from visits to all you can eat buffets.
I had among other things the mock duck - and this was a definite delight - visually appealing, tender and ever so slightly sweet, the person who went with me assessed the food as out of this world marvellous.
Although the restaurant's set at the top of a nasty road, it's far better than the dump that is tourist-infested Camden on a weekend; there the place becomes a dumping ground for polystyrene boxes coated in the remnants of deep-fried pigeon nuggets and ketchup.
If you're after peace and quiet, no nonsense, a place to chat seriously and thoughtfully, and great food not based on cruelty then I'd suggest this unique place. Bravo !This nicely decked out restaurant serves the usual vegetarian delights to those with an Asian palate. No roadkill/ chicken, its fake meats are quite unlike the rubbery fare one might be more acquainted with from visits to all you can eat buffets.
I had among other things the mock duck - and this was a definite delight - visually appealing, tender and ever so slightly sweet, the person who went with me assessed the food as out of this world marvellous.
Although the restaurant's set at the top of a nasty road, it's far better than the dump that is tourist-infested Camden on a weekend; there the place becomes a dumping ground for polystyrene boxes coated in the remnants of deep-fried pigeon nuggets and ketchup.
If you're after peace and quiet, no nonsense, a place to chat seriously and thoughtfully, and great food not based on cruelty then I'd suggest this unique place. Bravo !

Spaghetti House - If it's open... please go on in. by curlyfries

curlyfries — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 19:01:01 +0000

Review by curlyfries

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7485 7984

Tags: cosy, italian, lively

Here, here: this place is a cracker. Huge plates of tasty, filling food at ludicrously cheap prices in a very warm and friendly little room filled with an interesting mix of people. One thing: never have any idea when it's going to be open. Love it.Here, here: this place is a cracker. Huge plates of tasty, filling food at ludicrously cheap prices in a very warm and friendly little room filled with an interesting mix of people. One thing: never have any idea when it's going to be open. Love it.

Gulshaan - by LOVEANDKATE

LOVEANDKATE — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 18:41:26 +0000

Review by LOVEANDKATE

Rating: 4.00

Tags: indian, good value

I totally love this Indian - its not a great place to sit in and eat - but what it lacks in decor and ambiance - it surprises in taste and service.

I usually get take away - its really efficient and they have some interesting specials.

It tastes really fresh and the butter murgh is especially good.I totally love this Indian - its not a great place to sit in and eat - but what it lacks in decor and ambiance - it surprises in taste and service.

I usually get take away - its really efficient and they have some interesting specials.

It tastes really fresh and the butter murgh is especially good.

McDonald's Restaurant - by rosenfeldmarcbr

rosenfeldmarcbr — Tue, 19 May 2009 00:55:19 +0000

Review by rosenfeldmarcbr

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7272 8043

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

Tags: seating area, vegetarian dishes, childrens parties

goodgood

Da Milano - da milano dump by tippout

tippout — Fri, 08 May 2009 21:31:19 +0000

Review by tippout

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 7263 1360

Tags: takeaway

Avoid this place at all costs it is the WORST restaurant food i have ever tasted bland, tasteless and awful service when we complained about the food the heavy waiter was rude and aggressive ! what happened to customer service !!Avoid this place at all costs it is the WORST restaurant food i have ever tasted bland, tasteless and awful service when we complained about the food the heavy waiter was rude and aggressive ! what happened to customer service !!

The Sitara - Fingerpoppin' food and Jazzy music by stantoncarlisle

stantoncarlisle — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 12:39:11 +0000

Review by stantoncarlisle

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7281 0649

Tags: indian, lively, good value

Food here is scrumptious, well-prepared and presented and nicely flavoured by London Indian restuarant standards(which are lower than a limbo-ing love snake ) - if theres somewhere better I'd like to know about it. Portions are small-ish and well-priced. The jazzy joint is clean, not spotless - my shoes did a velco like stick to the floor - overall it looks shiny and fresh. Red walls with a skew-whiff assortment of Jazz photos and posters from the Rat-Pack to John Coltrane everything is covered. Music wise the background sounds need a little fine tuning - they veer from lounge to pedestrian bop. A great place that could be a world class noshery if the music matched the munchies.Food here is scrumptious, well-prepared and presented and nicely flavoured by London Indian restuarant standards(which are lower than a limbo-ing love snake ) - if theres somewhere better I'd like to know about it. Portions are small-ish and well-priced. The jazzy joint is clean, not spotless - my shoes did a velco like stick to the floor - overall it looks shiny and fresh. Red walls with a skew-whiff assortment of Jazz photos and posters from the Rat-Pack to John Coltrane everything is covered. Music wise the background sounds need a little fine tuning - they veer from lounge to pedestrian bop. A great place that could be a world class noshery if the music matched the munchies.

The Fortune Express - It's not bad by apple_pi

apple_pi — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 12:56:41 +0000

Review by apple_pi

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7272 0091

Tags: chinese

Not the best chinese food I've eaten, but it is certainly better than most of the other places in the area. They have managed to murder some of my favourite chinese dishes. Whilst some others are quite pleasant. Unfortunately lunchtime is not the best time to go there as it is swarmed by school children, a small minority of which can be quite arrogant and rude. A positive thing to note is that you can see the food being cooked. Although, I don't appreciate being told that their barbeque sauce is homemade and then seeing large quantities of ready made tinned barbeque sauce stacked in the corner.Not the best chinese food I've eaten, but it is certainly better than most of the other places in the area. They have managed to murder some of my favourite chinese dishes. Whilst some others are quite pleasant. Unfortunately lunchtime is not the best time to go there as it is swarmed by school children, a small minority of which can be quite arrogant and rude. A positive thing to note is that you can see the food being cooked. Although, I don't appreciate being told that their barbeque sauce is homemade and then seeing large quantities of ready made tinned barbeque sauce stacked in the corner.

Bar Lorca Tufnell Park - Has its uses by curlyfries

curlyfries — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 13:14:24 +0000

Review by curlyfries

Rating: 2.00Having managed to avoid this place for years I ended up in here as a bit of a last resort a couple of weeks ago since there aren't exactly a wealth of places to hang out late at night around this part of town. Totally lacking in any atmosphere at all, the interior is dreadful but the mohitos are surprisingly good.Having managed to avoid this place for years I ended up in here as a bit of a last resort a couple of weeks ago since there aren't exactly a wealth of places to hang out late at night around this part of town. Totally lacking in any atmosphere at all, the interior is dreadful but the mohitos are surprisingly good.

The Bull & Last - by sokratis

sokratis — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 18:34:10 +0000

Review by sokratis

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7267 3641

Tags: food, mediterranean, vegetarian dishes

Bull & Last pub quiz on Sunday was excellent. We came third, but only by a whisker. It was the biblical references that cost us the 3 bottles of wine second prize. Still very friendly atmosphere and the freshest pint of San Miguel I've had in a while. The bavette steak was ok, but next time I'm trying the beef pie.Bull & Last pub quiz on Sunday was excellent. We came third, but only by a whisker. It was the biblical references that cost us the 3 bottles of wine second prize. Still very friendly atmosphere and the freshest pint of San Miguel I've had in a while. The bavette steak was ok, but next time I'm trying the beef pie.

B & M Seafoods - Good quality produce comes at a price.... by AlexWoods

AlexWoods — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 10:35:21 +0000

Review by AlexWoods

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7485 0346

Tags: value for money, good service, bad

While I appreciate that feeling ripped off is not a recommendation, I feel that sjt is being a little harsh on B&M Seafood (and has every right to be so!)

We are, however, both agreed that the quality of the produce is top drawer. I went on Saturday as part of a recon mission, and was so impressed at how delicious and fresh the fish looked that I purchased a mackerel for my lunch and a red gurnard for myself and "The Dorris", as she loathes to be called, for Sunday evening.

The mackerel was so bright eyed I could imagine the beautiful tiger-striped beasty was but playing a trick on me and waiting to spring up at any moment and make a bid for freedom. Simple treatment (baked on a bed of bay leaves, parboiled potatoes, lemon and shallots - DELICIOUS!), one of the tastiest mackerel I've had since the last time I went fishing for them myself.

The gurnard was of similarly high quality. If you have not yet indulged in the delights of gurnard I urge you to do so! Many older cook books describe it as "insipid", "bitter", and many discount it as not being worth eating at all. This is nonsense. It's firm, white, meaty flesh is very tasty indeed and stands up well to pot-roasting, addition to stews and soups, and bakes very well wrapped in pancetta or streaky bacon, much like monk fish. With an anchovy butter or slightly piquant parsley sauce, it is rapidly becoming one of my favourite fish. This is rapidly becoming an essay rather than a review. Back to the point.

The fish were delicious, the monger knowledgeable, amiable and cooperative. I asked if he had any off cuts I could use for stock and walked out with 4 bright, fresh sea bass carcasses and heads.

Now, one can pay less than £8 for a mackerel and a gurnard, but both fish were large enough to produce two generous meals. Bearing this in mind along with the quality of the fish and service, I would not hesitate to highly recommend this place, and do not begrudge paying the £8 I parted with.

B&M are not just fishmongers but butchers also. The range of meat was impressive, though stock slightly depleted by a Saturday afternoon, and looked very delicious indeed. I asked about ordering a joint for Easter Sunday and was assured that there would be not need as meat is delivered every Friday, but they would make sure there was a shoulder of lamb set aside for me. That kind of service is what makes me smile.

All in all, it isnâ¬"t cheap. Certainly not as cheap as your local supermarket (which doesnâ¬"t really break my heart!) but you get what you pay for, and more.While I appreciate that feeling ripped off is not a recommendation, I feel that sjt is being a little harsh on B&M Seafood (and has every right to be so!)

We are, however, both agreed that the quality of the produce is top drawer. I went on Saturday as part of a recon mission, and was so impressed at how delicious and fresh the fish looked that I purchased a mackerel for my lunch and a red gurnard for myself and "The Dorris", as she loathes to be called, for Sunday evening.

The mackerel was so bright eyed I could imagine the beautiful tiger-striped beasty was but playing a trick on me and waiting to spring up at any moment and make a bid for freedom. Simple treatment (baked on a bed of bay leaves, parboiled potatoes, lemon and shallots - DELICIOUS!), one of the tastiest mackerel I've had since the last time I went fishing for them myself.

The gurnard was of similarly high quality. If you have not yet indulged in the delights of gurnard I urge you to do so! Many older cook books describe it as "insipid", "bitter", and many discount it as not being worth eating at all. This is nonsense. It's firm, white, meaty flesh is very tasty indeed and stands up well to pot-roasting, addition to stews and soups, and bakes very well wrapped in pancetta or streaky bacon, much like monk fish. With an anchovy butter or slightly piquant parsley sauce, it is rapidly becoming one of my favourite fish. This is rapidly becoming an essay rather than a review. Back to the point.

The fish were delicious, the monger knowledgeable, amiable and cooperative. I asked if he had any off cuts I could use for stock and walked out with 4 bright, fresh sea bass carcasses and heads.

Now, one can pay less than £8 for a mackerel and a gurnard, but both fish were large enough to produce two generous meals. Bearing this in mind along with the quality of the fish and service, I would not hesitate to highly recommend this place, and do not begrudge paying the £8 I parted with.

B&M are not just fishmongers but butchers also. The range of meat was impressive, though stock slightly depleted by a Saturday afternoon, and looked very delicious indeed. I asked about ordering a joint for Easter Sunday and was assured that there would be not need as meat is delivered every Friday, but they would make sure there was a shoulder of lamb set aside for me. That kind of service is what makes me smile.

All in all, it isnâ¬"t cheap. Certainly not as cheap as your local supermarket (which doesnâ¬"t really break my heart!) but you get what you pay for, and more.