Latest reviews by Brodule

Yijo Korean Restaurant

Brodule — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 09:48:27 +0000

Rating: 5.0

Location: 1 Station Road, N3 2SB, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 8343 3960

Tags: good value, Korean, family & home feel

Yijo Korean RestaurantThis is a totally authentic Korean restaurant which has had high standards since inception, many years ago. Well above average.

A little hidden as it is off the high street, though very close to the Finchley Central southside tube exit. Well worth an exploratory visit.

Once you have adjusted your palate to the unusual dishes, you will thoroughly enjoy it. The menu does go some way to helping you understand Korean food so that you can plan.

If you are unfamiliar with the menu, go for one of the set menu options, and be prepared for a good feast.

The Kimchee they make is so good it is a sideline and sold on to other places in London, and the owner has written & published a book on the cusine.

ThThere is a good selection of wines spirits & beers and of course most of the customers drink beer.

Frequented by lots of Japanese as well as locals.

Durum Restaurant

Brodule — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 09:09:51 +0000

Rating: 4.0

Location: 119 Ballards Lane, N3 1LJ, London, United Kingdom

A thriving well run simple place where they are taking very good care of the food which is well above average.
Inexpensive excellent value and recommended.

The Market Trader

Brodule — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 18:29:36 +0000

Rating: 3.5

Location: 50 Middlesex Street, E1 7EX, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7247 3459

Website: http://www.thorleytaverns.com

Tags: relaxed, gastro pub, friendly

The Market TraderWhile this pub is under restoration from a new owner, the interior already looks much better & is more welcoming. A good range of wines and beers, and good food too.

Foliage Restaurant

Brodule — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 04:35:12 +0000

Rating: 5.0

Location: 66 Knightsbridge, SW1X 7LA, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7201 3723

Website: http://www.mandarinoriental.com/london

Tags: good value, international

AddictiveWent today for Sunday Lunch. It was pretty much full as far as I could see, so advisable to book, and serves a full menu list similar to weekdays.
The Mandarin Oriental hotel in Knightsbridge is always a pleasant place to visit and all the staff are helpful and friendly so it is a pleasure to risk your wallet there. To find the restaurant you walk in the entrance, up the stairs and go straight but to the left side of the central wall, and on your left will appear an entrance to a very nice bar (excellent for a comfy drink) with the restaurant reception alongside.
We were nearly first to arrive and were seated by the window overlooking the park. They have two levels of set menu as well as random choice, and our party chose the 4 course with 2 glases of wine priced at Â£37 + service. There is a more expensive tasting menu that also looked good, but the choices on the menu we chose easily pleased everyone with a choice of three dishes at each course, plus cheese extra if wished.
I chose the foie gras, gnocchi and then the Guinea fowl, followed by Calvados souffle. The others chose crab, salmon, halibut or lamb, and another pud. For me all was simply first class, and I thoroughly enjoyed everything I chose. I got a taste of nearly every dish, the crab was good but did not have quite the flair I expected though the accroutrements on the plate were very good. I donâ¬"t like almost translucent Salmon, which is very fashonable, but it tasted ok, the halibut made my companion exstatic it was so good and the lamb was also devoured. The souffle was very good, with a little apple sauce in itâ¬"s centre, served in a small glass accompanied by an apple sorbet ball, with powdered decoration, leaf & stalk to make it look like a miniture apple, a conceit surmounted by the sensational tase, quite the highlight of our meal.

The wines chosen by the ever helpful & understanding Somelier matched the food, and of course we got through more than our allocated two glasses, but were very fairly, accurately, and modestly charged for the extras. We finished up with a 20 year Tawny, and a fresh Sauterne & teas.

Do go, you will love it, but expect over Â£50 head of course, unless you are very careful. Excellent value.

Pied a Terre

Brodule — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 23:13:38 +0000

Rating: 5.0

Location: 34 Charlotte Street, W1T 2NH, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7916 0786

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

Tags: relaxing, expensive, french, lively

Assuredly goodA very fine restauant where the food is always the best you have had for ages. Worthy of any excuse if you can afford it. If you can get more than 6 people they will usually let you have a room to yourself. The wines are a bit daunting, but there is a Portugese red that is very good and itâ¬"s the cheapest wine! look also to Alsace. And at the end you get to pig out on the petite fleurs. The staff always make you feel welcome and relaxed and seem to take a genuine interest in your enjoyment & comfort. A great place to 'destroy' the afternoon when you need a break.

Waterside Inn

Brodule — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 23:06:27 +0000

Rating: 5.0

Location: Ferry Road, SL6 2AT, Bray, United Kingdom

Phone: 01628 620691

Website: http://www.waterside-inn.co.uk

Tags: Michelin french fine dining

Relaxed first class diningWent there for a long lunch and thoroughly enjoyed it. Maidendead rail & taxi Â£8 each way. Genuinely welcoming service without being over egged and of course a pleasant attractive dining room. (I have also eaten in the private room and it is also very comfortable). Had Gaspacho with ravioli, served with Gewurtz, splendid. Salmon (fish is a little undercooked IMHO you could ask) with an excellent white burgundy St. Romaine. Roast beef beautifully done (specifically as I requested it) and & rather nice Bergerac. Peach & Montbazilliac to finish. Ho hum.

Le Boudin Blanc

Brodule — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 22:58:26 +0000

Rating: 4.4

Location: 5 Trebeck Street, W1J 7LT, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7499 3292

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

Tags: lively, good value, french

Comfortable fine diningThe restaurant is in a very old, atmospheric building in Shepherds market in the centre Of Mayfair. We were a party of 12 (the miniumum) in a private room for dinner on a Friday. We were greeted very nicely and served fizz so we could mingle & chat before being seated. We had a Mersault and a lesser Burgundy from their list with our meal and both were above average. After we sat and during ordering we were served excellent 'Frenchâ¬" bread that was freshly made, if a little heavy. There was a slight delay in getting the starter to table but thereafter all flowed in a timely manner and our waitress was attentive throughout. I had Beef Carpaccio followed by pan roasted Chicken. The starter portions were too large in my opinion & others. They were however good eating all agreed, though I found my beef a little bland. The follow on dish had moments of above average flavouring and was correctly cooked. Thanks to stuffing myself with the bread & starter I wilted a little, but finished most of my dish. The vegetarian risotto alternative was good & flavourful, though after a few mouthfulls you realised it was over salted, and again too generous and so did not get finished by those who chose it. I chose the Tart Tatin to finish, and though flavourful it was a little too caramelised and the icecream accompanyment was much needed. The cost was Â£65 a head. I would go again if in the area and it was appropriate, but there is huge competition closeby!

L'Atelier De Joel Robuchon

Brodule — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 22:50:18 +0000

Rating: 4.6

Location: 13-15 West Street, WC2H 9NE, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7010 8600

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

Tags: french, pretentious, expensive

Return match neededDined here as a guest of someone so can't really comment on the cost, but it gave me the feeling of unlimited expense. Personally I was not comfortable with the interior design and the slightly exposed feeling I got with my particular place. Staff were quite professional but somehow distant. It's a tricky thing at this price level and perhaps they are too busy to pull off the 'welcome back' that you get even on infrequent dining at some better places. The food was well above average and certainly qualified for more than one Michelin star, though in the couple of months since I was there memory of particular dishes has faded. As I did not choose the wines either, I can only comment that they were good without being truly outstanding but of course they may well have just been not my style. The whole experience did not create that 'must return' feeling, but it was sufficiently good that a return match must be arranged.

The Plumtree

Brodule — Mon, 05 May 2008 06:31:50 +0000

Rating: 4.0

Location: 54 Farringdon St, EC4A 4BD, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7353 8404

Tags: relaxed, late license, mature, excellent pub food, cool & smart, young professionals, independent pub, friendly

A good value friendly bar/food placeAn interesting looking bar in a listed building. Has 3 areas and is well suited to parties/functions.
Very friendly staff, above average food and wine, with the winelist being much more interesting than expected and modestly priced.

Free WiFi & were happy to serve a coffee while someone surfed away.