Latest reviews by GreenHippo

The Elgin

GreenHippo — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 16:44:18 +0000

Rating: 4.5

Location: 255 Elgin Avenue, W9 1NJ, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7624 2602

Website: http://www.the-elgin.com

Tags: good food, flat screen TVs, sports, gastropub, trendy

Full of tasty food and young professionalsI love the Elgin. It is the quintessential corner pub that has transformed itself from a stuffy, smoky, old man's hangout to a contemporary, relaxed but lively gastropub.

The decor is modern and the flat screen TVs are avidly watched by sports fans during the big sporting events. For those people without a sporting interest, the large windows give a good view on the street outside.

The food is wonderful - general pub food (salads, sandwiches, pasta, burgers) but all very nicely done and presented. The cappuccinos are excellent - as I discussed with my friend today, they are probably the best I have had in a pub.

Generally the staff are friendly and responsive.

Free wifi is the icing on the cake.

Scarlet Dot

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

Rating: 4.5

Location: Crispin Place, E1 6DW, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7375 0880

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

Tags: indian, business, good value, crowded

A bit of Indian glamour in SpitalfieldsWhen 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.

Gaucho Piccadilly

GreenHippo — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 13:31:29 +0000

Rating: 3.4

Location: 19 Swallow Street, W1B 4DJ, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7734 4040

Website: http://www.gauchosgrill.com

Tags: american, steak, good value, cocktails, crowded, central

Best steak place in LondonI had heard of Gaucho - something about steak and being not bad so my expectations were not that high...

However, I experienced this place last week when I took a client for lunch. Let me start with the greeting - the girl on the door was fun and had a real sense of humour. I was greeted by name when I went upstairs (so I guess the door girl was efficient too!) and shown to a "quiet" table (something I had requsted at the time I booked).

The decor is cool - cowhide on the walls and a preponderance of wood and leather....but swish too.

They had a good cocktail list - and the mojitos were fab - so good that I found myself ordering two (even though this was lunchtime!).

But you come here for the steak - and the choice was pretty substantive. Various choices of cuts, side dishes, etc. The waiter explained the choices in detail which was much appreciated as some of the cuts were Argentinian and not that familiar. Personally, I thought the food excellent - decent in quantity and quality.

I will definitely come back....

Le Lounge Bar

GreenHippo — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 17:30:07 +0000

Rating: 4.0

Location: 1 Place de la Bastille, 75004, Paris, France

Tags: Lively, bastille, wifi, Good value, good value, cocktails, French

Great for car-watching!Le Lounge Bar is ideally placed for watching the hustle and bustle of one of the busiest roundabouts in Paris. With no lines on the road and about 6 "lanes" of traffic negotiating this hazard, the number of near misses is quite substantial!

Only a stone's throw away from the Seine and in the heart of the popular Marais district of Paris, this cafe/bar/restaurant is completely opened up in the summer - allowing the flimsy purple curtains to blow gently in the breeze and to let people sitting inside feel as though they are also sitting outside at one of the street tables. The menu is simple for food but quite ambitious in terms of cocktails. They have a good range of mojitos and champagne cocktails which are quite reaosnably priced compared to the extortionate bars in the 8th and 1st districts. I also enjoyed a great Irish Coffee, which had a lot more whiskey in it than is sensible to drink on an empty stomach! Service is efficient and friendly.

And best of all - the wifi is free! You just need to ask for a password from your waiter.

Truc Vert

GreenHippo — Sun, 22 Jul 2007 20:57:56 +0000

Rating: 3.8

Location: 42 North Audley Street, W1K 6ZR, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7491 9988

Tags: french, bright, quiet & relaxed, good value, informal

A piece of France in LondonTruc Vert is a wonderful cafe tucked away on North Audley Street, only a minute's walk from Selfridges.

The wooden tables add to the ambience and the cafe is light and airy. There are a few tables outside for the occasional day that allows you to be seated outside.

Service is friendly and informal. Sometimes it can be a bit tricky to actually find someone to pay the bill, but on the whole I have liked the service.

The menu varies daily and is a decent mixture of salads, soup, fish and meat - all french in design of course!

Black & Blue

GreenHippo — Sun, 01 Apr 2007 03:43:35 +0000

Rating: 4.0

Location: 215-217 Kensington Church Street, W8 7LX, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7727 0004

Tags: crowded, prawns, open, average brew, steak, good value

Steak is not the only storyThis is a steak place. Or is it?

I have a number of friends who love coming here because of its steak - the restaurant chain was apparently established to provide Londoners with the opportunity to buy good steak at decent prices. Well, in that they have succeeded.

Anyway, I do not eat steak (being a seafood-eating vegetarian) and normally go for the goat's cheese salad (which is tasty and relatively healthy). However, last time I went to this restaurant, I tried the grilled prawns. Wow! This is a lovely dish - a generous helping of prawns (in their shells), grilled and topped with a tasty topping of garlic butter sauce. Definitely not the healthy option but worth every calorie!

I would not bother with the desserts here - they are a little boring. However, the starters are good - the flowering onion is worth a try, as is the artichoke dip with tortilla chips. Just save room for the steak or the prawns!

In the summer, the front of the restaurant opens out and it is a good place to hang out on a Sunday lunchtime, reading the newspapers and grabbing some lunch.

Yakitoria Restaurant - CLOSED

GreenHippo — Sun, 01 Apr 2007 03:29:00 +0000

Rating: 3.6

Location: 25 Sheldon Square, W2 6EY, London, United Kingdom

Tags: cool, prawn, canal, little venice, cool & smart, sushi, japanese, expensive, trendy

Tranquility, trend and tasteThis is a new place in Sheldon Square that only people in the know could ever find! It is hidden in Paddington Central - only a few metres from the main Bishop's Bridge Road but very tranquil as it is right on the canal front.

In the summer it is possible to sit outside, sipping one of the sake cocktails and people-watch. In the winter, the large floor to celing windows enable you to do the same thing.

The service is not bad, but the staff are not particularly charming. However, any shortfall on service is made up for with the food. I loved the pizza sushi but, as one of my favourite foods is pizza, that is not a surprise!

It is worth saving room for the prawn dish on the list of main courses - it is just delightful and I could not go to this restaurant without having it. It is one huge prawn, grilled and flavoured and is delicious.

There is a neat bar downstairs, which never seems very busy but I expect that it is popular for private parties. Personally, I would prefer a table upstairs with the view.

Cin Cin

GreenHippo — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 06:14:23 +0000

Rating: 4.0

Location: 1154 Robson Street, V6E 1B5, Vancouver, Canada

Tags: italian, buzzing, robson street, vancouver, pizza, trendy, lively

Best Italian in Vancouver?This business-casual Italian restaurant is based on the trendy Robson Street. The entrance to the restaurant is quite hard to find - since the restaurant is upstairs and there is a small doorway with some steps leading to the upstairs entrance.

The bar is in the middle of the restaurant and is quite well-stocked with a small but inventive range of cocktails. I had a French 75, which is a gin-based martini and found it to be good but pretty strong.

The kitchen is semi-open so it is possible to see the staff hard at work at preparing your food. Decor is Italian (which is what you would expect in an Italian restaurant!) but is quite sophisticated and trendy.

I had a small green salad (I was trying to watch my calories!) but the special house dressing was very tasty and the leaves were fresh and full of flavour. Throwing caution to the wind, I then progressed onto a wild mushroom and truffle pizza, which was thin crust and delicious.

Passing up the dessert, I instead had a glass of port - Dow's 1985 - which was one of the best glasses of port I have ever had. At CDN $18 per glass it was by far the most expensive on the menu but was worth every cent. I am very fussy about my cappuccino - this was excellent even though I ordered the decaf version.

Cin Cin's is quite loud and not really a romantic restaurant. It is perfect for a group of 4 or 6 people and the atmosphere is buzzing.

The menu came with a list of accolades that this restaurant has received - including best italian in Vancouver. I have been to a few Italian restaurants in the city and agree that this is the best that I have experienced. This does come at a price - tonight's experience cost about CDN $220 including service, two courses each, port, coffee and three cocktails each.

Cactus Club Cafe

GreenHippo — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 05:40:59 +0000

Rating: 3.0

Location: 1136 Robson Street, V6E 1B2, Vancouver, Canada

Tags: lively, faijtas, robson street, vancouver, cocktails, asian

Is it worth the wait?This is right in the middle of the hustle and bustle of Robson Street. Less than a stone's throw from Banana Republic, HMV and many other fab shops it is a decent place to stop for lunch or dinner - if you can get a table!

There are a couple of prized tables outside, deserted in the rain but incredibly popular in the summer. Inside, there always appears to be a wait - whatever the season. I have been here for lunch and dinner and have had to wait 15 to 30 mins for a table both times. Reservations are not allowed and so you always end up on a waiting list, being promised a 5 minute wait that seems to last more like 30 mins. There is a small bar serving quite decent cocktails - I rather enjoyed the Pomegranate Cosmo.

The ambience of the place is quite happening - lots of local people grabbing a bite with friends. It is pretty laid back and relaxed and the staff are all incredibly attractive - which might explain the large number of men in the place!

The food is a mixture of asian flavours with some mexican/american food thrown in for good measure. We shared the potato wedges with cheese as a starter - not very exciting but then what do you expect....

We both had fajitas - I had the portobello mushroom version and my friend had the beef version. The soured cream, cheese, lettuce and tortillas arrived in large quantities and the mushrooms/steak came to the table sizzling, along with beans, peppers and onions. I quite enjoyed it but for the price (the mushroom fajitas were about CDN $16) there was something lacking.

The service was quite good - although a little neglectful. I think that the waitresses had their hands full entertaining the male clientele!

Overally, I would go there again, but would reduce my expectations and probably have a reasonable time.

La Donna Canone

GreenHippo — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 17:16:22 +0000

Rating: 4.3

Location: Hammer Strasse 28, 40221, Duesseldorf, Germany

Tags: italian, easy-going, harbour, dusseldorf, truffles, pasta, business, good value

In search of truffles!I used to work near this place and have had lunch and dinner there quite a bit. It is in the harbour area of Dusseldorf so is a bit of a trek if you are in the old town, exploring the sights, but it is well worth the 15 minute walk or the 5 minute taxi ride.

From the outside, the restaurant looks unremarkable. Inside, it is relaxed and small - although at lunch you do get a fair number of people in suits as it is a great place to take business colleagues.

The specials are all marked on a blackboard and change daily. I am not sure that I have ever ordered from the main menu - something always catches my imagination on the blackboard.

The starter of mozzarella and tomato is splendid - simple but with excellent quality cheese and a very tasty olive oil, this is everything that this dish should be.

My favourite dish here is the truffle pasta (normally taglioni), where the pasta is simply cooked with a little olive oil and then the truffle is grated (in front of you) over the top. I am a fan of truffles and I have never had so much truffle in one meal! The portions are exceptionally generous.

Prices are reasonable (although not cheap).

In my opinion, this is the best place to eat near the harbour (and one of the best in Dusseldorf). Do not let yourself be tempted by the flasher-looking places in the vicinity - I have been to them all and this is the best!

Joe Forte's

GreenHippo — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 16:59:19 +0000

Rating: 4.0

Location: 777 Thurlow Street, V6E 3V5, Vancouver, Canada

Website: http://www.joefortes.ca/

Tags: american, vancouver, crab cakes, seafood, business, steak, great service, bustling, expensive, friendly, lively

Turf 'n' surfJoe Forte's is a wonderful steak and seafood restaurant, with a cosmopolitan ambience and excellent service.

The restaurant is located just off Robson Street (the main shopping street) and therefore the valet parking is definitely worth the money as finding a place to park in this area can be tricky. I have an apartment nearby so this is not a problem that I have to deal with, thankfully. Inside, the over-riding impression is one of wood, stained glass and bustle. The staff are all impeccably turned out and are very alert and attentive without being OTT.

The speciality of the house is the steak and seafood combinations as well as the oyster bar. It is possible to just sit at the oyster bar and munch (or rather swallow) your way through an impressive list of oyster varieties.

Personally, I love the crab cake - it is a starter, but I often eat it with the asaparagus with hollandaise sauce as a main course. It is truly delicious.

My partner had the beef tenderloin and given that he is one of the fussiest steak eaters, his praise says something positive about the quality of the beef!

The cocktails are so-so. A pretty long list (and maybe I just chose badly) but the Luxury Cosmopolitan was just not as good as it could have been.

This is a great place to go on a Saturday night with a couple of good friends. Prices are great (for Europeans!) but on the high side for Vancouver. Main courses are in the region of CDN $25 to CDN $40 - so dinner for two would cost about CDN $120 (depending on choice of drinks).

Black & Blue

GreenHippo — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 17:26:26 +0000

Rating: 3.7

Location: 90-92 Wigmore Street, W1U 3RF, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7486 1912

Tags: american, oxford street, no reservations, dinner, steak, good value, lunch, relaxed

Best steak in London??Reportedly this was started by someone who recognised that London was lacking a restaurant that sold great steak at reasonable prices. This is a gap that Black & Blue has certainly filled!

The restaurant is casual in style - lots of wood and booths down the side, with more open tables in the middle. The big windows make it feel spacious, light and airy and provide a good opportunity to watch over the happenings on Wigmore Street.

It is not possible to reserve a table (unless you are in a group of 6 or more) but I have never had to wait for more than a few minutes.

The food is simple but delicious and reasonably priced. Onion rings (starter) are pretty tasty although there are probably a whole day's worth of calories in half a portion! However, this is not the place to come if you want to count calories. The focus is definitely on beef in general (and steak in particular) but there are limited other options - one of my favourites is a goat's cheese salad which is great for lunch.

Service is ok - nothing to write home about. When I last went there, it seemed to take forever to get the bill - this is a common problem in restaurants these days!

Locanda Locatelli

GreenHippo — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 09:28:34 +0000

Rating: 4.6

Location: 8 Seymour Street, W1H 7JZ, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7935 9088

Website: http://www.locandalocatelli.com

This is a wonderful "special occasion" restaurant. The only problem is getting a table in the first place - it is easier for lunch but you need to give a couple of weeks' notice for dinner. In fact, I could not get the restaurant to pick up the phone and so dropped in to make the reservation.

However, all is worth it when you are actually seated. The food is wonderful - I had melt in the mouth truffle tagliolini which had an exceptionally generous portion of truffle, which the waiter grated onto the pasta at the table.

I love dressing up and this was a great place to make an effort. The clientele is varied - from business people to romantic couples - but the buzzing (but not too loud) atmosphere was perfect.

Try it out! But wait for that special occasion as it is not cheap.

Raoul's

GreenHippo — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 23:47:09 +0000

Rating: 3.0

Location: 13 Clifton Road, W9 1SZ, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7289 7313

Tags: lively, desserts, soups, queues, salads, family & home feel, good brew, good value, fun, local, crowded, brasserie, outdoor

Not to be missed for Saturday or Sunday BrunchRaoul's has long been a favourite place in Maida Vale, attracting a wide cross-section of people at all times of the day and night.

However, by far the best time to come here to experience the atmosphere is on a Saturday or Sunday between 10am and 3pm, when locals descend on the place to eat simple food, drink rather tasty milkshakes and smoothies, read the voluminous weekend newspapers (there is a helpful newsagent next door!) and soak up the sun. The tables sprawl across the pavement and on any day where the sun is shining, you might find yourself queuing for some time to snare a good one!

The menu is quite extensive - sandwiches, salads, all types of breakfast dishes and a wide selection of other items. In fact, the menu is so large that the staff will not let people change any of the menu items (no substitutions). The desserts are wonderful - but are definitely made to share. One item that is worth a special mention is the fresh fruit salad with greek yoghurt, honey and nuts. I normally choose that for breakfast - no sharing allowed!

It is worth mentioning that there is a separate dinner menu that is a little more upscale but not particularly expensive.

Raoul's is the place to come to experience a little bit of the local life in Maida Vale.

The Waterway

GreenHippo — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 23:31:07 +0000

Rating: 3.4

Location: 54 Formosa Street, W9 2JU, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7266 3557

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

Tags: good value, gastro-pub, open fire, canal, little venice, british, gastro pub, family & home feel, beer garden

Canal-fronted, open-fired gastro-pubThe Waterway has been transformed from a local, downmarket pub into a warm, friendly gastro-pub.

Without doubt the best time to come here is in the summer, especially during the Little Venice festival, when it is great fun to sit outside on the side of the canal and watch the canal boats floating by effortlessly.

However, this is not summer, and my recent visit left me with mixed feelings. Whilst the staff tried hard, our order was messed up on a number of occasions. I started with a very tasty deep friend goat's cheese with salad which was truly delicious. I then followed this with a wild mushroom risotto. My experience is that risottos can be slightly boring and very heavy, with little variety unless the flavours are quite strong. Unfortunately, this was a poor version and I reached taste saturation quite quickly.

The sticky toffee pudding was a crispy toffee pudding - interesting and quite nice, but not as expected.

I would definitely come back to The Waterway again but would probably limit myself to enjoying the wonderful cocktails, unless sitting outside and experiencing the BBQ during the summer.