Latest reviews by Lacrimosa

The George IV

Lacrimosa — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 09:56:13 +0000

Rating: 3.3

Location: 185 Chiswick High Road, W4 2DR, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 8994 4624

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

Tags: comedy, Headliners Comedy Club, pub chain, late license

Comedy nights in ChiswickContinuing on from Dharminder's review, I can comment on the comedy nights having been to one last night!

The George IV is a large pub with a large warehouse-type hall out back, where the Headliners Comedy Club is held several nights a week. All shows start at 9pm. Tickets are available on the door, but, if you're twitchy about turning up without a ticket, they may be booked in advance by phone. A small table may also be reserved, which is well worth having though only just large enough to accommodate four people, one rubber lobster (don't ask), four drinks, four empties, a basket of chips and a bottle of ketchup - but no more.

The chips were mine. What can I say? They were... uh... very hot and crispy. Mmm.

Service is carried out by a small army of smartly dressed and friendly girls who mostly seem to hail from Australia, with table service in the comedy club. We found the service to be very good, although rather too many chairs have been squashed into the venue, making me wonder how the people who were languishing in the sea of chairs several rows back fared for service. This is pure speculation, though.

So, what was the comedy itself like? Well, I think everyone there that night would agree that it didn't have us rolling in the aisles (impossible due to all the chairs anyhow) but it certainly raised a few smiles, and of course the line-up changes every week.

The George IV is a two minute walk away from Turnham Green tube.

Ooze Risotto Bar

Lacrimosa — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 11:30:59 +0000

Rating: 3.8

Location: 62 Goodge Street, W1T 4NE, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7436 9444

Website: http://www.ooze.biz

Tags: friendly staff, risotto

Choose OozeAs a risotto enthusiast I've been eager to visit Ooze, and my opportunity arrived last week. After some momentary confusion with the doors which saw me yanking at the wrong one like an idiot (tip: it's the one on the right) we were given a warm welcome by the staff. Inside the decor is clean, bright and somewhat clinical. Our waiter was good enough to bring me a sample of the house white which, at £12.95 a bottle, my friend and I deemed to be an acceptable alternative to our usual Pinot Grigio.

Onwards to the food. Following a thimbleful of olives (not free), we started with mixed Bruschetta; an eclectic mix of fennel and olive, tomato salsa, and fig and marscapone. I wasn't too sure about that last one, but the others were very tasty. For the main course I ordered a classic risotto with clams while Tom ordered the day's special risotto with peas and speck and a shaving of parmesan. Now, much has been made in previous reviews about the texture of Ooze's risotto - and rightly so - so my pennyworth is that I found the texture to be pretty good. The rice had just the right amount of bite and the consistency was moist enough to be refreshing without being too runny. I would have liked a few more clams with mine though, while Tom said that his was a little heavy on the peas.

Lastly, dessert. Avoid them. Tom's baked Alaska was 90% egg white while my apple pie sported undercooked apple and watery custard.

All in all, we had a good meal but were glad of the 50% discount on food that my Trusted Places reward card gave me. Certainly I would happily return there for the £5.95 lunchtime special that 'ecuse' mentions below, but I prefer somewhere a little cosier in the evening.

Troubadour Cafe

Lacrimosa — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 11:11:51 +0000

Rating: 3.9

Location: 263-267 Old Brompton Road, SW5 9JA, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7370 1434

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

Tags: music, live entertainment, candle-lit, poetry, comedy, bohemian

A place of many partsIt was a balmy June weekday evening, and the Troubadour was very busy out back in the Mediterranean-style paved courtyard, and inside too. Happily it was not so packed that I couldn't find a table, since it's table-service only here: I was eventually informed of this by a member of staff after uselessly standing at the bar for several minutes with my purse out. It's a nice idea which, in practice, is a shambles: service was slow, paying even slower, and the practice of presenting just one bill per table a logistical nightmare for those wishing to pay separately, as we did.

But enough of my grumbling. The Troubadour is well worth a visit for the bohemian decor (check out the photos above), the sea of old string instruments hanging from the ceiling, the layers of old varnish on the woodwork, and the candle-lit tables. It would be terrific for an informal date - low-lit, intimate, and certain to bestow you with kudos for knowing somewhere so individual. I didn't eat, but noticed plates of burgers and French fries going past. We were primarily there for the live music, so eventually wandered downstairs to the basement, an area that loses its bohemian quality to make way for a typical subterranean gig-spot: all dark walls and slightly scruffy looking, with a normal bar thank goodness. Naturally you're not going to see the same line up that we did that night, but - for the record - the four acts we saw collectively get full points, a big tick, several gold stars and all the brownie points they can carry. If this is typical of the quality of entertainment at the Troubadour, I will definitely be going there again soon. There's comedy and poetry nights too.

Last but not least, the toilets deserve an honorary mention. First off, they're semi-unisex: chaps to the left, ladies to the right, with a bizarre font-like communal basin in the middle. But the hand dryers, oh! the hand dryers! You know the type that you have to wave your hands under for five minutes just to get one paltry cough of air? Well, this isn't the sort you'll find at the Troubadour. No. These hand dryers are so powerful your hands dry in seconds and your clothes and hair billow out dramatically behind you. As Major McCa, one of the entertainers on the night, said: "Is that a tsunami? No, it's just the world's strongest hand dryer."

Nearest tubes, West Brompton and Earls Court.

Hit Or Miss Inn

Lacrimosa — Mon, 28 May 2007 18:29:54 +0000

Rating: 2.0

Location: Penn Street, HP7 0PX, Amersham, United Kingdom

Tags: expensive, country location, pub garden, log fire, british, family & home feel, beer garden, crowded

Hit or Miss? For me, a MissLet me start by saying that I had every intention of giving this pub a good review. Sadly, it's not going to get one.

The Hit Or Miss is situated in the rural village of Penn Street, roughly midway between Beaconsfield and Amersham in Buckinghamshire, reached by hedgerow-fringed lanes. The village boasts not just one but two cricket fields with a country pub next to each, both of which are currently owned by the same people. Of these, the Hit Or Miss is considered to be the most 'foodie'. I've been there perhaps a dozen times over the last few years, though not for while, so I dragged my somewhat startled mother there for a Bank Holiday lunch today with a view to reviewing it for Trusted Places.

So what went wrong?

STRIKE ONE: We were the only table of two to be seated away from the cosy tables and roaring log fire, instead placed in the newer dining area - a comparatively soulless room with no heating, on what was an unseasonably cold and wet day. For warmth, my jacket stayed firmly on - this despite all the woolies I was wearing. Meanwhile the other tables filled with large parties of diners, including no less than eight screaming under-fives on one table alone. We could hardly hear ourselves think, let alone talk.

STRIKE TWO: Having asked our waitress what draft cider was available, I somehow ended up with one of these new-fangled syrupy bottled ciders. While I didn't make a fuss, I did reject the pint glass full of ice it came with. Ugh!

STRIKE THREE: We both ordered the minted lamb burger with grilled rosemary focaccia and a red onion relish. This is something I remember enjoying on a previous visit, but today I found the burger rather watery and the relish too vinegary. My side of chips was excellently hot and crispy, but my mother's "salad" consisted almost entirely of coleslaw and potato salad. Admittedly she didn't mind it, but I myself would have found all that mayonnaise overwhelming.

STRIKE FOUR: The prices. Or perhaps I should say "AAAAAAARGH, the PRICES!" If you fancy a meat or fish main course, you won't find anything under a tenner here: only the vegetarian options are less. At the top of the price range you will find something along the lines of rosemary-crusted rack of lamb at a whopping £17.95. (Correct as of May 2007.)

That said, the Hit Or Miss is always busy. It's also pleasantly situated, especially on a hot summer's day with the gentle pock of leather on willow as a backdrop. They also sometimes have live music. Perhaps it's just the bad table that's inclined me to be critical. But the fact is, on this occasion, we couldn't leave fast enough and I'll not be going back any time soon.

Shunt Vaults

Lacrimosa — Sat, 26 May 2007 09:34:25 +0000

Rating: 4.5

Location: 20 Stainer Street, SE1 9RL, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7378 7776

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

Tags: cool, bizarre, theatrical, unusual

Ouch! With head still spinning from last night's meet at the Shunt Vaults (thanks for a great night, Trusted Places!) I shall attempt to separate fact from fantasy. It'll be tough going though.

This place is odd. Very odd. If you were to hit London in search of the elephant man, the bearded lady, Siamese twins and the Amazing Reptile Man from Deepest Utchichudo, this is where you should look first. It's like a recreation - a spookily authentic one at that - of the venue for a Victorian freak show which, historically, may well have been held in vaults like these. Hurdy-gurdy fairground music completes the effect. The only thing missing is the freaks (no sir, before you suggest it, I ain't no bearded lady) but Rob's review below demonstrates that freaks do sometimes make an appearance.

Loved the drollness of the staff. One on the door offered to wave the £5 entrance fee if I gave her my springbok handbag. Later on, the donation by one of our party of four tickets to see Meatloaf at Wembley Arena was handled in a enviably deadpan manner by the female DJ. There wasn't many people about when we arrived circa 6.30pm on a Friday, but the place gradually filled to a comfortable level. Through the gloaming, I even spotted people playing table football.

One last thing... there was some talk last night about this place closing down once the lease runs out in the summer. Can anyone confirm or clarify that?

Juice Bar

Lacrimosa — Thu, 17 May 2007 19:01:39 +0000

Rating: 5.0

Location: Leather Lane Market, EC1N 7TJ, London, United Kingdom

Tags: friendly, freshly squeezed, vegetable juice, fruit juice, market stall, healthy drink, juice, juice bar, market, good value, kiosk

Just juice!This juice bar is essentially a market stall along Leather Lane, near the corner of St Cross Street, run by a very pleasant South American couple. I don't know exactly when they're there, but certainly every weekday from early morning through to lunch time. Neither do I know what to call this place, so I'm imaginatively calling it 'Juice Bar'.

Anyway, they do juice. Just that. A wide range of freshly juiced fruit and vegetables in any combination you like, although they've got a long list of suggestions to help you decide. Nothing is juiced in advance, thus losing precious vitamins and minerals; it's juiced right there in front of you while you wait (or, if you're cheeky, while you go get a bagel). I usually order apple with lots of lime and ginger, which turbo-charges me for the rest of the morning. Two generous sizes are available at £2 and £3, and they don't ever top it up with water like I've seen them do in Fresh & Wild.

Brilliant!

Nearest tubes, Chancery Lane and Farringdon.

Muang Thai Cafe & Restaurant

Lacrimosa — Thu, 17 May 2007 17:49:50 +0000

Rating: 3.7

Location: 22 Charlwood Street, SW1V 2DY, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7592 9584

Tags: Thai, Pimlico, cheap eat, good value

Delicious Thai food without the frillsI've been to this restaurant many times with colleagues for lunch, most recently in April 2007. It looks tiny from the outside - as indeed it does from the inside - but it does have extra space in the basement, down a flight of narrow stairs. Lunch, in particular, is terrific value, with a two-course meal of starter and main course costing just £5.95. The steamed dumplings starter is absolutely mouthwatering, as are the mini spring rolls. To follow, the laksa (a thick noodle soup with chicken) is always popular, although I usually go for the crispy chilli fish with jasmine rice.

Unfortunately - and without exception, I'm afraid - I've found the service to be efficient but perfunctory, which does rather put a bit of a dampener on the experience (and reduces the tip) but I keep going back for the excellent and reasonably priced food.

Nearest tube is Pimlico, just a few minutes away.

The Ivy

Lacrimosa — Wed, 16 May 2007 17:25:31 +0000

Rating: 4.7

Location: 1 West St, WC2H 9NQ, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7836 4751

Website: http://www.the-ivy.co.uk/

Tags: romantic, calm, upmarket, exclusive, stylish

My experience of The Ivy was similar to Sue's, below. My date had apparently got a table at shortish notice by spinning a yarn about my being a special friend over from the US on a flying visit. (Lies!) Like Sue, we were given a narrow time slot, so began our meal by foregoing a starter and just ordering a main course. I plumped for cottage pie, which was small but delicious. When no move was made to oust us from our table - and noticing for ourselves that the restaurant wasn't full to capacity - we then went into reverse by ordering a starter, and left at our leisure. Dare I suggest that the difficulty one has in getting a table at The Ivy is a ploy to keep it exclusive? Certainly the atmosphere is low-key and restful. I liked it.

The celebrity hangout thing is a hoot. I didn't see anyone famous either, but did notice that everyone turned to look at us as we walked to our table - presumably to see if we were 'someone'. We weren't, of course, but it was fun pretending for a moment.

The Three Kings

Lacrimosa — Wed, 16 May 2007 15:40:36 +0000

Rating: 4.3

Location: 7 Clerkenwell Close, EC1R 0DY, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7253 0483

Tags: jazz, music quizz, Clerkenwell, creative, jukebox, DJ, unique, unusual, lively, live music

Designs on Clerkenwell?The clue is in the signage. Situated as it is in the heart of Clerkenwell, The Three Kings has long been a favourite with creatives: reflecting this, each letter of 'THREE KINGS' outside was crafted individually by a different designer.

Inside tends to vary a bit, but it's always an eclectic mixture of almost spit-and-sawdust traditional pub combined with low-key hipness. Stuff by local designers sometimes appears on the wall - papier mache creations or things made of glass and wire - which will be for sale, but if no one buys them they just stay there until they fall to bits. Or fall on someone's head. It's that kind of place.

Downstairs the tiling of what used to be the men's latrine is still up along one wall, between the front doors. The two little rooms upstairs are a relatively new thing (I remember it as living quarters) which provide extra space to escape to if it gets too crowded downstairs. On warm days everyone spills out onto the pavement or onto the steps of the church opposite, which drives the vicar crazy.

The food is very good, but only available at lunchtimes, and I think I'm right in saying that they still don't open at weekends. However you can get the best Bloody Mary in London here, with freshly grated horseradish and a dash of dry sherry - just make sure the landlord's son makes it if he's still working there. Lock-ins have been rumoured, but naturally I can't confirm or deny that. ;-)

Nearest tube is Farringdon.

--- UPDATE 17/05/07 ---
Okay, I haven't been to The Kings for a while, so - thinking I'd better check my information is up-to-date - I dropped in at lunchtime today. Everything is reassuringly as it always was. Not only did the barman recognise me instantly, I recognised some of the creative types propping up the bar. John, the landlord, is still in residence. Strange things, including a rhino head, still adorn the walls. However! New and temporary signage is currently up outside (I'll keep the old photo uploaded for posterity) and the urinal tiling has mysteriously disappeared. More importantly, they now open on Saturday nights, with either live music - maybe jazz - or a DJ, and there's a fancy juke-box upstairs. I'm no expert on music, but you can expect it to be happening stuff at this place.

Chimes

Lacrimosa — Wed, 16 May 2007 14:03:26 +0000

Rating: 3.3

Location: 26 Churton Street, SW1V 2LP, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7821 7456

Tags: pies, Pimlico, british, cider

Pies & CiderHave to agree with everything everyone has said thus far about Chimes. The big draw, if you like it, is the cider: my favourite is the slightly cloudy Biddenden Draught Extra Dry, packing a punch at 8% abv. Moreover all of the ciders - and there's over a dozen of 'em - are available in a 2 pint jug. *hic!*

But let us not forget the pies. Now, I'm not too keen on my pie being served up in one of those boat-shaped pots; neither am I keen on it having a six inch tower of puff-pastry on top; but if you like these things, you'll be in pie heaven! Me, I almost always go for the Cheesy Topped Shepherd's Pie with minced lamb, peppers, onion and garlic. This also, at £6.75, happens to be the cheapest main course on the menu.

I agree, also, about the hit and miss atmosphere. Personally I'd rather be in an empty restaurant than a packed one, so I feel that the surliness of the staff might have something to answer for here. Certainly they never seem to smile...

Chimes is situated in Pimlico village, between Pimlico and Victoria tubes.

Chequers Inn

Lacrimosa — Tue, 15 May 2007 01:05:04 +0000

Rating: 3.0

Location: Fingest, RG9 6QD, Henley On Thames, United Kingdom

Tags: family-friendly, roasts, walker-friendly, oak beams, pub grub, log fire, excellent pub food, beer garden, traditional pub

Check out the Chequers InnThe Chequers Inn is the only pub in Fingest, a tiny and picturesque village a few miles outside Henley-on-Thames, so - assuming you can find Fingest itself - you can't miss it!

Over the last year I've eaten there both on my own and with friends: I even, with a bit of forward planning, led a group of 22 hungry walkers there recently. Aside from being a nice little country pub to visit for a drink, with blackened oak beams and a log fire in winter, it's a popular place to eat locally. The food is good without being jaw-dropping, but, frankly, that's exactly what I want when I go to a country pub! Prices are in line with most good pubs in the Chiltern Hills, but nothing is above a tenner (unlike at the rather pricey Frog at Skirmett, down the road). My favourites include the sausage and mash, and the shepherd's pie with a cheddar crust and vegetables, both priced at £8.75. The salads look good too. On Sundays there's a choice of roasts with all the trimmings at £7.95. Handily for those with a smaller appetite, all the main courses are available for £5.50 as a half-size portion - and you don't have to pretend to be under twelve to order it, either.

This pub must have originally been minute, but a bright and spacious dining area has been built on at the back recently, and (always a bit of a litmus test in pubs) the toilets are modern and clean. There's also a large and attractive beer garden for those balmy summer days.

Just one thing - either book ahead or try to arrive early if you want to eat, especially on Bank Holidays, as I've known them to run out of food. Too small kitchen? Who knows!

Sofra

Lacrimosa — Mon, 14 May 2007 12:46:44 +0000

Rating: 4.5

Location: 36 Tavistock Street, WC2E 7PB, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7240 3773

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

Tags: lively, good for groups, alfresco dining, meze, good value, Turkish

Delicious Turkish food in Covent GardenOne of a small chain of London-based Turkish restaurants, I visited Sofra Covent Garden for a birthday celebration. There was about forty of us, so a deal had been struck beforehand - £12 per head for hot and cold meze bought out at intervals on plates and platters. Very agreeably, they also allowed us to supply our own wine, with a £5 per bottle corkage fee (normally £10) for every bottle opened. We were situated in the upstairs room - a very light and airy space with a glass roof (which apparently may be slid back to provide an alfresco dining area on warm, dry days). Downstairs seemed busy with smaller tables of diners also.

Well, we only sampled the meze that night, but everything I tasted was absolutely mouth-watering. Meat served on skewers was very tender with a lovely charcoal-grilled flavour. Simple classics like tabouleh, taramasalata and humus were just right. I remember enjoying the hot filo pasty parcels filled with spinach and feta, while Steve, next to me, seemed particularly fond of the baby broad beans with coriander and creamy yoghurt.

Based on this experience, I shall certainly be going back to Sofra to sample the regular menu. When I do, I'll report back with an update. :-)

Zizzi

Lacrimosa — Mon, 14 May 2007 11:24:02 +0000

Rating: 4.0

Location: 17 Sheldon Square, W2 6EP, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7286 4770

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

A hidden oasis for commutersOne of a UK-wide chain, this particular Zizzi is located in Paddington Basin - the new and rather attractive cityscape area behind Paddington Station, right next to the Grand Union Canal. It's an area that may be reached via that futuristic-looking walkway at the end of platforms 8 and 9. (Ever wondered where that walkway goes? Try it, and find out! I wish I had sooner.)

In comparison to comparable Italian chains like Ask and Pizza Express, the food at Zizzi is similarly priced but arguably superior in quality. Certainly I have eaten at this particular branch several times now and have never been disappointed. The risottos, in particular, are excellent: last week I had one with chicken, asparagus and parmesan, priced at Â£9.95 and simply delicious. The pizzas are large and fresh with a traditionally rustic, misshapen appeal. For your wine choice, I can recommend the Pinot Grigio, Â£14.50... uh, if I remember rightly.

I have always, too, found the service here to be the right balance of courteous, efficient, and friendly.

Efes

Lacrimosa — Mon, 14 May 2007 10:01:37 +0000

Rating: 3.3

Location: 78-80 King Street, CB1 1LN, Cambridge, United Kingdom

Phone: 01223 500005

Tags: Turkish

DisappointingMy cousin has been to this restaurant several times, and readily agreed to go there when I suggested it as a venue for Saturday lunch, based on her own prior experience of the place and the great Trusted Places reviews.

Did we pick an off day or something?

We both ordered the set menu at £17 each, yet every course was decidedly mediocre. Meat was a little on the tough side, prawns were doused with a suspiciously un-Turkish marie rose sauce, and the fresh fruit dessert was bruised and tasteless. Even the coffee, again part of the set menu, was just a big cup of standard filter. My cousin says that it's not usually that bad, so our best guess is that - at quiet times such as Saturday lunchtimes - the usual chef is not in residence. Even so, this doesn't excuse the marie rose sauce!

Certainly the food doesn't even begin to compare with that of another Turkish restaurant, Sofra in Covent Garden, London, where I had eaten very happily just the night before.

Disappointed. Very.

Don Beni

Lacrimosa — Sun, 01 Apr 2007 21:56:09 +0000

Rating: 3.0

Location: Keayne House, 28 Thames Street, SL4 1PR, Windsor, United Kingdom

Tags: italian, large portions, pasta, family friendly, pizza, noisy, relaxed

Great Italian food for tourists and locals alikeDon Beni in Windsor is one of a small chain of Italian restaurants in the area. This one is situated opposite the castle and a few doors down from the theatre, and looks very much like the kind of relaxed cafe/restaurant one might see in Milan, with the kitchen in full view at the front of the restaurant, a bunch of tables squashed in around it, and the remainder of the tables down a short corridor towards the back. Not much attention is paid to the decor here - indeed, having been a customer for ten years or more, I don't remember the decor ever changing. The same old black and white photos of the Rat Pack up are around the wall (aside from one which is, bizarrely, of Bob Marley) and the same old spelling mistakes are up on the chalk specials board. All this is reassuring, though, because it means that the food hasn't changed either.

The food is good. More than good, in fact. Pizza and pasta is on offer here, alongside 'proper' main courses of meat or fish with vegetables. I recommend the seafood pasta, the rissottos, and anything with clams. The pizzas are so large they dwarf the dinner plates, but fear not; if you can't eat it all in one go, they'll put the remainder in a takeaway box for you. On weekdays they do a lunchtime special - a smaller than usual portion of pasta or risotto, plus a raft of garlic bread - for a price so small I've forgotten what it is.

There's just a couple of criticisms which I'd like to get off my chest here in public.

Firstly, it would be nice, given the many years that I've been frequenting this restaurant, if they actually had a clue who I am: any kind of personalised service is definitely OUT here, unless you know something about Italian football, which I don't.

Secondly, guys, please... TURN THE MUSIC DOWN!