Latest reviews by SarahGiles

Rumours

SarahGiles — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 09:51:18 +0000

Rating: 3.0

Location: 24 Lymington Bottom Road, GU34 5EW, Alton, United Kingdom

Phone: 01420 568162

Website: www.rumourscafe.co.uk

Tags: quick bite, quiet & relaxed, good brew

Wide range, but no fair tradeI went to Rumours for a mid-afternoon hot chocolate with friends this week, and was surprised to see how busy it was. It seems to be very popular with women for a leisurely lunch or an afternoon tea-and-cake before collecting the children from school.

Service was friendly, the cafe clean and inviting, and the range of teas, coffees and cakes quite impressive. I was sorry to see, however, that none of the items on the menu was advertised as being fair trade. I'm very pro-fair trade, and hot drinks are some of the easiest fair trade items to obtain. This cafe is about a mile from my house so might have become a regular fixture if fair trade food and drink were offered. As it is, I will continue to use Cafe Rafters in Alton instead.

PizzaExpress

SarahGiles — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 16:54:53 +0000

Rating: 2.0

Location: 5 Market Square, GU34 1HD, Alton, United Kingdom

Phone: 01420 89839

Website: www.pizzaexpress.com

Tags: italian

Slow, slow, slowThis is our local branch and we've visited a few times, usually when there have been 2 for 1 vouchers in the paper. It seems to get worse each time we visit. Though the food is all right (nothing spectacular, but adequate), the service is dreadful.

Don't come here if you're in a hurry. Service is slow at the best of times (allow up to two hours for a three-course meal, even when it's quiet). Nor should you come here if you're celebrating something special. The attitude of the staff will counteract any joie de vivre you might have felt before you came through the door. On one occasion, a waitress sat us behind a pillar and forgot about us. We waited almost half an hour for our order to be taken. On another visit, we were seated, then moved, then moved again, as staff conferred about reservations. You'd think that might result in the offer of a free drink by way of apology, but no. Customer service standards just aren't that high.

Less than a minute's walk round the corner is the River Kwai Thai restaurant. It's great. For friendly, speedy service, try eating there instead.

Caffe Nero

SarahGiles — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 16:33:21 +0000

Rating: 1.0

Location: 6 Henley Street, CV37 6PT, Stratford Upon Avon, United Kingdom

Phone: 01789 417790

Website: www.caffenero.com

Tags: quick bite, average brew

Cramped space, rude staffI've visited plenty of branches of Caffe Nero and this is probably the worst. The drinks were OK: fairly standard, though not as hot as they night have been, but the tables were crammed in even more closely than usual, which didn't make for a relaxing atmosphere.

We visited at about 11.00 on a Saturday morning, and the place was reasonably busy. One member of staff was complaining to customers about how busy it was. I'm not sure she was bright enough to make the link with paying customers and her wages.

Having taken a seat at the back on the ground floor, we were stunned to hear a woman (who we took to be the manager) asking a quiet group of five friends to leave because they had 'been there a while' and she needed their table. They complied, but surely that's what coffee shops are for - sitting and talking with friends? As for needing the table, there were easily another five vacant tables downstairs alone. Hmmm.

Only moments after the persecution of the other group, our mugs were whisked away with a 'come along now, you've finished' attitude. We defiantly stayed and finished reading the paper, just to make a point, but won't be returning.

Thai Boathouse

SarahGiles — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 16:18:06 +0000

Rating: 4.7

Location: Swan's Nest Lane, CV37 7LS, Stratford Upon Avon, United Kingdom

Phone: 01789 297733

Tags: thai

Amazing all-you-can-eat buffetWow.

Having spent a month eating our way around Thailand earlier this year, we know and love Thai food, and this restaurant didn't disappoint. We started with a very authentic-tasting tom yam gai (spicy chicken soup), swiftly followed by pork ribs and tempura vegetables with satay sauce and chilli dipping sauce. And that was only the starter.

We were there for the Sunday lunchtime all-you-can-eat buffet, which was great. There was a choice of twelve main courses, from two types of pad thai to fish in chilli sauce, massaman curry (our favourite), and a good range of Thai classics. We managed two platefuls.

Afters were pretty good too: a fruit salad, a chocolate pudding that was a bit like a tiramisu with chocolate crunchie pieces on the top, and (the most Thai option) a beautifully presented mango mousse. All delicious.

The restaurant was quiet considering the quality of the restaurant and the bargain all-you-can-eat deal: only three tables were occupied. Baffling. Service was very quick and efficient, with water brought to our table before we could ask for it. The view over the river was a bonus, but frankly our attention was on the food and on trying to sample as many dishes as possible.

Definitely one to try out if you're in the area.

Cafe 101

SarahGiles — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 17:53:08 +0000

Rating: 5.0

Location: 101 Queen Victoria Street, EC4V 4EH, London, United Kingdom

Tags: cultured, proper food, amazing brew, quiet & relaxed, quick bite

Friendly fair trade cafeCafe 101 is a quiet, airy place on the bottom floor of The Salvation Army's international headquarters. As such, it has a peaceful muticultural feel to it, and light floods in through large windows on two sides. It's open to the public, but you'll also see Salvation Army staff from around the world taking time out for a brew. It's a great place for a bit of people-watching, or catching the news on a flat-screen TV.

The food is varied, from sandwiches and salads to cooked meals, with a variety of cakes, biscuits and fair trade chocolate bars on offer. The tea, coffee and hot chocolate are all fair trade too. My usual choice, the hot chocolate, is unfailingly excellent.

A friendly, relaxed, inexpensive place to escape from the crowds for lunch or just a cuppa. Very handy for St Paul's or the Tate (it's right at the end of the millennium bridge), and a great place to find fair trade food and drink.

Red Peppers

SarahGiles — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 17:32:02 +0000

Rating: 5.0

Location: 53 Broad Street, TW11 8QZ, Teddington, United Kingdom

Found this restaurant by accident but will certainly be going back: it's amazing. The staff were very friendly and attentive, service was quick and efficient, and we were very impressed with the food.

Italian-owned but with all kinds of fusion-type food on the menu, it offers something for everyone: Mexican, Thai, Italian, and more. It's a great choice if you're going with a group or for a night out with a significant other, especially if you have varied tastes.

For starters, we had garlic mushrooms (me) and nachos (my husband). The portions were on the large side - if you're not that hungry, I'd suggest skipping starters because we were already full before the main courses arrived. (Not that we were complaining. They were both delicious.)

Next, it was a burrito for my husband and a Thai chicken pasta arrangement for me. Mine had a gorgeous chilli and coconut sauce that had a great kick to it.

We were too full for desserts, but two courses and three drinks came to Â£35. We're already planning another visit.

China Garden

SarahGiles — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:18:17 +0000

Rating: 3.0

Location: 51 Winchester Road, GU34 5HG, Alton, United Kingdom

Very popular Chinese take-away (no eat-in facilities) - at the weekends people are practically queueing out of the door. It's not the best Chinese food I've had in terms of flavour or creativity, and it can be quite oily, but we have been back several times, so they're clearly getting something right.

Favourite meals here are the sweet and sour pork balls, the chicken and cashew nuts, and the spicy beef. The spring rolls are unlike any I've encountered elsewhere - they seem to batter them! They're not to my taste but my husband likes them.

If you're choosing between the village's food options then The Saffron has the edge on China Garden (tastier, friendlier), but when only a Chinese will do, then this ought to hit the spot.

Saffron

SarahGiles — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:02:26 +0000

Rating: 4.0

Location: 8 Oak Green, GU34 5HQ, Alton, United Kingdom

A small, very friendly restaurant, where the service is chatty and the food is delicious. My most recent encounter with them was a takeaway, which was also excellent - a nicely fiery chicken madras. The peshwari naan is also particularly scrumptious.

Top times to go are Wednesday nights and all day on Sunday, when there's an all you can eat buffet arrangement. Usually it's busy, but I've previously been with my husband early on a Sunday lunchtime and had the buffet to ourselves - very dangerous! It meant we could make requests and they appeared - and we ate LOTS.

Bridge Cafe

SarahGiles — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:49:02 +0000

Rating: 4.0

Location: 7 Bridge Street, LD3 8AH, Brecon, United Kingdom

Phone: 01874 622024

Website: www.bridgecafe.co.uk

Tags: cosy, proper food, amazing brew

Fairtrade and home-madeThis place is a great find - somewhere you can sit with the weekend papers and a mug of something delicious and a slice of pone of the amazing cakes and just hide from the world for a bit.

The cafe is also a B&B - there are three rooms upstairs, and having stayed for a couple of nights I can recommend it most highly - friendly, clean, comfortable, and lots of lovely books to read.

The whole place has great eco-credentials - all green cleaning products, there's even Ecover hand soap in the loo. Coffee is fairtrade, ingredients are local and organic, and vegetarians will have planty to choose from.

Prices are not cheap - but the quality is very good. Favourites are the hot chocolate, the elderflower cordial, and all the cakes. :-)

Giraffe

SarahGiles — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 11:40:20 +0000

Rating: 4.0

Location: 6-8 Blandford Street, W1U 4AU, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7935 2333

Website: http://www.giraffe.net

I'm a fan of the Giraffe chain of restaurants, and this one is no exception. It's the first one of the 'herd' I discovered, and I remain dedicated to all the smoothies, though 'Groovy Muesli' is my favourite.

At brunch time, a smoothie and their smoked salmon and scrambled eggs is the way forward, while later on it's worth timing your visit to coincide with 'Giraffe Time' (5-7pm) if you're budget-conscious, so you can use one of the set meal options. Menu recommendations for later include the hummus and the chunky (huge) chips, as well as the noodles. Cocktails at Giraffe are also worth investigating, and again, there are deals available to reduce the impact of these on your bank balance.

Another money-saving tip: if you're going to visit giraffe, sign up on the website (www.giraffe.net) and check for vouchers beforehand.

Thai Emerald

SarahGiles — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 11:24:24 +0000

Rating: 4.5

Location: 88 High Street, WR11 4EU, Evesham, United Kingdom

From the bridge over the water in the entrance to the intricate carvings of the teak tables, this place is impressive. The meals even arrive with carved carrot and other vegetable decorations, such is the amazing attention to detail.

The restaurant can be very busy, so it's a good idea to book in the evenings. Once you're eating here, you'll uderstand why it's so popular - the food is in a class of its own and the atmosphere is excellent. Service is polite and unobtrusive, and although it's not the cheapest place to eat in Evesham, it is undoubtedly the best. Highly recommended.

The Teak House Thai Restaurant Ltd

SarahGiles — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 11:16:45 +0000

Rating: 5.0

Location: 3 Winkfield Close, RG41 2EZ, Wokingham, United Kingdom

Possibly the best Thai food I've eaten outside of Thailand!

This restaurant is stunningly decorated with intricately carved teak walls and furniture. That alone is incredible, but then the food arrives!

The sharing platter is delicious and includes prawn toasts and satay chicken. The main courses don't disappoint, either, and by making use of some of the set menu deals you can have an absolute feast for a reasonable price.

Service here is quietly efficient and very speedy - we were very impressed.

Don't miss out on the loyalty card - just give your email address and pick up a discount card. Bargain!

Highly recommended - one to return to frequently!

Cafe Rafters

SarahGiles — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 10:59:02 +0000

Rating: 4.0

Location: Maltings Cl, GU34 1DT, Alton, United Kingdom

With an out-of-the way location behind Sainsbury's, this cafe has a delightfully relaxed air about it. Home to comfy coffee-house style sofas and an array of fairtrade coffee, tea and hot chocolate, it's a great meeting place for a post-shopping recharging of batteries; it's also worth knowing that there's free parking here too.

As well as hot drinks, cakes and pasties, the panninis and toasted sandwiches are excellent.

Yes, there are several other coffee shops in town, but this is my favourite - it's filled with light, the coffee is ethically produced, and the atmosphere is unhurried. There's also a great bookshop on the premises.

Certainly worth a visit.

The Swan

SarahGiles — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 10:52:25 +0000

Rating: 2.5

Location: High Street, GU34 1AT, Alton, United Kingdom

Website: www.theswanalton.com

I've eaten here a couple of times and while the food is not bad, nothing about it is outstanding or memorable. It was perhaps telling that although both occasions were at the weekend, the restaurant was extremely quiet, with only two or three tables in use.

The service is what really lets down the restaurant, with excruciatingly long waits to be served and between each course. When it came to waiting for the bill, we gave up and approached the bar, having not seen a member of staff anywhere in the vicinity of our table for about half an hour.

I wouldn't recommend this restaurant unless you have several hours to spare.

River Kwai

SarahGiles — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 10:45:47 +0000

Rating: 4.0

Location: Cross Pillory House, GU34 1HL, Alton, United Kingdom

The River Kwai is small and friendly, and the food is reasonably priced and tasty. Having recently returned from working in Thailand, my husband and I were missing the food, so went here to reminisce. Speaking a few words of Thai to the staff may have worked in our favour, as the service was excellent and we chatted about Chiang Mai with one waitress.

I had Tom Yam followed by Pad Thai, and though neither were as fiery as the versions we were used to from our travels in Thailand, they were still delicious. Those used to Thai cuisine might wish to ask for their dishes to be more spicy, however.

Definitely one to re-visit!