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Le Vacherin - review by sulin

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 20:01:41 +0000

Le Vacherin - review by sulin

Rating: 4.5

Location: 76-77 South Pde, W4 5LF, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 8742 2121

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

Tags: romantic, good value, expensive, french

Blai and I had a little occasion to treat ourselves the other weekend and of course, we took it. After a few days of scouring restaurant review websites, I settled on Le Vacherin in Chiswick - a restaurant within the budget Iâ¬"d selected, not too far from where we live, and one with terrific reviews.

Itâ¬"s pretty obvious why the first criterion existed; if you havenâ¬"t guessed already, weâ¬"re far from rich, folks. As for the second criterion, nothing ruins a lovely night out (a rare occasion for us!) faster than a terrible trip on the tube home; a quick and easy bus ride is surely preferable. As for the last, well, thatâ¬"s tied to the first - when every penny counts, you donâ¬"t want to waste it on rubbish food! While thereâ¬"s always the desire to try new restaurants, especially in London where new ones pop out one every second it seems, thereâ¬"s a high risk of having just not-that-great a dinner. Best to do my research instead and guarantee a fantastic meal.

Enough about my penny-pinching! I had booked a table for 7pm on a Sunday night and unsurprisingly, we were the first people there. The place was full by the time we left at about 10pm though.

I started with the warm salad of hand dived scallops, black pudding and Ayrshire bacon. This was a bed of dressed lettuce leaves topped with four tender scallops (four! wow!), two long streaky strips of bacon and a lump, for that is what it was, of squidgy and flavoursome black pudding. Blai had the cocotte of egg with smoked haddock in a mustard sauce. The egg came in a tiny little cocotte while the saucy haddock (ha!) came in a tumbler beside it with a long spoon. Both delicious and the haddock was actually available as a main course too.

I persuaded Blai to share the Chateaubriand for 2, with roast bone marrow, frites and green beans when he mentionned that he wanted another beef dish on the menu. He was kind enough to let me order it! We had asked for it to be cooked to medium but it came very rare (how French!) but it was very good so I canâ¬"t really complain. It came ready carved on a wooden board along with the green beans and the waitress portionned it all out between us. The green beans were so perfectly cooked with a bit of a bite and were soaked in butter and meat juices. We each also got a single mushroom and a beef bone from which to dig out the marrow. Mine had only a little in thereâ¬¦boo hoo. Skinny frites came in individual bowls with even littler bowls of bearnaise sauce alongside. Ohâ¬¦itâ¬"s been a while since I had a good steak and this really hit the spot!

Blai had the pear and almond tart, vanilla ice cream while I chose the apple beignet, vanilla ice cream, 25mL Calvados. Blai had the better dessert - his tart was more of a pear and almond pastry tart but it was good! Mine was a relatively small slice of apple in batter and deep fried, topped with ice cream. My Calvados came a little bit after my dessert and provided a bit of a digestif for the both of us!

The damage came to a reasonable Â£35 per head but that doesnâ¬"t include wine because we arenâ¬"t big drinkersâ¬¦ and we had work the following day. Not exactly a budget restaurant but worth every penny. Weâ¬"ll definitely be returning to Le Vacherin when we need another date night!

Originally posted here: http://tamarindandthyme.wordpress.com/2007/10/14/le-vacherin-in-chiswick/

Canela - review by lentament

Sat, 13 Sep 2008 14:09:35 +0000

Canela - review by lentament

Rating: 3.8

Location: 33 Earlham Street, WC2H 9LS, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7240 6926

Tags: cosy, quiet & relaxed

They have great range of wine, especially the Roses taste so fresh and wonderful. Food is great also but is not cheap for its portions. Great place for aperitivo or a morning coffee witha brazilian sweets.

Pitcher & Piano - review by angellea69

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 15:12:21 +0000

Pitcher & Piano - review by angellea69

Rating: 3.5

Location: 108 Quayside, NE1 3DX, Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom

Phone: 0191 232 4110

Website: http://www.pitcherandpiano.com

The Pitcher and Piano is in an amazing location, on the Quayside area of Newcsatle and just a stone's throw away from the River Tyne. The glass front of the bar enables it's patrons to view the river and the bridges as they eat and drink, which lends a fantastically relaxed atmosphere to the bar. The drinks are expensive, no doubt about that, but we were lucky enough to have vouchers for free Budweiser, which saved us a small fortune. Full of young trendies, mature professionals and students alike, The Pitcher and Piano is a lovely place to sit and watch the world go by.

Charlotte's Place - review by DorisH

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 23:19:26 +0000

Charlotte's Place - review by DorisH

Rating: 3.0

Location: 16 St Matthews Road, W5 3JT, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 8567 7541

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

Tags: expensive

We went here a while ago, partly because friends who used to live in Ealing raved about it, and said that it was so special that they celebrated their wedding anniversary there every year. The other reason was that we got a leaflet with a special offer through the door!

I don't remember much about the food -- it was fine, but not particularly memorable. I do remember that we ate in the basement, which wasn't particularly appealing. It was quite squashed, and also dark (obviously).

Even with the special offer, the food was quite pricey. I haven't hurried back.

La Tasca - review by katharbourne

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 16:27:29 +0000

La Tasca - review by katharbourne

Rating: 3.6

Location: 106 Quayside, NE1 3DX, Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom

Phone: 0191 230 4006

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

Tags: Tapas

My friend and I went to La Tasca on a weekday evening around 6pm. The restaurant was fairly quiet with only a few other tables. We were shown to a table straight away and given menus. The waiter was friendly and helped us choose what we were going to eat (we had the big sharing Tapas for two). Given how quiet it was I was suprised that the service was slightly slow, and after the food had arrived we didn't see a waiter for a while so had to ask at the bar for what we needed.

I enjoyed the food, but it felt mass produced and seemed as if it was heated in the microwave, unlike traditional tapas I've had in the past.

It was good, but overall I felt too expensive for what we'd had. The surroundings and the actual restaurant are lovely.

La Tasca - review by angellea69

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 15:44:45 +0000

La Tasca - review by angellea69

Rating: 3.6

Location: 106 Quayside, NE1 3DX, Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom

Phone: 0191 230 4006

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

Tags: lively, cheap eat, good value, spanish, crowded

This modern building is in a prime location on Newcastle's bustling Quayside area. You can't miss the brightly coloured outdoor area with its large amount of seating, for those who liek al fresco dining. As you enter La Tasca, the sheer size of the restaurant is breathtaking - not only is it a large area, but the ceilings are very high, and the place is very well decorated in a traditional style. The tapas for a tenner deal was fantastic value: the staff ask you to order and enjoy 3 dishes each from their tapas for a tenner menu, before then ordering as much more as you can manage. The galic mushrooms here are superb, as are the potatoes fried in olive oil, with peppera and onions. Although the tapas for a tenner menu is a smaller, slightly reduced version of the main menu, there really is something on there for everyone - meat eaters and vegetarians alike. The draught lagers are a little expensive, but no more so than any other restaurant on the Quayside. The bottled Spanish cider is lovely, priced at Â£2.60.

La Tasca is my favourite tapas restaurant in Newcastle and I can't wait to visit again!

Piccolo Diavolo - review by mvk0016

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 12:36:27 +0000

Piccolo Diavolo - review by mvk0016

Rating: 4.3

Location: Basement To First Floor 8 Old Compton Street, W1D 4TE, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7437 1024

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

Tags: italian, family & home feel, good value, crowded, lively

I've been to Piccolo Diavolo a few times, and have stayed mostly happy with my visits. I would advise customers to go for the meat/fish main courses as the pasta/pizza is not as good as those. Main recommendation is the vitello a la milanesa (Breaded veal fillet) which definitely reminds me of the great food I've had in Italy. The waiters are very warm, but sometimes the restaurant can feel very intrusive as the tables are crowded together and if it's too full there's not much privacy, but then again this is the original Italian feel (there's evern Chianti bottles hanging all around).
Overall a good little place to eat if you're around Soho and looking for something traditional/family-like.

La Tasca - review by sallyrache

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 11:17:35 +0000

La Tasca - review by sallyrache

Rating: 3.6

Location: 106 Quayside, NE1 3DX, Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom

Phone: 0191 230 4006

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

Tags: lively, good value, spanish, romantic

It's quite difficult finding a restaurant with the right atmosphere and great food where you can take a toddler - but La Tasca on the Quayside in Newcastle is perfect. The staff are very child friendly and make such a big deal of them.
I've been to La Tasca many times for many, many different reasons, and that's what makes it so good. Great for romance, great for a girls' night out, great for the family.
The wine list is good, but we usually go for the house white, not because it's the cheapest - but because it's tasty and seems to compliment their extensive menu.

Clos Maggiore - review by RagingAardvark

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 13:18:24 +0000

Clos Maggiore - review by RagingAardvark

Rating: 4.4

Location: 33 King Street, WC2E 8JD, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7379 9696

Website: http://www.closmaggiore.com/

Tags: italian, expensive, french, romantic

Maggiore's is a true find. A romantic, sophisticated restaurant serving superb quality food, attended by knowledgeable and discreet staff.

It gets very busy before the theatres open but, if you don't mind an early evening meal, they are happy to seat you on spec.

If you value your partner, then I can't think of a much better place for a romantic tete-a-tete. Why not precede with a drink at the Stafford in St James'?

Pitcher & Piano - review by sumsi

Sun, 07 Sep 2008 08:27:48 +0000

Pitcher & Piano - review by sumsi

Rating: 3.5

Location: 108 Quayside, NE1 3DX, Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom

Phone: 0191 232 4110

Website: http://www.pitcherandpiano.com

Tags: relaxed

The pitcher and piano has one of the best locations in Newcastle. Almost every table has a great uninterrupted view of the Tyne and its surrounding areas. Having had lunch there several times, I can say that the food is not always as good as expected, but itâ¬"s not bad either â¬ otherwise I wouldnâ¬"t be going back â¬ its more of a hit and miss thing.
All the deserts I had were good. However there was an incident when I found a tiny spider on my coffee spoon. I called back the waitress and when I showed it to her she shrieked. I thought what a great reaction; she must be really upset that theyâ¬"re not living up to the high standard. Next thing I know she says â¬SIâ¬"m sorry I afraid of spidersâ¬

Piccolo Diavolo - review by expired2008

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 22:06:01 +0000

Piccolo Diavolo - review by expired2008

Rating: 4.3

Location: Basement To First Floor 8 Old Compton Street, W1D 4TE, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7437 1024

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

Tags: italian, family & home feel, good value, romantic

Piccolo Diavlo comes well recommended from friends and family so I just had to try it out! As with many independent Italian restaurants in London, the feel of the place is romantic and homely. The waiting staff are unbelievably friendly, but not too in your face. The food is out of this world. I have now been there a couple of times and have two recommendations! The first is the veal â¬ all I can say is WOW! Not had anything like this before, it just melts in your mouth. The other is the lasagne. I usually go for something like this and itâ¬"s the best yet!

Bar Polski - review by sweettirana

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 21:36:34 +0000

Bar Polski - review by sweettirana

Rating: 4.3

Location: 11 Little Turnstile, WC1V 7DX, London, United Kingdom

Tags: relaxed, cool & smart, young and fun, friendly

I love this place!!

Contrary to popular belief I feel I must let the secret out... this bar isnt owned by a Polish person, its owned by an Aussie! But what a good job he had done!

The drinks list is huge! I come from a school that thought there were two different types of Vodka in this world - Smirnoff Red and Smirnoff Blue (mixed with Red Bull naturally!) well my eyes certainly got opened up when I come here for the frst time!

My top tip would be to ask the bar staff what they recommend as it is doubtful you will be able to pronouce anything on the menu anyway (especially as the night goes on!) and to ask for a long drink and a shot each time.

The staff here are really friendly and the place is very clean am I the only one that has noticed that the staff are constantly wiping your table over?!). I also like the way that although the place is under cover it is sort of outside as well (you will understand what i mean once you go!)

Did I also mention that they have over 50 types of vodka and that most drinks are around the Â£3-Â£4 mark?

Get yourself down there!

Pitcher & Piano - review by shell998

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 22:28:19 +0000

Pitcher & Piano - review by shell998

Rating: 3.5

Location: 108 Quayside, NE1 3DX, Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom

Phone: 0191 232 4110

Website: http://www.pitcherandpiano.com

Tags: posh, mature, cool & smart, glamorous, sexy, trendy

The Pitcher and Piano in Newcastle is a lovely, glass fronted bar, right on the river next to the millenium bridge. I wouldn't actually go there on a night out (is quite expensive and a little out of the way as I prefer to stay around Central Station) but I love it on a sunny Saturday afternoon and have spent a few (last summer since we haven't had one this year) standing outside with a bottle of Corona enjoying the river view with the sun on my back! They also have a little outdoor terrace upstairs, although it's usually reserved for a private party. The food is quite nice and reasonably priced and is nice for a lunch with friends, and for outdoor drinking on a lovely day.

Twin Farms - review by shell998

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 22:10:41 +0000

Twin Farms - review by shell998

Rating: 4.0

Location: 22 Main Road, NE13 8AB, Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom

Tags: relaxed, excellent pub food, beer garden, different pub food, friendly

Twin farms is my friends local pub and is a lovely place. It's vey traditional inside with stone walls and floors and wooden furniture. They do a lovely sunday dinner with the best turnip I have ever tasted (and cannot for the life of me recreate!) and fabulous yorkshire puddings! The food is lovely and the menu is quite varied and is reasonably priced at around Â£7 or Â£8 for a main course. Drinks are reasonable and they sell a variety of beers. It's a cosy place, perfect for a cosy date, or catch up with friends and would highly recommend for a Sunday dinner! The beer garden is lovely on a sunny afternoon!

Pitcher & Piano - review by dann4d

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:57:20 +0000

Pitcher & Piano - review by dann4d

Rating: 3.5

Location: 108 Quayside, NE1 3DX, Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom

Phone: 0191 232 4110

Website: http://www.pitcherandpiano.com

This bar has a fantastic location and is a nice building, a great place for the summer months. The bar area is always packed though and drinks far from cheap, the place also always has that feel of a place that looks like its been open for 36 hours straight, popular with hen parties etcâ¬¦ which normally makes the place seem more chav than it probably is, I would be interested to see what the place was like on a Tuesday night for example but it just hasnâ¬"t got the greatish pull for me to actually go there on a Tuesday though, great bar for a drunken night out but rubbish for anything more relaxing I would imagine