Latest reviews by alexandros

Chez Gerard

alexandros — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 12:14:37 +0000

Rating: 3.2

Location: 38 The Market, WC2E 8RF, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7379 0666

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

Tags: cool, nice atmosphere, mature, crowded, covent garden, expensive, French

French food in Covent GardenI remember going to Chez Gerard eager to taste French cuisine. I was not let down. Located in the heart of Covent Garden, it may be packed with people but the food is too good to miss.
You should make a reservation before going, and ask for a table outside during the summer. The view of the market is magnificent, even though the sound of the Carousel may brake your nervous system!
The food is nice, I think I tried some kind of chicken, as well a duck platter which were both good.
Prices are not exactly low, but what do you expect in the middle of Covent Garden?!

La Trouvaille

alexandros — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 11:56:39 +0000

Rating: 4.3

Location: 12A Newburgh St, W1F 7RR, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7287 8488

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

Tags: romantic, carnaby street, wine bar, family & home feel, warm, intimate, friendly

Nice wine bar off Carnaby StreetLa Trouvaille is a cosy little wine bar and restaurant, located just a minute away from Carnaby Street. Tired shoppers and busy professionals gather there for lunch or for a drink, especially at the summer when they can seat outdoors. I haven't tried the food but I've been there many times for a glass of wine and I always leave satisfied. The atmosphere is romantic and warm, really good for a first date :-)
The wine list is decent and the service is friendly. One more plus would be its location, really convenient when you are out shopping in the centre!

Osteria Basilico

alexandros — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 17:59:40 +0000

Rating: 4.0

Location: 29 Kensington Park Road, W11 2EU, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7727 9957

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

Nice Italian restaurant in Notting HillOsteria Basilico is located in the heart of Notting Hill, just off Portobello Road. I've only been there once but I liked it very much and I can't wait to go again.
The place is small and intimate, with wooden chairs and tables. There are tables downstairs as well, and it is surprisingly nice as there are fireplaces, paintings and a warm atmosphere overall.
The food is great, we both had pasta which was delicious and very generous in terms of size! The salads and starters were ok, and they have a buffet with starters where you can squeeze a little bit of everything in one plate. This starter platter is however a bit overpriced (I don't remember exactly how much).
It is especially nice in the summer when they have tables outside, as it is located in a fairly quite road, with all the classy Notting Hill residents passing by. Well worth giving it a try, but book in advance if you are planning to go during the weekend!

Beach Blanket Babylon

alexandros — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 17:36:49 +0000

Rating: 3.4

Location: 45 Ledbury Road, W11 2AA, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7229 2907

Tags: jazz, "beautiful people", "notting hill", pretentious, crowded, trendy, bar, restaurant, lively, posh, cool

Cool bar-restaurant in Notting HillBBB is a cool bar-restaurant in Notting Hill. The decoration is a piece of art with statues, flowers and four (!) fireplaces.
The restaurant is located in the basement which makes it a bit dark and cold, but I 've heard that the food is nice (I haven't tried it though).
They generally have a little problem with bookings, it has happened to me twice to have booked a table at the bar only to go there and discover there was no reservation.
The bar is ok, there is a big coctail list although it is rather overpriced.
BBB serves brunch on weekends and the atmosphere is really warm and cozy.
However I agree with the above reviews about it being overcrowded during the evening, especially after Wednesday. The best time to go is early in the afternoon or in the morning during the weekend.
To sum up, the main reason to go to BBB is to have a look at the interior design, and also to feel a part of a trendy, rich crowd - the Notting Hill community.

London Street Brasserie

alexandros — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 12:45:36 +0000

Rating: 3.4

Location: 2-4 London St, RG1 4PN, Reading, United Kingdom

Phone: 0118 950 5036

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

Tags: lively, river view, reading, gastro pub, family & home feel, good value, brasserie, great food, romantic

Thank you Hazzabout!This is the apotheosis of the power of word of mouth and, of course, the power of TrustedPlaces!
I went to Reading last weekend and I searched TrustedPlaces for any good places there. So I found Hazzabout's review of the London Street Brasserie which I found really cool.
It is indeed a hidden gem, just think that my friends who live in Reading didn't know it!
Anyway I proposed to go there for lunch, we were there at 14.00 but it was packed so we made a reservation for 15.30.
London Street Brasserie is located in the centre of Reading, by the River and just opposite the big shopping centre.
The food was great, I had a spicy Thai chicken with noodles, and the set menu is really good at 13 pounds or so.
If you go there you should definitely try the desserts, I tasted the cheesecake and it was fantastic!
I am planning to go back there in the summer, they have a sitting area outdoors, just next to the river which should be lovely.
Thank you Hazzabout! Thank you Trusted Places!

Freud

alexandros — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 14:26:26 +0000

Rating: 3.8

Location: 198 Shaftesbury Avenue, WC2H 8JL, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7240 9933

Tags: cool, good coctails, good coffee, piano, amazing brew, students, friendly, relaxed

Hidden gem in Covent GardenThe first time I went to Freud was one year ago and I disliked the dirty and "nude" interior. I also found the ventilation very poor with smoke (of many types) being at high levels. What I liked though were the coctails as well as the relaxed crowd.
Yesterday I went there for a coffee (I wasn't even sure it served coffee). It turned out that it had a wide selection of delicious coffees! I would say that the coctails are equal to the coffees in their variety and quality. On top of that, they had someone playing the piano and there was generally a quite and "artistic" atmosphere with people reading their Sunday newspapers (in various languages) and listening to the piano.
It is true that it is very well hidden so I would say that it is a very good escape point from the overcrowded Covent Garden area at any time of the day.

5th View Bar & Food

alexandros — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 14:08:54 +0000

Rating: 3.4

Location: 203 - 206 Piccadilly, W1J 9HA, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7851 2433

Website: http://www.5thview.co.uk

Tags: quiet, nice view, mature, good brew, piccadilly, good value, romantic

Bar with a great view I've been to this place twice and I like it a lot. Nothing exceptional in terms of music, people or decoration, but the fact that it is a decent bar located 1 minute from Piccadilly Circus (and without any noisy tourists inside!) makes it remarkable.
On top of that, it has a great view of London, especially the London Eye, Big Ben and Houses of Parliament. I suppose the view combined with the fact that it is somehow very quite render it romantic as well!

Sketch

alexandros — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 14:00:41 +0000

Rating: 3.7

Location: 9 Conduit St, W1S 2XG, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 0870 777 4488

Website: http://www.sketch.uk.com

Tags: trendy, pop decoration, sweets, regent street, amazing brew, family & home feel, cafe

A must-see in the heart of the cityAmazing place, it is well worth a visit at any time of the day. I totally agree with Socratis and Walid about the decoration, not to mention the futuristic toilets!
Generally there is an atmosphere of being in a movie or in a fairy tale -the waitresses are wearing something like traditional 18th century clothes!
Mixed crowd, comfortable chairs and sofas and delicious desserts (try the raspberry cake) complete the dream.

Parker McMillan

alexandros — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 17:27:34 +0000

Rating: 4.3

Location: 47 Chiswell Street, EC1Y 4SB, London, United Kingdom

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

Tags: cool, electronica, good value, friendly, lively

Great Party!Hey guys, this was a great party, thanks! The show was interesting and the TrustedPlaces members turned out to be really cool and friendly! Good work!

The Three Tuns

alexandros — Tue, 24 Oct 2006 19:57:49 +0000

Rating: 4.0

Location: Houghton Street, WC2A 2AE, London, United Kingdom

Tags: cool, youthful, students, sexy, trendy, friendly, relaxed, cheap

The LSE barThis is a typical university bar. This means that at the Three Tuns you will find lots of students from all over the world, cheap beer and a relaxed mood. It gets really crowded after 5, when classes end and students go there to quench their thirst, play pool or watch a football game! The staff are cool and friendly and the prices are surprisingly low. Highlight: the large leather sofas which are loved by all kinds of students, from those who go there to discuss on a group project to those who just want to flirt a little bit...