Latest reviews by andreams

Jack and Linda Mills

andreams — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 11:32:09 +0000

Rating: 4.0

Location: Brighton Seafront, BN1 1NB, Brighton, United Kingdom

Tags: sandwiches, traditional smoked fish, cheap eats, seaside, fresh fish

the best fish by the seaThe best way to eat fish is right by the sea, and the best way to do that in Brighton is to head to Jack and Linda Mills fish smokerie and sandwich shop and try their hot fish rolls. A board outside tells you the catch of the day - the red mullet and mackerel are the freshest I've ever tasted. There's no fuss or frills here, just fresh and traditionally smoked fish sandwiches to takeaway. The sea is just steps away, or you could always take a look in the fishing museum next door.

Whitecross Street Market

andreams — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 11:16:35 +0000

Rating: 4.0

Location: Whitecross Street, EC1Y 8JL, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7378 0422

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

Tags: mediterranean, preserves, pickles, mushrooms, cupcakes, market, rare finds, cheese, delicatessen

Monthly food marketThe sun was (finally) shining when I visited this bustling market/food festival which takes place on the first Friday and Saturday of every month, 11am-6pm, on the site of one of London's oldest street markets,dating back to mediaevel times. There are fantastic local and regional food producers (Neal's Yard Cheeses, Burnt Sugar fudges, Crumbs and Doilies cupcakes and more), and some from further afield. Lots of lovely things to sample or buy to eat as you browse - stuffed chillies, pies and tarts all looked great, but it was the gorgeous aroma of wild mushrooms cooking on Sporeboys mushroom stall that decided us - cooked with a little parsley and held between two slices of sourdough bread with some parmesan and a drizzle of oil, this was probably the best sandwich ever, and a recipe I'll definitely try at home. You can take home cheeses, meats and pickles, and chat to the makers - the Bendgate pickles and preserves people from Yorkshire were particularly friendly and had lots of helpful recipe suggestions. Definitely worth a visit - and in September there's an extra 3 day market (21,22,23)to celebrate Islington car-free day. Sporeboys are also at the Covent Garden night market, but this is currently Bendgate's only London market, so worth a trip to EC1.

The Harp

andreams — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 13:47:22 +0000

Rating: 4.0

Location: 48 Chandos Place, WC2N 4HS, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7836 0291

Tags: small, different pub food, traditional pub, sausages

The HarpTiny, traditional pub with a (less traditional) all-female bar team. A great stopping off spot between the West End and the Southbank, my parents highly recommend the sausages - special guest sausages on the menu every day - but no other food so not a great place to take your vegetarian friends.

Due South

andreams — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 13:32:47 +0000

Rating: 3.6

Location: 139 Kings Road Arches, BN1 2FN, Brighton, United Kingdom

Tags: romantic, sea view, british, local produce, good value, expensive

The best view in Brighton?On a sunny day, the outdoor terrace must be one of the best places to eat on Brighton seafront, and if its raining then there are a few tables inside which look out over the beach so you can enjoy your food while watching the waves crashing in.The menu is enticing with an emphasis on provenance - freshly caught fish, Sussex grown salads and local cheeses - this is reflected in the prices so it is definitely not a budget eat!

Thekla Social

andreams — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 12:42:41 +0000

Rating: 2.8

Location: The Grove, East Mud Dock, BS1 4RB, Bristol, United Kingdom

Phone: 0117 929 3301

Website: http://www.theklasocial.com

Tags: relaxed, reasonably priced, students

TheklaThe new above deck bar has some nice views and drinks are exceptionally cheap. It was good to see that the rest of the ship hasn't changed too much but if, like me, you have fond memories of the old Thekla, you might feel a little old as the Thekla Social attracts a young, studenty crowd. Interesting/useless fact: the Thekla was home to Viv Stanshall (Bonzo Dog Doodah Band) in the 1980's when he and his family ran it as a theatre, cabaret and music venue. So it has a firm tradition of drunken good times!

Le Beaujolais

andreams — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 12:30:03 +0000

Rating: 4.3

Location: 25 Litchfield Street, WC2H 9NJ, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7836 2955

Tags: relaxed, mature, wine, French

The oldest French wine bar in LondonSqueeze into this tiny bar just off the Charing Cross Road and suddenly you're in a local bar somewhere in France... from the music to the signing in board for regulars, this place oozes atmosphere and Gallic charm. The menu and wine list are everything you'd expect from a French wine bar, but its the ambience that is the real draw here.

Bill's Produce Store

andreams — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 12:17:56 +0000

Rating: 4.6

Location: 100 North Road, BN1 1YE, Brighton, United Kingdom

Phone: 01273 692 894

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

Tags: lively, great cakes, helpful staff, salads, proper food, amazing brew, rare finds, delicatessen, crowded, quick bite

Great cafeMy first stop whenever I'm in Brighton, Bill's has great coffee, fabulous fresh salads and the most beautiful cakes you've ever seen - decorated with flowers and fruit these are a feast for the eyes as well as the belly - and nobody minds if you ask to share any of the dishes. All the food is prepared with fresh, often local ingredients, most of which are available from the grocer/deli section at the front of the shop. A relaxed place for breakfast, lunch or snacks, it has a separate early evening tapas menu and is open until 8pm Monday-Saturday.

Hart's Boatyard

andreams — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 11:23:59 +0000

Rating: 2.0

Location: Portsmouth Road, KT6 4ES, Surbiton, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 8399 7515

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

Tags: relaxed, riverside, british, gastro pub, sofas

riverside eatsA former Whitbread pub/steakhouse, this pub on the Thames has new owners and a new menu (think pizzas, goats cheese salads, bangers and mash) at gastropub prices in keeping with the new decor. There's a good selection of drinks, staff are helpful and friendly, but the best thing is the view from the deck areas over the river. A good place for a glass of rose on a summer day.

Ping Pong Dim Sum

andreams — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 16:20:33 +0000

Rating: 3.3

Location: Festival Terrace, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 79604160

Website: http://www.pingpongdimsum.com

Tags: expensive, dim sum, pretentious, chinese, vegetarian

Ping Pong RestaurantI've heard good things about this small chain, but if my experience at the new branch on the South Bank is anything to go by, they are expanding too fast. The food was ok, if pricey, but nowhere near as good as Yauatcha, which the decor suggests it is trying to emulate. What really spoilt the evening was the extraordinarily poor service. To start with,we were left alone without menus for 15 minutes or so - when we did order the service was offhand - and when the bill arrived we had been charged for drinks we hadn't ordered. The manager insisted that my (pregnant) friend had been drinking vodka cocktails, not fruit juice, and it took 20 minutes of arguing to get the correct bill. All I can think is that this branch is aiming for one-off tourist trade. Needless to say, we won't be going back.

Amaranth Cafe & Noodle Bar

andreams — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 14:37:31 +0000

Rating: 4.5

Location: 346 Garratt Lane, SW18 4ES, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 8874 9036

Tags: thai, good value

NoodlesThe food here is great - but it is, understandably, always busy and booking is essential. If you can't get in, or you just want something quick to eat, you can eat in at the takeaway/noodle bar next door - the food comes from the same kitchen with generous bowls of soup and noodle dishes - same quality, but the presentation is rather more basic than in the restaurant... across the street and under the railway bridge is Amaranth's supermarket/deli where you can buy all the ingredients to make the dishes yourself, or buy the ready-prepared dishes to heat up at home.

Earlsfield Bookshop

andreams — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 14:28:39 +0000

Rating: 2.5

Location: 513 Garratt Lane, SW18 4SW, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 8946 3744

Tags: books, second hand

Second hand bookshop in EarlsfieldTempted inside this tiny bookshop tucked next to Earlsfied station by the intriguingly themed window display, I found stacks of books, old and new, arranged by subject and all reasonably priced. My recent finds include a children's songbook from the 1940's illustrated with simple but beautiful line drawings and a graphic novel about Hiroshima. The sad news is you'll have to seek this one out quite soon - apparently the landlord (SWT)is about to apply a large rent hike which is beyond the reach of independent traders, and so Earlsfield will soon be a book-free zone . . .

Canteen

andreams — Sat, 21 Jul 2007 16:04:20 +0000

Rating: 1.8

Location: Southbank Centre Square, SE1 8XX, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 0845 686 1122

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

Tags: lively, british, good brew, good value, crowded

Canteen at the Festival HallI've read good things about the original branch of Canteen, and read TP reviews about how the service lets it down, but so far this new branch of the chain which offers well-sourced ingredients at reasonable (for London) prices seems to be getting it all right. I'd stopped in for drinks and been impressed by the choice of local/regional beers and wines (the Nyetimber sparkling wine is particularly good, and great to see this on the wine list), so went back to eat on a busy Friday evening after the torrential rains had brought parts of central and south London to a standstill earlier in the day. Despite this upheaval, the service was friendly and my only complaint with the food was that it arrived faster than expected! The vegetarian pie (sweet potato, spinach and cheese)was one of the best I've tried - light pastry,tangy filling served with creamy mash and lightly buttered greens - but so filling I had no room for pudding, so will have to go back soon. Here's hoping that the service continues to be on a par with the food.

Wimbledon Park Farmers Market

andreams — Sat, 21 Jul 2007 15:30:33 +0000

Rating: 5.0

Location: Wimbledon Park First School, Havana Road, SW19 8EJ, London, United Kingdom

Website: http://www.lfm.org.uk/wimb.asp

Tags: meat, fruit, bargain, vegetables, market, rare finds, fish, bread, cheese, delicatessen

Abandon the supermarket and enjoy food shoppingThe farmer's market in Wimbledon Park (Earlsfied/Southfield borders) has been running for at least five years, and is a great place to get your weekly food shop - fantastically fresh fish from Dorset, bread from Flour Station and the Celtic Bakers, Isle of Wight tomatoes, creamy goats cheese, hand reared meats, eggs, pickles, honey and of course fruit and veg. The great thing about buying straight from the farmers/makers is that they can give you an idea of how to prepare and cook things you haven't tried before - and of course you often get a chance to taste before you buy. This is my local market, and I shop here every week, but you can find out your nearest market by visiting www.lfm.org.uk. They also hold special events such as regular plant fairs and apple day in the autumn with heritage varieties of apple to try - discover what real apples taste like before we lose them all to the unbruisable but tastefree supermarket varieties. The market is open every Saturday, 9am-1pm.

Crumbs and Doilies

andreams — Sat, 21 Jul 2007 14:54:18 +0000

Rating: 5.0

Location: Partridges Food Market, SW3 4LY, London, United Kingdom

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

Tags: cakes, cupcakes, yummy, market, rare finds

The perfect cupcakeMy best birthday cake(s)ever were the mini cupcakes from Crumbs and Doilies. These melt in your mouth cakes are all handmade using fresh ingredients - the flavours are fantastic(tangy lemon, rich chocolate, banana,vanilla, carrot and coffee) and there are sprinkles for every occasion. They look so pretty that I really wished I could have my cake and eat it! These gorgeous little cakes are available from Crumbs and Doilies stall, every Sunday at the Sunday Upmarket, just off Brick Lane, or can be ordered by the dozen - check out their website for the full range of flavours/sprinkles http://www.crumbsanddoilies.co.uk

Watch This Space

andreams — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 13:51:44 +0000

Rating: 4.0

Location: Theatre Square, National Theatre, Southbank, SE1 9PX, London, United Kingdom

Website: http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/wts

Tags: theatre, fireworks, juggling, acrobats, circus, free, outdoor, music

Free arts and performance by the riverEvery summer the National Theatre holds this free festival - a chance to forget about the grey, dreary working day and enjoy the thrills of the circus, a dash of music and a firework or three. Already this year we've seen a bicycle ballet, puppet escapology and an explosive storm - tea dances, promenade performances and miniature circuses are still to come. Shows take place Wed-Sat throughout the summer - and its all free!