Latest favourites and wishlist by belinda

Urban Angel - review by stew

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 18:06:33 +0000

Urban Angel - review by stew

Rating: 4.8

Location: 121 Hanover Street, EH2 1DJ, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Tags: cosy, poetry readings, proper food

Rather good and surprisingly roomy inside! Still a bit of a battle to get a seat weekend lunchtimes though.

It's a step up from your average city centre cafe (more of an organic locally sourced feel and the dishes are a bit more exotic) but they also do an excellent haggis neeps and tatties. At 11:45 in the morning.

202 Cafe - review by pindulgence

Sun, 14 Sep 2008 16:28:41 +0000

202 Cafe - review by pindulgence

Rating: 4.6

Location: 202-204 Westbourne Grove, W11 2RH, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7792 6888

Tags: friendly, cool & smart, sexy, trendy

I haven't been here for a while and i really must go back! The food here is amazing, as is the service. Their menu is predominantly for the lighter bite, but they do have other delicious main meals as well. Lots of choice and everyone will find something to eat. its quite a trendy place and you also occasionally catch a glimpse of someone famous! Not going to name them though! I had fish and chips (i see a previous reviewer had them too!) and i thought they were fantastic, probably the best i've had so far! I have tried other food here and have been equally impressed. As you would expect, its not that cheap but well worth it for a good night out!

Urban Angel - review by afterevent

Sat, 13 Sep 2008 22:36:53 +0000

Urban Angel - review by afterevent

Rating: 4.8

Location: 121 Hanover Street, EH2 1DJ, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Tags: cosy, top food, amazing brew, quiet & relaxed, cultured

After years of going to the same greasy spoons and eating so many fry ups, i decided at the beginning of the year to start to try a little healthier. After trying Urban Angel I was shocked at what i had been missing for so many years. The healthier meals are so much more tasty - the food is cooked to perfection by urban angel chefs and the flavours just spring out at you! Just going here and trying the delicious food has helped me lose loads of weight, even though i now eat out more often! I'm now a regular here and it still doesn't break the bank, and i'm feeling so much more healthy! Thank you so much Urban Angel!

David Bann - review by richfair

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 17:14:25 +0000

David Bann - review by richfair

Rating: 3.9

Location: 56-58 St Mary's Street, EH1 1SX, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Phone: 0131 556 5888

Website: http://www.davidbann.com

Tags: romantic, good value, vegetarian

I had an amazing meal at David Bann during the Edinburgh festival. I went with a group of 8 and they were very friendly and accommodating. It was one of those very long leisurely dinner with lots of great food an wine and it was lovely!

I thought the food was delicious-- I had pumpkin ravioli and chili with chocolate coriander sauce. Just thinking about it now makes my mouth water! Everyone with me absolutely loved their meal. The atmosphere is very clean and nice-- a bit upscale. The prices are a little expensive, but you get what you pay for-- it was well worth it.

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'?

Zuma - review by john1887

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:32:28 +0000

Zuma - review by john1887

Rating: 4.4

Location: 5 Raphael Street, SW7 1DL, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7584 1010

Website: http://www.zumarestaurant.com

Tags: french

wow, great place, great food

David Bann - review by leeree

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 17:49:01 +0000

David Bann - review by leeree

Rating: 3.9

Location: 56-58 St Mary's Street, EH1 1SX, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Phone: 0131 556 5888

Website: http://www.davidbann.com

Tags: vegetarian, international

This is one of the best restaurants in Edinburgh. As a vegetarian it can be a bit tricky finding a place that serves new and exciting cuisine but David Bannâ¬"s is always top notch. My favourites are the smoked tofu and the dosa. I have always found the staff really friendly and happy to recommend any new dishes on offer. The atmosphere is always great, very cosy and intimate.

I would also recommend their amazing veggie brunches, they are always really hearty and totally tasty.

Overall I think everyone should visit the restaurant. It offers great cuisine at an affordable price.

GO THERE!

Mildreds - review by Snowy

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 19:18:09 +0000

Mildreds - review by Snowy

Rating: 4.3

Location: 45 Lexington Street, W1F 9AN, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7494 1634

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

We went to this restaurant for my birthday. On the good side, the food is nice, not exceptional but fine, though my boyfriend found his pie far too strong tasting and the staff are very attentive despite being really busy. The other side is that you cannot book, and have to wait in the corridor or bar where you are mostly in the way. However once you get your table, it is well worth it and is reasonable in price too. I didn't find that there was enough food though and that the tables are very close together. We were placed right on top off another couple.

Acorn House - review by Niamheen

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 17:02:02 +0000

Acorn House - review by Niamheen

Rating: 3.7

Location: 69 Swinton St., WC1X 9NT, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7812 1842

Website: http://www.acornhouserestaurant.com/

Tags: lively, international, business, expensive

Acorn House in Kingâ¬"s Cross has been on my radar for sometime. As Londonâ¬"s first truly eco-friendly training restaurant, it has had alot of press attention, with the Evening Standardâ¬"s Fay Maschler declaring that â¬All Restaurants should emulateâ¬ it and Giles Coren of The Times saying that itâ¬"s â¬SThe most important restaurant to open in London in the past 200 yearsâ¬. Itâ¬"s also less than 10 minutes from my workplace and has been recommended by colleagues and friends. In the OFM food awards in 2007 it won best newcomer.

Established by chef Arthur Potts Dawson and manager James Grainger-Smith both formerly of Fifteen in Shoreditch, itâ¬"s a social enterprise created by the Shoreditch Trust which delivers hands on training to the local community. The food is centred around health, training, community and the environment. They aim to be the most recyclable restaurant in London, by allowing as much as 80% of its waste to be recycled. In cooperation with the local councils and London Remade it will test out new waste management strategies in a restaurant environment, it offers reusable cutlery and all takeaway containers are eco-sensitive and they offer customers options of serving sizes to allow for differing appetites which creates less food waste. They have their own site for storage of dry recyclables with space for a â¬ÜPIGâ¬" compostor and a wormery providing soil for the restaurant and the roof of the storage area is used to grow herbs (and potentially grow insect attracting plants) in the centre of Kings Cross. Added to all of this, the restaurant and the recycling site act as an educational resource for the public, schools and a new breed of trainee chefs. When it comes to the food itself, the menus are seasonal with ingredients sourced from small independent suppliers, they buy fair trade where possible, locally and never use air freight, they have a strict fish purchasing policy and demand positive animal husbandry.

All that sounds great, truly an inspiration for other restaurants, but, what of the food? Iâ¬"ve availed of their takeway lunch a number of times, usually the half panini and small soup for Â£5, always flavoursome and healthy. So, why didnâ¬"t I eat there properly until this week? I think itâ¬"s one of those situations where itâ¬"s just down the road and I can go anytime (even if I subsequently donâ¬"t) and, ever the procrastinator I put it on the long finger. This week, however, I finally went there for lunch with some colleagues.

I like the interior of Acorn House, itâ¬"s bright and airy with a relaxed elegance. We got a nice round table by the open kitchen at the back and started off with some olives and bread. I started to peruse their January menu. There were two soups on offer: pumpkin, thyme and pancetta & celeriac, chestnut & horseradish. They sounded delicious, but time was short so I decided not to get one - I will definitely be trying them for a take-away lunch soon though. Thereâ¬"s also cured meat selections (including the sublime San Daniele ham) and salads on offer, which, again, look great but I had my eye on the fish dish - chargrilled organic salmon with cardamom and horseradish served with 2 salads. It was a popular dish - most of us had it with others opting for the duck confit, the ravioli with chard, mascarpone & fried sage or the tartine with pumpkin, mascarpone and stilton (changed from the option on the menu which was tartine with pumpkin, ricotta & onion marmalade).

Before I start, I am not sure about the diner choosing the salad accompanying their main course, I wonder if the chef is best placed to do this? It reminds me of create-your-own pizzas which, having once worked in a pizza restaurant, I can testify are often chosen badly. However, it is nice to have the choice, if you can trust yourself. Itâ¬"s January, and, (I am supposed to be) all about health and recuperation, so I decided to go for the beetroot with parsley, as beetroot helps your liver deal with xmas party stresses (I had a few of those!), and for the second one broccoli with almonds.

How was it? The fish was cooked perfectly - tender and moist, the cardamom and horseradish was a really unusual accompaniment and quite nice. The duck confit went down a treat as did the ravioli, but, the tartine was proclaimed too rich. The salads were really great: wholesome and healthy.

So, next for dessert. I opted for the ginger pudding with dark rum and double cream. It was wonderfully light. Other choices were the flourless chocolate cake with cardamom ice cream and Eccles Cake with Vanilla Custard. Everyone was really pleased with their choice, it was a lovely end to the meal.

So, what did I think? Very good food but at Â£16 for a fish main course and Â£6.50 for a dessert it needs to be excellent. But it is sustainable, eco-friendly and a friend to the local community, and this, it seems, comes at a price. I think itâ¬"s worth it.

Asia de Cuba - review by izolda

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 13:45:20 +0000

Asia de Cuba - review by izolda

Rating: 3.7

Location: St. Martins Lane Hotel, 45 St Martins Lane, WC2N 4HX, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7300 5588

Website: http://www.asiadecuba-restaurant.com

Tags: expensive, international, business, pretentious

I have been here a couple of times as a friend works here. I have found that the cocktails are the best quality in London, although you pay an expensive price but it's well worth it. I like the crushed ice they use for the mochitos, it's a different shape than the regular!

The crowd is upmarket and you do get a kind of stuffier atmosphere from some of the business people that frequent it, but it depends what sort of night out you're looking for. The bar area does not have adequate seating space so be warned that if you only want a drink you will have to be prepared to stand.

Clos Maggiore - review by jlonners

Mon, 01 Sep 2008 18:55:41 +0000

Clos Maggiore - review by jlonners

Rating: 4.4

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

Phone: 020 7379 9696

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

We choise this reastaurant is it looked great from the outside, there were massive chandalliers hanging down with candles in them (I think its been changed slightly now) and it had a cosy yet posh apperance. Unfortunatly we got the sleazy italian waiter type who decided to prey apon two woman alone by flattering us in hope of a large tip. He even sat with us as he took the order. This really put me off and I think we asked him to leave us alone in the end. The food was good, the steak was perfect and the dessert lovely. This is quite an expensive place, add to that the pushy waiter and you might want to avoid it if your party is all female. The location of course is bang on, about 30 seconds walk from the market area of covent garden.

David Bann - review by belinda

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 23:40:55 +0000

David Bann - review by belinda

Rating: 3.9

Location: 56-58 St Mary's Street, EH1 1SX, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Phone: 0131 556 5888

Website: http://www.davidbann.com

Tags: vegetarian, crowded, noisy

I am so so so very sorry to everyone who visited this restaurant based on my review from 2006. Not visited this restaurant for at least a year and a half and was very excited to be going tonight ... oh dear.

Lets run through the experience for you.
Arrival ... not friendly "NAME!"
Drinks ... warm white wine and probably the worst Mojito this side of Hadrian's Wall.
Follow-up Drinks ... no idea as no-one asked if we wanted any more and we never saw our waitress again.
Bread ... stale (its only Friday surely you can get fresh bread)
Starters ...1. Thai fritters (tasteless minced tofu, soggy) 2. Humous & bread (bread stale again but the humous was fine)
Mains ...1. Tasted like Old E'Paso mix stuffed in a red pepper served with soggy chips) 2. A bad Indian curry in a soggy pancake with a warm cabbage leaf on the side filled with "something" - just like Granny used to make!)
Dessert ... didn't want to risk it
Service ... very bad (except for the waiting assistant who seemed to be the only person working)

I am giving this restaurant 1 star because it does not let me give it zero and that is being generous. It was so bad that seriously nothing could tempt me to eat there again.

Urban Angel - review by arainn123

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 21:03:18 +0000

Urban Angel - review by arainn123

Rating: 4.8

Location: 121 Hanover Street, EH2 1DJ, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Tags: cosy, top food, amazing brew

One of the best little places ive been to in my life. Not only is the food great but its organic to so you don't have to worry about and nasty GM ingredients or Artificial ingredients. They also have something to suit every one and will gladly take things out of a meal to suit you. They have things for Vegitarians and will take any animal bi-products out of a meal for vegans if you ask them politely. Recommended.

David Bann - review by bathgatebuyer

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 14:28:57 +0000

David Bann - review by bathgatebuyer

Rating: 3.9

Location: 56-58 St Mary's Street, EH1 1SX, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Phone: 0131 556 5888

Website: http://www.davidbann.com

Tags: lively, good value, vegetarian, romantic

Now let's be clear, Bann's should not be judged on the basis that it is a vegetarian restaurant, but it is, in fact, a great restaurant to the extent that it is regularly chosen as the place we have our staff nights out even though I am the only veggie in the team.

I would heartily recommend David Banns whether even if a meat-eater as there is enough of a selection on the menu that you will find something you will naturally chose.

A particular favourite of mine is a weekend brunch over the weekend papers.

Great value for a fantastic selection of food served in a well appointed venue.

4/5 for me!

David Bann - review by axlsbabe

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 21:20:54 +0000

David Bann - review by axlsbabe

Rating: 3.9

Location: 56-58 St Mary's Street, EH1 1SX, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Phone: 0131 556 5888

Website: http://www.davidbann.com

Tags: vegetarian

I used to rave about this place to friends and family - always enjoyed the food and the service was always impecable. But I went for a meal there in June for my 30th birthday and we were kept waiting at our table for over 40 minutes before any orders were taken - no mention of us even getting a drink order in. The staff were not busy, and looking around other customers were noticeably annoyed by the lack of service. The menu on this occassion disappointed me also, I did feel rather let down and wished I had chosen somewhere else for my birthday meal. Hopefully the waiting staff have gotten themself up to scratch since then.