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Moro - review by mazphd

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 13:43:08 +0000

Moro - review by mazphd

Rating: 4.5

Location: 34 - 36 Exmouth Market, EC1R 4QE, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7833 8336

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

Tags: lively, middle eastern, business, crowded, expensive, romantic

It is not often that one comes across a restaurant that has style, vibe and some seriously fabulous food. I have been lucky enough to not only dine , but also to experience the wine here, and I intend to develop this very complimentary and devastingly evocative relationship some more.

On my visit, despite being full to bursting and busy every member of staff was attentive, helpful and catchingly perky! Now my experience may have been coloured by the delightful company for the evening (a perceptive, witty and charming dining companion) but Moro also holds all these qualities on its own just on the vibe alone.

For some reason I skipped the Tapas and went straight for the weekly menu, a sardine related dish full of spice, and just the right mix of olive oil and fennel seeds. Simplicity in itself. Now the dining was divine, but better was the wine, and I heartidly recommend, the OntaÃ±on, Gran Reserva a 2001 Spanish Rioja. On the side of 'pricey' at nearly Â£50 a bottle, but mmm so sumptuous.

It has been a while since I've had such great service (especially in the UK!) and wonderful food, and reading the other reviews it seems Moro gets this balance right at least 90% of the time. I'm hoping for those disappointed diners they will return and be charmed in the same way I have been.

My own intention is to revisit and take advantage of the tapas, and moment with a suitably charming dining partner. Oh and to remember to leave room for dessert.

Moro - review by chrisp

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 11:42:43 +0000

Moro - review by chrisp

Rating: 4.5

Location: 34 - 36 Exmouth Market, EC1R 4QE, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7833 8336

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

Tags: expensive, spanish, pretentious

Well, I'm sorry to go against the grain of reviews on this site, but I had a very disappointing experience here last weekend.

Arriving 20 mins too early for the evening menu (which was sold out anyway for some unfathomable reason), we decided to fill up on a selection of tapas and a glass of sherry. The tapas was dull - no better than from Cafe Kick across the road - with a small plate of cold and soggy Pimentos de Padron and Boquerones that had clearly just been dumped out of a jar.

But the real slap in the face came in the form of a Â£4 thimble-sized glass of Tio Pepe Sherry. The measure can't have been more than 100ml, and I know for a fact you can get a whole bottle of the stuff from Waitrose for about Â£8. A violation.

This highlights a wider problem with restaurants serving liquids out of their comfort zone. It's the same reason why a measure of Baileys (20%) costs the same as vodka (40%) in the pub and why you can happily buy shots of tequila for Â£1 each but ask for a brandy and you're given just about enough to coat the bottom of a tumbler for Â£3.50 (yes, most pubs have a perfectly good selection of brandy glasses - but when was the last time you saw one used?).

Sherry is not a spirit. In fact, at 15% it's about the in terms of alcohol content as most Riojas. The sooner these pretentious tapas places realise it the better, and one can only hope that once the credit crunch bites it will sort out the places that demand unquestioning respect from their customers from those that actually earn it.

Giaconda Dining Room - review by bellaphon

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 19:59:49 +0000

Giaconda Dining Room - review by bellaphon

Rating: 4.0

Location: 9 Denmark Street, WC2H 8LS, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7240 3334

Tags: french, business, good value, crowded

Most of what I want to say about this place has already been said on the well-judged and well-conceived reviews from the triumvirate of Sue, Gastro1 and Chrisp.

Just as well I booked for lunch, the dining room was already packed with business lunchers and arty luvvies by the time we turned up at 1pm. The service is akin to travelling First Class on Qantas (Iâ¬"m only assuming please), efficient and to the point but boy did I start to wonder whatâ¬"s going to be like during dinner instead. My signature starter of Crisped Pigs Trotters and Eggs Mayonnaise was perfectly balanced and delicately unctuous; I might request this as a mains option on my next visit. My dining companionâ¬"s Shellfish Bisque was unfortunately a little under-salted, personally I think this couldâ¬"ve been remedied with the addition of some grated GruyÃ¨re. For the main course I decided to go "off-piste", as everyone else in the room seemed to opt for either the Roast Salmon or Grilled Sirloin; my delicious Tripe Braised with Chorizo, Smoked Paprika & Butter Beans was basically grown up baked beans for the discerning palate. The companionâ¬"s Duck Confit and Roast Potatoes was pretty much epic in proportions, it took him forever to finish the plate up (obviously good enough as a dish as he has a habit of leaving most of his food half-finished). We ended up the meal with a shared pudding of Poached Peach and Eton Mess; this was the star dish of the meal for me at The GDR for it was so fruity, crunchy and sensibly creamy, it was the perfect end to a delicious and good value meal.

The location is great, one can now rid of the lunch excesses by window shopping around the guitar stores on the same street or admiring that fine carbuncle nearby otherwise known as the Centre Point tower.

Giaconda Dining Room - review by chrisp

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 13:01:48 +0000

Giaconda Dining Room - review by chrisp

Rating: 4.0

Location: 9 Denmark Street, WC2H 8LS, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7240 3334

Tags: french, british, family & home feel, good value

A restaurant surely couldn't want for a better set of reviews than those achieved by The Giaconda in its opening month. Timeout (*****) and The Guardian joined a growing set of bloggers and foodies to lavish praise on the Soho eatery. At first glance, it's hard to figure out what the fuss is about. The menu reads well enough I suppose - a mixture of Mediterranean and British-inspired dishes including such choice items as foie gras and rack of lamb for two. The room is tiny but pleasantly lit, and the man and wife team that handle the kitchen and front of house respectively are clearly confident and accomplished in their respective roles, but it's hardly the kind of thing we haven't seen before in the capital. What has people excited, I think, is that as the economy continues to tumble and even those lucky diners who aren't feeling the pinch are at least encouraged to feel guilty about it, it is becoming common for reviewers and critics to highlight that extra element of value for money in their overall appraisal of a restaurant. Tayyabs, for example, has been around for the best part of 30 years but the reason it won Indian Restaurant of the Year in 2008 was because people have finally come to their senses and exposed the folly of Indian Fine Dining (Benares, Amaya, et. al.) - why pay Â£30 for Chicken Tikka in Mayfair when you can get it for Â£1 in Whitechapel? And The Giaconda not only serves very reasonably priced food and cooks it well, but all the wines are marked up the same amount, meaning there's barely anything on the list more than Â£30 a bottle, and a Â£1 cover charge (something I usually hate) gives you bread and butter, an endless supply of still or sparkling water and a little bowl of radishes to nibble on while perusing the menu. In short, The Giaconda may not be the cheapest restaurant in London but you genuinely feel you're making your pennies and pounds go as far as they possibly can - something guaranteed to win over hearts and minds in these post-credit crunch times.

Despite having mentioned how tempting the menu was, I managed to order two courses not even on it. The foie gras "au Torchon" was replaced by a seared slab of lovely creamy foie in a rich butter bean sauce, and was absolutely heavenly. I have rarely had better cooked foie gras in the top restaurants in London, so at Â£10.50 for this generous portion, cooked to perfection, this was an absolute bargain.

My main course, unfortunately, was less successful. An admittedly generous amount of pork belly, moist and cooked very well, was presented on a thick, creamy risotto which did nothing to offset the fatty pig meat and about two mouthfuls in became a chore to get through. I did my best to clear the plate (I'm such a trooper) but when I actually started to feel physically sick from all that richness I had to give up. A companion's plate of salmon looked a bit slimy and didn't have the texture of a great piece of fish, but was cooked well with a nice crispy skin and the "deconstructed piccalilli" was a good sharp accompaniment. We also ordered a side of chips, which were pretty good, too. I am willing to believe I chose badly as better people than me have raved about their meals here, but as the only plate of food to actually make me nauseous for as long as I can remember, I must deduct points for that.

The Giaconda's final nod to the diner on a budget is to leave the service charge off the final bill. True, it does say in rather threatening capital letters SERVICE NOT INCLUDED underneath, but it's still nice that they leave the tip up to you rather than slapping on the customary 12.5%. We still tipped 12.5%, as it happens, as the service had been very good, so everyone's a winner. In fact, the "trick" with the bill neatly sums up my experience in this restaurant. The food wasn't top-class but in doing various things just well enough and managing to make you feel you're getting the bargain of a century whereas you're just in fact getting a decent meal at gastropub prices, it satisfies your soul as well as your belly. They've even managed to get a cover charge out of me without the usual accompanying rant, so for that alone they deserve all the praise they can get.

C. Lidgate - review by jackpot4544

Sun, 14 Sep 2008 12:18:16 +0000

C. Lidgate - review by jackpot4544

Rating: 5.0

Location: 110 Holland Park Avenue, W11 4UA, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7727 8243

Tags: delicatessen, rare finds

This is the first time i have reviewed a butchers, so bear with me! The shop itself is spotlessly clean which really sells it to me. (Decor is also fab!) There is an enormous choice of different meats available. However if you are used to buying your meat from Sainsburys or somewhere like that, you will notice a huge difference in the quality. The beef has clearly been well hung and is my favourite. The steaks just melt in your mouth, even after my poor cooking skills have been let loose on them! The quality of meat here just can't be describer adequately! However be warned - quality meat equals higher price, but you really do get what you pay for!

Moro - review by Litro_K

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 17:25:37 +0000

Moro - review by Litro_K

Rating: 4.5

Location: 34 - 36 Exmouth Market, EC1R 4QE, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7833 8336

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

Tags: lively, north african, spanish

I'd been waiting years to try our Moro, upon countless recomendations, and finally had an excuse last Friday. Well, three, actually - a birthday, an engagement, and a leaving party, all in one. And boy, was it worth the wait.

I had booked well in advance for a table of 14, which was situated at the back of the restaurant, in a semi-private corner. In the end we had to book for 16 and they happily agreed. The staff were always lovely and helpful, whether on the phone or in person, and they took no massive deposit from my credit card, foisted no set menus on us, and we had one lovely waitress all to ourselves for the night, who coped very well with having to take orders for 16 over three courses without shouting herself hoarse!

As for the food? It was completely out of this world. All the meat tasted like each animal had lived the best life possible, if you know what I mean. It was all tender, succulent, well-seasoned, and â¬ well - moreish. Wines chosen at random from the list were wonderful; desserts were passed around and slathered over, everyone shared their food and so many noises of ecstasy came from various corners of the table that I stopped for a moment, feeling truly happy, and thought: this is really what eating out is all about. Five stars.

C. Lidgate - review by gastro1

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 13:25:29 +0000

C. Lidgate - review by gastro1

Rating: 5.0

Location: 110 Holland Park Avenue, W11 4UA, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7727 8243

Tags: delicatessen, rare finds

Fanatastic quality meat and more.

The butchers a fairly international bunch theses days who cater for the increasingly French and Italian clientelle in Holland Park prepare and cut the finest beef , veal , pork and lamb that is available.

The pies , sausage rolls and pasty's are great and the cheese counter is pretty solid but not stellar. You can also buy oils , chutneys and good free range chicken and duck eggs.

Allen & Co - review by gastro1

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 14:14:48 +0000

Allen & Co - review by gastro1

Rating: 5.0

Location: 117 Mount Street, W1K 3LA, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7499 5831

Tags: rare finds

Along with Lidgate , Harrods Jack O'Shea and The Ginger Pig this is the best Butcher in London.

At any time they have simply the best beef , lamb and pork available mainly from the British Isles. Meats are well hung and cut to your taste.

There is also very good game in season and decent chickens. In terms of the latter I'd like to see some good French Label Rouge as well as top Bresse as they are in a different league.

Provenance is clearly stated in some cases right down to the individual farmer.

Giaconda Dining Room - review by gastro1

Sat, 06 Sep 2008 16:02:36 +0000

Giaconda Dining Room - review by gastro1

Rating: 4.0

Location: 9 Denmark Street, WC2H 8LS, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7240 3334

Tags: italian, british, good value, mediterranean, crowded, french

This is a great restaurant that serves very good food made from excellent well chosen and sourced ingredients.

The restaurant has about 32 covers and is likely to expand into some unused space at the rear.

It is clear that Paul Merrony the chef and co owner has a very specific food philosophy and has not only had a top (cooking) education that includes Le Gavroche London, La Tour d'Argent in Paris and top restaurants down under but has chosen to apply his superb technique to serving Franco/Italian bourgeois/home cooking with the addition of the odd British classic.

I plan to eat my way through the menu over the next few weeks.

But based on my first meal I was thoroughly impressed.

Artichoke vinegrette was perfectly cooked , served and presented.

The simply grilled rib eye steak served with some sliced tomatoes that actually had taste was excellent.

I also tasted a good pork chop ( probably Gloucester old spot or Tamworth) and a remarkable pigs trotter starter.

The wine list is mainly French , Italian and Spanish with for London minimal mark ups ( a bit like Andrew Edmonds)

My guest had a prune compote with creme anglaise and ice cream that was stunning whilst I had a very good Stilton from Neal's Yard

Negatives for me were the bread - Ciabatta and the chips. I expected the latter to be had cut real chips but the restaurant had either run out or always serve Brake Bros or even McCains. I appreciate the restaurant staffed by one front of house and Paul + an apprentice in the kitchen cannot do everything but if you are going to buy in bread than I would recommend something a bit more crusty form say Baker & Spice (wholesale). As for chips no excuses !

This is exceptional cooking at very good value.

Le Caprice - review by jmcfar

Mon, 01 Sep 2008 12:15:21 +0000

Le Caprice - review by jmcfar

Rating: 4.4

Location: Arlington St, SW1A 1RD, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7629 2239

Website: http://www.le-caprice.co.uk/

Tags: expensive

A fantastic high class restaurant in St. Jamesâ¬"s The menu is pricey but the food absolutely incredible. Moreover, the service too is fantastic, with friendly yet professional waiters. My favourites are the delicious steak tartare, one of the best steak tartars I have ever eaten, the goats cheese risotto, the steaks which were cooked to perfection, and my absolute favourite, which I have every time I go, which is the iced berries with hot white chocolate sauce as a dessert. A great restaurant to go to for special occasions, and I would go all the time if it were not for the slightly prohibitive pricing!

The Anchor & Hope - review by Busi_78

Sun, 31 Aug 2008 18:17:12 +0000

The Anchor & Hope - review by Busi_78

Rating: 4.3

Location: 36 The Cut, SE1 8LP, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7633 9144

Went to the A&H for a quick lunch so I didn't have time to eat a full meal (though I had a taste of my companions') I had the snails with leven(sp) bread and duck fat toast. It was hearty, interesting and good value at Â£7, though it lacked seasoning. My collegue ordered smoked sprats with horseradish, it looked fantastic, wished I'd ordered it as she sent it back for being 'too fishy'.They gracefully took it back (even though she'd poked it!) I had a taste of the terrine served with gherkins which was a great texture and lovely tasting. The salad with goats curd looked a mess and was ok tasting at best. But the service was quick and flawless and I would definately go back with foodie friends and try some of their main course.

Club Gascon - review by Food_Snob

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 08:07:42 +0000

Club Gascon - review by Food_Snob

Rating: 3.5

Location: 57-59 West Smithfield, EC1A 9JX, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7796 0600

Website: http://www.clubgascon.com

Tags: french, business, pretentious, expensive

Full Critique:

http://foodsnobblog.wordpress.com/category/restaurant-reviews/club-gascon-restaurant-reviews/

The menu here, although characteristic of the rich and hearty cuisine of Gascony, features classic dishes interlaced with modern and exotic twists, for example, confit of organic salmon, violet tea & citrus chutney and asparagus coulis, eucalyptus jelly & baby lobster. Furthermore, it is difficult to find a review not written in overwhelming praise; the inventiveness and skill of Pascal Aussignac (previously of Guy Savoy and CarrÃ© des Feuillants) is lauded and the foie gras dishes branded the best London has to offer.

Having eagerly made reservations a few days prior, I arrived promptly at seven, salivating in anticipation of what was to follow; expectations were high. The â¬Üreceptionistâ¬" greeted me warmly and showed me to my table. The restaurant was deserted, but it was still early. Soon K and D, two friends who would be joining me, arrived and our charming serveuse handed around menus, explaining how one was to order; reports of the notoriously â¬Üchaoticâ¬" and â¬Ücomplicatedâ¬" menu proved, in my opinion, unfounded. The dishes, broken down into five categories, la route de sel, le potager, lâ¬"oceane, les foies gras and les pasturages, are served tapas style and generally become heavier as you move down through the sections. Three dishes each were suggested as sufficient.

Such a wide selection meant it took a while to â¬Ümutuallyâ¬" decide on what to order. I quickly found my initial (selfish) joy at being able to try more dishes dining as a group replaced by the sour disappointment of how much our tastes diverged e.g. one friend is not fond of game and another, apparently, cannot mix red meat and white during the same dinner. Once dishes were finally agreed upon, I was somewhat miffed: one dish I had had my eye on since initial inspection of the menu, glazed black cod, lillet & coconut, smoked salt, was chosen by BOTH friends: I did not mind so much that someone else had ordered â¬Ümyâ¬" dish, but why break that cardinal rule and order the same dish twice? I realise full well that it is a little pathetic, but I cannot help it, I have my â¬Üprinciplesâ¬" (chronic OCD sufferer) and I was not happy. Whatever! Needless to say, I tried to be as obliging as possible so that we might all share freely.

During the well earned rest that followed ordering, I asked about photographing the food, but was informed, after that the chef, would be appreciated it if I refrained from this. Quelle deception!

It took the arrival of the bread basket, offering a selection of cereal, raison and fennel, rye or white baguette, to raise my spirits. I like bread, but I adore hot bread and at CG, it is baked on site and served piping hot. I tried each variety, of course, and found rye a clear winner.

An amuse bouche of eucalyptus granitÃ©, melon and salsify followed; this did not really work for me and was instantly forgettable. Our starters looked good, were interestingly presented and the portions were of standard starter size, except for my generous duck carpaccio, spring truffle & crispy artichoke. Unfortunately, this looked better than it tasted; the flavour was distinctive and the idea of carpaccio of duck was new to me, so though I am glad I tried it, I would not order it again. Additionally, the artichoke came sliced in the form of large â¬Ücrispsâ¬", which I did not at all care for. My companions did not seem especially impressed either. After sampling each otherâ¬"s dishes, K decided the texture of her abalone & razor clams fricassee, velvety parsnip & seaweed tartare was rather putting her off, thus setting in motion a mini merry-go-round that ended with K having Dâ¬"s aligot, juicy mousserons & wild garlic, D my duck and me the abalone and razor clams, well, just razor clams (K had already eaten the single small abalone morsel). I was pleased with this result; the fat clams were delightful, whilst the consistency of the aligot was, in my opinion, a little â¬Üplasticâ¬", though the juicy mousserons floating within were indeed moreish.

Next came embers grilled artichokes, barigoule & diablo sauce for K and two foie gras dishes, ouzo foie gras delight and pressed duck foie gras, king crab & hot tomato jus for D and me, respectively. This time, I thought the portions were relatively stingy. The barigoule consisted of three mini artichoke heads; the ouzo delight was a small brick of pÃ¢tÃ©, similar sized brioche slice and dice-sized cube of ouzo jelly; and the foie gras and crab comprised small slivers of terrine and four scrawny crab claws (the absence of actual crab meat on them suggests they were there just for decoration). Further, it came on a craggy stone slab, inhibiting me from safely pouring out the tomato sauce (initially incorrectly served with Kâ¬"s dish). Taste-wise, I found the barigoule quite bland and maybe a little overcooked, the foies gras were both smooth and flavoursome, but the combinations on either dish did not thrill me. Actually, this is not a fair comment as the lack of crab and impracticality of the tomato mix meant I was left with a serving of â¬Üstraightâ¬" foie gras. The ouzo jelly was the star of this course.

With the final course due, I was dissatisfied and desperate for things to improve. And they did, a little. The black cod, served differently to reviews, came in a bowl with the fish immersed in a white froth. My seared loin veal, sea urchin jus, milla fritter looked nice, if again not plentiful; a couple of slices of pink meat with some milla fritters (these turned out to be basic and boring potato croquettes). The veal was overcooked for me, preferring it to melt in my mouth; the fritters were dull; and the powerful, sharp sea urchin jus did not successfully link the dishâ¬"s flavours together. Nevertheless, I would not describe the dish as bad, just lacklustre. The cod was the mealâ¬"s highlight for both K and D; I was unable to try the fish together with the dishâ¬"s supporting ingredients, but the scraps I did sample, though I have had better elsewhere, were well cooked.

A pre-dessert/palate cleanser of rhubarb sorbet, balsamic vinegar and celery followed. This was the most pleasant surprise of the meal with the diverse and distinct flavours delivering a cool sharp zing.

Dessert, my favourite course, was still to come. We ordered the choco bar, red hot chilli berries and white chocolate boule, lime & pineapple. By this stage, the restaurant had indeed filled out with a well-dressed crowd of young professionals â¬ not surprising given the proximity to the City â¬ and this crowd was probably why we had to wait so long for desserts. Uncomfortably long. When they finally arrived, they were, as pudding ought to be, a feast for the eyes. The boule, an egg of white chocolate, came with a warm pineapple jus served Ã la Ducasse that melted the head of the egg revealing the precious, sweet and acidic lime and pineapple within. It was a nice combination. The choco bar, a chocolate sponge served with coffee ice cream and dark chocolate syrup, though decent, lacked that one characteristic essential to all good, especially good chocolate, desserts â¬ indulgence. Puddings should be guilty pleasures, naughty extravagances and this sponge was wanting of any real depth or luxury. The red hot chilli berries looked most impressive; a raspberry millefeuille with a raspberry sorbet, still within the ladle, and, I think, red pepper gel alongside. The raspberries were amazingly fresh; this is unfortunately the best I have to say about this dish. The sorbet was refreshing, but spoilt by a few hard lumps of ice and the gel was devoid of any genuine punch, which was what I was looking for from RED HOT CHILLI berries.

I would rather not mention the petit fours â¬ one chocolate dusted almond each and some chocolate raisons â¬ but I have, for the record of course (:P).

Overall, the food was not actually bad, but it was not great, not good, just decent and failed to justify its hefty price (Â£227.00 for three, including service and a Â£42.00 bottle of wine). The service was decent and contrary to what I have read, polite and friendly, if at times a little sloppy and inefficient (dropping of cutlery, wrong dishes to wrong diner, requested butter not delivered) and deteriorated as the night wore on. One personal annoyance was that the waiter explaining our dishes mumbled every description in a barely audible whisper. Further, though I did not see the wine list myself, I was told there was a dearth of more reasonably priced wines. I was also let down by the absence of many of what I thought were signature dishes e.g. foie gras ice cream, foie gras popcorn, duck confit, smoked eel croustillant and (amazing) frites (I know what you are thinking â¬ stop reading so many reviews!).

The experience fell way short of what I wanted and what I expected from this Michelin starred restaurant, but in writing this critique, I may have been severe. Many of those glowing reviews that elevated my hopes so high were indeed a little old, so maybe the kitchen is becoming complacent or maybe it was just a bad nightâ¬¦another dish, another day, things could have been different. There were other dishes I would have liked to sample and considering that the menu is updated monthly and ordering le marche (four course set menu for Â£42.00) is pretty good value, I do believe I would consider returning. After all, everyone deserves a second chance.

57 West Smithfield, London, EC1A 9DS
tel: 020 7796 0600
nearest tube: Barbican, Farringdon
www.clubgascon.com

Fernandez & Wells - review by Niamheen

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 22:04:06 +0000

Fernandez & Wells - review by Niamheen

Rating: 3.6

Location: 43 Lexington Street, W1F 9AL, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7734 1546

Website: http://www.fernandezandwells.com/

Tags: delicatessen, rare finds

It feels like I am letting you into a little secret, but I am sure Iâ¬"m not, itâ¬"s just that I liked this place so much, I almost want to keep it secret! I popped into Fernandez & Wells in Soho with a friend on Saturday evening. Iâ¬"d wanted to go for a while having seen it many times on treks around Soho. It looks so appealing, with legs of ham in the window, bottles of wine on the counter and lots of cheese behind. Thereâ¬"s blackboards outside and in advertising their wares.

They look like they know what theyâ¬"re doing, although looks can be deceptive - not in this instance. I was there only briefly but enjoyed a charcuterie plate with prosciutto, basque salami and chorizo with a glass of albarino. We were also offered some manchego to taste. It was delicious and well sourced, alot of time and attention had gone into these selections. The meats, served on slate and sliced wafer thin & melt in the mouth, the cheese aged and crumbly and the albarino a gorgeous white, delicious and light. I didnâ¬"t want to leave but we had dinner plans elsewhere, besides they close at 9pm (although that should be moving to 10pm soon).

It was refreshing just to sit there and be nosey, to soak it all in. The staff are really passionate and knowledgable, itâ¬"s a real treat. I will definitely be back to try more, and request their recommendations. I would recommend that you go too!

C. Lidgate - review by glenburg1

Sun, 24 Aug 2008 11:26:31 +0000

C. Lidgate - review by glenburg1

Rating: 5.0

Location: 110 Holland Park Avenue, W11 4UA, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7727 8243

Tags: rare finds, exclusive boutique, healthy food

If you love your food and enjoy what you eat then try there meat ,it simply cant be beat.
this shop doesnt come cheap and you will pay top dollar but you realy do get what you pay for.
This isnt supermarket meat so dont expect supermarket prices , but i assure you you wont regret buying from here ,
you will get the cut you ask for from premium high quality joints.
try one sunday joint from here and you will not dream of going back and although its expensive the qualitys so good it will go miles further,some times cheap meat is such a false econmy,if you can give it a go and see,you wont regret it.

Giaconda Dining Room - review by sue

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 15:37:41 +0000

Giaconda Dining Room - review by sue

Rating: 4.0

Location: 9 Denmark Street, WC2H 8LS, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7240 3334

Tags: relaxed, british, business, good value, friendly, french, european

The Giaconda Dining Room opened just a couple of months ago in an unlikely street that is better known for its guitar shops than its cuisine. When I first read about this new restaurant I moved it straight to the top of the to-do list, mainly as the chef/owner is an Aussie who had a very good name in the Sydney dining scene a few years back.

On arrival the greeting from the lovely French waitress was friendly, and continued to be so throughout the meal. She was charming, and did nice things like, for example, telling me not to bother ordering extra salad as a serve came with one of the other dishes and would be enough for two.

The dÃ©cor in the small dining room is fairly plain, with the tiny kitchen to the rear. Toilets are downstairs and are not nice - obviously weren't renovated before the Giaconda Dining Room opened. They could at least buy a toilet seat that fits.

A 'cover charge' of Â£1 per person is charged which covers the bread and unlimited water - this was good value for us as we drank a few carafes of sparking water, and ordinarily we would order a couple of bottles anyway.

The food is a mix of French/British/European, with a great sounding menu making the ordering process difficult. The three of us couldn't decide on which starter to order, so we ordered three to share - the Shellfish Bisque; the "Boneless (almost!) & Crisped Pigs Trotters" (as it is written on the menu); and the special of the day, Foie Gras with green bean salad. The bisque was flavoursome, the pigs trotters were a little bland. The foie gras was melt-in-your-mouth delicious.

For main course we had the Ham Hock Hash; the Rib Eye with chips and salad; and the Crisp Roast Salmon with deconstructed piccalilli. The Ham Hock Hash was the favourite. Desserts had to be sampled, and we opted for the Chocolate Truffle cake with coffee sauce; and the Tiramisu. Both were very rich - I couldn't finish my cake - and the tiramisu was nice and groggy.

Prices are lower than average for the quality of the meals on offer, and service and atmosphere were great. Certainly hope to return.