Latest reviews by gastrosnob's friends

Sublime Coffee House - review by mundek

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 02:36:43 +0000

Sublime Coffee House - review by mundek

Rating: 5.0

Location: Haven Road, 7001, Nelson, New Zealand

This is the Sublime Coffee roastery, but they also sell beans and have a coffee bar at this shop. Its fairly small so can get crowded at the weekend. Excellent coffee I can't recommend it enough. No food.

Burger Fuel - review by mundek

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 02:27:40 +0000

Burger Fuel - review by mundek

Rating: 4.0

Location: Courtney Place, 6010, Wellington, New Zealand

Website: www.burgerfuel.co.nz

Tags: american, cheap eat, crowded, burger, lively

Central Wellington branch of the popular burger chain. Good meat, vege and fish burgers. And excellent milkshakes.

Fitzrovia Restaurant - review by mundek

Wed, 29 Aug 2007 09:33:12 +0000

Fitzrovia Restaurant - review by mundek

Rating: 2.8

Location: 29 Tottenham Street, W1T 4RP, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7636 2744

Tags: italian, grotty, cheap eat, crowded, smoking

I disagree with the other reviewer. 4 stars - no way!!!

This grotty little place at the back end of of Fitzrovia is an insult to Italian cuisine. Really. It is that bad. I have had some bad meals in my time, but this place takes the biscuit.

The calzone is probably the only palatable thing on menu (even that is pretty ropy), the pasta dishes look and taste like the sauce came from jar with a Tesco value label. The house red wine tastes like paint stripper. When I visited the staff were more interested in watching football and smoking than serving customers, which begs the question why would they bother opening a restaurant in the first place. The whole building looks like it should be condemned.

They should try harder or shut the place down. Avoid.

The Ferry - review by mundek

Tue, 14 Aug 2007 12:41:08 +0000

The Ferry - review by mundek

Rating: 2.0

Location: Sutton Road, SL6 9SN, Maidenhead, United Kingdom

Tags: italian, cookham, river thames, greek, pizza, mediterranean, brasserie

Nestled alongside the River Thames close to the fancy village of Cookham, The Ferry is pub converted into a restaurant with excellent views across the river. The menu is mostly mediterranean with wood fired pizzas, pasta, risotto and grilled meats. I had high hopes for this place after some glowing recommendations from friends.

Unfortunately on our visit the food didn't really match up to the views. Things started well with a very tasty greek mezze platter (£10) which was hearty and well presented. The three of us then shared a couple of pizzas and a beef Carpaccio dish. The Carpaccio was more than adequate, but the pizzas were highly disappointing. Firstly, the pizza base was bland and bit too crispy, secondly the mozzarella tasted cheap and wasn't melted quite properly (in fact both pizzas were cooked somewhat unevenly) and thirdly the raw tomatoes on top added nothing to the pizza, I suppose that is personal preference though. For a place that advertises its pizzas so much this was disappointing.

Still, the wine list is good (Stop Banks Sav Blanc - Yum), the service fine and they have boat moorings available outside. I would say 2.5/5 to be fair.

Slurp - review by mundek

Tue, 14 Aug 2007 12:18:45 +0000

Slurp - review by mundek

Rating: 4.5

Location: 104-106 Streatham High Road, SW16 1BW, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 8677 7786

Tags: lively, cheap eat, chinese, thai, japanese

Slurp is local noodle place on Streatham High Road. They serve a variety of Thai, Chinese and Japanese dishes (of varying levels of authenticity) and both non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks. The food was of a good standard on both of my visits, and the house ramen is excellent. It is also certainly good value for money as mains range from £6 to £9 and they do a lunch special (main and a drink) for £5.50. Service was great when I have visited, though the premises are a little lacking in amtosphere. Probably the best place in the area for a cheap, informal meal. I'd recommend it.

Kam Fung - review by mundek

Mon, 23 Jul 2007 12:55:09 +0000

Kam Fung - review by mundek

Rating: 3.0

Location: 27 Red Lion Street, WC1R 4PS, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7405 6820

An interesting little Chinese restaurant in the Holborn area. There are rumours that they have two different menus - one in Cantonese and one in English, and apparantly the Cantonese one is better and cheaper! Those concerns aside Kam Fung is pretty decent - the portions are well priced for their size (don't over order!), service was good when we visited. We had Peking duck, beef and black bean and spicy vegetables and all dishes were above average compared to most Chinese restaurants.

They lose points for the addition of MSG in their food though. Maybe take a Cantonese speaking friend with you too and find out if those rumours are true!

Gourmet Burger Kitchen - review by mundek

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 11:54:28 +0000

Gourmet Burger Kitchen - review by mundek

Rating: 4.0

Location: 44 Northcote Road, SW11 1NZ, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7228 3309

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

Just the name says. Gourmet burgers. Similar to the NZ chains Burger Fuel or Burgers Wisconsin, unsuprising as this chain was set up by some expat-NZ chefs. Branches can be found in various locations around London.

The burgers are cooked well, decent sides, pretty reasonably priced for the quality. I had the 'Pesterella' - burger with pesto and mozzarella. Very tasty.

The Clapham Common branch seems pretty standard. Good service when we visited. Oh and they sell Macs Gold! Recommended.

Malletti - review by mundek

Thu, 05 Jul 2007 08:44:38 +0000

Malletti - review by mundek

Rating: 4.3

Location: 26 Noel Street, W1F 8GT, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7439 4096

Tags: italian, pasta, pizza, crowded, soho, lunch, expensive

I agree with the other reviewers - Malletti's is a revelation. Their pizza and pasta is of the highest quality, I especially like the sausage and mushroom penne. My one down point though - the food (like a lot of Italian food) does tend to swim in (tasty) grease though so if you are particularly health conscious you may want to avoid. But other than that I couldn't fault it.

I hope they open some more branches though as the current one is so busy. Queues out the door by 1230, sold out by 1430-1500. But yum, makes me hungry just thinking about it.

Hinds Head Hotel - review by mundek

Thu, 05 Jul 2007 08:22:57 +0000

Hinds Head Hotel - review by mundek

Rating: 4.0

Location: High Street, SL6 2AB, Bray, United Kingdom

Phone: 01628 626151

Website: http://www.thehindsheadhotel.com/

Tags: traditional pub, 16th Century, heston blumenthal, bray, gastro pub, excellent pub food

The Hinds Head is an historic 16th Century Inn in the famous gastrovillage of Bray. Taken over by acclaimed chef Heston Blumenthal (owner of the three Michelin starred Fat Duck just up the road, and the only celebrity chef named after motorway services) a couple of years back it has changed from a somewhat staid village pub to one of finest food serving pubs I have ever visited.

The emphasis is on well prepared, traditional British fare. On a recent lunch visit I started with the goats cheese tart, followed by the 8oz rump steak with marrowbone sauce and triple cooked chips. The goats cheese tart was outstanding, as I understand it the goats cheese is sourced from a local farm and it was certainly very fresh. As for the main, well the steak was excellently cooked and the sauce definately adds to the flavour. The triple cooked chips are some of the best chips I've ever eaten, they veer towards being mini roast potatos really, but still they are excellent too.

My companions had a number of different items from the menu and no one was disappointed. The potted shrimps, hotpot and mussels all were very tasty. I really can't put in to words how good the food is.

The service was really professional, the atmosphere inviting (not stuffy as few of us had expected) and the wine list extensive, the Argentinean Malbec we had was really good. Not exactly cheap for a pub meal but this ain't burger and chips down the Dog and Duck! Oh, sandwiches and bar snacks available too.

Highly recommended for those who love quality British food.

Patisserie Valerie - review by mundek

Wed, 20 Jun 2007 14:01:36 +0000

Patisserie Valerie - review by mundek

Rating: 2.3

Location: 37 Brushfield Street, E1 6EU, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7247 4906

Website: http://www.patisserie-valerie.co.uk

Tags: french, average brew, brasserie

Branch of the Soho institution, famous for throwing currant buns at the Luftwaffe in World War 2 or something.

I've never eaten in the brasserie, but have a had coffee and pastries here a few times. The coffee is nothing special, the service is hit or miss (I've had overattentive, uninterested and nice waiting staff here in equal measure). All the glass and steel at this branch creates a funny ambience too - not really somewhere you want to linger.

The pastries and cakes are awesome though.

Nando's Chickenland - review by mundek

Wed, 20 Jun 2007 13:45:29 +0000

Nando's Chickenland - review by mundek

Rating: 3.4

Location: 16-118 Commercial Street, E1 6NF, London, United Kingdom

Tags: portuguese, chili, nandos, peri-peri, chicken, family, family & home feel, cheap eat

Seems like you can't move these days without tripping over a Nandos, I have heard they use the entire output of Mozambiques chili growers in their peri peri sauce, though that could be a lie.

This branch is new, clean, well designed and decorated and the food tastes pretty much like it would at any other Nandos. The staff were very polite and on our visit (saturday lunchtime) it was pretty much empty - though I'm told its busier during the week what with city being so close.

I am a fan of chicken, chips and chili sauce so I like Nandos, if you don't you'd be better off at one of the other plethora of eating establishments in the area.

Donzoko - review by mundek

Thu, 31 May 2007 16:00:19 +0000

Donzoko - review by mundek

Rating: 4.0

Location: 15 Kingly Street, W1B 5PS, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7734 1974

Tags: lively, japanese, expensive

Don Zoko is an authentic little Japanese restaurant on Kingly Street. I visited Don Zoko for the first time recently for lunch. Don Zoko serves a variety of sake, sushi, sashimi and japanese noodle and rice dishes.

As with most authenic Japanese restaurants in London the price of sushi/sashimi is prohibitively expensive (is fresh wholesale fish really that pricy?) so I had the katsu donburi which was pretty good to be honest and only £6.50. I have heard the sushi is pretty good here though.

Service was attentive, though our food was a little slow to arrive. A good option if you are in town and fancy some Japanese food.

Juanita's Restaurant - review by mundek

Thu, 31 May 2007 11:52:37 +0000

Juanita's Restaurant - review by mundek

Rating: 3.5

Location: 1734 Webster Street, 94612, Oakland, United States of America

Tags: lively, bay area, oakland, cheap eat, crowded, mexican

I always used to eat a lot of mexican food when on business in California and Juanitas is the best mexican restaurant in downtown Oakland (possibly the whole Bay Area) I ever found.

This is not the tex-mex bastardisation of mexican cuisine that 'mexican' restaurants in the UK serve up. Their chilli relleno (stuffed chilli pepper) and mole (traditional mexican savoury chocolate sauce) enchilada are second to none. Very reasonably priced too.

The owner is a friendly comedian who likes to crack jokes with his customers and generally livens up the atmosphere for the lunching office workers who frequent his establishment.

Open monday to friday lunchtimes and saturday too now I believe. No alcohol served. I can't recommend this place enough.

The Lighthouse Inn - review by mundek

Wed, 30 May 2007 12:53:06 +0000

The Lighthouse Inn - review by mundek

Rating: 4.0

Location: Coast Road, NR12 0PE, Walcott, United Kingdom

Tags: live music, excellent pub food, beer garden, traditional pub

We visited this place for lunch on the recommendation of a local vegetable seller one rainy bank holiday afternoon. The Lighthouse is Free House on the outskirts of the Norfolk village of Walcott.

The food is of the traditional pub variety and doesn't disappoint as long as don't expect haute cuisine. My Steak & Kidney pie was delicious, my companions locally caught fish and chips was also very good. The roast dinners also looked amazing. As well as main meals they also do typical bar snacks.

Excellent range of local and national beer and cider on tap. Outside area and childrens menu available too. Highly recommended.

Ultimate Burger - review by mundek

Mon, 21 May 2007 11:19:10 +0000

Ultimate Burger - review by mundek

Rating: 3.5

Location: 98 Tottenham Court Rd, W1T 4TR, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7436 5355

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

Tags: american, lively

Not the 'ultimate burger', but pretty good nonetheless. They serve a wide variety of beef, chicken and veggie burgers. I had the 'smoky mountain burger' which was well cooked and tasty. Sides (which cost extra) include fries and onion rings, both of which were pretty good. Service was fine. On the downside they need more beer options on the menu (only Budweiser and Moretti at the moment) and a kids menu would be good. Somewhat pricey for a burger place too.