Latest reviews by greedoe's friends

The Clerkenwell Dining Room & Bar - review by sue

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 19:14:00 +0000

The Clerkenwell Dining Room & Bar - review by sue

Rating: 3.0

Location: 69-73 St John St, EC1M 4AN, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7253 9000

Website: www.theclerkenwell.com

Tags: european, bad service, international, business

I really wanted to like The Clerkenwell Dining Room. Friends had enjoyed it, the menu sounded good, and I am a fan of their sister restaurant, The Chancery. I think I should have stuck to The Chancery.

Ok, it wasn't all bad. For example, the starters were nice. We had the Octopus Carpaccio, braised baby octopus, squid, lemon and rosemary dressing; and the Crab chowder, crab dumplings, sweet corn and basil oil. The octopus was very well received, and the chowder was good but under-seasoned.

Main courses we had were the Sea bass, scallop ravioli, artichokes, asparagus, tomato consommÃ©; the Lamb Rump, provencal vegetables, samossas and balsamic jus; and the Rabbit saddle, potato puree, baby leeks, wild mushrooms and herb sauce. The lamb was really deliciousâ¬¦ unfortunately I didn't order it. I had the sea bass which was disappointing - it sounded good on paper, but the tomato consommÃ© was bland and watered down all the other flavours. Dessert was almost a success - the Lemon curd tart, lemon confit and coconut sorbet was nicely presented, but the tart was a little too gooey. Did like the sorbet though.

While most of the food we had was nice, the service really put a dampener on the evening. There were about 6 staff racing about, all apparently serving the same tables which lead to confusion and duplications, not to mention endlessly annoying water top-ups. Many of the staff didn't appear to understand English, and stared blankly at us when a request was made. We were all irritated more and more as the meal progressed.

But the biggest mistake was when they gave the remainder of our wine to another tableâ¬¦ They had the white wine from all tables sitting in coolers to one side - I noticed them trying to write our table number on the label of our wine initially, but their system fell apart and our wine disappeared. At one stage they mistakenly bought over a couple of new glasses and then a half-finished bottle of someone else's wine. When we told them it wasn't ours they then took it to another table and started pouring.

When the manager bought over our bill she asked how our meal had been. We then mentioned the issue with the wine and she looked shocked. She hurried off and we dug out cash/cards to pay the bill and prepared to leave. The manager returned with glasses of champagne for all of us by way of apology. To be honest I was horrified. Ok, it may have been a nice gesture, but we had finished our meal, and just wanted to pay and get out of there. Only one of us valiantly forced down a half glass of champers...

The White Swan - review by sue

Sun, 24 Feb 2008 18:02:40 +0000

The White Swan - review by sue

Rating: 3.5

Location: 26 Old Palace Lane, TW9 1PG, Richmond, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 8940 0959

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

Tags: friendly, gastro pub, excellent pub food, beer garden, traditional pub, gastropub

Cafe Strudel - review by sue

Sat, 28 Jun 2008 09:25:06 +0000

Cafe Strudel - review by sue

Rating: 4.7

Location: 429 Upper Richmond Road, SW14 7PJ, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 8487 9800

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

Tags: friendly, viennese, good wine list, austrian, good value, wine

Spurred on by the reviews below, the fact that the restaurant is close to home, and by an interest in trying some Austrian wines, we headed to CafÃ© Strudel one evening, my mother-in-law in tow.

Initial impressions were good. Loved the look of the restaurant - simply and tastefully decorated, tables not too crammed in and lighting comfortable. The hostess/owner was a delight. Friendly, enthusiastic, patient and passionate, she really added to our enjoyment of the place.

Not being familiar with Austrian wines, we sought advice and then all chose a different wine by the glass, and were pleasantly surprised by the wines we sampled.

To start, my MIL had the Smoked duck terrine with orange compote, which looked great and tasted fine, though it was not quite what she was expecting (I think she thought it would be more pate like).

Main course was the Wiener Schnitzel with creamy mash and lambs lettuce; the Beef Goulash with savoy cabbage rosti and stuffed potato dumplings; and the Sea bass with lobster spatzle and lobster sauce. All dishes were great - the goulash got the thumbs up from our goulash connoisseur, and I really enjoyed the sea bass which was not over-salted as sea bass often is (to my palate anyway).

We shared two desserts - the Chocolate & hazelnut tart with vanilla ice cream and spicy chocolate sauce; and Chocolate fondant with poached strawberries. The fondant was over-cooked and was missing that rich gooey centre that we all love. The tart was much better, and the perfect ending to an enjoyable meal.

L-Restaurant & Bar - review by sue

Sat, 28 Jun 2008 09:22:39 +0000

L-Restaurant & Bar - review by sue

Rating: 3.3

Location: 2 Abingdon Road, W8 6AF, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7795 6969

Website: http://www.l-restaurant.co.uk/

Tags: restaurant, kensington, international, cocktails, spanish, friendly, european, tapas, bar

A return visit to L-Restaurant two years after our initial visit, and we had a similar experience. This time we dined with friends, and started the evening with a drink in the small bar. I was craving a mojito, so ordered oneâ¬¦ unfortunately it was very average.

Once seated in the restaurant, the manager/owner (who was very sweet) was devastated to have to break the news to us that two menu items were no longer available (along with the wine we ordered). Shame that one of the dishes (the duck) was the one I had my eye on. Thankfully I managed to nab the last portion of lamb. Phew!

To start we had the Pan-fried scallops & King prawns on a bed of chorizo, peppers, red onion & coriander; and the Goat's cheese, cheery tomato & red onion tart. The tart was popular, but the scallops & prawns dish looked and smelt like a pile of onions with a small bit of seafood hiding underneath.

For main course there was the aforementioned lamb - Roasted rump of lamb with cauliflower & almond puree and rosemary sauce; the Grilled Rib-eye steak with red wine sauce; and the Monkfish & shellfish Catalonian Stew. I really enjoyed the lamb - loved the cauliflower & almond puree, and the others were pleased with their choices too. For dessert we had the Classic crÃ¨me brulee; and the Chocolate Brownie with caramel ice cream. The brownie was delicious.

L-Restaurant offers friendly, sincere service and decent food, though we still left feeling under whelmed.

Cha Cha Moon - review by sue

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 17:31:41 +0000

Cha Cha Moon - review by sue

Rating: 3.3

Location: 15-21 Ganton Street, W1F 9BN, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7297 9800

Tags: lively, good value, chinese, noodles, noisy, busy

I had been eagerly reading the early reviews on Cha Cha Moon and liking the sound of it - especially the launch price of Â£3.50 for all dishes! So when we found ourselves in the vicinity looking for a fast, cheap meal one evening it seemed like the perfect opportunity to give it a whirl.

Thankfully there was no queue and we were seated immediately in a position with a good view of the kitchen and dining area, enabling us to eye off some of the dishes before ordering.

In the end we opted for the Wonton Mian (chicken wonton); the Crispy duck lao Mian; and the Seafood ho fun. The duck was very good - not too fatty, but the favourite dish was the seafood - loved the black bean flavour and those noodles.

Service was fast and efficient and our food arrived quickly. We really enjoyed the flavours and atmosphere and look forward to returning again asap, especially at those prices.

Bleeding Heart Bistro - review by sue

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 17:29:09 +0000

Bleeding Heart Bistro - review by sue

Rating: 3.5

Location: Bleeding Heart Yard, off Greville Street, EC1N 8SJ, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7242 2056

Website: http://www.bleedingheart.co.uk/bistro/index.php

Tags: lively, business, steak, crowded, french

If you are in the city looking for a place with a lively atmosphere where the waiters speak more French than English and the food is pretty decent then the Bleeding Heart Bistro may be the venue for you.

We dined mid-week with friends and the bistro was buzzing. Tables were fairly close together, though the high ceilings meant it wasn't too loud in there and we could still chat comfortably. Service was just like being back in Paris.

To start we had the Artichoke, Potato and Gruyere Terrine with mache salad, which wasn't quite as tasty as it sounded, but it looked great. Main courses were the Grilled Rib-eye with pommes frites and sauce bÃ©arnaise; the Blanquette of Lamb with spring vegetables and new potatoes; and SautÃ©ed Escalope of Tuna with aubergine and ratatouille, basil jus. All meals had good quality, well cooked ingredients, and great flavours.

For dessert we had the Tarte Tatin of Caramelised Pears with cream; and the Chocolate Macaroon with white chocolate mousse and strawberry. I shared the Macaroon and it was very nice indeed... I don't recommend sharing it!

The Walpole - review by sue

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 17:27:16 +0000

The Walpole - review by sue

Rating: 4.0

Location: 35 St Marys Road, W5 5RG, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 8567 7918

Tags: lively, british, average brew, family & home feel, steak, good value, friendly

Returning to the Walpole after a couple of years absence, I was pleased to see that not much had changed. The basic dÃ©cor and brown paper tablecloths may not promise much, but the food still shines through. The vibrant hostess Wendy is still there, exuberantly explaining the menu in minute detail, ensuring you will change your mind several times about what to order as each dish unfolds.

Prices seem to have dropped since our last visit, though portions sizes are still very generous, and the wine specials are still there tempting you to try something tasty.

We started with the Zucchine Fritti with honey mayonnaise; and the English Asparagus with hollandaise sauce. The asparagus was really good, though I did find the zucchini a little oily for my taste.

For main course we had the Romney Marsh Lamb with pomme puree, glazed carrots & mint sauce; the Venison Paillard, mushroom risotto & Madeira sauce; and the Duck Confit with Jersey royals, spring greens & redcurrant jelly. Some of the venison was a little over cooked, but the creamy risotto made up for it, while the lamb was absolutely delicious, and I loved the glazed carrots too.

Desserts were almost impossible to squeeze in, but we pushed on, trying the Chocolate Pot with vanilla ice cream; the Blackcurrant Sorbet; and some Chocolate truffles and Turkish delight. We left full, with smiles on our faces.

Angelo Italian Deli & Restaurant - review by sue

Sun, 22 Jun 2008 22:21:25 +0000

Angelo Italian Deli & Restaurant - review by sue

Rating: 2.0

Location: 9 Paved Court, TW9 1LZ, Richmond, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 8940 1806

Tags: italian, pasta, family & home feel, local, small

Angelo is a small Italian cafÃ©/deli/restaurant located on Paved Court, across from the delicious William Curley Chocolatier. I have been walking past it for a couple of years but never really gave it a second glance until today when we popped in for a quick lunch.

The narrow shop manages to squeeze 3 tables out on the pavement, a couple more inside on the ground floor, with further seating on the first floor. There is a tall cabinet full of delectable looking cakes and desserts, and a large display cabinet filled with various pastas and salads.

The menu focuses on pasta, with a few daily specials to supplement their regular choices. HH started with the Lentil Soup (from the specials list), which was quite nice, though I wasn't impressed by the sloppy presentation and chipped plate the bowl was sitting on.

Next we both had the Tortelloni with Ham & Peas. It was tasty enough, and the 'ham' was more like salami which added to the flavour. However, the serve was on the small side, and considering that it was taken from the display cabinet and heated up, not cooked to order, we felt it was a bit overpriced at Â£8.95.

So, not necessarily a place for a bargain meal, but if you are after a quick meal and want to see what you are ordering in advance Angelo could be worth a visit. And some of those desserts did look good.

The Hope - review by sue

Sun, 22 Jun 2008 22:14:15 +0000

The Hope - review by sue

Rating: 4.0

Location: 115 Kew Road, TW9 2PN, Richmond, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 8940 5486

Tags: relaxed, pop, modern pub, cool & smart, beer garden, different pub food

The Hope is a pretty new Richmond pub, which has risen from what was Molly Malones. It looks more gastro-pub than pub-pub, but the food leans towards the later.

Always keen to try somewhere new (and most importantly, within walking distance from home) we popped in for lunch one Sunday. Although we received a friendly welcome we almost walked straight back out again as the music was bad.... if you are a fan of 'High School Musical' you would have loved it, though surely even you would tire of listening to the whole album in one sitting.

Service was eager to please but inexperienced. Perhaps a bit more time studying the menu, and familiarising themselves with the (miniscule) wine list would be beneficial.

The menu had plenty of options, broken into sections such as "Little Bits" and "Sandwichy Things", though we ordered from the "Yummy Nibbles and Ample Mains" selection. We both went for the Ribeye Steak, served with fries and salad. Happily the steak was flavoursome and nicely cooked and the salad was fresh, though the chips were not cooked enough and pretty average.

The Hope has a small beer garden which should keep the smokers happy, and a cupboard full or board games which will no doubt become popular as the days become shorter. Not sure I would rush back for a meal at this stage, but would certainly return for a drink in the future.

Giraffe - review by sue

Sun, 22 Jun 2008 22:12:37 +0000

Giraffe - review by sue

Rating: 3.0

Location: 30 Hill St, TW9 1TW, Richmond, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 8332 2646

Website: http://www.giraffe.net/locations_restaurant.php?id=100

Tags: lively, average brew, international, family & home feel, good value, brunch, noisy, burgers, breakfast

About 5 years ago I was a big fan of Giraffe. Perhaps it was the reasonable priced food and bright colours that attracted me then, but I have become less enamoured as the years have passed after some very average meals and a few too many noisy kids. So these days it is not top of my list, though I do still visit occasionally for one of their brunches, which are conveniently served until 4pm.

My last visit was an impromptu one, HH and I were walking along trying to agree on what to have for lunch when I suggested a quick visit to Giraffe. We were in and out within 40 minutes and sated till dinner time. We both had the Ranch Style Eggs Tostada, which consists of a warm tortilla, chorizo, black bean chilli, avocado, melted jack cheese, and free range eggs (fried or scrambled). It was tasty and the coffee was drinkable.

The Providores - review by sue

Sat, 14 Jun 2008 17:18:09 +0000

The Providores - review by sue

Rating: 4.4

Location: 109 Marylebone High Street, W1U 4RX, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7935 6175

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

Tags: tapas, antipodean, new zealand, average brew, international, brunch, breakfast

I don't go out for brunch often these days, but when a brunch was on the agenda I knew where I wanted to go - The Providores. This antipodean owned restaurant had been on the to-do list for a long while so we trekked into Marylebone High Street one Wednesday mid-morning, hoping we wouldn't have to wait long for a table as my pregnant companion had a need to eat frequently, at short notice.

We nabbed the last available table for 4 and were excited by the tasty sounding menu. Coffees arrived looking good - any place that serves a 'flat white' is ok by me.

We ordered the Bacon Fry-up; the Paprika roast potato, caramelised onion, feta & edamame tortilla with tomato and piquillo pepper salsa, Greek yoghurt and rocket; and the French toast stuffed with banana and pecans with grilled smoked streaky bacon and vanilla verjus syrup.

The food was good quality, and the Bacon Fry-up and the Tortilla got the thumbs up, though the boys were disappointed with their French toast which they found way too sweet.

Loved the look and feel of the place and am keen to come back one evening to sample some of their tapas accompanied by some always enjoyable New Zealand wine.

The Crown Inn - review by sue

Sat, 14 Jun 2008 17:08:59 +0000

The Crown Inn - review by sue

Rating: 3.5

Location: , RG9 6HH, Henley On Thames, United Kingdom

Phone: 01491 638364

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

Tags: relaxed, standard pub food, beer garden, different pub food, traditional pub, friendly

When family wanted to join us for lunch somewhere quaint in the Oxfordshire countryside, I remembered oogywawa's review and suggested we meet at the Crown Inn. This gorgeous coaching inn was the perfect place to impress the Aussie relatives - a tranquil setting and 400 years of history.

We eventually arrived after a 30 minute traffic jam coming into Henley - who said it was relaxing to drive in the country - and settled into our lovely table by the window in the cosy old inn.

The menu had a wide variety of dishes from around the world, though we stuck to the more 'British' options, devouring the Ground Steak burger topped with melted cheddar, chutney and chips; the Beer-battered Haddock with mushy peas and chips; the Rib-eye steak with tomato, mushroom, chips and bÃ©arnaise sauce; and the Ploughman's lunch. The meals were fine - not outstanding, but decent pub food.

For dessert we shared the Apple & Raisin pie with custard; and the Selection of 5 Mini desserts. The mini desserts were all really tasty and very good value.

Le Cafe Anglais - review by sue

Sat, 14 Jun 2008 17:11:04 +0000

Le Cafe Anglais - review by sue

Rating: 3.3

Location: 8 Porchester Gardens, W2 4DB, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7221 1415

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

Tags: romantic, whiteleys, bayswater, deco, business, stylish, french

Finally made it to Le CafÃ© Anglais for dinner after postponing a meal there previously due to lacklustre reviews. The friends we dined with had been before and loved it. Located in Whiteleys, though with its own entrance, you can't help but admire the beautiful deco interior.

Service was professional and at times cheeky, though there were a lot of different staff coming and going which made asking for the bill (twice) a little confusing. The dinner menu was large, with too many choices making the ordering decision a hard one, particularly when nothing takes your fancy (apart from the desserts!).

We opted to start with some Hors d'Oeuvres to share - the Broad Beans with ricotta; the Rabbit Rillettes; the Oyster Fritters; and the Parmesan Custard with Anchovy toast.

Main meals were the Chicken with lemon thyme & garlic; the Seared Mackerel with chickpeas and spring greens; the Squab Pigeon with braised peas and bacon; and the Spiced Quails. Sides need to be ordered with most meals, and we had the Creamed spinach and the Gratin dauphinois. I had the pigeon, and while the breast portions were nicely cooked, it was impossible to eat the wing portions - perhaps they were more for show.

Desserts sounded good, and we tried the Bitter Chocolate SoufflÃ© with pistachio ice cream; and the Coffee & Vanilla Sundae with chocolate sauce. The soufflÃ© looked great, but didn't break into my 'Top '3 soufflÃ© list, and the sundae was pretty average.

Enjoyed the stylish and quietish (thank you carpet!) atmosphere at Le CafÃ© Anglais, though wasn't that enthused about the food. As it isn't located in our usual stomping ground I am not sure I would return.

Milk Bar - review by sue

Sat, 14 Jun 2008 16:50:59 +0000

Milk Bar - review by sue

Rating: 4.0

Location: 3 Bateman St, W1D 4AG, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7287 4796

Tags: quick bite, flat white, excellent brew, australian, amazing brew, coffee

One of the hardest things about being an Australian in London is finding a decent coffee, so when I read about a new cafÃ© that had opened up, owned by the lovely Antipodean people who own Flat White (cafÃ© on Berwick Street, Soho), I had to go and check it out asap.

Wandering along Bateman Street on a grey, cold, wet summers(!) afternoon, I at first walked right past Milk Bar as it didn't appear to have sign outside (though it may have been hidden by the awning) and kind of looked closed. Thankfully I crossed the road to investigate and realised I must be at the right place.

The cafÃ© is bigger and brighter than Flat White. The menu seems to be the same - breakfasts, light lunches and snacks, though I wasn't there for food, but to sample the coffee.

Service was very smiley and cheerful, and after ordering and paying for my flat white coffee, I took a seat in excited anticipation. The coffee arrived looking gorgeous, with a slightly wonky 'fern' on top. The milk was perfectly steamed and creamy. A very good coffee indeed.

A Cena - review by sue

Sat, 14 Jun 2008 16:48:54 +0000

A Cena - review by sue

Rating: 4.5

Location: 418 Richmond Road, TW1 2EB, Twickenham, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 8288 0108

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

Tags: italian, good wine list, authentic, expensive, friendly, romantic

A return visit to A Cena, after a nine month break made me wonder why I had waited so long - I love this place! Stylish, friendly and serving up authentic Italian cuisine, and best of all just a short walk from home.

We dined with some visiting family and they loved it too. Even on the Aussie Peso they found the (slightly more expensive than average) food great value considering the quality and taste.

To start we shared the following dishes - the Lamb Sweetbreads with balsamic and brown butter; the Roasted red & golden beetroot with parmesan and rocket; and the Scallops with roasted tomatoes and beans. All were equally excellent and the plates were quickly cleaned.

Main course was also very good - we had the Braised Pork Shoulder with Chianti Classico, red wine vinegar, bay and black pepper corns and broadbeans; and the Slow roasted Soave Rabbit on bruschetta with spring greens. I had the pork and so enjoyed it, it was simply presented and let the top quality ingredients shine.

We pushed on to dessert, opting for the Chocolate tartufo with honeycomb; and the Apple Tart with vanilla ice cream. Of course I had the tartufo and loved the crunchy honeycomb accompaniment.

My only complaint from our recent visit was that it was too noisy. Perhaps it was just the table we were sitting at, as I don't remember this problem from previous visits. Anyway, we will definitely be back. Soon.