Latest reviews by helenlewis's friends http://trustedplaces.com/user/helenlewis Reviews by friends of helenlewis en Franco Manca - review by Browners http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1u72n8v/franco-manca
Franco Manca - review by Browners

Rating: 4.5

Location: 4 Market Row, SW9 8LD, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7738 3021

Tags: italian, cheap eat, lively

I took the rare opportunity of a day off in Brixton to sample the pizza at Franco Manca. After an in depth article in OFM a couple of months ago, the internet has been awash with chatter about this place. And I felt like it was my duty as a Brixton resident and foodie to see what all the fuss is about.

Foolishly I forgot to take a note of the address, assuming that it must be easy to find. But I found myself walking back and forth along Electric Avenue, dodging the market vendors, trying desperately to find this "hidden gem". It always helps of course if you are actually on the right road. A quick call to 118500 and I was back on track. I was put through to Franco Manca who then guided me into the restaurant which was about 18 yards from where I was standing. The charming chap on the phone even spotted me and came to greet me. Top class service from beginning to end.

Snuggled into the heart of Brixton Market, remember, if you can, that it's Unit 4, Electric Lane. The restaurant bridges both sides of the covered market alleyway which adds a great natural flow to environment. On either side are large pizza ovens that have been hand build over in Naples. They generate a temperature of 500'C which is the key to their sourdough pizzas having such a crispy crust and soft middle. I inspected them with great interest, taking notes for next year's big project where I am planning to build an outdoor earth oven in the garden. Should be epic. If anyone's got any advice, I'd love to hear from you.

I ordered the chorizo pizza which comes with dry and wet sausage from Brindisa. It arrived almost as soon as I had spoken. Given all the hype, I was determined not to be prejudiced and was hoping it would live up to all the noise. And it did. As promised it was gorgeously charred on the outside, with the appearance of tiger bread whilst the mozzarella, tomato and chorizo was perfectly cooked as well. The puffy crust was crisp on the outside and pillowy soft inside. A bit like a savoury, hot macaron!

The chorizo had a lick of char and otherwise was simply irresistible. I was tempted to add pepper and chilli oil but didn't want to tamper with something that had been thought through so clearly. The mozzarella made almost made me giggle as it unwound as I tried to eat it like some sort of practical joke. All this fatty, carby goodness was washed down by a jar of their delicious home made lemonade followed the best espresso I've ever had for £1!

All the ingredients are impeccably sourced with superb credentials. But the crowning glory is the sourdough base that takes 20 hours of careful nurturing before it meets its glorious fate in the super charged ovens.

I was amused when two gentlemen in suits arrived and loudly asked "are you the guys who make the best pizza in London". I felt like I stood out pretty badly in my brown cords and blue v-neck jumper, but I was a chameleon by comparison. It seems that word has spread and that this gem is fast becoming a lot less hidden.

Be warned that Franco Manca is only open on week days from 12-5. My pizza, lemonade and coffee came to well under a tenner.

]]> Tue, 18 Nov 2008 15:04:27 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1u72n8v/franco-manca847708879 italian cheap eat lively 51.461347103645 -0.11417627334595 Franco Manca - review by Browners http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1u72n8v/franco-manca
Franco Manca - review by Browners

Rating: 4.5

Location: 4 Market Row, SW9 8LD, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7738 3021

Tags: italian, cheap eat, lively

I took the rare opportunity of a day off in Brixton to sample the pizza at Franco Manca. After an in depth article in OFM a couple of months ago, the internet has been awash with chatter about this place. And I felt like it was my duty as a Brixton resident and foodie to see what all the fuss is about.

Foolishly I forgot to take a note of the address, assuming that it must be easy to find. But I found myself walking back and forth along Electric Avenue, dodging the market vendors, trying desperately to find this "hidden gem". It always helps of course if you are actually on the right road. A quick call to 118500 and I was back on track. I was put through to Franco Manca who then guided me into the restaurant which was about 18 yards from where I was standing. The charming chap on the phone even spotted me and came to greet me. Top class service from beginning to end.

Snuggled into the heart of Brixton Market, remember, if you can, that it's Unit 4, Electric Lane. The restaurant bridges both sides of the covered market alleyway which adds a great natural flow to environment. On either side are large pizza ovens that have been hand build over in Naples. They generate a temperature of 500'C which is the key to their sourdough pizzas having such a crispy crust and soft middle. I inspected them with great interest, taking notes for next year's big project where I am planning to build an outdoor earth oven in the garden. Should be epic. If anyone's got any advice, I'd love to hear from you.

I ordered the chorizo pizza which comes with dry and wet sausage from Brindisa. It arrived almost as soon as I had spoken. Given all the hype, I was determined not to be prejudiced and was hoping it would live up to all the noise. And it did. As promised it was gorgeously charred on the outside, with the appearance of tiger bread whilst the mozzarella, tomato and chorizo was perfectly cooked as well. The puffy crust was crisp on the outside and pillowy soft inside. A bit like a savoury, hot macaron!

The chorizo had a lick of char and otherwise was simply irresistible. I was tempted to add pepper and chilli oil but didn't want to tamper with something that had been thought through so clearly. The mozzarella made almost made me giggle as it unwound as I tried to eat it like some sort of practical joke. All this fatty, carby goodness was washed down by a jar of their delicious home made lemonade followed the best espresso I've ever had for £1!

All the ingredients are impeccably sourced with superb credentials. But the crowning glory is the sourdough base that takes 20 hours of careful nurturing before it meets its glorious fate in the super charged ovens.

I was amused when two gentlemen in suits arrived and loudly asked "are you the guys who make the best pizza in London". I felt like I stood out pretty badly in my brown cords and blue v-neck jumper, but I was a chameleon by comparison. It seems that word has spread and that this gem is fast becoming a lot less hidden.

Be warned that Franco Manca is only open on week days from 12-5. My pizza, lemonade and coffee came to well under a tenner.

]]> Tue, 18 Nov 2008 15:04:27 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1u72n8v/franco-manca1049578758 italian cheap eat lively 51.461347103645 -0.11417627334595 Franco Manca - review by Browners http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1u72n8v/franco-manca
Franco Manca - review by Browners

Rating: 4.5

Location: 4 Market Row, SW9 8LD, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7738 3021

Tags: italian, cheap eat, lively

I took the rare opportunity of a day off in Brixton to sample the pizza at Franco Manca. After an in depth article in OFM a couple of months ago, the internet has been awash with chatter about this place. And I felt like it was my duty as a Brixton resident and foodie to see what all the fuss is about.

Foolishly I forgot to take a note of the address, assuming that it must be easy to find. But I found myself walking back and forth along Electric Avenue, dodging the market vendors, trying desperately to find this "hidden gem". It always helps of course if you are actually on the right road. A quick call to 118500 and I was back on track. I was put through to Franco Manca who then guided me into the restaurant which was about 18 yards from where I was standing. The charming chap on the phone even spotted me and came to greet me. Top class service from beginning to end.

Snuggled into the heart of Brixton Market, remember, if you can, that it's Unit 4, Electric Lane. The restaurant bridges both sides of the covered market alleyway which adds a great natural flow to environment. On either side are large pizza ovens that have been hand build over in Naples. They generate a temperature of 500'C which is the key to their sourdough pizzas having such a crispy crust and soft middle. I inspected them with great interest, taking notes for next year's big project where I am planning to build an outdoor earth oven in the garden. Should be epic. If anyone's got any advice, I'd love to hear from you.

I ordered the chorizo pizza which comes with dry and wet sausage from Brindisa. It arrived almost as soon as I had spoken. Given all the hype, I was determined not to be prejudiced and was hoping it would live up to all the noise. And it did. As promised it was gorgeously charred on the outside, with the appearance of tiger bread whilst the mozzarella, tomato and chorizo was perfectly cooked as well. The puffy crust was crisp on the outside and pillowy soft inside. A bit like a savoury, hot macaron!

The chorizo had a lick of char and otherwise was simply irresistible. I was tempted to add pepper and chilli oil but didn't want to tamper with something that had been thought through so clearly. The mozzarella made almost made me giggle as it unwound as I tried to eat it like some sort of practical joke. All this fatty, carby goodness was washed down by a jar of their delicious home made lemonade followed the best espresso I've ever had for £1!

All the ingredients are impeccably sourced with superb credentials. But the crowning glory is the sourdough base that takes 20 hours of careful nurturing before it meets its glorious fate in the super charged ovens.

I was amused when two gentlemen in suits arrived and loudly asked "are you the guys who make the best pizza in London". I felt like I stood out pretty badly in my brown cords and blue v-neck jumper, but I was a chameleon by comparison. It seems that word has spread and that this gem is fast becoming a lot less hidden.

Be warned that Franco Manca is only open on week days from 12-5. My pizza, lemonade and coffee came to well under a tenner.

]]> Tue, 18 Nov 2008 15:04:27 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1u72n8v/franco-manca1888596194 italian cheap eat lively 51.461347103645 -0.11417627334595 Franco Manca - review by Browners http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1u72n8v/franco-manca
Franco Manca - review by Browners

Rating: 4.5

Location: 4 Market Row, SW9 8LD, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7738 3021

Tags: italian, cheap eat, lively

I took the rare opportunity of a day off in Brixton to sample the pizza at Franco Manca. After an in depth article in OFM a couple of months ago, the internet has been awash with chatter about this place. And I felt like it was my duty as a Brixton resident and foodie to see what all the fuss is about.

Foolishly I forgot to take a note of the address, assuming that it must be easy to find. But I found myself walking back and forth along Electric Avenue, dodging the market vendors, trying desperately to find this "hidden gem". It always helps of course if you are actually on the right road. A quick call to 118500 and I was back on track. I was put through to Franco Manca who then guided me into the restaurant which was about 18 yards from where I was standing. The charming chap on the phone even spotted me and came to greet me. Top class service from beginning to end.

Snuggled into the heart of Brixton Market, remember, if you can, that it's Unit 4, Electric Lane. The restaurant bridges both sides of the covered market alleyway which adds a great natural flow to environment. On either side are large pizza ovens that have been hand build over in Naples. They generate a temperature of 500'C which is the key to their sourdough pizzas having such a crispy crust and soft middle. I inspected them with great interest, taking notes for next year's big project where I am planning to build an outdoor earth oven in the garden. Should be epic. If anyone's got any advice, I'd love to hear from you.

I ordered the chorizo pizza which comes with dry and wet sausage from Brindisa. It arrived almost as soon as I had spoken. Given all the hype, I was determined not to be prejudiced and was hoping it would live up to all the noise. And it did. As promised it was gorgeously charred on the outside, with the appearance of tiger bread whilst the mozzarella, tomato and chorizo was perfectly cooked as well. The puffy crust was crisp on the outside and pillowy soft inside. A bit like a savoury, hot macaron!

The chorizo had a lick of char and otherwise was simply irresistible. I was tempted to add pepper and chilli oil but didn't want to tamper with something that had been thought through so clearly. The mozzarella made almost made me giggle as it unwound as I tried to eat it like some sort of practical joke. All this fatty, carby goodness was washed down by a jar of their delicious home made lemonade followed the best espresso I've ever had for £1!

All the ingredients are impeccably sourced with superb credentials. But the crowning glory is the sourdough base that takes 20 hours of careful nurturing before it meets its glorious fate in the super charged ovens.

I was amused when two gentlemen in suits arrived and loudly asked "are you the guys who make the best pizza in London". I felt like I stood out pretty badly in my brown cords and blue v-neck jumper, but I was a chameleon by comparison. It seems that word has spread and that this gem is fast becoming a lot less hidden.

Be warned that Franco Manca is only open on week days from 12-5. My pizza, lemonade and coffee came to well under a tenner.

]]> Tue, 18 Nov 2008 15:04:27 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1u72n8v/franco-manca503373418 italian cheap eat lively 51.461347103645 -0.11417627334595 Wellington Arms - review by Browners http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/basingstoke/bar-pub/1p16m8s/wellington-arms
Wellington Arms - review by Browners

Rating: 5.0

Location: Baughurst Road, RG26 5LP, Basingstoke, United Kingdom

Phone: 0118 982 0110

Website: http://www.thewellingtonarms.com

Tags: romantic, british, family & home feel, expensive

Isnâ¬"t it about time someone built a rapid exit road from South London that links directly to the M3? Iâ¬"m sick of having to crawl around the South Circular at a pace that makes Eric the Eel look like Michael Phelps. The grizzly shop windows look the same in Wandsworth, Putney and Sheen.

Having escaped the South Circular the M3 felt like one of those conveyor belts for lazy people in airports. We whizzed along without even trying. The jaundiced trees took on a trippy effect as they shed their leaves in the gusting wind. Rather than be mugged by the modern day highwayman that is the motorway service station, we had planned ahead and booked ourselves into The Wellington Arms, just north of Basingstoke.

Unusually, we arrived on time, which gave us a chance to admire their chicken coup and immaculate vegetable garden.

We read a glowing review of The Wellington Arms in Olive about 2 weeks ago and booked it on the spot. Further delving yielded warm reviews from Giles Coren and others. Weâ¬"d been looking forward to it from the moment we booked. Everything we had read about was true. It is idyllic and must be one of the most stylish country pubs in the country.

With only 8 tables itâ¬"s cosy and full of charm. It feels less like a pub restaurant and more akin to being in a friendâ¬"s living room. Our waitress was a delight. My pint of bitter was perfect and Cowieâ¬"s lime and soda was full of proper lime. With a pint in hand we surveyed the chalk board menu, standing behind a table of very loud parents from Marlborough.

We often find it hard to choose, but this time it was as if the menu had been written just for us. Cowie was torn between a double baked goatâ¬"s cheese soufflé and the scallops ⬠as was I which made things eay! And for the main event Cowie immediately chose the brill and I almost shouted out venison pie!

Whilst waiting for our food I couldnâ¬"t help noticing the plaque behind me commemorating Jason Kingâ¬"s Junior Gold medal in the Cooking Olympics. This was a sign of the brilliance to come as we were feasting on a range of sensational breads. In particular the soft dark, treacly rye bread was first class ⬠itâ¬"s all made in the village by a chap whoâ¬"s name I read whilst having a wee!

My scallops couldnâ¬"t have been cooked any better. Some people donâ¬"t like their sea food covered in butter ⬠but I do! The bed of samphire had me purring like a kitten having his tummy tickled. I was so focussed on the scallops that I almost forgot to switch plates with Cowie. Her goatâ¬"s cheese soufflé was just as good. Well risen texture melted into that unmistakable taste of goatâ¬"s cheese. Fortunately our plates were cleared before I had embarrassed myself by licking them clean!

The excellence of the cooking continued with our main courses. Whilst all the other boring people on the other 7 tables seemed to be having fish and chips we fell head over heels for our more interesting dishes. My venison pie had a lid on it that any chef in the country would have been proud of. It stayed crispy until I had devoured the last morsel. The venison filling was moist and deep. The binary opposite of the dry and tough meat that occasionally plays the part of an impostor.

Cowieâ¬"s brill was huge. Enough for 4 Cowies! The outside was perfectly seared to a crispy, buttery finish, whilst the flesh inside was soft and peeled away like skate. The real treat was yet to come as Cowie unearthed a line of sweetbreads. Our cabbage and roasted courgettes were just as perfect and left us feeling like weâ¬"d just experienced the platonic ideal of a â¬SSaturday lunch, just off the motorway, on the way home after a long week at workâ¬.

From now on, whenever we have a long trip on the cards we are going to make sure weâ¬"ve got a good rural pub that serves great food lined up to refuel us! In our little alcove we started reading some books by Diana Henry who has written about the Wellington Arms in her guide to Britainâ¬"s best gastro pubs. Iâ¬"ve already ordered a copy from the new and used section on Amazon and canâ¬"t wait to plan our next adventure.

http://aroundbritainwithapaunch.blogspot.com/2008/11/wellington-arms-hampshire.html]]> Fri, 14 Nov 2008 16:18:05 +0000 /review/uk/basingstoke/bar-pub/1p16m8s/wellington-arms259071710 romantic british family & home feel expensive 51.3097684 -1.1667853 The Blue Legune - review by brenna http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/cafe/1a61m8e/the-blue-legune
The Blue Legune - review by brenna

Rating: 4.9

Location: 101 Stoke Newington Church Street, N16 0UD, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7923 1303

Tags: cosy, proper food, quiet & relaxed, good brew

Go here for sunday morning breakfast....delicious food, well presented in a small friendly and intimate setting.]]> Mon, 10 Nov 2008 17:32:56 +0000 /review/uk/london/cafe/1a61m8e/the-blue-legune1535113105 cosy proper food quiet & relaxed good brew 51.562146 -0.079254 The Woodbine - review by brenna http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/bar-pub/1893r7l/the-woodbine
The Woodbine - review by brenna

Rating: 4.0

Location: 215 Blackstock Road, N5 2LL, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7354 1061

Tags: relaxed, indie, mature, young professionals, different pub food, trendy, friendly

Friendly and cosy pub in the midst of Arsenal.
Great cheap Thai food, good music and a nice crowd. Perfect for a few evening drinks]]> Mon, 10 Nov 2008 17:17:31 +0000 /review/uk/london/bar-pub/1893r7l/the-woodbine1741564133 relaxed indie mature young professionals different pub food trendy friendly 51.559214406008 -0.098654247024706 Brownswood Park Tavern - review by brenna http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/bar-pub/1a13m7t/brownswood-park-tavern
Brownswood Park Tavern - review by brenna

Rating: 4.0

Location: 271 Green Lanes, N4 2EX, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 8809 2846

Tags: relaxed, sport pub, mature, young professionals, beer garden, different pub food, traditional pub, pool, friendly

A great local with a friendly vibe.
Large beer garden, which is especially good in the summer.
Pool table, juke box, darts, big screen for the football (predominantly Arsenal) and cheap drinks, combined with Shane the pub dog and Billy the landlord makes it an all round cracking little boozer.]]> Mon, 10 Nov 2008 17:12:51 +0000 /review/uk/london/bar-pub/1a13m7t/brownswood-park-tavern2092544414 relaxed sport pub mature young professionals beer garden different pub food traditional pub pool friendly 51.563637515259 -0.094141210958153 The Angelic - review by brenna http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/bar-pub/1n92t7l/the-angelic
The Angelic - review by brenna

Rating: 3.0

Location: 57 Liverpool Road, N1 0RJ, London, United Kingdom

Cosy pub with a nice atmosphere, but often too busy. Get there early or reserve a table if you want a seat. Food is pretty good too - they do tapas and roasts on sundays! All in all a nice pub away from Upper Street but still in a good location.]]> Mon, 10 Nov 2008 17:03:07 +0000 /review/uk/london/bar-pub/1n92t7l/the-angelic2060511091 51.53419161074 -0.10834870635649 Hemingford Arms - review by brenna http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/bar-pub/1i61c8e/hemingford-arms
Hemingford Arms - review by brenna

Rating: 5.0

Location: 158 Hemingford Road, N1 1DF, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7607 3303

Website: http://www.capitalpubcompany.com

Tags: relaxed, mature, excellent pub food, young professionals, beer garden, independent pub, young and fun, trendy, friendly

A great friendly pub, full of old relics and vintage bits and bobs hung from the ceiling, on the window ledges....everywhere! Chairs appear to be old church pews - very mismatched but which adds to the chaos of this absolute little gem!

Friendly staff, great thai food and lots of picnic tables outside which i imagine would be packed in the summer!]]> Fri, 07 Nov 2008 14:00:33 +0000 /review/uk/london/bar-pub/1i61c8e/hemingford-arms1505484684 relaxed mature excellent pub food young professionals beer garden independent pub young and fun trendy friendly 51.542372469696 -0.11377805442295 Zayna - review by Browners http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1p16l81/zayna
Zayna - review by Browners

Rating: 4.0

Location: 25 New Quebec Street, W1H 7SF, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7723 2229

Website: http://www.zaynarestaurant.co.uk/index.html

Tags: indian, pakistani, business, good value

Gilly has been raving about Zayna for the last month. In that time he has been 5 times. And is already planning his next visit! Gilly and the rest of his company have decided to adopt Zayna as their "pet" restaurant.

Tucked away on New Quebec Street in no-man's land between Baker Street, Marble Arch and Edgeware Road, it's passing trade is always going to be very minimal. The whole area is about as lively as The Millennium Dome. Frankly it's brave opening a restaurant here. With hardly any natural footfall it means that the cooking has to be extraordinary for a restaurant to be successful. Look at Dinings for instance. It's tucked away in the backwaters east of Edgeware Road and is almost impossible to find first time out... but it's a brilliant restaurant. Having not seen their balance sheet I can't comment on their economic success. But that said they are always busy and attract an audience from across London.

This evening Zayna was almost empty. Admittedly, we arrived for what can only be described as afternoon tea at 7pm... but it never actually got more than a sprinkling of custom all night. And it was a random Tuesday night. The image below from their website sums up the Mary Celeste atmosphere.

But the truth is this place should be rammed full. The food is incredible. It's a great mix of robust Pakistani flavours, stylish cooking but without the pretense that accompanies some top end Indian restaurants.

We started with a small range of small dishes including a mixture of chickpeas with pomegranate and soured cream which was a very interesting and successful combination. A mango salad offered a fresh and tropical segue. And a spiced lamb chop was a hint of the culinary glory that was to follow.

But these little starters were only teasing us. Given that Gilly understands Zayna's menu better than anyone on earth, we let him order. We were treated to three stunning dishes. Let me try to do them an iota of justice.

Steamed tilapia arrived in a candle warmed bowl, swimming in a delicate, fragrant coconut marsala. The fish eased apart like Obama walking through a crowd. Tilapia is one of my favourite fish. It brings back memories of gorging myself on it's distinctive flesh in Ghana. It's a fish that responds brilliantly to spices. It was interesting that it had been steamed first before being doused in sauce. Great dish. One that I've never seen on an Indian restaurant menu before. I can't wait to order it again and have it all to myself.

A lamb curry provided a snapshot of what a good curry house should do well. What can I say really... the meat was great, the sauce was deep and tangy. And I wanted to pick the bowl up and and lick it clean!

But the real star of the show, and indeed, the star of Marylebone, was a prawn dish cooked with wine and garlic that had all three of us fighting for the last morsel. Oddly, it transported me not to the Subcontinent, but to San Sebastian. Rich, deeply garlicky and above all sensationally powerful. The prawns were the most succulent I have ever eaten and were worth the £33 for dinner along.

So. Dodgy location. Amazing food. Reasonable price. I feel like making it my mission to make sure Zayna is successful. If you've read this and like Indian food you've got to pay this place a visit. Because it is normally empty you'll be guaranteed great service. I just can't wait to go back for some more of their prawns!!!

]]> Wed, 05 Nov 2008 00:58:14 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1p16l81/zayna1377746792 indian pakistani business good value 51.515559 -0.157884 Chilango - review by walid http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1i0668b/chilango
Chilango - review by walid

Rating: 4.3

Location: 142 Fleet Street, EC4A 2BP, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7353 6761

Website: www.chilango.co.uk

Tags: Mexican, burrito, good value

I love this place for so many reasons. The venue is funky, well laid out, and clean. The staff, are friendly, efficient and great to practice my Spanish with ;-)

Now as for the food, well so many places claim to offer authentic burritos, but too often they end up to be tasteless and soggy. The burritos at Chilango's are definitely tasty, fresh, and have a great texture. Without a doubt they are some of the best ones I've eaten in London.

It's amazing what the co-founders of Chilango have done, I'm really happy that we celebrated our "Day of the Dead" Party at Chilango and can't wait to go back there for my favourite burritos.]]> Tue, 04 Nov 2008 15:40:49 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1i0668b/chilango574863206 Mexican burrito good value 51.514222 -0.107073 Trinity - review by Browners http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1c34g88/trinity
Trinity - review by Browners

Rating: 3.2

Location: 4 The Polygon, SW4 0JG, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7622 1199

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

Tags: romantic, british, expensive, french

Cowie has been revising like a geeky dervish for the last few months in preparation for her surveying exams. It's important stuff and quite stressful. So I wanted to do something local and relaxing with a touch of glamour. One of our first London dining experiences was at Polygon through TopTable. We had a wonderful meal. Canon of perfectly rare lamb and a luxurious fillet of beer if I remember rightly. But then Polygon disappeared and we almost shed a tear.

Trinity emerged in it's place with a flurry of great reviews and a menu that just begs to be guzzled up. I've been cycling past it on a daily basis and have to really concentrate to stop myself from lurching through their front door wearing my lycra and hi-vis jacket!

We were treated to a near perfect meal. The service was the best we've ever had. Everything was just right. We were given the best table in the restaurant. They remembered it was Cowie's birthday. They filled our glasses at the right time with just the right amount of wine. They didn't rush us. They even laughed at my attempt at banter! Legends!

We knew instantly what each other would choose. It's always the same and is a brilliant part of our relationship. Cowie chose the crab and tuna salad followed by a wonderful looking piece of monkfish. It was perfectly cooked. So often monkfish is over cooked, too meaty or dry. This was the spot on.

If Cowie's choices were delicate, feminine, light and the essence of Cowie. Mine were very me. Rich, meaty, a biz grizzly and sensuously deep. My starter of pigs head was sensational. Better than at Wild Honey. It oozed flavour. Not to mention a drop or two of fat!

My main course of hare two ways was almost as good. The slow-cooked, pulled leg meat was strewn in a semi circle over the top of the plate, interwoven with silky mash and brussels sprouts. And a circle of saddle meat anchored the rest of the dish. My only criticism would be to question whether the thin sheath of fat that coated the saddle shout have been seared off...

All of this wonderful food was accompanied by a classy chardonnay from the Langeudoc/Roussillon area of France. Think of a really good St. Aubin, but with a bit more to it.

Things at this point were stunning. But we were slightly underwhelmed by dessert. The lemon cheesecake arrived in a kilner jar an hour too early. That hadn't had a chance to cook it! They left the construction work up to us. Now call me old fashioned, but don't we go to restaurants to be cooked for? I'm all for a bit of interactivity... but only when it tastes good. A good baked lemon cheesecake is a thing of heart stopping beauty. This one tasted like it had come from a down-market supermarket. I don't want to be too rude because they had gone to the effort of writing "Happy Birthday" in toffee on Cowie's plate!

My Valhrona chocolate pudding was fantastic. But enough for an entire family! I tired to only eat on person's worth... but landed up eating my own body weight in rich, warm chocolate!

We're delighted to have finally made Trinity's acquaintance and are already planning our next visit. It would have got 5 stars but for the whoopy with dessert.]]> Tue, 21 Oct 2008 09:07:11 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1c34g88/trinity315687268 romantic british expensive french 51.463717 -0.141742 Peninsula - review by Browners http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1d52h77/peninsula
Peninsula - review by Browners

Rating: 4.0

Location: 85 Bugsby's Way, SE10 0GD, London, United Kingdom

Tags: lively, dim sum, family & home feel, good value, chinese

Fresh on the heels of a wonderful night at Trinity, I wangled a day off from revision for Cowie. Eating on Sundays normally means 3 things for us Brits. Either a solid fry up for breakfast, a slap up roast or a blinding curry. But one of the best things to eat on a Sunday is dim sum.

Cowie and I had a wonderful time feasting on dim sum in Hong Kong. We love their little parcels of joy. It's interesting that dim sum literally means "to touch the heart". It's a bit like the concept behind the Cadbury's Gorilla advert... it's all about the sheer feeling of joy. Uninhibited euphoria.

I met Lizzie from Hollow Legs at the Trusted Places blogger meetup. She's great fun and recommended that I should take Cowie to an obscure dim sum restaurant in a Holiday Inn somewhere in the region of North Greenwich. I drunkenly made it home and woke up realising that Lizzie had answered my long search for what to do for Cowie's birthday. Lizzie you're a genius.

Bravely Cowie and I ventured off to the back of beyond.. in search of the ideal dim sum birthday lunch. The whole of North Greenwich was deserted. Acres of car parks. Miles of dual carriageway. Like a scene from 28 days later... there was no-one. Anywhere.

But then we arrived at the very impressive Holiday Inn Express. Resplendent in its green and blue livery.

And we saw people. Lots of Chinese people wearing very smart clothes... all piling into a very municipal looking building with hilarious concrete lions guarding the entrance.

We queued for around 20 minutes, surrounded by loud and eager customers. Some more irascible than others. One enormous Indian gentleman landed up having a row with the brusque gentleman in charge of queuing before we'd even sat down. That takes some doing... and explains why any review you read of this place will mention the aggressive service. Charm isn't a word that's understood at the Peninsula!

We were shown to a comically large table and presented with what can only be described as a cross between a computer accessed driving test paper and a nationally lottery ticket. After a while we realised that we needed an English menu and proceeded to transfer our choices across to the dim sum ballot paper.

Cowie, went with the safety first option... but I was keen to test out the menu with a little more recklessness. This wasn't wise. The pork knuckle I bravely ordered arrived first in the form of thin, salami esque strips of cold meat... topped with what looked like sauteed onions. Wrong. One weird mouthful later and realised that the onions were actually jelly fish! When can you say you've ever accidentally eaten jellyfish as the first thing you put in your mouth on your birthday! After this brief bout of culture shock things soon got much more palatable. All of their dumplings were brilliant. None of them stuck to the bamboo steamers like you find at places like Ping Pong. In particular, the cheung fun was extraordinary. Almost worth the trip on its own.

It was a truly brilliant experience and we can't recommend it enough to anyone who wants to step out of their comfort zone for a mind opening experience. We're definitely adding dim sum to our list of Sunday must dos along with squash, The Observer, bacon sandwiches, lie ins and curries from the Holy Cow.]]> Tue, 21 Oct 2008 09:01:12 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1d52h77/peninsula1413969827 lively dim sum family & home feel good value chinese 51.491764409865 0.0094617689235196 Occo - review by Zebra http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1f06i9j/occo
Occo - review by Zebra

Rating: 4.3

Location: 58 Crawford Street, W1H 4NA, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7724 4991

Tags: lively, north african, good value

Nestled on an inconspicuous street corner equidistant to trendy Marylebone High Street and bustling Edgware Road, Occo Restaurant and Bar is a stunning venue that successfully transports the style, flavours and culture of native Morocco to London. At Occo, the capitalâ¬"s beautiful crowd rub shoulders with locals in a truly authentic Moroccan setting that has earned it a reputation as â¬ÜMomoâ¬"s only real competitor in Londonâ¬". In a quiet suburb of Marylebone, this bar and restaurant was quite a find and definitely a new favorite local haunt.

Arranged over several levels, the venue is comprised of four separate spaces, each with its own unique style, décor, lighting and atmosphere. The ground floor accommodates the main restaurant and bar area, along with the secret space of the Boudoir ⬠an opulently furnished room with dim lighting and padded walls. The conservatory is located on a half level between the ground floor and the basement, and is an oasis of light during the day, and an intimate private dining area by evening. The basement is home to Mim: a comfortable subterranean candle lit space featuring a private entrance, dedicated bar, low sofas and DJ decks. With a total capacity of 250, there is a space at Occo for every kind of gathering.

The design scheme attempts to convey the philosophy behind the food on offer at Occo ⬠authentic, but contemporary Moroccan. The materials, colours, lighting and fabrics all adhere to a North African theme and indeed the majority of the fixtures, furnishings and décor were sourced and imported directly from Morocco. The head chef is Ahmed Hamidi; a Moroccan native who takes pride in drawing culinary inspiration from his homeland and sourcing the majority of his herb and spice supplies from Marrakech. Hamidi is responsible for masterminding the venueâ¬"s popular lunch, dinner, tapas and brunch menus which retain a strong Moroccan emphasis jazzed up with a modern twist. The high quality food on offer is complemented by an excellent cocktail list and an extensive list of Moroccan, new world and international wines.

We had the starter of Chermoula marinated crab cakes, served with a small herb salad and caper aioli. It was delicious, the crab was fresh and the herb infused mayonnaise was the perfect match. Our favorite among the mains was the roast marinated duck breast with honey, coriander and ginger, served with mango, mouli, dates and pomegranate julienne salsa salad. Also popular is the traditional Chicken tangine with reserved lemon and green olives, served with sauté harissa baby new potatoes - although it was a little spicy for the more conservative British palate. Seafood fans will appreciate the Swordfish steak served with avocado, sun blush tomato and chickpea salad, served with an olive oil and parsley vinaigrette.

With a daily happy hour from 5 -7pm offering 2 for 1 deals on cocktails, Occo has to be on the list of places to check out for anyone living or visiting central London.
]]> Sat, 18 Oct 2008 11:52:31 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1f06i9j/occo1690819643 lively north african good value 51.518871 -0.164584