Latest reviews by idoru

Mucho Mas

idoru — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 13:06:08 +0000

Rating: 4.2

Location: 27 Upper St, N1 0PN, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7704 2123

Website: http://www.mucho-mas.co.uk

Burrito Business.Just opened today Mucho Mas has been set up in Angel to offer you a serious lunchtime treat. The founding partners met at Skype, where they work previously... and have created a place as friendly and charming as themselves. They serve their burritos and tacos in a fast assembly line in front of you, all within a clean bright and colourful space. Its healthy happy fast food that you sit at large shared tables to eat. I love the little baskets they serve the food in when your dining in..

On the burrito scale from a serious burrito fan, they got a solid 7 and were described as being of the more designer variant.. with the heap of wonderful fresh ingredients, and some of the best guacamole I've had in ages!

Go Mucho Mas, I will be!

Update.....
18-Sept: Had the vege tacos today, brilliant :) Mucho Mas is still really good, the only issue is that they seem to run out of ingredients towards the end of lunch as they are so busy!

Candid Cafe

idoru — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 23:20:25 +0000

Rating: 3.5

Location: 3 Torrens Street, EC1V 1NY, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7278 9368

Website: http://www.candidarts.com

Tags: cosy, arts, proper food, quiet & relaxed, good brew, comfy sofas, friendly staff, cultured, cozy

Angles Boho GemShabby Chic.. I don't really like that catch phrase and I think it's passé anyway&. I do still like Boho though.. it describes a timeless state of being, I think, not just a fashionable look.. it's floaty and feminine, comfortable& Candid Arts Café is definitely boho.. and when shabby chic was cool, it might have been a little of that too with its candelabras and elaborate couches.

Set above the arts trust in Angel it serves fresh and simple fare for vegetarians and meat eaters alike. This is the café I meet friends at for lunch, it's close to the tube and is hidden enough to not be too busy. I'd say it's my favourite café in Angel, sitting next to the Charles Lamb as my favourite pub. It's hippy cool serving fair trade coffee a wide selection of tea and the staff a friendly earthy and care about what you need/want.

The casual artistic crowd, in skinny jeans pirate shirts and wild hair share the large banqueting table in the middle or cluster in 2's and 3's on the tables along the walls. Which looks down though large opens windows on the private courtyard. On most tables there are candles stands with melting candles caught in stasis (I love places with drippy melted wax) and the tone of the place is a velvety red, added to by the Pre-Raphaeliteesque portrait of a nude woman on the back wall..

This is one of those places you spent lots of time in at university, whole afternoons discussing important matters and sipping on eco friendly teas, I feel so relaxed here, it's so different from the hustle of Angel and the wall on the way in is covered with postits about classes, rooms, and side jobs, a real community exists around this place. And once you've finished your tea you can meander down and check the latest exhibition or attend the life drawing class on Mondays..

Island Queen Restaurant

idoru — Mon, 28 May 2007 23:29:39 +0000

Rating: 3.0

Location: 87 Noel Road, N1 8HD, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7704 7631

Tags: Relaxed, Homely, modern pub, gastro pub, different pub food, Fun, Unusual

Unusual - Good I dig this place, it's a little bit indie, a little bit shabby and has a whole lotta love. In the backstreets of Angel amongst grand white town houses and opposite the local sky pen for children (a school with a roof top playground) it stands big and purple. They serve a great selection of drinks from London Pride to Früli and my new lunch time knock out favourite: Westons Cider (and Brothers by the bottle if I've got important things to do in the afternoon).

The food is more reasonably priced than it's neighbour the Narrow Boat (fish'n'chips £7.50) and the staff are sweeter and care more about your experience (and have a lot more character). The menu is an curious collection of Mexican, Welsh and traditional English.. with big plates, burgers, sandwiches, deserts and things to share.

We had a lunch of lamb and beef burgers, the chicken club sandwich and a pie, all were quite heavy on the saturated fats but tasted good, I grilled the chap serving, and then took ages to decide (yes the bar staff are patient) on his recommendation of the stout and beef pie. Subsequently I won the food pick of the table, and learnt how to pronounce mange tout while nibbling on seriously succulent steak in gravy.

The burgers were a little unusual but good and the shared platter and quesdillas are great drinking partners. There's an upstairs lounge and dining room, which is non-smoking and would be great for rainy days and functions. On the stairs up are chalk-written random facts and odes to alcohol, which is a nice touch.

They have quiz nights and comedy, and outside seating, and I can't forget the giant chandeliers and ample seating downstairs.

This place kind of feels like a grotty old pub that was found and loved by an eccentric indie music/book type. He/she wears thick glasses, and enjoys a good drink and company, wears wool and often corduroy, and in their absentminded way, adores their slightly oddball staff encouraging them to be themselves.... The Island Queen is absolute quality in the over designed chic of Angel.

The Telegraph

idoru — Mon, 28 May 2007 22:41:18 +0000

Rating: 4.2

Location: Telegraph Road, SW15 3TU, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 8788 2011

Tags: beer garden, gastro pub, excellent pub food

My First SnailsAfter this place featured in the newsletter I was determined to find it, and it just so happened I stayed at a friends house yesterday in what seemed like the middle of nowhere, and it was 10 minutes away from the pub!! Set in the Putney Heath it is every bit the country pub, but so nice. Over 2 levels there's quirky art nouveau prints on the walls and flat screens telling you what's on each night in cute montages interspersed with Charlie Chaplin skits.

As mentioned there's a French chef, hence the snails&. So& my first snails& were great! I'm sold, garlicky buttery, and with an attractive texture not unlike the best part of mussels, without the grittiness and beards. I've got some rather unflattering pixt's of my very first one but you wont be seeing them, I think grimacing is the adjective(or verb?) for what my poor face was doing.

I also had the goats cheese salad, loved the caramelised red onion, but it needed a bit more salad as the there was a lot of cheese. Further on my entrée tip (or as an indecisive little piggy) I ordered the fish soup as well, which wasn't really to my liking, brown, medium consistency with unidentifiable ground fish& but the pesto toasted fresh ciabata was beautiful. My darling lunch companion had what he described as the best battered fish he has ever tried, served as the traditional fish'n'cips with bright mushy peas and tartare sauce & A big call, it was good, fresh and thick cooked to perfection.

The room we ate in was children friendly with a big open fire, they all seemed very well behaved and happy children, playing quietly and giggling, occasionally counting with their parents out loud. The room had a number of sofas and armchairs mixed in with table's chairs and benches. The bar where you order the food was more bar-like (funnily enough) and upstairs seemed to be a more formal dining space again.

Lovely place, reasonable prices (compared with central) and smoke free, the garden must be stunning on sunny days and in summer, I can see my self sipping pimms there already, popping over to the clearing in the heath for a spot of social cricket.. what what?

Hunga Munga

idoru — Mon, 28 May 2007 21:25:26 +0000

Rating: 4.0

Location: It moves around East London, E1, London, United Kingdom

Tags: Art, Monthly Night, Arts and Crafts, Funny, Messy, Fun

The Arty Party without Arty FartiesIf the words arts and crafts when coupled together cause a little flutter in your chest, then this is the place for you! Last Wednesday I had the absolute pleasure of attending Hunga Munga(£5) at Favela Chic in Old St. I was so excited when my friend invited me, I had visions of colourful pipe cleaners, plasticine, snips, glue and paper maiche. A once monthly event the next one is at the Bethnal Green Working Men's Club on June 14th.

This is not an event for people who are afraid to get paint on their shoes, and it introduces a sense of togetherness you never see at your average music gig. Yes that right, live acts and djs preform as you create your mini masterpieces.

Their tagline on the their myspace page is "arty parties without the arty farties" so compared to PaintJam(£40) in Angel where you see a more professional crowd, and the Craft Night (£6) at Notting Hill Arts Club where you get a craft bag and everyone makes the same thing (sock puppets embroidery), Its free range creativity for the creatively inclined though not necessarily creatively gifted.

The best thing is watching a whole room of people sharing recycled bits and bobs, paint trays and scissors while being totally engrossed in what they are doing. You have a beer or two as props but for the first couple of hours I was all hands on and in the crafts. Oh and I mustn't forget the fairy cakes on the tables when we arrived and the BEST arts and crafts supply table you've ever seen (a million times better than kindy)

I created some kind of alien plant thing, my friend a tv head, another a miniature garden and another a mask. I painted a picture of seahorses for a friend who couldn't come and after that I was artied out and ready to party, so I wandered around comparing my art with others seeing if we could combine them in to mega installations. I even had a certain puffed chest pride when the Hung Munga photographer took pictures of my piece.

So if you want to have a wholesome night, meet a bunch of interesting people and feel generally good about yourself go and get lost in the world of arts and crafts for a couple of hours, you never know you might actually win a prize.

The Charles Lamb

idoru — Wed, 16 May 2007 19:14:08 +0000

Rating: 4.6

Location: 16 Elia St, N1 8DE, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7837 5040

Website: www.thecharleslambpub.com

Tags: independent pub, modern pub, gastro pub, excellent pub food

My Favourite PubThis is my favourite pub in Angel and it's 2 minutes walk from my work. Established in 1839, it remains true to it's original form but includes signs on the wall asking you not to feed Mascha, the friendly little staffordshire bull terrier, who meanders though the tables with a colourful scarf round her neck (she even has her own myspace page)

A little background knowledge: The pub changed it's name in 2005 in honour of the early essayist who lived round the corner, he was best know for his Essays of Elia' (the road the pub is on and his pen name).

It's a free house with wi-fi and serves great ales and beers on draft. Plus yummy ciders, perrys and international beers by the bottle, (my favourite, Breton cider is served here!) The food is above average gastopub (runner up for best gastropub by Timeout 06) for below average prices.

There's plenty of outside seating, though the road outside is so quiet people often stand on it's side and sit on the footpath catching the last of the sun. Theres pretty planter boxes with potted colour in the window (this is what drew me n the first time), making this quite possibly the cutest pub in Angel, this is added to by the petite wooden dining room on the right when you walk in.

I'd have to say my pick of the mains we tried was the cottage pie followed by the fish pie then my Lamb merguez sausages with puy lentils and crème fraîche (my love affair with lentils continues). The kitchen is open 6 till 9 for supper and they do a Sunday roast from 1-6, though I haven't tried it.

The wine list in a mix of old and new world and it's served by the glass, carafe and bottle. They hold a wine club and a supper club so check the website for details. This place is definitely worth a trip this weekend then I'd have to suggest a casual walk on the Regents canal.

The Narrow Boat

idoru — Sun, 13 May 2007 22:24:11 +0000

Rating: 2.5

Location: 119 St. Peter's Street, N1 8PZ, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7288 9821

Tags: standard pub food, canal, modern pub

Where to while away the afternoon...The narrow boat is my sneaky half pint at lunch. Right on the canal in Angel it is two levels of large windows, comfortable couches and tables. It serves the usual suspects on tap so I long for a better cider than Strong Bow but it has a guest ale each month if you're so inclined. My current after work ritual is having a pimms while sitting outside by the water, watching the joggers and dog walkers and taking in the gentle view of the canal and boats.

We had a dinner there one night and it didn't go so well with the food coming out stone cold, it was the usual pub fare of burgers, fish and chips and a serving of fried calamari. It was quiet busy and the bar staff seemed a little rushed. On retuning with our condiments the barman was happy to take the meals back and give us new ones, which was fine.

We were siting on the top floor for our dinner, in the couches facing the big ranch sliding windows. There was no smoking in this part of the pub and as the sun set the boats lights twinkled in the water making everything feel generally very pleasant (the alcohol may have added to this).

This is a great place for drinking because of it's shape and setting I think I might give the food another chance but perhaps focus on nibbles and shared dishes to accompany the drinking and view taking.

Ooze Risotto Bar

idoru — Wed, 09 May 2007 00:35:38 +0000

Rating: 4.0

Location: 62 Goodge Street, W1T 4NE, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7436 9444

Website: http://www.ooze.biz

Tags: lively, modern italian, cheap eat, fast food, crowded

Ooze is the word.....Ooze is the word&
Everybody loves this new concept place. Open a bit longer than 6 months it offers slow food cooked fast, they say you can be in and out in 30 mins so it's perfect for a quick bite after work or before a show. As a non-risotto enthusiast I liked the idea of opting for the low fat/salt option. All this combined with cheap prices quality ingredients and a 50% discount off the food with my TP card, we couldn't go wrong.

Actually to be honest I don't like risotto but am always open to having my mind changed (except on oysters) and from reading the website, where they describe a dish of light fluffiness I had never experienced, I was keen for some Ooze action.

We went around 9 on a Tuesday and it was about a ¼ full, our Italian waiter was delightful charming And knowledgeable even if he didn't quite get I wanted a side salad and my friend wanted fennel on the side of her salad. Both issues were super brusquely rectified; by the lady restaurant manger you just felt knew her stuff.

Wine was cheap and cheerful and the starters were gorgeous, for me the highlight was: Burrata cheese, cherry tomatoes basil and balsamic, it just shut me up, I even closed my eyes I know that when you say something melts in your mouth it's a totally over used cliques.. but it actually did. And the basil was sweet and tomatoes perfectly ripe& mmmm we also had the bruscetta of the day and the plate of meats (salumi misti). The bruscetta comes highly recommended.

Mains& I ordered the mushroom risotto as it looked so good on the website, I was disappointed, not with the taste but just with the fact I wasn't turned on. I enjoyed the first few mouthfuls but became bored, as it became rich and monotonous. Everyone else enjoyed bites of mine as I enjoyed bites of theirs. The highlight of the mains had to be the tuna seared rare on the super salads.. They really are super and will be what I order next time I go. They are large and not stingy on the good ingredients (cheese mainly).

We couldn't fit dessert and were happy with finely made espressos and a bottle of lemonata for those of us that are a wee bit caffeine sensitive, and don't like coffee after 6pm (am I turning into my mother?) Actually that's my only complaint, as an Italian inspired concept how about some fresh fruit desserts/sorbets to cleanse the palate afterwards. That and its almost too modern inside to be comfortable, but I think we maybe clutching at straws here. So final words.. Go here if you love risotto and go if you don't, to have one of their amazing super salads or grills.

Duke of Cambridge

idoru — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 00:32:19 +0000

Rating: 3.4

Location: 30 St Peters Street, N1 8JT, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7359 3066

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

Tags: expensive, british, gastro pub, family & home feel, independent pub, mediterranean

My slice of peace and goodwill.I've just found another local. Working 5mins walk away from this organic gem has just made my day; between here and the Narrow Boat I am set for summer. The bar is ¾ non-smoking and the restaurant is completely. The whole place feels earthy and relaxed/chilaxed (a new word I'm trying out).

I went on a Wednesday afternoon and enjoyed a bottle of very pleasant organic weiss beer, having just come back from Austria I was still in afternoon beer mode. All their beers are local and organic, including the drafts, a nice change. The alternative chap behind the bar was happy to offer a suggestion though it took a little cajoling.

The menu changes twice a day to reflect market availability and they create traditional British fare with the Mediterranean influence. They describe it as such because they concentrate on using local produce, which is best used in local dishes. The menu looked amazing handwritten on giant blackboards behind the bar.

The menu always incorporates 2 meat, 2 fish and 2 vegetarian main courses with 3 or 4 starters and desserts, the small menu ensures the freshness of ingredients. The dishes that floated past me were incredible, particularly the whole baked fish with aioli and coriander, I must go back to investigate more fully!

As a watering hole it more than sufficed with service to the great solid wood tables, there is no music or artificial background noise which is surprisingly relaxing and the high ceilings seem to distribute the noise so you don't feel like your talking to the whole room when it's quiet. We had to ask for our bill a couple of times, though it is usual for service to drop off around 3pm in most places, and that was my only complaint!

Mahiki

idoru — Sun, 22 Apr 2007 13:32:44 +0000

Rating: 3.3

Location: 1 Dover Street, W1S 4LD, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7493 9529

Website: http://www.mahiki.com

Tags: posh, mature, young professionals, glamorous, reasonably priced, sexy, pretentious, cheesy, dance, relaxed

Tiki Tacky FunThe tiki-tastic bar in Mayfair has become a notorious spot for young royals(remember Harry fell off the curb and accidentally punched a photographer here) and celebre-posers. But despite this I have to say I had a lot of fun at this PR fueled venue. I went on a Wednesday for a private party starting around 8pm so I got in very easily, and was greeted by the smile of a beautiful young man from the Fiji Islands wearing a grass skirt.. The club doesn't have a door/guest list policy so after 9 queues and unfriendly door people are in place.

There is an upstairs cocktail lounge with tables, but I was quite happy at the bar. There was a charming dreaded barman who was a master of banter, and preformed with the other barmen, proving to be highly entertaining. He made us killer cocktails with fresh fruit, which were strong, tasty and came in ceramic tiki cups.

Downstairs is the club space, and we collected at the table with the swinging love seat, great idea but impossible to sit on. And we had a table made of cane that our drinks kept tipping over on because it wasn't flat, once again good looking but not practical.

The dance floor, which grooves to desert island style disks promises that if they don't have your request you can have a cocktail on the DJ. It s filled with very well maintained young to middle-aged ladies and young men in blazers. The surrounding tables had older gentlemen entertaining with bottles of Dom Perignon and the infamous £100 treasure chests, made for 8 to share.

Fun times, and celeb spotting is what this venue is good for, and the huge £20 cocktails that resemble buckets on stems. But be weary of long queues and I've heard the table service can be less than ideal, also due to the request nature of the music it can be very cheesy (but in good way if your in the mood). I defiantly recommend this place if you see the fun side of tacky theme bars and clique crowds.

Cantaloupe

idoru — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 01:21:15 +0000

Rating: 3.3

Location: 35-42 Charlotte Road, EC2A 3PD, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7729 5566

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

Tags: cool, young professionals, electronica, family & home feel, house, good value, spanish, portuguese, crowded, vegetarian, lively, brazilian

An oldie but a goodie..Opened over 11 years ago Cantaloupe is well known for being one of the founding cornerstones of Shoreditch. The first baby of the Cantaloupe Group, it has now been sold onto the Alphabet Group. Still retaining all it's charms it remains a home for suits finishing work and Shoreditch shoppers during the day.

If you can get in early on evenings you can set yourself up on one of their leather couches, large tables or high bar tables and stay in for the evening, though they close at the early 12pm. You can book an area and arrange table service for drinks and food, (12.5% service charge) which is the Cantaloupe Group style of tapa-esque dishes made for sharing. This was the original bar that reflected Richard Biggs travels through South America, particularly his experiences of street food. The big plates of nachos and shared hot platters are definitely worth mentioning, also the lamb burger and falafel sandwich.

We went for dinner on a Friday night and I was an appalling 40mins late, luckily the others were there or they would have given away our table. It is necessary to book on the weekend nights, and they are very strict about minimum spend and which menu you can order off. This is to discourage patrons from the bar looking for somewhere to sit.

The service wasn't particularly enthusiastic though I got the impression they were a little pressed from the number of people wanting to use the restaurant for drinking. I think the best time to dine here might be earlier in the week.

The food was good with the features being the swordfish and steaks. This is definitely a steak place with 8 and 12 oz bad boys that have been aged 6-8wks on their passage from Argentina. They're served with a variety of exotic sauces, my favourite being the chimi-churi a creamy parsley sauce that has no dairy. There are a few good vegetarian options and a vegan so everyone is well covered. And there is an extensive restaurant only wine list that covers all the important regions and a few little known ones. It's worth noting the higher up the list you go the better value you receive.

This is a pretty solid place that is well loved by its regulars and has a great warm feel to it, the bar staff are equally hot and exotic. And I can't forget the humorous signs on the way to the bathroom& an actual god send when you've indulged in a bottle or two of good red from their bar selection. I wouldn't suggest this for a Friday night first time visit because you won't get to the bar and there's nowhere to sit. Come early in the week because I think the relaxed approach is definitely the best when discovering this well loved corner of Old Street.

Market Place Bar & Restaurant

idoru — Sun, 15 Apr 2007 22:30:00 +0000

Rating: 3.0

Location: 12 Market Place, W1W 8AE, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7079 2020

Tags: cool, free to get in, cool & smart, young professionals, electronica, good brew, hip-hop, house, crowded, quick bite, lively

A little bit of Cantaloupe in Oxford Circus. Market Place plays the role of the west-end little sister, (smaller smarter and a little bit slicker) to Cargo and Cantaloupe in Shoreditch. Another of Cantaloupe Group's multi-functioning watering holes it mainly caters for suits at lunch and after work drinkers. It does however provide a pleasant little stop when you're spending your afternoon shopping and are looking for a late lunch.

It has a large heated courtyard and the upstairs has an open kitchen serving the same tapa-esque dishes we're familiar with from Cargo. Salmon tacos, sweet potato fries, albondigas& all for under the 5 pound mark.

The upstairs bar is a tad small for how busy it gets which is why it's not the best place to be on a Friday night and in search of a drink& It serves the usual cocktails (I like the Mango Royale with Moet) and has a nice selection of old and new world wines for under £20.

The whole place is kitted out with a panelled wood barn look and the signs are branded into the wood, a nice touch. The upstairs has big floor to ceiling windows flooding it with late afternoon light. The downstairs is the underground club that has dj's playing 4 nights a week, with a large representation from Casual the record label associated with Cargo. It's quite intimate with room for dancing, cool booths at the back (which can be reserved) and plasma screens showing wheat fields in the wind?

All in all a cool spot but best to be avoided at prime times.

The Providores

idoru — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 14:53:07 +0000

Rating: 4.3

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

Phone: 020 7935 6175

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

Tags: cool, Non-Smoking, top food, amazing brew, Amazing, international, fusion, crowded, expensive, trendy, lively, cultured, posh

Fusion - How to...Being a Fusion restaurant with a huge New Zealand influence I was bound to get here at some point. But it was much much more than I was expecting. Having worked with some of Peter Gordons chef's and even waited on him at a New Zealand restaurant I knew I was in for a treat of exotic and rear ingredients from Asia to NZ, France and Spain.

Downstairs is a no booking tapa's bar that does a relaxed breakkie with tall tables and giant Samoan tapa cloths on the wall. Upstairs is as formal as I've been in London. It's intimate with starched white tablecloths and interested waiters. Silver cutlery and I'm not sure what else because there was nothing there to distract me from the food.

We started with beautiful home made bread, I chose the cardamon seed, crunchy on the outside just warm on the inside, and with the creamy New Zealand butter! I was ready to grab the basket the butter off the other tables and go hide in the cupboard with my jacket to finish it off.

It was so hard to decide with the long descriptions, and it was hard to imagine how they would come out. So help from the waiter was required and he was knowledgeable beyond call and guided us to the:
Crispy spiced nori soft shell crab on avocado sesame puree, pickled tomato, hijiki and peanut sprout salad with wasabi tobikko ginger dressing. (13.40)
Crab, black cardamom, coconut and galangal laksa with lime leaf marinated squid, a fried crab dumpling, crab tomalley, green tea noodles, crispy shallots and coriander. (11.80)

It was divine and almost challenging food, with the intensity of flavour from the crab, and the richness of the laksa. The presentation was stunning, and the combination of ingredients intriguing. We choose to just have starters and move straight onto desert because we felt well satiated after our starters (and I'd just come back from Marrakech with funny tummy).

Desert was ok I went for the rhubarb (surprise surprise) which was described as Chinese liquorice panna cotta with kalamansi lime jelly, baked rhubarb and a coconut crisp. It was refreshing and the rhubarb so so tender it didn't quite blow me away but it was really nice. He went for steamed ginger pudding and spiced pineapple with Chai ice cream and black vinegar spiced syrup. Which we decided was more of a winter comfort desert. I wish I had gone for the hot peanut butter centred chocolate fondant with a crushed peanut wafer and celery sorbet. Which plays with that good traditional NZ party food of peanut butter in celery stalks.

For me the highlight was the wine selection, around 50 of New Zealand's best we went for one of my personal favourites from home 2005 Mt Difficulty, Bannockburn, Central Otago (40.00), a gutsy chocolaty number with berries plus.

This place is definitely a treat for homesick kiwi foodies and those who would like to sample the best New Zealand has to offer. With the 3 Providores representing us you can see what inspires us to be such fierce little food warriors.

Lockside Lounge

idoru — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 13:41:46 +0000

Rating: 4.3

Location: 84-87 West Yard, NW1 8AF, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7284 0007

Tags: cool, modern pub, gastro pub, electronica, standard pub food, family & home feel, cheap eat, hip-hop, house, good value, trendy, friendly

Funk'n soul served with bangers and mash HotHidden in the chaos that is the Camden Markets this little oasis is a reprieve of style and calm. The bar stuff are cute and helpful and the service quick and cheerful. I spent a very pleasant Sunday afternoon there after doing the east to north market tour.

It's a long and thin well used space with booths to your left, tables to the right and a sunken lounge at the stern. There's a DJ 3 nights a week with a big representation from the Spacific crew from New Zealand. I have to recommend Saturday nights for H*E*R*D hosted with DJ Vee. Funk soul mash-ups, disco and hip hop, depending on the guests.

While there I enjoyed a lot of cider, and to tide me through the afternoon Breads and dips, (8.00) with the usual suspects though the hummus was really something special. When another friend arrived I indulged in the plate of Cumberland sausages, creamy mash, onion gravy, green beans (8.50) I'd been hanging out for all afternoon.

He had the steak and kidney pie with mustard mash, and she had some pumpkin soup, her only complaint being it was too blended, which I thought was being little picky as it was a fine soup. His pie was rich and filling we were unable to finished it between us, the mash being the perfect accomplice. The menu though not exciting is good grub and they do Sunday roasts till they run out.

I'd have to say this place wins on the vibe and decor factor, they have art on the walls which change quarterly and a free Friday after work bbq. But most of all it I think it just comes down to doing what they do well.

Beach Blanket Babylon

idoru — Sun, 01 Apr 2007 23:37:48 +0000

Rating: 3.4

Location: 45 Ledbury Road, W11 2AA, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7229 2907

Tags: expensive, pretentious, crowded

Sparkly Gaudi FunGaudy, Glitzy so past glamour its cool. Apparently the food is terrible, (according to two separate sources I know who live in the area) and the drinks are expensive. With the cocktail waitresses doing that annoying thing where they give you 10 pounds change back in 1 pound coins. But we all agree there's something about this place you just can't help but like.

Like an ode to the 80's nouveau riche it's full of sparkles, chandeliers and richly embodied fabric. The patrons with perfectly coiffed hair wear shirts with jackets and high high heels. There is glass beads and mosaic walls but the highlight has to be the multi leveled pirate ship back. With its small walkways and crows nest sections. The main dining area below feels a wee bit like the gallows mixed with an exotic hobbit charm, with its molded concrete walls and rounded doors.

Though expensive my moscow mule was one of the best I've tasted served in a nice tall sling class with the perfect amount of angostura bitters. At 9.50 it was a decent drink, I just found the 12.5% service charge a wee bit cheeky for carrying it from the bar. But then I think your paying for the experience.

This is definitely a fun place to visit and to show off to unsuspecting visitors in an ironic sort of way.