Latest reviews by jovike http://trustedplaces.com/user/jovike Place reviews by jovike en Latest reviews by jovike http://trustedplaces.com/uploads/userpics/jovike_172885f7.120.jpg http://trustedplaces.com/user/jovike Cafe Espana http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1401x8k/cafe-espana

Rating: 3.3

Location: 63 Old Compton Street, W1D 6HT, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7494 1271

Tags: lively, international, good value, spanish, crowded

Best paella in the worldI've been here three or four times and always have the paella because it is the best in the world - and never managed to finish one yet because it's too big. Yes, I do know my paella because I have spent a couple of weeks trying arroz and paella around Valencia.

The paella is topped with giant prawns (already removed in my picture), mussels, and contains plenty of chicken, prawns, fish and calamari.

Taking a star off because the music was too loud last time.]]> Tue, 29 Jul 2008 11:08:31 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1401x8k/cafe-espana998761615 jovike lively international good value spanish crowded 51.512428331778 -0.13312339782715 Battasy http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1a13d72/battasy

Rating: 5.0

Location: 26 Ballards Lane, N3 2BJ, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 8371 4375

Tags: cosy, proper food, quiet & relaxed

hidden gemA quality restaurant/bistro, hidden behind a bus stop near to Finchley Central Underground station.

Great service. The food is prepared in plain view at the back.

I recommend the duck!

26 Ballards Lane, Finchley Central, London, N3 8BJ.

020 8371 4375.]]> Tue, 29 Jul 2008 10:57:16 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1a13d72/battasy142534524 jovike cosy proper food quiet & relaxed 51.602281 -0.192398 New Curry Centre http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/barnet/restaurant/1j9o37/new-curry-centre

Rating: 5.0

Location: 4 Greenhill Pde, EN5 1ES, Barnet, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 8449 0510

Tags: restaurant, family & home feel, good value, curry, indian

Great local curry houseLong-established local curry house, usually full of family groups on a Saturday evening.

The food is excellent, very consistent. My favourites on the large menu include the chicken massalum which contains chicken, mince and a boiled egg in a medium sauce. My girlfriend always has the tandoori chicken since she cannot tolerate chilli. The balti is also great, and the sag aloo (potato cooked in spinach and vegetables) is unmissable.

Their signature dish in my opinion is the salmon chilli massala, a tandoori fish dish in a hottish sauce. Pricy but superb. Also very good is the fish curry massala which is a whole trout, well cooked in a gorgeous sauce.

The Chef's Special is a medium chicken curry in a superb sauce with an occasional sultana.

The mixed biriani is like an Indian paella! recommended.

The restaurant is at the top of Station Road, opposite the Barnet Odeon. (Cue Pearl & Dean) Tel: 020 8449 0510.]]> Wed, 28 May 2008 21:36:17 +0000 /review/uk/barnet/restaurant/1j9o37/new-curry-centre288288355 jovike restaurant family & home feel good value curry indian 51.646958404693 -0.18706798553467 Alishaan http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1o32688/alishaan

Rating: 4.5

Location: 30 Osborn Street, E1 6TD, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7392 2100

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

Tags: lively, banglatown, brick lane, cheap eat, good value, crowded, indian

AtmosGood atmosphere with colourful decor - I hope they never repaint it!

I recommend the chicken dhansak here. It is superb, sweet and prepared in a way quite unlike anywhere else. The garlic, the balti and the bhoona are good. They also have prawn and fish dishes on their extensive menu which also features such staples as lassi and raita. I must try the roop chanda biran and the fish egg bora one day.

Friendly service. Sometimes busy with a few large parties.

The Alishaan is on Osborn Street, which is the southernmost section of Brick Lane. You can't miss the red neon.]]> Wed, 09 Apr 2008 06:15:02 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1o32688/alishaan1560613946 jovike lively banglatown brick lane cheap eat good value crowded indian 51.516483342728 -0.070166262490766 Halal Restaurant http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1u02e8b/halal-restaurant

Rating: 0.0

Location: 2 St. Mark Street, E1 8DJ, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7709 0150

Tags: lively, business, good value, indian

Chunky.Established in 1939, I first ate here in 1984. Consistently good value. Their chicken dhansak contains twice as much chicken as some other Indian restaurants. The egg fried rice is superb. The madras is excellent, not too hot. The bhuna is good too. I had a vindaloo which had one piece of potato in it - the rest was meat. Just tried the biryani: very good!

Their (very) spicy papadoms are small but a real treat.

Some unusual menu items: egg curry; meatball vindaloo. The meatballs are very finely ground. Seafood is prawns - no fish. They have almond, mango or pistachio kulfi for dessert.

Service is good, the food arrives by 'dumb waiter' lift from the kitchen and the bill is accompanied by Murray Mints. They sometimes close early so don't leave it until the last minute. You might remember they once had other branches, one on Aldgate High Street where Boots is now.

(This restaurant is on Alie Street, on the corner with Mark Street: Google Maps has it wrong.)]]> Wed, 09 Apr 2008 05:43:15 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1u02e8b/halal-restaurant1383626068 jovike lively business good value indian 51.512013771095 -0.07179639465865