Latest reviews by lattebird

Waterloo Brasserie

lattebird — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 17:08:59 +0000

Rating: 1.5

Location: 119 Waterloo Road, SE1 8UL, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7960 0202

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

Tags: french, pretentious

Meet your WaterlooA more upmarket Waterloo stop but tries too hard to be everything to all people.

I didn't even know that this place had opened and stumbled across it when I couldn't face the hectic Fire Station. At first glance it looked like a great find. A classy looking brasserie with a stylish bar and lounge area - ok a bit poncey but some occassions call for poncey don't they?

The bar menu looked nice enough with staples like Croque Monsieur and Quiche Lorraine for between Â£7-9.

The main restaurant is tucked away discreetly at the back (it's well laid out with nooks and crannies so that it feels like 5 different places)

The main resturant menu was more sophisticated French cuisine with some delicious sounding fish dishes and a traditional section which included Cassoulet and Moules.
I couldn't find any particular fault with the meal but it was fairly average for the price. I can't help feeling that they're trying too hard to cover all bases and certainly on the a la carte menu, are missing the mark.

I would go back for a drink (you know, on those poncey occasions) and possibly a quick bar bite but you can keep your Halibut en Papillote I'm afraid and as for the Â£30 Hungarian white that came highly recommended...well, I should have known better.

Tamesa@oxo Bar and Brasserie

lattebird — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 09:43:34 +0000

Rating: 3.7

Location: 2nd Floor, Oxo Tower Wharf, SE1 9PH, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7633 0088

Website: http://tinyurl.com/27mfzj

Tags: brasserie

OXO OK...ishDistinctly average, this place was a bit of a let down after the good things I heard about it. the decor is attempting to be minimalist but looks like cheap plastic making the place feel empty and cold. The food is ok but really not special. I might go back on a Tuesday night for the view if it wasn't a special occassion but beyond that, no, I don't think so.

Hot Stuff

lattebird — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 15:12:34 +0000

Rating: 5.0

Location: 19 Wilcox Road, SW8 2XA, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7720 1480

Tags: lively, family & home feel, cheap eat, crowded, indian

Don't tell a soulI'm almost loathe to rate this place. I've never had a bad mnouthful here let alone meal. It's the best Indian restaurant in the area and is so very loved by anyone who knows it.

Formica tables, no corkage Bring Your Own approach, Mum's home cooking (go and have a look, Mum will probably be in the kitchen) and the friendliest staff. Let them order for you.

You'd be hard pushed to spend Â£15 per head here but whatever you do, try the butternut squash and spinach curry.

It's one of the main reasons that I want to move back to the area. Make sure you book, they get choca.

Lab Bar

lattebird — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 12:19:23 +0000

Rating: 4.0

Location: 12 Old Compton Street, W1D 4TQ, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7437 7820

Website: http://www.lab-townhouse.com/

Tags: friendly, mature, cool & smart

no so hidden gemI've been going there for years and am yet to be let down. Sit at the bar, and describe the things you like to the bar crew and they will make you up a bespoke taste sensation. I knew that they were beyond great when I got a alco-free delight when I was on the wagon - anyone that can make pop taste that good has to be a genius

Konstam

lattebird — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 10:57:45 +0000

Rating: 4.1

Location: 109 King's Cross Road, WC1X 9LR, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7833 5040

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

Living the vida localI promise I didn't go to Konstam because he's the bloke off the telly. I was recommended it by someone who went and had no idea about the telly thing or the fact that most ingredients are sourced from within the M25. He just recognised that it was cracking good cooking and he was right.

I wasn't dissapointed, it's tough to get a booking but deservedly so. The decor's funky but still intimate and the kitchen is open in a manner braver than most - you are so close to the chefs and the range you can see everything. It's like a demo kitchen which is wonderful if you like cooking.

The menu is an engaging mish mash of posh, rustic, innovative and delicate. Not everything was perfect but there were a couple of real stand out items.

The Mersea Squid was cooked perfectly with punchy flavours. Not a big fan of squid, I would have been tempted to avoid Essex squid but this was a delight.

I've been dreaming about the Pan-roasted chicken ever since I went. Chunky golden breasts never looked so good! Caramalised, fragrant and herby, I truly could live off that dish for the rest of my life.

Boiled ham and cabbage has never been so good either - another knockout dish cooked to perfection, the ham melted in the mouth and the sauce and cabbage were unbelievably good.

A couple of dissapointing bits (pigeon sourced from within the M25 - we all have our standards)but the good most definitely outweighed the mediocre.

I feel sad about the service though (I'm shaking my head sadly as I type). The waitresses were all very sweet, attractive and well turned out but there's no real service spirit going on here. You know when you go to a restaurant and the staff are buzzing, there's energy about the way they work and they know their service sh*t. These ladies, lovely though they were, behaved as if they were helping out at a family party, slow and inefficient, they really let the place down. Oliver, if you employed them they're your mates, treat them to a free dinner and serve marching orders with pudding. The capital is brimming with excellent waiting staff, there's no excuse.

I thoroughly enjoyed Konstam at the Prince Albert. It restored my faith in the identikit London restaurant scene and made me really want to tell people about it, that's got to be a good sign. Here's to it's continued succes and may the pigeons of WC1 beware.

Skylon

lattebird — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 11:01:44 +0000

Rating: 2.3

Location: Southbank Centre, SE1 8XX, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7654 7800

Website: http://www.danddlondon.com/restaurants/skylon/home

Tags: Lively, british, Expensive

Lofty ambitions but not quite thereMuch hyped recently, Skylon has a superb setting right on the river at the Royal Festival Hall. Panormic views of London, high ceilings and airy atmosphere. The food though, whilst fair is not worth any hype at all.

The fish soup was average and the lamb was tasty but not any more exceptional than a good gastro pub.

I would rate the service but then with a ratio that seemed like it was 10 staff to every diner, you'd expect good service.

I would go again, at lunchtime on a sunny day but only if I got a really special deal.

La Tasca

lattebird — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 12:08:32 +0000

Rating: 2.8

Location: 23-24 Maiden Lane, WC2E 7NA, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7240 9062

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

This place used to be fairly decent but I went there again a few weeks ago and the food was terrible. Not sure what's happened but I won't be going back