Latest favourites and wishlist by lenalouise

Chez Bruce - review by herb

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 14:18:35 +0000

Chez Bruce - review by herb

Rating: 4.7

Location: 2 Bellevue Road, SW17 7EG, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 8672 0114

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

I choose Chez bruce at the as I thought it has ample area and the bar is really nice for my friends 30th birthday as well as being very central and easy for everyone to locate. There was about 20 of us and the area they reserved was tiny. On one of the hottest days of the year. The staff and service were lovely though and the nibbles I ordered really nice

Tom Ilic - review by herb

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 13:55:47 +0000

Tom Ilic - review by herb

Rating: 3.7

Location: 123 Queenstown Road, SW8 3RH, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7622 0555

Website: http://www.tomilic.com/

Tags: lively, good value, crowded, romantic

4 of ate at Tom Ilic on a Sunday. 3 courses for Â£18.95 = very good value. Presentation of food is superb. 3 of us went for the scallops to start which were beautifully cooked; just a shame there were only two per plate...could have done with more. The rabbit for main course was excellent; those who ate the pork belly said again they could have done with another piece. Lemon tart was both sublime and very light. Thoroughly recommend, though starters and mains could be bigger portions

Cafe Espana - review by foodbymark

Sun, 12 Oct 2008 21:55:18 +0000

Cafe Espana - review by foodbymark

Rating: 4.0

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

Phone: 020 7494 1271

Tags: spanish

Having just come back from Barcelona I felt the urge to eat Spanish food and a quick net search pointed us at Cafe Espana. Cafe Espana certainly has a lot to live up to - The reviews on lots of sites were glowing, apart from some tell tale reviews from various sites. With expectations set high, it is easy to be let down. The restaurant itself is extremely cramped and we were levered into our tiny area by the stairs upstairs. I had to be careful not to knock the table behind my chair as I skillfully squatted and slid into my seat.

We chose the seafood paella. Paella is the quintessential Spanish dish perhaps one of the best ways of judging a restaurant. Whilst we were able to order very quickly, the dish took 55 minutes to arrive and all we had to quench our hunger was some freshly cut stale bread and a little butter.

When the food did finally arrive, the dish was certainly impressive looking and enough to feed a family of four. But we were quickly disappointed. Whilst seafood ingredients were seemingly plentiful, there were only two king prawns and the rest were tiny shrimps in their shells so small that after you had gone through the effort or deshelling them, there was only smallest crayfish sized shrimp - the effort was hardly worth it. The mussels had been so cooked that they had shrunken and become chewy, the fish was full of bones, the calamari was tough and chewy and we had an assortment of peas ranging of brilliant fresh green to dull brown and mushy. And worst of all the rice had become mushy. Paella rice should be dry and separate when done, not creamy like risotto.

Risotto di mare, with two glasses of house white came to Â£27. Perhaps in hindsight we should've ordered tapas and perhaps it was a bad day for the restaurant's kitchen. The cooking is standard Spanish fare and there are certainly no culinary flares. Their home style food at knock down prices has certainly won fans but I dare to disagree and unfortunately the Paella here gets two thumbs down.

Bar Gansa - review by thamshere

Sun, 12 Oct 2008 20:51:44 +0000

Bar Gansa - review by thamshere

Rating: 4.6

Location: 2 Inverness Street, NW1 7HJ, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7267 8909

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

This tapas bar feels like a bit of a Camden institution to me. Itâ¬"s been sat quietly on Inverness Street for as along as I can remember. It pretty much keeps itself to itself, which is good, because if any more people knew about it youâ¬"d never be able to get a seat. The atmosphere is perfect so far as tapas joints go. Hearty, homely, busy, intimate and full of laughs and sangria.

We arrived at Bar Gansa on a Saturday night around 9 oâ¬"clock with six people with some sort of idea in our minds that booking a table would be unnescesary. Thankfully we were proven right. The friendly staff shoved a few tables together in what seemed like barely enough space for four, but we fitted in alright. Knowing a little about tapas I knew what I liked, as did a few others in the group. Together we came up with a list of dishes, we figured two or three per person would be about right, and went ahead and ordered.

Almost.

We were told as we began that the kitchen was out of chorizo. Not a good sign for anywhere Spanish. Oh, and pork. No lomo. No jamon iberico or serrano. As we scanned the menu to see what was left we considered finding somewhere else, but in the face of the late hour and uncertain seating we decided to soldier on. Besides, we already had our Sangria. We were told it had been a particularly busy night but for a kitchen to run out of so many important basics seems more like a lack of foresight, especially if the staples are cured meats - surely over-stocking can never hurt? Itâ¬"s not like theyâ¬"re going to go off tomorrow.

Luckily for us there was still pollo aplenty so we made the best of that, ordering three chicken dishes, some prawns and a variety of veg such as the classic patatas bravas and some garlic mushrooms. None of it really stood out as amazing, but the quality was consistently good across the board with none of the dishes letting down the side. The chicken was juicy, the sauces rich, the patatas very bravary. The only downside was that we hadnâ¬"t ordered quite enough and managed to pick the dishes clean.

The bill came in at a very pleasant 15 quid each, though I donâ¬"t think an extra dish each would have gone amiss, so perhaps 20 is a more reasonable average. Iâ¬"ll be heading back soon, hopefully this time with a booking and a little earlier in the day so I can sample the real meat.

It was rather an unwelcome return to reality when we left to find ourselves in Camden on a cold September day with a fine mist of rain insisting its way through the air. It made me want to go back inside and order another jug of sangira.

Chowki - review by herb

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 12:49:57 +0000

Chowki - review by herb

Rating: 4.1

Location: 2 Denman Street, W1D 7HA, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7439 1330

Website: http://www.chowki.com/

Tags: business

this is the great idian restaurant that i have been for a long time, dont miss out, great real food and amazing service .

Moro - review by mazphd

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 13:43:08 +0000

Moro - review by mazphd

Rating: 4.5

Location: 34 - 36 Exmouth Market, EC1R 4QE, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7833 8336

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

Tags: lively, middle eastern, business, crowded, expensive, romantic

It is not often that one comes across a restaurant that has style, vibe and some seriously fabulous food. I have been lucky enough to not only dine , but also to experience the wine here, and I intend to develop this very complimentary and devastingly evocative relationship some more.

On my visit, despite being full to bursting and busy every member of staff was attentive, helpful and catchingly perky! Now my experience may have been coloured by the delightful company for the evening (a perceptive, witty and charming dining companion) but Moro also holds all these qualities on its own just on the vibe alone.

For some reason I skipped the Tapas and went straight for the weekly menu, a sardine related dish full of spice, and just the right mix of olive oil and fennel seeds. Simplicity in itself. Now the dining was divine, but better was the wine, and I heartidly recommend, the OntaÃ±on, Gran Reserva a 2001 Spanish Rioja. On the side of 'pricey' at nearly Â£50 a bottle, but mmm so sumptuous.

It has been a while since I've had such great service (especially in the UK!) and wonderful food, and reading the other reviews it seems Moro gets this balance right at least 90% of the time. I'm hoping for those disappointed diners they will return and be charmed in the same way I have been.

My own intention is to revisit and take advantage of the tapas, and moment with a suitably charming dining partner. Oh and to remember to leave room for dessert.

Moro - review by chrisp

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 11:42:43 +0000

Moro - review by chrisp

Rating: 4.5

Location: 34 - 36 Exmouth Market, EC1R 4QE, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7833 8336

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

Tags: expensive, spanish, pretentious

Well, I'm sorry to go against the grain of reviews on this site, but I had a very disappointing experience here last weekend.

Arriving 20 mins too early for the evening menu (which was sold out anyway for some unfathomable reason), we decided to fill up on a selection of tapas and a glass of sherry. The tapas was dull - no better than from Cafe Kick across the road - with a small plate of cold and soggy Pimentos de Padron and Boquerones that had clearly just been dumped out of a jar.

But the real slap in the face came in the form of a Â£4 thimble-sized glass of Tio Pepe Sherry. The measure can't have been more than 100ml, and I know for a fact you can get a whole bottle of the stuff from Waitrose for about Â£8. A violation.

This highlights a wider problem with restaurants serving liquids out of their comfort zone. It's the same reason why a measure of Baileys (20%) costs the same as vodka (40%) in the pub and why you can happily buy shots of tequila for Â£1 each but ask for a brandy and you're given just about enough to coat the bottom of a tumbler for Â£3.50 (yes, most pubs have a perfectly good selection of brandy glasses - but when was the last time you saw one used?).

Sherry is not a spirit. In fact, at 15% it's about the in terms of alcohol content as most Riojas. The sooner these pretentious tapas places realise it the better, and one can only hope that once the credit crunch bites it will sort out the places that demand unquestioning respect from their customers from those that actually earn it.

Viet - review by hollowlegs

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 10:36:21 +0000

Viet - review by hollowlegs

Rating: 3.4

Location: 34 Greek St, W1D 5DJ, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7494 9888

Tags: vietnamese, cheap eat

After some rather naughty Tuesday night binge drinking, we decided to come here at around 10pm for some food. I have to say, a big factor was that it was BYOB.

Furnishings are very basic and lighting is stark. We chose a red curry, a green curry and a beef pho for myself, with some summer rolls nad banh xeo on the side.

The summer rolls were gorgeous; really fresh tasting and crunchy, definitely reminiscent of (our non-existent) summer as the name suggests. The beef pho I had was excellent. Tender slices of pink beef with a big bundle of rice noodles sat in a a fragrant broth accompanied by a plate of lime wedges, beansprouts, chillis and herbs. It was immensely satisfying.

I have to agree with other reviewers; the service wasn't exactly 'with a smile'. When our mains came, they brought out two bowls of pho, 2 green curries and a red; the extra pho we hadn't ordered. When we told the waitress this, she looked at us doubtfully and didn't seem to believe us until one of our party said "can you tell us why we would order 5 mains plus starters for a table of 4?"

All in all, a great cheap eat and nothing fancy. It definitely beat the insipid pho I had at the Great Titchfield Street branch of the Pho chain.

S & M Cafe - review by CristinaA

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 01:00:41 +0000

S & M Cafe - review by CristinaA

Rating: 4.0

Location: 48 Brushfield Street, E1 6AG, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7247 2252

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

Tags: crowded, british, good value

I love the concept of this place... The sausages juicy and mash creamy, just like it should be. S&M are also doing their bit for the â¬ÜGreat British Grubâ¬" industry by supporting local and sustainable food sources. Specialising in the obivious, doesn't mean that's all they serve but the menu can be confusing and a much needed reworked version will lauch in a couple of weeks.

DÃ©cor is reminiscent of old English diners and thereâ¬"s a pleasant, buzzing vibe in the evening. Only criticism on appearance, is that the upmarket cafe could do with a spruce, a lick of paint and a bit more thought put into what goes on the walls.

Meson Bilbao - review by blackpenwriter

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 21:35:25 +0000

Meson Bilbao - review by blackpenwriter

Rating: 5.0

Location: 33A Malvern Road, NW6 5PS, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7328 1744

Tags: romantic, good value, spanish

This was my first time visiting a proper Spanish restaurant so I was really looking forward to it! I am glad to report I was not disappointed in the slightest. I have always tried the Spanish options in a general type of restaurant. Comparing it to the authentic tastes within this restaurant, I can say what I had before really wasnâ¬"t Spanish at all! The staff here are wonderful and really pull out all the stops to make your dining experience a fantastic one. The menu is laden full of delicious choices and the food that arrives is so tasty! Prices are also really good for what you get

Rochelle Canteen - review by blackpenwriter

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 21:22:54 +0000

Rochelle Canteen - review by blackpenwriter

Rating: 5.0

Location: Rochelle School, E2 7ES, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7729 5677

Website: http://www.arnoldandhenderson.com/index.php?section=5

Tags: good value, international, family & home feel

What a fantastic place to have a unique meal! A few of my friends have been here before and I have heard rave reviews from elsewhere so I could not wait to try out the delights they have on offer here. Gaining entry is exactly how the other reviewers have stated. The only downside on the place is that I felt it was a little cold â¬ not just in temperature but in the intimacy and romance meaning as well. However the food is gorgeous! There is lots on the menu, many dishes I had wanted to try but never had the opportunity â¬ all in all I loved it!

Rosa's Dining Room - review by blackpenwriter

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 21:19:58 +0000

Rosa's Dining Room - review by blackpenwriter

Rating: 4.8

Location: 69 Westbourne Park Road, W2 5QH, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7221 5329

Tags: romantic, british, good value

And yes, i have to say i agree with the previous reviewer whole heartedly. Despite the number of stars dining here, it doesn't do a huge song and dance about their clientele or have its own head up its bottom. The staff here are just normal, not pretentious in any way. They really are nice people, friendly and welcoming. They get on well with everyone and do a fantastic job! The menu has lots of choices for everyone, even veggies, so all will be able to find something that makes their taste buds dance. Food tastes delicious and canâ¬"t be faulted. Its not the cheapest but it is worth it!

Carnevale - review by blackpenwriter

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 21:16:42 +0000

Carnevale - review by blackpenwriter

Rating: 5.0

Location: 135 Whitecross St, EC1Y 8JL, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7250 3452

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

Tags: vegetarian

I totally agree with the previous review. I'm a meat eater and proud, however this place has opened my eyes to the delights of vegan and vegetarian meals. The place itself is absolutely tiny, miniscule, couldn't swing a cat, but they still manage to crap in quite a few people without it feeling too cramped and the intimacy is still there. A bit like the tardis! The menu is huge and lots to choose from and even meat eaters will find lots they would like to sample. Service is really good too, you never have to wait long to be served. I really do like it here!

Vanilla Black - review by Izabel_blue

Sun, 05 Oct 2008 19:55:42 +0000

Vanilla Black - review by Izabel_blue

Rating: 4.7

Location: 17- 18 Tooks Court, EC4A 1LB, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7242 2622

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

Tags: vegetarian, british, classy, good value

I've been here twice now - one for lunch and once for dinner, and have felt *pretty* impressed both times, though I found it a much better destination for dinner.

The food is commendable: the menu is a seriously good take on modern British seasonality (minus the meat) and hence a bit more sophisticated than the global fusion you get at other well-known veggie gaffs, like Manna or The Gate. However, portions are on the smaller size, and you really do need to go for all three courses to have a satisfying meal out - my husband worries that it is a bit too 'set menu' and not flexible enough with the a la carte.

A few examples from their recent menu include a starter 'toasty' with home-made piccalilli and 'deconstructed' lentil dal. Mains are exciting too: mushroom duxelle with mushy peas, goats cheese and walnut backlava with onion puree, beetroot tarte with horseradish custard...

The room is quite formally dressed and modern, with crisp white tablecloths and chandeliers - very trad, quite classy. Front of house is good too: they've brought a chirpy, friendly staff from the original restaurant in York, and you can tell that they care passionately about the food. The only dull note is the 80s' soft-rock and alt hits playing in the background: it seems to compromise the attention to detail with the food, room, and service.

However, the food and service is good enough to compete with any posh gastropub in the area, and the choices on offer will thrill any meat-reducer. Give it a go!

Magdalen - review by Browners

Sun, 28 Sep 2008 18:12:14 +0000

Magdalen - review by Browners

Rating: 4.2

Location: 152 Tooley Street, SE1 2TU, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7403 1342

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

Tags: lively, british, expensive, romantic

My parents are obsessed with Mark Rothko. A bit like how Peter Stringfellow is obsessed with girls in plastic high heels and bikinis. It's a sort of pseudo-sexual thing. All encompassing and fascinating. So it was with great excitement that we went on a Brown family outing to the Tate Modern for their hugely anticipated "Rothko - the late years" exhibition on Friday for a private viewing. It didn't disappoint. It just served to reconfirm, if that was needed at all, that Rothko's work is as moving and haunting as Bach and Mozart. It was more like an existential philosophy exhibition than a gallery of paintings.

We returned on Saturday to be in the audience for the all afternoon seminar connected to the exhibition. We were surrounded on all sides by people with even more emphatic Rothko fetishes than Mum and Dad! Not that I thought this was possible. I guess it's a bit like thinking your pretty good at football having scored a few goals for your school side and then going off to the regional trials - only to see all the other boys can kick the ball miles and have all the kit! But I am pleased to say that the Brown family held their own. Mum has vowed never to wash her right hand again having shaken hands with Mark Rothko's son, Christopher!

Still buzzing from 4 hours of in depth intercourse about the ins and outs of the world of Rothko, we strolled along Bankside up towards Tooley street where we were delighted to find Magdalen. It's from the Anchor and Hope school of cookery. Or if you are from Bristol, it's similar to The Albany. The deep maroon walls made us feel like we were eating with the Seagram Murals hanging around us!

The menu excited me more than the others. I loved the 3 part simplicity of it all. But on the downside it means that it reads less flamboyantly than menus tended to a few years ago. Beds, jus, tranches and so forth are gone. Now it's all about guess work and trust. It's the sign of a confident restaurant.

I was in two minds about what to have. The devil inside me was whispering in my ear... telling me to have the grouse... but at Â£26 I couldn't. Instead I was delighted with my choice of potted crab which was as silky as a silkworm's sleeping bag, followed by an unctuous combination of shoulder and leg of pork - served with a mustardy sauce and the lightest crackling I have ever had. This was top class cooking. And brilliantly British.

The others had a very good cauliflower soup with walnuts and other earthy autumnal bits and pieces... and Dad had a Rothko coloured maroon on black seared haunch venison. The fish soup, slow cooked shoulder of lamb and halibut that followed were equally memorable. All bore the hallmark of a kitchen that is at ease with itself. Don't get me wrong - it was all very good food. But I wonder what they are capable when they push things a bit further?

I shared a blindingly good lemon tart with a burn sugar crust which was top class The pastry was thin and crumbled at just the right moments when you showed it the spoon. And the lemon custard was still warm and silky.

Our only criticism concerns 3 embarrassments.

1. The step at the bottom of the stairs is not the same depth as the other stairs... I almost tripped over twice in the middle of the dinning room.

2. I had to queue to get into the gents in full view of the restaurant. It didn't really feel right.

3. Dad had an altercation with the manager about their policy of automatically adding a gratuity of 12.5%. Our waitress had been fantastic all evening - so we wanted to give her a tip... but we disagreed severely with their tipping policy. Surely if the gratuity is at the discretion of the person paying... it is not up to the restaurant to behave like this. It leaves a very sour taste in the mouth and we hope that Magdalen changes their policy.

Tremendous food. The perfect place for a Rothko inspired dinner. O... and how are you supposed to pronounce the name?