Latest reviews by littlevegemite

King's Cross Continental Stores

littlevegemite — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 15:16:35 +0000

Rating: 4.3

Location: 26 Caledonian Road, N1 0RU, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7837 0201

Tags: mediterranean, rare finds, delicatessen

Old School AuthenticityThis is one of the gems of this end of Cally Road - the most amazing cheeses, incredible tinned tuna (Delicioso brand... nothing else will do once you've tried it), pastas and sauces. Well worth a regular visit to stock up on gourmet pantry essentials.

The elderly couple who run it have managed to preserve a sense of community with their customers, so be ready to wait a few minutes while family news is shared, and practice your Italian phrases when you can.

Closed Sundays.

Euphorium Bakery

littlevegemite — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 14:13:47 +0000

Rating: 4.0

Location: 202 Upper Street, N1 1RQ, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7704 6909

Tags: cosy, treats, N1, sweets, tea, good brew, bread, cakes, crowded, coffee, breakfast, quick bite, friendly, lively, cultured, relaxed

Euphorium BakeryAn early morning favourite on the weekend for my croissant and coffee with my Saturday paper - beautiful food, plenty of tables and reasonable prices. There is a second outlet in the charming Chapel Market, but the Upper Street store is friendly and warm, and a relaxed way to start the weekend, with friends and family, or in a table alone.

19:20

littlevegemite — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 13:59:08 +0000

Rating: 4.0

Location: 19-20 Great Sutton Street, EC1V 0DR, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7253 1920

Website: http://www.19-20.co.uk/

Tags: jazz, bold design, bar snacks, pool tables, ec1, cool & smart, young professionals, electronica, house, friendly, relaxed, cool

19:20Not a bar you'd find unless you were looking, this is another great bar in the Clerkenwell area that is both cool and comfortable, with good drinks and food, great music and some interesting decor.
Despite the media types and other suits drinking there, once you find it both the upstairs pool area and downstairs bar have lots of space for a drink or a dance in the evenings. The bar busily sells both cocktails and beer, and is generally unpretentious and fun. A perfect place for a corporate function - have been back since my first visit for a corporate night (internal social event) and it is a great bar for a group.
http://www.19-20.co.uk/

Flat White

littlevegemite — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 13:41:58 +0000

Rating: 4.7

Location: 17 Berwick St, W1F 0PT, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7734 0370

Website: http://www.flat-white.co.uk

Tags: cosy, W1, Kiwi, perfect, Australian, amazing brew, crowded, cafe, quick bite, friendly, lively

You don't need to be a homesick antipodean to enjoy great coffee and the gorgeous design and frienly service typical of a Down Under cafe. A must for coffee lovers and Aussies & Kiwis passing into W1.

So what exactly is a Flat White Coffee?

(From Wikipedia:) A Flat White is a coffee beverage served in Australia and New Zealand, prepared with espresso and milk.

The drink is generally made with 1/3 espresso and 2/3 steamed milk, very similar to the ingredients in a latte. The milk is prepared differently, with the volumised milk at the top folded into the lower layers. The resulting drink has only a very thin layer of froth at the top.

Australian lattes and flat whites are usually served in 215-240ml cups, making them stronger than some lattes served in some other countries.

Beatroot Cafe

littlevegemite — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 13:38:46 +0000

Rating: 3.3

Location: 92 Berwick Street, W1F 0QD, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7437 8591

Website: http://beatroot.org.uk

Tags: lively, top food, mediterranean, fresh, crowded, noisy, quick bite, vegetarian, healthy, indian, music

Beatroot - a totally fresh funky feast... to goFunky, not flaky - Beatroot is a restaurant/cafe/takeaway place ironically close to the Soho meat market that avoids the zealots that ruin other vegetarian places. The food is organic and fresh, and you can choose from a variety of styles (mostly Indian and Med) and a variety of dishes to fill your lunchbox. Lots of juices, sweets and prepared cold drinks add to the variety. Great way to get your 5 a day!

Keston Lodge

littlevegemite — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 14:40:13 +0000

Rating: 4.5

Location: 131 Upper Street, N1 1QP, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7354 9535

Website: http://www.kestonlodge.com/

Tags: relaxed, indie, modern pub, gastro pub, excellent pub food, cool & smart, young professionals, electronica, family & home feel, independent pub, hip-hop, house, sexy, good value, crowded, trendy, friendly, lively

Best of the Upper StreetThis is one of those great bars that normal, real people go to - unlike much of the competition that is either hideous inside, filled with pretentious types or both. The interior is cool, the food is well priced and the bar staff generally really friendly. The happy hour cocktails make for good times - buy one, get a second for a £1 makes it the obvious choice when drinking with a friend. This place manages to be a modern bar/pub, without being soulless or pretentious.

Benugo

littlevegemite — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 13:57:12 +0000

Rating: 5.0

Location: 116 St John Street, EC1V 4JW, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7253 3499

Website: http://www.benugo.com

Tags: cosy, perfect, calm, zen, ec1, top food, proper food, tea, amazing brew, quiet & relaxed, cheap eat, good value, coffee, lunch, breakfast, quick bite, healthy, clean, cute

Pret with LoveI uncovered my nearest outlet of this small chain when I started walking to work, and it has quickly become a daily ritual. London has lots of cafes and sandwich chains, but this one is perfect in every way. It's like a very posh, very zen, very perky, very natural, very sweet Pret - the staff are calm and warm, the coffee is perfect, the food is inspiring and often like art. Clearly I'm unable to be too impartial as I'm smitten, but this a lovely pocket of love first thing in the morning.

Daddy Donkey Burro Bunker

littlevegemite — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 13:40:41 +0000

Rating: 4.0

Location: Pitch 102, Leather Lane Market, EC1N 7TS, London, United Kingdom

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

Tags: lively, delicioso, spicy, street, foodstand, cart, fajitas, burritos, ec1, market, rare finds, cheap eat, good value, fresh, crowded, mexican, tasty, friendly

Delicioso Lunchtime BurritosThere are days when only a tasty Mexican lunch will do - there really isn't nearly enough good (or even bad) Mexican in London, but this lunch spot, if you can get there in your lunchtime, is a must. The food is fresh, fast and authenic - and the serve really generous serves.
The atmosphere in the Leather Lane Market is also a nice change from being deskbound, even if some cheap clothes, accessories, fruit etc aren't on the agenda.
You can sit at tables next to the 'burro bunker', but note these babies are massive and messy, so may go down nicely when you get back to your desk.
The menu is simple - just Burritos and Fajitas, with chicken, beef or vegetarian fillings. Both can also be ordered in a bowl if you're avoiding breads, served like a salad. Delicious black beans, perfect coriander-lime rice and yummy fresh produce all-round.
Best you get there early to beat the rush!
www.daddydonkey.co.uk

Ortega

littlevegemite — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 17:45:35 +0000

Rating: 4.0

Location: 55 Charterhouse Street, EC1M 6HA, London, United Kingdom

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

Tags: cheap, cantina, sangria, snacks, cheap eat, spanish, friendly, tapas, bar, restaurant, lively, relaxed

Ortega CantinaA little gem I've found - unlike most places in Farringdon, it is cheap and casual. Went here with some friends after work (we had planned to go to Beduin next door, but hadn't booked) and enjoyed some delicious sangria and tapas. We got a sharing plate of 6 different tapas (£20) and a jug of the sangria ($12), and sat in a nice booth downstairs. I love Spanish food and this was pretty good - not amazing, but very reasonably priced and fresh. The staff were friendly (albeit with poor Espanol) and the place was big enough to fit us in last minute, but still cosy and welcoming.

Piada

littlevegemite — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 15:05:15 +0000

Rating: 4.0

Location: 12-14 St John Street, EC1M 4AY, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7253 0472

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

Tags: Italian, suits, stree, EC1, fresh food, good brew, good value, quick, crowded, cafe, lunch, lively

PIADAKnown in my office the posh Italian sarnie place this is one of my favourite lunch spots near my work.

Piada specialise in piadines, a filled flatbread. A auick Google search reveals they're a northern Italian street food - from the Emilia-Romagna region. It's a thin dough cooked (with olive oil) on a hot plate, and filled with simple but delicious produce. There are 13 different piadines on the menu, numbered zero through to quattordici (this superstitous bunch have skipped 13!) - so far I've had the Otto, with perfect spinach and mushrooms and the Sei with some nice speck.

It gets busy at lunch, so get in early and order quick - for inspiration check out the menu at the Piada website (www.piada.co.uk).

Kurz & Lang

littlevegemite — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 14:44:38 +0000

Rating: 3.0

Location: 1 St. John Street, EC1M 4AA, London, United Kingdom

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

Tags: cool, simple men, EC1, late, sausage, german, good value, beer, quick, cafe, lunch, lively

Kurz & LangKurz & Lang is a Farringdon lunch spot that offers both great produce and something a little different.

I'm not sure that a month in Germany for a World Cup subsisting on sausages makes you an expert, but I am confident that the bratwurst here are authentic - they're imported fresh from small independent producer in the rural area between Frankfurt and Cologne in Germany.

The menu is simple - a few different types of sausage, served with bread, delicious German mustard and ketchup (the lunch special costs another 60p for delicious sauerkraut and grilled potato cubes.) I couldn't eat it everyday (and still wear my own clothes,) but it was tasty and delicious - and I looked after myself by getting some extra fruit from the chap outside the tube station.

They're open late on weekends, and it'd be perfect after a few drinks in the evening. Kurz & Lang also serve a list of German beers, including my favourite Löwenbräu.