Latest reviews by mazphd

The Golden Ball

mazphd — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 10:34:59 +0000

Rating: 4.3

Location: 2 Cromwell Road, YO1 6DU, York, United Kingdom

Phone: 01904 652211

Classic local. Particularly good and 'locally' on a York Race Day. You can cut through the drunk dross in the city centre and sup something nice and civilised here. Great garden.

MOR Music

mazphd — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 12:50:25 +0000

Rating: 5.0

Location: 52 Fossgate, YO1 9TF, York, United Kingdom

Phone: 01904 646901

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

Tags: helpful staff

School of Rock I'm not in a band, but if I wanted to find a 'school of rock' then I would head here. The door is always open, with the melodious and always loud strums of rockin tunes - much to the amusement of passerby's.

Mostly a 'hang out' for long haired rock types, everyone looks like they're having a good time. When they're not rockin they sell instruments too.

The owner is Phil is on hand for all your rockin needs. There's a drum department on the first floor so now there's even more excuse to dance in the street.

5 Stars as you can drum and strum as loud as you want! :-)

Evernew

mazphd — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 06:54:39 +0000

Rating: 5.0

Location: 3-4 Bridge Street, YO1 6DD, York, United Kingdom

Phone: 01904676700

Tags: rare finds, helpful staff, healthy food

Secret oriental foodEvernew is easily passable from the outside. Looking in the windows it looks to be a 'tacky' touristy shop for all things that you didn't know that you wanted from Japan. But no. Delve further into the shop and you will occupying the upstairs and now newly refurbished downstairs a second shop area that is an excellent oriental food store. And in York. Who knew!

I'm very excited by this little gem of a place. Finding somewhere to shop in york that isn't the M&S, Tesco etc usual haunts is tricky. But in Evernew you can cruise Hello Kitty trinkets AND find some decent , and Japanese authentised Miso soup. Other highlights include silken tofu, fresh bean sprouts, a range of unidentifiable packeted fish related food stuffs, ice cream, cans of what can only be described as 'stuff', but all genuiene Asian food.

Evernew is a family run business, who are friendly and helpful. I'm such a regular they even bowed at me on my last visit. Shopping here is just like stepping into a store in Tokyo, and with so many overseas students in the york area you would be forgiven for mistakeningly thinking that you had been transported into the cosmo metropolis. That is until you step outside and its yorkshire rain again.

In york? Shop here and find something authentic, distinctive and a little unusual for dinner. Good sushi kits too.

Red Veg

mazphd — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 13:04:23 +0000

Rating: 3.3

Location: 95 Dean St, W1D 3TB, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7437 3109

Website: http://www.redveg.com

Tags: healthy food, helpful staff

the wonders of a non meat burgerI'm a pescatarian (eats fish, no meat) so it's been a while since i've chowed down on a burger. Plus i'm on a super healthy kick at the moment, but that didn't stop me from calling into Red Veg when last i was in london town.

Now call me food picky, but this place is a little on the greasy side. The veg / bap burgered combo tends to slip n slide off its 'grease proof' paper and becomes more bap rather than bean as you chow down. (I mean that they are on the mean side of generous with their fillings).

But i'm giving Red Veg 3 stars as the staff were super nice, the place is super clean (should be with all that burger grease) and unlike McD's the Kings of Burger world here one can opt out of Moo meat, and be rewarded by the sweet aroma of beany delights. And i mean in a flavourisome way, rather than a particularly whiffy windy pop.

So prepare to 'put a cork in it' for later, the burgers here are a safe stable alternative from Mc Greasy, but they could do more with fillings and inspiration for the menu.

A mediocre, could do better, like what you're doing so far three stars.

Hell Pizza

mazphd — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 08:08:52 +0000

Rating: 5.0

Location: 369 North End Road, SW6 1NW, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 08456 666 999

Website: www.hellpizza.co.uk

Tags: lively, good value, crowded

get a little hell fire in your belly My first to New Zealand a few years ago and there was this super fabulous pizza company, big on flavour, friendliness (but then thats the new zealand way, laid baaaaaaaaaaaaack) and toppings.

Hell's Pizza has made its way to our side of the equator and opened in Fulham London. So no need to contribute to the fires of hell via our carbon impacting flights, Hell's Pizza deliver straight to you city based door. Yum.

Staff here are equally as friendly as their new zealand counterparts - must be the company mantra! Flavours are unsual to say the least, non of your 'usual' margherita , pineapple and ham Pizza Hut run of the mill concoctions *yawn*. Firey sauce, some seriously santilising lip-smacking original toppings make a gal want to order more!

The menu is 'cute' too. Named after the 'Seven deadly sins' pizzas go from envy, to lust, to vanity - and all with their own topings, sauces etc. Which is shame that there's only seven 'deadly' sins *sigh*. Thankfully when your'e not sinning you can turn to the dessert menu (named ambrosia) and nectar for drinks.

planning on sinning with a take away, the super sized pizza boxes have a cut-out of a coffin 'for your remains' - oh as if, not with pizza this good! The environmentally conscious amongst you will like the anti-litter message on your pizza box that advises you to 'dispose of the evidence.'Yum.

vegetarian, or vegan? hell have you covered one of their best is 'Sinister'; avocado's , refried beans, salsa, tomatoes, jalapo's and oh so much more. You can also 'build your own' from huge range of toppings, and did i mention firery sauces! (there are less hot options too!)

so get a little hell fire in your belly. Delicious and fun too!

There's a pretty nifty website too
https://www.hellpizza.co.uk/

Foyles Cafe

mazphd — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 13:17:20 +0000

Rating: 3.3

Location: 113-119 Charing Cross Road, WC2H 0EB, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7437 5660

Tags: cultured, average brew, quick bite

creased sleeves and dirty platesLike another reviewer, i've been here and felt disappointd.

Despite the fabulous book and music related setting the cafe lacked soul, inspiration and even a smile from the Foyles staff team.

Cheer up folk! its the wonderful world of books you're in , not a space for misery guts and dirty plates :P

I'm hoping my experience was a 'one off'. At the time the music wasn't playing, and books and plates had been left by the wayside, forlorn and a little lost. Hence the (harsh) two star rating. BUT I look forward to enjoying the setting, the jazzed atmosphere and perhaps a better brew at another date. As judging by Niamheen's comments foyles can do better!

On the up side, when playing the music is great filtering through from the blues and jazz of the main store.

So at present a worthy hideaway, that just needs a little push in the right direction to make it suitably inspirational and in tune.

Ciao Bella

mazphd — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 21:45:06 +0000

Rating: 4.7

Location: 90 Lambs Conduit Street, WC1N 3LZ, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7242 4119

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

favolosofavoloso as the Italians say. This place is a great little venue in such an upcoming and 'trendy' part of town. Overspill onto the street to people watch. But best of all before you even set sights on this eaterie as you turn down Guilford Place there's a wonderful aroma in the air, spices, garlic and tomatoes. All the best of home cooked Italian.

Best of all the menu's a sweet treat of the mostly sterotypical made just like mama dishes. Pasta and Pizza feature heavily and everything is freshly prepared and with such zeal ! I saw one waiter so charming with his service that the couple who had come only for coffee stayed for a three course luncheon, complete with a bottle of wine. If only we were all so easily swayed.

Wine here could be better. But prices are so reasonable that one can overlook this.

I'm looking forward to being in this part of the city again, so i can follow my nose and catch the real italian spices in the air again. Yum

Bean Juice

mazphd — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 21:30:02 +0000

Rating: 4.0

Location: 10A St. Christophers Place, W1U 1NF, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7224 3840

Website: http://www.beanjuice.net

Tags: lively, amazing brew, quick bite

well worth the meanderTurn abruptly off of Oxford Streets busy rush rush rush (there's a slipway next to H&M) and you find yourself in the laid back and cafe cultured lanes of Marylebone.

I love this part of london, not only are there some marvellous shops, but I'm risking nearly failing to mention to one of the best places in the area: Bean Juice. The healthy side of super healthy Bean Juice is one up on the its chain counterparts; here staff are super friendly - and very happy to enter into a banter of 'so how do you feel', and 'how can we make you feel better'. Slightly worse for wear due to a lack of sleep and dancing on the tiles all night, my last visit was met with a bleary eyed and thick voiced response (or rather grunt) that resulted in a concoction green in colour (suspicious) but assured that 'down in one' would perk me up. Gosh they weren't wrong. Green Giants aside, I don't know what the Bean team put in that little super juice (green by all accounts) but WOW perked up and raring to go after this super juice. Also on offer are some rather lovely cakes, muffins and dried (super) fruit treats.

After my next fatiguing outing i'll be sure to head back to Bean Juice. also rather lovely is to sit outside of an afternoon and people watch those rushing by... Those are the ones missing out on the high juice content inside :-)

The Living Room

mazphd — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 16:25:37 +0000

Rating: 1.5

Location: 1 Bridge Street, YO1 6WD, York, United Kingdom

Phone: 0870 220 3001

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

Tags: lively, business, pretentious, brasserie, expensive

overpriced cocktail caperI'm reviewing my previous review. Scenario in short: ordered a Hush Hush, came with mouldy cucumber sat in the bottom of my martini glass. How difficult is it to slice off the less than pert cumber at the end? Here apparently it's too much effort. A Bit like the attitude of the staff; too much effort to take the order, let alone make the drinks.

Overpriced. Over the water. Enough said.

Mirchiz

mazphd — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 16:18:43 +0000

Rating: 5.0

Location: 108 Fishergate, YO10 4BB, York, United Kingdom

Phone: 01904 637553

Tags: lively, good value, indian

Excellent eatery and take away. Take me there.Mirchiz, used to be Cafe Masala. Now it is updated with a new menu and restaurant interia. thankfully this little Indian gem has kept the super friendly staff, very reasonable prices but with a new menu overhaul that verges on the damn right decadent.

A friend of a friend an Indian Restaurant food critic from London town came to stay, and his reaction was that Mirchiz is as good (and a hell of a lot more reasonable) than some of the top Indian restaurants in the city. Praise indeed.

Last night (a Saturday) as a party of three we ordered curry at prime rush hour oclock. within the hour, a nippy 57 mintues delivered to my door was a sumptuous feast that had bellies full and very satisfied. The highlights from the new menu are the Coley Massala; a marinated pan fried coley fish with massala sauce, Bhindi prawn with okra and Mirchiz king prawn special; cooked tikka style and with a 'special' sauce. Well the sauce was divine, so much so that this was the dipping dish of choice for our bhajis and popadoms.

I love Cafe Masala. But I am so pleased it has had an update and is now even better. I'm going back soon, not least as on 'Special' Thursday night you can eat in for only Â£7.95 per head. Cheap as chips. Thankfully without the chips.

:-)

RedWood Room

mazphd — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 06:40:13 +0000

Rating: 5.0

Location: 495 Geary Street San Francisco, 94102, San Francisco, United States of America

Phone: +1 415 775 4700

Website: http://www.clifthotel.com/clift_hotel_redwood_room

Tags: cool, young professionals, glamorous, young and fun, sexy, friendly, relaxed

contemporary, cool and chicIf you're idea of a fabulous lounge bar, is deeply set wood framed surround, low lighting, loooooooooooooong bar, great cocktail menu and the added originality of something a little quirky The Redwood Room lounge bar at the Clifte Hotel is a must do experience.

First the bar (and accompanying cocktail menu) is extensive. But what awaits you before you even get into the bar area is also well worth the visit. The entrance to the Clifte Hotel is chic (as one would expect from one of SFO's high end hotels) foregrounded by an oversized chair of astronomic proportions. Youll be dwarfed by its height and awed by its presence.

Move past the chair and into the Redwood lounge bar area. Expectedly things are red and woody , and low level lighting ensures a snug and cosy ambience just on the right side of 'sexy'. Add to this the waiting staff, all gorgeous, and bar mixers, all very buff, then you get the impression that this is THE place where the beautiful people 'hang out'. But surprisingly this does not make it over-pretentios or 'try hard'. Don't go in t-shirt and jeans, but do enjoy the lavender mojito and their version of the classic French 75.

In short this place satifies the three c's as contempory, chic and cool.

Dress up and be smart to enjoy the decedent glamour of the surrounds and quench thirst with some tantalising cocktail led treats.

Rum Fire

mazphd — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 10:50:57 +0000

Rating: 4.0

Location: 2255 Kalakaua Avenue, 96815, Waikiki Beach, United States of America

Website: http://www.rumfirewaikiki.com/

Tags: jazz, excel, cool & smart, live, young professionals, glamorous, independent pub, young and fun, trendy, friendly, relaxed, cool

Getting hotter all the timeFinding a venue in Waikiki thats beach side, not full of the usual 'touristy' trappings of ucalalie, grass skirts and performance shows is difficult.

The Sheraton has always occupied a prime location on the beach front with amazing views over toward Diamond Head. Rum Fire is the hotel's newest bar lounge and it is a feat of design awesomeness. Outside are large bbq sized goblets of fire lit after 5pm with seating area to surround. You can watch surf dudes and dudettes in action as they do the hard work for you surfing the waves whilst you bask in the heat of the afternoon sun and wait for the sunset. What a view!

cocktails are worth their wait. The mojito concoction of lavender and cucumber is a refreshing change from the usual minted creation. i wouldn't bother with their mai tai's though - the best on the island are found at the lounge bar in the hotel next door! :-)

live music changes nightly and is surprisingly good. Covers are sung from Eric clapton, sheryl crow, to natalie imbrulia and lenny kravitz. Very chilled out, very groovey. After 9pm things get 'hotter' as the red carpet comes out to mark the entrance and the usual red velvet ropes gate off the entrace to 'just anyone'. look smart and friendly and youll get in, in time for a boogie and to watch the stars twinkle over Diamound Head.

Food is surprisingly inventive and good here too. Fish is fresh (as it should be) and the Rum Fire- Mango and Lychee sorbet covered in meringue and flamed with 151 proof rum was divine (see pics).

After a hard day in the sun, Rum Fire makes it easy to sit back relaaaaaaaaaaaaaax and bask in the late rays of the day cocktail in hand.

Worth knowing is arrive before 6pm for half price cocktails and beer! :-)

FYI for ambience the video is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxUQJsf-lQY&feature=related (i can't upload this on my computer for some bizarre reason) :P

BoBo LoBo

mazphd — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 10:15:25 +0000

Rating: 1.5

Location: 5 Little Stonegate, YO1 8AX, York, United Kingdom

Phone: 01904 621900

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

Tags: brazilian

where is the lobo?Right i've been here a few times now and i really want to love this place as york could do with a 'cool' salsa bar that combines some slick moves and grooves with mojitos.

sadly the lobo is lacking. on a saturday night there were 1. no mojitos, and 2. no DJ so no salsa.

Sunday nights and tuesdays do come with some sounds to swing your hips too, but if there aren't any mint muddled concoctions to help the rhythum flow, the rhythum is definately not 'going to get you'.

*sigh* sort it out Bobo this could be such a great venue!

Let's not even mention the 'food'. Basically 'pub grub' less than inspiring potatoe wedges, salsa dips (at theres room for salsa somewhere) and more other fried things. YAWN.

Blowfish Sushi

mazphd — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 14:57:46 +0000

Rating: 5.0

Location: 2170 Bryant Street, 94110, San Francisco, United States of America

Website: http://www.blowfishsushi.com/

Tags: lively, good value, crowded, japanese

Sushi that's worth the carbon deficit First I must confess i'm a sushi snob. I've been spoilt by some amazing sushi dishes in Australia and spent time in Tokyo and you don't more authentic than that!

So when i commend Blowfish, this place really is incredible for sushi lovers. A taxi ride away from the main San Francisco Union Square drag Blowfish offers a cool (but not too cool) contemporary chic setting where the lightings low, the sushi kitchen on show in the centre of the restaurant, and the colour theme is red.

Booth style, or at the sushi counter seating means you always have a view of skilled chefs at work. Plus it is always a bonus to be able to imagine that your own skills with a sushi knife (if only you had the time) match those hard at work.

We were a group of three dining on a Sunday night and things were busy (I would strongly recommend that you book). Between the three of us we opted for the spider rolls (thats king crab with a tempura batter in maki rolls) Aji nigiri (spicy mackeral), frying shrimp (tempura style), the 'usual' edamame beans (oh but of course!). And truly a feast we had too! Spoilt by the style of the food: beautifully presented and colourful it seemed a shame to tuck in and ruin such creations. Thank goodness we did! The best sushi i've had outside of Asia - And that's is high acclaim.

I'm going back here next time i'm in SFO. My recommendation the spider crab maki rolls. To die for. Heaven in a sushi roll! Yum.

Hotel Renew

mazphd — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 14:26:07 +0000

Rating: 5.0

Location: 129 Paoakalani Avenue, 96815, Honolulu, United States of America

Phone: 808-687-7700

Website: http://www.hotelrenew.com/

Tags: rare finds, exclusive boutique, helpful staff

More exclusive and beats any other waikiki 5*Back and forth across the Pacific, you might decide to drop into Hawaii. If you do, you will have a splendid (and fun stay) at the very new Hotel Renew. This used to be the Aqua hotel (and i've stayed both before and after their 'make over') now upgraded to boutique status and renamed the Renew Hotel has location (less than 1 block from waikiki's beach and proximity to some fabulous sushi at the Hotel Marriet opposite!) as well as some great perks.

The rooms are HUGE (well this is America, things tend to be of a larger scale here), but worth a mention is the GIANT flat screen projector we had in our room that give free wireless access (throughout the hotel) as well as doubling up as your own tv, nay movie screen. Now Oprah is even bigger for you viewing pleasure.

But perks aside, what really sets this place apart is the service. Good service is something that is lacking and rather abhorrent in the the UK, in the States good service is expected. And at Hotel Renew its GREAT service. Staff are super friendly, happy (infectiously so) and always on stand by for essential advice hints and tips of where to go, what to do, and for our trip where the best Mai Tai's on the island are (FYI @ the Halekulani hotel for the record).

It was fathers day when myself and quite aptly my father stayed here, in the States fathers day it turns out is a BIG deal: And so down an appropriate gift and gesture of daughtily-ness Leonor Wong the manager at Renew ensured that there was champagne on ice waiting in our room - a treat for both father and daughter to enjoy! Such thoughtfulness and going out of their way actions set the staff and this hotel apart. You could stay at the Surfrider Moana one of the best known and 'grandest' hotels on Waikiki's beach front. But you would be paying over the odds, without decent Mai Tai's on hand, and no flat screen projector. :P

Seriously though for value for money on O'ahu and service with more than a smile, but wonderful local knowledge you cannot go wrong with Hotel Renew. So much so i've already booked to return later this year...

:-)