Latest reviews by qwghlm's friends

The Chepstow - review by flashboy

Tue, 26 Feb 2008 03:12:23 +0000

The Chepstow - review by flashboy

Rating: 4.0

Location: 39 Chepstow Place, W2 4TS, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7229 0323

Website: http://www.massivepub.com/venue.asp?venueid=31

Tags: posh, gastro pub, cool & smart, friendly, relaxed

Nestled in between the noisepots of Notting Hill and Queensway, in the posh residential bits off the main roads, The Chepstow is an oasis of nice in a desert of not-so-nice. Quiet, relaxed and classy, with friendly service and a neighbourly atmosphere, it's a little gem that's great for a post-work chat or a Sunday hangover recuperation (the latter I can vouch for from painful personal experience). Tasty food, nice dÃ©cor, music that doesn't drown out your conversation and staff who know their drink-making - it's what you want, frankly.

But, you know, don't tell too many people about it. Because then they'll all go there, which would spoil the point.

Bengal Village - review by flashboy

Sun, 18 Nov 2007 00:40:22 +0000

Bengal Village - review by flashboy

Rating: 4.0

Location: 75 Brick la, E1 6QL, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7366 4868

Website: http://www.bengalvillage.com

Tags: bangladeshi curry

A cut above the standard Brick Lane curry fare, largely due to a varied menu filled with a good range of interesting (and incredibly tempting) dishes that go well beyond the usual suspects. Manages the unusual distinction of pleasantly surprising you right from the arrival of the chutneys - they're different from the ones you get everywhere else! (Look, in the identikit world of Brick Lane curryhouses, this is fairly exciting news. What I can best describe as "the red one" and "the brown one" are especially nice.)

No, it's not in a completely different culinary league to its nearby competitors (and the prices are just as reasonable), but the flavours are little more subtle and the dishes a welcome break from the norm. At the very least, it'll take you considerably longer to pick something out from the menu than it normally would...

Glasshouse Stores - review by flashboy

Sat, 03 Nov 2007 16:35:50 +0000

Glasshouse Stores - review by flashboy

Rating: 4.0

Location: 55 Brewer Street, W1F 9UJ, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7287 5278

Tags: cheap, Sam Smiths, traditional pub

One of no fewer than three Sam Smiths pubs along Brewer Street (along with The White Horse and The Duke of Argyll), and probably the pick of the bunch. Seen from the front, with small windows and a tight entrance, it looks like it's tiny, which might put off passing visitors - but it opens up, Tardis-like, once you get past the bottlenecked bar. Several more rooms, nooks and crannies, a downstairs that's nearly as big again (which serves food, at least most of the time) and a courtyard out at the back mean that you stand a good chance of a seat on even the busiest Friday night.

The rest will be familiar to lovers of the Sam Smiths formula. Lovely cheap drinks, cheerful bar staff, proper old pub decor in a pleasing range of brown tones, and a warm atmosphere. If you're one of those strange people who don't like Sam Smiths, then there's nothing here to change your mind. But then, if you don't like Sam Smiths, your mind is a baffling and quite possibly broken organ which utterly defies rational explanation.

Oh, and there's a wonky bar billiards table. Hurrah.

Tandoori Raj - review by flashboy

Sat, 03 Nov 2007 15:56:17 +0000

Tandoori Raj - review by flashboy

Rating: 3.0

Location: 65 Red Lion St, WC1R 4NA, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7405 8072

Tags: indian, good value

A good bet if you get a curry craving and you're in Holborn - the food is good quality, and there's a nice combination of Indian restaurant staples and a few more interesting speciality dishes to cater for various tastes.

We were able to get a table easily on an impromptu Friday evening drop-in, and the service was prompt and efficient. Nothing about Tandoori Raj would make it stand out especially in an area more crowded with curry options - it'd be one of the better venues on Brick Lane, but probably not the best - but its convenient location just off High Holborn makes it well worth remembering.

Silka Restaurant - review by flashboy

Sat, 03 Nov 2007 15:20:42 +0000

Silka Restaurant - review by flashboy

Rating: 4.0

Location: 8 Southwark St, SE1 1TL, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 0207 3786161

Website: www.silka.co.uk

Tags: indian, ayurvedic, good value

Lovely Indian restaurant hiding underground near London Bridge. Elegant design and a smart clientÃ¨le (with inevitable elements of City boy) show what sort of market Silka's aiming at. The varied and interesting menu - combining traditional Indian cuisine with Western elements and ingredients - is enough to get your mouth watering before you've even seen a poppadom.

A lot of the cooking is based on Ayurvedic health principles, which is probably a big draw if you're into that sort of thing, but for most customers the appeal will simply be that the food's gorgeous. If you're after one of the Indian curryhouse usual suspects, there's several of them on offer, but frankly, there's more fun to be had exploring the rest of the menu. Baby squid and crab cake starters were deliciously spicy, while mains included lamb so succulent that it would have fallen off the bone, if it had still been attached to any bones worth falling off.

Friendly, if slightly quirky, service (one waiter could best be described as "giggly") and a bill that worked out at under Â£30 a head for two courses and wine make Silka a great choice, either for a planned meal or an impromptu drop-in.

Guanabara - review by flashboy

Fri, 27 Jul 2007 23:59:30 +0000

Guanabara - review by flashboy

Rating: 3.8

Location: Parker Street, WC2B 5PW, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7242 8600

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

A nice funky place, especially if you get there earlier in the evening when it's less crowded and more relaxed. The happy hour cocktails are good value - they're tasty, although cocktail buffs might not appreciate the quality of the mixing, which is pretty crude. Downside is that it gets rammed very quickly, and that it's yet another place where they turn up the music far too early in the evening, cutting short any conversation you were having. But still, in the early evening it's a nice place for the post-work wind-down; later on, a very decent Latin American club.

Wolfe's Bar & Grill - review by flashboy

Fri, 27 Jul 2007 23:19:41 +0000

Wolfe's Bar & Grill - review by flashboy

Rating: 2.3

Location: 30 Great Queen Street, WC2B 5BB, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7831 4422

Website: http://www.wolfes-grill.net/

Tags: american, empty, bad food, bad service, bad

Eating at Wolfe's, you feel a sudden surge of empathy for John Simm's character in 'Life On Mars'. Like Sam Tyler, you appear to be stuck in a strange and confusing world, ripped from vague, unpleasant memories of the tackier side of the seventies.

The decor is stunning, in the sense that it leaves you feeling slightly dizzy and nauseous; mirrors on every available surface (including the ceiling), gold plating and faux marble where they couldn't fit any mirrors. This is all tastefully set off with a display of rude seaside postcards in the gents toilet. You can imagine Gene Hunt proudly taking someone here, on the grounds that it's "classy " and "a bit posh".

But, what's wrong with a little chintzy decor if the food and service are high quality? Well, my cheeseburger was a fascinating combination of three entirely different rubbery textures; a sort of foam rubber for the bread, an almost flubber-like consistency in the cheese, and a proper, tractor-tyre vulcanized rubber in the burger itself. One of my companions, meanwhile revelled in chicken that was so undercooked, the outside was still pink, never mind the inside.

Apart from that, though, there were few complaints. Oh, except for the bit where the waitress threw gravy in my friend's lap. That was well worth the compulsory service charge.

To sum up: No. Don't.

Soho Thai - review by flashboy

Sun, 27 May 2007 01:55:34 +0000

Soho Thai - review by flashboy

Rating: 3.0

Location: 27-28 St Annes Court, W1F 0BN, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7287 2000

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

Tags: Thai, quick service, good value

Really rather decent little Thai restaurant (part of a chain, I'm told, although it didn't feel terribly chain-y), and good value for the heart of Soho.

Eating at peak time on a Saturday, we got a table immediately (although larger groups should book, as it was fairly busy). Service was always prompt, unfussy and friendly.

The food was to a good standard - not stunning, but was very solid. The starter dumplings were lovely, although a touch clingy in texture. The Thai green curry was very good, definitely on the spicier side - perhaps losing a little of the subtlety you get in the best green curries, but it was certainly tasty. My friend, however, complained that the stir fry beef was rather bland, which is a shame.

So, not a world beater, but for generally good Thai food in Central London, at nice prices (under £20 each for two courses and drinks) with quick and efficient service, you could do a lot worse.

The George Tavern - review by flashboy

Fri, 18 May 2007 21:40:53 +0000

The George Tavern - review by flashboy

Rating: 3.0

Location: 373 Commercial Road, E1 0LA, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7790 1763

Tags: live music, arty, free wifi, independent pub, trendy

Oh, the George. It's a mecca for various East London trendy sorts, which is both its greatest blessing and its greatest curse.

As to the place itself, what you get is a (yet another) high-ceilinged, threadbare, artfully run-down space, with what decor there is being an eccentric, boho mish-mash between original features and... well, other stuff. On the drinks front, there's nothing terribly exciting about the beer selection, but nothing terribly terrible either.

But its the George's association with a wide range of musicians and artsy types that draws the crowds - and there's a varied assortment of live and DJ gigs, as well as other events. This means that it's often filled with a lot of really interesting, fun and friendly people. Of course, it also means its sometimes full of prize pillocks.

Of course, even most of the pillocks are harmless (but sadly, not all). Matriarch Pauline normally does a fine job of ensuring an open and jolly atmosphere - you can have a truly great night here. But whether the George is the place for you really depends on your tolerance for a certain level of pretension, the mood you're in and the company you have with you.

The Grapes - review by flashboy

Thu, 17 May 2007 19:51:50 +0000

The Grapes - review by flashboy

Rating: 4.0

Location: 76 Narrow Street, E14 8BP, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7987 4396

Tags: restaurant, dog-friendly, riverside, seafood, traditional pub

Lovely riverside pub, with a really friendly atmosphere from both the regulars and the staff. The deck overlooking the river's especially nice, but the whole place has a warm charm to it. Perfect place to plant yourself with a friend or two, be it a cold winter evening or a long summer day.

I'm also reliably informed that they do the best pint of prawns in London, although I'm not able to personally verify this...

As it's not the biggest place, it can get fairly crowded - especially the bottleneck by the bar between the front and back rooms - but sharp eyes can normally guarantee you a table at most times.

Also, it's very dog friendly - there's almost always at least one dog in there - which is probably good if you like dogs.

The Ten Bells - review by flashboy

Thu, 17 May 2007 19:28:08 +0000

The Ten Bells - review by flashboy

Rating: 3.4

Location: 84 Commercial Street, E1 6LY, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7366 1721

Tags: trendy, run-down, independent pub

Quite how the Ten Bells manages to be such a nice place is slightly mysterious - because it's got all the markers of a typical Shoreditch muppet-hole. The shabby interior, the crap flea market sofas with throngs of elegantly tatty hipsters dangling off them, the trendy music, and ironic t-shirts as far as the eye can see.

But actually, it's got a really nice atmosphere. Not too posey, relaxed and generally quiet (it noises up on weekend nights, though) with a beer selection that probably won't charm an ale enthusiast, but that's got enough pleasing variation from the bog-standard to cheer you up on a hot day.

Also going for it is the fact that it's just over the road from Spitalfields (it's also a stopping-off point for Jack The Ripper tours, by the way). And the bar staff are quite nice to look at.

No, it's not the greatest place in the world, and yes, it would be nice if they got new chairs and fixed up the stairs to the toilets. But actually, for a pleasant little boozer to meet friends in (ironic t-shirts or not) it's one of the nicer places in the area.

Andrea's - review by flashboy

Mon, 23 Apr 2007 19:36:21 +0000

Andrea's - review by flashboy

Rating: 2.7

Location: 22 Charlotte Street, W1T 2NB, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7580 8971

Website: http://www.andreas-restaurant.co.uk

Nice little Greek restaurant located on the always lovely Charlotte Street. The food is to a high standard - you're unlikely to leave anything less than stuffed to the gills and thoroughly satiated - and the prices are good value for a mid-range Central London restaurant. Nice simple decor and unobtrusive music help as well.

The one downside was that the service was a little, well, pushy. We were there in a large group, all arriving separately - always a tricky logistical situation, which isn't made any better by being hassled over whether they can take tables away from you. Still, the service was mostly friendly after that, and the atmosphere was generally pleasant and relaxing.

Backstage - review by flashboy

Fri, 06 Apr 2007 16:17:02 +0000

Backstage - review by flashboy

Rating: 1.0

Location: 412 Brixton Road, SW9 7AW, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7733 3111

Tags: meeting point, unpleasant, loud

Staggeringly dreadful scuzzhole, the only attraction of which seems to be that it's right next to Brixton Academy, so they get lots of trade from poor saps meeting up before a gig. Weirdly distorted music so loud you can barely make yourself heard even if you scream in your friends' ears. It looks horrible, there's hardly any seats, and an ugly, aggressive atmosphere oozes out of the place. Nothing redeems it. Avoid. Avoid. Avoid.

Archangel - review by flashboy

Fri, 06 Apr 2007 14:00:39 +0000

Archangel - review by flashboy

Rating: 3.0

Location: 11-13 Kensington High Street, W8 5NP, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7938 4137

Website: http://www.archangelw8.com

What used to be Bar Cuba is now Archangel, and is trying to be a high-class cocktail lounge/restaurant. The redesign is decent - they've clearly splashed a bit of cash to get it looking swanky - but doesn't really work with the space, which suits something more intimate. The end result seems pretty soulless.

The other huge downside to this place is the quality of service. In there the other day, with the place virtually empty (there were about four other people) it still took us 20 minutes to get served a round of drinks that involved making two mojitos and opening a few bottles of beer. 20 minutes. No exaggeration. When it gets busier (not that it ever seems to attract that many people) it must be nightmarish.

Plus side: the drinks are mostly decent value if you're on a 2-for-1 deal. The mojitos were at least good and fresh tasting. But really, with service that bad and little ambience to improve things, why would you bother?

Garlic & Shots - review by flashboy

Fri, 06 Apr 2007 11:50:16 +0000

Garlic & Shots - review by flashboy

Rating: 3.8

Location: 14 Frith Street, W1D 4RD, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7734 9505

Website: http://www.garlicandshots.com

Tags: friendly, garlic, swedish, different pub food, interesting, vodka

Great, fairly unique place that's got character to spare. Upstairs, a relaxed, fairly bohemian Swedish bar/restaurant, with good beer, a huge range of shots, and tasty tasty food that all contains large amounts of garlic. Downstairs, a goth metal cavern with a staggering range of vodka. Also, at the rear, what initially looks to be a back room turns out not to have a roof, and as such is more technically a garden.

With a great atmosphere, incredibly friendly staff (for the best effect, it helps to have a Swedish speaker in your group, but it's hardly essential) and a fun crowd, it stands out in an increasingly homogeneous Soho. Not for everyone, but people after somewhere a little different will warm to its charms.