Latest reviews by rkn

Herbal

rkn — Sun, 25 Mar 2007 14:32:37 +0000

Rating: 3.3

Location: 10-14 Kingsland Road, E2 8DA, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7613 4462

Website: http://www.herbaluk.com

Been going to Herbal for a few years. They seem to have problems with the sound system down stairs having too much treble. Take ear plugs if you want to hear the next day. Bar is pricey. Music is usually pretty good though and its a nice venue.

Mirch Masala

rkn — Sun, 25 Mar 2007 14:29:57 +0000

Rating: 4.4

Location: 111-113 Commercial Road, E1 1RD, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7377 6700

The best Indian restaurant. Very cheap and basic, but great tasting food and a nice atmosphere.

Dove Free House & Kitchen

rkn — Sun, 25 Mar 2007 14:28:16 +0000

Rating: 3.4

Location: 24-28 Broadway Market, E8 4QJ, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7275 7617

Apparently meant to be amazing for lagers, I don't like them though so have never really noticed.

The pint of chips is good and the attached restaurant serves up nice pub food with a slight Thai twist.

Coffee, Cake & Kink

rkn — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 14:57:44 +0000

Rating: 3.3

Location: 61 Endell Street, WC2H 9AJ, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7419 2996

Website: http://www.coffeecakeandkink.com

Tags: cosy, exhibitions, sex, photographic exhibition, gallery, quiet & relaxed, good brew, cake, quick bite, modern art, cultured

A livelier coffee experienceCCK is a small cafe which opened a few years ago in Covent Garden. It serves all manor of hot drinks, a small selection of cakes and a bunch of (expensive) sex-positive erotica. This includes sex-toys, novelty gifts, cards and art. They also have a downstairs section which I believe serves pizza, but I have checked it out yet. Oh and a couple of tables outside.

The staff are friendly, the atmosphere is quiet and relaxed and it is in no-way seedy. Its great that you can have a coffee and browse the arty books (which I could never afford) from their small library/bookshop sitting at one of the brightly lit tables.

They also do events, exhibitions and small shows at the store in the evenings.

A good change and a bright idea for a coffee shop.

Web: http://www.coffeecakeandkink.com
Tel: 020 7419 2996

Cafe 1001

rkn — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 13:51:42 +0000

Rating: 4.0

Location: 101 Brick Lane, E1 6SE, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7247 9679

Tags: relaxed, average brew, electronica, young and fun, quick bite, trendy, friendly, lively

Trendy Brick LaneCafe 1001 is probably one of the most established 'trendy Shoreditch' bar/cafe's on Brick Lane. Part of the Old Truman Brewery complex which used to dominate the area, its in an alleyway off the Lane itself.

Its a bit roguh around the edges and not very pretty, but the atmosphere is nice, food is tasty and all is reasonably priced. Grab a burger or veggie options from the ever-growing BBQ outside or step inside for salad boxes and sandwiches on the left or pizzas and baked potatoes etc. on the right. Bar is on the left serving up pretty standard mass-market lager and adequate coffees/hot choc/tea.

Upstairs for a more loungey/bar type atmosphere, with evening djs playing electro/breaks/dnb or back outside to sit on tables in the alleyway and watch the world go by.

Probably one of the most relaxed places to go on Brick Lane for a drink and well established.

Hilly Fields

rkn — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 13:38:18 +0000

Rating: 3.5

Location: Brockley, SE4 1LE, London, United Kingdom

Tags: space, green, sport, walking, Brockley, common, park

Fancy a walk?Is this the first park on TP? There could be a reason for that...

Hilly Fields is a small park/common in Brockley. It is, as the name suggests, pretty hilly and sits at one edge of the Brockley Conservation Area.

Its a great place for a stroll, along one of the pathways. Theres also a medium sized kids playground, a "field" where they only cut the grass twice a year, 2 tennis and basketball courts, public toilets and a modern stone circle. In the middle of the park is the imposing Prendergast Victorian School building. Weekends see amateur football teams take up the northern side of the park for matches.

From the crest of the hill you are afforded great views of Canary Wharf, the City and the Dome (even if you think they are all ugly, its still impressive). One Sunday in the month also attracts a small, expensive farmers market to the park.

Hilly Fields is great for November 5th for the views across South East London and Kent. You can literally see 100's of firework shows going off across the region on a clear night.

A little bit of history - in the late 19th century the fields were saved by local residents concerned by the deterioration of working class people's lives as London urbanised. This small piece of green space was bought up and converted by London County Council from old brick-pits to improve the standard of living for locals. It officially opened in 1896. The stone circle was built in 2000 by local artists.

I wouldn't bother travelling to Hilly Fields from afar, but if you are in the area and fancy a break from the grey concrete - take 20 minutes and have a stroll.

Witcomb Cycles

rkn — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 12:39:15 +0000

Rating: 4.5

Location: 25 Tanners Hill, SE8 4PJ, London, United Kingdom

Tags: affordable, Deptford, cycle, bicycle, bike, shop, friendly

A gem of a cycle shopThis is not your average cycle shop. You won't find rows and rows of shiny bikes in this Deptford bike shop nestled in a 17th century building.

Instead expect to find a slightly chaotic jumble of all sorts of bikes lined up waiting to be repaired or collected. The shop is run by Barrie Witcomb, whose father established the store in 1949 (and still hangs around there). Barrie is the principal frame builder at the store, where they also carry out repairs and renovations.

Don't go here expecting stacks of new parts or accessories - but if you are after cheap, very decent, friendly repairs and free advice, its definitely worth popping in.

Cycle shops can often be daunting to less experienced cycling but the attitudes of the guys working here is great and they will always give you some time to help you out.

Web: http://www.witcombcycles.com
Tel: 0208 692 1734

Freedom Press & Bookshop

rkn — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 22:56:36 +0000

Rating: 5.0

Location: Angel Alley, 84b Whitechapel High Street, E1 7QX, London, United Kingdom

Tags: cosy, publisher, anarchist, bookshop, friendly

England's oldest anarchist publishersFreedom Press and Bookshop is down an alley off Whitechapel High Street next to KFC.

Past the mural of prominent anarchist figures from the last century or so, behind the painted door then up a narrow flight of stairs lies a cosy hive. To your left is a computer resource space, on the right the bookshop housing anarchist texts, newspapers and pamphlets from the world over.

Upstairs is a small meeting room and the offices of Freedom Newspaper (the oldest anarchist newspaper in the world) founded by several influential anarchists in 1886.

This place is well worth a visit, not only for the books it houses but because its a little bit of the historical East End of London.

Its own website can be found:
http://freedom.libcom.org.uk/

Red Veg

rkn — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 18:34:42 +0000

Rating: 3.4

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

Phone: 020 7437 3109

Website: http://www.redveg.com

Tags: vegetarian, fried, fast-food, take-away, quick bite

Tasy veggie fast-foodI remember when this place first opened several years ago. It was somewhat of a novelty with its "Marxist" imagery, cheap tasty food, and never-smiling staff.

But testament to its greatness its still going, and a couple of weeks ago I even got a smile ;)

It serves up relatively cheap veggie fast food - originally only burgers and chips etc. but now has expanded to salads and pastas. Still I'd stick with the basics. They have a small eat in area, or you can take away and eat in Soho Square around the corner.

Drinks are cheaper in the Tesco Metro across the road.

Brick Lane Beigel Bake

rkn — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 18:30:16 +0000

Rating: 4.6

Location: 159 Brick Lane, E1 6SB, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7729 0826

Tags: bakery, functional, beigel, bagel

Mmm Beigel!Which bakery are people talking about? There are almost two right next to each other, I personally prefer the one nearer the top end of Brick Lane. And it is superb, to our friend from New Yorker - poppy seeds?! None of that poncy stuff here! ;)

Canela

rkn — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 17:57:03 +0000

Rating: 3.8

Location: 33 Earlham Street, WC2H 9LS, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7240 6926

Tags: cosy, portugese, amazing brew, quick bite, friendly

It's great...I used to go here sometimes when I worked nearby, their hot chocolate is yum despite only being a Cadbury's concoction - don't let that put you off!

The presentation & décor is great. I think they have a new branch opened just behind Carnaby Street which looks even better!

Beach Burrito Cafe

rkn — Sat, 11 Nov 2006 19:42:31 +0000

Rating: 4.2

Location: 4 Berwick Street, W1F 0PA, London, United Kingdom

Tags: cosy, quick eats, comfy sitting, good location, good value, mexican, cafe, quick bite, friendly staff, restaurant

Good London MexicanI have always been saddened by the lack of good, cheap, Mexican street food in London - the city where you are meant to be able to find anything.

Previously I had to satisfy my urge with a sit down meal at the excellent Cafe Sol in Clapham High Street. But today I went to the Beach Burrito Cafe in Soho and I'm glad to say it was excellent!

Cheap, friendly, massive portions (I very much over-ordered) and really, really tasty. All freshly made right in front of you, with boxes of fresh veg piled high on the counter.