Latest reviews by subterranean's friends

C. Lidgate - review by gastro1

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 13:25:29 +0000

C. Lidgate - review by gastro1

Rating: 5.0

Location: 110 Holland Park Avenue, W11 4UA, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7727 8243

Fanatastic quality meat and more.

The butchers a fairly international bunch theses days who cater for the increasingly French and Italian clientelle in Holland Park prepare and cut the finest beef , veal , pork and lamb that is available.

The pies , sausage rolls and pasty's are great and the cheese counter is pretty solid but not stellar. You can also buy oils , chutneys and good free range chicken and duck eggs.

Allen & Co - review by gastro1

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 14:14:48 +0000

Allen & Co - review by gastro1

Rating: 5.0

Location: 117 Mount Street, W1K 3LA, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7499 5831

Tags: rare finds

Along with Lidgate , Harrods Jack O'Shea and The Ginger Pig this is the best Butcher in London.

At any time they have simply the best beef , lamb and pork available mainly from the British Isles. Meats are well hung and cut to your taste.

There is also very good game in season and decent chickens. In terms of the latter I'd like to see some good French Label Rouge as well as top Bresse as they are in a different league.

Provenance is clearly stated in some cases right down to the individual farmer.

Jago Butchers - review by gastro1

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 13:04:52 +0000

Jago Butchers - review by gastro1

Rating: 1.0

Location: 9 Elystan Street, SW3 3NT, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7589 5531

This is a very poor butcher.

The quality of the Pork , Beef and Lamb is average to bad as are the sausages and bacon. Veal is standard quality dutch.

To be fair they have very good organic English chickens.

This place has not moved with the times or the potential market a butcher in this location could tap into.

Here is a tip guys sell Gloucester Old Spot or Tamworth rare breed pork and source the best beef and lamb in the UK clearly label and promote provenance.

Benchmark yourselves with Lidgate , Ginger Pig , Buthcer and Grill and Allen in Mayfair- not Asda !

Wake up and smell the coffee and make my life easier so I can buy good meat along with the best fish in London at Rex Goldsmith around the corner.

Ambassade de l’Ile - review by gastro1

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 11:46:56 +0000

Ambassade de lâ¬"Ile - review by gastro1

Rating: 4.3

Location: 119 Old Brompton Road, SW7 3RN, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7373 2027

Website: http://www.ambassadedelile.com/

Tags: french, business, expensive

This is a serious restaurant with a top kitchen brigade and polished front of house.

The service was perfect and the food outstanding.

The amuse bouche were beignets of herbs and root vegetables , raw salmon and roe on a crisp potato pancake and spoon containing quail egg in a light creamy white sauce.

The bread was homemade and perfect in terms of freshness, texture and taste.

I started with a mille feuille of Cornish crab with a sabayon sauce with a touch of wasabi.

My friend and I then had a superb Tourte (Pie) that had succulent pieces of Quail, Duck and Pigeon. The pastry was superb as was a chutney served alongside and very concentrated duck stock based sauce.

We followed with cheese which came from three separate trolleys one with soft cheeses, one with goats and the final one with hard and blue cheeses. I had Munster, St Marcelin, Crotin and Blue D'Auvergne all in excellent condition.

For desert I had a beautifully executed tart with liquid cocoa filling topped with light Valrohna cooked Chocolate Mousse? This was perfect but maybe lacked a bit of punch.

At the end we were given two miniature liquorices ice creams that cleaned our palates.

We had a glass of white (Voigner) Cote de Rhone and a superb bottle of St Joseph (2005) from Guigal to compliment the food. The wine list is mainly French and is particularly strong on Rhone - hence our choice.

I would like to try some dishes next time that do not have hints of eastern spice here and there as after all JC does not need to go there - he has all he needs around Lyon the stomach of France for inspiration.

In my humble view fusion(with the east) is rarely something that the French have done well with the possible exception or Verge , Robuchon and Vongeritchen , this is best left to Aussies !

In summary this is a great addition to the higher echelons of London restaurants that is producing food on a par with The Square , Pied a Terre ,Tom Aitken, Le Gavroche, Hibiscus and Marcus Wareing at the Berkley. I do not think it reaches the heights attained by Nico Ladenis - Chez Nico in Battersea and Victoria, Marco Pierre White at Harvey's/Hyde Park Hotel/Oak Room Picadilly or Pierre Koffman at Tante Claire not to mention Gordon Ramsey at RHR and Aubergine. However it is early days at this talented team can reach those heights if Jean Christophe spends significant time in his London outpost.

Giaconda Dining Room - review by gastro1

Sat, 06 Sep 2008 16:02:36 +0000

Giaconda Dining Room - review by gastro1

Rating: 4.0

Location: 9 Denmark Street, WC2H 8LS, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7240 3334

Tags: italian, british, good value, mediterranean, crowded, french

This is a great restaurant that serves very good food made from excellent well chosen and sourced ingredients.

The restaurant has about 32 covers and is likely to expand into some unused space at the rear.

It is clear that Paul Merrony the chef and co owner has a very specific food philosophy and has not only had a top (cooking) education that includes Le Gavroche London, La Tour d'Argent in Paris and top restaurants down under but has chosen to apply his superb technique to serving Franco/Italian bourgeois/home cooking with the addition of the odd British classic.

I plan to eat my way through the menu over the next few weeks.

But based on my first meal I was thoroughly impressed.

Artichoke vinegrette was perfectly cooked , served and presented.

The simply grilled rib eye steak served with some sliced tomatoes that actually had taste was excellent.

I also tasted a good pork chop ( probably Gloucester old spot or Tamworth) and a remarkable pigs trotter starter.

The wine list is mainly French , Italian and Spanish with for London minimal mark ups ( a bit like Andrew Edmonds)

My guest had a prune compote with creme anglaise and ice cream that was stunning whilst I had a very good Stilton from Neal's Yard

Negatives for me were the bread - Ciabatta and the chips. I expected the latter to be had cut real chips but the restaurant had either run out or always serve Brake Bros or even McCains. I appreciate the restaurant staffed by one front of house and Paul + an apprentice in the kitchen cannot do everything but if you are going to buy in bread than I would recommend something a bit more crusty form say Baker & Spice (wholesale). As for chips no excuses !

This is exceptional cooking at very good value.

Holy Cow - review by gastro1

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 15:29:49 +0000

Holy Cow - review by gastro1

Rating: 4.0

Location: 166 Battersea Pk Road, SW11 4ND, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7498 2000

Website: http://www.holycowfineindianfood.com

Tags: healthy food

Apparently Gordon and Tara Ramsey swear by The Bombay Bicycle Club Takeaway in Battersea. Oh dear it is really piss poor and actually inferior to chilled curry's from supermarkets.

I would like to recommend Holy Cow to the Ramsey's which has another branch in Blaham and unlike The Boybay Bicycle (built up by Clapham House from a one off original to mutiple take away hubs and restaurants ).

The ingredients are excellent - good quality chicke , lamb as opposed to ancient cheap mutton and superb vegetables be they aubergines , okra as well as pulses lentile and chick peas. You can request variable spicing and in effect a bespoke high class takeaway.

Hibiscus - review by gastro1

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 20:16:53 +0000

Hibiscus - review by gastro1

Rating: 4.5

Location: 29 Maddox Street, W1S 2PA, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7629 2999

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

Tags: french, british, expensive

it is always difficult to move a restaurant within a city but to bring it down from Ludlow the little gastro hub in Shropshire is very brave indeed.

All I can say after eating there last week is bravo Monsieur Bosi ! you and your wife have done a great job.

The food is superb and original from the amuse bouche to a remarkable light chocolat tart infused with liquid choc and flavoured with indonesian basil.

Claude Bosi does remarkable things with vegetables somehow concentrating the flavours through pulverisation and blending with other compatible ingredients.

My one criticism is that the portions are slightly to small if you are going for 3-4 courses a la carte including cheese.

The wine list needs a bit of beefing up in terms of choice especially red and white Burgundy and a wider range of red Bordeaux to include some cru bourgeois and lesser grand cru classes' ( of at least 8 years of age)

I don't think it will be long before the 2nd star from Ludlow is restored and with some small changes this could become along with The Square and Pied a Terre a contender for a 3rd.

My experience here reminded me of another great French Chef who thrived in London - Pierre Koffman at Tante Claire (Royal Hospital Road) - the approach and philosophy is obviously different but the technical skill and execution from the kitchen was really impressive.

Les Trois Garcons - review by gastro1

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 16:20:59 +0000

Les Trois Garcons - review by gastro1

Rating: 4.5

Location: 1 Club Row, E1 6JX, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7613 1924

Website: http://www.lestroisgarcons.com

Tags: lively, expensive, french, romantic

Top food in very uniquely decorated restaurant.

A good venue for a romantic dinner for two as well as a place to come with a group of friends.

Good ingredients well prepared.

Nobu - review by gastro1

Sat, 14 Jun 2008 23:16:16 +0000

Nobu - review by gastro1

Rating: 4.0

Location: 19 Old Park Lane, W1K 1LB, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7447 4747

Website: http://www.noburestaurants.com/

Tags: lively, japanese, expensive

Now an institution but the quality of food and service has remained constant.

I try and go 3-4 times a year and just have all my favourite dishes with either sake or a top Alsace wine.

Go at lunch and try and get a table with a view of Hyde Park.

Avoid evenings as it's full of celebs or wannabe's as well as the Essex crowd who have a few quid.

Fino Restaurant - review by gastro1

Sat, 14 Jun 2008 23:01:31 +0000

Fino Restaurant - review by gastro1

Rating: 3.7

Location: 33 Charlotte St, W1T 1RR, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7813 8010

Website: http://www.finorestaurant.com/

Tags: lively, spanish, crowded, expensive

Sam and Eddie Hart should be congratulated for Fino and Barafina.

If you want Iberian food made with high quality well sourced ingredients in a great environment then the boys deliver !

Together with Cambio de Tercio in Chelsea this is where I go for my Spanish fix !

Come on Spaniards ( Cambio de Tercio excepted) are you going to let a coupple of Brits show you how its done !

Vamos !

Barrafina - review by gastro1

Sat, 14 Jun 2008 22:54:04 +0000

Barrafina - review by gastro1

Rating: 4.5

Location: 54 Frith St, W1D 4SL, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7813 8010

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

Tags: lively, good value, spanish, crowded

Superb tapas made with excellent ingredients - just like Fino the sister restaurant.

This establishment shows the many Spanish owned establishment in the UK how it should be done i.e no tinned Russian Salad :-)

Comparable to the best tapas bars in Barcelona, Seville , Madrid and San Sebastian.

Arbutus - review by gastro1

Sat, 14 Jun 2008 22:48:25 +0000

Arbutus - review by gastro1

Rating: 4.4

Location: 63-64 Frith Street, W1D 3JW, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7734 4545

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

Tags: french, british, business, good value

I have had outstanding Bouillabaise and Cassoullet in Arbutus as well as some dodgy starters made from curios parts of animals.

On the whole though the food is excellent and good value and the philosophy seems to be to keep it affordable by using inexpensive ingredients.

One of the better restaurants in Soho.

Zafferano - review by gastro1

Sat, 14 Jun 2008 22:41:57 +0000

Zafferano - review by gastro1

Rating: 4.6

Location: 15 Lowndes Street, SW1X 9EY, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7235 5800

Website: http://www.zafferanorestaurant.com/

Tags: italian, expensive, lively

One of the best Italian Restaurants in London even after the departure of Mr Locatelli.

However just like Locanda Locatelli the starters be it risotti or pasta are miniscule.

The Woodman - review by gastro1

Sat, 14 Jun 2008 22:38:20 +0000

The Woodman - review by gastro1

Rating: 4.0

Location: 60 Battersea High Street, SW11 3HX, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7228 2968

Tags: relaxed, traditional pub, independent pub, friendly

The Wood man is in Battersea not Chelsea.

It always has outstanding real ales mainly from the West Country aas well as the odd Northern guest.

What I like about this place is it also has great real German Beers on tap and in bottles including Weiss Biers.

The food is ok but not the reason to visit this great friendly pub tHAT always rates highly with CAMRA.

Best Mangal - review by gastro1

Sat, 14 Jun 2008 22:31:51 +0000

Best Mangal - review by gastro1

Rating: 4.1

Location: 104 North End Road, W14 9EX, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7610 1050

Tags: turkish, cheap eat

Sorry this place is not very good.

If you want a "best" Mangal head for Stoke Newington where the local Turkish community keeps restaurateurs on their toes.

Very disappointing !