Latest favourites and wishlist by tane

Zuma - review by john1887

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:32:28 +0000

Zuma - review by john1887

Rating: 4.4

Location: 5 Raphael Street, SW7 1DL, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7584 1010

Website: http://www.zumarestaurant.com

Tags: french

wow, great place, great food

The Providores - review by Niamheen

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 11:07:46 +0000

The Providores - review by Niamheen

Rating: 4.3

Location: 109 Marylebone High Street, W1U 4RX, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7935 6175

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

Tags: lively, antipodean, great coffee, good value

I'd often seen a queue snaking out the door of the Providore's on Marylebone High St and was always curious, but I hate queues, I just can't do them, unless it's really worthwhile. I had heard good things, people I trust loved it, but could I do the queue? I just didn't know.

One bank holiday Sunday, an Antipodean friend and I were looking for somewhere to brunch and as luck would have it, there was no queue, save us, next in line for a table. She was a long time fan of the place, for me it was my first time. On offer is tapas style dining downstairs and fine dining upstairs. On this occasion we did the downstairs tapas.

On first impressions, it's a lovely room, high ceilings, counter seats and tables to the side. We got a table within a few minutes of waiting and ordered turkish eggs and sweetcorn and blueberry fritters with some coffees - a flat white & a latte.

So, we all know fritters, but what are the turkish eggs? Itâ¬"s a dish that hails from Changa restaurant in Istanbul (which head chef Peter Gordon is also involved in) but served also in the Providores - two poached eggs with whipped yoghurt and hot chilli butter. It sounds like it shouldnâ¬"t work, but for that reason, I knew it must, and spectacularly so, otherwise, why would it be on the menu? My first taste of that dish, was just wonderful, I can still recall. Perfectly poached eggs, sitting on a pillow of whipped yoghurt and wrapped in hot chilli butter, itâ¬"s just superb. The fritters were good, as fritters should be, but paled in significance compared to the eggs in my opinion. The coffees were great, a pleasure given how difficult it can be to get a good coffee in London.

So, I loved it, and I would even brave the queue now. Heartily recommended.

The Providores - review by sue

Sat, 14 Jun 2008 17:18:09 +0000

The Providores - review by sue

Rating: 4.3

Location: 109 Marylebone High Street, W1U 4RX, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7935 6175

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

Tags: tapas, antipodean, new zealand, average brew, international, brunch, breakfast

I don't go out for brunch often these days, but when a brunch was on the agenda I knew where I wanted to go - The Providores. This antipodean owned restaurant had been on the to-do list for a long while so we trekked into Marylebone High Street one Wednesday mid-morning, hoping we wouldn't have to wait long for a table as my pregnant companion had a need to eat frequently, at short notice.

We nabbed the last available table for 4 and were excited by the tasty sounding menu. Coffees arrived looking good - any place that serves a 'flat white' is ok by me.

We ordered the Bacon Fry-up; the Paprika roast potato, caramelised onion, feta & edamame tortilla with tomato and piquillo pepper salsa, Greek yoghurt and rocket; and the French toast stuffed with banana and pecans with grilled smoked streaky bacon and vanilla verjus syrup.

The food was good quality, and the Bacon Fry-up and the Tortilla got the thumbs up, though the boys were disappointed with their French toast which they found way too sweet.

Loved the look and feel of the place and am keen to come back one evening to sample some of their tapas accompanied by some always enjoyable New Zealand wine.

The Providores - review by mazphd

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 10:49:29 +0000

The Providores - review by mazphd

Rating: 4.3

Location: 109 Marylebone High Street, W1U 4RX, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7935 6175

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

Tags: lively, good value, crowded

Ok so i've been beaten to it by other TP reviewers, but we all share in our enthusiasm for wonder of The Providores.

Sharp and sophisticated the bar area is ideal for a late sup. Sit on high benches without table cloths, amid low level lights and revel in the quality of the 'wine of the moment': On this occasion a sauvignon blanc from New Zealand (well where better?!).

The best tapas i've been treated to in AGES, elegantly laden plates with sun dries, anti-pasta and more than pleasing cheeses! I have it on good authority from my dining companion that the chef is a connoisier of fine wine and unique flavours and this was not lost on us! I remember the aroma of the cheeses and how our tomatoes were de-seeded and seasoned to perfection.

Too full for dessert I feel i missed out as the passionfruit ripple with hokey Pokey ice cream, umeshu vanilla rhubarb and nut biscotti was a radient plate of decadence.

Will i go back?... You bet! And on an empty stomach this time!

Trinity Stores - review by GKFH

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 21:43:49 +0000

Trinity Stores - review by GKFH

Rating: 4.5

Location: 5 Balham Station Road, SW12 9SG, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 8673 3773

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

Tags: delicatessen, rare finds

Sat down for a light lunch and ordered a Ploughman's. Expected usual. Got exceptional. The cheese was freshly cut Lincolnshire Poacher. Ham was freshly sliced and full of flavour. Came with a little salad. Perfect dressing. Home made chutney was right up my alley. Bread was fresh and crusty. Simple, quality ingredients worked really well to make this the best ploughman I have had since camping as a young man.

Zuma - review by gastro1

Mon, 03 Mar 2008 20:10:15 +0000

Zuma - review by gastro1

Rating: 4.4

Location: 5 Raphael Street, SW7 1DL, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7584 1010

Website: http://www.zumarestaurant.com

Tags: lively, oriental, japanese, expensive

A beautiful restaurant for beautiful people.

The food is expensive but always well prepared and made with fine ingredients.

Not as good as Nobu but close.

Soft Shell Crab and Black Cod are always good and the wine list has a great and varied selection

Quattrocento (400) - review by fabiodebe

Sat, 15 Sep 2007 19:37:00 +0000

Quattrocento (400) - review by fabiodebe

Rating: 4.0

Location: Via Campazzino, 14, 20141, Milan, Italy

Tags: Romantic, Good value, chic, fusion

I have few things to say about this place. One above the others... it has a great atmosphere and the food is delicious.
Located out of Milan center is a great place to escape for a dinner with friends or - preferably - your partner.
Great selection of wines and very nice waiters.
All the food is great and the portions are not too small (they serve sophisticated food that in too many places means you'll get out hungry and a bit angry!).
The bill... 2 persons spend more or less 80-100 â¬ (55-70 Â£) for 2 courses each, dessert and a bottle of wine.
A place to go!

Zuma - review by JehonaGjurgjeala

Sat, 01 Sep 2007 11:51:07 +0000

Zuma - review by JehonaGjurgjeala

Rating: 4.4

Location: 5 Raphael Street, SW7 1DL, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7584 1010

Website: http://www.zumarestaurant.com

Good quality food, though its a bit busy and noisy. Not a very personal experience.

The Providores - review by bombaybeauty

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 06:39:13 +0000

The Providores - review by bombaybeauty

Rating: 4.3

Location: 109 Marylebone High Street, W1U 4RX, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7935 6175

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

Tags: posh, New World, good value, quick bite

Perhaps this place is a victim of its own success. Outstanding food. The restaurant (upstairs) is expensive. I'm told it's good but haven't tried it. The tapas, bar area is at ground level. The menu consists of a dishes ranging from small bites, to soups, salads, to small mains. The ingredients are fresh, the choice of flavors unconventional but delightful. There's something of a new world/ fusion orientation to the menu and an emphasis on New Zealand wines.

The downside to all this joy is the service and the space. Unless you reach early, it gets crowded. And they have always been unfriendly, always. Granted some of this has to do with the tight space, but even then being coldly asked to wait outdoors till a table opens up could be done with more humour, charm, or good grace. It's enough of an issue for me that I tend to avoid the place unless I there's no choice, which happens from time to time when I'm looking for a place that services really good small bites, as this place does.

Zuma - review by herrylaw

Thu, 02 Aug 2007 11:55:58 +0000

Zuma - review by herrylaw

Rating: 4.4

Location: 5 Raphael Street, SW7 1DL, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7584 1010

Website: http://www.zumarestaurant.com

Tags: lively, smart, electronica, japanese, expensive

Zuma is where we go for our extra-special-sod-the-wallet celebrations. Ayako, my wife loves it for the truly excellent modern Japanese food (generously overlooking the fact that the chef is German) while our daughter loves it for its high-class buzz and celebrity pulling-power (Russell Crowe et al). Service is exemplary; the waiters are brilliant at explaining the frankly rather complicated menu and recommending dishes - so that you end up with a smooth and seemingly endless feast that has to include: asparagus tempura, crispy fried squid with green chilli, mouthwatering wagyu beef, black cod with miso, superb sushi and sashimi (very unusual in London) and anything with wasabi mayonnaise. Everything should be shared and is, except, unfortunately, the bill. The wine list is long on spicy or smoky wines that go well with Japanese food, like the Franz Haas Traminer from Alto Adige. The sofa seating behind the bar is a good place to chose to eat and watch the parade of London's fashionable young things

Peck - review by Piperita

Thu, 05 Jul 2007 09:15:48 +0000

Peck - review by Piperita

Rating: 4.0

Location: Via Spadari, 9, 20123, Milan, Italy

Website: http://www.peck.it/

Tags: pretentious, delicatessen

It's the gastronomical temple of Milan, but has nothing to do with Fauchon in Paris or Fortnum&Mason in London. It's very expensive and cheeses and meat you find there can be found everywhere else for less Euro. They tend to be quite snob and the patisserie is absolutely over priced (and they make poor copies of Pierre Hermè patisserie). Coffee and tea selections are very good for Italy, though. Ambience is too posh and they are not very friendly.
If you have a chance to take a look to the kitchen you'll be astonished by the sparkling view of the counters and the immensity of the space!
The cellar is quite big, with a good selection of Italian and international wines, but over priced

The Providores - review by Sami

Sun, 01 Jul 2007 19:10:27 +0000

The Providores - review by Sami

Rating: 4.3

Location: 109 Marylebone High Street, W1U 4RX, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7935 6175

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

Hands down, the best brunch I've had in London. Went here yesterday around 1 and it was absolutely packed. After a ten minute wait (and we seemingly arrived at a good time because a line of about twelve people had formed behind us!) we were seated, and we started our meals with a coffee each, which were very good.

I had one of the three fry-ups they offered, but I don't know if I'm too comfortable calling it a fry up because that conjures up images of a greasy cafe, which is at complete odds with what I ate. My eggs were served any way I wanted them, on a piece of buttered sourdough toast, along with the traditional breakfast sides: lush smoked bacon and tomatoes and field mushrooms lightly fried in butter. It was absolutely delicious.

My partner had a cold sweet potato and feta tart which he enjoyed, but thoroughly regretted that he hadn't ordered the same dish as I did.

We finished our meals with a bloody mary, made with wasabi instead of the traditional horseradish (in North America, we put horseradish in our bloody marys!), which was a nice take on the original recipe.

The restaurant space is very, very tight, with a variety of banquette and bar stool seating. There is a space at the front of the restaurant for strollers - while we were there, 2 different couples came in and tucked the baby stroller under the table.

The food was fabulous; relatively simple but all really well-prepared and always with really fresh and high quality ingredients. I only wish I lived closer, because I would be here on a weekly basis.

Quattrocento (400) - review by tane

Fri, 15 Jun 2007 20:48:56 +0000

Quattrocento (400) - review by tane

Rating: 4.0

Location: Via Campazzino, 14, 20141, Milan, Italy

Tags: cool, cool & smart, sexy, garden, expensive, outdoor, indian, trendy, italian

400 in English, quattrocentro in Italian...the Italian name sounds decidedly more stylish, and as such, suits this venue.

This place is a favourite amongst many of the Milanese crowd, especially those who like to look good and be at the right place at the right time.

A lot of attention and effort has gone into the design and furnishing of this place, maybe too much for some.

The food is inventive with an Italian base and the wine selection is also very good.

The main attraction is the spacious garden, where you can lounge in the day and night.

It's further out from the centre but worth it.

Peck - review by tane

Fri, 15 Jun 2007 19:42:41 +0000

Peck - review by tane

Rating: 4.0

Location: Via Spadari, 9, 20123, Milan, Italy

Website: http://www.peck.it/

Tags: italian, fresh produce, top food, amazing brew, rare finds, cheese, delicatessen, mediterranean, wine, meat, french, food, cultured

If you love food then you'll love this place. This place is the Harrods or Fortnum & Mason of Milan for food - nothing but the finest selection of the best food. The selection is of course primarily Italian, but there is also an excellent range of international foods here, especially the international coffee that you can find upstairs - Jamaican and Indonesian in particular - Italian and French cheeses, the finest cuts of meat, fresh and cured, fresh pasta, while downstairs you'll find probably one of the best public cellars of wine in Europe.

But, of course, prices are not for the faint hearted

Connie Douglas - review by tane

Thu, 14 Jun 2007 16:55:19 +0000

Connie Douglas - review by tane

Rating: 4.0

Location: Via Bordighera, 15, 20142, Milan, Italy

Tags: american, milan, retro, cool & smart, lounge, relaxed, italian, cool

The location isn't ideal - a quiet residential zone, but the venue is. Spacious and loungy, with a stylish retro 60s interior, mixed with an interesting use of water and lighting to add to the decor and ambience. Along the back wall is a large blow up photo of Los Angeles at night, which gives it a distinctly urban feel, while the "front garden" is laid out with astro-turf with an outdoor bar.

Can't speak for the food but the drinks certainly go down well.