• Added: 23rd of June 2007
• Area: Kings Cross
• Category: Restaurants

London N1 9NR
020 7841 7331

Formaggio_Amore said
A Spaniard in Kings Cross : not the full, conquering Armada -yet.
I was out on a Friday evening in Kings Cross with a number of TrustedPlaces members to sample some tapas and refreshments at Camino, a new venue with a hint of Iberic flavour to it.

Camino has got a bar and a separate restaurant, tucked away in a short alleyway that leads to a double courtyard, which represent the outside of the venue. In my view, the location aspect of Camino is a positive one as it is hidden from the noisy and polluted area that Kings Cross is; you have to be a local or someone who's been there before to know it exists.

The general layout is spacious, with plenty of wood and brick work, giving it a nice and trendy feel, which, in addition to the courtyard that it has, makes it a welcome venue for al fresco drinking in this hidden and quite yard off Kings Cross.

We ordered a selection of tapas, which turned out to be tasty and not too oily -unlike many tapas venues in London. I particularly enjoyed the cheese pastry, the seafood and the stuffed pepper tapas, although the dishes were not exceptional in terms of flavour. Drink wise, I had a couple of Caipirinhas, which were alright -then again, I cannot pretend to be an expert in the field; I'd leave that to my fellow Brazilian reviewer, Buraco.

I agree with some reviewers, though, that Camino could definitely do with a bit of spicing up in terms of music and atmosphere, which I presume, it being owned by the Cargo people, will happen in future.

We actually met the owner in the evening, which was interesting as he explained that he is keen to use fresh ingredients for the food, notably the seafood, which, apparently, they source exclusively from Cornwall or there about, freshly delivered on a daily basis. That was certainly noticeable in the seafood tapas that I tasted.

All in all, this venue is only a few weeks old and has the potential to improve in terms of the atmosphere/music (in the bar) and strengthening the flavours of the tapas it serves. Having said that, I haven't tried the restaurant but I would recommend Camino as a place for al fresco drinking in the summer, in Kings Cross.

• Added: 8th of March 2007
• Area: Mansion House
• Category: Restaurants

London EC4N 4SF
020 7248 3062

Formaggio_Amore said
Very good and pleasant City fish eaterie
Open since 1889 (with much of the simple interior decor unchanged -I am told), Sweetings has the reputation of being a great, unpretentious City institution when it comes to serving simple but excellent fish.

I work just around the corner and although it is only open at lunchtime from Monday to Friday, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and doesn't take any reservations, it looks always packed whenever I pass by.

When I went there yesterday with a colleague, the guy who was sitting to my left and who advised me of what fish to try was a businessman who has been coming to Sweetings for 27 years!

The fish, of which they have a good variety, is always cooked just right. The supplier of the restaurant is actually one of the three owners. So, no compromise on the quality.

I had a delicious vegetable soup and then a plaice fillet, simply served with a perfect dressing and some chips. I also had a classic English pudding: crumble with ice cream, which, as the fish they serve, is of a high standard and delicious! They also have a good wine list: we tried a glass of Chablis: perfect with the plaice!

The service is good and quick and the staff is very friendly, as is one of the owners/managers, which we chatted with on our way out. The waiters' attention is good, in spite of the busy (and paradoxically relaxed!) atmosphere of the place. The restaurant has large windows overlooking a courtyard, which, on a sunny day, makes the experience very enjoyable.

At Sweetings, they don't even serve coffee, to ensure that customers do not overstay at the end of their meal and, thereby, allowing who's ever waiting a chance to have lunch, as there will always be someone waiting to take your.....ahum!...plaice -sorry, couldn't resist the (fishy) pun!...waw!...double pun, in fact! ;O)

The soup (3.50), the plaice fillet (13.50) with chips (2.50), the dessert (5.00) and the glass of Chablis (6.50) total 31!...in the City!

For a quick and satisfying (fish) lunch in the heart of the City, Sweetings cannot be beaten!

• Added: 8th of March 2007
• Area: Soho
• Category: Restaurants

London W1F 9TX
020 7734 7316

Formaggio_Amore said
Little Sushi, Big Taste!
This little gem of a Sushi place is barely noticeable, tucked away on the west side of Soho (off Piccadilly Circus/Regent's Street).

The interior is small, with basic decoration, but feels cosy, though. You sit on small stalls around a small, bar-like table on which is the Sushi conveyor-belt.

They have a good variety of dishes/fish but don't expect much by way of dessert, apart from a sliced, juicy pineapple that's what was on offer on the night, anyway. Drinks wise, they have an informal, self-service green-tea dispenser, which is soothing and certainly good for digestion.

There were two of us and we ate about 7 (small) plates each, which cost us about 18 per head, all-inclusive.

Kulu Kulu Sushi is largely a self-service experience, which means that you can fill your bonnet as soon as you hit the stall, litterally! During busy periods, the expected staying time is 45 minutes, though, but if you are looking for a good, quick/blitz, in-between-shopping or pre-theatre fish consumption off Piccadilly Circus/Regent's Street, that is the place to go to: it is small, quick, good and unpretentious; I like it! Cheque, please!

• Added: 18th of February 2007
• Area: Swiss Cottage
• Category: Restaurants

London NW3 6HY
020 7722 8470

Formaggio_Amore said
Small Thai in North London
I was in the same group who's been -on a Saturday- to this Thai restaurant as Walid and I would say that, at first glance, the Thai Pepper does indeed look small from the outside. The venue's main dinning room however is downstairs, where plants, wooden frames, comfortable sofas and nicely decorated tables create a cosy, Thai-like decor.

The restaurant seemed to be nearly full, which normally is a good sign, I thought. We booked a table for 5 people and needed a quick, pre-cinema dinner. So, we all ordered only a main course (no starter or dessert). Like 2 of the guys, I went for an all-time favourite in the shape of Green Thai Chicken Curry. To put things into perspective, I have to say that I was starving and ate it like a Grizzly bear coming out of a long bout of hibernation. In other words, the dish was reasonably good. Having said that, it did not tickle the curiosity of my taste buds.

The staff was friendly but, like Walid said, our coconut rice was forgotten for a little while (a handful of minutes, I would say), whilst the other two people had already their dish.

So, overall, not bad if you like Thai and you are very hungry but nothing special. I wonder if my opinion would have changed (one way or the other) had we sampled a starter and a dessert?

Advantage: just opposite Swiss Cottage tube station.

• Added: 29th of October 2006
• Area: Bayswater
• Category: Bars and Pubs

London W2 5RT

Formaggio_Amore said
Small, local bar with an artistic side
Last Saturday, I went to Salon with a couple of friends, following reading about the venue on Trusted Places. We wanted to have a different evening from the usual restaurant + club/bar itinerary and therefore decided to go to this place, which seemed to have an artistic element to it. So, we went there to attend the cabaret show on the night, performed by a troop called Journey, as well as have a drink or two.

The venue has two levels and my immediate impression upon arrival was that it looked like a small "art-bar", with some colourful paintings/art-work of an Italian artist, temporarily exhibited on the walls. The bar was in the back of the venue.

We were late for the performance, which was due to start at 21.30h, but the manager, knowing that in advance (we were on a guest list), kindly waited for about 20 minutes or so before kick starting the show, which I thought was a nice touch. There was about 20 to 25 people attending the performance.

The show was in a small basement with a low ceiling. It consisted of 3/4 actors with a couple of people managing the sound and projection of images of some surreal paintings on a wall.

The performance consisted of a series of short 5/10 minutes acts, which, from what I gathered, were interpretations of some paintings of the famous surreal Belgian artist/painter, Rene Magritte, which were projected on the wall behind the actors during the breaks of the performance. The show was advertised as taking the audience "through the picture frame into the magic world of Rene Magritte, where real and ordinary objects become surreal in the hands of professional dancers, actors and performers".

The interpretations were, for the best part, quite imaginative and interesting and, given the limited space they had in the basement as well as the limited nature of their production (a table, a few chairs and a number of simple accessories), I thought was well executed. Some of us had a quick chat with some of the performers, after the show, who came across as quite pleasant, cultured and interesting.

The only negative point about the show was the view, which, because of the lay out of the seats and the obstruction of an unfortunate pillar from one angle and the staircase from another, limited the viewing of either the performance itself or the projections on the wall.

After the show, we went upstairs for a quick drink at the bar. I had a Pina Colada and a friend had another alcoholic cocktail. I am not sure how much alcohol was in the drink but it was served in a big glass and I certainly tasted the coconut. We paid about 17 for the two (alcoholic) drinks, which, ultimately, made the coconut taste a little bit less sweet than it was meant to be!

There was supposed to be a party after the show with old-school funk and funky house music but I couldn't see myself dancing in such a small venue, whether it was in the very small basement or the slightly less-small ground level and, therefore, did not stay for the party I need my space to boogie!

All in all, Salon could become a good, LITTLE, LOCAL, art-bar venue with original performances, if they manage to have regular, SMALL, interesting acts, but the place cannot accommodate a large number of people, especially for dancing -just too small. They could also do with reducing their prices for the cocktails.

• Added: 15th of August 2006
• Area: Leicester Square
• Category: Restaurants

London WC2H 9DD
020 7240 3757

Formaggio_Amore said
French bistro with a certain "je ne sais quoi"
A big French flag, perched proudly at the front, greets you when you arrive at this little pleasure of a restaurant. Funnily, it is facing another outlet with an equally massive, British flag on the other side of the street -things never change, do they?! This street should be renamed "Channel Street"!

Anyway, this venue has been serving simple, authentic French cooking -as opposed to exuberant "tour-de-force"-type French cuisine- for more than 50 years, apparently. The place is charming, cosy, not to say old-fashioned, with an interior resembling a French bistro.

Dishes are old French classics: for example, I had an onion soup with croutons and melted gruyere which was delicious -and I am not even a big fan of soups, although I adore cheese! (where I come from, they call me "The Che"). ;OP...sorry...couldn't resist the fat pun!

Having to rush before going to the theatre, I skipped having any piece de resistance and finished with a sinful chocolate mousse: sheer delight.

Otherwise, the staff is young, "lovely", friendly, attentive and mostly French -if you love the accent, then it will be an extra piece of entertainment for you!

In a nutshell, if you like French food, cooked simply but expertly, then ZIS IZ ZE place TOU BEE, in Covent Garden. They do have pre-theatre menus at 12.50/14.50 for two/three courses, including a glass of wine. Unbeatable, you say? Mais oui!....is it a coincidence then that this place is situated on "MON-MOUTH" Street?! I wonder.

• Added: 9th of August 2006
• Area: Southwark
• Category: Restaurants

London SE1 8LF
020 7928 3237

Formaggio_Amore said
Good tapas bar/restaurant near the South Bank
This is a little gem of a tapas bar, with the usual popular, mouth-watering tapas dishes. A good selection of Spanish wines is also available. Service is fast and friendly. The venue is small and colourful and, occasionally, you may have the benefit of a flamenco guitarist playing from near the sealing! An ideal good-value-for-money filler, if you are out and about near the South Bank.

• Added: 7th of August 2006
• Area: Covent Garden
• Category: Restaurants

London WC2E 8JD
020 7379 9696

Formaggio_Amore said
Romantic Italian restaurant in Covent Garden
If you want delicious Italian/Modern European/Mediterranean food served with style and attention, with the choice of an impressive selection of 2,000 wines, all amidst a cosy and romantic atmosphere, then look no further that Maggiores. The waiters and sommeliers attention and advice is very good, too. You wont expect to pay small change for such a dining experience of course but I can assure you that he/she may want to kiss you afterwards more than just on the cheek! This is an ideal, refined pre/post theatre culinary nest. Booking ahead is advised, even for dining during the week; it's that good!

• Added: 7th of August 2006
• Area: Aldwych
• Category: Bars and Pubs

London WC2B 4RH
020 7300 1000

Formaggio_Amore said
Expensive but Swanky Bar in "Theatre Land"
This very grand, airy and elegant hotel lobby-bar has got dimensions of monumental proportions, more akin to a museum than a bar. Being there, sitting in one of the comfortable chairs or sofas, and looking around is a pure visual joy. Aside from the very high ceiling and giant glass windows, it is decorated with a lot of taste and elegance. A giant bronze statue of a rower & towering and an imposing flower arrangement take centre-stage. The floor is made of marble -but I would not recommend you attempt a Michael Jackson Moon Walker impersonation for fun as, in such surroundings, it would be a real faux pas, literally.

Drinks and snacks are "upmarket", including the price: cocktails there are around 10 each. Staff are very well-dressed, efficient and friendly.

On hot days, this lobby-bar is a heavenly refuge compared to the rest of the bars in the area, as air-conditioning here is perfect. The place is a very civilised, swanky, albeit pricey pre-theatre indulgence. I would have given it the 5-star treatment, if it wasn't for the price. However, if you don't mind spending it "a deux" or, if you want to impress, then come here before your show, you wont regret it.

• Added: 3rd of August 2006
• Area: West Kensington
• Category: Restaurants

London W14 9EX
020 7610 1050

Formaggio_Amore said
Kebab Heaven in West Ken
This is another unpretentious and heavenly kebab sanctuary. It was my local, refined kebab counter/restaurant when I was a student living in the area, many years ago. The kebabs are fresh and delicious and served, not in the usual pitta bread but in thin "roll-bread" with yummy sauces. An equal-match alternative to "Bosphorus" in South Kensington. Another Turkish mini-delight!