• Added: 3rd of December 2008
• Area: Madrid
• Category: Restaurants

Madrid 28102
+34-915-21231

Jimbo said
An Original Tapas Bar!
La Casa del Abuelo or Grandpa's place was founded in 1906. Prawns is the speciality of the house: a la plancha (grilled in their shells) or al ajillo (fried in oil and garlic). I cannot begin to describe how tasty they are.

There are no seats, of course. You walk in, order, eat and leave for another bar. All within 10 minutes or so. Exactly how a good tapas bar should be.

If you're in Madrid, this place is a must.

• Added: 3rd of December 2008
• Area: Guildford
• Category: Restaurants

Guildford GU1 4AA
01483 300133

Jimbo said
Avoid unless you're a Mojito junky!!!
The only reason I go to TGI Guildford at least once a year is their Mojito and not the deep fried/over cooked tasteless junk they serve.

• Added: 3rd of December 2008
• Area: Guildford
• Category: Restaurants

Guildford GU1 3JF
01483 535059

Jimbo said
Burgers invade Guildford!
Byron replaced <a href="http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/guildford/restaurant/1133w8h/jo-shmo-s">Jo Shmo's</a> a couple of months ago.

"Proper burgers" is the only main course on the menu accompanied by the usual side dishes such as onion rings, French fries, coleslaw, etc.

Food quality is great. In fact, I can assure you, if you like burgers, this is the place to go in Guildford (the other options are TGI and some other place I can't remember its name!!!).

Service is friendly and quick.

If you had been to Jo Shmo's before, the place still looks more or less the same, only with brighter colours.

Prices are surprisingly low: Around £30 for two (including appetisers, drinks and side dishes)


- Photographs are courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/su-lin/tags/byron/">Su-lin</a>; Shared under BY/NC/ND CC3.0 license.

• Added: 23rd of June 2008
• Area: Madrid
• Category: Restaurants

Madrid 28012
+34-915-226881

Jimbo said
Yummy on the Toast!
La Tosta is famous for it's toasts, obviously! Menu is long and incredibly tempting. Sangria is delicious and, again, incredibly tempting (Sangria pitchers are IN-YOUR-FACE as you walk into the restaurant; see the photo).

Service is super fast, unlike any other Spanish restaurant, and no matter how crowded the place is, you won't have to wait any more than 5 minutes for your order to arrive.

And prices... Good God, where do I begin! If I told you, you'd feel guilty eating out in London.

All in all, when in Madrid, do not bother with the fancy looking tourist traps. Go to La Tosta instead!

• Added: 16th of May 2008
• Area: Marylebone
• Category: Restaurants

London W1U 2QG
020 7486 0878

Jimbo said
Go Once and You'll Go Back!
There's not much to add, really. The only reason I'm keeping one of the stars for myself is their "slightly" high prices.

Like I said in my review of their Paris branch, I'd be fooling myself if I disagree with their "come once and you'll come back" tagline.

• Added: 16th of May 2008
• Area: Paris
• Category: Restaurants

Paris 75017

Jimbo said
No-Nonsense Steak and Fries!
Recommended by my good friend, Jenni, Le Relais de L'Entrecote is now one of my most favourite restaurants in Paris.

There is no fancy mumbo jumbo involved. Steak and Fries is the only main course. A simple salad with mustard dressing and crushed walnuts is the only starter. And of course, there is a long list of French desserts. House red is smooth and tasty and so is their Grand Caprice. All in all, there is absolutely nothing to dislike.

"Come once and you'll come back" is what they say to their customers. I'd be fooling myself if I disagree with that.

• Added: 24th of April 2008
• Area: Val Thorens
• Category: Restaurants

Val Thorens
+33-479-002854

Jimbo said
Meh!
My 4 paragraph review disappeared somehow and I'm not in the mood to type the whole thing again! Maybe letaer. But for now, here's the short version...

Good food.

OK service.

Expensive prices.

Fun place to do crazy jumps!

Photographs are Greg, showing off his skills/ugly yellow thingamagics! Chalet des 2 Lacs at night, taken from our hotel balcony and 2 Lacs' terrace, obviously.

/Meh!

• Added: 18th of April 2008
• Area: Val Thorens
• Category: Restaurants

Val Thorens 73 440
+33-047-9000171

Jimbo said
Tasty Jambon Fries!
3002 Meters above sea level, Chalet de Caron is one of the highest restaurants in the world's highest ski resort, Val Thorens. Always packed at lunchtime with tourists that come for a quick snack or a full meal. As for the rest of the day, the place is big enough for you to find a table.

There is a long list of French, Italian and international foods to pick from. Their Jambon Fries are to die for and are my favourite snack whenever I sit outside on the terrace! Salmon tagliatelle is also incredibly tasty. Their pizzas on the other hand, are Godawful! There is also a salad bar which I have never tried.

Service is very fast and friendly.

Unlike their snacks and desserts, main courses are slightly over priced (€12~€25). But considering that Val Thorens is one of the most expensive resorts in the Alps, there is not much to complain. And hey, it still beats a lot of central London restaurants however you look at it!

Caron tele cabin is the only way to get there from Val T. Go down towards le Carin blue run and you should reach there within a minute. Only way down back to the valley unfortunately, are black and red runs which beginners may find a bit difficult.

If you're into photography, I'd recommend taking the red Col de l'Audzin run down and then head further south towards the black Cristaux. Halfway down, stop and snap a few shots! Light is perfect all day long. The one I uploaded was taken there. But be aware that Cristaux is one of the most difficult black runs in all Three Valleys (shadowy most of the day; hence very icy early in the morning).

• Added: 14th of April 2008
• Area: Leicester Square
• Category: Restaurants

London WC2H 7AD
020 7437 2694

Jimbo said
Smile and the world smiles with you, or don't!
I'd have to agree with Walid on the unnecessary unfriendliness of the staff. To be honest, that was the only thing that I didn't like about Cafe Fiori.

The place is warm and cosy. Breakfast quality was great: Hot, fresh and tasty. But for the love of mankind, girl, smile a little. Or at least act like you don't want to chop my head off or stick a fork into my eyes!

It's not that much of a crime when you ask why crispy bacon is fifty pence cheaper than bacon, is it?

You be the judge: "scrambled eggs with bacon and toast" is £7.50. "scrambled eggs with CRISPY bacon and toast" is £6.95. When I asked why, the respond was "Wodoyoumean? One is crispy. Other one is not!" No $hit Sherlock!

And then in the end, there was the rude "+15% service" written with pen at the bottom of our bill. I've seen many restaurants doing this. But it's usually accompanied by a simple "thank you" or something. Not cool, again.

Anyway, it's a real shame as I liked the food quality and atmosphere of the place. The prices were also fair, considering that we're talking about Leicester Square here. But for me, service is just as important.

• Added: 11th of April 2008
• Area: Islington
• Category: Restaurants

London N1 0NU
020 7354 1076

Jimbo said
Every Cave Man's Dream!
After a freezing day in Trafalgar Square on the now infamous Olympic Relay day last week, and after hearing passionate stories about this place by a friend who, errm, "eats well," and after walking an extra 25 minutes (Angel station was closed!) I was on my picky mood and were expecting more than just an ordinary food and service...

Well, I'm happy to say that Rodrizio Rio did satisfy me perfectly! And that doesn't happen in just any restaurant, I can assure you.

Apart from the expensive price tag (£26 Meat and Seafood) and the fact that the seafood was NOT eat as much as you can like meat, I found nothing wrong. I will recommend this place to everyone, including vegetarians (the buffet was one of the best I have had in London).