• Added: 15th of July 2007
• Area: Chiswick
• Category: Bars and Pubs

London W4 2DR
020 8994 4624

Lacrimosa said
Comedy nights in Chiswick
Continuing on from Dharminder's review, I can comment on the comedy nights having been to one last night!

The George IV is a large pub with a large warehouse-type hall out back, where the Headliners Comedy Club is held several nights a week. All shows start at 9pm. Tickets are available on the door, but, if you're twitchy about turning up without a ticket, they may be booked in advance by phone. A small table may also be reserved, which is well worth having though only just large enough to accommodate four people, one rubber lobster (don't ask), four drinks, four empties, a basket of chips and a bottle of ketchup - but no more.

The chips were mine. What can I say? They were... uh... very hot and crispy. Mmm.

Service is carried out by a small army of smartly dressed and friendly girls who mostly seem to hail from Australia, with table service in the comedy club. We found the service to be very good, although rather too many chairs have been squashed into the venue, making me wonder how the people who were languishing in the sea of chairs several rows back fared for service. This is pure speculation, though.

So, what was the comedy itself like? Well, I think everyone there that night would agree that it didn't have us rolling in the aisles (impossible due to all the chairs anyhow) but it certainly raised a few smiles, and of course the line-up changes every week.

The George IV is a two minute walk away from Turnham Green tube.

• Added: 3rd of July 2007
• Area: Fitzrovia
• Category: Restaurants

London W1T 4NE
020 7436 9444

Lacrimosa said
Choose Ooze
As a risotto enthusiast I've been eager to visit Ooze, and my opportunity arrived last week. After some momentary confusion with the doors which saw me yanking at the wrong one like an idiot (tip: it's the one on the right) we were given a warm welcome by the staff. Inside the decor is clean, bright and somewhat clinical. Our waiter was good enough to bring me a sample of the house white which, at 12.95 a bottle, my friend and I deemed to be an acceptable alternative to our usual Pinot Grigio.

Onwards to the food. Following a thimbleful of olives (not free), we started with mixed Bruschetta; an eclectic mix of fennel and olive, tomato salsa, and fig and marscapone. I wasn't too sure about that last one, but the others were very tasty. For the main course I ordered a classic risotto with clams while Tom ordered the day's special risotto with peas and speck and a shaving of parmesan. Now, much has been made in previous reviews about the texture of Ooze's risotto - and rightly so - so my pennyworth is that I found the texture to be pretty good. The rice had just the right amount of bite and the consistency was moist enough to be refreshing without being too runny. I would have liked a few more clams with mine though, while Tom said that his was a little heavy on the peas.

Lastly, dessert. Avoid them. Tom's baked Alaska was 90% egg white while my apple pie sported undercooked apple and watery custard.

All in all, we had a good meal but were glad of the 50% discount on food that my Trusted Places reward card gave me. Certainly I would happily return there for the 5.95 lunchtime special that 'ecuse' mentions below, but I prefer somewhere a little cosier in the evening.

• Added: 23rd of June 2007
• Area: Earls Court
• Category: Cafes and Coffee Shops

London SW5 9JA
020 7370 1434

Lacrimosa said
A place of many parts
It was a balmy June weekday evening, and the Troubadour was very busy out back in the Mediterranean-style paved courtyard, and inside too. Happily it was not so packed that I couldn't find a table, since it's table-service only here: I was eventually informed of this by a member of staff after uselessly standing at the bar for several minutes with my purse out. It's a nice idea which, in practice, is a shambles: service was slow, paying even slower, and the practice of presenting just one bill per table a logistical nightmare for those wishing to pay separately, as we did.

But enough of my grumbling. The Troubadour is well worth a visit for the bohemian decor (check out the photos above), the sea of old string instruments hanging from the ceiling, the layers of old varnish on the woodwork, and the candle-lit tables. It would be terrific for an informal date - low-lit, intimate, and certain to bestow you with kudos for knowing somewhere so individual. I didn't eat, but noticed plates of burgers and French fries going past. We were primarily there for the live music, so eventually wandered downstairs to the basement, an area that loses its bohemian quality to make way for a typical subterranean gig-spot: all dark walls and slightly scruffy looking, with a normal bar thank goodness. Naturally you're not going to see the same line up that we did that night, but - for the record - the four acts we saw collectively get full points, a big tick, several gold stars and all the brownie points they can carry. If this is typical of the quality of entertainment at the Troubadour, I will definitely be going there again soon. There's comedy and poetry nights too.

Last but not least, the toilets deserve an honorary mention. First off, they're semi-unisex: chaps to the left, ladies to the right, with a bizarre font-like communal basin in the middle. But the hand dryers, oh! the hand dryers! You know the type that you have to wave your hands under for five minutes just to get one paltry cough of air? Well, this isn't the sort you'll find at the Troubadour. No. These hand dryers are so powerful your hands dry in seconds and your clothes and hair billow out dramatically behind you. As Major McCa, one of the entertainers on the night, said: "Is that a tsunami? No, it's just the world's strongest hand dryer."

Nearest tubes, West Brompton and Earls Court.

• Added: 28th of May 2007
• Area: Amersham
• Category: Bars and Pubs

Amersham HP7 0PX

Lacrimosa said
Hit or Miss? For me, a Miss
Let me start by saying that I had every intention of giving this pub a good review. Sadly, it's not going to get one.

The Hit Or Miss is situated in the rural village of Penn Street, roughly midway between Beaconsfield and Amersham in Buckinghamshire, reached by hedgerow-fringed lanes. The village boasts not just one but two cricket fields with a country pub next to each, both of which are currently owned by the same people. Of these, the Hit Or Miss is considered to be the most 'foodie'. I've been there perhaps a dozen times over the last few years, though not for while, so I dragged my somewhat startled mother there for a Bank Holiday lunch today with a view to reviewing it for Trusted Places.

So what went wrong?

STRIKE ONE: We were the only table of two to be seated away from the cosy tables and roaring log fire, instead placed in the newer dining area - a comparatively soulless room with no heating, on what was an unseasonably cold and wet day. For warmth, my jacket stayed firmly on - this despite all the woolies I was wearing. Meanwhile the other tables filled with large parties of diners, including no less than eight screaming under-fives on one table alone. We could hardly hear ourselves think, let alone talk.

STRIKE TWO: Having asked our waitress what draft cider was available, I somehow ended up with one of these new-fangled syrupy bottled ciders. While I didn't make a fuss, I did reject the pint glass full of ice it came with. Ugh!

STRIKE THREE: We both ordered the minted lamb burger with grilled rosemary focaccia and a red onion relish. This is something I remember enjoying on a previous visit, but today I found the burger rather watery and the relish too vinegary. My side of chips was excellently hot and crispy, but my mother's "salad" consisted almost entirely of coleslaw and potato salad. Admittedly she didn't mind it, but I myself would have found all that mayonnaise overwhelming.

STRIKE FOUR: The prices. Or perhaps I should say "AAAAAAARGH, the PRICES!" If you fancy a meat or fish main course, you won't find anything under a tenner here: only the vegetarian options are less. At the top of the price range you will find something along the lines of rosemary-crusted rack of lamb at a whopping 17.95. (Correct as of May 2007.)

That said, the Hit Or Miss is always busy. It's also pleasantly situated, especially on a hot summer's day with the gentle pock of leather on willow as a backdrop. They also sometimes have live music. Perhaps it's just the bad table that's inclined me to be critical. But the fact is, on this occasion, we couldn't leave fast enough and I'll not be going back any time soon.

• Added: 26th of May 2007
• Area: Bankside
• Category: Bars and Pubs

London SE1 9RL
020 7378 7776

Lacrimosa said

Ouch! With head still spinning from last night's meet at the Shunt Vaults (thanks for a great night, Trusted Places!) I shall attempt to separate fact from fantasy. It'll be tough going though.

This place is odd. Very odd. If you were to hit London in search of the elephant man, the bearded lady, Siamese twins and the Amazing Reptile Man from Deepest Utchichudo, this is where you should look first. It's like a recreation - a spookily authentic one at that - of the venue for a Victorian freak show which, historically, may well have been held in vaults like these. Hurdy-gurdy fairground music completes the effect. The only thing missing is the freaks (no sir, before you suggest it, I ain't no bearded lady) but Rob's review below demonstrates that freaks do sometimes make an appearance.

Loved the drollness of the staff. One on the door offered to wave the 5 entrance fee if I gave her my springbok handbag. Later on, the donation by one of our party of four tickets to see Meatloaf at Wembley Arena was handled in a enviably deadpan manner by the female DJ. There wasn't many people about when we arrived circa 6.30pm on a Friday, but the place gradually filled to a comfortable level. Through the gloaming, I even spotted people playing table football.

One last thing... there was some talk last night about this place closing down once the lease runs out in the summer. Can anyone confirm or clarify that?

• Added: 17th of May 2007
• Area: Farringdon
• Category: Food and Drink

London EC1N 7TJ

Lacrimosa said
Just juice!
This juice bar is essentially a market stall along Leather Lane, near the corner of St Cross Street, run by a very pleasant South American couple. I don't know exactly when they're there, but certainly every weekday from early morning through to lunch time. Neither do I know what to call this place, so I'm imaginatively calling it 'Juice Bar'.

Anyway, they do juice. Just that. A wide range of freshly juiced fruit and vegetables in any combination you like, although they've got a long list of suggestions to help you decide. Nothing is juiced in advance, thus losing precious vitamins and minerals; it's juiced right there in front of you while you wait (or, if you're cheeky, while you go get a bagel). I usually order apple with lots of lime and ginger, which turbo-charges me for the rest of the morning. Two generous sizes are available at 2 and 3, and they don't ever top it up with water like I've seen them do in Fresh & Wild.

Brilliant!

Nearest tubes, Chancery Lane and Farringdon.

• Added: 17th of May 2007
• Area: Pimlico
• Category: Restaurants

London SW1V 2DY
020 7592 9584

Lacrimosa said
Delicious Thai food without the frills
I've been to this restaurant many times with colleagues for lunch, most recently in April 2007. It looks tiny from the outside - as indeed it does from the inside - but it does have extra space in the basement, down a flight of narrow stairs. Lunch, in particular, is terrific value, with a two-course meal of starter and main course costing just 5.95. The steamed dumplings starter is absolutely mouthwatering, as are the mini spring rolls. To follow, the laksa (a thick noodle soup with chicken) is always popular, although I usually go for the crispy chilli fish with jasmine rice.

Unfortunately - and without exception, I'm afraid - I've found the service to be efficient but perfunctory, which does rather put a bit of a dampener on the experience (and reduces the tip) but I keep going back for the excellent and reasonably priced food.

Nearest tube is Pimlico, just a few minutes away.

• Added: 16th of May 2007
• Area: Leicester Square
• Category: Restaurants

London WC2H 9NQ
020 7836 4751

Lacrimosa said

My experience of The Ivy was similar to Sue's, below. My date had apparently got a table at shortish notice by spinning a yarn about my being a special friend over from the US on a flying visit. (Lies!) Like Sue, we were given a narrow time slot, so began our meal by foregoing a starter and just ordering a main course. I plumped for cottage pie, which was small but delicious. When no move was made to oust us from our table - and noticing for ourselves that the restaurant wasn't full to capacity - we then went into reverse by ordering a starter, and left at our leisure. Dare I suggest that the difficulty one has in getting a table at The Ivy is a ploy to keep it exclusive? Certainly the atmosphere is low-key and restful. I liked it.

The celebrity hangout thing is a hoot. I didn't see anyone famous either, but did notice that everyone turned to look at us as we walked to our table - presumably to see if we were 'someone'. We weren't, of course, but it was fun pretending for a moment.

• Added: 16th of May 2007
• Area: Farringdon
• Category: Bars and Pubs

London EC1R 0DY
020 7253 0483

Lacrimosa said
Designs on Clerkenwell?
The clue is in the signage. Situated as it is in the heart of Clerkenwell, The Three Kings has long been a favourite with creatives: reflecting this, each letter of 'THREE KINGS' outside was crafted individually by a different designer.

Inside tends to vary a bit, but it's always an eclectic mixture of almost spit-and-sawdust traditional pub combined with low-key hipness. Stuff by local designers sometimes appears on the wall - papier mache creations or things made of glass and wire - which will be for sale, but if no one buys them they just stay there until they fall to bits. Or fall on someone's head. It's that kind of place.

Downstairs the tiling of what used to be the men's latrine is still up along one wall, between the front doors. The two little rooms upstairs are a relatively new thing (I remember it as living quarters) which provide extra space to escape to if it gets too crowded downstairs. On warm days everyone spills out onto the pavement or onto the steps of the church opposite, which drives the vicar crazy.

The food is very good, but only available at lunchtimes, and I think I'm right in saying that they still don't open at weekends. However you can get the best Bloody Mary in London here, with freshly grated horseradish and a dash of dry sherry - just make sure the landlord's son makes it if he's still working there. Lock-ins have been rumoured, but naturally I can't confirm or deny that. ;-)

Nearest tube is Farringdon.

--- UPDATE 17/05/07 ---
Okay, I haven't been to The Kings for a while, so - thinking I'd better check my information is up-to-date - I dropped in at lunchtime today. Everything is reassuringly as it always was. Not only did the barman recognise me instantly, I recognised some of the creative types propping up the bar. John, the landlord, is still in residence. Strange things, including a rhino head, still adorn the walls. However! New and temporary signage is currently up outside (I'll keep the old photo uploaded for posterity) and the urinal tiling has mysteriously disappeared. More importantly, they now open on Saturday nights, with either live music - maybe jazz - or a DJ, and there's a fancy juke-box upstairs. I'm no expert on music, but you can expect it to be happening stuff at this place.

• Added: 16th of May 2007
• Area: Belgravia
• Category: Restaurants

London SW1V 2LP
020 7821 7456

Lacrimosa said
Pies & Cider
Have to agree with everything everyone has said thus far about Chimes. The big draw, if you like it, is the cider: my favourite is the slightly cloudy Biddenden Draught Extra Dry, packing a punch at 8% abv. Moreover all of the ciders - and there's over a dozen of 'em - are available in a 2 pint jug. *hic!*

But let us not forget the pies. Now, I'm not too keen on my pie being served up in one of those boat-shaped pots; neither am I keen on it having a six inch tower of puff-pastry on top; but if you like these things, you'll be in pie heaven! Me, I almost always go for the Cheesy Topped Shepherd's Pie with minced lamb, peppers, onion and garlic. This also, at 6.75, happens to be the cheapest main course on the menu.

I agree, also, about the hit and miss atmosphere. Personally I'd rather be in an empty restaurant than a packed one, so I feel that the surliness of the staff might have something to answer for here. Certainly they never seem to smile...

Chimes is situated in Pimlico village, between Pimlico and Victoria tubes.