• Added: 4th of September 2008
• Area: Bayswater
• Category: Events and Entertainment

London W2 4DB
020 7313 8363

WB1 said
Great drinks, great atmosphere
All Star Lanes is a fun new venue beneath the Whiteleys shopping centre in Bayswater. I have not bowled there but went to the bar with a group of friends on a Monday night. The bar is set up in an American style with booths all around the outside which are perfect for 4-6 people. There is a good cocktail list with extensive choice which are not cheap but reasonable for the area. The wine choice is somewhat limited but good enough for a fun night with friends. Bar snacks are available but there is not much of a choice. There is also a diner-style restaurant for those who want a more substantial meal. It was very quiet when we went in but this was fairly predictable for a Monday night. The atmosphere would have been better with a few more people but it was still fun even though it was quiet. The staff were helpful but not overly friendly. Definitely recommended.

• Added: 4th of September 2008
• Area: Notting Hill
• Category: Restaurants

London W11 2AA
020 7229 2907

WB1 said
Beautiful venue, awful atmosphere
I had heard great things about this venue and went to the bar on a Saturday night with some friends for a treat. We were disappointed to say the least! The decor was as spectacular as I had been led to believe with chandeliers, nook and crannies, cabinets with jewels, ornate tables and chairs etc and really has to be seen to be believed. Unfortunately that was as good as it got. The bar was packed and it took an age to get served. When we eventually did get to the bar we almost wished we hadn't - the prices are astronomical. The crowd around the bar were snooty, pretentious and often downright rude. The staff seemed rather harassed (unsurprising) but were pleasent enough. Having got our drinks we squeezed ourselves into a little nook between two tables (I think you would have to get there very early to find somewhere to sit) and spent an unpleasant couple of hours being jostled by the crowds. I will not be going back. I have not visited the restaurant so cannot comment on that area.

• Added: 4th of September 2008
• Area: Kensington
• Category: Restaurants

London W8 5PN
020 7937 6513

WB1 said
A real treat for vodka lovers
Wodka is something really different to the standard pretentious and often mediocre offerings in Kensington. Tucked away in the back street, you'll need a map to find it (or a taxi) but it's definitely worth the walk. Inside the tables a haphazardly placed (or so it seems) behin pillars and around corners but the layout works well with the tables not too close together. The menu is a real treat - very differnt. The dishes are mostly quite heavy, making this a great place to go on a cold and dreary winter's evening but there are a few lighter choices as well. The food is always very good quality and it's great to try something different. The vodka list must be seen to be believed. A really comprehensive list of every vodka you could imagine and many you have never dreamed of. Some are homemade, some imported and all are worth are try. Just don't try them all in one visit or you will be rolling home!

• Added: 4th of September 2008
• Area: Bayswater
• Category: Restaurants

London W2 5SH
020 7313 9832

WB1 said
Good food, good service and lovely cocktails
Ping pong is a great dim sum restaurant with a difference. The decor is modern and stylish but still comfortable enough to spend a whole Sunday afternoon there. The list of dim sum is good - not the most comprehensive ever, but certainly good enough so that everyone can find several things they like. You are given a list and a pencil and mark your choices. The food arrives in wicker baskets and while the waiter tells you which is which it's easy to forget! The food is good and excellent value. As other reviewers have mentioned the jasmine tea is a real treat to watch and not bad to drink either! The cocktail list is also good and while I'm not sure that cocktails and chinese food are a classic combination, if you have time they are definitely worth trying after your meal. The staff are friendly and happy to help and advise on choices for both food and cocktails.

• Added: 4th of September 2008
• Area: St Giles
• Category: Restaurants

London EC4N 8AD
020 7623 6853

WB1 said
Disappointing food but good service
Swithins is a mixture wine bar, restaurant and cafe. On the ground floor is a small wine bar with high tables and stools. The wine is fairly standard but the staff are lovely and make the place seem much more elegant than it is. Behind the wine bar is a fish restaurant. The food is good here although quite expensive. Again the staff are excellent. Downstairs is a much more relaxed wine bar/Italian cafe area. There are tables to sit and eat and higher ones with stools to have drinks and snacks. The staff are happy to reserve areas for groups and there is even a private room which can be booked for larger parties. The staff are lovely, friendly and helpful but the food is often disappointing. The pastas are quite good but the sandwiches are really nothing special and quite overpriced for what they are. The saving grace: they accept luncheon vouchers.

• Added: 3rd of September 2008
• Area: Notting Hill
• Category: Restaurants

London W11 1LA
020 7243 8701

WB1 said
Rather disappointing
The First Floor is conveniently located on the Portobello Raod in Notting Hill. The restaurant, as the name would suggest, is on the first floor and if you request a window seat you can gaze out at the busy portobello road during your meal. The room is decorated in old-style grandeur with ornate furniture, lighting and decorations. Unfortunately that's as good as it gets. The food was ok but only ok and some of the menu sounded quite unapetising. Both food and wine were very overpriced for what they were and it felt like we were paying for the setting rather than the food and service. The staff were friendly but over-attentive and rather intrusive and the place was almost deserted despite it being a Saturday night. Certainly not my favourite Notting Hill haunt.

• Added: 3rd of September 2008
• Area: St Giles
• Category: Bars and Pubs

London EC4N 5AD
020 7626 8246

WB1 said
Quirky and fun
The London Stone is located on Cannon Street and at first seems more like a dungeon than a pub. The entrance is down a steep staicase and the pub itself is atmospheric from the start. The room is a treasure trove of strange and sometimes gruesome artifacts - an old library effect combines with spooky decor and props to give almost a haunted house feel. The food is definitely not spooky, just your standard pub food - sandwiches, wraps, burgers etc but is all quite decent and very reasonably priced (especially given the location). The drinks are again your standard pub selection and not such good value as the food although still reasonable for the area. The pub never seems to get too busy and is therefore a good place if you actually want to talk to your companions!

• Added: 3rd of September 2008
• Area: Bayswater
• Category: Bars and Pubs

London W2 5QL
020 7221 3599

WB1 said
Fun and relaxed, but pricey
The Oak is a fun but sophisticated pizza restaurant. Recently refurbished after a fire, The Oak retains all its charm. The restaurant doesn't take bookings but if you have to wait you can do so in the bar above the restaurant which is subtly lit and has sofas and low tables - this in itself is a great place to go for a few drinks with a partner or friend. Tables are rustic wood and crowded quite close together but somehow that doesn't matter. Pizzas are cooked in an open oven which can be seen from some of the tables. The menu is not extensive but the food is always delicious and the staff friendly and helpful. The Sunday roast is great although rather expensive. In fact the whole munu is quite pricey. There are a few tables outside in the summer for eating or drinking or both, although these are directly on the street.

• Added: 3rd of September 2008
• Area: St Giles
• Category: Bars and Pubs

London EC4N 5AX
020 72809610

WB1 said
Nothing special but a bit overpriced
The Vintry is hidden down a little lane off Cannon Street, but that hasn't stopped a huge number of City workers finding it and crowding in every day after work. Get there early and the atmosphere is fairly pleasant - nothing special, just your standard modern bar - but nothing to complain about either. As the evening wears on however, it tends to become more and more crowded with peak time about 5:30 to 7:30 and during this time it is noisy, packed and often difficult to get served at the bar. The bar staff (when you get there) are friendly and efficient. Prices are not friendly, but not out of the ordinary for the heart of the City.

• Added: 3rd of September 2008
• Area: Bayswater
• Category: Restaurants

London W2 5QL
020 7221 1746

WB1 said
Great food, great atmosphere, great place
Centonove is a lovely little Italian restaurant hidden away in the depths of Notting Hill. The menu is imaginative and changes frequently. It includes the usual pizza and pasta offerings but also some delicious meat and fish dishes including sea bass baked in salt and lobster with spaghetti (yummy). The starters are great for sharing and the deserts different from the typical tiramasu and ice cream offered at so many Italian places. The wine list is good and reasonably priced and there is also a good selection of after-dinner liqours. The staff are lovely - friendly and attentive without being overbearing. This is a great place to go for an intimate dinner for two or a night out with friends.