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

Harrow HA1 3LL

chocolatebutton said
Good value in maybe an unexpected location
You have to admire their sense of humour. Opening (some considerable time ago) a restaurant right in the middle of Harrow School buildings, and calling it the Old Etonian. This is of course a favoured place for doting parents and aunts to take their Harrovian students.

The restaurant has a strong French flavour and influence, and the menu includes a good variety of dishes, all of which (the ones I have tasted, anyway) are absolutely delicious. There is a useful set menu, during the week, (Mon – Sat) for £17.50 for 3 courses, which has loads of choice and will satisfy any palate.

I can hardly bear to describe it any more – just thinking about it is making me hungry!

• Added: 3rd of September 2008
• Area: Harrow
• Category: Take Aways

Harrow HA1 1HS
020 8863 4655

chocolatebutton said
Very useful location
It's difficult to say anything new about McDonald’s, famous as they are the world over. Their food is consistent, and you either love it or hate it.

Personally I am not a fan of this sort of fast food, but I enjoy a burger every so often, and thought I should mention this outlet as it is so usefully located. If you are going to the Vue Cinema in Harrow, you should know that this shop is right next door. (Don’t worry, the air conditioning is superb and you will not smell any burger fragrances with your film!) It is exceptionally useful to be able to meet for a burger before visiting the cinema, thus avoiding the iniquitous charges which cinemas like to charge for their in-house food and drink. Eat here first and save a fortune!

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

London W1S 1JU
020 7491 9799

chocolatebutton said
Hidden gem
This branch is fairly hidden at the back of Oxford Street.

Itsu is famous for being the restaurant where the Russian spy was poisoned. Don’t worry, though – it wasn’t at this branch! I was interested when this happened, as it put Itsu into the right bracket, I felt – a shop full of intelligent and interesting people. The food is simply excellent – Itsu is the best sushi venue I know. The ingredients are lovely and fresh, and the bento (take away lunch boxes) are very consistent. The mix of contents in a bento box is changed every so often, so that you get a new experience every season, but there is always plenty of salad, and you feel that you have eaten a really healthy and satisfying meal.

If you want to be sinful, I can recommend the coconut pots, subtitled ‘If a Bounty died and went to Heaven’

• Added: 3rd of September 2008
• Area: Covent Garden
• Category: Cafes and Coffee Shops

London WC2B 5PN
020 7242 5600

chocolatebutton said
Great new venue!
Abokado seems a fairly new venue to London, and at present I have found only about 3 branches. It specialises in wraps, and in particular their sushi wraps are very delicious and well filled. The staff are extremely helpful, and an unusual and filling lunch can be had here for about £5 - expensive for everyday, but a nice change and a treat for your tastebuds.

One thing which really surprised me about the shops was the quality of their coffee. I wasn't expecting anything special, but in fact their coffee was better than Starbucks - a really excellent tasty cuppa!

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

Pinner HA5 5PJ
020 8429 3239

chocolatebutton said
Good food, but overpriced
Chez Gerard have a range of interesting dishes, but the prices are just slightly too much to be convincing (I would far rather go to Strada, where I find the food is slightly better for slightly less money).

One very positive comment, however - I ordered a bottle of Pinot Grigio here. It was one of the cheaper bottles on a good range of wine list. It turned out to be one of the very best bottles of wine I have ever drunk in my life! Perhaps I should give up eating here, and just drink their very delicious wines!

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

London SW1X 7RJ
020 7235 5250

chocolatebutton said
Simply outstanding
I felt very privileged to be taken to this venue to celebrate a birthday. This was apparently a regular noshing place for Princess Diana, and if she ate like this all the time I can only envy her lifestyle (not something I do very often!)

The food here is simply outstanding! Every one of our dishes was memorable, and I would happily come back every week for food like this. What really made the evening, however, was the service. We asked at the end of the meal what the restaurant did to make the service so good, and apparently they have a team working a few tables, rather than one waiter/ess for each table. The result is that someone is always keeping an eye on you, someone is always available to top up your wine, replenish water, deal with any small issues during the meal… and you feel really cosseted.

Anyone else who would like to take me can apply through this website!!!!!!!

• Added: 3rd of September 2008
• Area: Knightsbridge
• Category: Food and Drink

London SW1X 0NA
020 7730 1234

chocolatebutton said
Definitely worth a visit
OK, so some of the food here is going to be overpriced. But if you have an afternoon to spare, this place is definitely worth a visit. You will see foodstuffs you have never seen before (and may even be able to sample some of them) and will get excellent service from very well trained and helpful staff. You can see and buy things which will give you tastes from all over the world, and broaden your horizons without ever leaving London. This really is a life experience!

If you see any goods at all you wonder about, the staff are quick to explain the items and describe the taste. And isn't it worth paying a bit extra to taste something new and delicious?

• Added: 3rd of September 2008
• Area: Monument
• Category: Shopping

London EC4N 7HR

chocolatebutton said
OK if you like designer goods
House of Fraser is usually a useful department store. However, this one seems to specialise in designer goods at inflated prices! There is, in particular, a good range of very expensive shoes (Jimmy Choo, Dolce and Gabbana, and the like) where you can spend an easy £700 in an afternoon on a couple of pairs of indifferent shoes which just happen to have a fancy label.

I prefer to travel to Canary Wharf if I am on a designer spree!

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

London SW13 9PY
020 8392 9216

chocolatebutton said
Lovely view and great food
When we arrived at this restaurant we were slightly put off by the lack of customers. 'Surely the place is more popular than this?', we thought. However, we were greeted at the door by a staff member who immediately asked if we would like to eat upstairs and take advantage of the lovely view of the Thames. All was explained! Upstairs was bustling, busy and entertaining - and the food was really great!

One of the nicest Strada's I have been to, because of this view!

• Added: 27th of August 2008
• Area: Bankside
• Category: Restaurants

London SE1 1HL
020 7939 1490

chocolatebutton said
Seems almost like a secret
Joe's Kitchen feels like a secret venue that only the locals know! It's right on top of Borough station - OK, I know Borough is a bit off the beaten track, but it worth it just for this, let alone for Borough Market (which is closer to London Bridge station, by the way). It looks like a large and boring American diner, but the food is really excellent and always tastes like real, top quality, home made food. Highly recommended, and reasonably priced for the area. Their smoothies are also excellent (I thought they were better than Crussh smoothies!) and the ambiance of the place is like a local club – I really do think this is a bit of a secret ‘find’!