• Added: 7th of September 2007
• Area: Islington
• Category: Take Aways

London N1 0PN
020 7704 2123

idoru said
Burrito Business.
Just opened today Mucho Mas has been set up in Angel to offer you a serious lunchtime treat. The founding partners met at Skype, where they work previously... and have created a place as friendly and charming as themselves. They serve their burritos and tacos in a fast assembly line in front of you, all within a clean bright and colourful space. Its healthy happy fast food that you sit at large shared tables to eat. I love the little baskets they serve the food in when your dining in..

On the burrito scale from a serious burrito fan, they got a solid 7 and were described as being of the more designer variant.. with the heap of wonderful fresh ingredients, and some of the best guacamole I've had in ages!

Go Mucho Mas, I will be!

Update.....
18-Sept: Had the vege tacos today, brilliant :) Mucho Mas is still really good, the only issue is that they seem to run out of ingredients towards the end of lunch as they are so busy!

• Added: 12th of July 2007
• Area: Finsbury
• Category: Cafes and Coffee Shops

London EC1V 1NY
020 7278 9368

idoru said
Angles Boho Gem
Shabby Chic.. I don't really like that catch phrase and I think it's pass anyway. I do still like Boho though.. it describes a timeless state of being, I think, not just a fashionable look.. it's floaty and feminine, comfortable Candid Arts Caf is definitely boho.. and when shabby chic was cool, it might have been a little of that too with its candelabras and elaborate couches.

Set above the arts trust in Angel it serves fresh and simple fare for vegetarians and meat eaters alike. This is the caf I meet friends at for lunch, it's close to the tube and is hidden enough to not be too busy. I'd say it's my favourite caf in Angel, sitting next to the Charles Lamb as my favourite pub. It's hippy cool serving fair trade coffee a wide selection of tea and the staff a friendly earthy and care about what you need/want.

The casual artistic crowd, in skinny jeans pirate shirts and wild hair share the large banqueting table in the middle or cluster in 2's and 3's on the tables along the walls. Which looks down though large opens windows on the private courtyard. On most tables there are candles stands with melting candles caught in stasis (I love places with drippy melted wax) and the tone of the place is a velvety red, added to by the Pre-Raphaeliteesque portrait of a nude woman on the back wall..

This is one of those places you spent lots of time in at university, whole afternoons discussing important matters and sipping on eco friendly teas, I feel so relaxed here, it's so different from the hustle of Angel and the wall on the way in is covered with postits about classes, rooms, and side jobs, a real community exists around this place. And once you've finished your tea you can meander down and check the latest exhibition or attend the life drawing class on Mondays..

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

London N1 8HD
020 7704 7631

idoru said
Unusual - Good
I dig this place, it's a little bit indie, a little bit shabby and has a whole lotta love. In the backstreets of Angel amongst grand white town houses and opposite the local sky pen for children (a school with a roof top playground) it stands big and purple. They serve a great selection of drinks from London Pride to Frli and my new lunch time knock out favourite: Westons Cider (and Brothers by the bottle if I've got important things to do in the afternoon).

The food is more reasonably priced than it's neighbour the Narrow Boat (fish'n'chips 7.50) and the staff are sweeter and care more about your experience (and have a lot more character). The menu is an curious collection of Mexican, Welsh and traditional English.. with big plates, burgers, sandwiches, deserts and things to share.

We had a lunch of lamb and beef burgers, the chicken club sandwich and a pie, all were quite heavy on the saturated fats but tasted good, I grilled the chap serving, and then took ages to decide (yes the bar staff are patient) on his recommendation of the stout and beef pie. Subsequently I won the food pick of the table, and learnt how to pronounce mange tout while nibbling on seriously succulent steak in gravy.

The burgers were a little unusual but good and the shared platter and quesdillas are great drinking partners. There's an upstairs lounge and dining room, which is non-smoking and would be great for rainy days and functions. On the stairs up are chalk-written random facts and odes to alcohol, which is a nice touch.

They have quiz nights and comedy, and outside seating, and I can't forget the giant chandeliers and ample seating downstairs.

This place kind of feels like a grotty old pub that was found and loved by an eccentric indie music/book type. He/she wears thick glasses, and enjoys a good drink and company, wears wool and often corduroy, and in their absentminded way, adores their slightly oddball staff encouraging them to be themselves.... The Island Queen is absolute quality in the over designed chic of Angel.

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

London SW15 3TU
020 8788 2011

idoru said
My First Snails
After this place featured in the newsletter I was determined to find it, and it just so happened I stayed at a friends house yesterday in what seemed like the middle of nowhere, and it was 10 minutes away from the pub!! Set in the Putney Heath it is every bit the country pub, but so nice. Over 2 levels there's quirky art nouveau prints on the walls and flat screens telling you what's on each night in cute montages interspersed with Charlie Chaplin skits.

As mentioned there's a French chef, hence the snails. So my first snails were great! I'm sold, garlicky buttery, and with an attractive texture not unlike the best part of mussels, without the grittiness and beards. I've got some rather unflattering pixt's of my very first one but you wont be seeing them, I think grimacing is the adjective(or verb?) for what my poor face was doing.

I also had the goats cheese salad, loved the caramelised red onion, but it needed a bit more salad as the there was a lot of cheese. Further on my entre tip (or as an indecisive little piggy) I ordered the fish soup as well, which wasn't really to my liking, brown, medium consistency with unidentifiable ground fish but the pesto toasted fresh ciabata was beautiful. My darling lunch companion had what he described as the best battered fish he has ever tried, served as the traditional fish'n'cips with bright mushy peas and tartare sauce A big call, it was good, fresh and thick cooked to perfection.

The room we ate in was children friendly with a big open fire, they all seemed very well behaved and happy children, playing quietly and giggling, occasionally counting with their parents out loud. The room had a number of sofas and armchairs mixed in with table's chairs and benches. The bar where you order the food was more bar-like (funnily enough) and upstairs seemed to be a more formal dining space again.

Lovely place, reasonable prices (compared with central) and smoke free, the garden must be stunning on sunny days and in summer, I can see my self sipping pimms there already, popping over to the clearing in the heath for a spot of social cricket.. what what?

• Added: 28th of May 2007
• Area: Stepney
• Category: Arts and Culture

London E1

idoru said
The Arty Party without Arty Farties
If the words arts and crafts when coupled together cause a little flutter in your chest, then this is the place for you! Last Wednesday I had the absolute pleasure of attending Hunga Munga(5) at Favela Chic in Old St. I was so excited when my friend invited me, I had visions of colourful pipe cleaners, plasticine, snips, glue and paper maiche. A once monthly event the next one is at the Bethnal Green Working Men's Club on June 14th.

This is not an event for people who are afraid to get paint on their shoes, and it introduces a sense of togetherness you never see at your average music gig. Yes that right, live acts and djs preform as you create your mini masterpieces.

Their tagline on the their myspace page is "arty parties without the arty farties" so compared to PaintJam(40) in Angel where you see a more professional crowd, and the Craft Night (6) at Notting Hill Arts Club where you get a craft bag and everyone makes the same thing (sock puppets embroidery), Its free range creativity for the creatively inclined though not necessarily creatively gifted.

The best thing is watching a whole room of people sharing recycled bits and bobs, paint trays and scissors while being totally engrossed in what they are doing. You have a beer or two as props but for the first couple of hours I was all hands on and in the crafts. Oh and I mustn't forget the fairy cakes on the tables when we arrived and the BEST arts and crafts supply table you've ever seen (a million times better than kindy)

I created some kind of alien plant thing, my friend a tv head, another a miniature garden and another a mask. I painted a picture of seahorses for a friend who couldn't come and after that I was artied out and ready to party, so I wandered around comparing my art with others seeing if we could combine them in to mega installations. I even had a certain puffed chest pride when the Hung Munga photographer took pictures of my piece.

So if you want to have a wholesome night, meet a bunch of interesting people and feel generally good about yourself go and get lost in the world of arts and crafts for a couple of hours, you never know you might actually win a prize.

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

London N1 8DE
020 7837 5040

idoru said
My Favourite Pub
This is my favourite pub in Angel and it's 2 minutes walk from my work. Established in 1839, it remains true to it's original form but includes signs on the wall asking you not to feed Mascha, the friendly little staffordshire bull terrier, who meanders though the tables with a colourful scarf round her neck (she even has her own myspace page)

A little background knowledge: The pub changed it's name in 2005 in honour of the early essayist who lived round the corner, he was best know for his Essays of Elia' (the road the pub is on and his pen name).

It's a free house with wi-fi and serves great ales and beers on draft. Plus yummy ciders, perrys and international beers by the bottle, (my favourite, Breton cider is served here!) The food is above average gastopub (runner up for best gastropub by Timeout 06) for below average prices.

There's plenty of outside seating, though the road outside is so quiet people often stand on it's side and sit on the footpath catching the last of the sun. Theres pretty planter boxes with potted colour in the window (this is what drew me n the first time), making this quite possibly the cutest pub in Angel, this is added to by the petite wooden dining room on the right when you walk in.

I'd have to say my pick of the mains we tried was the cottage pie followed by the fish pie then my Lamb merguez sausages with puy lentils and crme frache (my love affair with lentils continues). The kitchen is open 6 till 9 for supper and they do a Sunday roast from 1-6, though I haven't tried it.

The wine list in a mix of old and new world and it's served by the glass, carafe and bottle. They hold a wine club and a supper club so check the website for details. This place is definitely worth a trip this weekend then I'd have to suggest a casual walk on the Regents canal.

• Added: 13th of May 2007
• Area: Barnsbury
• Category: Bars and Pubs

London N1 8PZ
020 7288 9821

idoru said
Where to while away the afternoon...
The narrow boat is my sneaky half pint at lunch. Right on the canal in Angel it is two levels of large windows, comfortable couches and tables. It serves the usual suspects on tap so I long for a better cider than Strong Bow but it has a guest ale each month if you're so inclined. My current after work ritual is having a pimms while sitting outside by the water, watching the joggers and dog walkers and taking in the gentle view of the canal and boats.

We had a dinner there one night and it didn't go so well with the food coming out stone cold, it was the usual pub fare of burgers, fish and chips and a serving of fried calamari. It was quiet busy and the bar staff seemed a little rushed. On retuning with our condiments the barman was happy to take the meals back and give us new ones, which was fine.

We were siting on the top floor for our dinner, in the couches facing the big ranch sliding windows. There was no smoking in this part of the pub and as the sun set the boats lights twinkled in the water making everything feel generally very pleasant (the alcohol may have added to this).

This is a great place for drinking because of it's shape and setting I think I might give the food another chance but perhaps focus on nibbles and shared dishes to accompany the drinking and view taking.

• Added: 9th of May 2007
• Area: Fitzrovia
• Category: Restaurants

London W1T 4NE
020 7436 9444

idoru said
Ooze is the word.....
Ooze is the word
Everybody loves this new concept place. Open a bit longer than 6 months it offers slow food cooked fast, they say you can be in and out in 30 mins so it's perfect for a quick bite after work or before a show. As a non-risotto enthusiast I liked the idea of opting for the low fat/salt option. All this combined with cheap prices quality ingredients and a 50% discount off the food with my TP card, we couldn't go wrong.

Actually to be honest I don't like risotto but am always open to having my mind changed (except on oysters) and from reading the website, where they describe a dish of light fluffiness I had never experienced, I was keen for some Ooze action.

We went around 9 on a Tuesday and it was about a full, our Italian waiter was delightful charming And knowledgeable even if he didn't quite get I wanted a side salad and my friend wanted fennel on the side of her salad. Both issues were super brusquely rectified; by the lady restaurant manger you just felt knew her stuff.

Wine was cheap and cheerful and the starters were gorgeous, for me the highlight was: Burrata cheese, cherry tomatoes basil and balsamic, it just shut me up, I even closed my eyes I know that when you say something melts in your mouth it's a totally over used cliques.. but it actually did. And the basil was sweet and tomatoes perfectly ripe mmmm we also had the bruscetta of the day and the plate of meats (salumi misti). The bruscetta comes highly recommended.

Mains I ordered the mushroom risotto as it looked so good on the website, I was disappointed, not with the taste but just with the fact I wasn't turned on. I enjoyed the first few mouthfuls but became bored, as it became rich and monotonous. Everyone else enjoyed bites of mine as I enjoyed bites of theirs. The highlight of the mains had to be the tuna seared rare on the super salads.. They really are super and will be what I order next time I go. They are large and not stingy on the good ingredients (cheese mainly).

We couldn't fit dessert and were happy with finely made espressos and a bottle of lemonata for those of us that are a wee bit caffeine sensitive, and don't like coffee after 6pm (am I turning into my mother?) Actually that's my only complaint, as an Italian inspired concept how about some fresh fruit desserts/sorbets to cleanse the palate afterwards. That and its almost too modern inside to be comfortable, but I think we maybe clutching at straws here. So final words.. Go here if you love risotto and go if you don't, to have one of their amazing super salads or grills.

• Added: 23rd of April 2007
• Area: Barnsbury
• Category: Bars and Pubs

London N1 8JT
020 7359 3066

idoru said
My slice of peace and goodwill.
I've just found another local. Working 5mins walk away from this organic gem has just made my day; between here and the Narrow Boat I am set for summer. The bar is non-smoking and the restaurant is completely. The whole place feels earthy and relaxed/chilaxed (a new word I'm trying out).

I went on a Wednesday afternoon and enjoyed a bottle of very pleasant organic weiss beer, having just come back from Austria I was still in afternoon beer mode. All their beers are local and organic, including the drafts, a nice change. The alternative chap behind the bar was happy to offer a suggestion though it took a little cajoling.

The menu changes twice a day to reflect market availability and they create traditional British fare with the Mediterranean influence. They describe it as such because they concentrate on using local produce, which is best used in local dishes. The menu looked amazing handwritten on giant blackboards behind the bar.

The menu always incorporates 2 meat, 2 fish and 2 vegetarian main courses with 3 or 4 starters and desserts, the small menu ensures the freshness of ingredients. The dishes that floated past me were incredible, particularly the whole baked fish with aioli and coriander, I must go back to investigate more fully!

As a watering hole it more than sufficed with service to the great solid wood tables, there is no music or artificial background noise which is surprisingly relaxing and the high ceilings seem to distribute the noise so you don't feel like your talking to the whole room when it's quiet. We had to ask for our bill a couple of times, though it is usual for service to drop off around 3pm in most places, and that was my only complaint!

• Added: 22nd of April 2007
• Area: Mayfair
• Category: Bars and Pubs

London W1S 4LD
020 7493 9529

idoru said
Tiki Tacky Fun
The tiki-tastic bar in Mayfair has become a notorious spot for young royals(remember Harry fell off the curb and accidentally punched a photographer here) and celebre-posers. But despite this I have to say I had a lot of fun at this PR fueled venue. I went on a Wednesday for a private party starting around 8pm so I got in very easily, and was greeted by the smile of a beautiful young man from the Fiji Islands wearing a grass skirt.. The club doesn't have a door/guest list policy so after 9 queues and unfriendly door people are in place.

There is an upstairs cocktail lounge with tables, but I was quite happy at the bar. There was a charming dreaded barman who was a master of banter, and preformed with the other barmen, proving to be highly entertaining. He made us killer cocktails with fresh fruit, which were strong, tasty and came in ceramic tiki cups.

Downstairs is the club space, and we collected at the table with the swinging love seat, great idea but impossible to sit on. And we had a table made of cane that our drinks kept tipping over on because it wasn't flat, once again good looking but not practical.

The dance floor, which grooves to desert island style disks promises that if they don't have your request you can have a cocktail on the DJ. It s filled with very well maintained young to middle-aged ladies and young men in blazers. The surrounding tables had older gentlemen entertaining with bottles of Dom Perignon and the infamous 100 treasure chests, made for 8 to share.

Fun times, and celeb spotting is what this venue is good for, and the huge 20 cocktails that resemble buckets on stems. But be weary of long queues and I've heard the table service can be less than ideal, also due to the request nature of the music it can be very cheesy (but in good way if your in the mood). I defiantly recommend this place if you see the fun side of tacky theme bars and clique crowds.