• Added: 1st of February 2008
• Area: Waterloo
• Category: Restaurants

London SE1 8UL
020 7960 0202

lattebird said
Meet your Waterloo
A more upmarket Waterloo stop but tries too hard to be everything to all people.

I didn't even know that this place had opened and stumbled across it when I couldn't face the hectic Fire Station. At first glance it looked like a great find. A classy looking brasserie with a stylish bar and lounge area - ok a bit poncey but some occassions call for poncey don't they?

The bar menu looked nice enough with staples like Croque Monsieur and Quiche Lorraine for between £7-9.

The main restaurant is tucked away discreetly at the back (it's well laid out with nooks and crannies so that it feels like 5 different places)

The main resturant menu was more sophisticated French cuisine with some delicious sounding fish dishes and a traditional section which included Cassoulet and Moules.
I couldn't find any particular fault with the meal but it was fairly average for the price. I can't help feeling that they're trying too hard to cover all bases and certainly on the a la carte menu, are missing the mark.

I would go back for a drink (you know, on those poncey occasions) and possibly a quick bar bite but you can keep your Halibut en Papillote I'm afraid and as for the £30 Hungarian white that came highly recommended...well, I should have known better.

• Added: 20th of December 2007
• Area: South Bank
• Category: Restaurants

London SE1 9PH
020 7633 0088

lattebird said
OXO OK...ish
Distinctly average, this place was a bit of a let down after the good things I heard about it. the decor is attempting to be minimalist but looks like cheap plastic making the place feel empty and cold. The food is ok but really not special. I might go back on a Tuesday night for the view if it wasn't a special occassion but beyond that, no, I don't think so.

• Added: 20th of November 2007
• Area: Lambeth
• Category: Restaurants

London SW8 2XA
020 7720 1480

lattebird said
Don't tell a soul
I'm almost loathe to rate this place. I've never had a bad mnouthful here let alone meal. It's the best Indian restaurant in the area and is so very loved by anyone who knows it.

Formica tables, no corkage Bring Your Own approach, Mum's home cooking (go and have a look, Mum will probably be in the kitchen) and the friendliest staff. Let them order for you.

You'd be hard pushed to spend £15 per head here but whatever you do, try the butternut squash and spinach curry.

It's one of the main reasons that I want to move back to the area. Make sure you book, they get choca.

• Added: 15th of October 2007
• Area: Soho
• Category: Bars and Pubs

London W1D 4TQ
020 7437 7820

lattebird said
no so hidden gem
I've been going there for years and am yet to be let down. Sit at the bar, and describe the things you like to the bar crew and they will make you up a bespoke taste sensation. I knew that they were beyond great when I got a alco-free delight when I was on the wagon - anyone that can make pop taste that good has to be a genius

• Added: 17th of September 2007
• Area: Kings Cross
• Category: Restaurants

London WC1X 9LR
020 7833 5040

lattebird said
Living the vida local
I promise I didn't go to Konstam because he's the bloke off the telly. I was recommended it by someone who went and had no idea about the telly thing or the fact that most ingredients are sourced from within the M25. He just recognised that it was cracking good cooking and he was right.

I wasn't dissapointed, it's tough to get a booking but deservedly so. The decor's funky but still intimate and the kitchen is open in a manner braver than most - you are so close to the chefs and the range you can see everything. It's like a demo kitchen which is wonderful if you like cooking.

The menu is an engaging mish mash of posh, rustic, innovative and delicate. Not everything was perfect but there were a couple of real stand out items.

The Mersea Squid was cooked perfectly with punchy flavours. Not a big fan of squid, I would have been tempted to avoid Essex squid but this was a delight.

I've been dreaming about the Pan-roasted chicken ever since I went. Chunky golden breasts never looked so good! Caramalised, fragrant and herby, I truly could live off that dish for the rest of my life.

Boiled ham and cabbage has never been so good either - another knockout dish cooked to perfection, the ham melted in the mouth and the sauce and cabbage were unbelievably good.

A couple of dissapointing bits (pigeon sourced from within the M25 - we all have our standards)but the good most definitely outweighed the mediocre.

I feel sad about the service though (I'm shaking my head sadly as I type). The waitresses were all very sweet, attractive and well turned out but there's no real service spirit going on here. You know when you go to a restaurant and the staff are buzzing, there's energy about the way they work and they know their service sh*t. These ladies, lovely though they were, behaved as if they were helping out at a family party, slow and inefficient, they really let the place down. Oliver, if you employed them they're your mates, treat them to a free dinner and serve marching orders with pudding. The capital is brimming with excellent waiting staff, there's no excuse.

I thoroughly enjoyed Konstam at the Prince Albert. It restored my faith in the identikit London restaurant scene and made me really want to tell people about it, that's got to be a good sign. Here's to it's continued succes and may the pigeons of WC1 beware.

• Added: 13th of September 2007
• Area: Lambeth
• Category: Restaurants

London SE1 8XX
020 7654 7800

lattebird said
Lofty ambitions but not quite there
Much hyped recently, Skylon has a superb setting right on the river at the Royal Festival Hall. Panormic views of London, high ceilings and airy atmosphere. The food though, whilst fair is not worth any hype at all.

The fish soup was average and the lamb was tasty but not any more exceptional than a good gastro pub.

I would rate the service but then with a ratio that seemed like it was 10 staff to every diner, you'd expect good service.

I would go again, at lunchtime on a sunny day but only if I got a really special deal.

• Added: 28th of February 2007
• Area: Covent Garden
• Category: Restaurants

London WC2E 7NA
020 7240 9062

lattebird said

This place used to be fairly decent but I went there again a few weeks ago and the food was terrible. Not sure what's happened but I won't be going back