• Added: 13th of September 2008
• Area: Barnsbury
• Category: Restaurants

London N1 9LQ

opticnoodle said
What most Americans expect a burrito to taste like
A brief agreement with allolex's review.

My title about sums it up. I've had some good burritos in London (notably El Panzon in Brixton) but Tortilla is the only place I've been to in London where the taste and ingredients in the burrito were what I would expect to receive in an American burrito joint. I think it's important to make this distinction since the USA has so co-opted Mexican food and there's a proliferation of wrap/burrito joints which have cropped up across the country (especially in college towns) that have changed our expectation of what a burrito should taste like. Probably to the dis-taste of many Americans who are fans of their regional variation on mexican food.

My impression was also confirmed by the fact that just about everyone in the place was American!

• Added: 13th of September 2008
• Area: Battersea
• Category: Cafes and Coffee Shops

London SW11 2QP

opticnoodle said
Fantastic Filter Coffee on platform 11/12
As anyone who travels through Clapham Junction Railway station knows, the little food/coffee stands on each of the railway platforms vary greatly in quality and price, with a general leaning towards poor quality and high price...

The little coffee stand on platform 11/12, which I believe is called cuppa-cino (based on their coffee cups) is an exception. They've been serving me wonderful cups of filter coffee from Union Coffee Roasters for almost a year now, and it's one of the best cups of filter coffee I've found in London. And I'm aware of Monmouth, but living and working where I do, that's more of a special weekend outing than a regular habit.

Platform 11/12 filter coffee is not only delicious, but it's about 20-30p cheaper than any of the other vendors at the station. Worth the detour if you have a few minutes to spare between connections.

If this coffee stand is, in fact, cuppa-cino, it looks like they have other stands on other platforms. Please comment on this entry if you've had experience with these other ones. Would be good to know about!

One final comment, I've also become a fan of their honey-bran muffins, but they don't have them very often. Can't really comment on the other food.

• Added: 13th of August 2007
• Area: Soho
• Category: Cafes and Coffee Shops

London W1F 8EU
020 7434 2571

opticnoodle said

This is my kind of place. Small, lived-in, low-key on the attitude, and good food. Even though there are only a handful of tables, I didn't feel like I was going to get the boot if I stopped off for a while to read my book. There is also a sunny "club" table at the front that is always a welcome feature when you're lunching solo. I'm going to disagree with the other reviewers about the cheapness of the place. I think the value of your meal was variable depending on what you ordered. Everything on the menu was about £5 if you ate in. Fairly standard for a full breakfast, but a little high for a jacket potato w/ baked bean, I think. That said, prices not surprising given the location and the atmosphere was such that I will definitely be back.

• Added: 6th of August 2007
• Area: Lambeth
• Category: Events and Entertainment

London SE1 8XT
020 7928 3535

opticnoodle said

The BFI have done an excellent job in creating space to allow a broad examination of what can be accomplished with the moving image. The most amazing feature is the Mediatheque. Anyone can go in and browse through monthly rotations of films, TV shows, etc from the BFI's archive. For free. You can book up to two hours and they seating is comfortable in front of a wide screen TV. The mediatheque also offers free screenings of some of their treasures on the "studio" screen, which I enjoyed immensely.

They have a couple of cafes. I didn't really explore the menu at the restaurant/cafe; but did not that they have comfortable looking, colorful sofas to lounge on and free wireless.

I could easily while away a whole day here moving from space to space and indulging my inner film geek. I have never seen a place like this anywhere else. I hope more Londoners come to understand what a treasure they have in their midst.

• Added: 2nd of August 2007
• Area: Soho
• Category: Cafes and Coffee Shops

London W1D 5DQ
020 7437 6007

opticnoodle said

huge pot of tea, yummy cakes, welcoming old fashioned atmosphere. I want to go back and gossip with a girl friend in the upstairs room for hours.

• Added: 2nd of August 2007
• Area: Camden Town
• Category: Bars and Pubs

London NW1 7HJ
020 7681 7898

opticnoodle said
Old reliable hide-away.
this is probably not the review you're expecting:

Bar Vinyl has been my respite from Camden craziness, and frequent destination in and of itself, on visits to London for over a decade now. I've never been in the evening, but I find the atmosphere during the day to be completely mellow and yet they have such ultra-trendy Mod red cubes to sit on! It's such a random weird mix of things that it works. A good option if you want to hide for a few hours.

I'd imagine it'd be even better if you go during the day on some unpopular day of the week. Like Tuesday.