• Added: 2nd of April 2008
• Area: Aylesford
• Category: Restaurants

Aylesford ME20 7AX

pgt38 said
Excellent French Restaurant
The Hengist is an award winning French restaurant situated in the village of Aylesford. There is a large (free!) car park just a short walk away.

The restaurant entrance and décor are impressive and with subtle lighting. Both the welcome and subsequent service is very professional and attentive without being intrusive. Having visited a number of time it is good to see that the menu is regularly updated and gives a good choice for all tastes. Whatever your choice you will not be disappointed, be aware though that the portions are not large.

Whilst not cheap it is well worth a visit for those special anniversaries.

• Added: 2nd of April 2008
• Area: Kentish Town
• Category: Bars and Pubs

London NW5 2TG
020 7485 2031

pgt38 said
One of the best in the area
The Assembly House is a deceptively large and spacious pub on Chalk Farm Road. Behind the front well lit front bar is a second much larger area at the rear.

Due to its close proximity to the Kentish Town Forum (formerly the Town and Country Club) every time I have been there it has been very busy. Despite this the bar staff have always done an excellent job of ensuring everyone is served as quickly as possible.
It’s a shame it not local to me a I am sure that it would be an excellent venue at other times.

Worth a visit if you are in the area.

• Added: 19th of March 2008
• Area: Milton Keynes
• Category: Restaurants

Milton Keynes MK9 2EA

pgt38 said
Royal Lido - Chinese Restaurant
We visited the Royal Lido Chinese Restaurant in Milton Keynes as a works lunch.

Our host/manager told us that he had used the restaurant regularly when staying in a nearby hotel.

The restaurant is located in a modern commercial area of MK, which make it difficult to give much character. Internally the restaurant is very clean, well laid out but fairly basic.

The mixed appetisers were good, but very standard to any good Chinese. However, the real impression that the Royal Lido made though was when the main course dishes were delivered. Very plentiful and extremely high quality.

I was surprised at how busy the restaurant was for a Tuesday lunchtime.

If you are in the area I would strongly recommend this to anyone that enjoys quality Chinese food.

• Added: 17th of March 2008
• Area: Maidstone
• Category: Restaurants

Maidstone ME14 5LH
01622 631268

pgt38 said
Chinese Restaurant
Those that have read my review of the Feng Shui Chinese restaurant in Maidstone will know that this is my benchmark for all other Chinese restaurants and this is no different.
Returning from a day out we decided to try somewhere different and agreed on the Noble House.
It was quite quiet when we arrived just after 17:30 on a Sunday, just two other tables occupied. Initial impressions were all OK; well decorated and a warm greeting. Whilst the greeting was warm having sat down, however, we realised how cold the place was...I was surprised I didn’t see a penguin!
Anyhow, having ordered we were pleased with the starter – shredded smoked chicken and the diced chicken lettuce wrap. The main dishes of plain rice (overcooked), chicken chow mein, fillet steak in pepper sauce and chicken in garlic were all a disappointment. Whilst fresh and hot they were all rather bland.
In summary I still know my favourite!

• Added: 16th of March 2008
• Area: Bromley
• Category: Restaurants

Bromley BR1 1DN
020 8466 8522

pgt38 said
Something for everyone
The venue was chosen for its central location, the menu which needed to cater for a wide range in tastes and its reasonable prices.
Being a Saturday night the place was packed, despite this our table was ready and the service was good and remained constant throughout the evening. We were not rushed and there was a measured time between each course.
All of the courses when of a good size and quality. Amongst the dishes ordered we tried the mussels, cod/spinach croquettes, Crevettes Piquantes (king prawns), battered cod, sirloin steaks, and the Braised lamb shank in a rosemary and garlic jus and several desserts. All were good.

Abbaye, being a Belgium brasserie, if known for its mussel and range of beers...a justified reputation!

• Added: 13th of March 2008
• Area: Aldgate
• Category: Restaurants

London E1 1PY
020 7488 2551

pgt38 said
Beware the hype
Having read numerous reviews of the Lahore Kebab House I was keen to try it myself.

Three of us visit on a Wednesday night. The place is huge and as others have said fairly basic. It reminded me of a (good) works restaurant.

There was a lot of staff and overall the service was good.

Our views on the food were mixed:

Poppadoms – slightly overcooked and the mango sauce and mint sauce were very thin and tasteless.

The mixed platter starter – chicken tikka, lamb tikka, sheek kebab and lamb chops was excellent especially the chops and bread. Their reputation is well deserved.

Main courses include:

Fish curry – good, but not outstanding

A ‘special’ based on a lamb shank. This looked fatty and the sauce watery and unappetising.

Chicken dhal – Very good, plentiful and good quality chicken and full of flavour

Rice dishes were good and very generous. Nann breads were small, thin and not the best at all.

Whilst reasonable it was not cheap when you think that there was no drinks on the bill (it’s a BYO).

Am I pleased I went? – Yes

Would I go again? – No

Would I recommend it to others? I would suggest that it is a worthwhile experience, but be aware of the hype. As I said the place was packed so there must be many other that think otherwise.

• Added: 27th of February 2008
• Area: Derby
• Category: Restaurants

Derby DE24 8HX

pgt38 said
Interesting Location...
If you are eating here the odds are that you are staying at the Express by Holiday Inn on Pride Park. The hotel has no restaurant/room service. Just outside are the Old Orleans and a Harvester. All are situated on a business park which is also the home of Derby FC football ground.

Anyhow, the Old Orleans offers 'Creole' / Southern States influenced dishes. Interstingly mixed in the menu are some pasta dishes.

I opted for the coconut shrimps (very tasty) and with a tierd looking side salad. This was followed by Stciky Chicken - a chicken breast basted with honey and mustard served on a bed on green beans, onions and peppers. All very tasty.

In summary, good qaulity and reasonably priced food and service. All better than the Holiday Inn!

• Added: 25th of February 2008
• Area: Bexley
• Category: Restaurants

Bexley DA5 1PQ

pgt38 said
A good steak house
The Jacobean barn is situated just of the A2, combined with a large car park access is very easy.
Apparently it was previously a Beefeater or similar.
The menu choice was good with a wide range of starters. I selected the chicken and chorizo skewers served on red peppers...very tasty but not too filling.
Being a steak house there are the usual variations of cuts and sauces. Each steak being served with chips or jacket potato, along with a quarter of iceberg lettuce with dressing and their own onion loft. The presentation of the lettuce was somewhat ‘too rustic’ for me. The onion loft reminded of an (un-spiced) onion bhaji ...unusual and quite tasty.
There was a good selection of non-steak options I was very, very tempted by the Mahi Mahi (a firm white fleshed fish from the South Pacific) which you don’t see on many menus. Expecting to be having fish the next day I went with the flow and selected a fillet steak.
Service was good and although a Saturday night we were not rushed and the prices reasonable.
Worth a visit!

• Added: 25th of February 2008
• Area: Chatham
• Category: Restaurants

Chatham ME5 9UD
01634 686648

pgt38 said
Walderslade's Only Restaurant
Walderslade has a wide range of take-aways. A choice of the usual Chinese, fish and chips, kebabs, pizza etc, but only one restaurant....the Taj Cuisine.

The Taj offers all of the Indian menu standards plus a number of specials that are well worth consideration.

They also offer a take-away service. The only down side is to the Taj is the 19:00/21:00 sitting that they won't deviate from and the turn around of 45-50 minutes for take-away orders at weekend.

Otherwise the qaulity of the food and service is very good.

• Added: 20th of February 2008
• Area: Cheltenham
• Category: Restaurants

Cheltenham GL52 2NZ
01242 221763

pgt38 said
Good qaulity and prices
With work taking to Cheltenham this week having checked into the hotel I headed back into town to find somewhere more interesting that the hotel restaurant.

By luck I found the Everest. Having arrived just after 18:00 the restaurant had only just opened. Within the hour and considering that it was a Tuesday night it had become quite busy. The big attraction was the £5.99 buffet that was being offered.

I went for some main menu opitions selecting my favourite of chicken Dansak, pilau rice and a plain nann. I was very impressed the food was very fresh, the portions plentiful and the qaulity and service excellent.

If you are in the area it's worth a visit.