• Added: 21st of October 2007
• Area: Paris
• Category: Restaurants

Paris 75013

reenie said
Pho (pronounced "Fur")
I once convinced a friend Pho was made up of noodles, soup and cat skin, hence the name "Fur" :)

Le Bambou was packed and we had to wait awhile, and the restaurant manager was laughing at us cause we couldn't speak Vietnamese or French, but it was also dang good Pho. Just how good is this restaurant? Well, it makes the owner rich enough to be able to afford lots of jade bling. I'm talking BIG jade bling. Doesn't come cheap. The ultimate testament came when my Dad, someone who eats nothing but oriental food, left the restaurant without complaining *phew*

If you're new to this Pho business, it's a giant bowl of beef stock packed with rice noodles, rare slices of steak, tripe, and beef balls. Mmmm... Bovine goodness. I wish London had it this good.

• Added: 21st of October 2007
• Area: Brompton
• Category: Restaurants

London W1K 1LB
020 7447 4747

reenie said
Splashing out
I've been surviving on premium apple muffins lately. So I was really looking forward to NOBU. Verdict?

Urm... Majority of the dishes seemed too salty to me. And I usually take a lot of soy sauce in my diet. Sorry, it's probably not what you want to hear. Don't worry, I still ate everything on my plate ;)

The signature miso black cod was great, but it left me hankering for something more... delicate in taste.

Quality seafood produce. However, it's 70 quid for the omakase. I wouldn't expect anything less than quality. It'd be interesting to try the 90 quid omakase to see the difference. Apparently, it's meant to be more traditional in preparation. However, for somewhere that's rated so highly for Japanese, I have to say I've had better. I wonder if this is what happens when renown chefs branch out and open so many restaurants globally.

Me: "As a souvenir, can you get the chefs to sign the sake menu for me please?"
(Waiter goes away for awhile)
Waiter: "Do you want the Nobu signature, or the chef's signature?"
Me: "Is Nobu here?"
Waiter: "No" (big smile)
Me: *lol* "Then not Nobu's. Please tell the chefs who prepared my meal I really enjoyed it and I would like their signature."

Website: http://www.noburestaurants.com/

• Added: 14th of August 2007
• Area: Piccadilly Circus
• Category: Nightlife

London W1B 5EL
0207 439 7770

reenie said
Bring cash. Lots of it.
Paper: http://www.paperclublondon.com/

At about 2am last Friday, my stomach retched and the ciabatta topped with Carluccio's sugo al funghi porcini came up. Unbelievably, this is the second time in my life that my stomach contents have wafted a porcini scent at me from the bowl. Traitorous stomach.

It really doesn't take much these days. I think it was 3 vodka lemon limes, and a shot of Belvedere. Incidentally, a shot of Belvedere and a vodka with mixer will set you back at least 18 quids in Paper! I had to get the shot in order to cover the minimum spend before I could put it on my credit card. Traitorous cashless society.

To be honest, I was disappointed with Paper. It'd been hyped as the place where celebs go to be cool. So I was expecting something big, flashy and ostentatious. I wanted Bling, Baby. Instead, I was faced with a ton of burly bouncers, a lack of seating space, and plastic chandeliers. AND, expensive spirits!!! Lucky I'm a cheap drunk. I drowned my sharply lowered expectations in vodka (obviously), and actually had a decent time dancing to remixed choons from the early 90's :)

I was also drunk enough to accost a fierce looking black bouncer.
Me: *Tapping bouncer on his iron forearm* "Excuse me... Can I ask you a question?"
Bouncer: *Pulls out receiver from ear and leans down*
Me: "Have you seen any white guys on the dance floor that can dance??"
Bouncer: *Breaks out into a big grin*
Me: "No, I'm serious. Have you, in all your experience as a bouncer, seen any white guys that can dance?"
Bouncer: "You know what, I spend a lot of time watching. And I have to say they're improving."

Aaah, evolution...

We chat some more, about jazz clubs in Camden, about girls in Paper.
Me: "Do you pick up here?"
Bouncer: "I don't. The girls here, they're here for one reason. Everyone knows it."
Me: *Clueless* "What's the reason?"
Bouncer: "Money! A lot of people with money come here."
Me: "Really? I'm a bit disappointed with this place. It's small. Who's the most famous person you've seen here?"
Bouncer: "I've seen P.Diddy. Even Harry has been here."

Our conversation is cut short by another member of staff. Besides, my girlfriends were giggling at me from the dancefloor.

Ah well, if you're a girl, get on a guestlist and entry is free before 11pm. If you're a guy... it sucks to be you :P

• Added: 14th of August 2007
• Area: Amsterdam
• Category: Restaurants

Amsterdam 1016 HL

reenie said
Gluttony would've been a better name...
Envy: http://www.envy.nl/

*Phwoar* This place is owned by the same people who started Supperclub. For EU$50, we stuffed ourselves silly with the Chef's Choice menu - 3 kinds of deli meats (YUMBO), 4 cold dishes, 4 warm dishes, 3 kinds of cheeses and 4 mini desserts. Gaaawd, I was in heaven with the asparagus and truffle soup. Nothing like the waft of truffle to make me forget my date :P Definitely value for money, and the food was definitely above average. Better than anything you'd find in London for the same price.

What I loved most about the restaurant, was how the produce was displayed in fridges along the wall. Everything looked fresh and delish, and apparently a lot of it is flown in from Italy.

• Added: 28th of July 2007
• Area: Bankside
• Category: Restaurants

London SE1 1TJ
020 7357 8880

reenie said

I haven't had tapas this good since... 3 years ago in Barcelona. My biggest mistake was eating a late breakfast before hitting Brindisa for lunch. However, I'm always up for a challenge! As dish after dish came out, we scoffed tasty morsels down to make room on our tiny table. Patatas tortilla, chorizo tortilla, a selection of cold meaty goodness, garlic prawns, clams with bacon, padron peppers, spiced lamb - we ate a lot for 3 girls!

The only problem is, Brindisa is packed and you might have to wait awhile. But it's definitely worth it.

Website: http://www.brindisa.com

• Added: 19th of July 2007
• Area: Littlehampton
• Category: Restaurants

Littlehampton BN17 5NZ
01903 731 903

reenie said
East Beach Cafe
What can I say? I thought it'd be something different and exciting to visit East Beach Cafe after I had read about it online.

We drove for 2 hours to get to Littlehampton from London. Then waited 40 minutes in line to get in.

It really wasn't worth it.

Which is why I feel really bad for dragging my companion there last Sunday. We were just incredulous at how inefficiently this place operated. We got there to a massive line. I had to hunt down the hostess to put our names down, whilst my companion stood at the end of the line. There were people infront of us who didn't even realise they had to put their name down. It looked like it was about to rain, and there was no cover we could stand under. We were instructed not to wander too far off, incase we were called. If we weren't around when called, we would miss out on our table. Yet, the hostess didn't want to take down my mobile number and call me when my table was available. There were empty tables with no chairs around them inside the restaurant. I don't understand how this place can claim to fit 45 people on their website when it looked like only 20 fit inside. Where the hell was the so called seating for 80 outdoors? Full of crap.

When we finally got in, two waiters couldn't explain to us what the fish special was. The first, a ditzy blonde, said she'd find out, but never came back. The second, was confused between the fish special and the daily fish for the fish and chips. Finally, we flagged down the hostess to explain the menu to us.

The mussels I ordered for entree were good. But, my cutlery arrived after my entree, and I had already started eating by using the shell-pinching technique. Then halfway through my entree, the bread arrives and the bucket for shells. Geezus. What's the point?

My companion's fish came out undercooked and had to be sent back. Both our fish meals were too oily. We didn't stay for dessert.

I just don't understand how someone could spend soo much money on getting a designer building without foreseeing the need for table space. It's a restaurant. Come on!!!

East Beach Cafe - Way overrated. Not worth the drive from London. I'm not even sure if it's worth the drive from Brighton...

Website: http://www.eastbeachcafe.co.uk