• Added: 14th of July 2008
• Area: Warrington
• Category: Bars and Pubs

Warrington WA2 8LF

sarah73076 said
The Swan
Great place for a meal, if you can find a table! This pub always seems to be crowded, which speaks to the quality of the food.

• Added: 14th of July 2008
• Area: Lymm
• Category: Restaurants

Lymm WA13 9SD

sarah73076 said
Fantastic French Food in an unexpected place
This restaurant was recommended to us by a former Lymm resident, and it certainly seem to be a favourite of the locals, particularly those celebrating birthdays! I would suggest dressing a bit smarter than we did (jeans and tshirts), as you'll feel a bit out of place among the ladies in dresses.

The menu is a variety of French dishes, two courses for £18 or three for £23 (if I remember rightly). There is a great wine list and very friendly and helpful staff. I even said during dinner that I've never seen a UK restaurant where the staff seemed to be so concerned about the customer!

To start, I had asparagus and parma ham with goat cheese (great flavours together). We both had the beef fillet with bleu cheese (excellent). My partner had what he says was the best creme brulee he's ever eaten (and he's had a lot of them). I had the cheese plate with some of the best cheese I've tasted in ages.

• Added: 14th of July 2008
• Area: Warrington
• Category: Restaurants

Warrington WA4 2AG

sarah73076 said
Sunday Bargain
Wandering around Stockton Heath and found this lovely Chinese Restaurant. For only £12.50, 12-6pm on Sundays, they have an all you can eat special. You get soup, two starters, a main course with rice, and a choice of two desserts, and if you actually have room after that, you can order another helping (but I doubt you'd need it). The service was excellent and the food delicious and well presented.

• Added: 26th of July 2007
• Area: Charing Cross
• Category: Restaurants

London SW1Y 5DL
020 7925 0077

sarah73076 said

Very overrated, I wish people would stop suggesting having meetups there!

• Added: 26th of July 2007
• Area: Covent Garden
• Category: Restaurants

London WC2B 5PW
020 7242 8600

sarah73076 said

Can you say happy hour? Half price cocktails from 5-7pm on Fridays make it an excellent place to go after work. The mojitos are the best I've ever had, also the caipirinhas are great (and I normally don't like any mixed drinks!). The dance floor is surrounded by big picnic style tables which you can reserve. Tends to be crowded on Friday nights, not sure what it's like on other days. The bar food is a bit on the expensive side, but very tasty Brazilian nibbles.

• Added: 11th of February 2007
• Area: Holborn
• Category: Restaurants

London WC2B 6EP
020 7430 1888

sarah73076 said
The sushi counter experience at Sushi Hiroba
My friend and I had stumbled out of the Covent Garden area after post-work drinks, and spotted this new place on Kingsway.

The food was not the most impressive thing about Sushi Hiroba, but the brilliant black/red interior decoration along with the experience of sitting at the counter watching the different concoctions go around made it well worth it. I don't have a ton of experience with sushi restaurants, but I thought the sushi was okay-decent, if a little pricey for what it was.

You can order off the menu if you are sitting in booths around the sides of the restaurant, or just grab your dishes off the revolving belt and pay according to the colour of the dish. Many of the dishes going around are just samples, so if you like the look of something you have to ask for it to be specially made.

In summary, go for the decoration/experience, the food is secondary.

• Added: 11th of February 2007
• Area: Clerkenwell
• Category: Bars and Pubs

London EC1N 6SJ
020 7405 4751

sarah73076 said
Hidden London: Ye Olde Mitre Pub
Ye Olde Mitre is one of those pubs that you'd never find unless you were looking for it. Best directions are to go to Holborn Circus, and as you're facing the Natwest Bank on the corner, the pub is BEHIND Natwest, located in a tiny alleyway accessible from either side. You feel as though you've stepped into the 16th century as you go in. Low beamed ceilings, dark wooden furniture, incredibly friendly if slightly inebriated staff pulling pints and making recommendations, elderly gentlemen in the corner smoking pipes. There were lots of younger professional types as well, as is expected in that area.

Downstairs has two main rooms no bigger than your average house's reception, and a narrow twisting staircase leads up to another room of about the same size with high tables and barstools (no upstairs bar, so be prepared to carefully carry up there).

No music, but I like that...just the sounds of banter and people winding down after a hard day at work. The drinks are on the inexpensive side for London, so all around it's a nice place to go with your mates after work. Food is served in the form of toasted sandwiches and crisps, not much else.

• Added: 11th of February 2007
• Area: Holloway
• Category: Bars and Pubs

London N7 6DN

sarah73076 said
Thai food in an unlikely place
This pub was not what I expected, but in a good way! It has the look and feel of a modern style, non-pretentious pub, but when you get the food menu, it's Thai/Fusion instead of the expected posh pub fare. I had the chicken green curry which was lovely and spicy, along with a vegetable tempura to start. The food was reasonably priced, as were the drinks, and service quite good. The Tollington Arms operates more as a pub than a restaurant (or so it seemed that night), but it's definitely worth going for the food! Crowd was mainly young professionals, and the atmosphere was quite relaxed.

• Added: 11th of February 2007
• Area: Greenwich
• Category: Restaurants

London SE10 9BL
020 8858 2688

sarah73076 said
Cheap noodle bar in Greenwich
This cash only noodle bar has been jammed full every time we've gone, but that's to be expected with them serving cheap and tasty food in a central location! A meal for two with starters and non-alcoholic beverages will only set you back about 16, so it certainly won't break the bank.

If you've ever been to the chain 'Noodle Time' you've got a pretty good idea of what Tai Won Mein is serving. Starters include pork dumplings and spring rolls, mains are mostly noodle or rice based dishes served in sauce or broth. They do freshly pressed juices as well (try the apple!).

Seating is communal on benches, not a place to go for a private conversation. The crowd is pretty diverse, several different languages being spoken, ages ranging from teens to 60+. This is a good place to go for a quick bite after a hard day, when you can't be bothered to cook!

• Added: 11th of February 2007
• Area: Greenwich
• Category: Restaurants

London SE10 9BJ

sarah73076 said
Best Mexican in London so far.....
I'm quite skeptical about most Mexican food in London, simply because I grew up in a part of the U.S. where you can find really decent independent Mexican restaurants run by actual Mexicans. Therefore, I avoid most purported 'Mexican' chain restaurants as they are usually crap.

I was pleasantly surprised by Desperados, even with the fairly cheesy decor. Dimly lit, cowhides on the walls, faux 'rustic', you've seen it before. Desperados has two dining rooms and bars. It's the upper level that adds a bit of a twist--apparently in an effort to use all the space available, about half the tables are only accessible by going up an individual ladder to your booth! Ladies, don't wear a skirt, and no one should drink too many alcoholic beverages when sitting up there--it's an accident waiting to happen. Still makes it interesting though.

On to the food. I've been to this place twice and both times the food was excellent. Properly done nachos, yummy enchiladas, juicy steaks. Service has always been good. Full drinks menu with many cocktails to try. Prices are pretty reasonable with most dishes under 10. If you're in Greenwich and want Mexican, avoid Cafe Sol like the plague and go to Desperados instead!