• Added: 10th of May 2008
• Area: Richmond
• Category: Bars and Pubs

Richmond TW10 6NQ
020 8875 7000

sue said
New look Marlborough
Since my last review, The Marlborough had slowly been going downhill…. that was until this week when it re-opened after a complete re-furbishment and is looking good! The bar area has been given a glitzy overhaul, with fancy wallpaper and comfy furniture. Things get even better as you move outside - the covered dining area has been renovated very nicely and now looks more like a nice restaurant than a pub dining-annexe. The massive been garden is looking good too, with more tables and even some table service out there now.

We went on re-opening night, had some drinks and then a meal. The young staff were very friendly, though seemed a bit nervous with first night jitters. The food was ok - gastropub fare as opposed to pub grub, though a few teething problems which hopefully they will iron out in due course.

There is no doubt we will be back regularly - this is our local after all. As I write this the sun is shining and that beer garden is beckoning!

• Added: 10th of May 2008
• Area: Richmond
• Category: Bars and Pubs

Richmond TW9 1HH
020 8940 0427

sue said
Richmond, but not as we know it
SoBar is a small bar located on a narrow lane in Richmond. A welcome relief from the large High Street chains, it is stylish and intimate, and feels more like a West End cocktail bar.

The more upmarket atmosphere comes with a price though, with cocktails being more expensive than many of the bars nearby - worth getting there early in the evening for happy hour. That said, the cocktails we have sampled were tasty.

There is a small menu offering bar food and larger meals, though I haven't tried any of the food as yet. A friend tells me there is jazz on a Wednesday night, so I will have to get back to check it out.

• Added: 10th of May 2008
• Area: Richmond
• Category: Bars and Pubs

Richmond TW9 1EH
020 8940 1379

sue said
Vodka Vodka Vodka
Revolution is a large bar located by the river in Richmond. Part of a chain, Revolution is a place for vodka lovers - they offer a menu full of vodka based drinks and cocktails, along with beer, wine and all the other usual options.

I was impressed by the airy interior and high ceilings. Large windows let in lots of light and offered some views of the river which is just metres away. The bar runs along one wall and was hectic when we stopped by late on a Friday afternoon. Service was incredibly slow, though it was worth the wait as our drinks were delicious - I had a Bison Grass Mojito and loved it, very refreshing on a warm evening.

As mentioned, the bar is located right by the river, and as the weather was so glorious we asked for our drinks to be served in (hard) plastic glassed so we could go outside and find a seat by the river.

• Added: 10th of May 2008
• Area: Richmond
• Category: Bars and Pubs

Richmond TW9 1LX
020 8940 4372

sue said
Historic Pub on Richmond Green
The Cricketers is an historic pub located opposite Richmond Green. Split over two floors it is a very popular place for a drink, a cheap meal or to watch the sport. On a sunny day it is nice to sit upstairs with the window open, looking over the Green, or if you are lucky you may bag one of the tables out the front.

My last visit was on the day of the Richmond May Fair and the pub was filled to the brim with people having lunch or a refreshing pint after a browse at the fair. We just stopped by for a quick beer, which we took out the front and perched on the neighbours steps to enjoy as all of the pubs outdoor seats were in high demand.

• Added: 10th of May 2008
• Area: Richmond
• Category: Take Aways

Richmond TW10 6NE
020 8948 3399

sue said
Love that Crispy Duck
The Good Earth Express is my local Chinese take away/delivery place. Open 7 days, it is a good option for those occasions when we feel like a treat but don't fancy going out to eat. The staff are all friendly, food is always ready quickly and ingredients are of a good quality.

Most of the dishes we have ordered from there have been good, but the stand out favourite at our house is the Crispy Duck Pancakes - love that hoi sin sauce that goes with it! I also like their very flavoursome Chicken & Cashew nuts which comes with a mass of cashews. They also offer some Thai dishes, though we have just stuck to the Chinese options to date.

• Added: 10th of May 2008
• Area: Marylebone
• Category: Restaurants

London W1U 2QF
020 7935 1144

sue said
Italian Bar & Brasserie
Caffe Caldesi is a café/bar/brasserie located just off Marylebone High Street. We popped in there for a drink one evening before visiting Le Relais de Venise next door for the most delicious steak and chips.

It was a mild evening, but unfortunately there were no free tables outside (there are only a couple, which are no doubt in high demand), so we had to sit inside. We opted for a table as opposed to milling around the bar, as we were exhausted from a busy shopping expedition. We just had some drinks, but those eating around us seemed to be enjoying their food and it looked good.

When we arrived the atmosphere was a little subdued, though service was fast and friendly. By the time we left, it was more lively, though service suffered as a result.

• Added: 1st of May 2008
• Area: Whitstable
• Category: Bars and Pubs

Whitstable CT5 4BP
01227 273370

sue said
Worth the trek
If you find yourself down Whitstable way, and you want to have a fantastic meal (Michelin starred no less) in a very relaxed environment (run-down looking pub) off the beaten track (in the middle of nowhere), then I can highly recommend The Sportsman.

This pub is located in Seasalter, a couple of miles from Whitstable in Kent. We trekked down from London one Friday specifically for lunch at The Sportsman, as the reviews were good, and the menu sounded even better. Make sure you pre-book. When we arrived, several groups of people were being turned away as they were fully booked.

We were given a very warm welcome and allocated a huge table for the four of us, in the main bar area. The menu was blackboard style, and the emphasis was on seafood. Service was relaxed and incredibly friendly - just place your order at the counter and your meals will be delivered when ready.

The meal started with the appearance of a large bread board with some warm foccacia and sour dough, and some tasty little olives, all complimentary. For our first course we chose the Mussel & Bacon Chowder; the Lobster Raviolo with Lobster Bisque; and the Smoked Mackerel, Bramley Apple jelly & Soda bread. The chowder was good, but the Lobster dish was amazing - so rich, creamy, delicious. Wow.

Main courses chosen were the Poached Duck Egg, new season asparagus & Seasalter ham salad (actually a starter); the Seared Thornback Ray with brown butter, split peas & sherry wine vinegar; and the Roast Monkshill Farm Pork Belly & apple sauce. The standout was the Pork Belly - the pork really melted in your mouth, and although the other dishes were excellent we all had pork-envy.

Pretty full by now, but wanting to enjoy all that The Sportsman had to offer, we shared a couple of desserts - the Warm Chocolate Mousse with salted caramel, and milk sorbet; and the Blood Orange Ice Lolly, cake-milk & Moscow Mule. The mousse was like a very thick hot chocolate and the salted caramel worked so well.

Absolutely loved our lunch at The Sportsman and have already put it back on the to-do list!

• Added: 30th of April 2008
• Area: Covent Garden
• Category: Restaurants

London WC2N 4HG
020 7240 1883

sue said
Mexican Deliciousness
Wahaca, a trendy new Mexican restaurant near Covent Garden, is a busy place. Arriving at 6pm (pre-theatre) there was already a queue. Thankfully it was a short wait and we were soon seated in a good position with a view of the kitchen.

This is not the place for a lingering romantic meal - it is large, noisy, and service is fast. Perfect for a quick meal before heading elsewhere. Staff are everywhere and several different people attended to our needs throughout the meal.

Wahaca specialises in "Mexican Market Eating", serving up small portions perfect for sharing - Mexican tapas if you like. You can order a "Wahaca Selection" - a set platter with an assortment of small dishes, or make up your own selection. They also have larger meals, such as Burritos, Enchiladas or even a steak, and the various salads served in a crispy tortilla bowl looked great.

We ordered a selection of dishes along with the Wahaca Selection, between four of us. The food was plentiful, cheap and delicious. Particularly loved the steak tacos and the side dishes of frijoles and esquites.

For dessert we shared some Mango sorbet (icy delicious), and some Churros y chocolate - Mexican donuts which you dip in a rich chocolate sauce. Unfortunately the churros were very oily, though the chocolate sauce was mmmm good.

• Added: 29th of April 2008
• Area: Maida Vale
• Category: Restaurants

London W9 1EH
020 7592 7960

sue said
Ramsay in Maida Vale
Family visiting from Australia wanted a Gordon Ramsay experience, but not one of the expensive ones. That meant a visit to one of his pubs was in order, and we decided on the newest one - The Warrington, in Maida Vale.

Loved the look of the downstairs bar, and the lovely tiled entrance, but as we had already had drinks at the nearby Prince Alfred, we headed straight upstairs. The dining room looked posher than I was expecting - definitely more restaurant than gastropub. Our waitress was lovely, and patient, though some of the other staff seemed pretty inexperienced.

I was disappointed that there was nothing that really appealed to me on the menu. Thankfully my dining companions were more enthused and had trouble choosing between a few dishes. In the end, they started with the Scallops with pea puree and mint vinaigrette, the Black pudding salad with poached egg and mustard dressing, and the Cured Salmon. I tasted each dish and have to say that the scallops were very good, can't remember the last time I tasted them so perfectly cooked.

For main course I stuck with my old favourite - the Ribeye steak with chips - the steak was cooked as requested and nice and flavoursome. The others had the Roasted baby chicken with traditional garnish, and the Choucroute garnie - both dishes were nicely presented and happily polished off. We opted for some old favourites for dessert - the Chocolate fondant, and the Rhubarb & apple crumble. Both were as expected, tasty.

Although we enjoyed our meal, there was something not quite right about the experience - I think it may have had to do with the fact that The Warrington is billed as a gastropub, but is more formal than that. For a more relaxed Ramsay-gastropub experience, I think I'll stick to The Devonshire, in Chiswick.

• Added: 29th of April 2008
• Area: Kensington
• Category: Food and Drink

London W8 5BP
020 7937 1473

sue said
Kensington Cupcakes
Currently being addicted to cupcakes, when I read about the Buttercup Cake Shop in Kensington I added it straight to my to-do list. A couple of weeks later I came up with the ingenious plan of taking my sister and her BF to Whole Foods, but beforehand suggested we head to Buttercup for morning tea, as it is not a good idea to visit Whole Foods on an empty stomach!

Buttercup is hidden away, a few blocks back from Kensington High Street. It is a small shop with only a couple of tables, and a small display cabinet of delicious looking cupcakes. There is a good range of flavours - the friendly American owner has bought over some American recipes, and added a few British concoctions as well. You can eat in (with a cuppa) or take away, and they also offer delivery.

Between the three of us we sampled four cupcakes - the Mocca, Banoffee, Chocolate Peanut Butter, and the St George's Day special - which was a vanilla cupcake with red and white icing. My sister and her BF liked the Banoffee best, while my favourite was the Chocolate Peanut Butter - yum!