Londoner27's Profile
Groovy place for a b-day partin in Shoreditch/Clerkenwell?
I haven't been there myself but a friend had an anniversary thing at Cellar Gascon and liked the setting and nibbles. Check out http://www.clubgascon.com/cc_cellarmenu.php and http://www.clubgascon.com/cc_privatefunctions.php.
First time in London - dare I ask for recommendations?
1. Petrus, The Capital, any Ramsay place, any of La Trompette/The Glasshouse/Chez Bruce
2. Hakkasan
3. Personal faves are Chuen Chung Ku and Royal China (Baker St branch) but there seem to be others here with better knowledge.
4. Love Rasa Samudra.
5. Ate at Great Queen Street last night and was seriously impressed. Good portions, fantastic hearty/trad staples (loved the crab on toast), reasonably priced wine by the carafe. Also like The Engineer.
6. Awana for Malaysian. Always seems to have half-price specials so check toptable and london-eating before you book.
7. The very very nicest meal I've ever had in London was at Pied a Terre. It costs a small fortune but it's a smaller, more intimate and less well-known/popular than the other top Michelin-starred places. For fun, romantic cheap eats, Andrew Edmunds. For great food in a beautiful setting, Notting Hill Brasserie (bizarrely under-crowded for somewhere that good). For all-round great food, The Ledbury. For fantastic French with a great atmosphere (piano/bass combo most evenings, converted barn feel), Cafe du Marche. Another great French one (but now really hard to get a booking) is Galvin Bistrot du Luxe.
Kew/Brentford/Richmond - what's good?
I would second the Glasshouse heartily. It's under the same ownership as Chez Bruce and La Trompette (haven't been to CB yet but LT is also fab) and has similarities in terms of decor, menu style and management. I organised my dad's 50th birthday there and it couldn't have gone better. It's got a fab location near Kew tube and very close to the Gardens themselves. The staff were extremely helpful and knowledgeable without being officious or snobbish. The food was excellent and there was something on the menu even for the really picky eaters. And it's not a bad prix fixe deal.
Pierre Marcolini & Plantations chocolates, London
There is also a whole Marcolini store in Kensington, in the little square behind Church Street just off the High Street. The only thing about Marcolini chocs is that, unbelievably gorgeous though they definitely are, the prices here are comically high...almost worth getting a cheapo Eurostar and going wild in the Place du Grand Sablon.
Has anyone found a London stockist of Wittamer? They are my absolute favourites on the chocolate front (controversially, just ahead of Marcolini) and I can't find them anywhere outside Belgium.
Laduree & Morelli's @ Harrods, Knightsbridge, London
Did you try the pastries? If so, how do they compare with, say, Patisserie Valerie and Maison Blanc?
Wagamama what the deal?
Their sushi and sashimi is OK - not super, not bad for the price. Their egg fried rice, stir-fry-like stuff and other hot dishes are pretty grim - rubbery chicken, lukewarmish, really food of last resort.
Much better if you are prepared to tolerate chain sushi - and with some delicious smoothies - is Abokado. Have always found their sashimi to be nice and fresh. Their wraps are also excellent.
Good burgers in London.
I've had good burgers at Dollar Grills and Martinis, Exmouth Market (not a place for a quiet evening but great fun with a lot of mates and some nice cocktails) and Hugo's on Exhibition Road near South Ken tube station (nice organic food, friendly service, reasonable prices for the neighbourhood).
COOKBOOK OF MONTH OF APRIL: Roast Chicken & Other Stories by S. Hopkinson
Fun read, some nice recipes but agree too idiosyncratic to be of any real help to a beginner. Father Kitchen, has your niece got Nigel Slater's Real Fast Food and Real Food? Now _those_ are far stronger contenders for the title of "Most Useful Cookbook Ever"...
Lobster for £4.90!
Hi,
I don't know if this is already being covered on another board but...did anyone who has ever seen a fish before catch the first episode of the new Apprentice? Nearly died of laughter...monkfish and turbot look the same, apparently...confusion over whether the salmon was a salmon because the fish had its mouth open...lobster being sold at £4.90 and no one raising an eyebrow for hours...
Maybe it says something really sad about how much fresh fish we eat nowadays and how often (or not) young people go to a fishmonger's. Either way - ROFL!
Need help in London
Sorry to hear you were underwhelmed by Latium - I last ate there 7 months ago so maybe standards have slipped.
I agree with you about Passione - didn't like the atmosphere and wasn't wowed. I also agree that Sardo & S Canale are not what they were: still pleasant but smaller portions, higher prices and not the same standard.
To be honest, I can't really think of any 'staples' either (save for Spacca Napoli and Ciao Bella at the cheap end). Caldesi is pleasant but nothing special, Camerino likewise, and the old Giardinetto (amazing dishes, hideous decor) has apparently moved and become much worse.
I've never been to the River Cafe or Locanda Locatelli, which are probably the two Italian places in London that are the most talked-about - have you tried either of them? (Although I guess at the prices, they're not exactly "standbys"!)
venezuelan black
Agree the series was essentially a lengthy product plug and the notion that the family was wavering near the poverty line was laughable. But it looks like a fun ingredient. According to http://venezuelanblack.com/ it should be available in Waitrose. Recipes all seem to be available at http://venezuelan-black.co.uk/.
Need help in London
For fish: Back to Basics on Foley Street (Fitzrovia). Crowded tables, somewhat random service but huge portions of fresh "catch of the day" fish served nicely. Apparently the newly-reopened Scott's on Mount Street (Mayfair) is superb - haven't been (yet!).
For Italian: Latium on Berners Street (Fitzrovia) - great fish ravioli. Oliveto on Elizabeth Street (Victoria) for pizzas/pastas. Apparently its sister restaurants, Olivo & Olivomare (both in the same neck of the woods, v convenient for Westminster) are also good. Olivomare is a specialist Italian seafood place, so would be right up your street. For cheap 'n' cheerful but still good, Spacca Napoli in Soho & Ciao Bella on Lamb's Conduit Street (Holborn).
For Indian: If you want a pricey but good curry in Westminster, the Cinnamon Club on Greath Smith Street is fun.
College student visiting London
Ahem, "amazingly cheap"... Although actually I don't think it's half bad! Have eaten far worse at twice the price. And the atmosphere is fun if you're into lino and retro decor.
College student visiting London
Near the Tate Modern: would second the suggestion of Borough Market. You are also near Baltic (not so cheap but fun) and the Anchor & Hope (great gastropub, mile-long queues).
Near the British Museum: Edokko and Ciao Bella. Or if you just want volume grub, the Hare & Tortoise (used to be somewhere random in Bloomsbury, think it's now moved to the Brunswick Centre) or Busaba Eatthai.
Near the Royal Academy: the Patisserie Valerie almost opposite for the most amazing cakes and pastries. (Haven't been into the new Laduree in the Burlington Arcade and it looks v pricey but great for those with a sweet tooth.)
Near the National Gallery: cheapish middle-Eastern-style wraps etc at Souk; amazingly cheap curry at the India Club on the Strand (second floor of the Continental Hotel).
Would second enthusiastically the set-menu lunches at nice restaurants idea. Arbutus in Soho (sister of Wild Honey) does a £15.50 set lunch, as does Galvin Bistrot de Luxe on Baker Street (lovely French brasserie-style grub). Andrew Edmunds in Soho is very good value by London standards.
Bagels and steaks in London
I'm in the south-west (Baron's Court/Fulham) so places in the NW like Golders Green are a fair old trek for brunch on a Sunday morning...or maybe I'm just lazy!
Thanks for the tips about Scandi Kitchen and Fika - the latter looks very interesting. To continue the Scandi theme, a friend has just sent me an email alerting me to the Nordic Bakery (W1F 9JG, near Picc Circus) and saying that the cinnamon buns are amazing...
London: Bloomsbury suggestions
Konaki - went about 8 years ago and it was OK but nothing amazing. Would recommend the Real Greek above it.
Navarro - you will be disappointed if you go after Fino. Just not the same league.
Roku - do you mean Roka? If so, pricey but rather good. Same stable as Zuma, another high-end Japanese eaterie.
I think that in Bloomsbury, you can do better. Specifically...
Bam-bou - beautiful decor, fab seafood, great combinations of flavours.
Cleveland Kitchen - well-priced local.
Latium - awesome Italian, bit pricier than the above. Try the fish ravioli.
Camerino - not in the same league as Latium but still decent local Italian.
Ciao Bella - top top tip. Cheap by London standards, friendly and reliable Italian.
Archipelago - wasn't wowed by the atmosphere and found it a bit noisy but hey, how many opportunities do you get to eat crispy locust and zebra with red wine & juniper?
The Perseverance - good pub food.
Edokko - _great_ Japanese food, reasonable prices.
Ikkyu (?sp - may have name wrong) - hard-to-find Japanese on Tottenham Ct Road (I think it's somewhere around Goodge St, couldn't be sure) with good sushi.
Busaba Eathai - just off TCR, fun atmosphere.
And if money is not an obstacle and you want a fantastic meal, Pied a Terre. One of the best meals I have ever eaten.
Bagels and steaks in London
Hi London hounds,
I've lived here for 8 years now and have still failed to find (1) anywhere in central/West London that does really good bagels (no, I'm not going to travel to Golders Green or Hendon and yes, I do know about the Brick Lane Bakery), and (2) a really, really South African/NYC-class steak joint. I'd be very grateful for recommendations on either front. In particular, has anyone tried the Popeseye in Fulham?
Thanks!
Londoner27
PS: Any views on the new Cafe Anglais in Bayswater?
PPS: Any recs for Baltic/Scandi food now that Lundums is gone?
best everyday italian in London
Would second Spacca Napoli - awesome pizzas. Also a big fan of L'Artista in Golders Green, Caldesi in Marylebone, Sardo in Fitzrovia & Sardo Canale in Primrose Hill (although both are now much more expensive than they used to be - touching Locanda price levels), Latium in Fitzrovia (try the fish raviolis) and Oliveto in Westminster.
Would like some London advice
1. For fish and chips, a new eco-friendly Chelsea chippie called Tom's Place has just opened. It uses sustainable fish such as gurnard instead of cod. Probably pretentious and overpriced, definitely _not_ your traditional f'n'c but a nice idea and it's had some great reviews in the national and London press.
2. Dunno - not a fan of traditional British pub grub. The Perseverance on Lamb's Conduit does nice food but it probably counts as 'gastro'.
3. I went to Cafe Spice Namaste for a work 'do' and thought it was great. Rasa Samudra (Charlotte St?) does great veggie and seafood-heavy curries and there's a really great place near Gloucester Road tube station - sorry, have completely forgotten the name!
4. Great Queen Street, The Narrow, Rules for game.
5. Vingt-Quatre in Chelsea is open, as the name suggests, 24-7 and does decent grub (although not greasy spoon if that's what you're after). High Road Brasserie is out in Chiswick but opens at 7am and is generally a great place for breakfast/brunch/lunch/coffee with mates.
Gay Hussar - fun downstairs decor if you're into political sketches but food has really gone downhill and upstairs is completely devoid of atmosphere.
Jenny Lo's - dunno, never been.
Chinatown is not where I would go for good Chinese. Head to Royal China for dim sum (any branch but Baker St is a bit nicer than Queensway), Four Seasons on Queensway for other Chinese.
Tea in London?
I would second Tea Palace: a real gem with lovely brunches and desserts too. I've heard that The Lanesborough is supposed to do the best teas in London. I went there for brunch and thought it was a stunning setting but overpriced for the food. The National Dining Rooms are also supposed to be good for tea: great opportunity to combine with a bit of art.
