bellmeister's Profile
Canton Arms [London]
Yep same people as Anchor & Hope and Great Queen st. The Chef is Trish Hilferty. I have been twice now and can't wait to go back. Tried the terrine starter which was delicious, cassoulet for 2, very rich and filling, duck confit with chicory, chorizo soup and beetroot salad. Havent tried pudding yet though the chocolate pot look nice. They have 3 cask ales on, tried the hobgoblin last night which i liked. Definitely the best pub in the area. Jay Rayner reviewed it in this weeks time out.
Best Turkish food in London?
definitely Mangal 1 in arcola st - great meals for £8-9 and BYO beer/wine. Its not fancy but good value and great food.
Something a bit more upmarket - Kazan City:
http://www.toptable.com/en-gb/venue/?id=6712
Book through top table and get 50% off food.
Manhattan Report
Just got back from a week in New York. Had an awesome time and some great food. First the battle of the pizza's.
After researching on Chowhound, we tries Lombardi's, Arturo's and Pizza Mezzaluna. They were all good but Lombardi's was a clear winner, probably the best pizza I have ever eaten. I though at Arturo's the crust was too charred and the toppings not as tasty as lombardi's.
J G Melon - excellent burger, felt like a local here.
Jean Georges - very good value lunch menu here, $14 per plate, you need 3 though. Food was fresh and well presented, heavy seafood influence. Overall it was very good but not 'mind blowing'. The tuna ribbons with avacado, spicy radish and ginger marinade was a standout dish, as was the fois gras brulee with pineapple meyer and lemon jam. I didnt feel the lemon foam worked with the sea trout sashimi though.
Daniels Bagels - ok but quite expensive
Mavens Bagels - had a few breakfasts here, good bagels and nice pastrami sandwich. Good value.
Katz's Deli - a great experience and a very good pastrami on rye, although at $14.95 quite expensive and I finished mine quite easily. Not a huge as i was expecting.
Virgil's real BBQ - meat lovers paradise, we shared a platter and we coudn't finish it. Quite good but not outstanding. Very touristy.
Off to Rome next week, it will be interesting to see how the pizza compares....
Rome report (long)
Thanks for the great report, I look forward to trying them out in May. Keep up the good work!
Cheap eats in Seville?
my favourite was Las Columnas, authentic tapas ranging from €1.20-2.70. Beer and coffee both €1. They chalk your bill up on the bar as you go, throw your tips into a basketball ring behing the bar. Dont expect them to speak english though, there was only only guy there that could. Try the rabbit (conejo), still dreaming about it.
An affordable dinner in London?
glad you enjoyed it bcnstony, i agree it is a bit froofy, certainly wouldnt want to eat there every week, but its nice for a special occasion. As you say it is incedible value for central London.
An affordable dinner in London?
Definitely recomment the landau, in Langhams hotel. Its high end but if you book through toptable.co.uk they do 3 courses with a glass of laurent perrier champagne for £27.50per head. Even with a bottle of wine and 12.5% service it will still be under your budget. I have been twice now and it was fantastic both times.
http://www.toptable.co.uk/venues/restaurants/?id=6956
http://www.thelandau.com/landau_london.html
If you like red wine try the harewood estate cab merlot - at £36 its outstanding.
Anyone have insider tips on Bali?
Mosaic is the best restaurant in Ubud, its not cheap but we thought it was well worth it. Watch out for the monkeys in the monkey park!
Sydney Food Itinerary
Why has no one mentioned Tetsuya's? It's the best restaurant in Australia and the 10 course degu menu is good value at $195. Might be hard to get a booking though.
4 days in Seville
I had 4 days in seville last year and my favourite place by far was this place:
Las Columnas (Bodega Santa Cruz) |
: c/ Rodrigo Caro / corner of c/Mateos Gago. :
: Typical Andalusian
Close to the Cathedral with a sign that reads Bodega Santa Cruz. Don't believe it - everyone here calls it Las Columnas. There are a few tables inside and outside but in general very little seating. People tend to crowd around the bar to order tapas while the bartenders keep their tab running on the bar in grease pencil. Most of the bartenders have been in Las Columnas forever and are accustomed to helping foreigners with their order, even if it means simply pointing to the chalk board. The chaotic pace of the place means their patience has a limit: don't be surprised if they walk away as you decide, only to come back in 20 seconds to see if you are ready. Always a mix of lost looking tourists and locals. Tapas are between 1,40 - 2,20€, and if you tip you may see them throw it through the Chicago Bulls nerf hoop and into the pot. Damn, they renovated and the nerf hoop is gone. Hooray - they added a refrigerated room to keep the Cruzcampo extra cold! I have dreams about the ensaladilla at night...
ensaladilla (potato salad with tuna, crab, peas, carrots)
flamenquin (pork wrapped in ham and filled with cheese then deep fried - can you say Homer Simpson?)
pinchito de cerdo (brochette of seasoned pork)
montaditos (grilled sandwiches - various)
gazpacho
pollo frito (fried morsels of chicken)
my favourite was the rabbit though.
Enjoy!
Paris - 5th arrondissement Restaurants
Taking my mum to paris on her first overseas trip. Can anyone recommend any good value restaurants in the 5th?
Dining in Perth?
The best restaurant in your area is balthazar, very close to the convention centre. It is upmarket though. Another good one close by is the CBD restaurant in the Rydges Hotel. I have also eaten at gusti a few times and it was also very good, though not as close. If you go to Leederville, try Duende, great for a glass of wine, tapas of a full meal. Enjoy!
