Regent St / Heddon St lunch? [London]

Leon for things like grilled chicken salads, super-food salads and freshly squeezed orange juices. Of the sandwich chains, I like EAT, and there's one right there on Piccadilly.

You're not far from Le Pain Quotidien on Great Marlborough Street (near Liberty) - pretty poor service (on the three occasions I've been), but good bread, soups and salads in an airy setting, with some long shared tables. There's a branch of Ping Pong on GMS too, if you fancy dim sum.

For something more literary, and with a view, try the Waterstones Cafe, also on Piccadilly.

olive_surprise in U.K./Ireland

London--Any great restaurants near Canary Warf?

Jamie's Italian - just remember that you can't book, you just turn up. We waited for an hour (this was a couple of weeks after opening), but it was OK - get a G&T, watch the world go by. A right mish-mash of styles inside - from Tuscan rustic to graffitied staircases to legs of ham strung up around the place.

You can see a sample menu here: http://bit.ly/3797QK - we had antipasti that included stuffed peppers, anchovies and ricotta cheese. Then I had sardines for main, while my boyfriend had sausage papardelle. Probably the best thing is that most courses are available in small and large sizes.

I don't think it'll necessarily be the absolute best food of your life...but it's very buzzy, by the water, lots of opportunity for people-watching and you'll have a good night.

For food in town - try Mark Hix's Albemarle (off Bond Street) for melt-in-the-mouth Lancashire hotpot and other outstanding British classics.

olive_surprise in U.K./Ireland

Visiting Venice for Two Days next month - variety of inquiries

First off - lucky you going to Venice for the first time - it'll be everything you hoped. If you're arriving by train - have your camera ready for the jaw-dropping walking out of the stazione moment.

Recently returned from Venice (mid-late October), and, while I don't think Venice really offers the best of the best food in Italy, we did have some stand-out dishes.

We took a lot of notice of this (slightly old) article from Angela Hartnett: http://bit.ly/uiK0B, and I asked elsewhere on this board, too.

Our big ticket meal was at Fiaschetteria Toscana (for my boyfriend's 40th), where we had little tiny razor clams and shrimps with soft polenta for starters, then bigoli con soar and spaghetti con vongole for first courses. For a fish course, we shared grilled John Dory. Sides were braised red chicory and artichoke hearts. No meat course - too full. Pudding is a blur I'm afraid, too much Prosecco to start.

We had seriously good food at Ostaria Da Rioba, in Cannaregio (http://www.italyheaven.co.uk/veneto/venice/restaurants.html#darioba), including a rocket, gorgonzola, pear and super-fresh walnut salad - mmm.

Another place - more for a late night grappa - al Timon, also in Cannaregio on Fondamenta Ormesini. The food looked interesting from a distance - more like tapas, rather than big plates, and as far off the beaten track as you get in central Venice, really.

We had a nice pasta with langoustines lunch down on the Zattere - I've failed to remember the name of it I'm afraid, and have lost the receipt - but very close to the waterbus stop, with a terrace over the water.

The rest of the time, we cooked at home (we rented an apartment) - which meant we could try out produce from the markets, and save some money.

One last thing - try the Aperol with local white wine and soda - fab.

olive_surprise in Italy

Make our Vacation Great: Tuscany/Umbria (Oriveto), Florence, Como/Tremezzo, Milan

Hi, we were in Bellagio three weeks ago. We headed up to the punta, away from the main streets - right at the top of the tip, to http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g187834-d1504462-Reviews-La_Punta_Ristorante-Bellagio_Lake_Como_Lombardy.html - and it was good. Very good.

Just for lunch, with spaghetti alla bottarga for me, and perch with fried potatoes for him. The big draw here, is the view - you won't be back-to-back with other people, or facing a wall or a street - you look right up the lake, and you can peer into super-clear, fish-filled water. Some photos of the area here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/vicg/3913815480/in/set-72157622224864241/

NB - the road up the east of Lake Como is far windier and slow than the one up the west, as you drive from Como to Bellagio.

olive_surprise in Italy

40th birthday in Venice

So this trip has finally come round - next week! I'm still tussling between two restaurants - Fiaschetteria Toscana and Bistrot de Venise. What are the pros and cons of both? Thanks so much...

olive_surprise in Italy

40th birthday in Venice

Vongole - my favourite! Love it when the chilli hit is just right.

We're staying in Cannaregio too, so we'll have a look at Anice Stellato - thank you.

olive_surprise in Italy

40th birthday in Venice

Thanks so much both. Going to look more into the four you've outlined. It's about 7 years since I last went, and I'm intrigued to see how and if it's changed.

olive_surprise in Italy

40th birthday in Venice

Might help if I point out some places we like and don't like.

UK: love J Sheekey, Passione, gastro pubs like the Princess Victoria, Carpenters' Arms, Wild Honey, Canteen, Hind's Head.... And we love home cooking - every night. In NYC: enjoyed Scarpetta, Il Buco (Bond Street) and Pastis.

Didn't enjoy: NYC: Daniel - way too fussy. London: Locanda Locatelli.

olive_surprise in Italy