THEGAYUK

Category: Restaurants

  • Afternoon Tea Review | Lost and Found, Birmingham

    ★★★★ | Gentleman’s Afternoon Tea and Tipples

    Afternoon Tea is a delightful, British experience which we do not often do. The fresh sandwiches, the warm scones, the ever-flowing tea and the high-end service is something of a treat nowadays. The Gentleman’s Afternoon Tea at Lost and Found takes all you know about tea and cranks it up a notch – and all for just £18.95 per person.

    To start off our afternoon marathon, we were greeted with a glass of prosecco each with a raspberry, and Josh provided us a warm and friendly service throughout. The menu for the Gentleman’s Afternoon Tea consists of meaty, bulky and monster sandwiches which were packed with flavour and you could taste the freshness with every bite. Crispy chicken and chorizo on a ginormous baguette halved was spectacular – fresh rocket and well-cooked chicken with just the right amount of chorizo that let the southern style chicken take centre stage. The glazed ham and homemade chutney baguette was very rich on the palate and the sweetness of the chutney really complemented the meat with an added crunch from the lettuce. The egg, mustard and cress sandwich was a really nice light and fluffy mix to the board. My favourite thing that went in my mouth, though, was the scotch eggs – what a highlight! The egg was cooked perfectly and freshly which had the yolk running and put your knife through, with delicious batter and pork paste full of flavour and the combination together sent fireworks. The feta cheese and caramelised onion pastry was another delicate yet fierce competitor for the palate. The pork scratching on chilli jam was okay, I found the scratching too hard to chew and it was just one on each ramekin with loads of chilli sauce underneath – not sure how I feel about this one. The scones were average, did not really stand out as a feature, but popcorn Tiffin was superb. The teapot was very big which meant we probably got about 5 cups each which was enough to go with until the food-athon was over.

    You can opt for any of the Afternoon Teas and attach a Tipple, where you select from one of the three cocktails to spice up the experience for an extra £5. It is definitely worth doing that.

    In the end, it was too much and we had to admit defeat – doggy-bagging half of the crispy chicken and chorizo baguette and two Tiffin cakes. I must say, I had the sandwich for my lunch the day after and it was equally as tasty and fresh as the day before. It shows that good ingredients and care is put into the afternoon tea platters. Presentation wise, it could have been more ornate considering the grandiose nature of Lost and Found with its botanical themes in the décor. I was half expecting some leaves to contribute to the aesthetics, but the whole tea was served on one slate board. It looked great, but I could have done with separating the cakes from the sandwiches for practicality.

     

  • The 15 best restaurants in London 2017

    There are thousands of restaurants in London ranging from the Michelin Starred to the greasy spoon. From Italian to Chinese from Hipster chic to LGBT enclaves. London’s cuisine scene has it all.

    The 15 best restaurants in London 2017

    Grills

    Brasserie Zedel (Piccadilly Circus) is steps away from Piccadilly Circus and is one of the most beautiful, elegant and affordable restaurants in London. The restaurant serves traditional French food at amazingly affordable prices. In what is perhaps the best dinner deal in London, they offer, for a mere £12.75, a three-course Prixe Fixe meal which includes Carottes Rapées, Steak Haché with Frites, and a Café Gourmand or a Tarte aux Fruits. It’s a very delicious and satisfying meal. (Tim Baros)

    Eccleston Square Hotel (Victoria) Just a brief walk from the chaos of Victoria Station lies the calm, stylish, uber-cool and uber-tech hotel within Eccleston Square. If you’re not a natural-born Londoner, sometimes the “buzz” is a bit overwhelming. Eccleston Square manages to create an ambience to instantly chill and transports you to a peaceful place. (Jordan Lohan)

    Bar + Block (Kings Cross) The Kings Cross area, if you haven’t recently been, is buzzing. Years ago it was a warren of prostitution and crime, now it’s gentrified with trendy and expensive apartments and a healthy choice of restaurant options. Bar + Block, in my opinion, is THE restaurant option in the area. It is, in fact, the perfect place to go for an excellent and very affordable meal. Located right next to Kings Cross Station on York Way and past McDonald’s and Nandos, Bar + Block, right underneath the Premier Inn, is an excellent find. In the space that used to be the dreary hotel bar, it has been remodelled, chomped and changed. It’s now a beautiful restaurant where the bar, dining area and kitchen are all in one superbly designed and spacious large room. But it’s not just the layout that’s fantastic, the food is also amazing. (Tim Baros)

     

    World

    Ping Pong (Soho) is a restaurant where the concept is Dim Sum – food that comes in small bite-sized portions which allow you to eat lots and lots of different types. Don’t assume the dishes will be quite small because the prices are quite low. Once the food arrives you’ll need a second table to capture the overflow! (Tim Baros)

    Thai Square is an oasis in the heart of central London. Away from the hustle and bustle and crowds and pollution, stepping into Thai Square is akin to stepping into a whole different world, a world that is calm and tranquil and where one can find excellent food. (Tim Baros)

    Zaika of Kensington (Kensington) went above and beyond the usual expectations of Indian cuisine. The pricing of the dishes are on point for the quality and execution. The whole experience felt grand and glam. If you have a team of curry fans, Zaika of Kensington is the place for you. (Jordan Lohan)

    Jamboree Foodfest & Bar (Blackfriars) Don’t be put off by the corporate exterior. The building is accessorised with a fun red neon Jamboree sign and their colourful interior can be seen from across the traffic-magnet main road. Once inside you’ll feel as though you’ve walked into a London take on a barn dance bar. High ceilings laden with multicoloured bunting and exposed vintage bulbs, bare wood beams, walls, floor and tables. A clean spit-without-the-sawdust gaff. We approve. (Thabian Sutherland)

    Gastropub

    The Narrow Is Gordon Ramsay’s gaff and it simmers with locals who’ve come straight from the office or schlepped from their Limehouse pied-à-terres. It gives the riverside eatery a warm and relaxed atmosphere. Good service in a Ramsay gaff is like buff, topless bar staff at Ku Bar – totally expected. You won’t be disappointed. No F Words and the staff are knowledgeable and will treat you as though you were regulars. (Thabian Sutherland)

    Marquis of Wellington (Bermondsey) Loud, brass and cheap as chips. The locals are lucky to have this pub on their doorstep, and visitors to the area will enjoy it as well. (Tim Baros)

     

    Italian

    Tozi (Victoria) A breeze to get to – being a five-minute walk from Victoria. The decor is spacious, cool and contemporary. You’ll love the sleek, swift (and suiting smart shirts) service. Their menu incorporates some wonderfully unique ingredients, such as their home made chestnut infused rum. And oh the men. All the Italian men. Overall, I am all over it, and it has been decided that this place is definitely Tozi ‘Mazeballs. (Jordan Lohan)

    Stuzzico (Marble Arch) is tucked away in a section of London called Connaught Village, steps away from Marble Arch and the Middle Eastern restaurants of Edgware Road, Stuzzico, as small as it is, is a standout. Luca, one of the proprietors, will greet you with a warm Italian smile and will recommend dishes and especially wine that superbly complements each other. Its smallish menu will allow you to try various specialities of the Puglia region, but it all depends on what you fancy; fish, meat and/or pasta. (Tim Baros)

     

    Hip

    Wringer & Mangle To enter W&M you walk through a terrace, and past a Moroccan-style den, where lattice fencing, riddled with ivy, sections off an outdoor seating area surrounding a fire pit. Ideal for an aperitif. Cushions, candles and outdoor heaters will keep you snug as a duvet in a tumble dryer. While schmoozing with the trendy-Wendys, happening-hacks and look-at-me-Larrys, canapés were wafted around like incense at a pilgrims’ gathering. Regular visits a must. (Thabian Sutherland)

    Tabun Kitchen It’s recommended that you sit on the lower ground floor. It’s quaint, Mediterranean-styled, and very cosy, perfect if you’re looking for a place to enjoy the food without being in the hustle and bustle and heat of the main room. Faisel, the charming manager, will take you through the menu if you have any questions. And while the pizza was not sexy and the service a bit disjointed, Tabun Kitchen will not disappoint. It’s warm food and cooking style and abundant fresh and delicious flavours will blow you away.  (Tim Baros)

    Rudie’s Jamaican (Dalston) offers what they call a ‘Boss Burger’ – a rare breed of beef chuck patty that is topped with apple wood smoked cheddar, sweet honey mustard, red onion, tomato, pickles and jalapeño chilli – and it’s huge – worth the £12 price. With Dalston becoming the hip place to live, Rudie’s will most definitely live up to a similar mantra – it will be the hip place to eat. (Tim Baros)

     

    LGBT

    Balans in Soho is an absolute must if you’re visiting London’s gay centre. Open 24 hrs you’ll find a bevvy of hot staff serving good value, hearty food with delicious drinks. (Jake Hook)

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | Ping Pong, London

    ★★★★★| Ping Pong

    RESTAURANT REVIEW | Ping Pong, London

    Ping Pong is a restaurant in London where the concept is Dim Sum – food that comes in small bite-sized portions which allow you to eat lots and lots of different types. This is what me and a friend did on a recent Saturday night. We assumed the dishes would be quite small because the prices were quite low – but once the food arrived at our table, we needed a second table to capture the overflow!

    Ordering at Ping Pong is quite simple. You are given a piece of paper with all the dishes and the ones you want just tick the box and give to the waitress and then the food comes out when it’s ready, or as in our case, it pretty much came out all at once. And we ordered 11 dishes. OK, in my own defence the last time I was at Ping Pong I went with 8 other people (this was years ago) and I left the restaurant hungry as everyone had grabbed a piece of this and a piece of that so I didn’t get to eat much food. But this time it was the opposite – we left stuffed!

    Ping Pong’s menu is broken down into several categories. From the Nibbles and Sauces menu we had the Edamame with honey garlic sauce – and for a nice size portion at only £3.75 it was excellent. From the Rice dishes, we ordered the Honeyed Chilli Chicken and Mushroom Rice Pot. At only £6.25, it was a nice-sized bowl and included edamame peas with very tender chicken accompanied by the nice soy sauce. I would order this dish again. Then from the Soup and Salad section, we ordered, for only £5.95, the Purple Power Chicken Salad. It’s gluten free, but thankfully not flavour free – it was very very good. The purple part of the salad comes from the inclusion of rice berries – basically purple rice. At only £5.95, it’s a lot of healthiness in the large bowl which included edamame peas and rocket salad, smoked almonds and cashew nuts, and black eyed beans, plus of course the chicken, and mixed with ginger and soy dressing.

    There was more food to come! From the friend and Griddled section, the Potato and Edamame Cake (only £3.25 for 2) did just what it said on the tin, as did the Crispy Duck Spring Rolls (4 for £5.35) – crunchy and stuffed with duck, cucumber with a nice and not hot hoi sin sauce.

    When you go to Ping Pong you must must order items from the Steamed menu. Buns and Dumplings come in all sorts of flavors and types, and we perhaps with our eyes and not our stomachs ordered 5 of them, and they were all very very delicious and all priced between £3.55 to £4.65 and come in threes, but the highlights for me were the beef dumplings (succulent and delicious) and the Char Sui Buns, stuffed with honey barbecued pork – yummy! My dining companion enjoyed his seafood dumplings (stuffed with snow crab, prawn and scallops with carrot pastry) while we both thoroughly enjoyed the Har Gau (prawn and bamboo shot with a very crunchy coating – one of the highlights of the meal). We also ordered the Long Stem Broccoli – superbly cooked and a generous portion at only £3.95.

    Believe it or not, we wanted to taste something from the Signature and Special dishes – so I ordered us the Crispy Aubergine Bao. You’ve been living under a rock if you don’t know what bao is, but this dish came with three very large bao buns and the point is to stuff the contents into the bao. Well, the contents were superb: cooked aubergines with slices and dices of carrot, cabbage, cucumber and tomatoes and massively generous 6 large aubergine slices – and yes we ate the whole thing, almost. It was superb at only £11.50.

    On a lighter note, dessert was fine. My friend had the Iced Blackcurrant Parfait – it was iced – very hard to eat! But the light cream cheese with the blackcurrant coulis and meringue disc was good, while my tiny Mochi – a Japanese rice cake with mango sorbet inside – was hard to eat because the outer casing was hard, but I got there in the end.

    To wash it all down Ping Pong, as expected, serves almost any sort of drink you want. From Margaritas to sweet juicy drinks to long and short cocktails and the Asian Pimms and Lemonade for two (£16.95) which was what we had, lots of refreshing looking drinks to go with your excellent dinner. Red, White, Rosé wines along with oriental beer (and mocktails) and iced teas and lemonades round out the menu.

    All the food we ate (and we ate a LOT of food) came to only, and I say only £74. As we had so many different varieties and types of food, with so many dishes that overflowed onto another table, that was one heck of a deal. We ate beef, chicken, seafood, and lots and lots of other varieties, it was an excellent and superb value for the money. And there were lots of other dishes we didn’t get to try, but on our next visit, I will remind myself to just order what can fit on one table.

    Ping Pong has branches in Southbank, Soho, Westfield Stratford and Shepherd’s Bush, Wembley, St. Katherine’s Docks and Covent Garden

    To book a table and for phone numbers and address to their various locations, please go to:

    Home

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | Gallery Mess, London

    ★★★★| Gallery Mess

    Gallery Mess, London

    Gallery Mess is a restaurant that ticks all the boxes: location, food, service and atmosphere.

    Situated right next to the Saatchi Gallery in Chelsea on Kings Road, Gallery Mess is everything you would want and expect it to be. Overlooking the Saatchi Gallery lawn called The Green and the multi-million-pound townhouses on the other side, Gallery Mess is elegant and classy without being too expensive.

    A friend and I dined there on a recent warm evening at 7 pm only to find the place buzzing. Since it was very warm that night, the outside tables were all full, but we were happy to sit inside to enjoy the cool ambience of the restaurant. And boy was it cool: white tablecloths, exposed red brick walls with white arches and vaulting ceilings, flowers (some fake) everywhere, plus interesting artwork as well (including a big shoe in the private dining room). But we were there for the food, and here’s how it went.

    Tim the manager from Albania greeted us very warmly and showed us to our table. We let him decide what we were going to eat, and drink, and me and my dining companion said ‘bring it on’! To start off with we were given a very nice glass of Prosecco Brut (£8.50) a glass. And then the symphony of food started. The Heritage Tomato (basically a bruschetta) with grilled rosemary focaccia, anchovies and mozzarella was vey good and was nice size portion, but a little pricey at £10.50 as it was really nothing out of the ordinary. What was good was the English air-cured ham & celeriac remoulade (£10). The ham, with apple and truffle as well, was very tender and just perfectly salty and beautifully presented.

     

    We weren’t too sure what we were getting as our main courses, and were pleasantly surprised when the chicken and the trout landed on our very white tablecloth. The Roast corn-fed Chicken Breast was a beautifully presented dish in a wonderful tarragon sauce which included mushrooms and spring greens. The four large slices of chicken were, of course, just chicken, but they were perfectly cooked and the onion bulbs in the sauce gave it the kick to push the meal up a level. Delicious, and at £16.50, a good value. But it was the Poached Sea Trout that was the star dish of the evening. A very large piece, yellow in color, in a mussel broth, with spinach and samphire, it was absolutely wonderful! I am not a trout lover at all, but this piece of trout has converted me. It was thick, and cooked perfectly, and is highly recommended, and at £17.50 – the best-tasting bargain that side of the river! We also had a side of the minted new potatoes, sprinkled with dill (£4) that were huge in portion and very very good. Other main course choices include Potato Gnocchi (£16), Confit Lamb Shoulder (£17.50) and surprisingly, Fish & Chips (£16) – all very affordable for such an expensive neighbourhood.

    Tim expertly picked out the Via Nova Pinot Grigio to go with our dinner (only £5.75 a glass). The wine was tasty without tasting too winey, and absolutely complemented our meal. My dining companion liked it so much he asked for a second glass! It was an excellent choice as the restaurant has an excellent wine list selection, very comprehensive and inviting, and includes Spanish, French, Chile, South African and German selections, among others. And by the time we had finished our main courses, we knew, we just knew, that the desserts were going to be fantastic, and they were. The Creme Brulee (served with shortbread and raspberries) was just divine, and the seasonal berry fruit salad was ah so refreshing and topped with fruit sorbet, with the dish a very beautiful berry color…..ah so good, and nice to eat on that very warm night.

    The seasonal menu and extensive bar selection is provided by award winning caterer and restaurant operator rhubarb, and they do a very good job of it. Their private dining room – The Mess Room – is available for private hire or seated dinners of up to 80 guests. This room is discreetly set back from the restaurant and offers an elegant, bespoke dining opportunity.

    Gallery Mess has an international staff who will take care of your every need, they are very attentive and very well dressed – it’s service (and food) like this that is welcome. It was a theatrical experience of a gourmet three-course meal fit for an artistic delight. Very very reasonable prices in a very very nice setting.

    http://www.saatchigallery.com/gallerymess

    To book call: +44 (0) 207 730 8135

    Saatchi Gallery
    Duke of York HQ

    Opening hours:
    10:00am-11:30pm, Monday to Saturday
    10:00am-7:00pm, Sunday

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | Sparrow, Lewisham

    ★★★★| Sparrow, Lewisham

    In a no man’s land part of Lewisham, there’s a restaurant doing amazing and fabulous things with Sri Lankan food. It’s Sparrow.

    At the end of the road that is Lewisham High Street, behind the Lewisham Shopping Centre, Sparrow sits all alone, facing the DLR and an unsightly massive construction site.

    But step inside and feel the charm and warmth of the staff, and enjoy the food that is different, delicious, and worth the trip.

    Me and a friend went for a Saturday brunch meal on what was one of the hottest days of the year. We immediately ordered cool drinks. I had the delicious pineapple, melon and grapefruit drink that hit the spot, sweet and colourful and yummy – and only £3.50. My friend had a smoothie that was very milky and white, with coconut, with condensed milk and raspberries thrown in, a bit too heavy for my tastes but he enjoyed it and drank it within minutes.

    I had seen a photo online of their pancakes so I knew this is what I was going to have. They were coconut pancakes with peanut caramel and pineapple salsa, with a dollop of sour cream on top, and it was superbly delicious – like nothing I’ve ever tasted before. It’s the bits of pineapple with small bits of peanuts scattered about that give this dish the wow factor – and at only £8 I would definitely order it again. My companion enjoyed his chicken and curry pastry. It was like a pie only smaller, and he said that the crust was nice and light, and it was delicious, and a deal at £8 (it’s not alway on the menu, Sparrow does tend to mix up their offerings from day to day with daily specials).

    We would’ve been remiss if we didn’t try out the typical Sri Lankan dish Appam. It’s a type of pancake made with fermented rice and coconut milk, and comes shaped like a bowl. While I had a plain one, it is recommended that ingredients be put into it as this is a very typical Sri Lanka dish, and Sparrow does offer up various combinations of eggs and other ingredients to include, and not costing more than £6.

    Sparrow also has quite a unique dinner menu. From fried rabbit (£7.5), fennel and blood orange salad (£7), roast pork belly with harissa (£12) and then the malt duck with chilli jam (£13.50) all of which will probably knock your socks off. Along with Sparrow’s nice selection of drinks, Sparrow is perhaps one of the only reasons to go to Lewisham, unless you live there, and if you do indeed live there, you must pay a visit to Sparrow. It delivers delicious food at the right price.

    http://sparrowlondon.co.uk

    2 Rennell Street, Lewisham, SE13 7HD

    0208 318 6941

    Enquiries@SparrowLondon.co.uk

    Hours:

    Dinner: Tue – Sat: 6-10pm

    Brunch: Sat – Sun: 10-5pm

     

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | Dirty Bones, London

    ★★★★ | Dirty Bones, London

    Dirty Bones the restaurant categorises itself as New York comfort food and cocktails, well it’s that and more.

    With four locations in London, including Kensington, Carnaby Street, Shoreditch, we popped into the new West End location (on Denman Street right next to the Piccadilly Theatre – home of ‘Annie’) to find comfort, and we did find it, in the food, drinks, service, and the atmosphere.

    Looking a bit like a 1960’s den with old world chic decor, the restaurant is one big room with a beautifully designed industrial bar in a space that used to be Clockjack Chicken.

    Well, the smell of chicken is gone, so what you will find now is a menu with a great selection of food choices (including, yes, chicken) and strong drinks that will make you forget your troubles.

    As a starter, we went for the Cheeseburger Dumplings. Hamburgers and cheese in a dumpling (and not bun) with spring onions, sesame seeds, and pepper, with a clever mustard/ketchup combination sauce – and at £8.50 for a handful, not a bad value.

    We really didn’t know what to expect our main meals would look like. I went for the Short Ribs on the Taco menu. It was one very large slab of beef short rib with excellent BBQ sauce that comes with gluten-free corn tortillas to build your own taco. You can also stuff the taco with the salad that’s served with it – it’s white cabbage slaw, tomato, coriander, chilli and jalapeños – very delicious and unique, and a great deal at £16 considering how much beef is served. We also shared 200 grams (£8 per 100g) of the Rib-Eye Steak, and the meat was perfectly cooked medium well, and served with a delicious butter and mint sauce. As sides, we could not resist the Grilled Hispi Cabbage dish – it was superb! Two large portions of Charcoaled cabbage with herb and garlic butter with crispy shallots made for an unusual yet awesome dish. I’ve never eaten cabbage this way and it was superb (only £5). We also ordered the Crispy Lamb Fries (only £6.50). It was a huge dish of fries (chips) smothered in red chilli sauce and jalapeños – it was an extremely spicy dish but what made it amazing was the well-cooked, crunchy and plentiful lamb – I could almost taste it again in my mouth – and is one of the best deals on the menu (it could be considered as a main course perhaps).

    By this time we had eaten so much food but our lovely waitress Andrea twisted our arm to order dessert, so we shared the Caramelised Banana Waffles, and we were glad we did. A freshly backed waffled topped with chocolate sauce, blueberry jam, salted peanut butter gelato and crushed nuts – it was out of this world, and a very nice ending to an excellent meal (£7).

    Comforting as well are the drinks. If you’re in the mood for strong cocktails, Dirty Bones is the place for you. Their six-page drinks menu won’t leave you feeling thirsty at all. I had the Dirty Bones Negroni – it came with a twisted orange slice, was rainbow colour, with a hint of rum and was nice and flavorful (£9);. I also had a taste of my dining companions’ Littlest Hobo drink – Tanqueray gin, lemon, passionfruit and vintage cider made for a refreshing drink (£9). And to finish off the evening we tried the Mutt’s Nuts drink – a very strong Woodford Reserve bourbon, with cinnamon and vanilla-infused maple syrup, it may knock your socks off. Good to drink on a full stomach.

    A visit to Dirty Bones will leave your tummy feeling happy but it may also leave you feeling a bit light headed and dizzy after choosing one of their lethal drinks. But as it says on the tin, the food is indeed comforting, the prices are comforting, and do not hold back on what your stomach and mouth want – it’s all good!

    To book a table, please go to their website:

    http://dirty-bones.com/book-a-table

    Automatic online booking below for 1-6 guests. Space always kept for walk-ins

    Soho branch:
    14 Denman Street, London, W1D 7HJ
    Tube: Piccadilly Theatre

    Email: soho@dirty-bones.com

    Other branches in Carnaby Street, Shoreditch and Kensington
    Phone: 020 7920 6434

    Price Rating: £££ (explained)

    Star Rating: ★★★★

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | Thai Square, London

    ★★★★★| Thai Square, London

    Thai Square restaurant is an oasis in the heart of central London. Away from the hustle and bustle and crowds and pollution, stepping into Thai Square is akin to stepping into a whole different world, a world that is calm and tranquil and where one can find excellent food.

    Once inside, you are courteously welcomed and immediately shown to your table, and that is when the magic and adventure begin. And it begins with the very large and generous menu and it’s very difficult to decide what to order. So many pages and pages of choice, from the starters page to the salads and soups, from the house special menu to the stir fried and curry and grilled dishes. And then there are the seafood and noodle dishes and the accompaniments and, of course, a vegetarian menu and the set menu- whew! It all sounds and looks so very good.

    We wanted to experience traditional Thai food during our visit, so we started out with typical Thai drinks. I had the Mai Tai – and it was very very refreshing for what was a very warm day in London. It was a proper Thai cocktail – reddish orange and fruity, with the rum not overwhelming at all, with crushed ice and served with a strawberry, mint and berries. It hit the spot. My dining companion had the Pina Colada. It was coconut milky white and also served with a strawberry, mint and berry. It was missing a slice of the typical pineapple but nonetheless, it was good. Both drinks were served in a long tall glass and were £9.95 each, worth every penny. So Thai Square was 2 for 2.

    The starters upped the game quite a bit. The seven-piece Salt and Pepper Squid (Thai style calamari) were superb. It was uniquely twisted squid battered and crunchy and cooked to perfection. While it was served with no sauce, a slice of lemon gave it the kick it needed to go into high gear, served on a bed of lettuce with bits of chilli (£7.95). The Prawn Dim Sums (£7.75), four of them, didn’t taste fishy and was a fabulous texture, and the sweet soya sauce nicely complemented the dish. Two excellent starters. 4 for 4.

    As mentioned, it was very hard to decide on a main course but the Bangkok Lamb sounded traditionally Thai, so that was what I ordered. Four generous lamb cutlets together with a unique papaya salad and sticky rice. The lamb was perfectly cooked, and the colour and texture were very good – nice and meaty and all beautifully served on two green leaves. It was a generous portion, great tasting and an excellent value at £16.95. My dining companion had the Beef Stir Fried with Cashew Nuts. It was surprisingly spicy (though categorised as one chilli on the menu), with a mix of beef and peppers, spring onions and carrots, and it was everything you could want, and more, and was at the right price of £12.50. At this point, Thai Square was 6 for 6.

    We definitely had a bit of room for dessert and Thai Square didn’t disappoint at all! The Coco Sundae is a popular Thai dessert with coconut ice cream with papaya, pineapple jam, Thai palm seeds, cashew nuts and sticky rice pudding – and it was divine. But even more heavenly was the Mango Crepe with Ice Cream. Mango sauce poured criss-cross style over a large crepe stuffed with mango and served with vanilla ice cream. What a dish – we both fought over it! Highly recommended! Both desserts are serious bargains at only £6.95 each. I felt that it was almost impossible for Thai Square to top itself, but it did with these desserts. 8 out of 8.

    The service at Thai Square is superb. The wait staff are very attentive without being obtrusive. You’ll want for nothing. They seem to appear at your table when your mind is thinking about something you need. It’s uncanny. The Trafalgar Square branch that we visited was decorated in Thai-inspired surroundings, with white tablecloths – it’s luxurious without being very expensive. The layout of the tables are perfect, not too close to each other so that you can hear the table next to you talking about their visit to the National Gallery or Brexit, and it’s comforting to see the chef walking around to make sure everyone is happy with their food. I’ve yet to visit their other London locations (Covent Garden, Fulham, Islington, Mansion House, Minories, Putney Bridge, Richmond, South Kensington and The Strand), but I’m sure they are of a high standard as well. I can’t recommend Thai Square enough. With all the food and drinks we had the total bill was only under £100. Excellent value for an excellent experience.

    Thai Square offers a selection of more than 1,000 dishes in their award winning restaurants, and I can’t wait to go back. Exceptional food at exceptional prices. Thai Square rates 10 out of 10 – sheer perfection.

    For locations in and around London, please go to their website:

    https://thaisq.com

    Opening times vary from location to location, so it’s best to check the website for the location you want to visit for all the details.

    Star Rating: ★★★★★

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | Lockhouse London

    ★★★★ | Lockhouse London

    Lockhouse London review

    I’ve been to Lockhouse Restaurant twice in the past two months and it’s a restaurant I will definitely go back to again. I’ll tell you why.

    Located in the Paddington Basin, just a stone’s throw away from Paddington Station, Lockhouse is a place with great food and great service with great prices in a very cool and rustic industrial setting. With floor to ceiling windows overlooking out onto the basin, Lockhouse is the perfect place in that area to while away the hours while eating good and filling food.

    On one visit in April with three other friends (it was Easter weekend), we sat a large table right in the middle of the room and had an amazingly great brunch. It was their excellent value £5 sandwich menu they drew us, particularly me, in. I had the huge Rotisserie chicken club (with bacon, avocado, lettuce, tomato and herbed mayo) and it is the best value in town – big and delicious. My friend Bob had the never seen in a British restaurant Ruebens Club (pastrami, cheese, gherkin, sauerkraut and relish) and he relished it! Alistair had the nice looking American Pancake Stack (with bacon) – a great deal at £7 while Russell had the smallish Eggs Benedict (at £8.50 it’s a bit pricey for what you get).

    A second visit was at lunchtime on a Saturday and the restaurant was again very cozy and inviting, and not too busy. We were met by the charming host/manager Marcin. A second visit was another chance to sample their American style massive menu, and boy it is massive. I thought I would try something very different – so I had the Acapulco Salad (black beans, brown rice, guacamole, salsa, lime and fresh coriander and sour cream). It comes, cleverly, in a jam jar and the idea is to dump all the contents into the large bowl which included lettuce and chilli sauce and tortilla chips. It’s a nice dish, but it’s basically a meatless naked burrito – and at £7.50 I could’ve had the Thai Duck Salad which looks to be a better value and tastier dish. My friend went for the Lockhouse Burger. It’s £7.50 and the meat is delicious, and smashed in between the buns is cheese, lettuce, onion, pickles, and Lockhouse relish – it was overflowing! It doesn’t come with fries so for an extra £3.00 the sweet potato fries are recommended – they are delicious, nicely battered and crunchy. The potato wedges were also very good and well done – recommended as well. Other main course selections include 1/4 and 1/2 Rotisserie Chicken (£7 and £13 respectively), served with fries and cole slaw; Buttermilk Chicken Breast Burger; Veggie Club, Ocean (seafood) Club, and Grilled Cheese (all at only £5 each), and a large selection of other salads and sides.

    If you’re in the mood for something refreshing to drink, I highly recommend one of their smoothies or drinks. We had the lovely papaya & lemonade and the coconut & banana. Also on the cards for you should be dessert. Again, we didn’t go wrong again. Our choices were the Seasonal Eton Mess (meringue crushed with vanilla cream with seasonal fruits) and the Lockabockaglory (it’s a mouthful – not just the name but the ingredients – meringue and brownie pieces with cream, ice cream, fruit and topped with chopped nuts and chocolate sauce – pictured) – desserts were only £5 each, by far the best bargain of the day. My dining companion mentioned that an afternoon tea and dessert would make for a perfect weekend, or weekday, treat.

    There’s nothing at Lockhouse restaurant that you can go wrong with. With an amazing cocktail list that includes everything from a Bloody Mary to a Pistachio gin fizz to a yummy sounding Express Yourself coffee drink, it’s all so very tempting. They also serve red, white, sparkly and rosé wine choices, and of course canned and bottled and tap beer, and also including the aforementioned amazing and amazingly priced food. Lockhouse has a lock on great food, drinks and a good time in a very cool setting. What more could you ask for?

    Email: info@lockhouselondon.co.uk

    http://lockhouselondon.co.uk
    Address: 3 Merchant Square, Paddington, W2 1AZ
    Tube: Paddington, Edgware Road
    Phone: +44 (0) 207 706 4253

    Price Rating: ££ (explained)

    Star Rating: ★★★★

    Opening Hours:

    Monday – Friday: 8:30 – 23:30
    Saturday: 10:00 – 17:00
    Sunday: Closed

    Bottomless Brunch Sat & Sun 10:00 – 15:00

    Pop Up Gin & Cocktail Bar:

    June 10th – August 19th 12:00 – 21:00

    Happy Hour: 17:00 – 20:00 – Bottle Wine for only £15, Cocktails only £5 each

    Photos by Carlos Castillo

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | Nirvana Kitchen, London

    ★★★★★ | Nirvana Kitchen, London

    Nirvana restaurant review, London
    PR Supplied

    The definition of Nirvana is to be in a transcendental state – and that’s pretty much what happens to you in a visit to a restaurant called Nirvana Kitchen.

    Located just minutes away from Marble Arch and nestled in a very quiet residential street, and attached to the very posh Montcalm Hotel, Nirvana Kitchen, is, as it’s website suggests, a Pan-Asian Odyssey. It’s also very delicious and will introduce you to flavours and tastes that you’ve never had before.

    Let’s start with their small dishes (starters) menu. The Vegetarian Tempura is a steal at £9. There are eleven crunchy and crispy vegetables which included asparagus, mushrooms and broccoli plus two sauces – mango and miso. The vegetables were perfectly cooked, soft and excellently battered and extremely fresh – a perfect dish. But even better was the Duck Watermelon Salad. And why is it another steal at £14? Because it was absolutely superb, stunning and out of this world! Shredded Duck with mandarins, cooked watermelon, cashews, coriander, pomegranates, and basil enriched with a very tasty and mouth-watering mandarin and mint (ponzu) sauce – simply divine! The portion was big enough to be eaten as a main course if you accompanied it with rice. When you go to Nirvana Kitchen, this dish is simply a must! Other small dishes I’m dying to try next time include the Wild Mushroom Salad and Crispy Salted Squid (both at £11), and an intriguingly-sounding Rainbow Noodles (£10), among others.

    You’re also in for a treat with their selection of main (Charcoal and Pots) courses. We had one from each and were glad we did. The Beef Bulgogi sounded interesting so that is what I ordered. Served on a leaf, this beautifully looking dish tasted just as good as it looked. There were many individual beef slices with a dollop of purple potatoes chokha and achari carrots – very tasty. Bulgogi is Korean style grilled meat and was nestled in it’s own sauce and was delicious. Priced at £24, it’s taste and flavour earned that price. My dining companion really enjoyed his Lamb Massaman Curry. It included cashew nuts, turnips, and was actually not very spicy. It comes in a huge charcoal bowl that keeps the soup oven hot until the very last sip! The lamb was very tender, and it’s beautiful colour added to its exoticness. And at £18 – it’s a great bargain. Other mains include Spiced Lamb Cutlets (£24), Chilean Seabass (£25), and Nirvana Baby Chicken (£17).

    Nirvana Kitchen serves the usual beer and wines and cocktails, but I can highly recommend the Summer Rum Punch. It’s light and dark rums, pineapple, amaretto, Cointreau, and lemonade is a very refreshing drink on either a hot or cold day. The Maraschino Mojito and the Smoky Mexican are other possibilities. All cocktails are £14 each. The manager Daniel recommended the Italian Pinot Grigio red RIFF to accompany our main courses, and the wine didn’t take away from the delicious flavours of the food. All is all it was an absolute delight.

    The restaurant is now in the space that used to be the61 Restaurant Steakhouse. It is a very clean, shiny and very opulent restaurant that can seat 110 people when it’s at it’s busiest. David recommends booking at least two weeks in advance if you want to eat here on the weekend – yes, it’s that popular! And he recommends the concept of sharing dishes, which is exactly what we did. You would be a fool not to because of the out of this world flavours of each dish you really want to taste and try as much as possible. And with very attentive service and friendly staff, you will have a delightful meal (don’t forget to have dessert!). Nirvana Kitchen is a little slice of Nirvana right in the heart of Central London.

    http://www.nirvanakitchenlondon.co.uk

    Email: reservation@nirvanakitchenlondon.co.uk
    Address: 61 Upper Berkeley Street, London W1H 7PP, United Kingdom
    Tube: Marble Arch
    Phone: +44 (0) 20 7958 3222

    Price Rating: ££££

    Opening Hours – Nirvana Kitchen:
    Mon-Sat
    Lunch 12:00 – 14:45
    Dinner 18:00 – 22:45 (last order)

    Opening Hours – Nirvana Bar
    Mon-Thur 12:00 – 23:00
    Fri- Sat 12:00 – 2:00 am
    Sun 12:00 – 23:00

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | Carluccio’s, Solihull

    Carluccio’s has debuted its first ‘new generation’ restaurant in the heart of Solihull, bringing its original and unrivalled modern Italian dining, deli and shop to the Mell Square development.

    Review of Carluccio's in Solihull
    © Mark Blackburn

    Last night, I took my friend to Carluccio’s, and together we had a wonderful evening. The environment was cosy, the staff were very friendly and caring, especially Nicole who served us. Nicole was very smiley, and was very genuine when catering for our needs – throwing in some cheeky recommendations for us to try. We were particularly glad of the Homebaked Focaccia suggestion with traditional Extra Virgin Olive Oil (£2.95) and the accompaniment of Rustica Marinated Olives (£2.95).

    We ordered a nice dry bottle of white Babylon Bianco (£21.95), which agreed with every dish we ordered. For starters, my guest ordered Crispy Calamari (£6.50) and the generosity of the dish was very appealing, enough for me to steal some bites. This dish I highly recommend, and will be ordering myself next time. I ordered Crab Macaroni (£6.95) for my first course, but I have to say I was a little disappointed. Though I appreciated the presentation of it, it was sort of ‘crab-less’. Having grown up in Portugal, I was spoiled for seafood. I wasn’t expecting a whole crab, of course, but I definitely wanted some fresh crab meat to go with the pasta. It was more like dry shavings tossed on top of the dish. It tasted fine, but for £6.95 I wanted some ocean essences. This is a new dish, so perhaps Carluccio’s should look at how the crab dimension is served in the next culinary draft.

    Mains wise, I chose Festoni with Smoked Salmon & Vodka (£12.50). This dish was the highlight for me. It had plenty of smoked salmon, which I love, and the Festoni pasta really worked for this dish, absorbing the wonderful cream & vodka sauce. Nicole grated some cheese for me which complemented it very well. My friend was not too impressed with his main. For just under £15, the Chicken Saltimbocca (£14.95) promises a palate adventure with 14-day aged prosciutto Gran Sasso with sage and a white wine sauce; served with roasted potatoes tossed in pesto and rocket. In part, the flavours from the potatoes and bird delivered, but the chicken was left with a tiny, speedo-sized prosciutto piece in the middle, leaving the rest of the chicken escalope bare. It was like the chicken was wearing a prosciutto loincloth. In fairness, when this was mentioned, the manageress offered to add more pieces or to choose some sides. That was a very professional and friendly way to deal with our disappointment.

    The desserts were Mandarin and Lemon sorbet, which were very refreshing and packed with fragrance and flavour, and I had the Cioccolato Fondente (£6.95), which Nicole raved enthusiastically about. For that price, you are expecting an amazing dessert, but it was just like any other you get from a tin. It wasn’t special enough in my eyes.

    The evening was finalised by a shot of Limoncello and Nicole doggy-bagged my wine, which was perfect! Overall, great atmosphere and flavours, but some concepts need rethinking and rebranding.

    ADDRESS: 159-161 High St, Solihull B91 3SS

    WEBSITE: www.carluccios.com/restaurants/solihull

    Price Rating: £££ (explained)

    Star Rating: ★★★ (explained)

     

     

     

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | Stuzzico, London

    RESTAURANT REVIEW | Stuzzico, London

    ★★★★ | Stuzzico, London


    Do you want to eat food and drink wine that is authentic to the Puglia region of Southern Italy? Then Stuzzico is the place for you.

    Tucked away in a section of London called Connaught Village, steps away from Marble Arch and the Middle Eastern restaurants of Edgeware Road, Stuzzico, as small as it is, is a stand out.

    Luca, one of the proprietors, will great you with a warm Italian smile and will recommend dishes and especially wine that superbly complement each other.
    It’s smallish menu will allow you to try various specialities of the Puglia region, but it all depends on what you fancy; fish, meat and/or pasta. My dining companion and I had a taste of it all!

    We started out with a glass of prosecco and red wine, pretty standard stuff, but the best was yet to come.

    The Octopus starter was well cooked, meaty and cleverly drenched in artichoke sauce – at £13.50 worth every bite. The Malloreddus pasta sausage ragout was uniquely served with shell pasta and was a nice size portion as a starter yet it could’ve used more meat (£14.50). The main courses, however, were stunning. The CONIGLIO, LARDO DI COLONNATA, FAGIOLINI – rabbit – was very tender, a generous portion, and not tough as rabbit usually is. Served with a load of green beans, it was very flavoursome (a bargain at £18.50). The Yellowfin tuna steak (TAGLIATA DI TONNO PINNA GIALLA), was superb. Served as six large slices, it didn’t really taste fishy at all and came with a dollop of the never eaten before black olive sauce and beautifully shredded leak, baby heritage carrots topped with sundried tomato powder, and served warm! The tuna was meaty, fresh, and superb! I highly recommend it. But it was the wine that Luca recommended to go with our main courses that was par excellence!

    I had the Re Manfredi (Basilicata) and it was smooth, sweet and tasted a bit like lemon water. White gold in colour, I enquired where I can buy a whole bottle – it was that good. Luca informed us that this wine, and some others on the menu, can’t be bought at any store in London as he gets it direct from Italy. He has personally sourced wine from Southern Italy – it was very very good!

    Stuzzico’s deserts offer something for everyone. I recommend the blood orange cheesecake – Cheesecake Arancia Rossa E Cantucci – it’s divine. The Cantucci E Vin Santo – almond biscuits – served with raspberries on top with heavy cream, was heavenly.

    There’s a lot more to Stuzzico’s menu – starters include fava beans purée soup, grilled king prawns, tuna tartare, first courses include lobster, and main courses such as monkfish, brill, Tomahawk beef steak, veal and beef fillet with additional sides such as spinach, potatoes, salad, broccoli, and courgettes. And no matter what you order, it’s going to be cooked delicately, with care, and will be very very delicious. This 26 seat restaurant needs to be visited to be tasted, for you need to eat for yourself to see and feel the comforts of Stuzzico’s regional Italian cooking and to meet Luca who’s probably the nicest guy this side of town. Him and co-owner Franco de Todaro are passionate about serving the very best food and wine, and they succeed! Stuzzico is an Italian word which means to tease and to tantalise – and that is exactly what they do!

    Tel: 020 7262 9122

    https://www.stuzzico.co.uk

    Email: stuzzico@stuzzico.co.uk
    Address: Connaught Village,  24 Kendal Street, London W2 2AW
    Tube: Marble Arch, Edgware Rd, Paddington, Lancaster Gate

    Price rating: ££££

    Opening Hours:
    ​Mon to Friday:
    8am – 4pm & 6:30-10:30pm
    Saturday:
    8am – 4pm & 6:30-10:30pm
    ​Sunday:
    9am – 4pm
    ​Closed on Bank Holidays