THEGAYUK

Category: Lifestyle

  • MOTORCYCLE REVIEW | Ducati Monster 797

    MOTORCYCLE REVIEW | Ducati Monster 797

    ★★★★ | Ducati Monster 797

    Ducati’s Monster has been credited as the genesis of the naked bike niche. The bike that started the street bike revolution.

    Ducati introduced the Monster in 1993, designed by Miguel Angel Galluzzi.

    Famed motorcycle designer, Glynn Kerr, described the Monster design as having “all it needs and no more.”

    With Monster sales eventually accounting for two-thirds or more of Ducati’s output, the bike became the company’s best selling and most profitable model line, essential to the company’s success.

    The Monster has gone down in folklore as the bike that saved Ducati. You simply can’t underestimate the significance of the Monster to Ducati.

    The Monster 797 is the most accessible Ducati with a starting price of just £7,995. This is often considered the entry point to Ducati ownership, the Ferrari of motorcycles.

    Of all the motorcycles I’ve ridden, I’ve never ridden a Ducati. Often admired, always revered, but never had the opportunity to experience it for myself.

    On the way to collect the Monster 797 press bike, I felt the weight of expectation bearing down on me. I was on my way to one of the most illustrious and celebrated motorcycle manufacturers of all time, to collect arguably one of the most significant models in their long and distinguished history, a Monster.

    Thumbing the start button brings the 73 bhp and the 803 cc 90 degree (L) twin-engine to life. Ducati L twins have a very distinctive sound and feel. They sit somewhere between a smooth Japanese V twin like the SV650 and the irregular, lumpy idle of a Harley. The Ducati has an uneasy but alluring murmur.

    Our press bike only had 250 miles under its belt when I collected it, so mechanically was still very tight. 1st gear engaged with a clunk and my journey began with a ride into the sunny, Northamptonshire afternoon.

    Bars are wide which help the bike turn very well. Immediately you feel at home with the little Monster. It’s such a pretty motorcycle, elegant and muscular, with those wide bars, sculpted, flowing tank, exquisite trellis frame, graceful seat unit and curvaceous double-sided swingarm.

    I found myself looking for reflections at every opportunity, just to see the Monster from someone else’s eyes.

    The heart of the Monster 797 is the 90-degree twin cylinder, 803cc air-cooled engine, with 2 desmodromically actuated valves per cylinder.

    Electronic fuel injection delivers its elixir through 50mm throttle bodies.

    Front forks are 43mm Kayaba USD non-adjustable units, complemented by a rear Sachs monoshock, adjustable for preload and rebound.

    Tyres are Pirelli Diablo Rosso II and worked very well in all conditions.

    Overall I thought the bike was fairly softly sprung, with a bit of dive on the front end under initial braking. This isn’t entirely fair though as I’m a 47-year-old overweight guy, not exactly representative of the typical Monster 797 owner.

    Front brakes are 320mm semi-floating discs with radially mounted, 4 piston Brembo Monobloc callipers. ABS is standard of course.

    The rear brake is a 245 mm disc with single piston calliper. Brake feel is excellent and the front Brembo’s are superb.

    Instrumentation is basic. There is no gear position indicator or fuel gauge. I missed the fuel gauge but the gear position indicator is more of a luxury that we have come to expect, rather than a necessity. Having no fuel gauge, I opted to refuel every 100 miles. The fuel tank capacity is 16.5 litres and after 100 miles of spirit riding, the fuel light wasn’t ever on, I was just being cautious.

    I’ve covered around 1,000 miles on the Monster 797 on all kind of roads from motorways to A roads, from sprawling urban streets too narrow, winding country lanes and everything in between.

    There are bikes that are better suited to long motorway journeys, but it handled them with ease.

    Where the little Ducati did excel was everywhere else. Wide bars, a nimble and refined chassis and that torquey engine make it a great urban bike. Cutting through the city streets with ease, carving through the winding country lanes and revelling in the flowing A roads, and all with an abundance of character and style.

    My lasting memory of the Monster 797 is how easy it is to ride. This is a very friendly and familiar bike but with passion and vigour.

    The clutch is easy to use, it’s has a seat height of just 805mm, it looks fantastic and is an ownership experience that offers more than most. Placing the keys of a Ducati on the table feels special.

    The Monster 797 is also available for those with a restricted licence, as a version with 35 kW of regulated power.

     

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | Brasserie of Light, London

    RESTAURANT REVIEW | Brasserie of Light, London

    ★★★★★ | Brasserie of Light, London

    The second you walk into Brasserie of Light, (the recently opened restaurant in Selfridges) you are wowed. And the wows don’t stop there.
    Located on the east side 1st flr of the building in a space that used to be a loading bay, Brasserie of Light is not just an amazing looking restaurant, the food is also exceptional.

    Bathed in chrome, glass and some glitter, the room is absolutely stunning (think the Delaunay or the Wollesley, and then crank it up by 100%). But what’s most noticeable is the Pegasus in the room, yes, literally. It’s a behemoth piece of art, created by Damien Hirst (to the tune of £6 million). It’s a 24-foot crystal encrusted statue with a 30-foot wingspan that soars over diners – it’s simply stunning.

    Though Brasserie of Light feels a bit cramped and claustrophobic, once you start eating your way through the menu these thoughts quickly disappear.

    The Starters are amazing. Choices such as King Crab with Avocado and Watermelon (£17.95), and the Chicken Dumplings with Truffle and Citrus (£9.50) are unique to any menu, but it was the Sesame Fried Chicken with a delicious Avocado dip and the Popcorn Shrimp that won us over. The chicken, at an amazingly good £8.50 price, comes with about 10 medium size crunchy chicken nuggets with strips of celeriac sprinkled on top. Divine. Also yummy was the popcorn shrimp (about 10 pieces), which was bathed in a creamy but not very spicy sauce, and for an added Instagram ready photo, a leaf-littered with sesames stuck out on the side. These two starters I would absolutely order again.

    The main courses only upped the ante. While I wanted, and was looking forward to, the Rib Eye Steak, the Thursday me and my friend went, at 7:45 pm, they had already run out of the Rib Eye – very disappointing. So I opted for the Fillet Steak (7oz at £29). It was tender, moist, perfectly cooked and very delicious. My friend had the Pan-fried Sea Bass Fillet, and at £22.95 it was good value for the money. It was served over tomatoes and black olives and fennel, with a warm tomato chickeree, paste on top. She was thrilled about it! Our sides were also very good. Green Herb Salad with Avocado was just that, and my Sprouting Broccoli with Lemon and olive oil (both £4.50 and both very good), but the Steamed Rice and Red Quina was a bit dry (£3.75). But all in all our choice of mains was perfect. Other items on the menu include a delicious sounding Moroccan Spiced Sweet Potato, Aubergine Baba Ganoush with Coconut Yogurt (£13.95), Glazed Swordfish (£19.75) and Chicken Milanese (£17.50).

    The Desserts were filled with light. My Butterfly Flutterby – iced passion fruit parfait with pistachio meringue and vanilla cream bursting with unique flavours was presented beautifully. My friend had the Chocolate Bubbles which was all about chocolate, chocolate (with vanilla ice cream), served in a bowl with a wafer on top.

    Cocktails were exceptional as well. The Passion Fruit Cosmopolitan, one of three drinks highlighted on the main menu, was in a generous large glass (£9.85), while my Immunity Smoothie – non-alcoholic – is one I highly highly recommend (9 healthy ingredients, including ginger and turmeric). It was just refreshing and very delicious, so delicious that my dining companion also wanted to have one. At the end of the meal, I had the classic Expresso Martini, and it was perfectly chilled and just sublime – pure perfection.

    What left is there to say about Brasserie of Light? The service is very good, the ambience trendy (there is a DJ Thursday – Saturday nights if you like to have your meals in a club-like element), and the food, as mentioned above, is absolutely delicious. Brasserie of Light is the next generation Wollesley, with its signature and unmistakable quality and ambience, classic British menu and internationally inspired dishes, style, flavours and service. The Richard Caring Group has delivered another gem of a brasserie.

    Monday – Friday: 8:00 am – midnight
    Saturday: 9:00 am – midnight
    Sunday: 9:00 am t 11:00 pm

    Selfridges, 400 Oxford St, Marylebone, London W1A 1AB

    Home

  • MOTORBIKE REVIEW | Suzuki Katana 2019

    MOTORBIKE REVIEW | Suzuki Katana 2019

    If you were around in the ’80’s you’ll remember that Rocky fought Ivan Drago in Russia and won the hearts of the Soviets, despite the cold war raging on around them. Doc brown made a time machine out of a Delorean, ET phoned home, the Russian nuclear plant Chernobyl blew up and so did a space shuttle, the world discovered crack but most significantly, Suzuki unveiled the fastest production motorcycle ever. The GSX1100S Katana.

    The Katana was a sign of virility and masculinity. You just couldn’t buy anything faster, end of.

    Katana has been around in various guises for a long time. Introduced in ‘80 in 1100 trim (Aircooled 1075cc 16v), (they had a 750cc version in Japan only), but was gone in Europe by ‘85.

    Fast forward to 2019 and the beast is back.

    Suzuki have resurrected the Katana name. In the same way the original Katana was based on the GSX1100, Suzuki have based the Katana on the GSX-S1000 a very competent bike in it’s own right.

    This means the Katana is powered by the street-tuned version of the four-stroke, liquid-cooled, DOHC, 999cc, inline-four engine that became a legend in the 2005 GSX-R1000. This engine is a masterpiece. 150ps (148bhp) and 108 Nm torque means this is a very strong engine, with a wealth of torque low down and a strong rush of power higher up the rev range.

    Suzuki’s new Katana is equipped with some of the most advanced rider technology available, including an Advanced Traction Control System², Low RPM Assist, Suzuki Easy Start System and Suzuki Clutch Assist System (SCAS) (slipper clutch) and ABS.

    Front brakes are superb 4 piston radial mount monobloc Brembo calipers, working on 310mm floating discs. Forks are 43mm KYB inverted and are fully adjustable for damping, rebound, compression and spring preload. Rear suspension has adjustable rebound damping and spring preload.

    We were fortunate enough to be invited along to the UK press launch of Katana.

    Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t kind to us, it poured with rain all day.

    After a short presentation and some breakfast, we were allocated our bike (mine was no.7) and set off in convoy.

    Our day was spent touring the cotswolds, getting to know the Katana on a variety of roads, with some cool people. The rain was relentless but didn’t dampen the mood. By lunch we were all soaked through. Even my boxers were wet.

    Arguably the rain was a good way to test the manners of the Katana. She’s a big bike with a lot of power, on wet roads. Katana’s engine and power delivery is sublime. Tiptoeing around, looking for trouble, the throttle response proved to be excellent. There was no snatchy, jerky throttle openings and the bike proved to be very user friendly. For the last half hour of the day, the rain stopped, the roads dried and the pace picked up.

    The Brembo brakes are excellent and the front end is very confidence inspiring. It turns quickly and is easy to throw around.

    The Katana is such a great package. It’s fast, very well balanced, well equipped, brakes are excellent, the engine is a masterpiece and those looks!

    Echoes of a legend, a reflection of a icon or maybe a tribute to an infamous motorcycle from bygone era. Whatever you call it, the 2019 Katana is unforgettable.

    The styling is as individual and as unique as you will find on a modern motorcycle. Everywhere you go, people stop and look. Some have no knowledge of the legend that is the Katana, they simply notice the futuristic looks. Some remember the original Katana and stand and stare as memories come flooding back.

    If you’re in the market for a naked retro that radiates charisma like no other, i strongly urge you to arrange a test ride at your local dealer. You won’t be disappointed.

  • Great Escape Cars – Classic car hire

    Great Escape Cars – Classic car hire

    An invitation dropped on the mat recently from an awesome company called Great Escape Cars, based in Redditch.

    It was an invitation to join them on one of their classic car road trips.

    Let me explain; Great Escape Cars are basically a classic car hire company with a twist.

    They offer a range of services, from a one hour classic car taster, to a full day road trip where you get the chance to experience 5 different cars from their £300,000 fleet of classic cars, with lunch included. There are many other options too, something for everyone you might say.

    The day started with a meet and greet at the Great Escape Cars premises in Redditch. Coffee and a chat with the other attendees and a look around the fleet.

    There are something like 20 cars on the fleet, there something for all tastes.

    If you’re a Jaguar fan, you’re in good company. On the day we had a plenty of choice in the Jaguar stable; XKR convertible, Mk2 3.4, Mk2 3.8, XJS convertible 4 litre, XJS coupe V12, XJS coupe 4 litre and XK150.

    Fancy something a bit newer, they have; a Porsche 911 (996), Ford Capri 280, Saab 900 T16S or even a Mondeo ST200. If you prefer something more traditional, how about; a Morris Minor Traveller, MGB GT, HMC Healey or Alfa Romeo GTV V6 (916). Whatever your taste, these guys pretty much have you covered.

    5 cars were allocated to us randomly.

    Our day started in the Jaguar XJS coupe V12, series 2. Slip in to the stylish, leather and wood trimmed, unmistakably Jaguar cabin, and you immediately feel special. There’s a touch of the old film star to it. It feels like we should be cruising to Monaco for my latest premiere.

    This is a lesson in how GT cars should be. It’s not modern car fast but it’s chic, dignified and relaxing. The V12 is silky smooth and the car drives very well.

    Next up was the MGB GT. Ours was a 1971 chrome bumper model. This is such an alluring, pretty car, you can’t help but like it. Driven by such names as Margaret Thatcher, Sting, John Voight and many more, the MGB GT is arguably THE iconic, archetypal british sports car.

    With 97bhp when new from the 1798cc engine, it’s not fast by modern standards, but is a lovely way to pass some time driving through the Cotswolds.

    After a spot of lunch at the incredible Caffeine and Machine in Warwickshire, we were off in our next ride.

    Mine was in an iconic british muscle car that I have always admired from afar but never manager to win her heart. The charismatic, rarefied and brutish 1986 Ford Capri Brooklands 280.

    The Capri was the British Mustang, a muscle car for Europe.

    Leather Recarros and that 3 spoke leather trimmed steering wheel are unmistakably Capri. Fire up the V6 and you’re met with a menacing, deep rumble.

    Hopefully I’ll get another chance to drive one one day, but if not, that’s ok, I’ve had my moment in the sun and it was worth the wait.

    Next up was the 1988 SAAB 900 turbo. There used to be a SAAB garage near me when I was a lad and I remember swooning over the 900 turbo. Now here I was, sat in the leather driving seat of one.

    As you would expect, it wears it’s miles very well. It’s no match for the modern crop of 250+bhp hot hatchbacks but the SAAB turbo makes a very healthy 175bhp from it’s 2.0L intercooled 16-valve. It’s old school laggy but goes really well when you press on. You can’t help but giggle when it comes on boosts and heads for the horizon.

    Last was the Jaguar XKR convertible. What can you say about this car. It’s a brute. The 370bhp supercharged V8 has all the power you need. The interior is typical Jaguar. Soft leather seats and burl walnut trim and the torque from that supercharged V8 is intoxicating. This is a true continent crushing GT car.

    I would strongly urge anyone who wants to try one of these classic cars to give Great Escape Cars a call.

    Maybe you haven’t had the opportunity to drive one before, or perhaps relive your youth and drive something you reminisce about.

    It’s an experience you won’t forget or regret.

  • CAR REVIEW | Citroën Berlingo Flair, We Go Berlin’Go’

    CAR REVIEW | Citroën Berlingo Flair, We Go Berlin’Go’

    ★★★★ | Citroën Berlingo Flair

    What Have We Got?

    Here we have Citroën’s third incarnation of the 23-year-old Berlingo. In 23 years there have been just 3 generations of Berlingo. People keep coming back for more and it doesn’t seem that its van derived origins are putting people off.

    So has the Berlingo 3 (B3) got what it took Berlingo 1 (B1) to make it a success? It moved car derived vans up a notch in the UK and the Multispace people carrier became an acceptable mode of transport for us English.

    Driving

    B1 was a soft lolloping cruiser. Never managed to do anything wrong because its engines were never known as rapid units of propulsion. Cruise and comfort was the name of the game. 

    B3 has retained the echos of B1. It rides softly and it will cruise you and 4 others with plenty of space and comfort. Despite the soft ride, it is devoid of excessive body roll. The only roll you seem to get is you in the seats. They cater for all types of body and as a result, they do lack side support for most shapes and sizes.

    The 110PS 1.2 3 cylinder petrol engine manages to carry the boxy body well. The gear change is easy and 3rd 4th are mostly used through town. On the open road, it will reach a comfortable cruising speed easily. Only when a level of urgency is required, does it need a few gears dropped but it will never break your neck in outright performance? 

     

    Inside

    The Berlingo is known for its space. Here B3 demonstrates more luxury over B1 with little exposed paintwork and far better fitments of trim. There are some coloured smatterings around the door cards and the seats are brightly covered. Sound deadening stretches over the boot floor.

    B3 doesn’t improve on the uncovered window trim on the front door. This time it gets bigger with 2 types of weatherstrip mould into one. Like the rear doors, this needs a cover. B1 suffered from this thought on a smaller scale.

    As before, there is the ever useful ‘modutop’ storage facility and panoramic glass roof option. At £750, it is expensive but worth having. 

    Living With It

    If you need to carry people, or boxes or people in boxes, there is very little that can beat the Berlingo. Space requirements will be essential if a Berlingo is to be on your shopping list. And it does this better than almost anything this price and more. It has also managed to retain the original B1 dimensions, give or take a few inches.

    Low boot low lip, rear sliding doors and high driving position make getting in and out of the Berlingo easy. You are making very little compromise with a Berlingo just as long as driving dynamics are not your number one priority.  

    The Verdict

    Now this might come as a surprise, it’s a well-kept secret, I really like Berlingo’s. I’ve nothing but praise for B3. There are a few things it doesn’t do well. These are however down to your driving style over functionality. And if it’s performance and on the edge handling you want, buy a sports car. Berlingo 3 has remained faithful to its original concept. It just got better at it. 

    Berlingo has become more competitive to those ever-popular but space compromised SUV’s. B3 can now come with a host of safety equipment like the active brake, collision alert, park assist and adaptive cruise to name a but a few. It’s everything you’d expect in a car and not a van. The spacious CDV market has evolved.  

    Would I have one? That’s not really a question, is it? Would I bring it indoors on a cold winters night and wrap it under a blanket? What do you think!

    Love

    Ride comfort

    Space

    Standard/available equipment

    Loathe

    Comfortable seats lack side support

    Uncovered front window trim

    Awkward rear door internal handle

    The Lowdown

    Car –  Citroën Berlingo Flair 110PS

    Price – £ 24,295 (as tested)

    MPG – 37.5 – 42.4 mpg (WLTP low/high combined)

    Power –  110PS

    0-62mph –  11.5 seconds

    Top Speed – 109 mph

    Co2 – 119 – 132 (WLTP g/km)

  • CAR REVIEW | Seat Tarraco

    CAR REVIEW | Seat Tarraco

    ★★★★  | Seat Tarraco – Seat’s Mover For The People

    What Have We Got?

    We have seen Seat grow in recent years and to here we have Seat’s new 7 seater SUV, the Tarraco, to finish the 3 SUV line up. THEGAYUK were invited to the UK launch to find out more about this newcomer from Seat.

    Built on the multi-talented MQB platform, the Tarraco shares a lot of architecture from the wheels down with the likes of the Audi TT and VW Arteon. So it has sporty and luxury on its side but does this translate in the Spaniard? Above that, and it is all (almost) Seat. THEGAYUK opted for the Xcellence trim 2.0 TSI petrol 4WD to review.

    Driving

    The sheer size of the Tarraco means you need a good strong engine to propel it forward. Thankfully that is what you get with the 2.0 TSI petrol. 320 Ib/ft of torque from lowly 1500rpm makes good progress through the 7 speed DSG gearbox.

    And the figures get better. Considering this is some 29kg lighter than the comparable diesel model and it gives you a 0-60 time of almost 2 seconds quicker and a highly illegal top speed of 131mph.

    You won’t use that performance all the time. The Tarraco rides reasonable hard, giving it a sporty feel but this is somewhat lost because it does do a reasonable job of smoothing out the ruts and bumps in the road. It belies its big 19”

    Inside

    It’s a step up in quality from the Spanish side of the Volkswagen family. And about time, even if it is perhaps just a little ‘too Volkswagen group’ inside. The layout for all the controls follows the VAG ethos of simplicity and that’s no bad thing. Unlike the Spanish Eurovision entries of the past 58 years, so much is played out with Seat’s Mediterranean roots that you feel a slight lack of spice is missing.

    Thankfully what we do get in the Tarraco are rather nicely finished door cards. The architecture gives you fabric inserts, hard and soft plastics and illuminations. And this also stretches to the rear doors, pushing this new SUV from Seat further up quality.

    Living With It

    The Tarraco is being sold as a 7 seater in the UK. They aren’t the worst 3rd row rear seats I’ve climbed into but they certainly aren’t really for adults unless on the pub run. The main problem is the under thigh support that is firmly lacking for those with long adult legs. Thankfully they rear seats are comfortable and supportive in places. 

    Overall the Tarraco offers space and versatility that is part and parcel of larger SUV. And with the all-wheel-drive system, offers the ability to venture further off the beaten track. 

    The Verdict

    Despite what I have said, Seat has taken the MQB-A LWB platform and made it their own. In doing so they have made a quality product that should satisfy most buyers in the large SUV market. And they have all bases covered with 2 and 4 wheel drives, diesels and petrols of varying sizes and their simple and effective line-up. OTR prices start from £28,335 for SE 1.5 petrol to £38,055 for Xcellence Lux 2.0 diesel. There should be a Tarraco for everyone here. 

    Love

    Door architecture

    Range options

    Versatility

    Loathe

    Cramped third row seats

    Harsh ride

    Top models pricey

    The Lowdown

    Car –  Seat Tarraco Xcellence 2.0 TSI 4Drive 190PS DSG

    Price – £ 34,845 (OTR)

    MPG –  38.7 mpg (combined)

    Power – 190ps

    0-62mph –  8 seconds

    Top Speed –  131 mph

    Co2 – 166 (g/km)

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | Harlem Soul, London

    RESTAURANT REVIEW | Harlem Soul, London

    ★★★★ | Harlem Soul, London

    Harlem has come to Old Street – kind of.

    When one thinks of restaurants in Harlem you think about soul food – food that can’t be found elsewhere in London. Food that is rich and delicious, southern comfort food (for example catfish, grits, cornbread, BBQ ribs, collard greens, buttered corn, okra, etc…). Well new restaurant Harlem Soul, on City Road and minutes from Old Street Tube Station, bills itself as ‘urban American dining to share a celebration of urban America with London.’ Their menu, based on American classics and NYC inspired fusion, is as close to Harlem-style food you’re going to get unless you hop on a plane to NYC and go to the holy grail of Harlem Soul food – Sylvia’s restaurant.

    Harlem Soul has a massive menu that’s sure to satisfy your craving for this type of food – their menu has a good variety of typical Americana dishes that will, almost, make you feel like you are dining in Harlem. As you walk in you are instantly mesmerized by urban wall graffiti paintings by several artists, including world-famous NYC born Enrique Torres who used to, illegally, spray paint NYC’s subway cars. The murals are a sight to see; bold, colourful, ethnic, and just beautiful.

    And now the food. If you are a fan of hamburgers, well, you won’t be spoiled for choice. Any and all combinations of hamburgers are at your selection. Their signature burger – The Harlem – is a doozy. Grilled beef patties, shredded short rib, mac & cheese, house pickle and thousand island dressing – it’s definitely a mouthful. And at £14 it’s a relative bargain considering all the food you’re getting. There are nine other burgers on the menu, so there is definitely something for everyone.

    I, however, had to try the Buttermilk Chicken and Waffles. This dish seems to be appearing on lots of London menus – and having never tried it, it was the obvious choice for me, and I was not disappointed. The chicken was crispy, soft and moist (delicious), while the waffle was just about perfect after I drenched it with two cups of syrup. I would highly recommend this dish at Harlem Soul – and at £12 a bit pricey but worth it. My lunch companion wanted chicken wings, and boy she got them – 12 of them (£12). There were four different flavours; BBQ, Buffalo, Hot Harlem Sassy (hot sauce with onion and coriander), and Gochujang (red chilli paste with seven spice blends). Not a bad deal – at a £1 each – and they all come with delicious coleslaw.

    We had to have several starters (all part of the job!). My friend really loved the Crispy Soft-Shell Crab – a substantially large portion served with lime creme fraiche & pickle chilli relish. I loved the Blackened Cajun Popcorn Shrimp – they were not quite blackened and could’ve been fried a bit more – but nonetheless, the large portion was very good, but the roast red pepper ketchup didn’t seem to be a perfect match for the shrimp. The Mac & Cheese Bites were just that – bites – five of them in little rolled up balls with the mac & cheese inside. All the above £7.50 each.

    Tacos are not quite Harlem soul food, but this restaurant has them on the menu. We had the Braised Short Rib Taco – and the three we got (for only £8.50) were excellent value and they were excellent tasting. Served with BBQ sauce (a little dribble), and topped with a mixed bean salad and crispy onion – they were delicious as the short rib was tender and flavorful.

    There is so much more to the menu – Mac & Cheese dishes, three types of nachos dishes, and salads, that multiple visits still wouldn’t get you through the menu.

    Plus there is that all important drinks menu. There are cocktails that include all sorts of alcohol, from gin (The Harlem) to whiskey (El Barrio Fashioned), and scotch (Lodge Negroni), to rum (96th Street Mojito), and of course tequila (Soul Side), it’s a plethora of drinks that, after two, will make you tipsy. I wish I would’ve had the Jungle Iced Tea (Harlem Soul special mix, with sugar-lime and lemon) but I stuck to the non-alcoholic drinks menu (the New Yorker was just about perfect – Lime, Apple, Mango, Mint and Ginger Beer). Also, their Southern Quenchers (Fresh Lemonade, Classic Iced Tea, Arnold Palmer) look nice for a hot day (if summer ever arrives in London). Milkshakes are also a must – again in several varieties.

    Harlem Soul is a two-story complex, with the main restaurant on the ground floor, and downstairs another bar with a large room that will be used for private parties, community events, all set to a soundtrack to urban rhythms of soul, funk hip-hop, jazz and R&B. They also host live music comedy, DJ’s, and urban poetry events.

    Harlem Soul is as cool as its name, it’s food is delicious, and its central location means it’s worth a visit after work, and definitely on a weekend where you can try all of their delicious sounding cocktails.

  • CAR REVIEW | MG GS Exclusive DCT

    CAR REVIEW | MG GS Exclusive DCT

    ★★★☆☆ | MG GS Exclusive DCT, MG’s Not So Sporting SUV

    What Have We Got?

    Here we have MG’s first SUV offering, the GS, with a 1.5 petrol engine mated to a 7 speed twin-clutch sportronic automatic gearbox. This top of the range MG GS ‘Exclusive’ DCT 5 seater comes in at a reasonable £21,095.

    Does being reasonable mean cheap, and does cheap make it cheerful?

    Driving

    The 166PS 1.5 petrol turbo (the only engine available) does ok, just as long as you don’t rev it too high. It doesn’t encourage high revving. And you shouldn’t have to with maximum torque of 250NM from 1600-4300rpm. That’s a nice spread of power over a relatively wide range. Credit then to the linear surge of power from the turbo.

    What isn’t so good then is the twin clutch gearbox. There are 3 main problems. Firstly, throttle pedal travel is quite short so it makes it jerky to inputs. Secondly, in auto mode, the box likes to change quite high up at around 3000rpm. Thirdly, its kick down changes are met with a surge of around 700 revs and then a kick down. It doesn’t blend very well if you are feeling enthusiastic. 

    That does, however, all change when you select ‘sport’ with the gearstick and use the steering wheel paddles. Up and down changes are immediate and it’s very easy to enjoy the way it drives.

    Inside

    Developed in 2015 and launched in the UK in 2017, it is showing its age in this fast paced market sector. However, it’s not at a total loss, certainly not at this price. The first thing to hit you are the 23 buttons under the 8” infotainment screen that deal with heating and ventilation, volume and home screen. 

    That’s quite a lot, but it is easy to navigate. What isn’t is the air distribution. Press for screen and it goes into full blast for no reason other than that is how it is designed.  In this ‘Exclusive’ trim it also comes with DAB, satnav and all the other things you expect including mirror link for your phone.

    The seats are comfortable if a little too wide and unsupportive in fast corners. The inside is quite nicely put together. It is all a bit cheap with hard plastics throughout but it is also quite sturdy in construction so you shouldn’t be finding anything falling off.

    Living With It

    Despite its relatively compact dimensions, it really is large on the inside. Rear leg room is overly generous even with a tall driver. Boot space does however slightly suffer. The price you pay for that passenger leg room! Loading the boot is also rather easy and worry free thanks mainly to the unpainted load lip.  

    The ride is a little choppy and it likes to roll in the corners. The steering isn’t as communicative as you would hope for but there is plenty of grip and it hangs on well. It just feels a little unconnected.

    The Verdict

    You get a lot for your money with the MG GS and it’s quite easy on the eye. I like its looks. There is an abundance of space for 5.

    One of my biggest bugbears is poorly painted door shuts. Not so with the MG GS. It is surprisingly well painted and put together very well. At this price, the competition needs to take note.

    Would I have one? If I was on a 20-minute dealer test drive, no. You need time to understand that gearbox. After a week, yes I would. It’s cheap and now I’ve mastered it, it is rather cheerful.

    Love

    Price

    Fit and finish

    Looks

    Loathe

    Wind noise

    Engine trashy at high revs

    Jerky in auto

    The Lowdown

    Car –  MG GS Exclusive DCT 

    Price – £ (as tested)

    MPG – 45.5 mpg (combined)

    Power – 166PS at 5600rpm

    0-62mph –  9.9 seconds

    Top Speed –  112 mph

    Co2 – 141 (g/km)

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | The Halal Guys, London

    RESTAURANT REVIEW | The Halal Guys, London

    ★★★★ | The Halal Guys, London

    The restaurants in and around Leicester Square are there mostly to feed people on the way to the theatre, movies, clubs, or whatever. But there is a new guy in town that will make your journey on to somewhere else quicker, friendlier, faster and more delicious.

    The Halal Guys have arrived. Taking up a spot at 14 Irving Street (the street which shoots off Leicester Square that leads to Charing Cross and to the National Portrait Gallery) is where the yellow and multi-colored The Halal Guys is located. You can’t miss it – it sits next to the usual dull and unexciting restaurants that pollute this street. The Halal Guys bring something new to this area – it’s original and tasty and great value for your money – and you can be in and out in 30 minutes.

    It’s simple how it works. Just chose whether you want a gyro sandwich or platter (choices of chicken, beef gyro, combo Chicken & gyro – or the vegetarian – falafel). Me and a friend were on our way to the theatre and dropped in, and we both had to have the Combo platter – how could you not! It looked like it had the best of everything – and it did! A ‘special’ yellow rice came with the dish, along with the assorted salad condiments, and the icing on the cake was the choice of sauces – we both had a bit of hummus, baba ghanoush and BBQ sauces, with plenty of pita bread. We also nipped a side of fries (purely just for sampling purposes!) and luckily found a table to eat. It all looked so much and too much and very good, however, after eating we both agreed that it was delicious! It gives a new name for fast food – but this is not fast food – The Halal Guys are street food – street food served quick, street food served very tasty, and street food that I want to definitely go back and try again.

    It’s a very simple process, and you can add unlimited beverages, and Baklava for dessert.

    From humble beginnings as a New York City hot dog cart to a world-renowned international restaurant chain, The Halal Guys story is the quintessential American Dream. The Halal Guys is defining a new, thriving segment for the restaurant industry: American Halal Food! The Halal Guys legend began in 1990, when the three founding partners opened up a hot dog cart on West 53rd & 6th Avenue in New York City. As the business grew, they recognized a huge demand from Muslim cab drivers looking for a halal food quick and cheap meal. That is when the famous platter of chicken and gyro over rice was born. And let’s not forget about the famous sauces! Fast-forward 25 years, five carts, two New York City restaurants, and millions of diverse customers served, The Halal Guys is growing yet again. Fans no longer have to be in NYC to experience The Halal Guys as they look to share American Halal Food all over the country and the world.

    The Halal Guys are now expanding globally and can now be found, besides in their home base in NYC and all over America, but also in South Korea, The Philippines, and Indonesia. But London is lucky enough to have its first European shop – and I urge you to give it a try. The night my friend and I were there everyone looked so happy eating away, with the staff all very friendly and wanting to give you more sauce (I took more!). It’s perhaps one of the best places to eat at near Leicester Square, whether you are on your way somewhere or just want to have dinner before heading home – The Halal Guys will satisfy (and more) your hunger.

    https://thehalalguys.com

  • The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. Fiat Cinquecento 1991 -1998

    The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. Fiat Cinquecento 1991 -1998

    The Good, The bad and the Ugly.

    (C) Jim Magill: Twitter: @thealso

    An irrelevant look at a certain car.

    Fiat Cinquecento 1991 – 1998

    Fiat has always been good at making small cars. Big cars, not so much so. Think of a large successful Fiat and you won’t. Think small and you have plenty to choose from.

    Fiats smallest offering was the 126. This wasn’t really to British tastes and it eventually died. Actually, it didn’t die. It soldiered on until the turn of the millennium but for us in Blighty, we got the new replacement. And the replacement was a step in the right direction for a bold new Europe hell-bent on the love of the city car.

    Cinqueceto or Sinkeychento or BLOODY HELL, how stupid is this cars name to spell? Cinq for short, was a great little design. Short of overhangs and large on space, it was the embodiment of using as little steel as possible. Even in places like crumple zones. And essential places around the passenger carry space. What I’m trying to say is don’t crash one. 

    This lack of steel was good news for those who had been around Fiats for a long time. Until a few years ago back in 1988, Fiat had what can only be described as hydroscopic steel, in as much as the hard metallic surface would retain moisture. Now as we know, water and thin grade steel don’t mix, so using as little as possible was good. And Fiat also used some galvanising during construction too. 

    Fiat Cink was going to be a Fiat that was going to be around for a long time. Aided by its rather cute looks, it gained a legion of fans. And for the fans that wanted their Sink with a bit of a kick, they were rewarded with the Sinq Sporting. A hotter version fitted with a FIRE engine. Not one that went ‘nee-naw nee-naw’ but one that was a Fully Integrated Robotised Engine. It sounded grand. It was just built by robots. Depressing really when you think the heart of any Italian car is its engine, built by Italians with motoring in their blood. Anyway, Robert the Robot built the engines in the Sporting. 

    The Sporting was a bit shit. Unlike today’s Abarth models that are quite crazy, Sporting was not deserving of the sporting title. But I’m here to tell you about the more popular and run-of-the-mill Synk 900. A marvel of modern tranquillity this overhead valve engine wasn’t. A throwback to a bygone era it was having its origins date back to 1955. Don’t let the ageing mechanicals and modern body put you off. It’s not uncommon for older bits to be put into younger models. Look at Cher. She’s simply marvellous at 103. 

    And it was this ageing old cast iron lump with an alloy head in the Senk that made it a hoot to drive. There had been some changes to the 1955 original engine and it now came with injection and distributor-less ignition. Grabbing hold of those 40 horses was made all the more fun with added hydraulic tappets. It really could scream in an unburstable manner.

    And this crazy, drive it like a nun being chased by Lucifer on roller skates makes the Cenk all the more fun and a good car too because you just can’t really do anything wrong in it. Just don’t crash though. It’s not so good at that!

  • CAR REVIEW | Honda Jazz 1.5 i-VTEC Sport Navi

    CAR REVIEW | Honda Jazz 1.5 i-VTEC Sport Navi

    ★★★★☆ | Honda Jazz 1.5 i-VTEC Sport Navi

    What Have We Got?

    Honda’s Jazz has been a major seller for Honda globally. They are everywhere and here in its third generation, it gets better. Honda thankfully kept with the boxy estate car looks for the Jazz. It sets it out a little different in the small hatch crowd and yet it isn’t too off-the-wall different to alienate. 

    However, this new 1.5 i-VTEC Sport might just alienate the clientele of the Jazz. Does this sport-less badged Jazz ‘Sport’ have what it takes to wear the badge it is missing?

    Driving

    The best thing about the Sport is its gravelly voiced normally aspirated engine. The new 1.5 i-VTEC is a hoot and likes revs. This engine has 2 behaviours spread over 3 bands of power. Up to 3000rpm, it potters around. Responds to inputs. All good. 3000-4000rpm and it feels a little punchier. Still not enough to startle you. 4000-7000 redline and it screams along. 

    0-60 sprint feels quicker than its claimed 8.7 seconds and 3rd gear is good for over 70mph. 

    It’s no Jazz Type-R though. Its handling is way too safe. That said, you can exploit it quite nicely, and it will entertain once it has gone past its limits. Its limits are due to the compliant ride. It’s a good mix of firm and soft. It never crashes over ruts but is too soft and susceptible to a bit of a twitch at the rear to be an all-out GTi.

    Inside

    Heater controls in this model are simple twisting dials. Very simple and very easy to use. It all falls to hand well and the controls are weighted for ease of use. There is a downside and that’s cheap plastic. The door cards flex when the windows reach to the top.  

    You can’t deny that Honda are geniuses with space utilisation. The magic seat in the rear is versatile you wonder why it hasn’t been adopted by others? Flip the squabs and you get a deep narrow void to carry a small upright piano for a Mrs Mills sing-a-long. Fold it all flat and it’s a spacious 1314 litre carrying estate. There is more space in here than most larger SUV’s.

    Living With It

    The key to the Jazz’s success is easy to live with. Its mini estate car looks and versatility is endless. Its size is perfect.  

    The power from the 1.5 engine is startling. Considering its 7000rpm redline and its maximum torque at 4600rpm, the engine pulls itself along with little fuss from much lower down the rev range. It’s also a Honda Jazz so no one will try and burn you off at the traffic light grand prix. With its stealth looks, you can burn them off instead!

     

    The Verdict

    The Jazz Sport goes some way to shake off the image it has gained as transport for an elderly audience though I can’t help thinking that a few more sporting visuals would tip it into a different demographic.

    The A-Team’s Hannibal Smith was “on the jazz” when the going got good and I’m inclined to think you will too when behind the wheel of this Jazz Sport.

    Love

    Flexible engine

    Space utilisation 

    Short precise gear stick action 

    Loathe

    Cheap feeling cabin

    Lack of sports visuals

    Infotainment graphics look dated

    The Lowdown

    Car –  Honda Jazz 1.5 i-VTEC Sport Navi

    Price – £18,265 (as tested)

    MPG – 47.9mpg (combined)

    Power – 130PS @ 6600rpm

    0-62mph –  8.7 seconds

    Top Speed –  118 mph

    Co2 – 134(g/km)