THEGAYUK

Tag: London News

All the latest from London, the capital of the UK, home to the UK’s largest gay community.

  • 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

     

  • “No Gay or Lesbians” London landlord posts homophobic room to let poster

    An advert left in a shop’s window has caused outrage after being discovered in Greenwich London.

    CREDIT: Amanda O’leary

    A homophobic note which says that gays and lesbians, along with children, Pets, DSS, “Benefit Seekers” are “strictly not permitted” was found taped up to a shop window in Greenwich London.

    Amanda O’Leary a single mother who lives in the area, was the first to see the sign and speaking to THEGAYUK said,

    “I think it’s disgusting. I’m a gay mum of two beautiful children.

    “What if my eldest read this? What would I say to her?  Shame on them. Like I tell me kids love is love. That’s all that matter in our family. Just wish others accepted that was well.”

     

    THEGAYUK reached out to the number listed on the advert of the property. We spoke to a man who said that he “was sorry” and that he was “told today that it was not right and it would be removed today”.

    When questioned on whether he knew it was against the law to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation, the owner replied that he “did not”.

    THEGAYUK was given assurances that the note would be taken down as soon as possible.

    In the UK, it is against the law to discriminate against people on a number of factors. The Equality Act 2010, says that it is against the law to treat someone unfairly because of sexuality, gender, race, colour or ability. The law affects employers, businesses and organisations, healthcare, education establishments and landlords – as well as other organisations.

    There are nine protected characteristics and they include: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership (in employment only), pregnancy, and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.

     

     

     

  • Evita is returning to the West End

    Excited.

    The story of an ordinary woman’s meteoric rise to power at a time of extraordinary political unrest, Evita is set to captivate West End audiences again as it makes a much-anticipated return to London, playing 12 weeks at the Phoenix Theatre from 28 July – 14 October 2017, with a press Gala performance on Wednesday 2nd August at 7pm.

    The season marks the 65th anniversary of the death of Eva Perón which will be commemorated in Argentina in July. This enigmatic figure, whose rise from humble beginnings to extraordinary wealth and power is immortalised in the musical Evita, passed away on 26 July 1952 and was laid in state exactly 65 years prior to the commencement of this latest West End season.

    Taking on the iconic role of Eva Perón is one of musical theatre’s most exciting young leading ladies Emma Hatton, who has performed the lead role of Elphaba in the West End production of Wicked, the principle roles of Scaramouche and Meatloaf in We Will Rock You at the Dominion Theatre, and Donna in the West End production of Dreamboats and Petticoats.

    Leading Italian performer Gian Marco Schiaretti plays Che, a character who reflects the voice of the Argentine people. Linked to Eva by destiny; he brings balance to the story of Eva’s rise to fame. Gian Marco Schiaretti most recently played the title role of Tarzan in Disney’s Musical Tarzan, in Stuttgart. Prior to this he played Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet across Italy.

    The cast is completed by Oscar Balmaseda, Sarah O’Connor, George Arvidson, Lewis Barnshaw, Jessica Ellen, Callum Fitzgerald, Kellie Gnauck, Dominic Adam Griffin, Joe McCourt, Jude Neill, Jordan Oliver, Chrissie Perkins, Oliver Slade, Matias Stegmann and Yuval Zoref.

    Telling the story of Eva Perón, wife of former Argentine dictator Juan Perón, Evita follows Eva’s journey which ultimately lead her to be heralded as the ‘spiritual leader of the nation’ by the Argentine people.

    With more than 20 major awards to its credit, and an Oscar winning film version starring Madonna and Antonio Banderas, Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Evita is iconic. Featuring some of the best loved songs in musical theatre, including “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina”, “On This Night of a Thousand Stars”, “You Must Love Me”, and “Another Suitcase in Another Hall”, this spectacular production promises to be the theatrical event of the summer. Don’t miss the chance to see Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s extraordinary musical Evita in the West End.

  • THEATRE REVIEW | The Kite Runner, Playhouse Theatre, London

     

    ★★★★| The Kite Runner

    The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini’s best-selling 2003 novel, which was turned into an acclaimed 2007 movie and recently won rave reviews at London’s Wyndham’s Theatre, is back again and now playing at The Playhouse Theatre. Its story resonated so much with theatregoers, and after sellout crowds in its original run, it’s been granted to fly again in a limited 8-week run.

    The Kite Runner is the story of true friendship, and also true betrayal. David Ahmad is Amir, who lives with his wealthy father Baba (Emilio Doorgasingh) in Kabul, Afghanistan. They employ Baba’s long-time servant Ali (Ezra Faroque Khan), along with his son Hassan (Andrei Costin). Both Amir and Hassan lost their mothers, so Amir and Hassan have become close, even though they both come from different classes of society.

    They’ve formed a bond with each other and especially love to fly kites together. Hassan ends up becoming Amir’s kite runner – he basically retrieves the kite after knowing where it’s going to fall. The young men are practically inseparable, especially when the local thug Assef (Bhavin Bhatt) threatens them perhaps because he is jealous of their close friendship. But one day, after a kite competition, Hassan is captured by Assef, who proceeds to taunt and then rape him.

    But it’s Amir who witnesses the whole thing – he doesn’t even step in to help, and it’s a guilt that he carries around with him, enough so that he attempts to have his father get rid of Hassan and Amir. This is when the story goes in a different direction and takes us on a journey to America where Amir and Baba eventually find themselves after leaving war-torn Afghanistan. Amir eventually settles down in San Francisco with a wife, but he’s torn with guilt over what he did or did not do for Hassan. And this guilt has him trace his steps back to Afghanistan in the hopes of finding Hassan and to rekindle the relationship that they had when they were boys. But there’s more in store for him than what he bargains for.

    The Kite Runner doesn’t need any sort of magic wand or razzle dazzle to tell its story – it’s the story in itself that is strong enough to hold the audience’s attention. We see the beautiful friendship between Hassan and Amir that is eventually shattered and when the story takes it to another direction we feel Amir’s pain and heartbreak and guilt and we hope the characters will eventually find happiness, though deep down we know that’s not going to be the case. Matthew Spangler has successfully adapted the book for the stage (again) while Director Giles Croft works with an excellent acting ensemble with a very minimalist set as he excellently guides his actors to portray the characters very beautifully and emotionally.

    THE KITE RUNNER is playing at the Playhouse Theatre until 26th August 2017

     

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Lady Bunny in Trans-Jester, Soho Theatre, London

    ★★★★| Lady Bunny in Trans-Jester

    She’s the queen of drag queens, and almost as famous as the Queen of England, Lady Bunny is back in town to perform her one-woman show called Trans-jester, and no one is safe from her catty claws and endless wit. It’s a no-holds-barred performance that is the best of Lady Bunny.

    She commands the stage in her glitteringly-best sequins and a wig that practically reaches the ceiling. With shiny jewellery that, she tells you, is bought at yard sales.

    Lady Bunny, direct but not straight from New York, provides her loyal and tongue-wagging audience with literally an oral history of her life, which included lots of black cock-sucking jokes, as well as her days as a no name drag queen in Atlanta Georgia USA when she and Rupaul used to be roommates.

    Lady Bunny also gets all political by discussing the ridiculous notion of how now everyone has to go by a label. She tells us that she remembers when it used to be only ‘G’ but now it’s LGBTQIA – she screams that it’s ridiculous to have labels – and the audience agreed with her with a roaring cheer! Bunny doesn’t hold back when discussing Bruce Jenner and the transformation to Caitlyn and how Caitlyn’s Republican arse and new pussy doesn’t come close to representing her community. And there are quite a few hilarious Kardashian jokes thrown in for good jester.

    But Bunny is best when she does jokes. They come fast and furious in the part of the show that is her tribute to the old US television show Laugh-In. It’s a skit she used to do at the late and great Wigstock Drag Queen festival she founded in the late 1980s and which sadly came to an end in 2001.

    Lady Bunny is an institution, and she should be in an institution (ha ha ha). But she’s one of a kind, the Queen, a pure Lady, and now’s your chance to go see her live in person before she’s put out to pasture. Long Live Lady Bunny!

    Lady Bunny in Trans-jester is playing at the Soho Theatre until Saturday, July 1st.

     

  • 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: ★★★★★

  • Police are appealing for information after “homophobic abuse” on train

    The British Transport Police (BTP) has released CCTV footage following a “homophobic” incident on a train in London.

    (PICTURE REMOVED)

    The images of three men caught on CCTV have been released as police by they look to question them in connection with an alleged homophobic incident on a train.

    The 21-year-old victim was travelling on a London Overground train from Highbury & Islington to Willesden Junction when he was allegedly targeted with homophobic abuse.

    A statement from the BTP said,

    “Officers have conducted a number of enquiries and are now in a position to release CCTV images of three people they would like to speak to in connection with the incident, which took place around 10.30pm on Friday 31 March. Do you know who they are?

    Anyone with information is asked to text to 61016 or call 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 386 of 31/05/2017. Alternatively, ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

     

  • 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

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Catch Me, Underbelly, London

    ★★★★★ |  Catch Me, Underbelly, London

    It’s a sure sign that summer is here when the Underbelly opens on London’s Southbank. If you haven’t seen it before on its travels, it’s an upside down giant purple cow that acts as a big top for international circus acts. This year they’re showcasing more Canadians with Quebec’s acrobatic troupe Flip Fabrique with a show called ‘Catch Me’.

    Catch Me Udderbelly review

    You’ve seen one circus/gymnastic/acrobatic troupe and you might think that you’ve seen them all. If you think that then you’ll be pleasantly surprised by this show. Even the most jaded and cynical are at risk of sitting with their mouths open in awe like they’ve got some sort of chronic sinus problem.

    The show contains all the usual stuff: balancing, juggling, trampolining and a handful of hot men one of whom is hypnotically beautiful when he whips off his top and reveals a torso to die to die for. There’s more to it than that and it’s not the vague and unnecessary storyline (that you won’t even realise is there unless you read the program) that makes this show so enjoyable. Just as you complacently think you know where a stunt is going, the performers snap you back out of that and you’re treated to a spectacular and unexpected twist on a theme.

    The last fifteen minutes is a frenetic sensory overload that leaves the audience gasping like children at a firework display. They’re a quirky bunch and there’s a hipster vibe to their styling. Most of all this is a fun night for a summer evening. Enjoy!

    Catch Me, plays at Underbelly, until 9th July 2017