THEGAYUK

Tag: Four Star Restaurant Review

The latest Four Star Restaurant Review from THEGAYUK.

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | Mamie’s

    RESTAURANT REVIEW | Mamie’s

    ★★★★ | Mamie’s

    If you’re looking for an excellent crépe in Covent Garden, I’ve got the place for you.

    Mamie’s, on Catherine Street, right across the street from the Theatre Royal where Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is playing, serves many varieties of crépes – both sweet and savoury (also known as galettes). Nestled in a three-story building, Mamie’s is a cozy place for cozy food and has something for everyone. If you’re looking to make the visit a full meal, then your first course will be a galette – there are 9 galettes to choose from, all made from buckwheat, gluten free, and healthy. If you like salmon, you’re in luck – there is Salmon and Cheese as well as a dish called La Baudelaire, which my lunch companion had, with salmon, mushrooms, a fried egg, and cheese, along with lettuce on top. At £9.50 it’s a bit pricey, but it’s served open-faced (as opposed to rolled up) – and it is large. Other options include the Forest Compléte – egg, ham, emmental cheese, créme fraiche, mushrooms and onions (£8.90), and the cleverly-named L’Edith Piaf – blue cheese, pears, walnuts and mixed salad leaves (£7.90). I had the delicious La Chateaubriand – a rolled galette wth sausage, onions, whole grain mustard and mixed salad leafs – a snip at £7.90 – and very very tasty.

    Of course, when I think of crépes I always think of the sweet kind – the ones you buy at markets and, if you’ve been to Paris, you can find loads of créperies that serve them – they’re a French institution! And at Mamie’s they’re delicious! I had the homecooked apples and cinnamon crépe. Talk about perfect, it was so so good, and very large, and at only £4.90 an excellent deal. You can choose from other options including Nutella (£4.90), pears and chocolate (£4.90), La Magritte – home cooked apples, caramel and vanilla ice cream (£6.90) or the La Henri Dés – Nutella, caramel and marshmallows (£5.90). Or if you’re a bit too full from your main course, then a butter & sugar or a lemon & sugar might be best for you (£3.00 and £4.50 respectively).

    Mamie’s also has a small menu of starters including tapas and salads (though two were sold out on the day we visited), as well as an excellent beer and cider menu, and a cocktail menu that are specially-made and all at £8.00. But Mamie’s is very unique in two aspects of its business – the way you order and what you order. When you sit down you are given a computer tablet to place your order. Each course and drinks options are on the main page – and each dish has a picture of it – so you know what you’re getting! But even more clever is that for each galette and crépe, you can add additional items as toppings. So in the case of one of the galettes, you can add more salad, honey, an extra egg, ham, or onions, all at a very small surcharge. And in the crépe world, feel free to add jam, chocolate, pears, apples, perhaps turn it into a flambée – almost anything you want! There is also dairy free and vegan options. So if this doesn’t entice you I don’t know what else will!

    French born Aymeric Peurois opened Mamie’s in early August and has designed his restaurant in the style of Brittany. As a child, he used to go to his grandmother’s house in Brittany (Mamie’s means grandmother in French) where she used to make crépes. So Aymeric, who is a former financier, decided to leave his job and open Mamie’s, which can seat around 40 people on both the ground and first floor (though five of the tables on the first floor are extremely close to each other). Aymeric is very passionate about the place, and he has plans to turn the basement into a cider bar/cider cellar. It’s a beautiful room, made to look like a speakeasy, and it’s got a see-it-to-believe-it large map of Brittany on the ceiling! Très incroyable! I really wish Aymeric all the luck in getting this business established and successful – it’s a very cute and cosy spot right in the heart of the West End.

    Reviewed by: Tim Baros

    Address: 19 Catherine St, London WC2B 5JS, UK

    Phone: +44 20 7836 7216

    For opening hours and to check the menu, please visit:
    mamies.co.uk

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | Pho and Bun

    ★★★★ | Pho and Bun

    PR Supplied

    We know what a bun is but what exactly is Pho? Find out at the West End Vietnamese restaurant called Pho and Bun.

    Its menu is a feast, and a mystery, to the eye. Dishes with names you’ve never heard of (MIẾN TRỘN TÔM THỊT and GIÁ XÀO NẤM) – coupled with ingredients and tastes that you’ve never had (lemongrass tofu and dill mayonnaise) make this for a unique and excellent meal.

    ‘Bao’ is the new ‘it’ food in London, and Pho and Bun has a full menu of Bao. How to describe it? It’s a very light (and white), and very fluffy but not too heavy or filling bun. And Pho and Bun is using bao as the bread for their steamed bao burgers. You can have honey belly pork with fried shallot, confit belly pork with soy sauce, but I opted for the 28 days dry aged beef. It was, as I told my dining companion, the best burger I’ve ever had in London. The meat was delicious and tasteful, small yet satisfying, and the red onion relish, house pickle and smoky mayonnaise inside gave it a very unique and sumptuous taste (excellent value at £7.50). Our waiter recommended the sweet potato chips with chilli mayonnaise to go with the burger, and they were so so good. My dining companion had the Pho noodle (Pho is soup) with red wine braised beef. It was hearty, with lots of vegetables, vermicelli and the beef, which was nicely soft and moist, and is a dish I’ll order next time I go back. Other pho choices include the corn-fed chicken, seafood or crispy tofu, a spicy imperial version, as well as a stir fry version (beef rump steak and tofu and mushroom), and all under a bargain price of £9.50. My dining companion ordered a fried dough stick with his dinner – it was nicely textured and very soft.

    Starters are highly recommend. The BÁNH TÔM HÀ NỘI -Hanio Prawn Pancake with sweet potatoes and lettuce wrap – was brilliant! Sweet potatoes are the base for the prawns, so it’s served pancake-style and chopped up into chunks. It’s crispy, crunchy and oh so good! And it’s served with lettuce so you’re supposed to wrap the chunks into the lettuce and dunk into a fish sauce, but I preferred to eat it on its own – absolutely divine! And at £6.50 it’s a must. Trust me! If you prefer a taste of everything then go for the P and D Special Platter Summer Roll Prawn that includes delicious spring rolls, nicely textured, lite and not too chewy chilli squid, served with onions and peppers, and prawns on top of shredded mango with cole slaw, nuts and basil and lettuce (so refreshing), which was amazing, and summer rolls with tofu and tiger prawns, wrapped in lettuce, served plain but peanut sauce is given on the side which highly complements the dish. All this comes a price of £13.50 but they will let you mix it up if there is something you don’t want or something else on the menu you want to add to it.

    Of course, no meal would be complete without dessert. Pho and Bun’s dessert menu is small, which makes it easier to decide what to have. We ordered two to share – the Pandan and Coconut Panna Cotta with Peanut and Pineapple Salsa and the Flan caramel with Vietnamese Ice Coffee syrup. The Flan was hands down the winner; it was rich and tasteful and the coffee flavour gave it a nice kick. The Panna Cotta was a bit tasteless, I was expecting to be a bit more wowed by it but I was not. I’ll order the flan again next time. Also in mind for next time is the grilled banana with coconut sorbet and roasted peanut or a trio bean dessert with pandan jelly – which sounds highly unusual. All deserts are under £5.00.

    Pho and Bun offers a nice selection of coffees and teas; the carrot juice was very fresh and elegantly served in a tin cup. The Homemade lemonade was refreshing and good. Wines are also on offer, as is the recommended Saigon beer.

    I’ve briefly touched on the menu above, it’s such a diverse food menu and there is truly something for everyone at Pho and Bun. As mentioned above, the burgers are yummy and different, the Pho and Noodle soups are hearty and good value for money, rice and vermicelli dishes (BBQ pork with salad and fresh herbs or the glass noodle with minced pork, tiger prawn, fresh herbs and confit aggs, or perhaps plain beef rump steak or tiger prawns with bean sprouts and stir-fried lemongrass) – all at a good value price of £9.50. There are also salad and vegetarian dishes, a great value set lunch menu (two courses) for a mere £9.50, or a highly recommended 6-course tasting menu that gives you a bit of everything (including a sampling of four starters) at a low price of £22.95.

    Pho and Bun is conveniently nestled in London’s West End, right on Shaftsbury Avenue, in the heart of the theatre district and Chinatown. It’s in the location where Young Cheng, a very popular and cheap Chinese restaurant, used to be. The venue has been redone to resemble a Vietnamese cafe, nicely wood panelled and cosy. But now that winter is here, avoid sitting near the front door, it’s very very drafty. Downstairs may be a better option for you as it’s warmer but it still retains a typical restaurant basement feel. Quang our waiter was wonderful, very charming and friendly, and recommended dishes that we didn’t realise we wanted but enjoyed eating! While Pho and Bun is not quite 5 star overall, it’s food is five star. I will be going back very very soon.

    Reviewed by: Tim Baros

    Telephone: 020 7287 3528
    Email:phoandbun@vieteat.co.uk

    Address: 76 Shaftesbury Avenue, London W1D 6ND, UK

    Opening hours:
    Monday – Thursday 12:00 – 23:00
    Friday – Saturday 12:00 – 23:30
    Sunday 12:00 – 22:00

    PRICE: ££ (explained)

    STAR: ★★★★ (explained)

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | Rudie’s Jamaican

    RESTAURANT REVIEW | Rudie’s Jamaican

    ★★★★ | Rudie’s – Great Jamaican food in hip Dalston!

    rudies_bc_img_1871Rudie’s offers what they call a ‘Boss Burger’ – a rare breed of beef chuck patty that is topped with apple wood smoke cheddar, sweet honey mustard, red onion, tomato, pickles and jalapeño chilli – and it’s huge – worth the £12 price. My dining companion ate the whole thing.

    Sides were a must to have, and it was the Avocado and Mango Salad that was the best dish of the night. A snip at only £4.25, it’s a big bowl of fresh avocado and mango with dices of onion and tomato in a very nice vinaigrette dressing. Amazing. The Sweet Plantains were also amazing – at £3.00 a great deal – topped with a hint of sugar to give them a sweet flavour.

    Desserts are recommended after your meal but they’re very small! I had the Rum Cake expecting a nice portion, but it was quite a small, perhaps the size of the palm of a hand. It was sprinkled with berries and almonds and a syrup sauce, and came with ice cream, but it left me wanting more! My friend had the Banana Brulee, it has a nice crust and underneath the coconut custard créme was heavenly, but again a bit on the small side. Both were £5.50.

    It’s all about exotic drinks when going to a Jamaican restaurant, and Rudie’s does not disappoint! There are 10 delicious sounding cocktails to choose from, and while we didn’t have all 10, we did order the ‘Jamaica Nice’ – a nice smoothie with almond syrup, lime, nectarine, rum, with a huge slice of pineapple – it’s as delicious as it sounds! My friend ordered ‘The Colony’ – another rum cocktail that included brandy – he said it was smooth going down. All ten cocktails are priced at a very friendly £8.50 each.

    The bill for the meal came to £80 – not too bad considering all the different types of food we ate, coupled with the drinks. Rudie’s is a great place to eat, with large windows so you can watch the passing trade walk by. Service is wonderful, and they’ve been in business for just over a year. 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.

    Reviewed by: Tim Baros

    Telephone: 0207 249 9930

    Address: 50 Stoke Newington Road N16 7XB

    Opening hours:

    Mon – Wed: 18:00 – 22:00

    Thur: 12:00 pm – 22:00

    Fri – Sat: 12:00 to 23:00

    Sun: 12:00 – 22:00

    PRICE: ££ (explained)

    STAR: ★★★★ (explained)

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | Chicago Rib Shack – Aldgate East

    Chicago Rib Shack – Aldgate East – stomach busting food that will do damage to your waist – in a very delicious way!

    There have been so many times when I’ve dined in a restaurant only to be left feeling not fully satisfied and still a bit hungry. Well, a visit to Chicago Rib Shack is quite the opposite – I left very full and extremely satisfied, read more to see why.

    Chicago Rib Shack has just opened it’s fifth London location, right near Aldgate East tube station. Already with a presence in almost every direction in London (Stratford, Clapham, Camden and Twickenham, and they’re also in Leeds), Chicago Rib Shack is changing the way ribs are eaten in London. Their ribs are smoked over applewood chips for a minimum of six hours in a wood burning oven at 107 degrees celsius. So you have a taste of nicely smoked ribs with the option of adding as much BBQ sauce as you want.

    On a Thursday night visit to the newly-opened (two weeks) Aldgate East location, the restaurant was jam packed. Evidently, word had gotten out that on this otherwise unfriendly and bland street a few minutes walk to the tube station was a brand spanking new American-style rib joint. Even when you’re walking by the smell of ribs is so strong and powerful that if that doesn’t lure you in then you’re sense of smell needs to be checked by a doctor.

    The beef ribs did not disappoint. The two on my plate were massive, extremely tender and wonderfully large. These particular ribs are smoked for 18 hours and arrive on the plate moist and meaty. BBQ sauce brought to the table is optional, and while the sauce is one of the best I’ve ever had – not too thick and overpowering – I just had to eat the meat on its own to get the full effect of the flavour. Delicious. If this is too much meat for you, then the baby back ribs might be your style. Lean and much smaller, they are light and lovely. The beef ribs are worth every pound of the £19 price, while a half portion is a snip at £10. I had initially wanted to order the £18 Thick Cut Belly Ribs, but they had run out and it was only 8pm! Hopefully, the restaurant will realise that they need to cook enough to last all night! If you don’t fancy ribs then perhaps a burger (classic cheese at £7.50 or shack stack with a double patty, potato cakes, onion rings, egg, avocado and cheese for a whopping £16). Or perhaps the rump steak (£18), cobb salad (£8/£13), griddled chicken (£13) or Catfish (£12).

    As sides, we ordered pulled pork spring rolls (£6) and crispy catfish (£6). Both were very good, very delicate, and not too overpowering (especially the catfish, which was nicely breaded and not too fishy tasting). They’re served with a cajun sauce but it’s very spicy – try the BBQ sauce instead – it’s a better accompaniment. The Onion Loaf was the most amazing ever! Baked Caramelised onion, it literally looked like a loaf of bread – crispy, very big and absolutely amazing (only £6). The coleslaw was perfect – not overwhelmingly creamy (£4) and the handmade BBQ beans were tasty and good (£3.5). Also on the side menu were fries, mash, and mac & cheese. When you order expect your food to come all at once. Our table was literally overflowing with dishes!

    I had absolutely no room for dessert but stuffed down a Lemon Pot – a lemon curd with lemon biscuit chunks, vanilla ice cream and chantilly cream served in a jam jar – a lovely and sweet dessert, and was an absolute perfect ending to a perfect dinner.

    I can’t stress how delicious the meal me and my dining companion had. While she felt that the spring rolls and catfish were a bit flavorless, (they’re probably meant to be because they’re served with a side of sauce) – we were both amazed at how delicious the ribs and onion loaf were, and how reasonably priced it all was, and how thirst-quenching the Nojito (a non-alcoholic mojito) was, at just £4.50. Their drinks menu is, as you would expect, full of many different types of drinks – classics such as cosmos, martini’s, peach teas, among others. Their signature drinks have intriguing names such as Four Roses Milk Punch, Rib Shack Fizz, Jungle Bird, Paper Planes and Cane ’N’ Oil – all that need to be tried during multiple visits! They also serve all sorts of shakes and the usual wines, bubbles, ciders, beers and soft drinks and juices. The root beer float (£4) is a signature American drink that must be tried, either with your meal or for dessert! A must!

    The Aldgate branch is smartly designed – open planned, with the bar straight ahead as you walk in and the open kitchen inside on the left. But with the open kitchen comes the issue of the whole place smelling of meat! Don’t be surprised that when you leave your clothes and hair will have the smell of meat. Make sure you don’t have any dogs following you home! The tables are nicely laid out in the restaurant, with free standing tables that I urge you to sit at. We sat in the mashed up back section, next to a table of four rowdy bankers – the tables were a bit too close to each other, enough so that when someone got we had to hold the table down to make sure their bum didn’t knock down our drinks and condiments.

    Chicago Rib Shack is stomach-busting food at affordable prices. It’s a trendy hip joint for meat lovers, food that is perfectly cooked and willingly devoured. And some of the branches (including the Aldgate branch) serve brunch. I’ll be back there either again for dinner or brunch once my waistline returns back to normal!

    Reviewed by: Tim Baros

    Telephone: 0207 426 0218

    Address: Wentworth Street London E1 7AL

    Opening hours:
    Mon – Fri: 12:00 pm – 23:00
    Sat: 10:00 to 23:00
    Sun: 10:00 to 22:30

    PRICE: ££ (explained)

    STAR: ★★★★ (explained)

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | Tabun Kitchen

    ★★★★ | Tabun Kitchen – Soho, an excellent new and healthy choice in Soho!

    PR Supplied

    Berwick Street is known for its famous market, but soon it’s going to be known as the street where Tabun Kitchen is.

    Located midway between the market and Oxford Street, Tabun Kitchen is a beacon of light on an otherwise dreary block. It will be the food that will lure you in, and it will keep you going back for more.

    It’s hard to put into words just how delicious the food is at Tabun. There are so many spices, ingredients, elements, and surprises in the food that you’re not exactly sure what you’re eating but then you don’t care because you’ve never experienced these tastes before – Jerusalem Street Food. It’s owner, Hanan Kattan, grew up in a Palestinian household, and she incorporates the ‘Tabun’ oven into the architecture (and cooking) of her restaurant to bring to Soho a unique and flavorful eating experience.

    The menu is quite big and varied so it’s hard to recommend a dish or two as I’ve only been there once (I plan to go back a couple more times actually). Its menu recommends dishes to share; a good idea as it will give you twice as much of a taste of their extremely varied dishes. Our mezze plates were out of this world; the Maftool Cous Cous Salad was a mix of peppers, spring onions, a hint of chilli, coriander, pomegranate dressing and included lamb sausage. The Moutabal Smoked Aubergine Dip was a delicious pomegranate garnish and flatbread croutons sprinkled with thyme. Both are rewarded five stars each! Next time I will try the Jerusalem Falafel and the Jerusalem style dip with cumin spiced fava beans. And to top it off none of these mezze plates are more than £5! Bargain!

    CREDIT: PR Supplied

    For mains, again, it’s hard to pick from the traditional and grills menus. We had the mixed grill – chicken kofta, shish taouk marinated chicken kabob, lamb kofta with warm artichoke with an egg lookalike dollop of white creamy garlic with yellow coloured very spicy yolk. It’s a flavorful dish, sprinkled with parsley. While the meat is cooked just right, and at £14 not a bad deal, I could’ve eaten more meat! My companion ordered, from the pizza menu, the Manaeesh Palestinian pizza (dough topped with white cheese, sundried tomatoes and olives and a bit of ground meat). Palestinian pizza, as you might know, is thin, wet and soggy. My dining companion enjoyed it, however, I wish he would’ve ordered something more exotic like either the Lamb Three Ways, Musakhan Chicken (with caramelised onions and pine nuts), Grilled Prawns or even the Vegetable Makloubeh – with rice, spiced aubergine, cauliflower and broad beans, yoghurt, cucumber and mint sauce, pistachios, pine nut & raisin garnish – it sounds heavenly – and I’m having this next time! The mains and grills are all under £14 while the pizzas are a snip at £8.50. Also, If you want to try a wrap, there are five to choose from: Chicken, Falafel, Cheese and Lamb, all at a friendly price of £8.50.

    Tabun has a huge sides menu to choose from; dishes that will complement your mains. We tried two and they were, while complete opposites, both extremely wonderful. The Avocado Salad – chopped avocado with tomato, coriander with lemon and garlic sauce – was just what you would expect – amazing (£5). And the Za’atar french fries, dusted with thyme spice mix, came with Toum (garlic) sauce (£3.50) – amazing! Also on the menu are pickles, olives, aubergines, hummus, kale salad and the always reliable tabbouleh Salad. But the Avocado Salad and the French Fries were perfection!

    And finally, puddings are a must. The Harisa Cake – semolina cake with coconut and orange blossom syrup – was divine. The Baklava selection, as you would expect, was also delicious and enough to put you over the top. But if you want to try something new – try the Jerusalem Knafe – cheese pastry soaked in sweet, sugar-based syrup. It’s extremely heavy yet very good, and I would recommend you sharing this with your dining companions because it is very filling. All cheaply priced at £5 each.

    Tabun Kitchen has a good white and red wine, rosé and beers and spirits and soft drinks choices, but go for one of the cocktails. The Tabun Mojito – beefeater gin, tonic water, fresh mint leaves, lemon and rosewater – was very thirst quenching and absolutely tasteful, while the Orange Sunset – Vodka, aperol, agave syrup, with freshly squeezed orange juice – was sweet and yet had the right amount of vodka in it. The Spice Trip – rum, orange juice, chilli and watermelon juice – and the pomegranate bellini – are both on my must have list.

    Tabun Kitchen seats 45 people comfortably, both on the ground floor and in the basement. The front room of the ground floor is hot – it’s where the oven is – and on the night of my visit the front door had to be kept open, but then it got too cold, so it was closed again, then it was too hot. I hope Tabun is able to sort this problem out. And one of our dishes didn’t arrive so we had to remind the wait staff, all of whom are very pleasant and nice, what we had ordered. I recommend sitting in the lower ground floor; it’s quant, Mediterranean-style, and very cosy that’s 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.

    Reviewed by: Tim Baros

    Telephone: 020 7324 7767

    Address: 77 Berwick St Soho, London W1F 8TH

    Opening hours:
    Mon – Sat: 12:00 pm – 12:00 am
    Sun: Closed

    PRICE: ££ (explained)

    STAR: ★★★★ (explained)

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | Dirty Bones, Shoreditch

    The Americanisation of East London’s restaurant scene continues with the opening of the Shoreditch branch of Dirty Bones.

    PR Supplied

     

    Dirty Bones has a presence in both Kensington and Carnaby Street, but with the opening of the new Shoreditch location, it cements itself into a scene so hip even the beards have beards. Nestled conveniently steps away from Brick Lane right on very trendy Bethnal Green Road which includes both Dirty Burger and Cowshed restaurants, Dirty Bones corner location is in a perfect spot for passersby to get a whiff of what’s cooking and to be tempted to sample meals that are out of this world.

    Billing itself as ‘New York comfort food served in an environment with the the greatest old school, hip-hop, soul and funk music’, It’s once you’re inside you get the feeling that you’ve stepped into another time and place – high ceilings with a bar that takes centre stage in a room where every table is cozy and comfy in which to settle down and have a great meal. Dirty Bone’s vibe is so mellow that it doesn’t even feel like it’s a restaurant, it feels more like your very wealthy Auntie Bessie’s large living room in a plantation Savannah, Georgia. Dirty Bones has velvet banquettes, comfortably laid back (really laid back) seats and a western-style ambience. But of course, it’s the food that really matters.

    It was hard to decide whether to visit for lunch, dinner or for Sunday Roast, so to try something different I and my companion went for the Sunday Roast. But the Sunday Roast menu is not just about roasts; also on offer is a Flat Iron Steak, Spicy Chicken Burger, Baby Back Ribs, plus The Mac Daddy, and for vegetarians the Spiced Roast Veg Salad. We stuck to the roasts as this is what we fancied. I ordered the Fried Chicken Roast – two pieces (one breast and one drumstick) of spiced buttermilk fried chicken with honey spread on top. Two pieces were definiteIy not enough, but they were just perfectly cooked, brown on the outside and white on the inside, and delectable. It was accompanied, as most roasts are, by a huge smoky paprika Yorkshire pudding, truffle road potatoes, buttermilk mash, green beans, and sweet potato which had a bit of a kick to it. All this for £17. My dining companion went with the Brisket & Ox. The brisket was hidden in the Yorkshire pudding – Quelle surprise – and at £18 a good deal. The brisket and ox were, as you would expect, tender, moist and mouth-watering, and plenty of it, alongside the aforementioned accompaniments. We were suggested a side of the Taleggio (Italian cheese) & Smoked Cheddar Mac N’ Cheese, and we were so glad that we ordered it. It was one of the most authentic Mac ’n’ Cheese dishes I’ve had a long time – thick yellow cheese sauce which was consistently perfect – just yummy.

    PR Supplied

     

    We knew that the roasts would’ve been plenty of food, but as a starter, we did order the Salt & Pepper Squid, and it was just sumptuous! Perfectly cooked, not too chewy or not too hard, with a delicious chipotle aioli sauce drizzled on top to make this dish the star meal. Though at £8 it’s a bit pricey but worth every penny. We wanted to order the Cheeseburger Dumplings but felt that would’ve been too much food, however, the table next to us ordered them, and yes, they are dumplings stuffed with hamburger meat and cheese. Genius! I’ll have them next time.

    I’ll be remiss if I didn’t mention Dirty Bone’s drinks menu because it’s almost a book! My companion sampled quite a few, from the ‘Dirty Mary’ (bloody mary), which she proclaimed it as being very tasty. It was rimmed, surprisingly, not with salt but with crushed pringles. She also went for the Mutt’s Nuts drink which she said was very strong, of course, it would be as it contained Woodford Reserve bourbon along with cinnamon & vanilla infused maple syrup, angostura bitters and a hint of lemon and apple. I went for one of the brunch drinks – the Pine Up – which as you’d guess is pineapple (fresh and juice) with Finlandia Vodka, celery and celery syrup. It was refreshing and fancily served in a long glass. I really wanted to go for the Spiked Iced Coffee – cognac, Mozart Dry Chocolate Spirit, and cream served on ice – but the thought of having a triple espresso drink at 4pm on a Sunday put me off. But Dirty Bones drinks menu really has something for everyone; wine, beer, juices, shakes and soft drinks.

    But it’s the food where Dirty Bone excels. It has such a huge menu depending on which time you go. I plan to go back and try dishes off their Dirty Breakfast menu – the Dirty Bun (sausage and bacon sandwich), Matcha Custard French Toast, short-rib crumpets, and lots more all catch my eye as dishes I really want to try. Their lunch & dinner menu is just as exhaustive where you can try the very popular chicken & waffles or classic burgers and hot dogs or alternatively the £10 lunch options which include a 30 day aged steak, the fried chicken or the spiced roast veg salad. Desserts are also a must. We had the Banana Toblerone-tella Waffles – caramelised banana, blueberry jam, peanut butter gelato and crushed nuts on a freshly baked waffle – just divine and a perfect way to finish a meal. We actually ordered two but the waiter only brought us one – oops.

    Dirty Bones is the perfect restaurant for its perfect location in an environment where the staff and customers, and especially the room, and the food, are very cool. It’s a former Public House with two upper floors, and this Grade II listed building retains much of its original character, including the eye beguiling staircase which leads to the upper floors. Prior to its current use the property traded as The Knave of Clubs pub which can be traced back to 1735. And there is also a top floor where Dirty Bones hopes to make it into a private bar area just in time for holiday Christmas parties.

    The menus at Dirty Bones really has something for everyone, and I plan to go back twice, once to sample their breakfast menu and then again to sample their dinner menu. I can’t wait to get my fingers dirty again!

    Address:
    1 Club Row, London, E1 6JX – 020 7920 6434
    Mon – Wed 8am – 11pm
    Thurs – Fri 8am – 12am
    Sat 9am – 12am
    Sun 9am – 11pm
    *Please note last food orders are available 90 min prior to closing times

    Website: http://www.dirty-bones.com

    Star Rating: ★★★★ (explained)

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | Strut And Cluck

    RESTAURANT REVIEW | Strut And Cluck

    Almost every other block in London has a chicken restaurant, whether it’s Nando’s (they’re all over the place, unfortunately), Clockjack Oven, Bird, or Chickenshop. However, another bird is making its debut in London – turkey.

    Sauce PR
    Sauce PR

    Strut & Cluck, which has free range turkey dishes on its menu, has thrown open its doors in trendy Shoreditch. It bills itself as a restaurant inspired by eastern Mediterranean home cooking, as well as dishes that come from the Israeli owners’ own family.

    On a strip of Commercial Street that has Nando’s and Costa right across the street, and the posh Hawksmoor next door, Strut & Cluck is a warm and cozy restaurant that has a relaxed, cool ambiance and is easy on the eyes. The story behind the idea of the restaurant is based on mom and family chef, Limor, who started serving her family turkey as a healthy alternative to chicken. Thus the restaurant Strut & Cluck was hatched.

    Giving it a try a week after its official opening, me and my dining companion were welcomed by the friendly staff to the back section of the restaurant – an indoor porch-like setting – with wooden tables and large bay windows. We were presented with a cup of Arak – a sweetened anise-flavored alcoholic drink. It was sweet and had a bit of a zing to it. We then ordered four starters and two main courses from a menu that categorises its food as Nibbles (light starters such as olives and popcorn), Roasted & Tossed (Mediterranean taster dishes), On the Bone (Turkey), and No Bones (pastrami, kofta, escalope and schnitzel). The star starter was definitely the Charred Cauliflower – cauliflower that’s been charcoaled, with lemon zest infused créme fraiche, nigella seeds, and pomegranate. I’ve not eaten anything like it before, it was stunning. We ordered the half portion and it was enormous! Also delivered to us was a dish called Far East-Middle East – lettuce cups filled with spicy hand pulled turkey, topped with roasted almonds, pomegranate and Labneh (Lebanese cream cheese). It was a bit spicy yet cool and delicious. We also had Spread of Labneh, which came with cherry tomatoes and sourdough dipping bread.

    The mains were just as fabulous. We decided to share as it would’ve been a crime not too. Limor’s Classic Slow-Roast Thigh turkey was simply superb. It’s a large turkey thigh, served on a bed of caramelised red onions with sweet potatoes. The skin was crispy while the inside was very moist and tender. We also ordered the Hand-pulled Shawarma with dates and pine nuts, served on a bed of freekeh (wheat) and a dollop of Labneh. It was a true Mediterranean dish encompassing many regions. The table next to us, meanwhile, had ordered the Charcoal-Grilled Escalope, and it looked scrumptious.

    After feeling absolutely stuffed and satisfied, we went for desert. The staff recommended a Baked Haroset (a small cake made of fruits and nuts which is usually served as a Passover dish), and Seasonal Fruit (charcoaled!). I was served plums over almond crumble with a scoop of ice cream (gelato if you want – I went for the passionfruit). The almond crumble that came with it was dry and flaky and hard to eat with the fruit – perhaps a syrup or cherry sauce would’ve given it more of a flavor? The Haroset, of Palestinian origin, which was nut and apple grated, is also served with either ice cream or gelato. While it did not wow us, it was nice, light, and not too large. There’s also a selection of excellent cool, refreshing cocktails, some with ingredients such as turkey bourbon, fruit jam, and jalapeños! Beers, wines and juices are also offered.

    Why Strut & Cluck over those cloney chicken places? Turkeys are a super food, being one of the most nutrient-dense sources of protein. Turkey also contains essential amino acids as well as phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, and iron, and is also a great source of lean protein. It also contains all the B vitamins, and Strut & Clucks’ turkeys contain no growth promoters or artificial additives.

    Our waiter Francesco was very friendly and explained the unique and unusual menu to us. With starters costing in the range of £5 and £8 and mains no higher than £12, Struck & Cluck is a very affordable, and excellent, lunch or dinner choice. It’s a journey of flavours that your taste buds will not have experienced before. In Israel, Turkey is eaten all the time, in America it’s pretty much eaten on Thanksgiving, however, in London, it’s practically unseen and unheard of. With Strut & Cluck, founded by husband and wife Amir and Limor, let’s hope that this will change, as Struck & Cluck fuses together turkey and Mediterranean flavors, with an emphasis on Israeli food. Strut & Cluck is a delicious, sensible, and much much better alternative to Nandos!

    Strut and Cluck has seating for over 70 people, and there is also a ten-seater private dining room).

     

    Reviewed by: Tim Baros

    Address: 151-153 Commercial St,  Shoreditch, London E1 6BJ

    Website: http://www.strutandcluck.com

    Phone: 020 7078 0770

    Rating: ★★★★

     

     

     

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | Texas Joe’s Slow Smoked Meats

    There are now two American style meat serving restaurants named Joe in London – Joe’s Southern Table & Bar and Texas Joe’s Slow Smoked Meats. And while they both share a common first name, Southern Joe’s is all about the deep south with lots of variation on chicken, while Texas Joe’s is all about traditional BBQ meats, done the Texan way.

    Texas Joe’s, located behind London Bridge Station right near the upper end of trendy Bermondsey Street, is like stepping into a wild west saloon. A bit small on the inside – 70 seats (though there are plenty of tables outside if the weather is conducive), Texas Joe’s aim is to bring the spirit of Texas into a very small pocket of London. Does Texas Joe’s succeed? Yes.

    Luckily the menu, which is cleverly printed in the style of a 1936 Texas newspaper named ‘The Big Smoke Signal’ and features articles written by Texas BBQ journalists, is not overwhelming. There are five different types of main courses; beef (brisket or short rib), chicken (wings, thighs or breast), pork (shoulder, belly and ribs), tacos (brisket, mutton or pork) and mutton (shoulder and ribs). What, you might ask, is mutton? It’s similar in texture and flavor to lamb.

    Visiting Texas Joe’s six weeks after it’s opening, me and my dining companion were ready to savour the meats and other Texan-style dishes on the menu, food that I was very familiar with having grown up in New Mexico. I decided to go for the beef brisket, as I am a huge fan, while my companion went for the mutton. We were torn between the excellent variety of sides, but then settled for bone marrow (basically fat nestled into a bone), a house salad, cornbread and brisket chilli. As it was too hot that night to drink alcohol, we ordered the very refreshing root beer and cream soda from new brand Soda Folk.

    My beef brisket was absolutely delicious. There were many larges slices presented on a platter, alongside coleslaw, lots of pickles, and a few slices of bread. The brisket, as you would imagine, was tender and lean while a cup of very mild and not too thick BBQ sauce accompanied it. The coleslaw was a bit too creamy for my taste, however, it had onions which gave it a nice kick. My companion’s mutton was thick, a bit colorless, but nonetheless delicious. Our starters were also very good – the house salad (quite a generous portion for £5), the bone marrow (a bit too lardy and fatty for us), corn bread (deliciously tasting with a hint of jalapeño, just like they make it in the southwest), and the brisket chilli – which was absolutely amazing. Yes it was spicy, but the massive portion given (at £5.50) is almost a meal in itself. So is the Mac & Cheese, which the people next to us were eating. The mains are reasonably priced based on how much meat they give you (most in the £12 to £15 range, though the chicken is no more than £9). The bread served with the meals is a bit unnecessary – cornbread should be served as that would make for a better companion to the food, though perhaps if you want to make a sandwich with the meat, then it’s makes sense. To top it off, we had pecan pie with vanilla ice cream for dessert. The portion was just the right size, it was moist, warm and freshly made. After finishing our dinner, we didn’t feel too stuffed, and we were very satisfied. And compliments go to our waitress Beth. She was very knowledgeable about the menu, knew when we needed something, and was very charming and friendly. Too bad the goes back to school in Manchester in a couple weeks – she’s an asset to the restaurant.

    After your meal, I highly recommend a visit to Joe’s Honky Tonk Bar, located right next door, which serves Texas bourbons and whiskeys, along with Texan Lone Star Lagers and a selection of local beers. And while you are there, pick up a bag of Texas Joe’s Beef Jerky. It comes in two flavors – Low & Slow BBQ and Lean & Mean Beef Jerky. it’s actually the best jerky I’ve ever tasted here in England!

    Texas Joe’s has all the delicious dishes and southern hospitality that you could possibly want, in the central but deceptively discreet surroundings of Bermondsey.
    And make sure you meet the owner Joe, he’ll say a big HOWDY to you all!

    REVIEWED BY: Tim Baros

    ADDRESS: 8-9 Snowfields, London, SE1 3SU

    WEBSITE: http://texas-joes.com

    STAR RATING: ★★★★ (explained)

    COST RATING: £££ (explained)

    TIPPING POLICY: At the customer’s discretion

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | Top Dog Diner Soho (CLOSED)

    One could easily meander past Top Dog (TD) on Frith Street Soho without a second squint.

    UPDATED: 26th Sept 2016 – now closed

    First of all, the name doesn’t grab you like Herman Ze German or House of Ho – but equally, it’s not as off-putting as La Polenteria – really, polenta-smolenta. And secondly, the dark exterior doesn’t wink at you – one has to sport a bright button-hole on one’s lapel to make an impression in this neck of the smog-laden metropolis.

    But you’re not to be put off, TD has recently undergone a bit of a refurb and has utilised the space upstairs by transforming it into a speakeasy bar. What they don’t exude in a colourful shopfront they make up for in cool.  A minimalist bar with ’70’s leaf-shaped and made-out-of-scaffolding tables, grey walls with a hand painted mural: think a merman Eddie Izzard in a spacesuit, sporting an orange umbrella, serving drinks – it just works.

    We arrived to the Going Live of all receptions; the staff are animated and personable – move over Ant and Dec.  We were whisked straight up to the speakeasy drinking room where two cocktails were suggested.

    Dill or No Dill: Gin, elderflower cordial, lemon, cucumber, dill and smoked sea salt at £8.  A martini-style imbibe, aromatic and citrusy. The cucumber tones down the salt – slightly bitter.  Not bad, but not top hound.

    El Chaplulin:  Olmeca Altos Reposado, Tio Pepe, Briottet Cacao and Briottet Menthe Blanc at £9. A touch of the My Fair Lady’s, a decent enough tequila softened by the dryness of the sherry – a fruity kick from both Briottets enhances tobacco flavours. The world was a better place once the glass was empty – Top Dog.

    After our sharpeners we were led downstairs to the restaurant. You’ll feel as though you’re sitting in an industrial staff canteen, but with a touch of the Hoxton Square’s.  More of the scaffold, simplistic bare wood chairs, tables and work counter all lit with factory-style caged bulbs.

    We shared all the nosh.

    To arrive first: Kentucky fried cauliflower served with home-made BBQ sauce at £4. If you like cauliflower, and you like tempura – you’ll find this finger-lickin’-good.  We then tucked into truffle mac and cheese at £6.50: al dente pasta – the truffle oil didn’t overpower the mild cheese. My dining chum vacuumed up the lot.

    Before choosing the food we were informed all ingredients are straight off the farm wagon and all the burgers and hot dogs are made on the premises. We think they secretly have a little abattoir and greenhouse out the back – f-f-fresh.

    Next up: chilli cheese hot dog, cheese sauce, lettuce, coriander, pickled chillies and red onions at £9. A sophisticated hot dog – quality meat, porky and beefy notes elevated by lemon and nutty undertones from the coriander. Chilli and pickle is like adding hollandaise to a poached egg and muffin – the ruler of dogs.

    And: pulled pork ’n’ slaw, slow-cooked pulled pork, apple slaw, lettuce, pickles and Kansas City BBQ sauce at £10. My dining compadre wasn’t keen, which made me very happy indeed – not a crumb was left. An addictive beef patty oozing beefiness covered with succulent pork all merged with sweet apple and tomato – hints of garlic and chilli and a tease of paprika – makes a Big Mac seem like a shrivelled up chipolata – we’ve all been there.

    Along with: sweet potato fries at £4 – overdone and dry.  The house white, El Muro Macabeco 2014, had a similar bouquet to carpet stain remover.

    Bung Top Dog to the top of your Soho easy stops to line stomachs before snogging hotties in the Shadow Lounge, for an easy-on-the-Gucci-purse-strings buzzy din-dins with chums or if you just need to fill ya chops with a decent, fresh, meaty flavoursome sausage.

    Review By: Thabian Sutherland
    Address: Top Dog
    48 Frith Street
    London, W1D 4SF
    Telephone: 020 3019 2380
    Star Rating: ★★★★ (explained)
    Cost Rating: ££ (explained)
    Tipping Policy: A discretionary 12.5% gratutity is added to all bills.

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | Jamboree Foodfest & Bar

    Opening a burger/foodfest restaurant and bar with a sizeable backroom complete with stage for live music in a space joined onto a Novotel hotel might not seem like the most conventional of pairings.  But Jamboree on Blackfriars Road SE1 is a breath of rainbow-bunting fresh air for the borough of Southwark.

    Don’t be put off by the French, mid-range hotel brand’s 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.

    To wet our whistles we were pointed towards these two bad-boys:

    Fire Apple:  Fireball cinnamon whisky, cloudy apple juice, bitters and ginger beer.  It was like pouring an energetic San Francisco Stomp down the gullet where all the participants were hot-footing it in cinnamon-laced cowboy boots.  Not too sweet and plenty of yeehaw from the bitters and ginger.

    Knees Up: Blackwoods gin, basil, lemon, apple and ginger.  A few defuser reeds and this imbibe could easily freshen up the mustiest of rooms.  If TheGayUK owned a five-star luxury spa, the Knees Up would replace the complimentary cucumber water.  An abundance of herby, floral and citrus notes.

    We sampled three burgers, all of which were sandwiched in white, spongy, slightly sweet buns.

    Maryland soft shell crab burger: a sugar-paper texture followed by light fishy candy-esque meat.  Claw-icious.

    Racing Bull Argentina beef burger with chimichurri: succulent, gamey and moreish beef elevated by the parsley, garlic and punches of vinegar from the chimichurri – a burger worth saddling up for.

    The Yucatan veggie burger: a smooth sombrero-sporting falafeley filling with a hint of oregano.  My pulse-and-prune-eating pal polished off the lot, but it’s not for everyone.

    Thursday evenings, Jamboree will be filling their stage with live music.  The bar has been set high after hearing the five-piece band Gatsby – http://www.gatsbyband.co.uk – performing their own takes on Bieber, Bruno Mars and Coldplay – we almost buckaroo-ed out of our chairs and threw our stetsons in the air.

    With cocktails at only £7.95 and a decent burger for £13.95, we suggest you jump on the bandwagon.

    REVIEWED BY: Thabian Sutherland
    ADDRESS: Jamboree London Blackfriars, 46 Blackfriars Road, SE1 8NZ, LONDON
    WEBSITE: https://jamboree.co.uk
    PRICE: £££ (explained)
    RATING:  ★★★★ (explained)

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW: Hotel Du Vin Bistro

    It seems the loving care and attention of medical staff from the old Birmingham and Midland Eye Hospital have been passed down to the attentive staff of the new Bistro at Hotel Du Vin. I say new as, despite opening in 2007, a few years is nothing in the history of this incredible old Victorian building. ★★★★

    CREDIT: Hotel Du Vin Bistro
    CREDIT: Hotel Du Vin Bistro

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