Redhook, Clerkenwell
I really wanted to like Redhook but there’s a balance between making customers feel like part of the crew and casting them out on such a long line that they feel lost and forgotten, bobbing around in a sea of other thirsty and hungry people. Put some welly into front of house and Redhook could be reeling them in.
Bibendum
I rang the restaurant upstairs and said ‘Hello I’m eating oysters downstairs and its freezing and making me sad. Can I come and have lunch in your nice warm restaurant please?’ And the man said ‘Yes but you have to order in the next six minutes because the kitchen closes at 2.30.’
Bavarian Beerhouse, Tower Hill
You can tell a lot about a person from their sense of humour, and while, naturally, I take great pleasure in witty wordsmithery and ..., my funny bone belongs to sauce. So when I saw that the new Bavarian Beerhouse is located in Crutched Friars, I confess that I allowed myself a small, but heart-felt 'oo-er'.
Tempo
Tempo, with its barley-coloured walls and splendid turquoise upholstered chairs could seem formal when empty. But as a Regency drawing room in a listed building, its cornices, fittings and curves substituted any lack of warmth. Perhaps the waffle ceiling and square arch could be more sympathetic but they also showed boldness- like the food.
L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon
Why anyone would want to traipse out to East London to eat pompous self-indulgent food when Robuchon is in town is beyond me. At L’Atelier the balance of creativity with common sense and clear cooking skills is perfect, the room delightful and the staff, even when wielding fire extinguishers, cool and solicitous.
Dishoom
Inside Dishoom it's as false as any other themed place in London. Packed with patina that you pay for and then install in great swathes. So what though? The pictures are actually rather interesting, the interior clean and bright and I am not eating the décor, even if some critics appear to be chewing the carpet.
Namo
How many restaurants can lay claim to a Banksy on their wall? The answer is probably not many. But Namo, a modern Vietnamese restaurant in the heart of leafy Victoria Park, can boast one. Well, almost one as it's been partially painted over and graffitied on since it's inception.
Wartenberger Mühle: Schlossberg
Scharff, who wears a chef’s jacket embroidered with as many logos of professional bodies as a racing car driver sports adverts, is patron of ‘Wartenberger Mühle’, Pfaltz, a restaurant, brasserie, boutique hotel and substantial, sweet smelling, stepped herb garden...
Spaghetti House, Sicilian Avenue, London
Whilst we were eating we saw several people queuing for tables, given that this was a Wednesday evening, this is a popular restaurant indeed. I imagine this is for two reasons, the food is very good and it is very reasonably priced.
Rubens Afternoon Tea - afternoon delight
One of the better places to take Tea and something different to the norm with its attractive big windows and interesting view The Rubens takes great care in its afternoon tea offering and the price reflects the fact that Mr Kipling does not make an appearance on the cake stand.
Rick Stein's The Seafood Restaurant, Padstow
Rick Stein may have come under fire from locals and critics but Emily Farley finds that there's a lot to like about his Seafood Restaurant down in Padstow.
Le Bouchon Breton
With plush red seating and a well stocked high bar, it was the epitome of retro French glamour. Outside, little oases of botany separated deck furniture and a live band played gently in the background, all a part of the Breton's August jazz nights.
Benito's Hat Mexican Kitchen, Covent Garden
Operation Burrito: A visit to the new Benito's Hat Mexican Kitchen. It's already got plenty of foodie fans but what's all the fuss about and are the Burritos really that good? Read on to find out!
Polpo, Soho
I like Polpo a lot better now it’s got over the initial trendy phase and settled down to simply feeding people. This is the sort of place that only Soho can support, a postcode where dodgy expenses are still signed off and the locals more mature and less fickle than out East. You need eight arms to tackle all the dishes as they pile onto your small table though.
The OXO Tower Brasserie: Not Afternoon Tea
The sexy mousse, the persistent pigeon and cocktails for two. The OXO Tower Brasserie's Not Afternoon Tea reviewed.
Tom's Terrace, Somerset House
I’d visited Tom’s Terrace on opening night when Lanson was free-flowing, meaning bathroom trips were frequent and essential, the slight downfall being they’re located outside of the restaurant, obviously. It’s only a slight disgruntle, as are the other minor hitches with the meal, undoubtedly not worth kicking up a fuss over. The occasion was a perfect fit for the venue, a really fantastic place to grab a quick bite with a friend and enjoy the summer sun.
Boisdale of Belgravia
While Boisdale says it’s in Belgravia, it’s also two minutes from Victoria Coach Station. But why quibble with this old Scottish establishment, destination cigar lounge, whisky bar, jazz club and comfort to wealthy barflies?
Opera at Courtyard 51
The Covent Garden Strings are that rare thing nowadays, a musical comedy act and collective. Tonight Sid Bowfin, who is clearly channelling the spirit of Bill Hall the legendary comedy violinist, leads a crack team of four in a performance that mixes excellent fiddle playing with clever crowd control through smart ad libs and polished comedy routines.
Brasserie Joel
Despite criticism of the building it occupies, Brasserie Joël provided an authored insight into La Belle France, as Douglas Blyde found out...
Crabby Aikens’ Winnebago
Despite reservations, Douglas Blyde found himself making the short journey past the ‘Sloany Pony’ for day one of two of Cloudy Bay’s pop-up Crab Shack on Parson’s Green.
