Restaurant Reviews - s
Sake No Hana, London
Sake No Hana feels comfortable, intimate and not remotely pretentious like some of the other well known celeb-laden Japanese eateries (mentioning no names…) in the vicinity. So if you want great food, attentive service in an un-fussy environment than Sake No Hana is for you. But if WAG culture, drunk D-list celebrities and rude staff and generic service is what your after then head to Berkeley Street for your Sushi
Saki Bar & Food Emporium
It’s hidden place Saki. In the evening the shop above closes and you could be forgiven for thinking there was no restaurant there at all. This shyness, combined with the Dickensian darkness of West Smithfield at night, means you might never venture down the stairs to the bar and restaurant beneath. You’d be slapping yourself forcefully with a wet tuna if you didn’t though because this is a very good restaurant indeed.
Saltoun Supper Club
‘The Saltoun Supper Club’ takes place each week at Arno’s home in Brixton, converted into a prop for pleasure dining. The décor bears testament to an artists eye – a nude of a tall, girlie figure by Tracey Emin clings, arms by sides, to the hall wall; on the stairs, a moneybox by Gilbert & George invites financial fuel with the words, ‘pay up and f*** off’.
Sam's Brasserie
Our visit to Sam's Brasserie in Barley Mow Passage, Chiswick, which is situated just behind Chiswick High Road, had us wandering out of Turnham Green tube station, and along the High Road. It quickly struck us that the locals have a huge choice of places to eat, and that Sam's must have its work cut out to stand out from the crowd.
Sardo
One thing I will say to the detriment of this undoubtedly enchanting restaurant is that if they ever want anyone to order pudding they might want to consider cutting the main courses in half. A couple of bottles of the excellent Cannonau Riserva were the only other things we managed past our lips that night.
Sauterelle
Service at Sauterelle was exceptionally good, mixed with a little theatre which was somehow right for the surroundings and the excellent food of head chef Robin Gill. This is a remarkably good restaurant and definitely one to visit.
Seasonings
Take a short walk from the Earls Court Exhibition Centre and you are spoilt for culinary choice. However, Seasoning Restaurant & Lounge stands out with its clean and simple decor of funky perspex chairs, white walls and contemporary Indian music.
Semplice
As the name suggests, Semplice is about (meticulous) simplicity. A generous starter of fat pappardelle was glossily spun with racing green baby spinach and earthy, springy chicken livers. Such an unequivocally peasant Italian effort ironically came from head chef Marco Torri’s Japanese sous chef. Despite their lobster plates, it warranted envious looks from my à la carte friends.
Sherlocks Bar & Grill
Calling a place Sherlock’s when it’s located on Baker Street is, I suppose, rather inevitable. Luckily though it’s not something that every local retailer has chosen to do There is no 'Holmes 4U' estate agents and no pub called The Moriarty’s Revenge. The hotel, which houses the restaurant, does have a silhouette sign of the great man hanging outside but that, thankfully, is the limit of the theming.
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.
Stanza
You will find Stanza on the corner of Shaftesbury Avenue and Greek Street, opposite the fire station. Set in the heart of buzzy theatreland, the restaurant has a lot to offer.
Steam
There are a couple of things everyone should have local to them, a good curry house and a relaxed bar/restaurant. Until recently Wandsworth residents had The Chutney to satisfy the former, but since the demise of Dittos Bar & Restaurant nothing has come along to replace the latter. Now there's Steam to give Wandsworth some puff.
Sushinho
Brazilian Japanese fusion eh? Is that a strategically shaved raw fish? It’s an idea that sounds odd however you think about it, but with Sao Paulo home to the largest expat Japanese population it was inevitable that the two cuisines would come together. The question is would it be a car crash or something sexy?
