Tag Archives: reviews

Polpo Does Brunch

Everybody’s favourite British bácaro presents newfound reason to get up and out on the weekend with a just launched brunch menu available on Saturdays and Sundays at all Polpo locations. Continue reading

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Olia Hercules & Marley Spoon Collaboration

Recipe kit delivery service, Marley Spoon, has teamed up with Olia Hercules, The Observer’s Rising Star of 2015 and author of Mamushka cookbook, for the month of June. Continue reading

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Best Sandwich in Spitalfields? Barraka on Artillery Lane

Man oh man! The chicken schnitzel baguette at Barraka was one the most welcome lunches I’ve devoured in a very long while. From Uri Dinay, the same fella who brought Pilpel (probably the best I’ve had in London) and Badolina … Continue reading

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Rustiko Bar & Restaurant, Old Compton Street

Upon invitation to give its new Craft Beer of the Month a go, I paid Rustiko Bar & Restaurant a friendly visit last week. Great beer! And great place to keep in mind whatever Italianate libations you seek in Soho. Continue reading

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100-Layer Lasagna at The Cavendish

It had been about a year and a half since my last visit to The Cavendish. But I remember my dinner there fondly. So when an invitation to come back to try newly appointed Head Chef Douglas Santi’s “100-layer” lasagna, I was all for it. Continue reading

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London Clown Festival

As clowning is intended (I suppose), performers allowed themselves to be the butt of their own jokes to reflect the follies and quirks of all of us. I especially loved the sneering, nervous-laughter-inducing improv of The Establishment; the manic miming of Inda Perada; the preposterous gags and observations of Ben Target (pictured above); and the athletic dithering of Helen Duff. Continue reading

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Yard Sale Pizza, Finsbury Park

Pizza party in Finsbury Park? Who wants a slice of that action? Me, and I reckon all sorts of other folks when they find out about the newly opened Yard Sale Pizza sliding onto Blackstock Road. Continue reading

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Sunset at the Villa Thalia at Dorfman Theatre, National Theatre

Arty, middle class Charlotte (Pippa Nixon) from London and charismatic American – and CIA operative – Harvey (Ben Miles) are frenemies to the highest degree. There’s instant affinity and sometimes even smouldering attraction between them but also deep-seated belief on both sides that one completely misunderstands the other and that the other is absolutely wrong about how the world spins on its geopolitical axis. Continue reading

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Sideways: The Play at St James Theatre

If you loved the movie, to be sure you’ll love the play, adapted for the stage by original Sideways novelist, Rex Pickett and deftly directed David Grindely. Continue reading

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Madam Butterfly at ENO

A tearjerker of a show, thanks in large part to a profoundly sympathetic performance of soprano Rena Harms, English National Opera’s staging of Madame Butterfly delights the eyes as much as it moves the hearts of its audience. Continue reading

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Asher’s Africana Restaurant, Ealing Road, Wembley

A minimalist’s dream and a vegetarian’s delight (especially if either is on a tight budget), Asher’s Africana is a smart spot to keep in mind for a tasty and wholesome meal on the cheap. Continue reading

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Rooftop Pop-Up: Santa Monica at SkyLounge

Santa Monica Travel and Tourism is hosting a Santa Monica themed rooftop pop-up bar at the SkyLounge rooftop bar at the top of the DoubleTree by Hilton Tower of London hotel. Continue reading

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Beer and BBQ Pairing at Bodean’s Covent Garden

Once upon a time not too long ago, Londoners weren’t as spoiled for choice when hankering for low and slow cooked American style BBQ as they are today. Then Bodean’s came along seizing the BBQ zeitgeist and setting a standard that’s been increasingly upped ever since. Continue reading

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Farmstand, All Day Healthy Eating on Drury Lane

Here’s a healthy option for fast, no fuss dining near Covent Garden: Farmstand. Continue reading

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Allihopa Residency at The King & Co

The King & Co does it again, reeling Clapham pub goers in with another kitchen takeover by one of London’s better street food purveyors. This time round it’s smoked fish artisans, Allihopa, claiming a residency and offering diners a variety of homey, Scandinavian inspired dishes. Continue reading

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Roux Farmhouse Brunch at Roux at The Landau

Luxury hotel weekend brunching in London just got a lot more luxuriously brunch-y with a new farm-to-table Sunday offering at The Langham London hotel’s Roux at The Landau fine dining restaurant. Continue reading

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Bonavita 8-Cup Brewer | Blue Mountain Beans

Landing one of the best brewers on the market just before coming into a bag of some of the best coffee beans on the planet seemed like pure serendipity. Continue reading

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New Menu at The Drift and All Drake & Morgan Restaurants

London bar and restaurant group, Drake & Morgan, has launched a new spring/summer menu focused on “Mediterranean flavours and sun-kissed ingredients.” An invitation to have a taste of the new menu led to a lovely Sunday lunch for Kemey and me at D&M’s airy, expansive and pleasant The Drift at the base of Heron Tower. Continue reading

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Plenty, Berners Street

Folks foraging for food in Fitzrovia listen up! Mediterranean and Middle Eastern eatery, Plenty on Berners Street, offers a tasty range of healthy options for breakfast and lunch at reasonable prices. Continue reading

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Theo’s Simple Italian, Earl’s Court

Newly opened Theo’s Simple Italian is Chef Theo Randall’s second restaurant, this one near Earl’s Court and tied to The Hotel Indigo. Like his eponymous restaurant at The Intercontinental, this venture features expertly prepared dishes of top quality and seasonal Italian ingredients but with a smaller menu (fairly ‘smaller’ prices too) that changes on a more frequent basis and is presented in a more casual setting. Continue reading

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Shepherd Market Wine House

Bravo to Ben Van de Meutter – manager, buyer, and Head Sommelier at Shepherd Market Wine House – for knowing his stuff and backing it up with enthusiasm and presenting his wares in an approachable manner and in an easy-going and comfortable setting. Continue reading

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Roba Bar & Restaurant

Welcome to the brand new Roba Bar & Restaurant in Paddington where a young executive chef – Andrea Secchi (ex-Marcus Wareing at the Berkeley) – a focus on in-house aging of beef and smoking of salmon, and a menu designed largely around a robata grill add up to a hearty dining experience. Continue reading

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St George Cheeseburger at BRGR.CO

Slay the dragon of deep carnal cravings and celebrate St George’s Day throughout April with BRGR.CO’s limited offer St George cheeseburger – a blade steak patty topped with a Cheddar and a Red Leicester cross and served with a side of sweet, sticky caramelised onions and a portion of fries for only £10 (or upgrade to hanger steak for an extra £2). Continue reading

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Whaam Banh Mi Celebrates its First Anniversary

Congratulations to Whaam Banh Mi for reaching a first full year of trading – and cheers for celebrating your big bday by offering folks the chance to have a taste of your ace sandwiches for free. Continue reading

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Rib Fest Finale: Home Team BBQ at The Blues Kitchen Brixton

Damn. That was delicious! Deep flavour from the Deep South came to London for the finale of The Blues Kitchen Brixton’s Rib Fest with a sold out, one night only feast of epic proportion. In town from the States to man the grill were the award-winning keepers of the low and slow flame: Home Team BBQ. I was mightily glad to have managed to slide in for a taste of the action and reckon I enjoyed some of the best BBQ I’ve had since October 2015 when I had a chance to visit the Home Team fellas on their own turf of Charleston, South Carolina. Continue reading

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The Langham London Launches New Afternoon Tea with Wedgwood

The Langham London’s Executive Pastry chef Cherish Finden and her team have launched a new Wedgewood Afternoon Tea. Inspired by (and served with) classic Wedgwood collections and featuring butterfly and daisy motifs, the new tea service is a salute to spring and the warmer and sunnier days to come. Continue reading

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Uncannily Great Dining at The Balcon, Sofitel St James Hotel

All the right points were hit seemingly with prescience during my recent dinner at the Sofitel St James Hotel’s Balcon resulting in one of the better restaurant experiences of my year thus far. Continue reading

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Brasserie Blanc Southbank

Brasserie Blanc Southbank has reopened with a new spiffy new look. I liked what I saw (and tasted) during my recent snoop. Continue reading

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Review: El Dorado Rum and Rococo Chocolate Pairing at Barrio Soho

Award-winning rum paired with award-winning chocolate? There’s no awards for assuming Barrio Soho’s recent El Dorado Demerara Rums and Rococo Chocolate pairing was a deeply flavourful success! Continue reading

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Easter Afternoon Tea at The Langham London

Hop(p)ing for a happy Easter? You’re guaranteed a delectable and playful one with the limited run Easter Afternoon Tea offering by The Langham London’s Executive Pastry Chef Cherish Finden. Continue reading

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Theo Randall at the InterContinental Reopens – Still a Great Place for Italian Cuisine

Taking stock of a decade doing delicious justice to classic Italian dishes, Theo Randall has reopened his restaurant at the InterContinental after an interiors refurb and the addition of a few new menu items. Great news! And the best news about the reopening is that Chef Randall has managed to maintain all the qualities that already had made his eatery one of my favourite places for Italian food. Continue reading

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Turtle Bay Dalston

With its exceptionally generous happy hour, Turtle Bay’s bar is probably the best destination within stumbling distance of Dalston Junction for value conscious elbow bending. Continue reading

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The Magic Hour with Tony Middleton (aka Sonic) at the Grand Royale

Do you believe in magic? Whether you do or not I am certain you will be amazed and have a fantastic night out if you attend The Magic Hour and allow magician Tony Middleton (aka Sonic) to perplex and entertain you with his sleight of hand, illusions and Victorian spiritualist theatrics. Continue reading

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Colouring in While Dining out at Kupp

Are you the type of person who likes to think outside the box – while staying within the lines? Here’s a fun dining experience for you: The Art of Mindfulness Colouring at Scandinavian inspired eatery, Kupp. The new canal-side Merchant … Continue reading

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ETM Group’s Limited Edition Hot Cross Bunny Burger

Dark humour for hearty appetites? I’m game. And so was a substantial amount of my recent preview lunch of ETM Group’s limited edition Hot Cross Bunny Burger at Chiswell Street Dining Rooms. Continue reading

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