Le Bouchon Bordelais - Restaurant Review

Cuisine:  French

Cost:  

Rating:

Where?:  5 – 9, Battersea Rise, London. SW11 1HG.

Closest station(s): Clapham Junction, Clapham South, Clapham Common.  

Telephone: 0207 738 0307

Website: www.lebouchon.co.uk

Sitting on the veranda of this French restaurant near Clapham Junction in the sun enjoying a glass of crisp white wine whilst waiting for my dining partner I had extremely high hopes for Le Bouchon. Alas, soon it started to rain so myself and my tardy guest decided to move inside to avoid the British weather.

The décor is simple, in itself this is not a bad thing however I found it rather lacking in charm. The seating was decidedly uncomfortable, ending up perched on bar stools around a small table in order to remain away from the absurdly loud television in the adjoining part of the restaurant.

The menu offers a fine selection of French cuisine, however it seemed to be an age before the rather rude waitress came and took our order. Our starters of terrine de foie gras and moules finally arrived and were decidedly average.

 Nevermind, it was onto the Chateaubriand which I was hoping to make amends and leave me satisfied in the way only a huge piece of bloody cow can. It was shown at the table in advance of carving and both myself and my dining partner gasped at the beauty of the this charred piece of meat. Unfortunately being shown the meat was the highlight of my experience of Le Bouchon. It was hugely disappointing to find that my first mouthful lasted considerably longer than I had expected. Chew chew chew chew chew .. hmm , still there .. chew chew chew .. wash down with wine … swallow. I have never had Chateaubriand that was so chewy and consequently not enjoyable. To add insult to injury the chips were also undercooked.

I did not enjoy my meal at Le Bouchon; the food was below par, the service was slow, poor and rude and the bill managed to come to considerably more than I was expecting. There are often offers on the food – however even with a reduction in the bill I believe that you could find better food in more pleasant surroundings for the same money. 

Bank, Westminster - Restaurant Review

Cuisine:  Modern European

Cost:  

Rating:

Where?:  45, Buckingham Gate, London. SW1E 6BS.

Closest station(s): St. James’s Park, Victoria, Westminster.   

Telephone: 0207 630 6644

Website: www.bankrestaurants.com  

To reach bank Westminster’s dining room we were led through Zander Bar, an uber-modern metallic space which forms part of the Crowne Plaza in Westminster, seconds from St. James’s Park tube. The setting for the restaurant is a huge conservatory – it is just a shame that they have done nothing to make it look inviting. The dining room is utterly soulless.

Once we were brought our menus we had 10 minutes of silence, the menus are huge meaning that any chance of conversation is killed. Thanks to this hiatus in conversation I spent a little longer perusing the menu than I might usually. I don’t know who decided on the Bank Westminster menu however they clearly weren’t very decisive. The menu is split into numerous sections including crustacea, pasta & risotto, meat, grill and Tandor Clay Oven. Why on earth anyone would think it wise to place these food types on one menu is beyond me.

The meat section is a fine example of why bank Westminster fails – sausage & mash, Malaysian chicken, Thai green curry, crispy duck and slow cooked lamb shank – there can't be many chefs out there who have mastered all of the styles of cooking needed to produce great food across this wide specturm of food types. 

The food that came to the table was as feared; each dish was just about ok in its own way however it was very much like a reasonable home cook’s attempt at various dishes from a selection of cookbooks that they were given that morning. Those dishes with an Eastern influence were not authentic and lacked any depth of flavour; being cooked in a very much Western style.

With starters around £10 and mains around £20, with a bottle of wine and service came to around £100. There is infinitely better food in London for the same money.

The highlight of the venture to Bank Westminster was the post dinner drink we had in the courtyard behind the restaurant, forming part of the Crowne Plaza. It is a stunningly picturesque space, free from the hustle of Westminster. The G&Ts were excellent and only thanks to these was it that I was able to end the evening smiling. 

Made in China - Restaurant Review

Cuisine:  Chinese

Cost:  

Rating:

Where?:  37, Monck Street, Westminster, London. SW1P 2BL.

Closest station(s): St. James’s Park, Victoria, Westminster.   

Telephone: 0207 222 2218

Website: www.madeinchinarestaurant.co.uk   

I seem to find it surprisingly difficult to find a decent Chinese restaurant in London these days – I therefore did not go to Made in China holding out any great hope. The welcome I received was warm and we largely had a free pick of tables as it was largely empty; which it seems to be on most occasions.

The menu offers a small selection of Dim Sum alongside a substantial selection of dishes that are pretty standard for any high street Chinese. I was slightly perturbed by the speed at which the starters came from the kitchen, a possible sign that the food may not have been cooked to order. I could however not have been more wrong. Both the squid with salt and pepper and the sesame prawn toast were excellent. I have come all too accustomed to eating chewy, stale and oily sesame prawn toast. These however were crisp, without the slightest residue of grease in the mouth and with a covering of prawns that allowed me to tell what it was. The squid too was delicious, beautifully cooked so that it was crunchy and bursting with flavour without being overpowering.

The crispy aromatic duck with which we followed was again a fine example of this dish when cooked well – I could happily have spent hours sucking the bones and nibbling every last crisp morsel. The mains kept up the high standards; fresh and flavoursome produce cooked in an expert manner.

The only reservation I have regarding Made in China is the price, the starters aren’t bad at around £6.50 and the duck fine at £12 for a quarter. I feel however that £6.00 for egg fried rice is rather a lot. That said this is not a hideously expensive restaurant and you certainly get excellent food; it just comes to that little bit more than I would like to have paid. The wine list is quite reasonable, house wine for under £20; though then rising sharply.

I do not know why Made in China is not busier – it certainly deserves to be a lot more popular; though I don’t think it is helped by the location. Overall I thoroughly enjoyed made in China and would certainly recommend it for classic Chinese dishes cooked well. 

Almeida - Restaurant Review

Cuisine:  French

Cost:  

Rating:

Where?:  30, Almeida Street, London. N1 1AD

Closest station(s): Angel, Highbury & Islington.    

Telephone: 0207 354 4777

Website: www.almeida-restaurant.co.uk 

The Almeida is yet another of the D&D Group (formally Conran restaurants) ventures. The large dining room is light and airy; however a recent revamp has failed to add much character. I can’t quite put my finger on what it is that fails décor-wise, however the room simply has a slightly clinical feel – a little like a Debenham’s showroom; perhaps the Conran connection permits them a discount.

The food is French, brought together from carefully selected British produce. Having eaten at the Almeida a number of times the food is certainly reliable. The menu stalwarts are the charcuterie trolley and the slow braised suckling pig; the charcuterie trolley can be excellent however at times it seems that they have put in more effort than at others. The suckling pig is a delicious spit roast piece of meat that delivers what it should.

There is certainly nothing wrong with the cooking at the Almeida, it simply fails to inspire. The menu is remarkably static, it rarely (if ever) wows the customers and service is rather hit and miss. I have regularly had to re-order side dishes and drinks and on one occasion the reception staff were incredibly rude.

That said the prices have remained static for a number of years – at £25 for 2 courses a la carte. The best reason for a visit to the Almeida is for the pre or post-theatre menu, with the excellent Almeida Theatre sitting opposite. At £16 for 2 courses it is good value; however once you have added a side dish or two and with house wine starting at around £23, the bill soon starts to rise.

I certainly wouldn’t travel across London to go to the Almeida, it is however reliable French food – just don’t go expecting any wow factor. 

Tiny Robot - Restaurant Review

Cuisine:  American / Italian

Cost: 

Rating: 

Where?:  78, Westbourne Grove, London. W2 5RT

Closest station(s):  Bayswater, Ladbroke Grove, Notting Hill Gate, Queensway.   

Telephone: 0207 065 6814

Website: www.tnyrbt.com  

I didn’t know what to expect from this largely Italian influenced American diner in Notting Hill, on paper it doesn’t really sound like my cup of tea. Having walked in my pre-conceptions immediately disappeared; this was not a tacky rehash of a 1970s diner this was out of the 20s or 30s.  

The menu isn’t just beef burgers either (in fact it has only one on the menu); there are formaggi and salumi selections; delicious boards of cured meat or cheese at which to pick. The sliders (mini-burgers) were good and the steak was great. The real highlight were the giant prawns, they certainly lived up to their name and were packed with flavour.

The food at Tiny Robot really is surprisingly good however it does not end there. It has a great cocktail selection and the service is excellent. Apart from an abomination of a Martini the rest of the cocktails were well made and certainly packed a punch.

This is not a fine dining experience however the décor and music have created somewhere that a group of friends can have a great time. It is open for brunch at weekends; gets busy enough to have a lively atmosphere during the week and is packed at weekends.  Thanks to it being small sharing plates it is easy to plough through lots of delicious dishes making the bill creep up – though food wise you would be unlikely to spend more than £20 -30 per person.

A great place to go for a few cocktails or equally to have a long relaxing bite to eat. 

Nancy Lam’s Enak Enak - Restaurant Review

Cuisine:  Indonesian

Cost: 

Rating: 

Where?:  56, Lavender Hill, London. SW11 5RQ.

Closest station(s):  Queenstown Road, Battersea Park, Clapham Junction,  

Telephone: 0207 924 3148

Website: www.nancylam.com

I can’t say that I have seen Nancy Lam on television for a long time, I am not sure this is a bad thing as I remember having to turn the volume down every time she came on as her presentation style generally involved screaming at high pitch. I certainly felt sorry for dogs sitting near televisions when she appeared.  

Following its 2004 refurbishment Enak Enak (yummy yummy in Indonesian) reopened much larger and allegedly more modern. Having walked in I can’t imagine what it looked like pre-2004 as it looks decidedly dated now.

The food took quite a while to arrive and the service was generally poor, I don’t mind waiting if I have a drink to help me through the time however it took an age for wine and water to be brought to the table. The portions were not massive, however with hindsight I think they are pleasantly sized – having finished the meal I left satisfied however not horrendously full as I often seem to find when eating in a high street Chinese restaurant.

The food throughout was good but little more, the meat certainly tasted fresher than it often does when eating dishes such as satay or an Oriental curry; however the whole thing just seemed a little dull. The presentation is straight from the 1990s and lacked anything to make it memorable.

 It certainly isn’t somewhere to avoid at all costs, however it all just seems to be to stuck in a time warp – luckily the prices a relatively low at £8 for starters and £10 for mains. I have heard from many others that it has lost a magic that it used to have back in the 1990s. 

The Fox & Hounds - Restaurant Review

 

Cuisine:  Gastropub

Cost: 

Rating: 

Where?:  66, Latchmere Road, Battersea, London. SW11 2JU.  

Closest station(s):  Clapham Junction, Queenstown Road, Battersea Park.    

Telephone: 0207 924 5483

Website: www.foxandhoundspub.co.uk

Finding myself on the incredibly dull street that is Latchmere Road I decided to give the Fox & Hounds a go, a traditional looking English pub that I heard served food. Inside it is all wood with an appealing layout of non-uniform tables.

The antipasti platter with which we started was a rather bizarre assortment of bites and considerably larger than would be wanted for two people as a starter. Everything was reasonable though not amazing, the highlight being the fried polenta. Luckily the mains really hit the mark, in a pub like this I hope to be able to order something like sausage and mash, which I could, and did. The Italian sausage, mash and red onion marmalade was great; a filling serving (there really had been no need for the starter) including good quality meaty sausages and a thick red onion gravy. At £6 for starters and £12 for mains it was reasonably priced for the quality and house wine was under £15.

The staff are friendly and there is a healthy mix of clientele; it remains primarily a pub so there is a decent atmosphere but also plenty of people choosing to dine.  

If ever on Latchmere Road then the Fox & Hounds is a relaible place to stop for a pint, a glass of wine or a plate of food – it certainly lacks some of the pretention that you find in many of the pubs closer to Battersea Park.  

Mon Plaisir - Restaurant Review

Cuisine:  French

Cost: 

Rating: 

Where?:  19 – 21, Monmouth Street, Covent Garden, London. WC2H 9DD.

Closest station(s):  Covent Garden, Leicester Square, Tottenham Court Road.   

Telephone: 0207 836 7243

Website: www.monplaisir.co.uk

Mon Plaisir in Covent Garden is French, it is very very French. The staff are very French and the décor is very French – it purports to be London’s oldest French restaurant.

Unsurprisingly, the food is very French and clearly in the time that they have been open they have learnt how to turn out very reliable and well-cooked Gallic grub. The menu certainly ticks all of the boxes for a French restaurant – snails, steak frites, duck confit, steak tartare .. the list goes on.

The restaurant itself is nicely presented and as long as you aren’t the only people there an atmosphere is soon created. Luckily it is a popular restaurant and has a good pre-theatre following so there is a buzz at most times.

The starters are around £10 and the mains £19; for this you get extremely competent classic French cooking; the dishes are unlikely however to wow  – there is something a little dated about the whole experience. To my mind there is however certainly a time when it is exactly what you may be looking for. The house wine at £18 means that costs do not spiral excessively.

For me the greatest draw for Mon Plaisir is the pre or post-theatre menu. At £13.95 for 2 courses with its central location it is perfect for Shaftsbury Avenue and only a moment from London’s finest theatre (in my opinion) the Donmar Warehouse. For this you get a selection of two courses that are expertly cooked and often accompanied by side dishes that allow those who want a bit more to eat to fill up to their hearts’ desire.

Accomplished and reliable French cooking, for me the a la carte is a little on the expensive side however the pre-theatre is certainly worth a punt.  

Polpo - Restaurant Review

Cuisine:  Italian / Tapas

Cost: 

Rating: 

Where?:  41, Beak Street, Soho, London. W1F 9SB.

Closest station(s):  Piccadilly Circus, Oxford Circus, Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road.   

Telephone: 0207 734 4479

Website: www.polpo.co.uk     

I apologise for adding tapas to cuisine type above as Polpo is not a tapas restaurant; it is the Italian equivalent, namely a bacaro. Polpo has received a huge amount of media attention and on this occasion it is certainly well deserved. Everything about the restaurant seems to have been done to minimise stress and allow you to have a relaxed and enjoyable evening.  

The menu offers a selection of small dishes, ideal for sharing. This includes a selection of cicheti - tiny plates of food starting from £1.00 (I am surprised to see you can get anything in London for that price these days). Small plates at low prices allows you to have a wide array of food to graze on whilst there.

The food has been excellent each time I have been; on the last occasion I went the highlights were the mackerel tartare, the fritto misto, the polpette and a duck ragu that was bewilderingly unctuous and packed with flavour. At around £5 a plate for the larger plates it is very reasonably priced – the house wine at £18 is extremely quaffable.

Polpo only allows you to book tables for lunch. I am in two minds as to whether the lack of evening booking is a good thing or not; it is great for those occasions that you are in Soho and want a lively atmosphere and great food but haven’t booked – the great shame is that it is so popular you can often find yourself waiting for half an hour or more for a table; during which time it is very easy to get carried away at the bar.

Overall I have great affection for Polpo; the staff are friendly, you get to try lots of delicious morsels, the cooking is excellent and it has a lively buzz throughout the day and evening. 

El Rincon Latino - Restaurant Review

Cuisine:  Tapas

Cost: 

Rating: 

Where?:  148, Clapham manor Street, Clapham Common, London. SW4 6BX.

Closest station(s):  Clapham Common, Clapham High Street Rail, Clapham North.

Telephone: 0207 622 0599

Website: www.rinconlatino.co.uk   

I’m not quite sure why but the front of El Rincon Latino made me think of an S&M club – having never been to an S&M club I don’t know what they look like, however if I had to hazard a guess I would guess a brooding black frontage with spikey metal railings might be about right.  

Despite knowing Clapham well I had never come across El Rincon previously and as soon as I stepped inside I thought that I was going to enjoy my evening. The place was heaving; when I asked for a table I was informed that we would have to wait at the bar until one became free but that it shouldn’t be more than 15 minutes.

The bar was already packed with people eating, though we managed to find a small gap where we could wait with a glass or two of bubbles to while away the waiting time. Looking through the restaurant it is much bigger than one would first image upon entry and there were lots of large groups. The atmosphere had a real buzz to it, without it being deafening or oppressive.  

Having been seated we started tucking into the perfectly acceptable house Rioja (£15.95) and awaited our mammoth selection of dishes. To my surprise rather just this being a buzzy restaurant with average food; this turned out to be a buzzy restaurant with good food – there was not a dud in our selection. The highlights were the calamares, Higado encebollado (calves liver) and the garlic prawns. Not usually being one for eating greenery in Tapas restaurants I was expecting to leave much of the Ensalada Rincon to my dining partner; it was however excellent – an odd mixture of salad leaves, asparagus, cheese and olives that accompanied the fish and meat dishes very well and made me feel slightly better about an otherwise unhealthy meal.  

El Rincon Latino is a great restaurant for the price, it isn’t out of this world food; however at around £6 a plate (surprisingly large portions) it was well worth it. It would be a great place to go with a large group or just when you feel like going somewhere with a decent whack of atmosphere. 

Navajo Joe - Restaurant Review

Cuisine:  North & South American

Cost: 

Rating: 

Where?:  34, King Street, Covent Garden, London. WC2E 8JD.

Closest station(s):  Covent Garden, Leicester Square, Charring Cross.  

Telephone: 0207 240 4008

Website: www.navajojoe.co.uk    

As far as I have always been concerned Navajo Joe in Covent Garden is a bar, it appears however that they have now tried to position themselves as a restaurant too and push their culinary credentials. Being someone who is often too quick to draw a conclusion I decided that I should give Navajo Joe a go before I dismissed it entirely.

Having been seated I perused the menu; from that point onwards it was a poor culinary experience. The menu is a bizarre hodge-podge of North American, South American and Oriental – why sweet and sour pork balls, fajitas, red Thai curry and jambalaya would ever be on the same menu is beyond me. As I had thought Navajo Joe is not quite sure what it is, the staff don’t seem to know whether they are in a bar or restaurant either. The tables are mixed up so some are full of people trying to have a meal whilst other are crammed with cocktails and people trying to become inebriated. This mixture does not work.

The food that arrived at the table was edible, however was mediocre in every way. At £15 for main courses more could certainly be expected, this is not a fast food restaurant.

I would not eat again at Navajo Joe, it was never a great bar – however even its suitability for drinks has been negatively impacted upon by the decision to promote the food. I have little interest in sitting down for a drink and a chat with a friend when a neighbouring table full of tourists is sitting down to a three course meal of poor food. The saving grace for Navajo Joe is the bar downstairs, when it is busy and with a good crowd it can have a decent atmosphere. 

Mien Tay, Battersea - Restaurant Review

Cuisine:  Vietnamese

Cost: 

Rating: 

Where?:  180, Lavender Hill, Battersea, SW11 5TQ.   

Closest station(s): Clapham Junction, Queenstown Road.  

Telephone: 0207 350 0721

Website: www.mientay.co.uk  

There is something about bring your own (BYO) restaurants that I love, it is such a pleasant surprise to come across them as I know that I can enjoy a decent bottle of wine or two with a meal and not have to pay the earth – the great shame is that the majority of BYO restaurants are, frankly, crap. I was therefore intrigued when I heard about Mien Tay, a Vietnamese BYO restaurant with great plaudits from those I trust when it comes to food.

The outside of the restaurant is not very appealing to say the least. The colour scheme includes a decidedly unpleasant green and I don’t think they have done themselves any favours by sticking up newspaper cuttings of reviews they have received. Inside it is pretty bare; white table clothes adorn closely packed tables with little of interest on the walls.

You will generally find Mien Tay packed. When seeking to go for the first time I was surprised to be informed that they were fully booked for the first two attempts. The food in Mien Tay is largely very good. The spring rolls were exceptional and the sesame prawn toast were delicious, without a hint of grease. The clay pot prawn curry with which I followed was also excellent and came as a very generous portion. On the occasions I have been the only culinary disappointments were a decidedly average Singapore noodles.

The menu is long and interesting, including slightly less mainstream dishes including quail, eel and frogs legs – I look forward to returning to sample more dishes. The service can be hit and miss; it always seems rather rude and dishes often don’t come out together. Mien Tay is often set upon by large groups – this has meant on a couple of occasions that it gets very loud in there; fine sometimes but if not in the mood it can ruin a meal.

Overall I would highly recommend Mien Tay – the food is top drawer and you can take whatever you want to wash it down with. I would certainly recommend for when anyone wants a relaxed but reliable meal. Don’t go there however if you are a stickler for good service.  

Namaaste Kitchen - Restaurant Review

Cuisine:  Indian

Cost: 

Rating: 

Where?:  64, parkway, Camden, London. NW1 7AH.  

Closest station(s): Camden Road, Mornington Crescent, King’s Cross.

Telephone: 0207 485 5977

Website: www.namaastekitchen.co.uk

Walking up to the entrance to this new venture on Parkway I thought for a minute that I might have the wrong place, looking through the glass front I could have sworn I was looking at a new Soho bar rather than an Indian restaurant. Despite my confusion I ventured inside and was taken to a table at the back of the restaurant opposite the two grills where much of the restaurant’s food is cooked.

Namaaste Kitchen is certainly comes within the smart, trendy and upmarket categories; rather than trying to be your local curry house. This is a place where bottles of champagne are strewn around the bar.

My Kadhai spiced pan seared scallops were beautifully presented on a slate; as were my (vegetarian) dining partner’s Tandoori Portobello mushroom. The taste lived up to the presentation; to my mind making a Portobello mushroom the centre piece of a starter and packing it with flavour is a great achievement in itself. My scallops were not over-powered by the seasoning and delicately cooked.

The question then was whether the mains could live up to the starters. The red wine with which we had decided to wash it all down was good and certainly not too expensive. I have never had a rack of lamb in an Indian restaurant and all I can say is that I wish everywhere served it – it was mind-blowingly good. Cutting into the charred outer flesh I was greeted by moist and perfectly pink meat. The spices only added to rather than masking the flavour of the meat and the fat on the outside was the thing of dreams. The side dishes were also excellent, the stars of the show being sesame baby aubergine with mustard and curry leaf sauce and the black lentil dhall.

The service was also extremely good, if anything it was a little over attentive. Namaaste Kitchen is an excellent restaurant, it is not however cheap – you are looking at easily reaching £100 with wine for 2 people. The food is not your run of the mill high street Indian takeaway though, it is much more. I will certainly be returning for that horrendously good lamb. 

The Big Easy - Restaurant Review

Cuisine:  American

Cost: 

Rating: 

Where?:  332 – 334, King’s Road, Chelsea, London. SW3 5UR.  

Closest station(s): Sloane Square, Fulham Broadway, South Kensington.

Telephone: 0207 352 4071

Website: www.bigeasy.co.uk     

On each occasion that I have walked past the Big Easy on the King’s Roads over the years I have definitely noticed it. It’s full title is ‘Big Easy – Bar.B.Q & Crabshack’; it has gaudy neon signs and frankly I felt a pang of hatred everytime I walked past. My dislike for it was heightened when I saw its motto, namely: “Put a li’l South in yo’ mouth.” I think it is the yo’ that I particularly despise.

I am not a great fan of American theme restaurants; the perfect example of which would be TGI Friday – I’m not sure whether it could be described as a restaurant; whatever it is the food is vile. Thinking that the Big Easy would be akin to TGI Friday, when I decided to go there I was preparing to dislike it.

Is the Big Easy the best restaurant in London and one I would dream about a return visit? No. Is however the Big Easy surprisingly good and somewhere I would eat again if in the vicinity? Yes.

Having entered the restaurant we were warmly greeted and shown to a table – to my relief though this place is American themed it is not done in a ram it down the customer’s throat and annoy them way as in other places.

The thing that seems to draw many people to the Big Easy are the deals; the wings, burger and drink for £9.95, the lobster, chips and drink for £14.95 and other such combinations including shrimp, pork and fajitas.

The voodoo chicken wings with which I started certainly had a kick to them, though not out of this world they were perfectly acceptable. It was then onto a burger; which I have to say was surprisingly good. The plate of food was rather on the gross side when it comes to size, this was a true American portion. The beef burger was excellently cooked and was made of good quality beef. Whilst the chips were ok, the real surprise was the coleslaw which was great – I would be content being served that coleslaw anywhere.

The Big Easy was certainly a surprise. It is an American themed restaurant and is quite loud, brash and the portions are large. It provides surprisingly good food and those eating around us certainly seemed to be having a good time. The other clientele were a diverse mixture; but certainly not the morbidly obese licking spare rib juice off the floor types that I had envisaged. If I was going to the cinema in Chelsea and felt like a plate of meat to get me through the impending film then I would certainly consider the Big Easy. 

One O One - Restaurant Review

Cuisine:  Fish

Cost: 

Rating: 

Where?:  101, Knightsbridge, London. SW1X 7RN.

Closest station(s): Knightsbridge, Hyde Park Corner, Sloane Square.       

Telephone: 0207 290 7101

Website: www.oneoonerestaurant.com        

The Sheraton Park Tower is a hideously ugly building moments from Harvey Nichols on Knightsbridge, it is at the base of this concrete monstrosity that you find One O One. The bar area is not attractive, it fails to encourage you to relax and has been designed by someone with poor taste. After a glass of the house champagne we were then taken through to the dining room. Unfortunately this had been decorated by the same person as the bar. It looks as if they might have been given the dummies guide to hotel restaurant décor for Christmas; if that was the case then they should at least be praised for sticking to the book extremely closely. The dining room lacks any form of character and looks how I imagine an upmarket motorway service station might.

The décor is the first and last thing that I can possibly fault One O One for, the rest of the experience was superb. On the menu the fish is certainly the star, there are a number of meat dishes offered however someone who didn’t love fish would certainly not get the best out of One O One.

The wild Norwegian Red King Crab Legs were stunning, without doubt one of the best plates of food that I have ever had. I love crab, these crab legs however were in a league of their own – huge, meaty and packed with flavour.

At One O One you have the option to opt for the petits plats; these being downsized versions of the starters and mains for a lower price, allowing you to try a greater selection of the menu. I could not encourage someone more to take up this option the petits plats are perfect for sharing; allowing you to share 6, 7 or 8 dishes.

Heightening the exceptional food experience further is the presentation; each dish is beautifully laid out – rarely have I ever been so reluctant to destroy a piece of art on a plate. The final area of great quality is the service; the waiters could not have been more helpful, polite or amiable.

One O One is not cheap at £20 for starters and £30 for mains; the experience is however fully deserving of the price. There are often offers out there to get significant reductions on the price midweek and when discounted the food is some of the best value in London. If the décor had a little character then this restaurant would be one of the best in London. 

Tom’s Kitchen, Chelsea - Restaurant Review

Cuisine:  British

Cost: 

Rating: 

Where?:  27, Cale Street, Chelsea, London. SW3 3QP.

Closest station(s): South Kensington, Sloane Square, Gloucester Road.       

Telephone: 0207 349 0202

Website: www.tomskitchen.co.uk       

Following his Michelin-starred Chelsea venture Tom Aitkens opened his less formal restaurant offering breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner.  With the Michelin-starred pedigree I had high hopes about eating there and the media hype that surrounded the restaurant’s launch only heighten my anticipation.

Looking past the stylish black interior I was greet by a surprisingly relaxed white walled room with no frills wooden tables – so far so good, this is what I want for a lunch with friends. Having been seated it soon became apparent just how tightly packed the tables are, I don’t expect to be seated metres away from another table; however at Tom’s Kitchen you feel that you are almost on top of your neighbour – alas I had no interest in being on top of my American businessman neighbour.

The menu is largely British, however with significant Italian influence throughout. My starter of pan fried foie gras, duck egg and bacon was well executed however it failed to come together as a dish and the foie gras was not as rich as would be expected (and for over £15 it certainly should have been). The beef burger with which I followed was again ok, however failed to deliver anything more than that – it was also significantly overcooked having asked for it rare. 

The acoustics in Tom’s Kitchen make it horrendously loud, I am in favour of eating in a buzzing environment however it was clear that most tables were having to shout in order to have a conversation. In addition, with the tables being tightly packed I saw a number of diners having to stand up and move in order for other tables to get out; something that should not happen.

Overall I did not warm to Tom’s Kitchen – with house wine at over £20; starters around £10 and mains around £20 you could expect much more for the money. The service also left a lot to be desired, whilst there I saw a number of other customers complaining about the service and poor food. The media hype on this occasion does not seem to be deserved. 

Entrée Restaurant & Bar - Restaurant Review

Cuisine:  Modern European

Cost:

Rating:

Where?:  2, Battersea Rise, London. SW11 1ED.

Closest station(s): Clapham Junction, Clapham South, Clapham North.      

Telephone: 0207 223 5147

Website: www.entreebattersea.co.uk      

At the top of Battersea Rise moments from the Western end of Clapham Common there has been a rash of restaurants popping up; one of these is Entrée.  The dark exterior gives way to a dark wooden interior; despite the dark polished wood the dining space has a surprisingly warm feel to it.

Ther welcome was warm and we were taken to a table on in the raised dining area, this is opposed to the cocktail bar downstairs which certainly looked well worth a visit on another occasion. The dishes are a selection of European classics however often with an interesting touch such as free-range Old Spot pork belly, vegetables á la Grecque, green papaya & grapefruit salsa. At around £7 for starters and £18 for mains the prices are pretty reasonable. All of the dishes that we tried were well executed, of great quality and satisfying. Though good nothing could be said to have been stunning.

The décor, service and food combined to make this an extremely enjoyable dining experience. For a mid-week dinner with friends this would be a good choice of restaurant. Deals are also often on offer, including £20 for two courses for Sunday lunch. 

Franco Manca - Restaurant Review

Cuisine:  Italian

Cost:

Rating:

Where?:  Unit 4, Market Row, Brixton, London. SW9 8LD.

Closest station(s): Brixton, Clapham North.     

Telephone: 0207 738 3021

Website: www.francomanca.co.uk     

So, where is London’s best pizza served? An answer to this question that I had repeatedly heard was Franco Manca. When I enquired where I could find this great restaurant I was surprised to discover that it was nestled in the heart of Brixton Market; certainly not where I would not have expected to find the capital’s more prestigious Italian restaurant.

I found myself meandering through Brixton Market in search of Franco Manca. On arrival its celebrity was clear – it was packed; with a queue about fifteen deep. The restaurant is split across two sides of a thoroughfare in the market itself. The tables are small and tightly packed - creating a buzzing atmosphere.

Having been seated we were given the menu. I have never warmed to a menu so swiftly before. There are six pizzas to choose from (ranging from £4.50 - £7); two types of red wine and two types of white – that is pretty much it.

Having ordered it was not long before large, beautifully blister wood fired pizzas came to the table – a light tomato sauce and a generous sprinkling of toppings simply highlighted the beauty of the stunning dough.

This is not a restaurant where you are encouraged to while away hours; the food is however excellent and the prices stunning. One thing that is clear is that you need Franco Manca more than it needs you – evidenced by the fact that it does not open in the evenings and is closed Sundays. It also does not allow reservations. A great place to eat and I can honestly say I have never had better pizza in the UK.  

La Movida - Restaurant Review

Cuisine: Spanish / Tapas

Cost:

Rating:

Where?:  300,  Battersea Park Rd, Battersea. SW11 3BU.

Closest station(s): Battersea Park, Queenstown Road, Clapham Junction.

Telephone:  0207 924 2595

Website: N/A

Certainly one of my finds of the year. Having been past this unassuming restaurant on many occasions it certainly isn’t a restaurant that will be drawing people in off the street. This family run restaurant cannot be said to be pretty and the fact that it is rarely busy does little to suggest that it would be worth a go. How wrong I was.

Finding myself in the area with a penchant for tapas I decided to give it a stab, nothing ventured nothing gained. From start to finish there was little to fault from this friendly and relaxed venue. The liver was possibly the finest I have had and the squid was cooked to perfection. The prices are extremely reasonable; most dishes for around £5; in addition to which there has been a 50% off deal running three nights a week for the past few months.

The wine list cannot be said to amaze however it provides a perfectly good selection of wines with which to wash down the great food, again at extremely modest prices. My greatest worry is that the lack of business will see it go under as it really is a gem of a restaurant. When looking for great tapas which won’t leave too great a dent in your wallet then La Movida would be difficult to top. It would also be a great place for large groups. 

Chez Bruce - Restaurant Review

 

Cuisine: French

Cost:  

Rating:

Where?:  2, Bellevue Road, Wandsworth Common, SW17 7EG

Closest station(s): Wandsworth Common, Balham.  

Telephone:  0208 672 0114

Website: www.chezbruce.co.uk

Having previously been to La Trompette, Chez Bruce’s Chiswick based sibling I had extremely high hopes for the meal as it is certainly the better known and often more highly praised older brother. I have to say that my experience at Chez Bruce was excellent. From start to finish the service was impeccable without becoming intrusive or overbearing. The tongue and brain starter was delicious, as were the potted shrimps.

The mains managed to keep up the high standards, turning out fresh and tasty food; my cod with olive oil mash was a great success. The puddings and cheese rounded off the meal excellently – the cheese board should not be missed. The wine list has considerable Gallic persuasion, not a bad thing in my book; with effort clearly being put into keeping the top section of the list reasonably priced – there are a couple of bottles for under £25. If you want glitz, glamour and pretention then don’t go. Chez Bruce serves up excellent food in a modest but pleasant environment with great service and decent wine to wash down each delicious morsel. 

My only real complaint about Chez Bruce is that they seem to have a rather small wine fridge, on a couple of occasions when I have order a bottle of wine they have said that they haven’t got one cold as they have just sold a bottle of it – surely they could keep more than one bottle chilled!

Despite the prices creeping up this Michelin-starred food leaves not too large a dent on the wallet, the lunch menu being particularly good with 3 courses for around £27; dinner being around £45. Certainly one of the best, if not the best, restaurant south of the river.