Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Obika ** £15

I visited the Obika at Selfridges and I was disappointed - it wasn't any different that a generic shopping mall restaurant. Quite expensive both for the quality of food and the portion size you get. I would probably go again if I was shopping there, but I wouldn't bring someone from the outside in.

Friday, December 25, 2009

Buen Ayre *** £32

This is a nice little place in the middle of Hackney. They grill their meats in an open fire. We found the rib-eye to be excellent, but the sirloin was just OK (too thick actually to be cooked uniformly). For the amount of meat you get the price is excellent. However the place is definitely over-hyped for Zagat standards.

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Nuocmam ** £20

This Vietnamese place has pretty good food but terrible and completely inconsistent service. Maybe I will give it one more shot to see if this situation repeats.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Soseki *** £30

I never knew there was a place with a view at the Gherkin! They have one of the best decors in the city, where you feel like you've walked in Japan for a couple of hours. I am not a fan of sushi, however I can appreciate the extra effort and attention to detail in the plates. I would bring a guest here, but due to the high price I wouldn't be a repeat customer myself.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Mango Room *** £30

This is a Caribbean Place near Camden station with solid food and medium prices. The duck was to die for.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Ask *** £16

This place is very similar to Zizzi (some dishes are almost identical). It's a solid, cheap choice but don't expect anything memorable.

Red N Hot ** £12

I did not leave happy from this place. The food was just ok (although we didn't try any of the hot pot items which seem the norm there), and it doesn't look as good from the inside as from outside. It is decent however if you are in the area and need something quick and cheap to eat. Warning: some items are super spicy!

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Bodean's *** £15

This is an unexpectedly authentic all-American restaurant that specializes in BBQ, ribs and burgers. You may forget that you are in London and think you have teleported to America for a while. While the food is not great by the corresponding American standards, for such a place in London, the experience you get at such low prices is unbeatable.

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Haagen Dazs * £8

The specific cafe in Leicester Square is terrible. Ingredients are not fresh at all, everything sucked. Yikes!

Myung Ga *** £25

Korean BBQ where you cook you own meats, however it is not unlimited and fairly expensive. The quality of the meats is top-notch however.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Market Coffee House **** £3

This is a proper coffee place near Liverpool street, that does not serve much food or drinks - just plain old coffee. The hot chocolate from crumbled pieces is simply great.

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Mr. Kong *** £15

Typical Chinese restaurant, where you find all the traditional dishes you'd expect from such a place (plus a few surprises). The menu is extensive with hundreds of items to choose from, and the service attentive. Nothing spectacular though.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Osteria Basilico **** £28

It's pizza is overhyped, but the rest of the stuff in the menu are superb. Especially the tiramisu travels you to another world.

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Giraffe *** £25

Nice ambiance in this modern world food place with stores everywhere. Ribs where ok but not great, however the whole experience is pleasant.

Cha cha Moon ** £12

Really cheap place that serves Chinese delicacies. The duck was normal. Nothing superb, but convenient.

Friday, October 2, 2009

Cafe Rouge **

Nice restaurant, kind of french, but nothing memorable.

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Cellar Door ***

This is a nice underground tiny place that has live music every day, cabaret-style. The entrance is from a subway-type door!

Detroit Bar ****

Nice little joint in Covent Garden, with one of the most extensive collections of cocktails I've seen. Nice people, nice ambiance, only the music was so-so.

C'est ici ***

This is a brasserie that, among the classic stuff of crepes, desserts, salads, pasta etc, also serves a nice... souvlaki platter!

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Khan's of Kensington ** £25

Indian place right opposite from the South Kensington Tube station. Pretty classic Indian fare, nothing spectacular though. Had to ask specialyl for egg-fried rice.

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Blue Elephant **** £35

Excellent Thai place, very authentic, and also expensive. The best deal is the Sunday brunch, which is £25 per person fix rate.

Sunday, July 26, 2009

C & R ***

Nice Malaysian/Chinese/Singaporean restaurant in Bayswater. HUGE selection of items, close to tube.

Friday, July 17, 2009

Haz ***

Excellent turkish restaurant in the Liverpool Street area. Not expensive, either!

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Gourmet Burger Kitchen ***

An awesome burger place with great variety, almost always packed.

Ultimate Burger **

Cheap, but not as good quality as Gurmet Burger Kitchen.

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Ishtar ***

Interesting modern Turkish venue, where it looks like a normal restaurant on the ground floor, but belly dancing goes on at 22:30 downstairs. Nice food, lots of kebabs.

Friday, June 19, 2009

Belgo **

This is a strange place that specializes in... mussels, and there is a happy hour between 5-6:30 where you pay for each select food dish exactly the.. time on the clock!

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Ping Pong ***

Modernized, bar-style dim sum near oxford street. Not superb, but pretty good and cheap.

Monday, May 18, 2009

Nuovo ***

Solid place, nice environment, food is good but not great.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Ponti's **

At least it is outside and you can enjoy the open air. Not truly authentic, the quality is just ok. But decent choice if you are around Covent Garden.

Scoop ****

Superb, superb italian ice-cream.

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Del Aziz ***

Mediterranean delicatessen & brasserie, pretty nice, excellent environment, good choice if you are around shopping on for a movie.

RRC Thai Cafe **

Cheap place, great Thai Ice Tea, right next to the cemetery. Nothing special, but solid choice if you are around.

Saturday, April 4, 2009

Baozi Inn ****

Superb food, very different compared to "classic" chinese restaurants, and at superb prices (if you get more than 15 GBP per person, it will be crazy).

Friday, April 3, 2009

Princi ***

Unique place where the food is around buffet-style, and there is no service as you just go to sit at tables. Open late (midnight) and usually crowded, but very cheap and tasty.

Sirena Ristorante ***

Pretty good italian place, albeit with almost tiny plates. Go for the taste, not the quantity.

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Ben's Cookies ****

When you have these cookies fresh and warm, it's like paradise in your mouth.

Monday, March 30, 2009

Las Iguanas ***

Pretty good Latin American experience, with novel cocktails and interesting tapas. Haven't tried the main food yet.

Paul ****

This chain of French coffee places comes directly from Paris. They have the best chocolate I have ever tried (by melting chocolate bars into semi-skimmd milk). They are all around London, be sure not to miss them.

ZaZa ****

This is a superb italian gelato place at Canary Wharf. The closest I have found to authentic ice cream. Not sure how they do it, but they do!

Friday, March 27, 2009

Imperial China **

Nice setting in Soho, but nothing exceptional in the food. Good to try for some chinese experience, but don't expect miracles.

Garfunkel ***

This is more like an American Diner. Don't expect great food, but it gets out a very nice atmosphere and is not pretending to be much more than what it really is. OK for a quite bite after work.

Rodizio Rico **

This brazilian all-you-can-eat for 25 GBP restaurant chain was just OK, and maybe disappointing compared to the US counterparts. The meat selection is good, but the quality is not spectacular. Interesting experience though.

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Founder's Arms ****

Incredible location for a pub, right by the river with views at St. Pauls. The food is not great but it is always worth visiting.

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Zara ****

Solid authentic Anatolia food (according to the waiter, top 3 such restaurants in the UK). Feels a lot like home. Go for the traditional dishes rather than the Kebabs.

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Rainforest Cafe ***

The scenery in this restaurant is amazing. However, the food is too fast-food American. Kids like it though.

Zizzi ****

Amazingly good italian restaurant chain. The portions are very small, but inversely proportional to the quality. Desserts are so so. Paid 20GBP each.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Busaba Eatthai ****

Awesome westernized Thai restaurant in Soho. We went with Gklekas and Gianna on this snowy night in London at the end of January 2009. Not very authentic or spicy, but great food for me!

Piccolino ***

Awesome little Italian restaurant in my favorite Heddon Street, right next to Regent Street in City. We went with Stavros the day after he returned from his Newcastle interviews.

Golden Dragon ***

Excellent chinese restaurant in Soho's chinatown near Leicester Square. Kind of expensive (we paid 28 GBP per person) but worth it. Especially the crispy duck!

Pasta Brown ***

Awesome Italian chain. The food is simple and well prepared and tasty. The banofee pie dessert is to die for!

Real Greek**

This is a cute Greek restaurant chain. The food is not very authentic, and kind of expensive for the value. The is a good ambiance though.

Wagamama ***

This is a very popular chain of japanese/asian cool restaurants. Nothing formal, but the food is great for the money.

Maison Bertaux **

This is the oldest cafe in Soho, French. It is indeed very old inside and kind of dirty.

Pappagone ***

This is a pizzeria that Andrea suggested, near Finsbury Park. Excellent pizza, but the rest of the food is mediocre.

The Founders Arms ****

Known also as "steki", this pub has an excellent view in River Thames and in the London CityLine. Somewhat expensive food, but great times!

The Salisbury ****

One of the most beautiful inside pubs in Soho. Very crowded on busy days. It was my first night out in London with Chris!

La Tasca * * *

Very nice and quite cheap Spanish small restaurant chain. Many locations including Covent Garden. We paid £20 each for a lot of food.