 | London Restaurants | Tips 41 - 50 of 2699 |  |
 | |  |  | The Ambassador: The Ambassador - Exmouth Market, near Farringdon | Tip Rating:  Satisfaction:   |  |  | |  |
After reading the great reviews about The Ambassador I was keen to try it for myself, so when one of my bosses (aka W) suggested a lunch meeting there how could I refuse (and if I did refuse I may well not have had a job anymore!). The Ambassador is located on Exmouth Market - an interesting strip of restaurants, cafés and bars interspersed with quirky shops and lunchtime food stalls. We were greeted warmly on arrival (W seems to know everyone in the area) and given a great table just inside the open French windows, which allowed for plenty of people watching in-between important work discussions.
The menu changes daily and there was some tempting dishes on offer. W opted for the Fillet of grey mullet with Alsace bacon, sweet corn & turnips. From the contented grunts it appeared he enjoyed it. I had the Pork belly with carrots, peal barley & hazelnuts, and wow - it was really really delicious! The pork was cooked perfectly and wasn't too fatty, and the flavour combinations just worked. It was one of the tastiest dishes I have had in a long while. Dessert seemed like the right thing to do, and of course I had to order the Warm chocolate pudding. It was enjoyable, but nothing amazing. The star dessert belonged to W - he ordered the Roasted peach with mascarpone sorbet, honeycomb and lavender. Sounded bizarre, looked unusual, but tasted great. The Ambassador lived up to my expectations, and I would happily return. I hear they do a great brunch so may well have to venture in for a breakfast meeting one day. Leave a Comment Theme: Eclectic/InternationalPrice: US$31-40 » Currency ConverterComparison: about averageAddress: 55 Exmouth Market, EC1R 4QL, LondonPhone: 020 7837 0009Directions: Nearest tube: FarringdonWebsite: http://www.theambassadorcafe.co.uk
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| | | | The Bingham: The Bingham - Elegance by the river in Richmond | Tip Rating: Satisfaction: | | | | |
Well, it was our wedding anniversary so it seemed like the perfect excuse to go out somewhere nice for Sunday lunch! We decided to stay close to home and wandered down to the Bingham, which is located close to the river in Richmond, southwest London. The Bingham is a boutique hotel, restaurant and bar, housed in a Georgian townhouse which dates back to the 1700s. It is a very popular place for weddings and functions due to its classy interior and river views. When we arrived we were ushered into the gorgeous bar area where we relaxed for a while with a drink and enjoyed the luxurious room. While we had our drink we also looked at the menu and even ordered our meal. A little while later we were escorted to our table in the dining room. There was a two piece band playing some relaxing music and the service was professional but relaxed which all really added to the enjoyment of our meal.
To start, I had the Baked River Trout with new potatoes & rocket salad, and Alex had the Seared Scallops with cauliflower puree. Both were very tasty with interesting flavours. Main course for Alex was the Scotch fillet with shallot and red wine butter & Duchess potato. He was particularly keen on the Duchess potato - it was mashed potato piped into a swirly cone-shaped pile and then baked. I had the Filet of Venison with honey roast parsnips & Savoy cabbage - the flavours were good and I do love a parsnip. We somehow managed to fit in dessert - I had the Lemon Tart (nothing to write home about) and Alex had the Chocolate Trio of fondant, cream and sorbet. Wow - it was pretty amazing....and he managed to eat it all, with only a little bit of help from me ; ) We had a really fabulous lunch, the whole experience was great and we will definitely return to the Bingham. Leave a Comment Theme: Eclectic/InternationalPrice: US$41 and up » Currency ConverterComparison: more expensive than averageAddress: 61 - 63 Petersham Road, Richmond TW10 6UTPhone: 020 8940 0902Directions: Nearest tube/train: Richmond is 10 minutes walkWebsite: http://www.binghamhotel.co.uk/dining.htm Other Contact: info@thebingham.co.uk
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| | | | The Botanist on the Green: The Botanist on the Green - Kew Gastropub | Tip Rating: Satisfaction: | | | | |
One sunny winters day lunch with the girls was on the agenda, and the venue was The Botanist on the Green in Kew. The Botanist opened in mid-2006 and it is located across the road from Kew Green, about 10 minutes walk from Kew Gardens Station, and only a short walk to the entrance into Kew Garden. The venue used to be home to a branch of the Browns restaurant chain. There is a small bar area to one side and then the separate dining area. It is a bright, modern space, which still managed to feel cosy on the chilly day we visited. Service was friendly and professional, though a little vague at times....at one stage the waiter cleared away our drinks when they were obviously not finished!
The menu offers a pretty good selection of starters and main meals, though dessert options were more limited, though we all managed to find something we liked the sound off. To eat, I had the Slow cooked lamb shank with creamy parsnip mash, roasted fennel and red wine jus - it was ok, but nothing to write home about. Sarah had the Home made beef burger served with mixed salad and french fries and Ellie had the Beetroot, wild mushroom, green pea, spinach and butternut squash risotto. They both said the meals were ok and they cleaned their plates. For dessert I had the very tasty Chocolate & cashew nut brownie with vanilla icecream, Ellie had the White chocolate cheesecake and Sarah had the Trio of ice cream. We were happy with all of our choices and they didn't last for long ; ) Leave a Comment Theme: Eclectic/InternationalPrice: US$31-40 » Currency ConverterComparison: more expensive than averageAddress: 3-5 Kew Green, London TW9 3AAPhone: 020 8948 4838Directions: Nearest tube/train: Kew Gardens station is about a 10 minute walk. The 391 and 65 buses stop about 50 metres from the BotanistWebsite: http://www.capitalpubcompany2.com/botanist.htm Other Contact: enquiries@thebotanistonthegreen.
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| | | | The Chancery: The Chancery - Modern cuisine near Holborn | Tip Rating: Satisfaction: | | | | |
The Chancery is a small, modern restaurant hidden away in the back streets off High Holborn. The moodily lit interior is simple yet stylish, and they have those wonderfully comfortable high-backed leather chairs that I love. We dined there one night, on the recommendation of friends, and a '50% off food' offer sweetened the deal. Service was efficient and friendly throughout the meal, even at bill time which is usually where things fall apart in my experience! The restaurant offers a 3 course menu for £32 (just £16 with the special offer). We found this to be good value as the quality of the dishes was excellent.
To start, I had the Rabbit Beignet with quinoa, blood orange and cardamon dressing, and Alex had the Poached scallops and langoustines in a curried cream of sauternes and fresh peas. Both dishes were excellent - I would happily go back tomorrow and have the rabbit again. Main courses were also pretty good - Alex had the Manuka smoked monkfish with tiger prawns, puy lentils and confit tomato ravioli, and I had the Crisp fillet of sea bass with asparagus sushi, mussel and black bean sauce. My only complaint would be that the Sea Bass was way too salty. Desserts were delicious!! We shared both the B52 parfait with Kahlua, Baileys and Grand Marnier; and the Pecan Pie with caramel ice cream. The B52 parfait was like a grown up version of a Sara Lee Bavarian Cream Pie (those Aussies out there may know of this!) and the Pecan Pie was incredibly moreish, with a nutty, toffee consistency. I was also impressed with the wine list, which had a good range of very reasonably priced options. We will definitely return to The Chancery one day - let's hope the Pecan Pie is still on the menu! Leave a Comment Theme: Eclectic/InternationalPrice: US$31-40 » Currency ConverterComparison: about averageAddress: 9 Cursitor Street, London EC4A 1LLPhone: 020 7831 4000Directions: Nearest Tube: Chancery Lane station is just a few minutes walkWebsite: http://www.thechancery.co.uk/ Other Contact: reservations@thechancery.co.uk
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| | | | The Devonshire: The Devonshire - Chiswick Gastropub | Tip Rating: Satisfaction: | | | | |
The Devonshire is Gordon Ramsay's latest gastropub venture, located in leafy Chiswick, and we dined there one artic evening with friends. You enter into a cosy bar area, which has comfy looking couches and two (gas) fireplaces. The dining area runs down one side of the pub, and tightly packed tables ensure you will get to 'enjoy' the stink of your neighbours cheese plate whether you want to or not. Smelly cheese aside, the atmosphere is buzzy but not too loud for conversation, and the décor is more restaurant than gastropub - the tables and chairs all matched for example. The Devonshire is billed as a gastropub however, which I had to keep reminding myself in relation to the service, which was amateurish and uninterested for the most part. The prices however were cheaper than many of the other gastropubs in the area.
To the food. To start we had the Leek and Potato soup with poached egg, and the Soft Herring Roes on toast. The soup was nothing special, but the poached egg was an added bonus. Sarah seemed to thoroughly enjoy her Herring Roes, which was a dish I had never seen before. Main courses were the Game Keeper’s Venison pie with baby carrots and turnips (the creamy pastry was the highlight), Braised Gloucester pig cheeks with mashed neeps (another dish I wasn't familiar with), and the Lamb Rump with roasted rosemary parsnips and spinach (delicious, but could have done with more vegetables). We couldn't resist a side order of Chips which were very moreish. Desserts were the Lemon posset with shortbread, the Chocolate pudding, and the Sticky Toffee Pudding. The latter was a disappointment - we had to return the first one as it was cold, the replacement was a good temperature but very average on the Sue STP scale. Leave a Comment Theme: Pub/BreweryPrice: US$31-40 » Currency ConverterComparison: about averageAddress: 126 Devonshire Road, London W4 2JJPhone: 020 7592 7962Directions: Nearest station: Turnham Green is about a 5 minute walkWebsite: http://www.gordonramsay.com/thedevonshire
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| | | | The Forge: The Forge - in Covent Garden | Tip Rating: Satisfaction: | | | | |
Whilst trying to decide where to dine pre-theatre one evening, I recalled a friend recently raving about the Rib-eye steak at The Forge, in Covent Garden. I do have a penchant for a Rib-eye, and the theatre was located close by, so The Forge it was. Not one of those touristy Covent Garden restaurants, The Forge is instead a stylish modern European restaurant, with a very appealing menu and good prices for the area. It looks like the type of place that does a roaring trade for business lunches, and the atmosphere may be a little staid if you are the young and trendy type. Service was impeccable throughout our meal. The timing was perfect and the attention just right. The speed in which we were able to obtain the bill, and then pay, was unheard of - and of the utmost importance when one has to hurry off to the theatre.
Food wise, we shared a starter - the Smoked eel, bacon, beetroot & horseradish salad. The flavour mix was spot on, and the presentation was good. For main course, I couldn't resist the Grilled rib eye steak with pommes frites & bearnaise sauce - it lived up to the hype, a very flavoursome steak cooked perfectly. Alex had the Slow braised shoulder of lamb with root vegetables. Although he really enjoyed it, and raved about the sauce, he felt that the portion of lamb was a tad small. We still had time to kill before heading to the theatre so dessert seemed like the sensible thing to do. Alex opted for the Plum Tart which he happily devoured, whilst I stayed true to form with an evil Chocolate concoction, which was like a very rich mousse on a biscuit base. Thoroughly enjoyable, as was our whole experience at The Forge. Leave a Comment Theme: Eclectic/InternationalPrice: US$41 and up » Currency ConverterComparison: about averageAddress: 14 Garrick Street, London WC2E 9BJPhone: 020 7379 1432Directions: Nearest station: Leicester Square or Covent GardenWebsite: http://www.theforgerestaurant.co.uk/ Other Contact: info@theforgerestaurant.co.uk
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| | | | The Garrison: The Garrison - near London Bridge | Tip Rating: Satisfaction: | | | | |
After reading the great reviews on TrustedPlaces about The Garrison, I decided it sounded like a good place to pop to for lunch before a visit to Borough Market one Saturday (I have found it is best to visit the market on a full stomach, else I buy way too much!). Thankfully, our experience at The Garrison lived up to the hype - what a great place! Loved the quirky décor - a crazy mix of antique/shabby chic/car boot sale, successfully thrown together. Seating is a little cramped - they certainly squeeze the tables in, and ours was basically touching the one next to us, but then we didn't have a booking, so you take what you can get. Service was very friendly.
We wanted a fairly light lunch (as had plans to later sample a tasty treat from Konditor & Cook with a coffee from Monmouth), and the menu gave us a few appealing options. We had the Smoked Bacon, Avocado & Tomato Sandwich on Rye, and the Angus Steak Sandwich with Tomato on Rye, both served with Hand Cut Chips. Ingredients were good quality and we thoroughly enjoyed our lunch, especially those chips. Leave a Comment Theme: Pub/BreweryPrice: US$21-30 » Currency ConverterComparison: about averageAddress: 101 Bermondsey Street, London SE1 3XBPhone: 020 7089 9355Directions: Nearest Transport: London BridgeWebsite: http://www.thegarrison.co.uk
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| | | | The Glasshouse: The Glasshouse - classy restaurant in Kew | Tip Rating: Satisfaction: | | | | |
We needed a special restaurant to dine in one night to farewell our friends who were moving back to Australia. We decided to try The Glasshouse in Kew, as it was somewhere that we had all been wanting to try for some time. This small, classy restaurant is located in Kew Village, just across the road from Kew Gardens station. It is sister restaurant to Chez Bruce and La Trompette - two restaurants that we know and love, so we certainly hoped we were in for a treat, and I am pleased to say we weren't disappointed. The restaurant has a warm, relaxed atmosphere. Service was friendly but professional and we found the sommelier particularly helpful and loved the wine that he recommended. Food was excellent, though very rich. The three course menu was £35 per person and we were well and truly stuffed full by the end of it!
We started the evening with a bottle of champagne, which happily stretched so we could drink it with our starters as well. We had a bottle of Italian red wine with our mains which was superb - I shall be trying to track it down so we can buy a bottle or two for home. To start, Stuart & I both had the Crisp Seabass and deep fried prawn with white polenta, buttered cockles and basil - the combination of flavours were great. Alex had the Warm salad of squab pigeon with deep fried truffle egg, which was so good that he wouldn't let me try any! Angela had the Coq au vin raviolo with portabello mushroom and red wine bouillon, which looked, and apparently tasted, fabulous. Main courses were also excellent. Angela & Stuart had the Chateaubriand with hand cut chips, grill garnish and béarnaise sauce. The meat just melted in your mouth and Angela thought that the chips were some of the best she has ever eaten. Alex had the Roast pheasant with foie gras and chicken lover croute with savoy cabbage, lentils and cured ham - wow, it was good. And I had the Roast breast of duck with carrot & swede mash, pommes sarladaise and sauce poivrade - again, there was a great combination of flavours. We couldn't fit in dessert, but ordered anyway. Angela had the Pear, apple and cinnamon beignets with golden raisin anglaise, which was a cross between a profiterole and a donut - she liked it, but didn't think the serve was generous enough (though I'm not sure she could have fit anymore in!). Alex had the Apricot glazed bread & butter pudding which was a huge serve and somehow he managed to finish it all. Stuart and I both ordered the Warm chocolate & pecan brownie with choc chip ice cream and this smooth, dark chocolate sauce - it was really delicious, but so rich and big that I had to leave some. It was a really fab night and I have no doubt we will return again to The Glasshouse one day for a special occasion meal. Leave a Comment Theme: Eclectic/InternationalPrice: US$41 and up » Currency ConverterComparison: more expensive than averageAddress: 14 Station Parade, London, TW9 3PZPhone: 020 8940 6777Directions: Nearest Tube/Train: Kew Gardens station is less than a minutes walkWebsite: http://www.glasshouserestaurant.co.uk/
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| | | | The Holly Bush: The Holly Bush - Hampstead pub | Tip Rating: Satisfaction: | | | | |
A mild autumn Sunday saw us venturing out of our comfort zone and heading to Hampstead for the first time. A visit to a new area would not be complete without a beer and a meal at one of the local establishments. We opted for the Holly Bush after reading that it dated back to 1807 (in a building that was built in the 1640's!) - I do love those old, character-filled pubs. I figured it had to be good before we'd even got there, as it is a little tricky to find, hidden a couple of streets back from the main drag, in a quiet cobbled lane. Enter through two sets of old wooden doors and you are in a cosy, friendly-feeling pub, which is a lot bigger than it first appears. The front bar area is the place to be, but if there is no seating there, head out the back, or upstairs for plenty more tables.
As we hadn't booked, we arrived early and were lucky (by the looks of all the 'reserved' signs) to get a small table in the front bar area. A refreshing beer whet our appetite for a tasty lunch. We shared a starter - the Smoked Duck and Fig Salad - it was a generous serving and pretty good. For main course we both opted for the Organic Beef & Harvey's Pie, with cheddar mash and salad. The pies were big and meaty, the pastry was delicious, but I found the filling a bit bland. We didn't stick around for dessert....people were queuing for our table…and we wanted to head to Hampstead Heath and walk off the stodge so we could fit in some afternoon tea ; ) Leave a Comment Theme: Pub/BreweryPrice: US$11-20 » Currency ConverterComparison: less expensive than averageAddress: 22 Holly Mount, London NW3 6SGPhone: 020 7435 2892Directions: Nearest tube: Hampstead is just a few minutes walkWebsite: http://www.hollybushpub.com/ Other Contact: info@hollybushpub.com
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| | | | The Ivy: The Ivy, West End Celebrity Hangout | Tip Rating: Satisfaction: | | | | |
We wanted to dine somewhere special to celebrate my niece's birthday and the arrival of my sister in London, so we headed to The Ivy, one of London's favourite restaurants and celebrity hangouts. We had a great meal, though didn't see anyone famous (that we recognised anyway!). I got into trouble for taking photos as soon as we arrived, hence there are no photos of our meal. The Ivy has a warm, relaxed feel. It is stylish but not stuffy. Plenty of professional staff to cater to your needs and food not as expensive as you would expect. Booking about 10 days in advance, I managed to get a table at 6pm on a Sunday evening. At the time of booking, and then again when I confirmed the booking, I was told that we could only have the table from 6pm till 8pm....so was a bit tense when two of our dining companions were 20 minutes late! In the end we weren't pushed out at 8pm, and were able to enjoy dessert and coffee and leave at our leisure.
None of us had a starter as we didn't think we would have time due to our delayed start. For main meals, Kelly had the Fillet of Hake with braised planchada & chorizo, Alison & I had the Fillet of Red Deer with buttered kale and bashed neeps, and Alex & Steve both had the Slow-roast Shoulder of Lamb with caponata. All meals were tasty, especially the Lamb. A couple of bottles of Chateau des Gravieres, Graves, Bordeaux 2002 went done very well with our meal. For dessert, Alex & Steve had the Honeycomb Ice Cream with hot chocolate sauce which was delicious! The ladies had the Chocolate Pudding Soufflé which was also great, but very rich. Leave a Comment Theme: Eclectic/InternationalPrice: US$41 and up » Currency ConverterComparison: more expensive than averageAddress: 1-5 West Street, London WC2H 9NQPhone: 020 7836 4751Directions: Nearest Tube: Leicester Square station is about 3 minutes walk awayWebsite: http://www.the-ivy.co.uk
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on October 3, 2007
