tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218863180946943867Fri, 05 Mar 2010 06:25:25 +0000Reviews of London's restaurants and eaterieshttp://www.londonchow.com/noreply@blogger.com (C K)Blogger73125LondonChowhttp://feedburner.google.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218863180946943867.post-3684404019087361036Tue, 23 Feb 2010 21:58:00 +00002010-02-23T22:14:45.139ZBritishAddress: 203 Upper Street, London N1 1RQ Tel: 020 7493 8988 Nearest Tube station:Angel Ratings (out of 5 *) Price: below £5 pp Service charge: N/A Taste: *** Service: *** Ambience: **** Suitable for: a lazy weekend afternoon"Shall we go there for breakfast?" Wife asked on a Sunday morning. I know that she wasn't referring to S&M but I might just get lucky. "Oh, I don't mind really. I could do http://www.londonchow.com/2010/02/euphorium-bakery-review-angel-islington.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (C K)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218863180946943867.post-7046844841308282390Sun, 21 Feb 2010 01:33:00 +00002010-02-21T02:08:37.686ZChineseAddress: 65 South Audley Street, London W1K 2QU Tel: 020 7493 8988 Nearest Tube station: Hyde Park Corner, Green Park, Marble Arch, Bond Street Ratings (out of 5 *) Price: below £30 pp Service charge: 12.5% Taste: *** Service: ***** Ambience: **** Suitable for: those looking for excellent service and decent Chinese cuisineAfter a fantastic experience at the Michelin-starred Kai the last time http://www.londonchow.com/2010/02/kai-mayfair-review-lunch-set-special.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (C K)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218863180946943867.post-7609562950390781564Sun, 14 Feb 2010 22:41:00 +00002010-02-15T23:20:11.991ZasianAddress: 61 Upper Street, London N1 0NY Tel: 020 7226 4655 Nearest Tube station: Angel Ratings (out of 5 *) Price: below £10 pp Service charge: N/A Taste: ** Service: ** Ambience: ** Suitable for: those looking for affordable and refreshing mealDespite Angel having a large concentration of restaurants and eateries along Upper Street and Essex Road, there is not a single sushi bar north of City http://www.londonchow.com/2010/02/tenshi-review-islington-japanese-sushi.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (C K)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218863180946943867.post-4705213568017606047Thu, 11 Feb 2010 20:47:00 +00002010-02-14T23:10:52.600ZChineseAddress: 7 Gerrard St, London W1D 5PH Tel: 020 7434 1888 Nearest Tube station: Leicester Square Ratings (out of 5 *) Price: below £15 pp Service charge: N/A Taste: * Service: ** Ambience: ** Suitable for: those who are looking for a relatively quiet place to dine and don't mind the quality of the foodFor some reason, I had not been to Chinatown since my last visit to Special Zone 1997 and I washttp://www.londonchow.com/2010/02/crispy-duck-review-haiwaitian-chinatown.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (C K)9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218863180946943867.post-8843836966074270358Tue, 09 Feb 2010 21:00:00 +00002010-02-14T23:09:03.246ZasianAddress: 301 Old Street, London EC1V 9LA Tel: 020 7729 8662 Nearest Tube station: Old Street Ratings (out of 5 *) Price: below £15 pp Service charge: 12.5% Taste: *** Service: ** Ambience: ** Suitable for: those looking for a healthy dose of lemongrass, mint and fish sauceThere are quite a number of Vietnamese restaurants along Kingsland Road, but one of Vietnamese restaurants that I regularlyhttp://www.londonchow.com/2010/02/cay-tre-review-vietnamese-food.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (C K)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218863180946943867.post-5060212294317459943Sat, 06 Feb 2010 08:30:00 +00002010-02-07T00:36:10.620ZChineseAddress: 14 Little Newport Street, London WC2H 7JJ Tel: 020 7437 0251 Nearest Tube station: Leicester Square Ratings (out of 5 *) Price: below £5 pp Service charge: N/A Taste: ** Service: ** Ambience: * Suitable for: a pitstop when you're feeling peckishI couldn't help but noticed that there would clusters of people milling around in the underground Leicester Square Tube station just outside http://www.londonchow.com/2010/02/sun-luen-snack-bar-review-chinese-buns.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (C K)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218863180946943867.post-3247311235661932949Thu, 04 Feb 2010 22:00:00 +00002010-02-07T00:06:17.125ZChineseAddress: 19 Wardour Street, London W1D 6PF Tel: 020 7734 2868 Nearest Tube station: Leicester Square Ratings (out of 5 *) Price: below £5 pp Service charge: N/A Taste: *** Service: ** Ambience: * Suitable for: A quick and cheap biteIt was interesting how I could walk past Special Zone 1997 every time I stop by London's Chinatown for groceries and never even thought of stepping in. For one, it http://www.londonchow.com/2010/02/special-zone-1997-review-chinese-food.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (C K)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218863180946943867.post-8968547635372852927Tue, 02 Feb 2010 23:00:00 +00002010-02-14T23:11:51.683ZChineseAddress: 2-24 Kensington High St, London W8 4PT Tel: 020 7361 1988 (reservation necessary) Nearest Tube station: Kensington High Street Ratings (out of 5 *) Price: below £25 pp Service charge: N/A Taste: *** Service: ** Ambience: *** Suitable for: a weekend lunch, do call to reserve a table by the window overlooking Kensington GardenWe were understandably excited when we first heard that Min http://www.londonchow.com/2010/02/min-jiang-review-royal-garden-hotel.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (C K)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218863180946943867.post-7253778793189344613Sat, 30 Jan 2010 11:00:00 +00002010-02-14T23:12:44.077ZBritishAddress: 94-96 Commercial Street, London E1 6LZ Tel: 0207 251 0848 (reservation necessary) Nearest Tube station: Liverpool Street Ratings (out of 5 *) Price: below £20 pp Service charge: N/A Taste: **** Service: ** Ambience: * Suitable for: lovers of 'very English' foodDifferent people had different things to say about St. John Bread & Wine and they were invariably good. But something that a http://www.londonchow.com/2010/01/st-john-bread-and-wine-review.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (C K)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218863180946943867.post-5208409451418396604Mon, 25 Jan 2010 20:00:00 +00002010-01-25T22:46:12.458ZBritishAddress: 4-6 Essex Road, London, N1 8LN Tel: 020 7359 5361 Nearest Tube station: Angel Ratings (out of 5 *) Price: below £10 pp Service charge: N/A Taste: * Service: *** Ambience: * Suitable for: curing hangovers with comfort foodWife asked whether I was sure that I wanted to write about it when she saw me taking out my camera at S&M that morning. "Pretty soon, you're going to write about even http://www.londonchow.com/2010/01/sausage-and-mash-review-islington.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (C K)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218863180946943867.post-5200642256675500512Sat, 23 Jan 2010 10:00:00 +00002010-02-14T23:13:48.299ZasianAddress: 2 Newport Place, London, WC2H 7JJ Tel: 020 7287 8777 Nearest Tube station: Leicester Square Ratings (out of 5 *) Price: below £15 pp Service charge: N/A Taste: *** Service: ** Ambience: * Suitable for: those who are looking for an alternative to the usual at ChinatownIncidentally, the first time we had a meal at Tokyo Diner was also the first time we set foot in London's Chinatown in http://www.londonchow.com/2010/01/tokyo-diner-chinatown-japanese-food.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (C K)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218863180946943867.post-5889296716945619445Thu, 21 Jan 2010 22:47:00 +00002010-02-14T23:14:37.643ZChineseAddress: 21 Ganton Street, London W1F 9BN Tel: 020 7297 9800 Nearest Tube station: Oxford Circus Ratings (out of 5 *) Price: below £15 pp Service charge: N/A Taste: **** Service: *** Ambience: ** Suitable for: a quick bite between shoppingAfter our disappointing escapade at the now defunct Cha Cha Moon at Whiteleys, we turned to Cha Cha Moon's flagship store at Kingly Court. After working his http://www.londonchow.com/2010/01/cha-cha-moon-review-ganton.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (C K)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218863180946943867.post-1724288052880541241Tue, 19 Jan 2010 07:19:00 +00002010-01-19T07:21:22.808ZBritishAddress: 94-96 Commercial Street, London E1 6LZ Tel: 020 7251 0848 (reservations@stjohnrestaurant.com) Nearest Tube station: Liverpool Street Ratings (out of 5 *) Price: below £25 pp Reservation strictly necessary for dinners Service charge: N/A Taste: **** Service: ** Ambience: * Suitable for: a leisure afternoon tea or a lavish dinnerMention St John and most people will immediately associate http://www.londonchow.com/2010/01/madeleines-st-john-bread-wine.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (C K)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218863180946943867.post-9015374434743367427Fri, 15 Jan 2010 23:42:00 +00002010-02-14T23:15:38.827ZitalianAddress: 135 Wardour Street, London W1F 0UF Tel: 020 7478 8888 Nearest Tube station: Leicester Square Ratings (out of 5 *) Price: below £10 pp Service charge: N/A Taste: *** Service: ** Ambience: ** Suitable for: a quick afternoon tea Coming from an island where it's hot and humid all year round, I do welcome the seasonal changes in weather. I guess a miserable winter just makes you welcome http://www.londonchow.com/2010/01/princi-review-london-italian-bakery.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (C K)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218863180946943867.post-7461500750311528851Tue, 12 Jan 2010 00:01:00 +00002010-02-14T23:16:33.374ZasianAddress: 159 Whitecross Street, London EC1Y 8JL Tel: 020 7251 6336 Nearest Tube station: Barbican / Old Street Ratings (out of 5 *) Price: below £15 pp Service charge: 12.5% Taste: *** Service: ** Ambience: ** Suitable for: a quick lunch, definitely not a place for a leisurely mealPham Sushi, I have long heard about its reputation for its good quality and affordable Japanese food. I tried to gohttp://www.londonchow.com/2010/01/pham-sushi-review-barbican-japanese.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (C K)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218863180946943867.post-6852939015762303977Sat, 09 Jan 2010 00:25:00 +00002010-02-14T23:17:18.977ZChineseAddress: 12 Gerrard Street, London W1D 5PR Tel: 020 7494 0870 Nearest Tube station: Leicester Square Ratings (out of 5 *) Price: below £15 pp Service charge: 12.5% Taste: **** Service: * Ambience: ** Suitable for: people obsessed for the roast duck unique to this part of the world One would be inundated with choices along London Chinatown's Gerrard Street. Everything along that street http://www.londonchow.com/2010/01/four-seasons-review-gerrard-street.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (C K)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218863180946943867.post-335051626540888659Thu, 07 Jan 2010 22:00:00 +00002010-02-14T23:17:59.102ZasianAddress: 22-23 Jubilee Place, London E14 5NY Tel: 020 7719 0333 Nearest Tube station: Canary Wharf Ratings (out of 5 *) Price: below £15 pp Service charge: 12.5% Taste: *** Service: ** Ambience: ** Suitable for: fans of Masala Zone or Waitrose Curry Rice I received an email from HP asking whether I had plans for lunch. Having grown a bit tired with Nando's, I suggested TiffinBites http://www.londonchow.com/2010/01/tiffinbites-review-canary-wharf-indian.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (C K)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218863180946943867.post-4038924680123037424Tue, 05 Jan 2010 23:35:00 +00002010-01-16T23:07:28.206ZasianAddress: 67 Upper Street, London N1 0NY Tel: 020 7226 2212 Nearest Tube station: Angel Ratings (out of 5 *) Price: below £10 pp Service charge: N/A Taste: Service: ** Ambience: ** Suitable for: dire situations when all eating places are shut and your kitchen stove has broken down. Seriously. Well, it was meant to be a casual night out, nothing fancy. We were strolling along Islington's http://www.londonchow.com/2010/01/miso-noodle-bar-review-islington.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (C K)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218863180946943867.post-1297617639136283945Fri, 18 Dec 2009 22:15:00 +00002010-02-14T23:19:44.433ZChineseAddress: 102 Old Street, London EC1V 9AV Tel: 0207 4900 200 Nearest Tube station: Old Street Ratings (out of 5 *) Price: below £10 pp Service charge: N/A Taste: **** Service: *** Ambience: ** Suitable for: small gatherings for people who can't survive without their laksa, chicken rice and beef rendang. Call to reserve if your group is larger than 4…. well, always call in advance There arehttp://www.londonchow.com/2009/12/sedap-review-old-street-malaysian.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (C K)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218863180946943867.post-696530810655585991Tue, 15 Dec 2009 23:34:00 +00002009-12-18T22:44:35.270ZChineseK wasn't impressed. It was probably our fault. Afterall, it was us who persuaded him to go all the way to Soho to try out the Michelin starred Chinese dimsum restaurant. Then again, K wasn't the only one disappointed. Macarons gone and replaced by... tea sets We hadn't visited Yauatcha for quite some time and there were some changes since then. First, the trays of macarons that made Yauatcha http://www.londonchow.com/2009/12/yauatcha-review-london-dimsum.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (C K)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218863180946943867.post-1355548002939572165Sun, 13 Dec 2009 12:48:00 +00002009-12-13T12:59:58.688ZitalianAddress: 70 - 72 Liverpool Road, London N1 0QD Tel: 020 7226 1475 Nearest Tube station: Angel Ratings (out of 5 *) Price: below £20 pp Service charge: 12.5% Taste: **** Service: **** Ambience: *** Suitable for: groups of four and above, definitely not for quiet romantic dinners. A pal asked for a casual Italian ristorante in Angel Islington and after much deliberation, I asked http://www.londonchow.com/2009/12/di-monforte-review-islington-italian.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (C K)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218863180946943867.post-2232619649128659322Thu, 10 Dec 2009 22:57:00 +00002009-12-10T23:06:41.587ZChineseAddress: 3 Leicester Street London, WC2H 7BL Tel: 020 7437 1132 Nearest Tube station: Leicester Square Ratings (out of 5 *) Price: below £10 pp Service charge: N/A Taste: *** Service: ** Ambience: * Suitable for: affordable venue for a quick dimsum fix What kind of name is that? I asked myself. Joy King Lau sounds like Chinese takeaway to me and I would probably never step into it - forhttp://www.londonchow.com/2009/12/joy-king-lau-dimsum-review.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (C K)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218863180946943867.post-1630492033905772786Tue, 08 Dec 2009 12:00:00 +00002009-12-09T06:57:55.141ZTurkishGood food cheers me up, especially one that is reasonably priced and comes with excellent service. After introducing K to Puji Puji during his visit to London, he returned the favour by asking me to meet up with him lunch at Hazev, the new Turkish restaurant that opens up at Heron Quay, right across the footbridge from central Canary Wharf. Other than a full restaurant, Hazev host a deli besidehttp://www.londonchow.com/2009/12/hazev-review-london-turkish-food.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (C K)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218863180946943867.post-3779397334972501626Mon, 30 Nov 2009 20:48:00 +00002009-12-08T07:20:41.270ZasianIt must be pretty tough for an Indian restaurant to be located within a stone's throw to Masala Zone in Angel Islington's Upper Street. Londoners seem to have this penchant for Wagamama styled dining - tucking into pseudo fast food on simple tablecloth free tables with equally plain seats. Even with the lunch special that Gufaa is currently having, people still flock to Masala Zone for reasons http://www.londonchow.com/2009/11/gufaa-review-cheap-indian-food.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (C K)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218863180946943867.post-1089443987378680589Thu, 26 Nov 2009 22:00:00 +00002009-11-26T22:19:01.913ZChineseWe met up a friend at Bayswater over the weekend. You would have thought that it was going to be at either Kiasu or Four Seasons but we decided to try something new and, frankly, I had enough of roast ducks so we headed to Whiteleys, which was a shopping mall right at the northern end of Queensway. Nothing's hidden from view - a currently popular open concept theme It didn't take us long to http://www.londonchow.com/2009/11/cha-cha-moon-bayswater-whiteleys.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (C K)4