Continental Diner's Reviews

It is rare these days, that a restaurant (how ever cute, or pretty in this case) announces a “philosophy” or “concept” and then delivers just that. However here, you are promised really good french food in a pleasant, but simple setting. As the owner explained, the feast here is “scalable” you can have a simple lunch with house wine that doesn't break the bank but is delicious, or you can seek out the big guns on the menu (the best pan fried fresh fois gras I have eaten (served whole for two people) in England) and the truely great wines from an equally “wide-ranging” wine (and Champagne!!!) list. It brings a little bit of that uncomplicated but very high quality dining which is so common (and great) in Paris to London. Merci. Don't change a thing!

Like with so many Restaurants in London, The Good Earth is a place one has to “understand”. The reviews here below seem to suggest that people either love it or hate it. However, I think it is about “what to expect”. It is a restaurant which does what it does and does it very well: classic Chinese food. What I mean by this is well executed, well sourced but “old fashioned” dishes (Try anything in their X.O. sauce!). Having said that, if you go there expecting Min Jiang or Hakkasan you are bound to be disappointed, as the place oozes of late 70s and early 80s “charm” and the cooking is a high-quality interpretation of the old favorites, rahter than the explosive flavours found at the more modern or “pan-Asian” restaurants. However, with the new wave of Asian restaurants in London it is reassuring that there is this dependable performer which ticks all the boxes if the old-fashioned “London-Chinese” is what you are looking for.

This original Branch of Ping Pong is well past its old glory days. On a recent visit – probably our 12th – staff was grumpy, the new menu was less dependable than the old one and we ended up being treated quite rudely eventhough we played along with their questionable game of selling water+cocktails+tea+wine. When we ordered a second bottle of water we were told the bar was now closed and that we couldn't have any. This must raise an eyebrow. We still like the Notting Hill branch in the future.

Let's be clear here: the concept of KWR is great. To serve top wines by the glass, aided by an elaborade – fridge doesn't do it justice – “cooling mechanism” is great. However, the tapas style dishes are not as good as they could – or should for this price -be. Service can be sketchy during busy times, but the main problem here is the bill – expensive was yesterday, this is astronomical. Ironically it is the Tapas which weigh heaviest on the bill and one comes away with a distinct feeling that a few really good bottles – not glasses – with friend at home would have been a better idea. However, the concept has potential and maybe the arrival of the financial crises in Kensington will help with the fine tuning of the pricing structure.

Unfortunately, Madsen has recently failed to keep up its good early work. Having been a regular for a while I have recently been disappointed by unpersonable staff, and food which has clearly lost the edge it once had. It is difficult to find an explanation as both the location and the ambiance are good, but possibly the management has fallen out of love with its restaurant project. Madsen, after all, was originally a catering company.

Clos Maggiore is nothing short of magical. Superb cooking supported by great service and one of the prettiest dining rooms in London is surpassed only by the service. It is so pretty it deserves a third star on the rating at SquareMeal. Cheap it is not, but the value is outstanding. Bon appétit!

Very good service, food and dependability. Everything is possible, everything is fresh and most importantly everything tastes great. If only some more expensive restaurants in London could achieve this level of service. Well done!

A true british classic which has survived the acquisition by its new U.S. owners (Fairmont / Savoy) surprisingly well. Both the bar and the dining room are beautiful rooms, the service is very good the food difficult to fault. A must-see for tourists, a very special place for an important meal and most importantly a place one can rely on.