HP's Reviews

There's no denying that the Italian high street chains in this country are of a reliably good standard; you go to somewhere like Zizzi because you know exactly what to expect. While this is somewhat unadventurous, you can get a decent meal that's ridiculously reasonable thanks to the current ongoing offers.
The Marylebone Zizzi has never failed my expectations. For some reason, the branding is different to the traditional Zizzis found elsewhere (everything's green and black here) but the menu is the same. Lunch today was up to scratch; the pasta dishes were pretty good but the pizza, as ever, was the real winner; the calzone in particular was spot on, served piping hot with just the right amount of filling. Calzone is something that doesn't crop up so much across the other pizza/pasta chains and alone worth coming to Zizzi for if you are trying to make a decision between here and the others. Service was efficient and friendly (but when it is ever not?) and overall, the meal was faultless. Although I probably won't remember this specific visit some months down the line, I'll certainly be back there soon.

Chilli Cool was packed last Saturday night and judging by the high standard of the food, we were not surprised. There's nothing fancy about this place but it does produce some great, straightforward Sichuan food. We were a little apprehensive about how hot the dishes would be and although they were all pretty spicy (we left looking a little rosy), the chilli was not overwhelming.

The Dong-po pork belly came in a delicious bbq style sauce; even the top layer of fat was irresistible and melted in the mouth. The Chef's Fish Hot Pot was incredibly generous and the ‘share’ is plenty for two if not three people; despite swimming with fresh red chillies, these did not distract from the delicate flavour of the fish. If you're looking for something a little less spicy, there are plenty of other options on the extensive menu (try the Gong hao chilli chicken) and the staff are more than ready to guide you through the dishes. The wine list is relatively short – we opted for the house white which was prefectly adequate – but it's hard to really savour anything with your mouth gently on fire!

I would definitely recommend making a reservation if you're going at the weekend but don't be late. We were rather surprised to find that our table had been given away less than 60 seconds after the time it was booked for! Luckily, we didn't have to wait long for another to became available but be warned…

Having visited the Coach & Horses for Sunday lunch yesterday, I was in two minds about writing a review. This is one of those places that has an air of secrecy about it and you get the impression that the people that go here like it that way. Tucked away down a back street off Farringdon Road, it's location certainly helps. The C&H feels like a proper workman's pub with it's slightly outdated furnishings, pastel peach walls and 80s carpet but the food was something quite else. The menu isn't huge but offers a rounded choice of dishes and the portions were hearty and without being overwhelming. According to my fellow diner, the Roast of the Day (beef) was the best he'd had in a long long time and the confit of lamb and pork chop were both full of flavour and exceptionally moreish. For dessert, the chocolate fondant was sublime (cooked to perfection and wonderfully rich without being sickly) although the rhubarb fool did slightly disappoint, lacking any sort of tang despite being crammed with fruit. It did, however, spark a discussion about the origin of this plant (Asia) and it's name (meaning “foreign barbarian”) so proved to be a very educational dish. All in all, just what you want from your Sunday lunch. We will return soon.

Every meal we have had at Sabor has been of a high standard and we could not fault the food last night. The duck quesadilla starter was a great twist on a classic dish and the steak dishes stood out as being particularly tasty. Desserts were a little limited and very sweet, but typical of Latin America and beautifully presented. However, there are a couple of things that let down the overall dining experience. The service, albeit very friendly and pleasant, was extremely slow; although the place was lively it was by no means full. We have noticed this before when it was busier and assumed the kitchen/waiting staff were just a little overstretched. The acoustics aren't that great either, probably owing to the fact that the restaurant is one, long corridor in a very sleek and modern minimal decor with the tables closely lined up down the side. There is a funky bar which runs down the majority of the other side which looks great but is a terrible waste of space. There were six of us and it was a real struggle to hear the conversation around the table even though the tables aren't huge and you are sat close to one another. This was a shame as it took the edge off what was otherwise a very reasonable priced (thanks to the ongoing offers) and pleasant meal. When we return, we will definitely request a table at one end of the room!

I hadn't been to Mestizo in about a year but our visit last night made me wish we'd been back sooner. There is a much greater choice of Mexican cuisine in London these days but Mestizo still stands out as one of the most authentic, both in terms of the food on offer and the overall setting, reminiscent of an upscale restaurant in Mexico City. Everything tasted really fresh and full of flavour and each of the dishes distinctively different. I often find with some of the more ‘street’ food places, the menu is merely varations on a theme; the chili is an incredibly complex cooking ingredient and the different varieties offer a huge scope of spiciness and flavour. The house speciality, ‘Molcajete’, (a ground stone bowl crammed with a wonderfully flavoured stew) was impressive and added a sense of drama to the meal. The other main courses were all very good and the vegetarian among us had plenty to choose from. The staff were pleasant and knowledgeable about tequila (there is an extensive menu which is baflling to the novice) and jugs of margarita seemed a popular choice. If you want a more adventurous foray into mexican food, this is the place to come.

Personally, the original Busaba restaurant on Store Street is the best of the three; more intimate than its Soho and Oxford Street counterparts, hardly ever a queue and outdoor seating for the warmer months. The meal on Saturday evening was faultless. A side dish of Thai calamari lived up to expectations, hot, crispy and moreish, and the main courses were each exceptionally tasty. The southern curry (braised lamb shank) was particularly enjoyable and paired with the Thai roti, incredibly filling. Service was friendly and fast without rushing us. While Busaba may lack some authenticity of other more ‘original’ Thai restaurants in London, for a good, reliable and reasonably priced meal in chic surroundings, it's very hard to beat.

Having read all the rave reviews, we thought the Grand would be a good choice for a pre Christmas Sunday lunch celebration. There was some confusion regarding our booking and we were led to several tables which were hurriedly pulled together for the six of us. The restaurant itself is beautiful but the high ceilings and open areas do encourage sound to travel and it was remarkably noisy, especially as it was not full. The menu is straightforward and offers a variety of traditional, British food. Half the group opted for the set Sunday menu but failed to make it to dessert thanks to the ample portions. Highlights from the main courses included the battered fish (interestingly accompanied by shoestring fries rather than chips) and the bubble and squeak, both of which were simple and yet elegantly done. For dessert, the custard tart came very highly rated! Service was fine; perfectly polite but could have been a little more attentive. We can only assume it has been more on form in the evenings. We were in no rush and it was nice to take our time over the meal but the food was slow to appear. All in all, we enjoyed the meal but feel that the surroundings made the meal for us, rather than the food.

We ate at Imli the other week on a 2 for 1 offer for the tasting menu. Although I cannot fault the food nor the service, the meal lacked any sort of impact. The dishes were nice enough but only differed from the norm as being ‘tapas’, they were much smaller and only provided a few mouthfuls! If we had been paying the full amount for the meal (£14.95 a head), we would have felt cheated and certainly did not come away stuffed. When there are so many Indian restaurants in London to choose from, it is highly unlikely we will return here. Not an unpleasant meal in any way but certainly not memorable either.