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Ms. Macaroon30s, Female, London

Member since November 2006

Silver reviewer since January 2011.

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Reviews written: 13 (11 voted helpful)

Restaurants rated: 1 (this year)

Posts written: 20

Favourited by: 12 members

Ms. Macaroon’s latest review

Nopi (21-22 Warwick Street, London, W1B 5NE)

Editor's pick

Where to start? Probably as close as you can get to the perfect meal if you don’t mind sharing and like to try as much on the menu as possible. The warm inviting space, despite being white and minimalist, is more welcoming and comfortable than Ottolenghi restaurants – making you want to hole up for a good few hours and try as much as possible on the extensive menu. A splash of colour comes from huge bunches of tulips in fabulous round gold vases, and large gold lampshades give off that elusive ‘perfect’ light that makes everyone and everything look gorgeous.

We were given a sweet potato & pumpkin houmous with bread on arrival, whilst having a chat with the approachable female sommelier who recommended some unusual wines at well under our proposed budget (always a good sign), including an aromatic, juicy Slovenian Riesling. Staff were attentive but not overly so, and really knew the menu inside out, giving some spot-on recommendations.

Four of us shared 14 dishes in total, which arrived in waves decided on by the kitchen, but there was never too much or too little at once. Pretty much everything blew us away, but highlights included prawn toast rolls and beef brisket croquettes to start (fried food heaven), followed by pigs cheeks with celeriac mash and ossobucco with parmesan polenta, both powerfully earthy but elegant and luxurious at the same time.

Our waiter insisted we try the spiced baby chicken which came with a crisp, zingy vegetable accompaniment, as did many of the other dishes, the sides lifting each dish to another level – in fact they were so good we asked for more of the Asian coleslaw that came with the trout. The only duff note was a bland vegetable dish of swede gratin, and perhaps the burrata, which needed some more blood orange to cut through its oozy milky richness.

We somehow squeezed in a couple of puddings (just to make sure…). Churros y chocolate felt naughty and moreish – but how can deep fried pastry dipped in melted chocolate be anything… More

February 2011

Overall:9
Food and Drink:9
Service:9
Atmosphere:9
Value for Money:8
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Ms. Macaroon's latest forum post

Reply to “To River Cafe or not to River Cafe…” (in Recommend me a restaurant or a bar)

I think The River Cafe is only worth the expense if you can coincide your booking (lunch not dinner) with a sunny day (near impossible!) and manage to bag a table outside (tough). Then the combination of the food, setting and weather create something you won't find elsewhere in London.

I've always felt a bit ripped off though: the food is good, but incredibly simple, and somewhere like Zucca does very similar food at a quarter of the price. My husband really didn't get what all the fuss was about…I'm more in awe due to being a big fan of Rose & Ruth. More

Read the thread 14 April 2011

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Additional information about Ms. Macaroon

Personal description

Fun-loving Londoner with a passion for good food, wine & macaroons!

Eating out habits

Pleasure – 3 times per week
Business – once a month

Favourite restaurants

Brindisa, Cecconi's, Magdalen, Hakkasan, Nahm

Last supper

Lobster roll with matchstick fries from Pearl Oyster Bar Chilli crab linguini hand made by Georgio Locatelli
Pierre Herme macaroons
Bollinger Special Cuvee 2002

Interests

Cooking, wine, eating out, fashion, music, travelling, swimming, backgammon, reading, independent / international cinema

Favourite book and film

Shadow of the Wind / White Tiger.
Mickey Blue Eyes / My Fair Lady / The Red Shoes

Dream dinner companion

Paul Newman circa 1955 / Prince / Prince Charles & his sons

Favourite hotels in the UK and abroad

Soho Beach House Miami
L'Enclume, Cartmel, The Hempel – London.
Home – Buenos Aires, Camps Bay Retreat – Cape Town, Es Vive – Ibiza

Favourite holiday destinations

The Balearics, Italy, South Africa, South America

Drives a…

Ford Ka

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