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SarahL

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Everything posted by SarahL

  1. Had a Sunday lunch experience there in September which was almost the exact duplicate of Bertie's. Absolute chaos. Pre-lunch drinks only arrived when the starters did; the goats cheese, onion and red pepper tart contained no red pepper and explosively hard puff pastry (most of it ended up on the table or floor on contact with the knife). Put in a request for a glass of wine each to go with mains when they cleared the starters - only 5 minutes for food to arrive, but waited... and waited... and waited... I found the lemon sole with spiced butter actively unpleasant - suspect someone had been a bit heavy-handed with the cinnamon. After numerous, desperate attempts to flag down the waiting staff (when they chose to take notice of us, we were repeatedly told, "I'll find out what's happening with the drinks") 25 minutes later - uneaten sole now very cold, and husband's roast beef pronounced "nothing special" - the wine finally arrived. Apparently it was my large glass of red wine that had caused the problem; they had "run out of" large glasses and had studiously poured the 250 ml measure into 2 smaller glasses for me. We complained and, to their credit, they took the uneaten sole and first drinks off the bill. As Bertie said, we'd been looking forward to it so much, the whole experience was just such a great disappointment. Front of house simply couldn't cope - maybe overstretching themselves on Sunday lunchtimes? Other tables seemed to be having similar problems (drinks not arriving, wrong drinks arriving etc.)... Hope you have a better experience, Bapi!
  2. Sounds wonderful. We're booked in for Monday night. Are you on commission, Matthew?!
  3. I'd put in a vote for Salt Yard on Goodge Street http://www.saltyard.co.uk/ - great Spanish and Italian "tapas", well-sourced ingredients, plus good atmosphere: not too noisy - plus cheaper and more fun (in my view anyway) than Fino. Sharing the small plates mean that everyone's happy and no quibbling about the bill at the end. Lovely wine list (though easy to spend a lot!) and they do a good line in bellinis as an aperitif. Never had a duff meal here, and, working nearby, have been a lot for both lunch and dinner. S
  4. For the record, we had a distinctly underwhelming lunch at the Ambassador on Saturday. Full of expectations (and hangover), ordered a jug of bloody Mary which didn't disappoint. However, there wasn't really a lunch menu as such - more a mix of breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea. Ordered a selection of starters - pretty good chicken rillettes which were a reasonable £3.50 for the bar snack portion, excellently dressed endive salad and "purple sprouting broccoli", advertised as a side dish but which we wanted as a starter. Disappointingly it was just tenderstem broccoli, brought with no explanation. My main was a fish stew - very subtle fennel addition and some good mussels but slightly insipid salmon and haddock; no sign of the cod the waitress mentioned when I asked what was in it. Husband chose from the brunch menu pancakes with bacon and maple syrup - pancake so stodgy we could have propped the table up on it, and only a child's portion of bacon. Left feeling that we wouldn't make another special visit - only if we happened to be in the area, and then only for dinner not lunch. Such a shame - really wanted to like it. Maybe it was just because it was Easter Saturday? Didn't help that it was completely empty and the hard formica tables amplified our quietest mutterings! Look forward to hearing more reports. S
  5. I can't believe you just posted on this topic, Magnolia! I was about to do the same - need a venue for Monday lunch, but end of September instead of August. It's my husband's birthday - there are 4 of us, all early-30s foodies, so want something special but not *too* formal; prepared to pay upwards of 45 Euros per head. So, please keep the suggestions rolling in for both myself and Magnolia! Hope you don't feel I've hijacked your topic, M?!!!! thanks, Sarah
  6. Hi Hallie - hope the move all works out okay. We've lived in Crouch End for 7 years, and are also about to move closer to Muswell Hill. The deli up there (Mauro's?) is very good; better than N8 where there's only the Broadway Deli (on Broadway parade) which is basic but fine. As far as butchers go, there's an organic one in Crouch End on Middle Lane - just next door to O's Thai Cafe (which has gone downhill, in my view - very greasy, overpriced and not exactly welcoming!). Walter Purkis and sons is the fishmongers in Crouch End (I think they also have a branch in N10) and they are great. There's been much talk locally of farmers markets being established both at Alexander Palace and Crouch End Broadway (outside the town hall), although nothing has materialised as yet. In terms of eating out, there's not much in Muswell Hill and there are quite a lot of dodgy places in N8, but if you look hard enough there are a few gems. I second Moby on Banners - breakfasts are just the ticket after a heavy night, and their Caribbean food is also pretty good; only drawback during the daytime is the hoards of screaming children and prams blocking the whole restaurant. Bistro Aix on Topsfield Parade is fabulous; fantastic bistro food - Lynn Marie Sanders is the chef there. Also worth a look is the Victoria Stakes pub at the bottom of Muswell Hill - it was gastrified about 2 years ago, but still feels like a proper pub. Haven't been to Boombar on Crouch End Hill for a while, but they've also had a recent revamp - they do authentic South African fare ranging from kudu steaks, to bobotije, to boerewurst and more. Up at Highgate the Rose and Crown on the High Street has also had a gastro-makeover - food wasn't wildly fantastic the lunchtime we went, but showed promise. If we're feeling brave, we venture to Archway and St John gastropub on Junction Road - reliable although not cheap. Hope this helps, Sarah
  7. Hello all - just a general query about whether the Anchor and Hope's table policy (or rather, lack thereof) is a common thing or generally accepted to be reasonable? I only ask because on my first visit there on Thursday, I never actually got the chance to sample the food. A phone call in advance had confirmed what I already thought - that they didn't take bookings - and so I arrived promptly with my parents at 6.15. We asked about table availability and were told that we could go in any time we liked. But, we pointed out, we were waiting for my husband, who was due in an hour; could we leave our names and have drinks in the bar until then? No, we were told, it wasn't their policy to reserve tables; simply come through when the whole party was there. On the offchance, we enquired again at 6.45 and received the same reply: "there are plenty of tables, just come through when you're ready". My husband duly arrived at 7.15, at which point we went through to the restaurant and were told that we would now have to wait an hour and a half for a table - at this point, they *were* taking names. Since my parents had to get a train from Kings X at 10, we had to leave and hurriedly find somewhere else; not a happy experience, all in all, particularly when the three of us had spent an hour standing in a crowded, noisy pub, with no food at the end of it! So I never did find out whether the food is as great as everyone says it is; it may just have been down to bad timing on our behalf. I just wanted to canvass opinion on whether everyone thinks this is a fair policy. It means you can't really make any plans, or you have to be pretty flexible about what time you want to eat; it also effectively means they have two sittings - one at 6.45-7 and one at 8.45-9. Why don't they just formalise the "system" and take bookings? I do still want to try the food, but I've really been put off by the whole experience. I'd be interested to read your views. Many thanks, Sarah
  8. There must have been a sneaky seed in the bread, and I chomped down rather too eagerly. The tooth was mainly filling anyway - could have gone at any time!
  9. We went to La Trouvaille for our anniversary dinner, so thanks for the recommendation, Simon. My husband loved his "Three flavours crab salad" and "Mutton fillet with lavender sauce" and even the grilled courgette that accompanied it (he is traditionally a courgette-sceptic). My experience was somewhat spoiled by the fact that I managed to shatter one of my molars on the bread at the beginning of the meal! So my choice of food was dictated by what would be least painful - I went for cold pumpkin soup with foie gras ice cream (wonderful!) followed by "Soft boiled egg of the moment with watercress dip and mushroom croustillant" which was... unexpected. It seemed to be a milkshake of watercress, softly scrambled egg and (no mention of this, and I may well be wrong) blue cheese, into which one dipped deep-fried mushrooms. I wouldn't order this dish again, but at the time it was strangely comforting. We enthused over our shared chocolate and violet "coolant", which we polished off in approximately 30 seconds. Add to that 2 glasses of champagne, 2 glasses of white wine, a bottle of Faugeres (by this point, I was treating the wine as an anaesthetic) and 2 double espressos, and with service the bill came to just over 120 pounds. We both felt this was very reasonable for the quality and imagination of the cooking, and the very friendly and unobtrusive service. The atmosphere was exactly right - very romantic - and we will definitely be returning... but not until I am restored to full dental health. Thanks, Sarah
  10. Thanks for the suggestions, Andy, Simon and Olly. I shall investigate... Also wanted to say that I think the egullet is fantastic - intelligent, honest writing, and highly informative and entertaining. I will be a regular visitor from now on. Best wishes, Sarah
  11. Can anybody suggest a hotel/inn within easy reach of West London that offers fine food and a room overnight (midweek)? It's a treat for our wedding anniversary - husband works out near Iver Heath in Bucks, so anywhere within 45 mins' drive would be handy. I've so far looked at Crazy Bear (but was not convinced) and was almost swayed by the Inn on the Green until I read Mr Rayner's recent review. Failing that, where would readers recommend for a special, romantic dinner in London at short notice (next Tuesday!), preferably French or Italian, and fairly relaxed? So far have been recommended Club Gascon, but, again, not entirely convinced. Absolutely loved St John Bread and Wine, but don't feel the atmos is romantic enough for an anniversary celebration. All suggestions much appreciated! thanks, Sarah
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