Timothy Burke

Red Veil has shut though the same team have reopened in Oakham as the Dining Room. Entropy restuarant has also shut though their bar on Hinckley Road is still open and Tom is cooking there with a bistro-type menu. Apparantly though a full-on restaurant may well well re-open in Leicester city centre in October. For now there is Watson's right opposite the Phoenix which is convenient and ok, or an Italian called Alloro which is quite neraby on Millstone Lane but I think I'd recommend Halli as the best option.

Does anyone have any recent recommendations in Leicester? We are visiting the in-laws this weekend and are looking for somewhere to go after seeing a film at the Phoenix. Indian would be fine so unless there are any other options we may go for Halli mentioned above. NB Entropy and Red Veil both appear to have closed, or at least not renewed their domain names. ←

Indeed - being British, we didn't even complain. But it does make us wonder whether we can believe assurances on other ingredients and that they haven't thickened a sauce with flour or whatever. Which takes us back to Tim's points - and he is right that it is allergy sufferers who should and do take the bulk of the responsibility, but they should also expect plain dealing.

Not really sure where I stand on how much responsiblity should be expected to be borne. What I do know is that it was not good to go to a restaurant recently, to be urged upfront on the menu to inform them of any allergies and they'd take care of it, to tell them my guest was coeliac, and then have biscotti served with the creme brulee. All I'm saying is, if restaurants say they care, they better know what they doing. Otherwise your final suggestion would indeed be preferable

All things considered - I'm with Mike. Bars and restaurants are for socialising and relaxing - I'm sure you were very quiet and making no nuisance to anyone but for me the mere presence of someone working at a nearby table would make me feel slightly uncomfortable because, oh I dunno, somehow I'd worry about me disturbing them and it would be just that bit more difficult for me to relax. During the day in a coffee shop maybe I'd manage to ignore it - but not in a bar after work. All that said it's the bar owners job to get the policy across in the right way.

I'd never heard of it but will probably find it subconsciously slipping into my copy as a pathetic way of trying to impress the people of Leicester. It's all Hayward's fault. I can't imagine letting eaterie through though.

I'd be surprised if some BBC Tristam did not pitch exactly this idea during the brainstorm. A money-shot-reliant gameshow format would have been ideal if the only motive was to entertain the proles and mouth breathers. Yet somehow, they emerged out of the bullshit room with a format capable of informing as well as entertaining. Probably through luck rather than design, they ended up with the only cooking show in two decades where the journey is more important than the arrival. ← Well of course I'm sure all forum members here are fans of Takeaway Challenge which uses a sort of debased blind taste-off to see whether Ainsley or Rick can cook jerk chicken and peas or fish and chips better than some take away in Merthyr Tydfil.

Is Gordon too obvious?

All the regions had four chefs cooking two dishes from their current or recent menu - Matthew Fort visits them all at their restaurants and he selects two to go forward. In the Midlands it was Sat Bains, Aaron Patterson. Rupert Rowley and Glynn Purnell. Not sure who got through.

It's probably not "last couple of years" but when when I go to the Toon I make a beeline for www.caffezonzo.com out in Sandyford - stylish neighbourhood joint with great atmopsphere and more than adequate Italian grub. Cheap too.

It was sometime back now but when I had a day at Thane Prince's cookery school I had a pleasant - very relaxed dinner in The Lighthouse www.lighthouserestaurant.co.uk

Servers that fill my glass - after the first one. But I'm with everyone else on the "guys" business. Those who ask "who's having the steak?" - when they took the order seven minutes previously. Those who refuse to catch my eye.

None - unless Mrs Langland's faggots are anything like Mr Brains.

Passport to the Pub I found it very strange when visiting NYC to find it expected to tip the bartender with cash - not something we'd do here. Offering a drink is not expected or routine, it's just something done occasionally as a gesture, rather than to secure or to reward good service. The way it goes is to order your drinks and follow up with something such as "and one for your self?". To which the reply might be "thank you, I'll have a half of lager." Whether they actually have the drink or add the value to a tip fund may depend on the venue - either way it's bad form to check that they actually pour one. The above all applies to regular pubs and bars - it may all be different at the Savoy, I wouldn't know. There's a first rate guide to pub etiquette produced by Kate Fox of the Social Issues Research Centre, available to read online here: Passport to the pub I can't imagine going through this routine in a restaurant - in most cases the bar tab is going to be added to your restaurant bill, so may end up in you tipping calculations anyway.

Off topic I know but have you seen the Truffle Oil thread? Serious business. Two kilos of white truffle? Phew.

The excellent Hammer and Pincers in Leicestershire uses the term First Service Menu. Sounds a bit jargony but beats Early Bird anyway.

Surely your biggest market is likely to remain the Caribbean community, where curried goat is of course a staple. There may not be be a huge home demand for grass fed, organic steaks and whathaveyou, but I'd have thought aspirational Caribbean restaurants might be interested. Try a promotion in the Voice newspaper?

Seconded - and if memory services the Northallerton branch is right opposite Lewis and Coopers, which is pretty much like finding a Selfridge's food hall plonked in the middle of a small market town: Lewis and Cooper

Oww, they say the truth hurts. On the other hand...remember we small town reviewers (Leicester is about size of Cincinatti) are not writing for egulleters who read every review going or, when they are not out snifffing napkins, spend half their time on the internet reading about food. Of course there are many lightly disguised advertorials, but those who are writing genuinely independent reviews are writing for people looking for a diverting five minutes with the newspaper on their way in to or home from work. Who may only eat out rarely and don't want to make mistake when they do. Who like the idea of eating out but may not be able to and actually enjoy it vicariously. Who are not so jaded as you with those precious few adjectives we have our disposal. I think we maybe still have a function there.

The Star at Harome, both the pub/restuarant and their shop opposite. And of course the Blacksmiths Inn at Westow. Unless you've gone already have you Gary?

I'd say so in Leicester, though of course good, cheap places in the right location can do business much of the time. I agree with the comments about people's attitudes to eating out in London - and of course it applies even more so here. I review for a newspaper and it can sometimes be hard to get someone to come out with me even for free early in the week. And Pani's is great, isn't it? I wish something similar here...

Depends who you are after of course. All it takes for me is a press relase - but then I review in the East Midlands for a regional edition of a newpaper and unlike Jay do not get overwhelmed with new restaurants that warrant reviews (or even those that don't). An information pack explaining all about your history, your approach, your suppliers etc is very welcome. I wouldn't bother offering freebies - it may or may not be accepted but it won't make a difference as to whether or not you're reviewed - well not by any worthwhile publication anyway. That said if want to get in the glossy countrylife mags you may as well take an advert or maybe offer them a recipe - they'll try and link it to an ad I'm sure but you'll have an idea whether it's likely to be worthwhile.

My parent's favourite neighbourhood restaurant in Sidcup, that's in south east London, glories in the name Sophie's Choice. I've been once and just looked around and wondered "do they know what thay've done?" . How does a diner feel when they find themsleves saying "i can't quite choose between the soufle or creme brulee?".

I'm with you Jay. Apart possibly from the first glass I'd alway rather pour for ourselves and will generally tell our waiter so - that way we drink exactly how much we want at the speed we want to. The notion of sitting around worrying that no-one has filled up a glass strikes me as bizarre. Sorry can't comment on the Bath Priory but from what chefsimon says it does sound underwhelming. At £100 a head - even allowing for champagne and mercurey - I'd want to be at least whelmed.

Ideas? ← The item I have had in the usa that was called a biscuit was not something I've encountered over here. I suppose the nearest would be a farl. I also detect that you seem to use the term cookie more broadly than we do - for us a cookie is a distinct variety of biscuit. That's when it's not some kind of fiendish software.