KimS

Never a truer word spoken.

On my one and only visit to Bill Wolsey's Merchant, I found it somewhat lacking in the 'attention to detail' factor and the workmanship (particularily in the ladies' loos) was shoddy. Hey, I'm married to a builder...

Ginger (albeit not quite) Had lunch here on my last visit home. Must admit it was pretty impressive stuff.

Have to agree, Malmaison in Belfast is truly shocking. It doesn't deserve to carry the Malmaison branding. Ten Square (which cloned itself around the whole Mal 'look' expecting Mal to never set foot in Belfast) walks all over it.

Having grown up in NI, but now living in England, I couldn't agree more. When I go back now and then to see family and friends, it's a mission to find anywhere that serves 'real' food that doesn't come with a selection of fifteen different potato styles. Deanes upstairs is okay, but there's more atmosphere on the moon. Cayenne is indeed very good, as is Roscoff Brasserie. James St South's worth a mention, too. There's a veritable plethora of true crimes against all things culinary in every town and city you visit there. Has always been the same and I'd hazard a guess it always will be. Shame, but a fact nontheless.

Why would anywhere turn a solo diner away? Close to Heathrow and a bit of a treat? I'd travel the 16 miles and do The Waterside at Bray.

First post and I'm afraid I have to concur with Richard_D. LCS is a regular haunt of mine and to be quite honest his book is as stunning as his food and the whole LCS experience, but in paperback. Buy it. Today.