Chaz

Have just got the Time Out Guide 2003 - and it is true Petit Robert is not included. I had a disappointing meal there a couple of years ago, but had better try it again after Akiko's glowing report... Incidentally, I heard a rumour that Robert is closing and moving to Wales. I see that The Honest Cabbage in Bermondsey Street has been excluded from the Time Out Guide (it used to be there). Mar-i-Terra (Simon M's prelude to heaven) is also not there. I was not far off the mark recommending Tentazioni, Champor-Champor, Baltic and Delfina as four of the best in SE1. They all get the 'red star' thumbs up in the Time Out Guide.

Oh yes, and how could I have forgotten Delfina in Bermondsey Street? Sadly it is only open to the public for lunch.

As an SE1 resident here are a couple of other suggestions in the Borough area: Tentazioni in Mill Street, near Shad Thames is an excellent and little known Italian in SE1. I had a superb meal there recently and the place gets good ratings in both the Harden's and Zagat 2003 guides. Also very well rated in Harden's and Zagat is Champor-Champor in Weston Street close to London Bridge Station. In fact Champor-Champor is rated overall top restaurant in the £30-39 price category in the Harden's 2003. Baltic, just opposite Southwark tube station on Blackfriars Road, has improved quite a bit since it opened and does decent (Polish) food in a stylish ambience. So, it seems there are some decent places in the Borough/Bermondsey/Southwark vicinity after all...

Well, if nothing else, I found this site through Restaurant Magazine (the Jay Rayner interview)... and this is my first post. Actually I think Restaurant Magazine does quite a good job. It is difficult to cater (sorry!) to both the trade and the general public and overall I reckon it does a good job. You are never going to please everyone. The design is up to the mark and the range of topics is quite well balanced. OK, so some of the titles are a bit tacky, but you know what editors are like...