Food Snob

I agree with Gary. Execution couldn't be criticised, but the flavours just did not move me. Not a lot of imagination, I thought, either. Waring seemed to just load each dish with a 'luxury' addition: sea bass with urchin, halibut with caviar, turbot with frog's legs, etc On top of that, service was such a letdown... My disappointing dinner at Marcus Wareing

Thanks for the reply, Culinista. When were you at MW? The menus seems to be the same as late-Petrus days. MW Menus Basically wanted to know how they compared...how similar they are. I have a friend who will be in town, he is thinking of dining at both, but as his time is limited, he may just pick one.

Corrigan's. It is a hunting cabin theme, which works very well...the food is British and nothing, but seasonal - game and fish. Dinner at Corrigan's Mayfair

Adventurous? Does that mean offal, etc? If so, Hereford Road is good: Hereford Road Lunch Otherwise, there is Anchor & Hope, Great Queen Street and St. John If not offal. For game and fish, 'British-style': I suggest Corrigan's: Dinner at Corrigan's Other cuisines? Italian and an expensive treat, River Cafe: Lunch at the River Cafe For Indian, I heard Amaya was quite nice.

Any preferences in terms of cuisine or budget?

Hi, Quick question - has anyone eaten at both Royal Hospital Rd and Marcus Wareing in the last couple of months? If so, how do they compare? Cheers.

From my experience, it's rather Zaff's that has been slipping...

I last heard he was leaving end of January... His replacement looks like Brian Hughson, from Rhodes W1

Dinner last week at Pied à Terre. Disappointed. The food required to much effort to be enjoyed; all the ingredients had to be eaten at once to appreciate the dishes; whilst individually, some parts were bland or ineffective. The presentation and work involved in preparing the plates is impressive though. There were a couple of memorables: Rabbit ballotines and bittersweet chocolate. Dinner at Pied à Terre

Don't be silly, a suit is fine... Let me know what GQS is like.

Dear Peter, Previously, you asked where one could enjoy some decent offal. I suggested a few names, one of which, since your last post, I have been able to try - Hereford Road. Here is the link to the write-up: My lunch at Hereford Road That day, they had calves' brain, duck liver, sweetbreads, tongues...plenty of tasty bits and bobs. The menu changes twice a day. What other sorts of restaurants are you interested in?

Yes, try the French board, then try l'Arpège

IMHO, At the end of the day, there will always be those who will hate to see a cover charge on the bill simply on principle, regardless of what prices are, where the money is going or how much transparency there is. Personally, I would ignore any such printed justification behind the CR - at the end of the day/meal, all I see is that I am out-of-pocket that additional amount, whatever it went on. Previously, I too have always associated CRs with, as mentioned in another post above also, tourist-y restaurants abroad. Here, I have really only heard discussion over those charged at Corrigan's and Giaconda, and both times, these have been quietly acquiesced too on grounds of: i. people liking the food; and ii. the prices being recognisably low enough to warrant one

Hereford Road: A very pleasing experience. I am a big fan of offal and funny cuts, so I really enjoyed the sort of cuisine here - nose-to-tail. Pemberton, ex-St. John, seems like a chef enjoying himself, cooking the food he himself likes. 'Slip Soles, Jerusalem Artichoke and Red Onion' was the best dish; close behind came 'Deep Fried Calves' Brains and Tartare Sauce' Read my Hereford Road lunch here Good food, great value, friendly service. Would return for to try the Whole Braised Oxtail they do for dinner.

Of course I do not like to see additional charges on my bill, but my indignation is assuaged if: i. there is complete transparency from the start; and ii. I enjoy the meal It is rather fickle, I admit, but if I like the restaurant, I won't care much about an additional pound or two. However, if I had a bad experience, I would never stop complaining at their gall in charging me extra just for the (dis)pleasure of eating there. For example, I really liked Corrigan's and really thought nothing of handing out an extra £1.50 - in my eyes they had earned it. All I did think actually was how strange it was that there was a service charge at all (maybe to help them keep the food cost reasonable, new restaurant costs, our current economic climate?)

Sorry, PhilD, Iestyn Didn't realise the scandal it would cause Needed a subtitle for the topic, I panicked... Fair point, both of you.

A restaurant should be consistent, especially at that level, indeed. But, as mentioned, Howard and sous-chef Westin were both away the first time. And the meal was not disastrous; there was only one real error in execution. It was just not as good an experience as expected. There is an argument to be made that if #1 and #2 in the kitchen are absent, then maybe mistakes can be made (and forgiven), however, on the other hand, it is not as if customers get a discount in this sort of scenario! Personally, I am willing to give them the benefit of the doubt. After all, chefs are only human too! I guess...

Andy, Dodgy canape? Does must be the beetroot cannelloni with parsnip Chantilly and beetroot coulis...and if you look at some of the pictures, you may be able to see a small white napkin placed to the top-right of the dishes. That was were I made a nice bloody stain with the coulis. The Dover sole was not on that day, I believe it's one of the daily changing classics. However, I do love a good Dover sole. But desserts were so very, very good! What dishes have you especially enjoyed there then? Andy and Muichoi, Regarding the bread, I am not an expert of bread etiquette, but personally, I also like it hot.

Worry not, you won't get that kind of thinking from me....I have never even eaten at one of Ramsay's restaurants

I was being sarcastic no one got it

lol. I am imagining it now... However, surely that was your fault and not Jamie's

Canary Wharf mall gets first London Jamie's Italian Jamie Oliver is to open his next branch of Jamie's Italian in London's Canary Wharf, it was announced today. The first London branch of Oliver's first independent venture will open at Churchill Place Mall next autumn alongside branches of Roka, Canteen and Rocket. Camille Waxer, vice president of retail at Canary Wharf Group said: “In the next 18 months or so we have KPMG, Fitch Ratings and State Street all opening new office buildings nearby. The continued growth in the number of Canary Wharf visitors and workers requires the quality, quantity and variety of dining options to keep pace. “We have been very impressed by the success of Jamie’s Italian in Oxford and Bath. It will inspire more food lovers to visit Canary Wharf and offer our existing customer base an exciting new option.” The first Jamie’s Italian, - described as an "authentic affordable Italian restaurant" - opened in Oxford in June with Bath and Kingston rapidly following. Restaurants are also slated to open in Brighton, Cambridge and Cardiff.

Hi, I went to the Square for lunch last week. This was my second visit after a poor first one this August. On that occasion, a Bank Holiday, both Chef and sous-chef was out. This time Howard was in and it was great. Food was delicious, not a bad dish in the bunch. Service, good first time, better this; fyi, the manager is excellent. Favourite dish: Very hard to choose! Probably, Ravioli of Calves Tail with Crushed Cauliflower and Chanterelles, White Truffles from Alba; but Roast Isles of Orkney Scallops with New Season’s Perigord Truffle Purée, Ecrasé of Butternut Squash, Chestnuts and Velouté of Cepes, is not far behind. My Lunch at the Square Although a serious let down before, it is now one of my favourites. I was very impressed. A generous restaurant serving 'refined comfort food'.

Was at the Greenhouse last week. Bit of a roller-coaster experience. I had high expectations, but was disappointed overall. The savouries were quite dull; the exception being: Bresse pigeon breast; sweet corn purée, liquorice, purple tatsoi and land cress salad The desserts, however, were excellent and included maybe the best souffle I have had this year: Spiced parsnip and caramelised pecan nut soufflé; Bourbon barrel matured maple syrup The restaurant is beautiful, the service was also great, up until the bill came and I was overcharged... Lunch at the Greenhouse