Oliver Thring

I think this is a brilliant new opening. In a way, it's a shame it's mainly been marketed as a wine bar, because the food is excellent, and very right for the times. Delicious bone marrow on toast and lovely pot-roast quail, although I wasn't such a fan of the much-trumpeted duck scratchings. Review here: http://oliverthring.blogspot.com/2009/04/t...oss-london.html

I had a good but not great meal here a few days ago. Quite a few things seemed underseasoned, and technique comes across at times as rather hurried. But still an excellent menu and a great neighbourhood place. Review here: http://oliverthring.blogspot.com/2009/04/h...ill-london.html

The duck burger at Crosque Gascon is just about OK, and as some respondents have said there's also a Wahaca which (if the one off Traf Sq is anything to go by) isn't bad. But there's another Mexican outpost there, Nine Ten, which looked better than Wahaca when I went past.

Couldn't agree more, Jon. Bocca seems to be the most overpraised recent opening in London. I've written a review to this effect on my blog (Thring for Your Supper) at http://oliverthring.blogspot.com.

I ate at RHR in 2006, and it was by far (out of seven) my least memorable three- star meal (the others being the other two British places, Louis XV, two in San Sebastián and Dal Pescatore).

Very well said.

They're also doing some lovely mulled wine at the moment for a couple of quid, opposite Monmouth coffee. Worth mentioning that the place is a complete zoo on Saturday mornings - if you arrive at 11am it's like Oxford Street on December 23rd. Turn up as early as possible, while the good stuff is still there and before the hordes appear.