bateman

Absolutely

That's what I meant really, they can try to write multiple reviews using multiple identities that aren't libellous to try and drive a restaurants score down and that is what we want to (and do) catch. To add a couple of things to the above comments reader reviews will now appear much quicker than they have over the last few months, also it should be much more up to date with new openings going forward.

Hi there, haven't posted in a long time and had trouble remembering my password! Just to answer some of the questions, (I founded London Eating btw for those who don't know), the mysterious disappearance was due to nothing more sinister than a coding error. We made some tweaks on our search yesterday which caused a few searches to come back with nothing. Thanks for noticing and it's all fixed now. With regard to restaurants power over us since I started the site we have never taken a restaurant off the site as much as they shout. We will investigate any reviews that they feel are unfair and spend a huge amount of time writing new ways to identify fake reviews from both punters and restaurant owners (and they try it on quite a bit!) We have also just released a new feature where you can click a registered users name and see all their previous reviews, this should enable you to make a better judgement on the advice given by the reviewer and feel that it is the best way to build in a sort of "trust" factor.

Have been thinking about this, and due to a few emails over the last week or so (not you lot were they ) and a chat with the London Eating team we are going to add links to the official sites. The trouble is that as you say it is impossible to find some of them so if any restauranteurs around have a site and want it on the London Eating listing could they mail me?

I think certainly the majority of diners and not really the 'foodies' seem to value service over anything else while going out, I certainly notice it when I go out with friends who rarely dine out (or really cook) and don't realise some of the differing quality of food out there. We are though making a big effort to add our official reviews, which do actually refer to the food to as many restaurants as we can over the next few months. You should see some of the reviews we can't use as well! Glad you do find us of use sometimes, is also good to get feedback on what people like/dislike. BTW, we haven't paid for the honor of being top, or employ a Search Engine Expert.

Hello, haven't been on the forum for a while, must spend more time around here, and registration had lapsed so had to wait to get reactivated. a) I would argue that it isn't a good site, but I am a bit biased. London Eating started as a site for everyone who goes to restaurants, and as such gives everyone a voice, whether they are a seasoned restaruant goer or just a valentines day and birthday visitor. We have a varied mix of people sending in reviews to us from some of the best i have read (Howard Long who I have seen on this forum) to people who write a couple of sentances. Traffic wise we are the largest restaurant guide in the UK (Hitwise figures) and the results on google are a reflection on this. b) WHen London Eating started maybe 5 in 5000 restaurants had a website so linking to restaurants didn't come into it. We have just lauched London Drinking London Drinking where we are starting to link to bars official sites and if our readers find this useful we will roll this out on the next build of London Eating. Unlike some other sites, although we have just started offering online booking we will always display the offiicial number for the restaurant and not our booking line. c) I'm afraid it would be impossible to do, however look at the DMOZ directory where you should find most direct links. d) Just have clear information on their sites. Hope that clears up a few things. Charles

That would be the one that put a helmet on your head and blew a whistle while you necked those god awful tequillas. hmmmmm, i thought it was really bad mexican, then again I have never tasted good mexican at all so not too sure what a good one would be!

Think they have done something in the last few months in Paris, pre Christmas my card wouln't work in any of the Metro machines and some of the market traders couldn't swipe it. However a few weeks ago (during the Fat Duck I sob missed) everything worked perfectly, machines, swipers. The only thing they can't do over there is be phoned by Barclaycard to authorise transactions, one of my cards was put under fraud alert for "unusual spending patterns" but they couldn't contact me so it started being refused, tres embarassing at La Truffière!

I have no problem with it, I have recently had a a take away cheese selection that i couldn't manage from Chez Bruce and what ended up being an almost entire meal of leftovers from Vama. Just ask, what are they gonna do, chuck you out for liking it so much u want to take it home and not waste it!

Ex River Cafe I think you will find. They are doing most of the cooking there leaving Kelly Ann et al to peel the spuds and most of the usual donkey work

Only way i got a table was through their PR agency.

Went there just after it opened, was not impressed by the standard of cooking. if you want to read my ramblings they are in the review on London Eating but briefly the ingredients may be top quality but the price charged with the basic lazyness of the cooking (River Cafe bad habits I think) mean I won't be rushing back. Not that they need to worry, most people going there wet themselves cos a 'celeb' is behind the open plan kitchen. Think since I have been they have sorted out the wine list which was vastly overpriced on my visit. Just feel it is such a shame that there are so many far superior restaurants in London that are relativly quiet for the same sort of price that deserve the attention so much more. The results of good PR...

Totally agree. Suppose he wants a bad boy image with that memo he fired off to a poor sub and now all this. He's prob jealous Victoria went to Amsterdam to make a porn film and not him! I actually thought for the menu Sketches prices were quite reasonable. Have only lunched there last week so far and popped upstairs to scan the menu and see the dining room but dinner is coming up soon.

Might pop along for a couple. Don't bother sticking me on a list in case I can't come in the end. I'm a member down there so won't be a prob getting in.

Not bothered with ending up with a bit of paper at the end of it, I am only doing it for my own enjoyment (and hopefully those i cook for!) Really want to concentrate in classic french and british, think that will give the best basis for future cooking. Going to order that book from amazon and check out some of the classes.

OK, so New Year, new resolutions, and number one, go to cookery class. Not that I can't cook (I can and am not too bad) but would really like to learn much more. So I have been looking around here and was surprised a search didn't really turn up anything bar a veggie cooking class. Looked around the web and found divertimenti, was interested in their hands on courses, will have to go on a waiting list i suppose as they seem to be sold out. Anyone done this? Or recommend any others, will have to be evening classes, pref in town or SW london.

I'll check next week, popping over.

Had lunch there as well a while back and i am sure the evening menu was much, much, much more expensive

What did you make of the Charlotte St Hotel bar? Popped in there the other day before reviewing Paolo and it had the potential to be very good, martini was excellent, if long bar prices, but was ablsolutly packed with nowhere to sit.

Chez Bruce and Thyme are luckly the nearest 2 restaurants to me. For a quick bite Paddyfield in Balham is quite good (and cheap!)

Do you think they'd like to use that on their business cards? Should change that to THE best place in Clapham. Thyme I thought came pretty close though.

Being local to me I go there quite a lot, including a visit last Thursday, must admit the menu that day was the most dissapointing I have had there but still better than most places in Clapham. Really hoped the fried calves brain was going to still be on the menu, had that before and it was truly amazing but unfourtunitly not. Yes the wines are a bit pricey but there is quite a nice range of half bottles and my companions house white I tasted seemed quite passable. Does anyone know how much time Bruce is spending in the kitchen though, I have a feeling it is less and less these days...