Andrew

Not sure this is the correct topic but here goes. What is the difference between AAA diamonds and Michelin stars. As a European I understand (as much as anyone can understand) the star system but having recently returned from the States where I ate at a 4 diamond restaurant which had an amazing view, formal service, high prices but very average food I wondered what the criteria was. It would not have got 1 Star so I wondered how it merited 4 diamonds. Andrew

In the end I had one night in Atlanta and went to Nikolas (at the Hilton downtown) and three nights in Savannah when I went to the Chart Room, Elizabeths on 37th & the Olde Pink House restaurant. In their own way they were good, Nikolas for the view, Elizabeths for the house and the staff, the Chart Room for the atmosphere and the Olde Pink House for the food, building and staff. Andrew

I recently went to the Library restaurant at the Vendue Inn. It was recommended to me by the hotel I was staying in as being the best in the city. I can't comment if it is the best but it was worth a visit, the food was good quality and the staff knowledgable and friendly. The room is small and beatifully decorated. It is t well worth a visit. Andrew

Ended up going to Paramount. Good food, my starter was ok but main course was good, my guest said her starter was good and main course was one of the best vegetarian main courses she has ever had. Desserts was also good. Great views, really buzzy and informal atmosphere - full of people there for a special occassion and wanting to enjoy themselves. Security 'strict', food not as good as Galvin at Windows but as good as some 1 star places. Andrew

Thanks. Paramount is a good idea, I've never been there - I thought it was a private memebrs club. Unfortuantely neither Rhodes nor Vertigo work as it is a Saturday evening I need the reservation and being City based they are closed (or dead). Galvin at Windows is my first choice but I was looking for somewhere different.

Has any one been there recently? It went through a stage a few years ago getting poor reviews but I haven't seen anything (apart from in Time Out) about it. I'm thinking of visiting in a few weeks and would be interested in any recent visits. I'm looking for somewhere with a view so it is here, Galvin at Windows or Blueprint Cafe. The other two I know well and have never been to the Oxo Tower. Thanks Andrew

Unfortunately I have lost my notes and as the visit was a couple of weeks ago this will be a short summary. Amazingly this was my first visit. I've tried to go a few times but it has always been fully booked. This was a lunchtime visit and we opted for the good value set lunch. For £52 you get 3 courses plus half a bottle of water and half a bottle of white per person. I wasn't paying so am not sure if it also inc coffee and petit fours. We started with a glass of excellent champagne and these arrived with some good quality nibbles, nothing amazing but safe and good. The amusee was a smoked eel tempoura which had a good flavour and presentation. There was also a good selection of bread which was excellent. We weren't told which butter was salted so had to guess. Onto what we ordered. You have a choice of three items for each course with no horrible supplements. My starter was excellent, a seafood 'stew' with black tabiocca. Brilliantly executed with real depth of flavour. My companion had a soup which she said was ok. I can't remember much about it about from some bitter jerusalem artichoke. My main was a very average (and fatty) lamb. Once again I can't remember anything about the other main save it was declared 'average' We both opted for cheese which was great. A really impressive trolley with a good quality mixture, something for all tastes all at their peak. One of the best I have seen. The petit fours were ok and the bread good. We opted for half a bttle of white and half of red. Both were good, french, drinkable and good value considering the deal. All in all good value but not that special (apart from my starter and the cheese). Michel Roux jnr was around and came over to say hello. A nice touch. However good vfm it was the main courses did nothing to persuade me to visit in the evening and spend £200 a head. Andrew

Great article but from my point of view I only drink coffee at home over the weekend for a few cups a week plus some espressos after a dinner party so the pod system is ideal. The issue is which system and in particular whether to move from the Lavazza Modo Mia.

I know many are anti the coffee pod machines but leaving that aside what is the best system? I have had a Lavazza Modo Mia although it is now 6 years old and it is reaching the end of its life. All the reviews seem to put Nespresso top of the list with the machine I have second. I'm thinking of moving and would be interested in any views. Andrew

Well, I ‘took one for the team’ and went there. It is quite strange as it regularly gets panned on blogs but gets good marks in the GFG (7/10) and has had one Michelin star for 14 years, so you sort of feel it must be doing something right. It is a 15 min (£10) cab ride from the centre of Sheffield. It’s not the easiest place to find but the building is a fairly grand old house. As you walk in you’re taken through to a sitting room. It is at this point you realise why it is not everyone’s cup of tea. It looks like a faded country house hotel / B&B. Quite a few reviews had complained about the attitude of the owner Tessa Bramley and in particular her so called up selling. Well on arrival I was asked whether I wanted a drink (not the usual what type of champagne would you like you get in many establishments). I, slightly meanly, asked for a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice. It is always a good test as to whether their fresh OJ is out of a carton or actually squeezed freshly. Well it was perfect. This was accompanied by a large piece of black slate full of nibbles. Some olives, homemade cheese straws, a warm and pungent cheese puff, salmon roulade, Thai fish ball and a south American style beef pasty. All were tasty but the mix was somewhat random and will power was needed not to eat the lot! A minor complaint given you had to use your fingers no napkin was provided. No tasting menu was on offer but a 4 course offering (£65) which included a choice of either dessert or cheese. On looking at the wine list I realised there were no ½ bottles or wines by the glass. No problem said Tess, tell me the sort of thing you like and I’ll open something. I said I would like a glass of a full bodied white to start and then go onto a red, not to many tannins but with a bit of depth. Two excellent suggestions were made a 2007 Rully Premier Cru and a 2001 Dashe from California (a Cab Sav). Ok I thought this is the up sell and will cost me a fair amount. The white was listed at £40+ a bottle on the wine list and the red £60. Off to the dining room (less tired than the sitting room) but still a little country hotel for my liking. A huge choice of bread including black pudding, wholemeal, walnut or the one I opted for cheddar and spring onion. It was excellent. One of the best rolls I’ve had anywhere, warm, fresh and flavoursome without being over powering. The wine was served. The full bottle appeared and a glass poured. It was left on the table, presumably in case I wanted more than the one glass. It was a good full bodied white burgundy. The first course (described on the menu as a light appetiser) arrived. It was the size of a typical tasting menu portion. It was lemon sole, smoked eel tortellini on a pumpkin veloute. The fish was perfectly cooked, the veluotte sweet and rich although the tortellini was slightly disappointing. Over all good but nothing spectacular. The ordered meal the started. The starter I ordered was scallop, john dory, sprouting broccoli with pak choi with ginger and chilli on a rhubarb, star anise and butter sauce. It was excellent and the sauce, in particular, made the dish. The white bottle was replaced by a decanter full of the bottle of red. It was excellent. The main course I chose was beef on cabbage & bacon with confit of chicken wings & black pudding, parsnip puree, baby beetroot and deep fried shallot rings. The beef was as tender as I have ever eaten, unfortunately what is had in tenderness it lost in flavour. It was melt in the mouth without any real beefy flavour. The black pudding over powered the chicken confit and the baby beets were to vinegary. The dish was ok but it didn’t quite work for me. I couldn’t decide between the cheese selection ot dessert. So I asked for a ½ portion of cheese (washed down by a second glass of the excellent red – a good reason to leave the decanter on the table). An excellent platter of 7 cheeses arrived. All perfect. Ok I thought so much for the ½ portion I asked for, this is clearly a full portion and I’ll be charged for it. More up selling? Then the dessert. I opted for the baked chocolate pudding. This came beautifully presented, with a light sponge, rich chocolate sauce and creamy custard. Heaven on a plate. A list of coffees appeared although I opted for fresh mint tea. Given they charge £3.50 for coffee I thought it was a little mean to charge an extra £2 for chocolate thins or £3.50 for petit fours. Very few places that charge that amount for a coffee charge extra for the chocolates. I asked for the bill and was ready to gulp over the cost of the wine. How wrong cold I be, There was no up sell, the wine was charged at £8.00 for the white and £9.50 for the red. Excellent value for both. I had only been charged for one glass of red. When I pointed this out, Tess just shrugged and said I’m glad you enjoyed the recommendations. I was also charged for the ½ portion of cheese (£4.50) I ordered rather than the full portion I received. The total meal came to £93.50 and was excellent value, given the wine, quantity and quality of the food. I can see why some don’t like it. The owner is very full on and always checking how things are and chatting to guests. Not to everyone's taste but I found it refreshing - someone who cares. The rest of the service is ok, the waiting staff are all very young and just serve without any real under standing or knowledge when asked. The food is worth a star without being spectacular. The crucial question is would I go back? If I was in the area yes, but I wouldn’t make a long journey to visit. If you're in the area do go.

At an excellent meal there the other night. Food and service top class. Worthy of a 2* offering. It is my fourth visit and each one has been than the last. The menu is simple - 7 or 10 courses. An extra course of egg & peas and a cheese course are also offered. I went for 10 courses plus cheese. The meal started with an unadvertised dish. Given the size it wasn’t an amuse bouche but an extra course (an 11th). It was the postcode, this seems to have cropped up at various stages of the meal when I’ve been before, this time it was the start. Today it was a nettle soup served with some mixed leaves and a horseradish panacotta. Bread arrived next and there was a choice of white or treacle served with a Lincolnshire butter. The ordered food then started with langoustine served with charred leak and brawn. A single plump and tasty morsel set off by some flavoursome pig. Next up was the most disappointing dish of the evening, a fish pie made with pollock. There was nothing wrong with it but it just didn’t have the wow factor of the rest of the meal. Then came English duck with asian influences. A delightful dish to eat and look at. Sat Bains at his best. Next was the excellent salt baked celeriac with chicken and truffle juices. Possibly my favourite dish of the evening amazingly flavoursome, appears to be really simple but the work that must go into getting those flavours must take hours. A ‘deconstructed’ wardolf salad was served before the main course of fallow deer, cauliflower, 100% chocolate & quince. The salad was typical Sat, not what you expect from the name but a dish that was interesting, great to look at superb taste.The deer followed the high standard. My one ‘complaint’ is that I wanted more! There was a choice of an extra cheese choice (£6.50). There were two possibilities and I went for the stilton with puff pastry and sultanas, apricot and blueberry. A really nice change from previous visits. Rather than a selection of good quality cheese, this gave the kitchen the chance to show their real skill. A 'crossover' of beetroot icecream with vinegar and white chocolate preceded the first pudding of blueberries, tarragon, rocket and vanilla. Then an excellent chocolate and coffee dish, followed. Finally the last dish of the evening - sea buckthorn. I realise my descriptions lack the usual forum detail but this is from memory with no notes (or photos) taken. Also with the matched wines and a glass of fizz to start by the end the alcohol was taking its toll on my memory! It is not cheap, with a glass of champagne to start, 10 courses, the additional cheese course, matching wines and a mint tea it came to around £215 inc service. You could save money by going for the 7 course menu, not drinking as much etc but I would prefer to come here once a year than my local Italian which always seem to cost £40 + five times a year! If you haven't been, do go.

I often find that with tasting menus. It is not just L'Atelier that suffers from that. When I've been there I have often said to them I want a 10 min break after a course and they have always obliged. Asking for a more general gap inbetween each course seems to cause them difficulty but being specific seems to work. Andrew

Had a Goodman burger which was excellent and at £14 inc chips was great value. The burger was plump, juicy and perfectly cooked (medium). Andrew

I've been to a few of the 'branches' including the London one twice. I can't decide if I love or hate the bar seats. Spending £100+ sitting on a bar stool for 2 + hours is not my idea of fun but I do enjoy watching the chefs at work. As for the food, I have never had a bad meal. Some dishes I prefer to others. Some are excellent others ok. Having said that I enjoy the small plates and generally the dishes are good. Worth a visit. Andrew

Went there last night. It's a 5 minutes walk from Camden Town tube on the edge of Regents Park. It was busy, the bar was nearly full, the ground floor dining room packed and the basement nearly full. The menu is a real mix, starters at around £8, pasta (all veggie) at £8 or £11ish for a main course, pizza at £10.50 and mains from £14 - £29. Desserts are £6.50. The food was ok, nothing special and no better than my local 'gastro pub' (the Junction in Tufnell Park). The building is nice, typical calm decoraions, although the basement is more 'swanky' with dark reds and black. It is crowded and noisy. Starter was a nice - chicory, betroot and blue cheese salad. They needed to be a little more generous with the cheese but well presented and tasty. Mains were a squash and sage risotto (ok but far to much cheese added to it) and a tender pork chop with roasted sweet potato and cider sauce. We also had some mixed leaves which we had to send back as they came covered in salt. Not a light flavouring but large crunchy bits. They were replaced without any fuss. The highlights were the puddings, looked and tasted much better than the prices. I guess the pudding chef may well be moved to a more up market GR establishment soon. Both the cheese cake with ginger granules and blueberry sorbet and the salted caramel parfait with peanut were excellent. The dessert portions were small which was just want you wanted. Just the sort of dishes you'd expect in a much more up market establishment. The bill inc service was £110 for two people inc 4 generous glasses of wine (2 red & 2 white), tap water and one mint tea. Service was friendly and efficient. Worth the automatically added 12.5% (if not more). Andrew If you live within walking distance and want to make it your 'local' do, but don't travle to far to go to it.

I quite like the bar however it is expensive, around £16 for a cocktail and not much less for a decent G&T. The cocktails are good but not £4 beter than places like the LCC. You are paying for being in a 5 star London hotel.

The trip was slightly delayed but am going in a couple of weeks and I'll let you know.

I'm looking forward to a visit here in a few weeks. It will be the fourth visit in 3 years and given the recent 'fuss' on the list - the third time as a 'single diner', proof that if you tell them they are happy to accomodate those of us who travel for work and occassionaly want a change from the Hilton club sandwich! Recent photos seem to indicate even more artistry on the plate. Andrew

I went to the Milestone about a year ago as part of a group of 10 and had a very good meal. It was ideal in terms of type of food and atmopshere. They dealt with a group really well and the food was of a good standard without being exceptional. The (business) trip to Sheffield has been put back by a couple of weeks and I've decided to give the Old Vicarage a go. The Milestone isn't the sort of place (on this occassion( I'm looking for. The Old V has recieved such mixed reviews that I'm facinated as to what it is really like! Andrew

Thanks. I'm staying in the centre of Sheffield so I guess that Baslow is that bit to far by cab in an evening. I've heard very mixed comments although can't find anyone that has been there recently.

Has anyone been to the Old Vicarage recently? I'm in Sheffield and thinking about a visit and would be interested in recent expereinces. Thanks Andrew

Not sure. I was under the impression they have re located although a friend mentioned that they thought Islington was still going to open Thurs - Sat. The website says: "Building on the success of his award-winning restaurant in Islington, Morgan Meunier is opening on Long Lane by the Barbican. The new two storey restaurant offers his signature ‘affordable haute cuisine’ but with dishes, that whilst meticulously crafted, are modern and simple. The lower ground floor is an accessible and informal bistro, offering entry-level haute cuisine in the form of a new small plates menu." So sound slike they are trying to cover all bases!

I'm travelling to Dublin in a few weeks and would be grateful for any views on this question based on recent experience. I'm leaning towards Thorntons (one of the group is a vegetarian and they seem to have better options) but I'm open to views! Thanks Andrew

Went there last night. NYE can be expensive with a poor food offering but they tried to keep to their usual standards with a NYE supplement on teir menu prices. There was no carte just two tasting menus (one vegetarian) both at £84. Matching wines were available at £45. I started with a Cream of Chestnut & Stilton (this was also the veggie starter). It was good, light flavours and well presented. Next came a dish that just didn't work. It was described as Rattes Potato and Iranian Caviar. Basically it was half a cold potatao with some lightly whipped cream cheese and a dollop of caviar. I picked off the caviar and after one mouthful of the rest left it. The veggie option was without the caviar but with two spears of asparagus. Once again apart from the asparagus it went uneaten. A fairly horrible dish. This was followed by a superb Ballotine of Foie gras from les Landes, Sauternes jelly and Toasted Brioche. In fact it came with a fig rather than the advertised sauternes jelly. It was heaven on a plate. The veggie offering was a rather bitterWhite Chicory Tart Tatin, Onion Soubise. Next up came a Seared Half Lobster Tail, Mojette Beans & Morel Veloute. Good flavours, with a fair number of morels in the sauce. One complaint no spoon to finish the last drops of the veloute. For the vegetarian version there was a rich, creamy and flavoursome Black Truffle Risotto with Thyme Beurre Blanc. The main course was Pot roasted fillet of Iken Valley Venison, Glazed Apple and Parsnip Puree and Sauce Grand Veneur. The venison was perfectly cooked with good flavour an texture. The apple was a little limp and flavourless and overall a good dish. For the veggies a Beetroot Glazed with Balsamic Vinegar, Goat`s Cheese, Pine nuts Biscuit. This is one of Morgan M's winter favouirtes and it is always a hit and looks stunning. The pre dessert was a Nougat Glacé with a raspberry sorbet. Both were excellent and worked well together. For the main dessert there was a choice of a Dark Chocolate Moelleux, 70% Valrhona Guanaja Milk sorbet, Armagnac drink or Pineapple Fruit Soufflé and Sorbet. We went for one of each. The chocolate was very rich and dark but the milk sorbet (really ice cream) was a perfect set off. The souffle was well executed, amazingly sweat with a pina colada ice cream. All the dishes were beautifully presented and were well executed (apart from the cold potato dish). The chicory dish was good, just not to either of our taste. It wasn't cheap, food £84, wine £45 a head, we also had 4 glasses of champagne (a reasonable £38) so with service is came to £333. Over a £100 premium for eating there on NYE. Given extra staff costs fair enough, also good value compared with many places we tried to get into. Andrew

Thanks David. You are (of course!) correct. I was under the impression it did have a star. Whether it had one a few years ago and lost it or it just gives the impression of having one I don't know. I seem to remember it gets 6/10 in the GFG which is pushing a star. I've been there a few times and always been impressed, particularly for vegetarians and VFM. I've had mixed reports of the service. Andrew