This is a nice little restaurant tucked away in a corner just crossing off the busy streets in Covent garden, it's always packed and one can only envy the people inside with all the eating, clinking of the beer glass behind the see through glass window.
Finally on a quiet Sunday afternoon, served by a waitress who looked half-asleep, we ordered what we've wanted to try, the Mezedes Sharers. The 5-tier plate rack with different dipping sauces, accompanied with fresh pita bread and Greek beer; it was the ultimate brunch.
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The Real Greek
60-62 Long Acre
London
WC2E 9JE (020 7240 2292)
Souvlaki for Two and beer: £25
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Sunday, July 19, 2009
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Nostalgia...or not
New Taiwanese restaurant Keelung was very hyped up even before its opening, where its boss also owns a few other major restaurants in London Chinatown.
Having grown up with Taiwan night market food, and even though I know it would never be the same in a restaurant, curiosity got the better of me and I dragged a friend along to Keelung.
The menu that featured a photo of the Keelung harbour listed a mixture of typical Taiwanese market dishes and confusingly, typical Chinese dishes. There was also a star-chart of chef's recommendation v.s. how to cook your food, I did not give it a second look nor did I bother to try and work it out.
We went straight for the steam buns (siao-long-bao), fishcakes, beef noodle and rice paste. My friend, an expert in beef noodle, said it was too dry and not tender enough. Steam buns was so-so - the restaurant next door actually does it better. It was juicy as how it was supposed to be, other than that, I was getting no chemistry.
I was half-expecting the restaurant decor to pair with the down-to-earth street food but the mini vineyard near the main entrance was making a louder statement that "we are obviously targeting the non-Chinese customers"; something's not quite right.
All in all the restaurant is giving Taiwanese food a bad name, and I restlessly test and prove the theory time and time again: good food lives in the memory, and it just doesn't work when you know better.
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Keelung
6 Lisle Street, Leicester Square,
London WC2 (020 7734 8128)
Mix-match dishes with ice tea for two: £35
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Sunday, May 24, 2009
fry up
Once in a while I find myself eating at the so-called tourist trap, sometimes on purpose, often unintentional.
Countless photos of Princess Diana taken with the cafe owner and of herself, it looked though her namesake was one of the Princess's very locals. Old style furnitures with a layer of grease that seemed to attach on just about any surface.
We went for the traditional English breakfast which turned out to be the ultimate salt experience. So the poached egg and beans were up to scratch, but you hardly need any skill to get that right.
If it weren't for the atmosphere, we would be much better off eating at home.
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cafe Diana
5 Wellington Terrace, London, W2 4LW
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Countless photos of Princess Diana taken with the cafe owner and of herself, it looked though her namesake was one of the Princess's very locals. Old style furnitures with a layer of grease that seemed to attach on just about any surface.
We went for the traditional English breakfast which turned out to be the ultimate salt experience. So the poached egg and beans were up to scratch, but you hardly need any skill to get that right.
If it weren't for the atmosphere, we would be much better off eating at home.
---
cafe Diana
5 Wellington Terrace, London, W2 4LW
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Sunday, May 18, 2008
fancy that
When we arrived at the restaurant I thought we had come to the wrong place. Crossing the wooden bridge to the glass-walled restaurant right in the middle of a park, it was not only surrounded by grass, but greenhouses too.
No menu, no what-shall-I-have's, no fuzz. The dishes depended entirely on what was harvested that day; apart from the ultra-fresh greens, it wasn't totally vegetarian, luckily. Two types of starter came; salad and impressively juicy scallops decorated with pansy petals, so delicate that it felt almost wrong to eat it. While waiting for the main, we munched on gigantic olives that were as big as the nose.
With the raised expectations by the exotic starters, the roast/poached veal with boiled root vegetables main seemed somewhat dull.
Wine, food, more food, dessert, and more dessert. I had little idea that the best was yet to come - a pot of fresh mint leaves brew. The whole leaf swayed gently in the glass pot with its stems; the light green reflected the stars above through the glass ceiling.
There was more to it than the home-planted specialty.
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De Kas
Kamerlingh Onneslaan 3, 1097 DE Amsterdam
Set meal with wine for two: €130
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No menu, no what-shall-I-have's, no fuzz. The dishes depended entirely on what was harvested that day; apart from the ultra-fresh greens, it wasn't totally vegetarian, luckily. Two types of starter came; salad and impressively juicy scallops decorated with pansy petals, so delicate that it felt almost wrong to eat it. While waiting for the main, we munched on gigantic olives that were as big as the nose.
With the raised expectations by the exotic starters, the roast/poached veal with boiled root vegetables main seemed somewhat dull.
Wine, food, more food, dessert, and more dessert. I had little idea that the best was yet to come - a pot of fresh mint leaves brew. The whole leaf swayed gently in the glass pot with its stems; the light green reflected the stars above through the glass ceiling.
There was more to it than the home-planted specialty.
---
De Kas
Kamerlingh Onneslaan 3, 1097 DE Amsterdam
Set meal with wine for two: €130
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Monday, March 24, 2008
with a twist
Thatched roof, old styled wooden chairs and tables, patterned curtains draped over the windows. This is one of the stone-built traditional pubs in Shanklin, Isle of Wight; one of the oldest as well - listed in the Doomesday Book. Such an interesting fact that the history of the place could go back as far as 1086.
Naturally we went for the "classic" pub food; sausage and mash, beef ale pie, and after the last disappointing fish & chips experience, I took another dare. The beer-battered fish that came was so big that it sticked out of either side of the already long plate, and awed the devourer into silence. The chunky chips were reassuringly comforting, and the boiled peas only so-so. With the mouth full, yet the hands were busy digging into friends' plates. The ale steak pie was the best of all; chunks of prime beef marinated and cooked in the special gravy sauce, were oozing out of the home made pie pastry that soaked up just the right amount of the juice, yet was not soggy; striking an excellent balance.
Luckily, yet unfortunately, Isle of Wight is a tad far to get to, or I would be having more than I meant to.
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The Crab Inn
94 High Street, Shanklin, Isle of Wight, PO37 6NS
Fish & Chips/Beef & Ruddles Ale Pie £7.95 each
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Naturally we went for the "classic" pub food; sausage and mash, beef ale pie, and after the last disappointing fish & chips experience, I took another dare. The beer-battered fish that came was so big that it sticked out of either side of the already long plate, and awed the devourer into silence. The chunky chips were reassuringly comforting, and the boiled peas only so-so. With the mouth full, yet the hands were busy digging into friends' plates. The ale steak pie was the best of all; chunks of prime beef marinated and cooked in the special gravy sauce, were oozing out of the home made pie pastry that soaked up just the right amount of the juice, yet was not soggy; striking an excellent balance.
Luckily, yet unfortunately, Isle of Wight is a tad far to get to, or I would be having more than I meant to.
-----
The Crab Inn
94 High Street, Shanklin, Isle of Wight, PO37 6NS
Fish & Chips/Beef & Ruddles Ale Pie £7.95 each
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Monday, March 10, 2008
over-rated
I've passed this place for a numerous of times and it always looked so busy inside. Not a big fan of English cuisine, it took a while before I finally set foot in it.
The restaurant was cozy and "traditional" looking (and smelling); although basement was somewhat dark and lonely. Known for its fish & chips, there were many types of fishes on offer; from cod, haddock to other types of white fishes like plaice and skate.
While we sat and waited between the tiled walls; I suddenly noticed the people sitting around us have all come with a guidebook or map; is it as known amongst the locals as for tourists?
The verdict? My ideal choice of haddock as the fish was fresh, and had a sweeter taste than the meaty cod. Apart from that, the batter was stale, chips were cold and the mushy peas unimpressed. Not at all what I had in mind.
Who am I to judge a place that existed long before my time? To be complete honest, I've had better.
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Rock and Sole Plaice
47 Endell Street, London, WC2H 9AJ
Standard Fish & Chips £10
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The restaurant was cozy and "traditional" looking (and smelling); although basement was somewhat dark and lonely. Known for its fish & chips, there were many types of fishes on offer; from cod, haddock to other types of white fishes like plaice and skate.
While we sat and waited between the tiled walls; I suddenly noticed the people sitting around us have all come with a guidebook or map; is it as known amongst the locals as for tourists?
The verdict? My ideal choice of haddock as the fish was fresh, and had a sweeter taste than the meaty cod. Apart from that, the batter was stale, chips were cold and the mushy peas unimpressed. Not at all what I had in mind.
Who am I to judge a place that existed long before my time? To be complete honest, I've had better.
-----
Rock and Sole Plaice
47 Endell Street, London, WC2H 9AJ
Standard Fish & Chips £10
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Monday, February 25, 2008
the Monza style
In a very roundabout way, I learned that the best Fiorentina steak is in fact, not from Florence.
Ever since the first sampling of Fiorentina at Mario's, a popular restaurateur among the locals in Monza, I have a profound understanding of what a Fiorentina steak is supposed to taste/look like. No wonder I could not deal with such disappointment upon eating out in Florence, home of the Fiorentina steaks. The continuous longing brought me back once again to Monza, a little town near Milan.
A 700g monstrous portion char grilled on high flame, leaving the outside slightly burnt and crusty, while the inside stayed intact red. The waiter sharpened the knife and sliced it and neatly laid them out side by side, on top of a smoking hot iron plate.
The juicy tenderness was meant to be appreciated with nothing apart from itself. Seasoned only with chunky salt pieces, delicate and bloody red; I could not wait for the next mouth full, nor did I want it to end.
With a few more shots of Limoncello on the house to the perfect finish of the meal, it was every bit(e) as good as the dream.
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Villa Reale Ristorante
Via Luciano Manara 25, Monza
Fiorentina for two: €45
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Ever since the first sampling of Fiorentina at Mario's, a popular restaurateur among the locals in Monza, I have a profound understanding of what a Fiorentina steak is supposed to taste/look like. No wonder I could not deal with such disappointment upon eating out in Florence, home of the Fiorentina steaks. The continuous longing brought me back once again to Monza, a little town near Milan.
A 700g monstrous portion char grilled on high flame, leaving the outside slightly burnt and crusty, while the inside stayed intact red. The waiter sharpened the knife and sliced it and neatly laid them out side by side, on top of a smoking hot iron plate.
The juicy tenderness was meant to be appreciated with nothing apart from itself. Seasoned only with chunky salt pieces, delicate and bloody red; I could not wait for the next mouth full, nor did I want it to end.
With a few more shots of Limoncello on the house to the perfect finish of the meal, it was every bit(e) as good as the dream.
-----
Villa Reale Ristorante
Via Luciano Manara 25, Monza
Fiorentina for two: €45
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Monday, February 11, 2008
Simply divine
Just how far would one (have to) go for good food? It was 15 miles for me, apparently.
When I read about the place, my mind was immediately set on getting there. Without a car, it was difficult getting anywhere, especially in the outdoor of San Diego. But that was never going to stop me.
Cycling for what I initially thought was a doable 10 miles (got lost twice, adding an additional 5 miles), through the scenic route that took me from the residential area, across bridges to mission bay park, and along the Pacific beach. Despite the distance, getting there was as fun as finding treasures.
Exhausted and hungry, I ended up over-ordering. The seafood couldn't get fresher than this, it was definitely handy to have a fish market inside a restaurant; succulent raw fish with ripen avocado and drizzled sweet soya sauce; grilled teriyaki tinted wild salmon, with a dash of fresh lemon juice that brought out all the flavours. I spoiled myself and got a glass of California's finest.
Without doubt, the cycling exercise was worthwhile.
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The Fishery
5040 Cass Street, N. Pacific Beach CA 92109
Average for two: US$50 (£25)
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When I read about the place, my mind was immediately set on getting there. Without a car, it was difficult getting anywhere, especially in the outdoor of San Diego. But that was never going to stop me.
Cycling for what I initially thought was a doable 10 miles (got lost twice, adding an additional 5 miles), through the scenic route that took me from the residential area, across bridges to mission bay park, and along the Pacific beach. Despite the distance, getting there was as fun as finding treasures.
Exhausted and hungry, I ended up over-ordering. The seafood couldn't get fresher than this, it was definitely handy to have a fish market inside a restaurant; succulent raw fish with ripen avocado and drizzled sweet soya sauce; grilled teriyaki tinted wild salmon, with a dash of fresh lemon juice that brought out all the flavours. I spoiled myself and got a glass of California's finest.
Without doubt, the cycling exercise was worthwhile.
-----
The Fishery
5040 Cass Street, N. Pacific Beach CA 92109
Average for two: US$50 (£25)
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Monday, February 04, 2008
too good to be true
This is THE best steamed dumpling I've ever had in my life, period. You don't need more proof than the long queues outside the restaurant, including tour groups from Japan.
The thin pastry wrapped around the main minced pork ingredient with delicious juice that burn your mouth when taking the first bite. The tiny packet of dumpling is meant to be eaten slowly, give it time to enjoy the melt-in-the-mouth experience. Dipping in the rice vinegar with shredded ginger, the tanginess makes it wholesome.
The only thing I'd trade it for is the vegetarian variety of the steamed dumpling. The minced green vegetable (I suspect it to be the mustard greens) with a very gentle mixed vermicelli blend. Each dumpling is the exact size that require organisation and precision in the making; the same goes for the super efficient, multi-lingual staff.
Definitely missed but not to be missed.
DinTaiFung
Per portion: TN$180 (£2.80)
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The thin pastry wrapped around the main minced pork ingredient with delicious juice that burn your mouth when taking the first bite. The tiny packet of dumpling is meant to be eaten slowly, give it time to enjoy the melt-in-the-mouth experience. Dipping in the rice vinegar with shredded ginger, the tanginess makes it wholesome.
The only thing I'd trade it for is the vegetarian variety of the steamed dumpling. The minced green vegetable (I suspect it to be the mustard greens) with a very gentle mixed vermicelli blend. Each dumpling is the exact size that require organisation and precision in the making; the same goes for the super efficient, multi-lingual staff.
Definitely missed but not to be missed.
DinTaiFung
Per portion: TN$180 (£2.80)
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Sunday, February 03, 2008
posh dimsum
I have been to Royal China restaurants before, their dim sum is delicious and reasonably priced. The Royal China in St. John's wood, however, boasts a rather posh clientèle. Unlike the usual big pot of tea-leafed tea you get, here they separate the tea pots (one for tea, and the other for filtering tea leaves) and is served in elegant tea-cups on little saucers.
The food also has the pricey spin to it; there is a lot more scallops and lobster options on the menu. We ordered the vegetables which are cooked in stock with Chinese medicine herbs, egg tarts are served with bird nests (another expensive delicacy). Steamed dumplings contain crunchy water chestnut bits which add that refreshing flavour that you normally don't find in dim sum dishes.
The bill came to a whopping amount, no surprise with the tea comes at £4.60 per person and the delicious vegetable at £13.
Indeed, there is no such thing as the free lunch.
Royal China St. John's wood
68 Queen's Grove, London, NW8 6ER
Average for two: £50 (15% service charge added to final bill)
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The food also has the pricey spin to it; there is a lot more scallops and lobster options on the menu. We ordered the vegetables which are cooked in stock with Chinese medicine herbs, egg tarts are served with bird nests (another expensive delicacy). Steamed dumplings contain crunchy water chestnut bits which add that refreshing flavour that you normally don't find in dim sum dishes.
The bill came to a whopping amount, no surprise with the tea comes at £4.60 per person and the delicious vegetable at £13.
Indeed, there is no such thing as the free lunch.
Royal China St. John's wood
68 Queen's Grove, London, NW8 6ER
Average for two: £50 (15% service charge added to final bill)
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Friday, February 01, 2008
chefs in sight
Looking for an alternative to Japanese food? Abeno serves traditional Japanese styled cabbage-based pancake that comes with seafood mix, beef or vegetarian options.
The waiter brings out the freshly prepared minced-mixture in a bowl, and cooks it on the hot plate in front of you. We ordered the beef (super deluxe ₤17) and the bacon in an egg envelop as a side, of which the meat turned out to be rather chewy. The beef steak was cooked in front of us, with the strong-armed waitress chopping it into smaller chunks using two metal paddles, and then topped with Japanese mayonnaise and the sickingly sweet thick soy sauce.
On the slightly-burned cabbage pancake, the beef itself was juicy but hard. It might help to use a different part of meat, or simply not have cooked it for so long. The pancake itself contained so many different ingredients that you just couldn't tell what was what anymore. Despite some bits in charcoaled colour, it still felt much like an healthier option.
The small restaurant only comprised of four tables and a bar area, and sitting by the closed window doesn't really help with the smoke-intense seating area. Will I go back there? Sure, and I'll remember to wear an old jumper this time.
Abeno
47 Museum Street, London, WC1A 1LY
Average for two: ₤35
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The waiter brings out the freshly prepared minced-mixture in a bowl, and cooks it on the hot plate in front of you. We ordered the beef (super deluxe ₤17) and the bacon in an egg envelop as a side, of which the meat turned out to be rather chewy. The beef steak was cooked in front of us, with the strong-armed waitress chopping it into smaller chunks using two metal paddles, and then topped with Japanese mayonnaise and the sickingly sweet thick soy sauce.
On the slightly-burned cabbage pancake, the beef itself was juicy but hard. It might help to use a different part of meat, or simply not have cooked it for so long. The pancake itself contained so many different ingredients that you just couldn't tell what was what anymore. Despite some bits in charcoaled colour, it still felt much like an healthier option.
The small restaurant only comprised of four tables and a bar area, and sitting by the closed window doesn't really help with the smoke-intense seating area. Will I go back there? Sure, and I'll remember to wear an old jumper this time.
Abeno
47 Museum Street, London, WC1A 1LY
Average for two: ₤35
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