A superb local restaurant that has been an established feature of Maida Vale for many years. One of the beautiful things about Le Cochonnet is its unchanging nature: having eaten here on and off over the last 10+ years, there has been no major change either to the décor or to the menu.
Jali (February 2013)
Do not be put off by the location and go to Jali for the food. My dining comrade and I were impressed both by the quality and the value for money, it was a pity about the setting. In terms of the positives first, the menu was extensive, original (not just your typical tikka masalas) and also very vegetarian-friendly.
Buxted Park, The Dining Room (February 2013)
Veerasawamy (December 2012)
Roti Chai Dining Room (December 2012)
Terroirs (December 2012)
I am full of plaudits for Terroirs. A group of five of us had a table in the corner downstairs last night and from my vantage point in the very corner I was able to look out at the whole restaurant. Unsurprisingly, every table was taken, but – as trivial as this may sound – everyone appeared to be enjoying themselves.
2 Veneti (December 2012)
Tapas Brindisa Broadwick Street (November 2012)
Eating food for pleasure ought to be done in relaxing circumstances and what really makes Brindisa for me is that despite the concept being one of relatively informal tapas, my dining comrade and I were able to enjoy a two-hour lunch here without ever feeling rushed or that the serving staff resented our presence.
Zayna (November 2012)
La Petite Maison (November 2012)
I am really surprised how polarised opinions appear to be about this restaurant. This is the third time I have been here and each time I have loved the whole experience and would undoubtedly return. One caveat, however: make sure someone else is paying, since it is not cheap! The heavy brown velvet curtain creates a sense of anticipation prior to entry and the dining room itself is lovely, beautifully light and spacious, a perfect antidote to a dull November day.
Maroush V (November 2012)
Go here for the food, not the atmosphere. Maroush (and indeed many of its peers) on the Edgware Road work superbly well not just because of the food but also because of the atmosphere. I (and I would imagine many other ‘western’ diners) go here because of its authenticity: the clientele is predominantly Middle Eastern, the conversation lively, the pace frenetic and the whole experience somewhat akin to being thrust into a much more local environ.
Wild Honey (October 2012)
Sumosan (October 2012)
About the worst thing a restaurant could be faulted for is not being made to feel welcome and in every sense this was the impression I took away from Sumosan. The exterior of the restaurant looks forbidding with a passer-by not being in a position at all to discern what may be happening inside, the interior being hidden by full-length blinds.
Alloro (October 2012)
My visit to Alloro started badly but did notably improve and I would return, if more for the food than the overall experience. While my greeting on arrival was effusive, I requested if I could use the bathroom prior to being seated, a request that was met with some contempt as I was reluctantly shown where the stairs were.
Bleeding Heart (October 2012)
The Artichoke, Old Amersham (October 2012)
A pleasant and welcome weekend jaunt, The Artichoke proves that one does not have to be in central London in order to enjoy some of the country's finest and most innovative cuisine. More than the food and drink (of which more below), what stood out was the superb service. Our party comprised four adults and two children under the age of two.
The Garrison: It works (September 2012)
It works for me. Many try but few succeed with the (albeit highly over-used) gastro-pub concept. It's hard to say where specifically the Garrison excels, but it is probably most strongly in that ineffable idea of ambience, captured by the decor, noise level (well-balanced), attitude of the staff (very clearly going out of their way to be friendly) and of the other diners.
Sartoria (September 2012)
I first ate here over ten years ago and for no particular reason had failed to return since. However, for any restaurant to be able to maintain consistently high standards in a city with a dining culture as competitive as London's is testament to the fact that Sartoria must be doing something right.