Yauatcha, Soho
Yauatcha is the Soho based brainchild of Alan Yau, the restaurateur behind fellow Michelin-starred Hakkasan, as well as the more wallet friendly Busaba Eathai and Wagamama. Branded as a contemporary dim sum teahouse, Yauatcha reinterprets those traditions, serving macaroons, teas and small plates in a futuristic and glamorous environment that still manages to tip it’s hat to the past....
Rainbo
Mild weather and food lust motivated me to trek across London to Kerb. Rainbo was the only vendor there I hadn’t tried before, so in the spirit of adventure I laid down my 6 golden nuggets… Rainbo describe themselves as being “passionate about bringing healthy, colourful food to britain’s streets” and they use homemade gyoza and...
The Rib Man @ Kerb
My trips to street food venues of London are often serendipitous affairs, resulting from wrong turns, hangovers and a genuine need to transit at Kings Cross on a week day lunchtime (honest!). All these happy accidents have never led to a sighting of The “Legendary” Rib Man, so, armed with an unspeakable craving for hot...
The Heron, Edgeware Road
You’d be forgiven for thinking the rather grim looking Heron Pub has more to offer the local pisshead than the adventurous foodie, but for those in the know, quite a gem awaits in the basement. The karaoke-bar-cum-restaurant and pub is the most unlikely cohabitation imaginable, seemingly sharing only toilets and front door, with both parties pretending...
Tapas Brindisa Soho
Tapas Brindisa Soho is just one of the 4 restaurants (and shop) that forms the Brindisa empire in London. The Soho branch occupies a small and cosy spot halfway between Wardour and Carnaby Street. This place is a little pricey although not unreasonably so when you consider the location and quality of the food. The...
Two Twenty Two, The Landmark
Two Twenty Two is the Landmark’s rather corporate attempt at a modern, chic and sophisticated setting. They have only succeeded in demonstrating that good interior design involves more than working through a checklist of contemporary design features. Polished oversized mirrors, check. Chocolate brown leather table mats, check. Life-sized black horse with a lamp on it’s...
Comptoir Libonais, Marylebone
With a stressful afternoon of shopping ahead, I would surely “earn” some delicious food so decided to take my reward in advance and go for a Comptoir Libonais. I had walked past this appealing cafe many times and was glad to finally make it inside. Comptoir Libonais is a “Lebanese Canteen and Delicatessen” which hails...
Banh Mi 11 @ Eat Street
I love visiting my brother, especially when my travel plans result in arriving at Kings Cross station at lunchtime. That can only mean one thing – Eat Street! I had no hesitation choosing Banh Mi 11 as they had never been at Eat Street on my previous visits. Their setup looked good – all the ingredients ...
Viet Grill, London
Having visited the Vietnam Summer Festival earlier in the day and snacked rather than dined, our interest in Vietnamese cuisine had been piqued more than satiated. So we made a beeline for Kingsland Road, the nearby area known as Pho Mile for it’s concentration of Vietnamese cuisine. My dining partner Sushi Rider remembered a previous...
Vietnam Summer Festival, 2012
Spitalfields market hosted London’s first Vietnam Summer Festival on July 14th, 2012. Billed as a “a celebration of tastes, colours and discoveries” and with the promise of over 30 food stalls, I put the Vietnam Summer Festival in my diary as soon as heard about it. My first impression of the festival, was hustle, bustle, unusual...