Sarah's reviews
Review of Carpenters Arms
15 Mar 08, 10:13
Great pub, especially upstairs 
This pub needs no recommendation as it is always full of those of us who work locally.
Last night however I discovered their new upstairs bar which was very nice and less crowded. Only drawback is apparently they can only let max 50 people in on the first floor due to fire regulations. A friend was refused entry to join us on this basis which was pesky but not insuperable. Explains why it was less rammed up there, advise go early or on a non-work night when it must surely be less busy.
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Review of The Thai Garden
12 Mar 08, 22:57
Really yum, veggie but does seafood 
Had a delicious meal at this neighbourhood restaurant on Saturday night with a friend. We didn't book but got a table ok (though it is pretty tiny) and had good service and were not hurried up, in spite of it becoming full. Calls itself vegetarian but they do stacks of wonderful seafood (prawn, lobster, fish) dishes. I'll be going again for sure. Recommended.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of London Buddhist Centre
02 Mar 08, 21:36
And relax...lunchtime meditation 
I'm not in the least bit religious or interested in becoming so, but I go to the London Buddhist Centre in Bethnal Green as often as I can to experience led meditation as it makes me really chill out. I am recommending it here on that basis alone - to experience meditation to take you out of yourself.
No one is preachy or there to persuade you to run away to a monastery. Everyone is friendly and nice and welcoming - down to inner peace I guess. A world apart from the Roman Road chaos outside!
You can just turn up on weekday lunchtimes, take your shoes off, sit quietly do a meditation session for 45 min, then pay your £1 and have a cup of tea if you want to and leave feeling calmer and better about the world than when you arrived.
They lead you, in a group, in two different meditation techniques (alternate weekdays so go two days in a row and get an introduction to two different methods). You either sit on cushions and mats or can do it seated on a chair too, whatever suits you.
They also do longer evening sessions - call for details but I think it is about £7 to pay and you still just turn up.
A chance to chill and get closer to some kind of clear headed bliss in the city. Love it, and would recommend everyone to pop in at least once or twice.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of Food Hall
02 Mar 08, 21:16
Great deli, but cheap it ain't
Occasionally I pop in to get last minute bits from here - their tarte tatin by the slice is wonderful and perfect, for example, when you haven't time to make dessert.
But one day I ended up having to buy milk and butter here too and blimey it cost an arm and a leg. Not a criticism really as I should have known. Anyway think more Harvey Nicks food hall on intimate scale in Hoxton rather than place to buy what you can get from any corner shop. I think you can eat in too as they have tables in the back.
Delicious fine foods.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of The Flask Tavern
02 Mar 08, 21:06
Nice pub in Hampstead
Not much to say except we had a good and very boozy night in The Flask last night and I liked it. Not overly busy for a Saturday night and a good mix of locals and other punters of all ages.
Just around the corner from Hampstead tube so it'd be a good place to meet up with people.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of Pollys
02 Mar 08, 21:02
Good breakfast, nice folk
Ate a very good, big kill or cure fry up breakfast at Polly's this morning (after the night before) and it really hit the spot. Not my usual patch so missed east end prices but it was good, and very necessary so I wasn't complaining!
Pretty much opposite Hampstead overline train station and a really good find / hangover cure. They do a vegetarian fried breakfast too I noticed.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of Plan B
06 Nov 07, 13:00
Great atmos, rare groove
Ventured back into clubland here at the weekend after jeez knows how many years, for Take It To The Bridge and Norman Jay and had a great time.
Ok so the fact that my boyfriend knew most of the crew (via his DJ brother) helped, but thought this club was really nice, not too big and a really fantastic atmosphere. We were mostly in the intimate downstairs room (top tip for the ladies, there was no queue for the loo behind the DJ booth in there!)
Piled out at 3ish and jumped on the night bus home no hassle. Good clean fun, but pity no fruit for cocktails downstairs (boo, as we had comps to use, yay as it meant my hangover was not as evil as it could have been). I'd recommend Take it to the Bridge for a great night of rare grooves and go to this place again for sure.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Review of Icco Pizza
24 Oct 07, 22:25
Fab cheap pizza and breakfast buzz too
How can their pizza be so good when it is so cheap and fast? Dunno, just glad it is and that it's near my office. It is where we head for lunch when all is going pear-shaped and we need cheering up and it is always the tops.
Ok so you have to hope they yell a vaguely-recognisable approximation to your name out when your pizza is ready (good hearing and lateral thinking helps at this point) but I love this place with its chromey tables and great buzz.
I love it not only for the pizza, but also for the fact that they see me coming in the mornings and have my hot chocolate and croissant to go virtually in my hands as soon as I reach the counter (it's my Cheers moment, like I'm a local in this city of anonymity) and its only £1.50 for the two - free croissant heaven!
oooh yes they are nice, nice people, and then there's the dapper old guy who always says good morning to me even on bad hair days, it all makes going to work just a bit less miserable. Big hangout for motorbike couriers in the mornings too a propos of nothing in particular.
Corner of Goodge and Charlotte Streets.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Review of The Bay Leaf Cafe
24 Oct 07, 22:06
Homemade food from a great family-run cafe
I've been going to this little cafe just around the corner from Goodge Street tube and Pollocks Toy Museum since it opened and I can't recommend it highly enough.
The people who run it are super lovely and the food is always tasty homemade stuff. I would walk a mile for their fabulous moussaka and the chicken pie is always a winner, meanwhile their everyday chilli is brilliant. They are also into making sure everything is in sustainable cardboard packaging so you can ease your carbon guilt over lunch or breakfast from here.
The place looks tiny and most people are queuing for takeouts at lunchtime but there are also tables downstairs where you can hide away and have a good natter or while a bit of spare time waiting for someone or seeking respite from Tottenham Court Road. They also cater for meetings and parties, etc and it's good stuff I've sampled it for myself in the board room (stuffing your face during videoconferences across five timezones is such a good look I find).
Huge recommendation for this place as it is a really well priced, friendly family-run cafe that SO deserves to stick around and go from strength to strength. Enough from me, just try it and see if I'm not right.
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Review of The Old Operating Theatre Museum
23 Oct 07, 21:00
Not as gruesome as you'd think
Small, fascinating, worth a look if you are at a loose end near London Bridge.
I don't actually remember it making me feel squeamish, just intrigued to poke around the collection. Oh and really glad to live in the age of penicillin and safe surgery and non-wooden operating theatres (the joys of our modern day MRSA, etc aside).
The operating theatre itself is oddly elegant but it is very eery to think of it in use. It really shows you why they are called theatres, as there are raked viewing platforms for medical students (or artists I guess) to observe live operations in the round.
This museum is seriously not for those with mobility impairments, or those with kids in buggies with them, as there were loads of stairs to climb I recall.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.