Sarah D.

Review of The Geffrye Museum

20 Jul 08, 22:19

Love it and it is open!

Puzzled by Veronica's review so had to add my own to point out that it has utterly normal opening hours and is well worth a visit if you have an interest in the ways in which our homes have changed in the last few hundred years.

This is a wonderful if unusual museum of the history of furniture design and the english domestic interior in particular. One of my favourite places for a quiet hour or two of looking at chairs and stuff, there's also a beautiful herb garden round the back and a calm cool garden at the front.

It is maybe a little tame for kids, though they do lots of educational events and fun stuff for the tiddlers I believe. Nice restaurant and great new bit that is an exhibition and events space.

Not a chap called Jeffery in sight, but do go and see what you think.

1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.

Review of The Approach Tavern

08 Jul 08, 20:25

Lovely local

Great proper pub. They do food and beer and all the usual stuff. Nice atmosphere, we did well at the pub quiz last time, and it was well attended. Near Bethnal Green tube and Victoria Park, gallery upstairs is top stuff. It's one of my favourite locals. Love it, nuff said?

1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.

Review of Keymaster Security

29 Jun 08, 19:58

Reliable, nice bloke, good at locks

I was after a recommended locksmith on here the other week but there were none that had been reviewed in my area. To change, this I'm very happy to put a review of the guy I used to replace my front door locks when I moved into a new place.

He was nice and friendly, turned up when he said he would and did a fast good job for a fair price, locks and labour are not cheap but he took a cheque. Done deal, I'd certainly recommend him.

It says on his card that they do emergency call out, they have a little premises (key cutting, etc) on Hackney Road. Pop in or call him (his name was Carmel I think) on 07951 759 454

1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.

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 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 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 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.

Review of Cannons Health Club

22 Oct 07, 20:20

Good swim, sauna, bubbly pool etc

I am not a gym bunny, far from it, but I spent part of the summer going to a physio within this club and then sneaking in for a therapeutic swim, jacuzzi and sauna. So on this level as a reviewer who was getting a freebie (sort of, as the physio sure as hell cost me, but Suzanne was lovely, good for sports injuries I'd say) I can say that the pool and lightweight pamper yourself bits of this gym seemed pretty darned nice.

And blimey that bubbly pool thing where you lie in metal underwater loungers was quite something! Oh and the ladies changing facilities were good, clean, well maintained and on the luxury-ish side of the scale.

1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.

Review of Coco De Mer

22 Oct 07, 10:58

Gorgeous kinky

This small dark place (run by Anita - Body Shop - Roddick's daughter) is full of sexy slinky and positively kinky bits and bobs for adult play.

The shop itself is female and couple-friendly and it is not embarrassing to browse in. The staff are approachable and nice and quite straightforward about answering any questions.

The emphasis is on aesthetically pleasing design and they stock gorgeous (gor blimey expensive) lingerie. Don't feel odd about popping in, it is nothing if not intriguing. I would never go into somewhere like Ann Summers but this place is more than a cut above.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Review of Nordic Bar

22 Oct 07, 10:45

Great cocktails, full of scandinavians

Ok I meant that the bar is full of London-based Scandinavians not the cocktails, naturally.

This is a cool dark groovy little bar with fantastic cocktails. The mixologist (yes, I know!) behind the bar is a guy I booked for the inhouse xmas parties at a place where I used to work and he is a genius...so naturally the drinks here are fab too. Can't remember how expensive but you know that's the way with cocktails...

The hint is in the name - this is a good place to do a bit of Swede, Fin, Dane, Norwegian (and probably Icelander) ogling or flirty pillage / plundering if that's your kind of thing. As a non-Scandinavian I've never felt unwelcome by the way. Nice place.

1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.

Review of Sublime

18 Oct 07, 13:09

Lovely lovely lovely stuff

Actually check the address because this shop has justed moved round the corner in Victoria Park 'village' to make room for the Ginger Pig (the locals are very excited, but that's another story)

Anyway in its new home (and its sister shop in Clerkenwell that I stumbled on yesterday) this place is a girly glitzy den of fabulous gifty and treat-yourself-y kind of stuff that straight boys will never understand the need for. They stock beautiful jewellery and bags and candles and cards and other shiny things plus very wonderful clothes. In short if you are after a present for a female friend or relation or lover or need a frippery-ish treat for yourself this is a good place to try. Mmmm lovely lovely lovely...

1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.

Review of Modern Art

30 Sep 07, 20:42

Always worth a look

One of the easier to find blue chip art spaces on this street chock full of commercial galleries that are all disguised as anonymous industrial units.

Beautiful exhibition space and a consistently good set of shows, never seen a bum one. This gallery was one of the first serious players that put Vyner Street on London (nay Europe)'s contemporary art map and it has maintained its must-see lead in my opinion.

If you are in the area, go see whatever they are showing, even if not your cup of tea you can be pretty sure it will be first rate and stimulating not-your-cup-of-tea.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Review of Almeida

27 Sep 07, 10:17

Delicious, a real treat

Taken here for a special treat meal on a Tuesday night when it was quite quiet (but booking still advisable) and really loved it. A not-so's-you'd-notice Conran restaurant opposite the theatre of the same name. Great lowlit plush red bar to wait in for my date to turn up and discreet waiter furnished me with an aperitif.

Once at our big round table we had lovely service, delicious food and wine and enjoyed ourselves immensely. The perfect acoustic of the room meant we could hear only each other rather than the conversations of other diners although most of the tables around us were full. Not cheap I gather, but an utterly lovely experience.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Review of Broadway Bookshop

24 Sep 07, 11:50

Cherished independent bookshop

Love this tiny independent but really well-stocked bookshop at the bottom of Broadway Market and try to buy my books here whenever possible.

The staff are always helpful and knowledgeable and I have never had less than perfect service when shopping or enquiring about a new title here. They have a good stock that includes some second-hand volumes at the back.

Far from the impersonal supermarket pile 'em high approach you get from most of the chain bookstores in the centre of town and should be highly cherished for it.

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Hackney City Farm

24 Sep 07, 11:38

Huge pig in a built-up area shock!

This place is great to take the kids or whoever else might be impressed by seeing farm aimals in an urban setting. They have a really massive pig and lots of other livestock to see, stroke and mimick the noises of.

Rather nice cafe too and I gather you can buy freshly laid eggs there. Better than the city farm near Brick Lane I'd say, though they have a nice plants section.

Nice place to head on to after the colourful flowery crush of Columbia Road market on a Sunday morning. It is a short walk from both Columbia Road and Broadway Market so if you wanted to go on Saturday instead you could still do the colourful market plus funky farm combo if you fancied it.

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Squat and Gobble

12 Sep 07, 18:35

Good food, good place

Squat & Gobble on Charlotte Street (and/or its teeny little sister round the corner on Tottenham Street) is one of my favourite workday lunch spots. Nice staff, speedy service, always good food and generous servings and it's well priced too. the fish finger sandwich is top and their daily specials are always yummy. superior lunchtime stuff.

take out or eat in, I'd really miss it if it wasn't there any more, always busy which is a good sign.

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Dover Street Market

27 Aug 07, 18:01

Ace cafe on 4th floor

Ate last week on the cafe on the fourth floor of this avantgarde glam shop/market/collection and it was wonderful. Tiny (only a few tables) and not cheap (£22 for light lunch for two) but the food was delicious and homemade tasting (at least 3 savoury options) and the cakes looked fantastic. Plus it was light and airy with an intriguing over the rooftops view thrown in.

Oh and the waiting staff were just lovely and, best of all, not in the least fashionista snobby about serving me (looking a tad scruffy) and my friend (who was in business wear not high fashion) so don't be put off by the look of the place. A hidden gem I'd say.

1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.

Review of The Ambassador

21 Aug 07, 12:17

Good food, nice atmos in Exmouth mkt

Ate here in Exmouth Market last Friday evening and was really impressed. Unlike other places in Exmouth Market which were rammed this restaurant had room for us without a reservation and proved a really good choice.

Delicious monkfish and green veg and then a truly wonderful roast peach with honeycomb for pudding had me melting. Really sweet, kind, (not overly) attentive waiter and waitresses made it a lovely experience. Oh and not expensive. Don't pass this place up, we thought it was great.

1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.

Review of R L Physiotherapy Clinic

07 Aug 07, 20:55

Best physio for RSI

Suffering RSI in both arms, I'm really pleased to have found Rachel Leary at her practice near St Pauls / St Barts Hospital (just behind a church at the top of Snow Hill) as she really knows her stuff. I'd have really appreciated being pointed in her direction when I first got RSI and so am happy to pass this recommendation on to others.

No physio worth their stuff is cheap (c.£50 per half hour session seems the going rate and they charge about that) but this one is highly recommended by the consultant rheumatologist I'm seeing about my poorly paws.

Sure they treat all sorts of injuries as well as work-related ones, oh and they run pilates and other classes too.

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Atlantis

07 Aug 07, 20:40

Art supplies heaven

This is me letting you into the 'secret' every east end artist has known about for years...

Atlantis is a massive and cheap warehouse where you can buy pretty much everything the professional or amateur painter could ever need - from easels and pre-stretched canvases in all sizes plus stretchers to make up your own and every kind of paint, brush, pencil, crayon, pen, solvent and other gunk you can imagine.

They offer student discount and are pretty helpful if you can't find what you are after. Oh and the paper section is unbelievably comprehensive and very hard to resist.

It is just up behind the Bell Foundry, off Whitechapel Road. And they are open on Sundays too.

1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.