Sarah's reviews
Review of Les Trois Garcons
21 Feb 10, 17:31
resting on its trois laurels now 
Ate here on Friday night and not sure I'd bother again. Food was not doubt stand out for the area when it opened but I reckon they are now resting on their laurels and groovy reputation while food in the area has sped ahead of it.
Yes, the interior is still quirky and fun but on a busy night the one ladies loo in action was overflowing and they put the next table so close to ours that the couple who sat there after we had arrived were unavoidably part of our conversation (and mighty pissed off they were too, but not smart enough to ask to be moved, they just sniped at us instead).
My salmon starter was extraordinarily ordinary and my beef thing (not as billed on the menu) for main was over-rich to the extent of unpleasant. None of us wanted to bother with puddings.
For the price you pay I'd much rather eat at The Boundary or Bistrotheque where they now do modern British far better and without the need for stuffed giraffes to attract diners. Distinctly disappointing.
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
Review of Indian YMCA Restaurant
29 Jan 10, 10:16
Brilliant cheap curry lunch 
This is a not very well kept secret for those working nearby - the canteen restaurant of the Indian YMCA is open to non residents (and non Indians, naturally). Just go through the main front door and turn right, through the double doors and you are in the restaurant.
Best to get there early (12 to 12.30ish is ideal) as the queue gets a bit lengthy at peak lunch time. Efficient and friendly counter service - pick up a tray and choose from a dish of any or all of the meat, fish and two veg curries, accompanied by rice, chapati and poppadoms if you want, bit of salad or pickle maybe, lassi available. Pay at the till when you have all you want to eat. No booze on the premises, but jugs of water on the tables.
Always delicious and very cheap. Like the curry you get in Indian family homes. Do wish they hotted up the plates but that's the only downside I can see. Enjoy!
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
Review of Victoria Park Pavilion
03 Jan 10, 22:27
Fantastic breakfasts by the lake and lunch/tea and cake/icecreams
Love breakfasting here. Its always busy at the weekend (lots of buggies and happy families) and not as cheap as the greasy spoons nearby but you really have to hand it to them for providing the biggest and best weekend breakfasts ever. Their homemade baked beans are a revelation. And they do wonderful swirly hot chocolate.
Always seems to be open whenever the park is. And it is also great for tea and cake and lovely homemade healthy lunches. A great asset to the park!
Oh it is cash only by the way. If busy (it will be) there is a bit of a wait for your order and there's no ordering off piste from the breakfast menu options. Small prices to pay I reckon. Top recommend! but don't go please, or it'll be even busier.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Review of The Empress Of India
03 Jan 10, 22:15
Love it, always good
Have to post this to counter the only other review on here. I have never had a bad meal at The Empress and it is a firm favourite of mine. Delicious - always excellent quality meat and fish. Modern British done brilliantly.
The staff are, in my experience, polite, swift and attentive but not overly so. Maybe they learned a lesson from Alex B's comments, WLL is a good influence!
The Empress (we locals drop the 'of India' bit) really is a restaurant not a gastropub these days and rightly popular on weekends, so you probably need to book except maybe not for breakfast or weekday lunches (such a treat).
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of Eshk Hair
03 Jan 10, 21:53
New branch of best hairdressers in town 
I have long been a huge fan of ESHK and especially genius hairdresser Meg, so was really pleased to hear about this their second salon for men and women that has opened just off Old Street.
In a perfect, easy-to-find Hoxton location with the same stylish vibe (and brilliant music) as their original Goswell Rd salon (still open and always packed with both sexes). The prices remain less than you'd pay for not half as good in the west end. And the best bit is that Meg is back on the floor cutting and making your hair look amazing, as a style director. But they are all pretty fantastic at ESHK.
No one I have ever recommended the original ESHK place to has been disappointed, they all become the firmest fans. More power to Meg & co as they give us twice the chance to get an appointment with what I still believe is the best hairdresser in town.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Review of Quality Dry Cleaners
03 Feb 09, 15:10
Spot on, spotless cleaning and alterations
This is now my local drycleaners and I cannot fault it so far.
Good price, great cleaning, speedy alterations and nice folk. Plus they are open early and late, so perfect for pre and post work drop-off/pick-up's.
It is situated on the top of Globe Road just off the Roman in that villagey bit near the Buddhist Centre, opposite the Thai restaurant.
Spot on.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of The Crown
29 Dec 08, 18:29
Great pub, winter and summer alike
Can't believe no one has pitched up with a review of this great pub that deserves lots of fans, so over to me then...Probably not in the interest of locals like me to have it rammed but in the spirit of welovelocal I am not one to keep a good thing to myself!
This corner site at the south side of Victoria Park has seen a whole series of duff and sadly failed pub/restaurants but has now got a great one and fingers crossed it'll be a stayer. Am pretty sure it is a sister pub to the organic Duke of Cambridge in Islington, but I may just have made that up. Anyway this one does food and has a nice atmosphere and staff. It makes a good sunday lunch venue on the edge of Victoria Park once you've fed the ducks. I think they have an early sitting for those with kids, leaving it less squealy and more chilled later in the day for childless groups.
Pretty close and easy to get there from either Mile End or Bethnal Green and the 277 bus goes straight past.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Review of Piccolino
05 Oct 08, 23:19
Fast service, good food, near the train station
Had a great speedy meal in this place today. Very yummy risotto and good service. Ideal if you need to be or happen to be close to the train station.
Prices as expected and a free glass of wine with their lunch deal. Good stuff. Nice place.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Review of Camden Kitchen
21 Sep 08, 20:31
Place for lunch with a mate 
Not formal business lunch territory but ok for what it is. I think their eggs benedict is good, nice chips too and I rated the pasta I had here for lunch (with a mate) the other day. The service can be erratic, young waiting staff not always that focused on what the customer needs or the job in hand, but they're always nice enough.
I like the window tables best. Reckon you can book if you want to but not usually necessary.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Review of Market
21 Sep 08, 20:08
Up market for Camden
Great little restaurant in the best bit of a pretty scuzzy area.
I have struggled to find many places in Camden near my office that are nice enough to use for business lunches - this place is the only one I'd actually recommend.
Great food - mix of English gastro and contemporary European is about right for what they offer - and the prices are what you'd expect, certainly not overblown. Never been rammed at midweek lunch but I'd still advise you booking, otherwise if turned away you'll be pushed to find anywhere as nice to eat locally.
Nicely attentive but not fussing service, like the place's look and overall atmosphere. I've always been impressed though it is understated in its style and unpretentious.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.