Sarah's reviews
Review of The Camel
08 Jul 08, 19:34
Good local Pie Pub 
Famed pie pub round the corner from me, and it's good. Its raison d'etre is pies but it is still pubby rather than being overly gastro / restaurant.
Loud wallpaper and get a big pissed crowd in the back and you can't hear yourself think. But it is still good stuff. I think they serve Adnams.
Over here in the east end where the proper pie and mash shops serve horrible grey pies and grotty lumpy mash with odd green vinegar, this is much more my idea of delicious instead. The gravy's good too.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of The Approach Tavern
08 Jul 08, 19:25
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?
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Review of Keymaster Security
29 Jun 08, 18:58
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
2 out of 2 people 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.
2 out of 2 people 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.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Review of Sublime
18 Oct 07, 12:09
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 My Life In Art
30 Sep 07, 19:50
Nice space, some good stuff
Small contemporary gallery that is relatively brave in what it shows (ie it is not just aimed at the bloke furnishing his loft and hasn't the increasing blue chippery of Vyner Street either).
Generally worth a pop in for 5 minutes if you are in the area for the market, the bookshop or pie and mash. The guy who runs it is nice and approachable which is good.
Shows some younger, up and comings - not highly priced - artists, sometimes their twoperson shows are slightly odd combinations but there's usually some interesting work included.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of Broadway Bookshop
24 Sep 07, 10:50
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, 10:38
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 Five Star Dry Cleaners
09 Aug 07, 21:51
Does just what it says on the tin
Effective cleaning, good prices, quick turnaround when you need it, nice people - that adds up to 5 stars for me.
Not sure what else to say about a drycleaners except that I've never had any complaints about this place and it is cheaper than I used to pay in either Leytonstone or the West End.
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.