Vlad T.

Review of Oliver Bonas

06 Aug 07, 11:05

Hotel OliverBonas

See, I'm just more convinced that these shops are for women than men. It's one of those places that you see in most streets in London.

They don't seem to have much of a point to them besides that of just making you spend money on things that you really don't need (Silver Dice anyone?)

Clothes shop? Gifts shop? Jewellery shop? Furniture Shop? Card Shop? All of them? Yes, credit card please.

Having said that, I can see its appeal because you don't need the things inside; You want them. Desperately.

Big bean bags, nice shelves, cufflinks, clothes, cutlery, cards, fridge magents, massive lampshades, candlesticks, assorted chrome and dark wood items, cusshiosn with fluffy things on them.... It's all just somehow a bit unoriginal now. It's doing something right as its been there for about 6 years now.

Do not under any circumstances let your wife go in here.

She will come out with some pointless pink thing or some crome thing in which once inserted into a baby's head makes them eat in a cleaner manner. Or something.

So. In summary, women will love this place. Men will hate themselves as they will too. (Mmmmmm, cufflinks that double as clocks, microscopic penknives......)

You can go in any time you like but you can never leave.

Avoid like the plague, if you know what's good for you.

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Deliverance

06 Aug 07, 10:45

Deliver us from tempation

The concept: Any type of takeaway you want from one delivery service. Chinese, European, Italian, Thai etc etc. You won't tolerate your traditional crap local take away once you've seen the quality of food that these people produce. They have the most popular dishes from most regions. The menu is more of a booklet - 9 pages. But easy to use though?

It is expensive though compared to the more local ones that you may be used to and the eco-friendly among you may object to their enthusiastic use of plastic packaging. According to their gblurb they have been described by Timeout / Standard as "one of the best reasons to move to London."

Twat reviewers asides, though, the food is excellent but the trade off is that you'll pay a bit more than your high street outfit.

It does take quite a bit of time though. On average between 45 mins to over an hour. Their coverage of London is divided by having kitchens in different areas. Make sure you call the right one....

Never quite sure whether to tip the drivers or not. They never seem to expect it.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Review of The Windmill On The Common

06 Aug 07, 10:23

Clapham's Summer Pub

...OK. The title is a bit over the top but this one has it all.

Perfect for those lazy weekends afternoons lying on the Common having a pint. Or even better - a good place to go before any of the regular festivals and events (Chinese Circus, Urban Games) that take place in the area.

Mid way on the common between Clapham Common and Clapham South tubes stations, this pub has undergone a bit of a transformation in the last few years. Refurbished recently it managed to avoid the standard bland pub look and combined functionality with good decor and thankfully, plenty of staff so there is not much delay in being served.

You can't got wrong if you're looking for somewhere to hang out on the common with friends. It's a huge space - by pub standard. Asides from the ample beer gardens at the front (but sheilded from the road) there the common about ten yards away. Its part of the scenery to see hundred of drinkers lounging on the grass next to this watering hole. The environment is relaxed and friendly. On sunny weekends, it will be packed.

The pub is also child friendly with a smaller gated children's beer garden to prevent rogue children escaping while the parents enjoy a quiet drink. And suprisingly, its possible to park outside the pub for those driving their spawn. There's often an ice cream van in front of the pub as an added bribe if needed. The pub is a short walk from the ponds too.

Inside the pub is very spacious and since refurbishment looks pretty good. The plastic lino and threadbear sticky carpet has gone to be replaced by something that wouldn't look out of place in any urban 20 somethings flat.

The inside area is large and opens out into a larger much more spacious room which again leads onto a restaurant. Can't comment on this as we haven't eaten there so would appreciate anyone elses view. On Friday (and saturday?) nights that have DJ etc who play while the pub's clients slip into alcohol fuelled oblivion.

Definately worth a visi if you have some time to kill.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Review of Ferndales

06 Aug 07, 09:58

Hidden gem

One of the best kept secrets in Clapham. On Ferndale road this homely restaurant is perfect for a well priced mid week meal. Well decorated but small (the miirros make it look bigger than it is) with about 8 tables in all, its selling point - apart from the very decently priced food (Two pizzas will set you back about £12) is the homely atmosphere. No Corporate staff here, its a genine local eaterie owned and run by two french blokes. You can take the pizza's away if needed and never have to wait longer than 15 minutes for that. The menu is a bit limited and doesn't change but they do a range of specials for variety. This is what's it's about though. You know that you're not going to go wrong here. In the summer you can eat outside although it is a bit of a squash and we not sure that man in the flat next door is that convinced. See for yourself...

0 out of 1 person found this review helpful.

Review of The Pepper Tree

04 Aug 07, 10:42

Does what it says on the tin

Small and compact with the emphasis on a fast, good quality thai meal. It's not a place to sit and chat over a leisurely meal and this is reflected in the decor which is Wagamma in concept. Long tables which means communal eating. This is fine as everyone really uses it as a place to go before hitting the bars or the cinema.

A well known clapham haunt now, meals cost around £5-6 excluding alcohol.

The concept - pile them in feed them, churn them out - means that the staff can be a bit abrupt and occasionally appear rude. They do their best though. Thai green curry is great and generally the food is tasty and served quickly.

Certainly one to consider for quick, cheap and cheerful meal. There is often a queue - sometime streching outside - on the weekend evenings but as there is no booking you'll just have to take your chances.

1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.

Review of The Falcon

04 Aug 07, 10:31

Beer Gardening

This pub has space. This is a slightly pointless comment as its generally very busy. Unmissable in its bright yellow painted exterior it has a beer garden at the front and much larger one at the back.

There is a cash machine inside so if you're caught short use it. Its a 7 min walk to Clapham common otherwise.

Quite empty during the week, it comes into its own during the weekends and in the summer. Its part of the same group that own the Sun and the Railway.

Like them it serves good Thai food. I've also heard that it has a BBQ on occasions but haven't had experience of that.

Small warning, and very small, if you sit in the front, just be careful of your bags. They have been known to go walk about.....

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Vinifera

03 Aug 07, 18:53

Great but fading?

If you're a wine buff and hate noisy pubs and cafees, you'll love this place. Its slightly exclusive air, may be its downfall. Clapham North is hardly the City.....

Originally set up as a wine bar, lovely dark decor and a huge array of wines. Its a refreshing change for a night out in a pub annd lovely if you fancy a bit of refinement. You can even go on a wine course here, last time I looked.

It seems to have rebranded recently and now serves coffee in the morning as well as reverting to wine in the evening. This may be due to a lack of custom though but even so it nice to have a good coffee bar near the tube.

I have to say. It's well worth a visit if you're sick of Blue Nun and jacobs creek and want to expand your horizons.

Worth going to if your next stop is Tsunami or four-oh-nine though.

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Oliver Burn

03 Aug 07, 18:47

I hate writing this

I hate estate agents. Hate them. ****ing hate them. These guys however are lovely. This really annoys me. They only have two offices - one here and the other in Brixton and they focus just on the Brixton, Clapham area. This means that they know the area and unlike other estate agents don't employ F***wits one week out of South Africa to advise you on the rate of stabbings in the borough or that actually, no, the railway next to this house is never used. Honest. You know who you are, F***stons. OB, know the area, they are run by very professional and you know what? They're decent people. I've used them three times. They don't over value your house either. Oterhwise, what else to say? They help you sell and buy your house, charge you for it and then F***off. Lovely Estate Agents. F***ers.

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Esca

03 Aug 07, 18:39

..but expensive

It's good but it ain't half expensive.

Yes, its a good deli to go to and they sell nice delicious sandwiches and if you want to buy anything Italian - fresh, tinned, in oil or whatever - then you'll love this place. The choice is impressive

You can also eat for lunch in as they serve deli bits and bobs in the actual shop and there are tables at the back. It does all look delicious and half the appeal is the set out of the shop. The high shelves groaning with produce are impressive by themselves. If you're that sort of type who loves everything Italian you'll love it - but it ain't half expensive.

You get the feeling that it should really be in Notting Hill. But then it always seems to be busy on the weekende at lunch times so I suppose that there's a lot of demand for it.

Service can be slow though. Slow fast food.

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.