Vlad 's reviews
Review of Flair
07 Sep 07, 14:12
Such, erm, flair 
Quick easy and always pleasant. They're a dry cleaners so there's probably not much difference between them and others except that the women who run it / work there are very friendly. They seem to be on the pricey side though. £20 for a suit. Is that decent? On the plus side they open at 7.30 so time to get your stuff on a week day and still get to work on time.
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Review of SO.UK
06 Aug 07, 16:17
Nice and Original Morrocan 
Local legend say that this was set up by Leslie Ash several years ago.
Anyway....
The concept is Morrocan (So.uk / Souk - as in arab marketplace...do you see what they've done there?) and the decor reflects that. Dark wood, and low comfortable seats. The tables are in the form of huge circular golden metal plates surrounded by low seating. This can make it all a bit uncomfortable after a while but I suppose the emphasis is on providing a Arab dining experience of a kind.
The food is very varied from simple meze (Starters: humous, babaganoush etc) to more complicated moroccan food. It's is delicious. If you like North African food, you'll love this place. The staff are excellent, very friendly and contributes to So.UK's slightly exclusive air.
Well worth going there if you fancy something other than the usual french, italian etc.
Just don't expect the standard dining experience though. The seating gets a bit wierd and uncomfortable after a while. The food is expensive too but well worth it simply because of its originality in an area dominated by the standard pizza palours and fast food chains.
Nearly £30 for a few different plates and some wine. Expensive for what it was in amount but worth it for quality and originality. Oh, and they do good cocktails there too.
At night on the weekends it becomes a club / drinking den in its own right, complete with bouncers on the doors. Not sure that this works. While eating there is nice, we were disappointed by its effort to be a bar. Just too small a space and the bar is too difficult to get to. This must be why there's a regular queue outside late at night.
Save it for a less hectic winter weekend and best used as a place to have a quick bite to eat before hitting the bigger bars and clubs nearby.
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Review of Zeitgeist
06 Aug 07, 13:19
Friends, Shoppers, Countrymen, Give me your money
On no account take Mothers, wives or female friends to this shop.
It's another one of those places where you go in out of curiousity and hours later emerge to find that you have spent £500 in 36 separate transactions on items whose porupose still eludes you.
Well, you know what I mean.
It's really great. Much more eccentric and quirky that its neighbour Oliver Bonas. The front room is full of shiney things of no particular category, the middle rooms seems to have been stocked by a candle obsessive and the back room is a treasure trove of toys for children.
Well worth a visit. Without your wife.
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Review of The Sun
06 Aug 07, 11:17
The SUN has got his pad thai on.
The popularity of the Sun I think dates back from when it was one of the first pubs in Clapham to be revamped for the burgeoing non-stabbing population. Or maybe it was popular due to the novely of the pub / restaurant movement. Maybe its the bright exterior? Or something.
It's a bit over rated now, IMHO. Or rather....It's just a pub, serving Thai food and beer. Simple as that.
It's owned by the same group who own the Railway and the Falcon (At the Clapham North End of the High Street) so does good cheap Thai food if you fancy it.
In the heart of Clapham's Old Town, has a beer garden and space upstairs and downstairs. Nice for a pint pre cinema or whatever.
That's really it. Nice pub, good decent food. Can't go wrong.
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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.
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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 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 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.
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Review of Eco
03 Aug 07, 18:12
Hmmmm Pizza
Forget Strada. Pizza Express? Pfff. This place is great. Huge pizzas but very good value for money. Nothing unusual about the menu - standard italian food. Pastas, Pizza etc.
More than enough room and tables. Service can be slow though and you'll generally have to book in advance on weekend evenings.
Worth checking out the Deli next to it (Evo?) if you fancy something lighter or don't have time to sit down. Part of the same company.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of The Rapscallion
03 Aug 07, 18:01
A place mainly for brunch?
Not sure about this place in the evening but it is perfect for the day time. It's a great place to meet for Brunch on a Sunday or Saturday (Try the Eggs Benedict - legendary) and the coffee is great. The free papers are appreciated and the Orange juice rocks. It is small though. Very small - 6 tables? The design and mirrors means that they make the most of the space but I'm not sure that it works as an evening. Given the quality of the food at breakfast though, its bound to be good.
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Review of C C H Express
03 Aug 07, 17:56
Taxi
Not much that you can say about a taxi cab company except that they turn up on time in the 8 odd years that we've been using them. Ask for the prices beforehand from the operator though as occasionally the drivers take the piss.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of Robert Gastro
03 Aug 07, 17:43
Oooh lala.
Very odd place this. Looks like its been furnished with the contents of a fench student hall but it all works very well. Split into two sections - a cafe and a restaurant it has a really nice French feel to it. Those who can't face the uniformity of Starbucks will love whiling away a morning with a bite to eat and a coffee in a very amospheric place. Last time we went even the staff were French. The coffee is great.
It is slightly on the pricey side though. Can't vouch for the restaurant side although I have heard one bad report from about the food and the service but this was some time ago. Worth considering though if you are off to the Clapham Picture House though as it is so near.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of Bodeans BBQ
03 Aug 07, 17:35
A True Flesh Pot
What can I say.
If you work in Soho, you'll be familar with this place. Vegans will probably firebomb this place. Renowned for the Pulled Pork, Ribs and BBQ sauce, this is not the place to go to impress your bank manager. Do not wear a white shirt. Do nnot go here on a first date. Casual atmosphere, incredibly friendly staff and most of all quick and easy. Food is excellent and well priced for what you get. Very packed at the weekends so you're unlikely to get a table in our experience after 7.00 p.m unless you book.
It gets a lot of trade in the early event before customers head off for the bars and clubs. Your girlfriends may hate it but your mates will love you for showing them the light.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of Josephs Hair Design Studio
03 Aug 07, 13:07
Hair you are.
Always friendly, always packed but will try and make space. If you're a bloke, just need a haircut, want to read a magazine inn peace while its being done, then go here. Couldn't comment on more adventurous cuts though. Has raised its gaime quite a bit over the past few years though.
What else is there to say?
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
Review of Bread and Roses
03 Aug 07, 13:02
Give me bread and give me roses....
Bit of a bizarre one as it caters for everyone but does it really well. A really really great pub. Quirky, niche and great for people who hate clone pubs. A good outside space if you have children with lots of seating at the back and they do make them welcome here but also a great place to go if your out for the evening. Serve good food here on a Sunday often accompanied by live music - jazz, blues - and last time we went they held a real ale day with a selection of 15 different niche beers.One of my favourite pubs. Just always suprises you.
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