Claire's reviews
Review of Cafe Rouge
15 May 08, 09:51
Friendly staff 
This is a pretty average Cafe Rouge, serving the usual. What makes it better than average is the service. The staff are friendly and attentive without being in your face. It's in a lovely location too, just opposite the green in Southgate.
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
Review of Pizza Express
08 May 08, 12:04
Used to be a supermarket 
This pizza express used to be a Sainsburys or an Iceland or something similar, so it's huge inside. Because it's so big it doesn't have much of an atmosphere. However, in the summer you can sit out the front in the sunshine which is nice. The staff are friendly and you know what you're gonna get menu wise. But I would recommend Fantozzi a couple of doors up instead (see my review)
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
Review of Southgate Station
06 May 08, 13:04
Special place in my heart
Southgate station has a special place in my heart because it's where I learnt to conquer my fear of escalators! I was about 3 at the time and my Dad left me at the top ;-) It's a great looking station and is actually in some architecture books as an example of the architect, Charles Holden, from the early 1930s.
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
Review of Paps Fish Restaurant
02 May 08, 11:06
Best fish and chips outside of Grimsby 
Obviously the best place in the world to eat fish and chips is Grimsby... but if you don't have time for a trip to the fish capital of the world then Paps in Southgate is the next best thing. It's not cheap, but this is North London. The fish is huge and has the most delicious batter. Can't recommend it enough.
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
Review of Asda Stores
01 May 08, 22:22
Crazy busy, but what a bargain!?
This store is always crazy busy whatever time of the day or night you visit. The carpark is always rammed and you end up having to park downstairs and use the gladiator style travelator. The layout inside the shop is odd too, I always get distracted by the cheap clothes on the way in and end up wasting time browsing in that part of the store. The great thing about this Asda is the price though, it is cheaper than Tesco and Sainsbuys my a considerable amount.
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
Review of The Woolpack
25 Apr 08, 16:28
Small but perfectly formed
The Woolpack is a small but perfectly formed pub just opposite the auction rooms in Southgate, down from the tube station. It's a little bit old man-ish and has known to close randomly, but the staff are very good and it's got a nice friendly atmosphere.
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
Review of The Woodman
25 Apr 08, 16:26
Lovely old pub just near Grovelands Park
Once you've been for a nice walk round Grovelands Park (check out my previous review of the park) then head to The Woodman for a pint or two or even some lunch. It's a small but perfectly formed old pub with very friendly staff. Years ago they were given permission to tack a conservatory on the front, goodness knows how as it's such an old pub - but you can have lunch/dinner in there and the food is pretty good.
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
Review of Cherry Tree Hotel
25 Apr 08, 15:36
Great pub right on the green in Southgate
Ye Olde Cherry Tree is a lovely pub right on the green in Southgate. It is part of a chain - Inn Keepers Lodge... and 'cos it does rooms it can feel a bit like a pub attached to a hotel rather than the other way round. Howeverm if you get a good table at the front with a good crowd of friends, there is no better place in Southgate to spend the night. Just be warned on Christmas Eve they close really early (like 9:30pm!?!) to get ready for Christmas Day lunch for everyone who is staying there.
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
Review of The Waggon
24 Apr 08, 12:56
Recent facelift has massively improved this pub
It seems all modern pubs get the same makeover - comfy sofas, wooden floors and plasma screens etc. The Waggon and Horses recently had such a facelift and is much better for it. It is a good pub for catching up with old friends 'cos it's fairly quiet and you can always get a seat.
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
Review of The Wishing Well
24 Apr 08, 12:53
Bit of an old man pub 
The Wishing Well is on Chase Side (which is the main shopping street running through Southgate) just next door to Asda. It is a bit of an old man pub, I wonder whether there is an Irish connection 'cos the only day of the year there seems to be an atmosphere here is St Patricks.
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
Review of Fishmongers Arms
24 Apr 08, 12:50
Previously known as The Southgate
The Fishmongers Arms is on Winchmore Hill Road right next to Southgate swimming pool. It is a large pub with a big garden out the front (on the main road) There are pool tables and those pub games - millionaire etc. It's quite good for watching live sport on the big screen but does get busy so get there early to get a good view.
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
Review of White Hart
24 Apr 08, 12:47
Really near Southgate station
The White Hart is a small friendly pub right near Southgate station. It has had a bit of a facelift in recent years and now has wooden floorboards and comfy sofas. It isn't particularly busy and 'cos it's quiet can lack in atmosphere. But if you're looking for somewhere to go and catch up with friends it's perfect.
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
Review of Grovelands Pitch & Putt
20 Apr 08, 16:52
Good fun, good value pitch and putt
This is a fun, good value pitch and putt in Grovelands Park in Southgate, North London. It can get very busy in the summer. But most of time it's a fairly relaxed fun affair strolling round the course pretending you're Tiger Woods. I'd imagine if you're a big golf player it'd be rubbish but if you don't play much (or have never played) and you're looking for a fun way to pass an afternoon it's worth a try.
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
Review of Romna Gate
20 Apr 08, 16:19
Amazing Indian restaurant
When growing up in Southgate I thought all India restaurants served food this delicious... I soon learnt they don't! The Romna Gate is so good people come from miles around to eat here. The food is wonderful and the service is excellent. Actually, I'm not sure I want to rave about it too much... I don't want to get into a situation where I can't get a table!
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
Review of Honeymoon Restaurant
20 Apr 08, 16:16
My favourite Chinese ever
This is a fantastic chinese restaurant just round the back from Southgate tube station. It is always packed, especially on a weekend 'cos the food is SO good. They do an amazing starter selection with ribs, seaweed, prawn toast, the works. The prices are very reasonable. They don't deliver, but you can ring and order and then go and collect.
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
Review of The New Crown
18 Apr 08, 08:47
Don't bother 
Being a Wetherspoon pub the New Crown is fairly cheap... However, that is really the only good thing to say about this pub. Many moons ago it was a Sainsburys or an Iceland (can't quite remember) and you can tell... It's enormous and soulless. It gets packed on the weekend (god knows why!?) and reminds me of the Southgate School canteen - agh!
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
Review of Fantozzi Restaurant
20 Mar 08, 15:52
I'm a huge fan of Fantozzi
I love this restaurant. We've been going here for years and remember when it was tiny and always empty. Now it's huge and you have to book to get a table - but it's still great (thank goodness, don't you hate it when places expand and lose what made them special) The pizzas are enormous, the gnocchi is delicious and the service in fast and friendly.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of Zinco Restaurants
20 Mar 08, 15:49
Went here on Christmas Eve and it was great
A group of us went here on Christmas Eve and thought it was fab. Good food and excellent value for money. And despite us being in a big group they didn't make us order from some boring set menu.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.