George M.

Review of Gourmet Burger Kitchen

17 Jan 08, 10:12

Well, Burger me!

While Mcdonalds limply cowers in the corner covered with a thick layer of grease, the Gorumet Burger Kitchen sits triumphant idly flicking stones at it's passe rival.

Offering a bewildering variety of delicious burgers (Chicken, Buffalo, Blue Cheese, BBQ, Mexican, Chorizo etc) this is ideal for treating your children (or yourself) without worying too much about the obesity epidemic. The burgers are large, made from organic meat, fresh salad and come with a selection of side orders, sauces and drinks. They are delicious.

Service is quick, you'll be waiting around 10 minutes.The added benefit is that you pay at the front desk when you order meaning that there is no waiting for the bill to arrive.

The only downside, would be the small premises which means that it tends to be packed on the weekends although there is outside space with heating for the truly addicted. There is generally a queue, reflecting both popularity and size.

It is very expensive compared to Mcd's or BK but then it's aimed at a different demographic. A beer, coke, 2 burgers and chops with set you back around £15. On the plus side, you won't sweat grease for the next day and you can have a nice meal that you'll all love without feeling guilty.

Tip: Hmmmm, Barbeque sauce and chips.

1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.

Review of Northcote Road Antiques Market

21 Dec 07, 12:00

Narnia

I love this place. It's so individual that I am fully expecting for Tescos to buy the site out and ruin it for everyone.

The entrance is deceptively small as it opens into a split level balconied interior containing numerous stalls. It's Narnia for those who like buying Antuqies / Junk. Each tiny concession focus on slightly different antiques: Silver, Glasswear, Furniture etc. Quite keen on the 1920 art deco stall upstairs although you'll find something interesting whatever your preference. The stalls are kind of like display cabinets for antiques held in other larger shops slightly further out of town. If you're looking for something in particular ask, they'll be able to find something for you.

Tip: Haggle. While it looks quite laid back, the location means that they're not averse to charging high prices so negotiate over everything. They generally always come down in price.

It's great if you're a collector - that they tend to focus on the smaller volume items. If you like the larger brown furniture then you may be best off looking elsewhere, or even, dare I say it, looking outside of London. If you buy it here, you'll be paying a premium as it takes up the space. However, they will deliver so its a balance.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Review of Philglas and Swiggot

21 Dec 07, 11:26

Lots to wine about

One of the few wine shops that I'd consider living in. And it comes with a lovely friendly little dog.

This is a passion made flesh for these people. The shop splits into two, the entry area for the wine related items, such as decanters, wine books, corkscrews, fortified wines and the main wine stock at the back. All relatively expensive but this isn't the place to go if you think Blue Nun is the height of good taste.

The wines are all quite highly priced but this seems to reflect the slightly quirky nature of the business. This isn't an Oddbins or a Threshers. heir whole purpose seems to be to educate and expand. If you're feeling clueless ask them. They'll advise you. They are very well staffed, employing what seems like thousands of people, meaning that you get lots of attention and some considered advice. As other places, buy by the bottle, crate or Magnum.

They also do a regular wine box that they deliver (or you can pick up). We tried it for a while and it is fantastic - buy a wine notebook to help you remember - but the cost does mount up.

£100 per month for around 10 bottles each month - Possibly space in their market to do the same for those people with slightly less budget and cellar space?

1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.

Review of La Cuisiniere

21 Dec 07, 10:40

Low Whisk Kitchen Shopping

Local legend says that, if Gordon Ramsay was Jesus, then this would be his Bethlehem stable. Probably.

This is a kitchen orientated shop. No bedroom fippery here. Oh No. Just pure kitchen products from knives that can slice a planet in two, to strange shaped poaching dishes, woks, strange pointy things, humble tea towels, minimalist egg cups and lots of Alessi. OK simply, if something was invented for the kitchen these people stock it (Serving Wenches excepted). There is so much stuff that they actually had to set up a second shop called 'Cuisiniere Too' to hold the over spill. That's the plus side.

The negatives are that the shop is a bit cramped. It's so packed that movement - when there are more than four people in the shop - can be difficult. Don't go in here fully loaded. The staff were also a bit unfriendly but that may have been due to the three screaming children that were causing havoc in the shop when we visited.

Price wise, well, it obviously varies but the products are good quality and last.

They also take the Wedge card which is great and can get you money off.

1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.

Review of Pretty Pregnant

21 Dec 07, 10:17

Get Babyface

Congratulations, first of all on your good news. Unless you're not pregnant and are just shopping here because you're very fat. In that case, go to the search box and type 'Gym'.

Pretty Pregnant is lovely. It's an independent shop near the top of the Northcote Road (Not the train station end) and as its name suggests sells clothing for pregnant women. I'm not sure if it is like this in every shop - it certainly isn't in any clothes shop I've ever visited - but the real difference were the two members of staff who were so helpful, it actually made me suspicious. According to others, they really are this nice. They were fabulous though. Very helpful for a first time mother in suggesting new clothes and hints on what not to do. My wife, a first timer, appreciated the help and likes the clothes which I suppose is the other half of the battle. Is is expensive? Well, yes. Much like anything to do with marriage, preganancy is one of those words that allow shops to double the price for their goods. It's not cheap but then I suppoose that you pay for the quality of the clothes.

Usefully, the shop also acts as a focal point for local pre-natal groups offering suppport networks, massages services and the usual second hand items for sale. It's far from tacky though.

And for the men, you can read a book on baby's names while you wait for your wife to emerge from the changing cubicles.

Or you can go to the pub over the road.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Review of Osteria

14 Dec 07, 16:58

A contender for Kitchen Nightmares?

This place should be amazing. It has an expensive reassuringly dark Alpine exterior, the sort of place that you'd expect to experience some hearty but very interesting italian food, great wines and lovely Italian atmosphere. The sort of solid food that you'd find high in the Alps. The menu certainly looks inviting - I was grabbed by the Wild Boar Ravioli. It's is varied and a world away from the standard italian that you'd find in any of the high street chains. But....

The service is truly terrible. There were four changes of Government by the time we we served. Is this just down to the freshness of the food? Great if it is but all we ordered was the ravioli and some bruschetta. They forgot our drinks. Despite reminding them twice. We had to ask for the bill three times. It's a shame. It took us over 2 hours to have a 'quick' one course lunch. Other diners didn't fare much better.

It's a shame because the food is actually very, very good. It's a quirky place to go - although quite cramped - if you want some off the beaten track italian food and are borded of the chain restaurants. The wine list is disappointing too.

The front of house is just a mess. If I wanted sullen disinterested staff, I'd spend my lunch time here at my office canteen.

It need sorting out. We won't return until it is.

Really annoying as people in the area want it to work.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.