Fiona's reviews
Review of Jolly Gardener
13 Apr 08, 22:51
Check it out when the sun is shining 
Another local that has under gone a refurbishment making it "trendy" for the naughties and the local under 35s.
Victorian style, tables and chairs mixed and matched, such as chesterfield wing backed chairs with large wooden tables, making a nice enough setting with candles in votives in the evening, ambient lighting.
Extensive beer list and plenty of out door seating, brilliant for when the sun comes out.
Food menu looks good, but to be fair I've not yet sampled.
I've been a couple times since New Year '08. And the service has been very poor. Nice people, just didn't know what they were doing. We sent one of our larger pints back as it was from the tap but was definately not quiet right. (pipes?). The bar staff replaced it after checking with the duty manager. It seemed like a bit of a hassle, but unnecessarily so. Just seemed like teething problems but made our experience on that occasion a bit crap.
It has potential to be a really nice place, lots of space and dividing walls which create hidden away corners so you can have you own group space. Alternatively sit in the main open plan section and check out the other drinkers.
This place has definitely been taken over by the younger set and with busy after work drinkers.
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
Review of Oliver Bonas
13 Apr 08, 21:59
Handy gift shop
Oliver Bonus, has a few branches is the south west of London (perhaps more...) stocking, predominantly gift items, cards and trinkets.
Worth checking out for presents for birthdays, christenings, mums to be and new mothers, boys gadgets and toys, coffee table books, classic affordable jewellery, house warming presents and surprisingly flattering women’s clothing.
The Northcote Road branch unfortunately does not have changing room facilities for their limited but lovely clothing. However as with most shops if you buy the item and it is not suitable when you get home and try it on, they will give you a full refund if you bring it back with receipt. The clothing they stock is contemporary fashion, a lot of it cotton dresses, skirts and tops. Very feminane, the designer “Eucalyptus” makes items, which are cut very flattering for the larger busted / curvy lady.
Great place to pop in an emergency present, card and wrapping paper/gift bag, or pop in and browse, check out the new stock/clothing and be surprised.
Northcote Road branch has lovely staff. The girls there are lovely helpful and a giggle.
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
Review of Banana Leaf Canteen
13 Apr 08, 21:43
standard fusion thai, worth a try at least once
Good food, in a canteen style setting. Shared tables, with a shelf underneath for you personal items. Popular with the local young professional brigade and families. The food is fine and reasonably priced.
But not an authentic restaurant, I think people who know and appreciate their fusion / thai food may be disappointed. However good portions and nice flavour.
Worth booking a table for the weekends at peak times. Good location for a meal and drink before hitting the local bars.
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
Review of Prince Of Wales
13 Apr 08, 21:31
Worth a look in
This place under went a refurbishment and transformation about Sept 2007.
I've been here prior to the transformation and thought, local old mans pub, NOT warm and friendly.
Post "transformation"... it has an amazing menu and wine list, competent staff and a quiz on Sundays. The clientiee in my opinion has changed to the Putney/Fulham young professional set.
Outdoor seating which is handy for the smokers and for the rare bit of sunshine that we get here in the UK. Although it is facing onto Upper Richmond Road, so you are on a busy traffic through-fair, watching the cars go by.
Inside part of the pub is under skylights/conservatory(?) probably best way to describe it, light and airy not at all stuffy.
Check it out, food is good and it is a very different incarnation.
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
Review of Spice Lounge
26 Dec 07, 18:38
Nice quiet place
The location of this place makes its a great place to go with friends. It is above a pub called The Blue Eyed Maid, so if you are early to meet friends hang out and have a drink downstairs before moving to your table up stairs in the restaurant.
The restaurant upstairs is a nice space with big windows. Not many tables, which means you do get good service.
The food is good, but not extra ordinary, and very reasonably priced. Dinner for 4 with a couple bottles of wine was £88. They do have a specials board which is worth checking out.
A good place for groups, couples or for catch ups.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of The Volunteer
15 Dec 07, 09:43
Popular & Busy; good location
Depending on what you want from a pub, and what time /day of the week you are going this could be perfect or not.
Its warm and buzzing full of people. After work the masses and locals decend. Work your way through the groups of smokers outside by the door and then work your way through the crowd to the bar.
It is quite large inside with a couple different spaces but all open plan.(some spaces can be reserved, making it good for get togethers). Extensive list of beers.
Outdoor seating which is nice for the summer and people watching. Its a stones throw from Regents Park.
On the weekend in the day its a different pub, place you can come for Sunday lunch (they have a good varied menu) and lazy paper reading. It is not touristy but great location.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of Marzano
07 Nov 07, 14:27
Good for groups & families.
I vaugely remember someone telling me Marzano comes from the same company as Pizza Express. Probably explains why the menus are fairly similar.
This place is nothing special. The food is pretty standard. But not what I would call traditional Italian.
Plenty of outside seating, with those heated lamps for the smokers.
Popular for lunches and dinner for large groups, families and drinks and nibbles. Very child friendly.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of Academy Video and Dvd
07 Nov 07, 14:00
Local DVD store for local people
This is a small but satisfactory DVD store. Its location is what makes it convienant for me.
It isnt a huge chain, which holds 9 copies of every new release. But you can usually get what you want to watch, crisps, popcorn, ice cream etc. Ex-rentals can also be bought.
Returns are by 8pm but if you bring it to the counter they are quite generous at letting you off a late fee or two.
Nice local feel too, if you forget your membership card it doesn't prove problematic.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of Clapham Junction Railway Station
31 Oct 07, 16:43
Britain's Busiest Train station
Clapham Junction (which is in Battersea) is regarded as the nations busiest station (some say Europe).
It has already had an overhaul and tidy up a few years back but is having another one soon (the surrounding area will become pedestrianised and vehicles restricted to buses and taxis). At the moment the concourse leading to the ticket hall & ticketing machines has a few shops which include Sainsbury’s local, M&S, Joy, Superdrug, Blockbusters, Café Nero, Costa, West Cornwall Pasties, Dry Cleaner/shoe repair, news stand, WH Smiths and a mobile phone store. So if you are after food, toiletries, reading material or a last minute gift/card before your journey it is pretty much there and available to you. Plasma screens are fitted overhead and show music videos whilst the music is pumped through.
The station is very useful for access to south England (including Brighton and Bristol) and London. Trains run to Waterloo (Euro star), Victoria, the Silver Link to Kensington Olympia & Watford Junction, Gatwick Airport (fast train takes 26mins) and a train bus link to Heathrow amongst many others.
The social calendar of the Clapham locals can be seen at the station, Ascot ladies day brings with it seas of hats and feathers, you can’t move for bikes after the London to Brighton bike race, marathon runners limping through the barriers in April. And Halloween/Xmas and New Year all are re
16 working platforms in all, an under and over pass, it is busy in the mornings, lots of pushing and shoving, queues for the ticket office and the usual fair. A large electronic display clearly shows the train destinations, times and platforms. Grab your free London paper and your on your way.
There are toilets passed the barriers (cost £0.20p) not dirty but they don’t feel clean. But when you got to go at least you know they are there.
Busy this station maybe, but for many of the locals when you use it so often and become familiar with its platforms and layout it’s not too big bad or scary.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of Salumeria Napoli
31 Oct 07, 15:58
An Italian deli on your doorstep
The Northcote Road is very lucky to have such wonderful food shops and stalls on the street market. One of these shops is Salumeria Napoli.
Staples like pasta, sugo, pasata, panna and biscotti can be found here. All known Italian brands, its true you can get some of these in the major supermarkets now but here you can get fresh homemade ravioli and cannelloni and tips on how to make some wonderful dishes. Also Italian cheeses and meats and many other food products are available. Great place to pick up authentic ingredients for an Italian feast.
Lovely people, food and service.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of Masters Super Fish
01 Oct 07, 15:57
You come here for the atmosphere
This is a good fish and chip place. Its not flash and poncy. Proper fish & chips, pickled eggs, gerkin, fish chips and the rest.
No messing about. The deco and other customers are what make this place what it is. Popular with older local east londoners and cabbies.
The wall has pinned to it some signed photos of performers from an era gone by and newsclippings about the place.
The walls by the front desk have concert & football tickets stuck to them.
Lots of character, food alright - try it at least once.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of Windmill Tavern
01 Oct 07, 15:52
decent enough pub, good location
The location of this pub makes it popular with locals, people working in the area and pre-theatre types. The walls are covered with photos of actors past and present and the ceiling is papered with posters from plays.
There is some outdoor seating, but limited.
Although I've always found it to be friendly and the thai food served there good and reasonably priced, I've heard some people have felt not so welcome but the older locals. Make of that what you will..
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of Giraffe
30 Sep 07, 19:39
A brunch staple
A regular breakfast / brunch place. Busy on weekends. Good selection of breakfast dishes. But they also do burgers. Popular with the young families and a very child friendly place. But don't let children and prams put you off.
Although the fact that the scrambled eggs every time I've been look the same, make me think they are some kind of mircowaved packet stuff. - Not so appealing, but they do taste good.
Great juices and smoothies, good service and the staff are really nice.
Cocktails and funky tunes in the evening change this place into a funky bar, often with a happy hour.
Worth checking out day or night. It is a chain and seems to be wide spread across london.
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
Review of Strada
30 Sep 07, 18:44
Perfectly good, but not out of this world
Strada has a number of branches across london (and I believe the UK). This particular branch has the option for outside seating.
Pizzas are good and a selection of fish & meat dishes make this a good but not amazing place to eat. They often have deals which make the reasonable prices quite enticing.
This place rates much higher than pizza express, and I would go to strada quite happily anyday of the week.
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
Review of The Ship
30 Sep 07, 18:18
A goodie, if you can find it !
The pub and restuarant has so many god points, depending on your priorities I guess.
It is hidden away and a bit of a locals/people in the know pub. Lots of people get a bit lost trying to find it the first time round.
Large out door space, fantastic in the sun and BBQ too. Inside is a lovely pub with a couple of rooms all on one level. The restuarant has some great dishes, meat & fish (only one veggie main option) and most mains are about £15.
Always a good atmosphere, with some plasma screens tastefully arranged in corners.
Nice pub, worth a visit.
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
Review of Joy
30 Sep 07, 18:10
handy location for last minute gifts
Clothing for boys & girls, gifts, cards, novelty items, amusing stocking fillers.
Really good place to pick up a card or gift for someone with a wicked sense of humour. Lots of naughty but nice bits and pieces. Books, pens that when you turn upside down the boy/girls clothes "fall" off.
The clothes are very funky and the prices vary from £14/18 for a vest top to £££ for dresses. They all have tha fashion student feel about them. Sometimes I feel the quality of the item isn't worth the ££. There a a few "Joy" shops around London, but this one being at the station is brilliant for that last minute gift before you jump on the train to the party !
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
Review of Gourmet Burger Kitchen
13 Sep 07, 17:07
Yummy burgers, good take-way
Nice local burger bar, with healthy made to order burgers. They are big boy burgers.
Beer by the bottle, milkshakes/soft drinks or selection of wine go down nicely, with your beef, lamb, chicken or veggie burger. There are three veggie options.
One portion of chips is huge and plenty for two (unless you like "man" portions, or are incapable of sharing). Beware the garlic mayo is lethal ! - You will have minial chances of pulling if you go for that.
Seating is limited and you order at the bar, but the best plan is to get take-away on a sunny day and eat on the common !
Nice - but sometimes too busy / and cramped.
TIP - especially when busy, if getting take-away check your order before you leave ( I have been disappointed when I've come home to find I've got the wrong order).
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.