Helen E.

Review of James Smith and Sons Umbrellas

27 Nov 07, 15:03

Hand Crafted Wonders

I always have the utmost respect for any business that has been around for 175 years, especially in a market that is now dominated by cheap, machine made imports.

This shop is a London institution and very exciting. I love the old- worldy style shop front and the excellent customer service within.

It is a real wonder all the different umbrellas on display, and to think that they are custom made- it really is inspiring.

Located in the heart of New Oxford Street, it is worth the detour off Oxford Street, even if for nostalgic reasons. A truly beautiful shop.

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Wahaca

05 Nov 07, 11:56

A Feast for Thirty Pounds

Wahaca lived up to my expectations, I had heard so many good things about the food, I was not disappointed. The restaurant gets so busy and they do not take bookings. You are given a time and when you come back at the given time you are guaranteed a table. This took about 30mins and once seated we were not rushed at all.

The service was a little erratic, but I think this was just our waiter as the other serving staff around us were very efficient. We had to ask for are drinks to be delivered to our table and this was after our dinner had arrived. The food was fresh, and it really did taste different to many other Mexican foods I have tried.

They offer small 'street food' portions and 'larger plates' you can pick and mix from both menus. My only complaint would be that because the food is not ordered (they bring it out as and when it is cooked) you can end up with all your food on the table at once and having to rush to eat it before it goes cold.

The atmosphere is buzzing and the basement hall settings are really funky, with coloured wall panels and painted bricks. Yummy tortilla chips, but their motto is that they try to stay away from 'nachos and fajitas' to make them selves more authentic. The problem is when your eating your tortilla chips and salsa you can't help but miss the melted cheese.

Great experience,but beware if you leave it late to eat you run the risk of not getting a table!

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

Review of All Bar One

05 Nov 07, 11:19

Friendly Place for a Drink

This bar is situated in a really central location close to Covent Garden and Leicester Square.The bar its self has a good atmosphere and the music is not unbearably loud, as it is in so many places.

The drinks were reasonably priced and well made. The staff were friendly and efficient. It is a very busy place with people having both drinks and food. There is a designated area at the back of the bar for people wishing to dine more quietly.

All round a nice bar, with a buzzing atmosphere that is not too over-crowded. Great for a pre and post dinner drinks.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Review of The Chandos

03 Nov 07, 07:34

Out the Door Before Ordering!

Ok, so I did visit in a Friday night, but to be honest it wasn't that busy - it certainly wasn't busy enough to warrant the service I received.

From the moment I walked into this brightly lit odd place I thought 'mistake'. It lacked atmosphere, and due to the lack of music the drone of people squealing and shouting was just tedious.

That was not the worst bit. We approached the bar and as soon as we had done so a couple proceed to push right in front of us and get served, after the barman had us seen waiting there first! We decided to let that one go.

Now the couple have departed and it's our turn again, or so you would think? Up steps a next guy yelling to the barman it's his turn - it is quite clearly not his turn and in true Chandos fashion the barman serves the yelling man again before us, knowing full well we were first!

This could have been excused if the staff were quick, but they weren't they were just dithering around preparing lack luster drinks.

Needless to say I abruptly left after the final insult. All in all, I never even stayed for a drink.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Review of Eds Easy Diner

27 Oct 07, 21:18

The American Way

What can I say about this place, I don't usually go for burgers, or chains, or eating so close to theatre land but I do really like Ed's.

I have been to the one in Blue Water Kent, but this one was so much better. The staff were really friendly and helpful and the atmosphere was actually really good. It hosted a strange mix of city suits, Americans and theatre goers.

The grill chef was a real old American guy dressed in the original white gill outfit. The burgers are more original, not gourmet, but still really good. You can get American classics like chili fries and peanut butter milkshakes.

Your burger comes in a paper holder, the grill chef asks how your want your burger cooked and he also takes an active interest in weather or not you liked his creation.

Give this place a go, if you want real American food, away from McDonalds and all the gourmet offering around these days.

1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.

Review of Miss Sixty

27 Oct 07, 20:41

Good Product Knowledge!

I can't say that I frequent this store on a regular basis, however when I did purchase a pair of jeans from here the staff were really great.

Unlike so many shops, Miss Sixty staff seamed well informed, clued up and bursting with product knowledge. This may sound a little square, but when you are parting with any thing up to £130 for jeans you want the person serving you to understand the products and the denim.

I was impressed that the level of service did not falter even though my visit was paid during a peak sale time.

The jeans are good quality and they are very inventive with their denim washes. All round great shopping experience.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Review of Pout

16 Oct 07, 18:06

Beautiful Cosmetics, delightful Packaging!

Pout is one of the less known cosmetic companies on the market. However this is not reflective of it's quality.

The shop it's self is lovely and really kitch. The cosmetics are laid out is colour concepts and themes helping you choose what products you are after.

The staff are all very knowledgeable and always putting makeup on willing browsers. The packaging is the secret marketing strategy of this company. It is a case of 'who cares what the products are like when they look so pretty'. Well surprisingly the products do match the packaging and I would say Pout is similar to Benefit in that the products they sell are fun, but yet very functional.

A really buzzing shop that often results in an unexpected sale.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Review of The Pop Boutique

08 Oct 07, 22:24

Vintage Treasure

This place is dear to me, I began frequenting it at the tender age of 17 for vintage t-shirts, and now at the ripe old age of 22 I feel I am a veteran.

Pop is one of the founding vintage stores in London and sells a real eclectic mix if men's, women's and unisex clothes. It also stocks an array or miss matched home-ware and accessories.

It is in a prime Covent Garden location and really easy to get to, you simply can't miss the brightly coloured shop front.

This is the place Jamie Oliver used to get his t-shirts from, back in the day when he was still on a scooter.

Pop still stocks some cool and unusual things, however they started making their own pop new/vintage range, which was just not the same, it was not genuine vintage.

Cool friendly staff that are always happy to help, and the tunes they play are always super cool.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Review of Paul Frank

02 Oct 07, 15:08

Paul Frank is Your Friend

I have been a huge Paul Frank fan for well over 7 years now and I still find his creations really unique and inspiring.

The shop in Covent Garden is great, however sometimes it can be hit or miss with how much stock they have in. Well, affordable stock that is. The best bits always sell out first - like the pin badges and other random accessories.

I love the Paul Frank collaborations and every time I go in I see the end products of a new collaboration that Frank has pulled off. Notably the best lately being the Andy Warhol collaboration.

This is not the sort of shop where I always buy something, but I always enjoy going in. It is fun and I love the fact that the whole label does not take it's self seriously at all.

Having sampled the New York store I think London wins, it has just got a really fun feel and they always have some awesome tunes playing when you go in.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.