Robert's reviews
Review of Cafe Des Amis Du Mexique
17 Apr 08, 13:00
Average Mexican food 
I had heard great things about Café des Amis from friends and to be perfectly honest was a little disappointed. I went after seeing a show at The Marlowe and thought that the food was just OK - nothing special.
The restaurant itself is a little bit out of the ordinary with a nice look and feel with some homely touches, but the food doesn't really live up to this in my experience.
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Review of Cafe Mauresque
17 Apr 08, 12:58
Great food in a great setting 
The decor and ambience at Café Mauresque make it worth a visit alone, but to top it off the Morrocan and Spanish-influenced food doesn't disappoint - quite the reverse, in fact.
Even if you're not really a fan of North African cuisine you're sure to find something you'll like and the individual flavours are fantastic - a real 'explosion' on your tastebuds.
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Review of Scribbler
15 Apr 08, 12:01
This place is terrific.
If you're looking for a card for that special someone but don't want another 'tatty teddy' or 'forever friend' card, or worse, one that looks like it came from a petrol station, look no further than Scribbler.
They have a really good range of funny cards, art cards, you name it they've got it and also have some lovely gift ideas, fridge magnets, all sorts. Check it out.
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Review of Cafe Pacifico
15 Apr 08, 11:53
Huge portions, great atmosphere.
I've been to Pacifico more times than I can count. There still seems to be a shortage of decent Mexican places in the centre of town and CP shines like a beacon.
The ambience and 'buzz' of the place is very good - it's almost always busy. The downside of this is that the service can sometimes be found wanting - far from ideal when they include a 12.5% gratuity on your bill.
But the food is good, competently rendered Mexican with a wide range of aperitifs and entrees. The portions are very large - even someone with a big appetite would struggle to get through, say, beef fajitas served with a side of rice and refried beans - especially when washed down with a bucket of iced Sol!
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Review of Mestizo
15 Apr 08, 11:49
Authentic Mexican cuisine.
Mestizo offers a more authentic take on Mexican food than somewhere like, say, Café Pacifico in Covent Garden or god forbid a cookie-cutter Tex Mex place like Chiquito's in Leicester Square.
This means you can get the things you're used to getting but will also find a lot of things you won't have found on other menus, like chicken in a chocolate (molé) sauce for example. The Argentinean steak melts in the mouth and the staples like pico de gallo salsa and fresh guacamole are very pleasing.
I came here for a birthday with a couple from California and they told me it was as good as any they'd had there - praise indeed! It was my birthday and the exuberant hostess treated me to a tequila shooter while she smacked a hard hat that she'd put on my head.
Unique!
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of Ship Centurion Arminius
15 Apr 08, 11:31
The U-Boat
...as I'm told it's called in the town -is by far the nicest bar in Whitstable, with an unmatched range of beers including some that you simply won't find elsewhere. The weissbeer Erdinger is particularly pleasing - it comes served in a beautiful glass.
And as noted by the other reviewer, the authentic German bratwurst (served with authentic German condiments, including a delicious mustard) is a real delight.
Highly recommended.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of Verrall Garage Services
15 Apr 08, 11:24
Excellent service with a personal touch. 
Tony has been servicing my cars for as long as I've been driving, and my family's cars before that.
He has forgotten more about cars than I will ever know. Even when there's no money in it for him he's only too happy to provide useful advice from his years of experience.
He also provides a reminder service - so you've got no excuse to forget that your MOT is due. And he'll give your car a pre-MOT lookover (and service if you want it) so the chances of your car failing are dramatically reduced. That's got to be good for your wallet!
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Review of R M Tyres
15 Apr 08, 11:18
Lots of stock, competitively priced.
They always have the tyres I need for my car and I can usually be in, tyres fitted and balanced and the invoice paid within half an hour - they're that quick.
I usually have 'budget' tyres fitted and can't complain about the prices but if you're looking for premium brands they can get anything they don't have in stock within 24 hours.
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Review of Shozna Indian & Bangladeshi Cuisine
15 Apr 08, 11:13
Good food, pleasant surroundings.
I had heard only good things about the Shozna and it didn't disappoint. I've now been twice and the standard is consistently good.
The menu in particular is much broader than I've seen elsewhere with a vegetarian option for every dish and a terrific range of specials. The Chicken Nagina (made with naga chillies) is eye-wateringly hot and just the ticket for someone who thinks a vindaloo is too tepid.
The restaurant is a converted pub with mostly tasteful decor (especially around the bar area) though the paintings on the walls are pretty risible.
The tables are quite close together but the service is attentive and there's Kingfisher on tap. Also the lime pickle is good and spicy.
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Review of New Shad
15 Apr 08, 11:03
Terrific food to eat in or out.
I was initially dubious about trying the New Shad as it next door to the Frindsbury Tandoori, where the only thing you'll "take away" is a gastric complaint. But I'm pleased to report they are not related and the food here is excellent, whether you have it delivered or choose to eat in.
The place is a former pub so the inside is spacious and it has been tastefully re-appointed with none of the flock wallpaper and other decorating crimes that will be all-too-familiar to curryhouse regulars.
The menu goes beyond the traditional staples to encompass some specials I haven't seen elsewhere (I can recommend the Chicken Tikka Bakara especially highly) and the vegetarian selection is good, though not the biggest I've seen. All dishes are carried off with aplomb.
The only sour note is that you will quite often wait a long time for your food - there are a lot of waiters but too often they are running around like headless chickens and it can be difficult to get their attention. So you may have finished your poppadums before you've ordered your main course, and then be waiting 45 minutes for it to arrive.
The availability of Kingfisher (brewed down the road in Faversham, but to an Indian recipe) does help to pass the time, however and I still wouldn't hesitate to recommend it if you're in Strood or Frindsbury.
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