Kyra's reviews
Review of Kennards
07 Dec 07, 14:43
Lovely deli with a local feel 
I poppped in here today during the Lamb's Conduit Street festival and it was absolutely heaving. The deli at the front of the shop is well-stocked with lots of interesting products from around the world, and they have samples of cheeses or olives to try before you buy.
It feels very charming and village-y inside, with products stacked on wooden shelves and dotted around the space, so that you have to forage for them a bit, which I really liked. A tiny café at the back serves as a relaxing place to sit and watch the happenings of Lamb's Conduit Street.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Review of The Old Crown
11 Oct 07, 12:43
Busy but go upstairs, it's worth it...
I went here recently for what was intended to be a quick after-work drink, but turned into a rather pleasant long evening.
The place looked packed when we first arrived, and the ground floor is a bit cramped, but to our delight we found a completely empty room upstairs, with comfy leather sofas and plenty of candles. Some may find it a bit pretentious, but I really liked the effort they had gone to with the decor- funky wallpaper, chandeliers, fresh flowers on the bar, and candles everywhere.
The bar food menu was excellent, and really inexpensive for the quality. Deliciously fat, juicy chargrilled lamb koftas were served with salad for £3.50, and their greek salad was really packed with ingredients, for the same price. The food was mainly what enticed us to consider staying longer, and the novelty of finding a central London venue where we could have a room (almost) to ourselves was what kept us there.
As a final note, the toilets were some of the nicest pub toilets I've ever seen. I'm not even kidding. Oddly, there was one cubicle in the ladies' with two toilets inside. But I'll let that weird little detail slide. A top place.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Review of Hummus Bros
31 Aug 07, 11:30
Totally agree with other reviewers... 
I just tried this place for the first time and I have to agree with the other reviews- it's a brilliant little find. The food is cheap, tasty, hot and fresh, and feels a little more salubrious than your average anaemic soggy supermarket sandwich. Three of us ate for £15 and we were offered free mint tea at the end by smiling staff. I'll definitely be back.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Review of The Lamb
20 Aug 07, 16:52
Bloomsbury's Finest
This pub is quite possibly my favourite in London. It is a true haven from the hustle and bustle of everyday London life- a quiet, dark-ish, proper pub that harks back to a golden bygone age, when you could hear yourself think, listening to your friend's hushed tones as they discussed some neighbourhood scandal with you, all the time avoiding the reserved glances of a familiar face or two.
The staff here are always charming and eager to please, the Young's ales seem to go down well with everyone I take there, and the setting is truly inspiring- you feel a bit like you could be drinking with the Bloomsbury set, back in the pub's heyday. Take a notebook if you really want to appear as a permanant fixture!
Having hired the upstairs room for an event earlier this year I can say with conviction that it was the most smoothly-run, friendly, and welcoming experience. I would highly recommend this pub to anyone passing through the Holborn/ Russell Square area- you may find yourself staying longer than you intended. More like this one, please...
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Review of Ciao Bella
15 Aug 07, 11:57
Bellissima!
I discovered Ciao Bella when looking for a place to have a birthday dinner and I have enjoyed many a long, lively dinner there with friends as well as smart, efficient business lunches and intimate tete-a-tetes. Upon arrival everyone gets a bowl of marinated queen olives, a small packet of grissini, and a plate of parmesan chunks. This immediately swayed me, and I was destined to adore this place forevermore. Despite the freebies, the prices don't go up with a ridiculous 'cover' charge, nor is the menu expensive. Most pasta and pizza dishes stay firmly in the £7 and under category. The food is top-notch: hearty Italian trattoria fare with an emphasis on fresh ingredients, and particular attention to Italian specialities not usually available in bog-standard pizzerias- bresaola,rucola, and parmesan salad; prosciutto crudo- and the service is second to none.
I always see the same smiling faces there and they are very accomodating, with a personal touch. They're always ready with a quip or comment, even for large groups. I went for lunch yesterday and was persuaded, nay, cajoled even, to finish the last mouthfuls of my panna cotta. 'Go on,' my waiter said, smiling cheekily. 'You can do it'. Of course I did, and I left happy and with some of my lunch money still in my pocket. Che bella.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.