Andrea's reviews
Review of Bertorellis Of Covent Garden
08 Sep 08, 10:50
Quality Italian 
Decent Italian a stones throw away from the Opera House and the heaving masses in Covent Garden.
Probably the darkest branch of the Bertorelli's chain and the decor is in need of a little updating - the Charlotte Street and Frith Street branches are brighter and lighter. But it is definitely cosier and more intimate here.
Food is good quality Italian with a range of fish, meat and pasta dishes on offer. It also has daily specials. Good flavours - especially the linguine vongole (if you like clams). Service is good - attentive but not overwhelming.
Save some room for dessert or at least coffee, both of which are good.
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
Review of Thaitanic
29 Aug 08, 23:12
This one isn't a sinker
Friendly Thai restaurant with quirky decor (it used to be a Cafe Rouge and it's kept the French velour seats and light fittings). Typical Thai menu, tasty food, reasonably priced and good service - three courses and two beers for two people worked out less than £35.
Very good crispy duck.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of Sugar Reef
29 Aug 08, 18:43
The 80s called and they want their cocktails back
Now, here was me thinking that Vodka Revolution was the only place in Soho that still served pitchers of sugary sweet cocktails like Woo Woos and Sex on the Beach. Oh how I was wrong.
Sugar Reef serves them up for £16 a pitcher and transports your beverage memory back 1988. Right down to the crushed ice.
This is a typical big bar, similar to The Loop, The Langley, Tiger Tiger etc. It's generic - from the decor to the menu, but the service is ok. It probably gets a few hen parties on a Friday and Saturday night taking advantage of happy hour and the big sharing platters of food on the menu.
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
Review of Nest Cafe
17 Aug 08, 18:14
Coffee from Nest Cafe
Or tea, if you prefer! What they do best though is a fried egg sandwich. Or if you're really hungry, a hangover-curing fry -up - which you can have "GO LARGE" or "GO SMALL" ! Weekday mornings it's always busy, but service is fast and there's rarely a queue for long.
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
Review of Pizza Express Restaurants
16 Jun 08, 18:11
Find the front door!
This is a larger branch of the ever consistent Pizza Express. Serving the same variety of pizzas as per the rest of the chain this is a bright airy restaurant with a nice squishy sofa by the door if you're waiting for a table to free up. And in summer, go eat out on the terrace, or at least have a glass of wine there.
Best thing about it must be the fact that the entrance is not on Chapel Street, although the restaurant's big windows overlook the road. Much comedy can be had watching people trying to work out how to get into the restaurant (door is at the back facing the Waitrose).
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Review of The Ranelagh
10 Jun 08, 00:47
Tuesday pub quiz night is legendary
The only decent pub in Bounds Green, The Ranelagh has a lovely garden and is an excellent place to while away a Saturday afternoon with a bottle of rose. Not the best place for eating - for some reason they always seem to be out of ingredients when I'm there. But the best thing about it: Tuesday Pub Quiz Night. Get there for 8pm and have a pint or two and then try answering the flag questions. Genius and hysterical!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Review of TK Maxx
09 Jun 08, 14:53
Tiny TK Maxx
Small but perfectly formed and located on the first floor of The Mall at Wood Green Shopping City. Typical of most of the TK Maxx stores, but always seems a bit less crowded and stressful. And the staff are always helpful here, unlike some of the other London branches.
Good bargain tips: handbags, pashminas and toiletries - I spotted some Pout lipsticks there on Saturday!
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of Souk
28 Apr 08, 19:41
Tasty middle eastern lunches
I stumbled upon Souk and it is a real find if you want a break from sandwiches or soups from the regular chains. The menu includes wraps, falafels, couscous and they offer hot specials for both veggies and meat eaters. If you're hungry their "lunchboxes" are a good option where you can pick a couple daily dishes to have with rice or couscous for just under £6.
The only unauthentic thing about this place is the staff uniforms: unfortunately it is fast-food restaurant attire, complete with baseball cap. So I half expect to be asked if I want my food super-sized. Shame really.
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Review of Cafe Diana
22 Apr 08, 19:40
Brunching and people watching
With an interior that is a bit of a shrine to Diana, Princess of Wales this little cafe is a lovely place to have Sunday brunch in the sunshine. Located just by the driveway to Kensington Palace (hence its name) it has all the typical breakfast staples, served by friendly staff and good coffee.
Worth picking up the paper and having a leisurely breakfast before charging round Kensington Gardens to work off that fried egg...
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
Review of The Phoenix
18 Apr 08, 15:19
Mediocre
Tucked just behind BHS on Oxford Street this is indeed the only pub on Cavendish Square. I wouldn't normally drink there as there are far better pubs just the other side of Regents Street (The Yorkshire Grey and The Crown & Sceptre to name but two). It's not the fastest place to be served - definitely not enough staff. And when my gin and tonic arrived it came without lime / lemon and a distinct absence of ice! The beer drinkers are much better served here.
That being said it is a comfy pub with benches and big tables. If you have to eat there, the nachos are the best bet.
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
Review of Coach & Horses
13 Apr 08, 23:59
Typical pub fare
On the edge of the New Forest this busy pub could do with updating its decor as it is looking a little faded. However, it has a surprisingly wide menu: from roast dinners to seasonal fish and decent veggie options, including a dish on the menu that was a winning recipe in a local competition, which was nice touch. I was there in a group of 16 and we were all served promptly. And although the main courses were sizeable, the desserts looked so tempting I ordered one (very cholesterol-raising strawberry pavlova) and then couldn't finish it!
Service was ok. They could probably do with some more staff to help serve on Sundays. And they only offered sauces at one end of the table and it was tricky to grab someone's attention to get extras brought round. Otherwise a pleasant way to spend a couple hours.
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
Review of Revolution Bar
10 Apr 08, 18:56
Hardly revolutionary
Revolution is fine for a quick drink after work but it wouldn't be my first choice. It's spacious with low tables, sofas and a long bar so is a good place to start an evening, especially if in a group.
But remove the red lighting and you could be in any chain of pubs / bars in Soho. Aside from the generic atmosphere, the cocktails are a bit dated too - hands up who drinks Woo Woos? Yeah, I thought not.
Maybe in another ten years it will be "vintage" and people will flock there...
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
Review of Giraffe
31 Mar 08, 12:05
Brunch... with babies
This branch of Giraffe is a great place for Sunday brunch - nice location, comfy interior, consistent food and good coffee. The downside? The number of pushchairs / prams rammed into the front of the restaurant. Giraffe is very child-friendly, so for someone without ankle-biters that wants a bit of peace during breakfast, it can get overwhelmed with screaming babies at the weekend. All of which seem to have been ferried to the restaurant in the bulkiest pushchairs money can buy. If you've got a family, get there early at the weekend to park your pram. Those sans kids - mid afternoon is a good time to turn up...
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.