Rob M.

Review of Tate Modern

22 Oct 07, 14:40

Members bar

Yeah, the art's pretty good and it's on the South Bank, near the Globe and Oxo Tower, but the best bit is the cool views from the Members Bar on the 6th floor.

You can get a beer or wine and a neat little lunch and chill on the outdoor balcony with a peerless view over the Thames and much of London.

Admittedly, the rest of the place is pretty great as well. Let's just hope they do something with the 'sister' building of Battersea Power Station

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Review of Marlow Fish Bar

04 Oct 07, 20:21

Superb local chippie

Located in a back street away from any main roads, this is a real locals place. It's been here for more than 20 years and still does fantastic fish and chips. It doesn't do lots of different swanky types of fish, but if you want a fab portion of cod and chips, or a battered sausage, then this is worth trying out. Lovely family-run place!

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Review of The Angel

03 Oct 07, 11:39

Old-fashioned boozer

Although the pub has undergone renovations in recent years, this is still one of the few pubs in Central London, where you can play darts. What's more it's a Sam Smith's pub, so beer is cheap and tasty. Food is standard and could probably do with a bit of an improvement. Tucked away from the main drags of Shaftesbury Avenue, Charing Cross Road and Tottenham Court Road, it's also usually a nice quiet place to get a pint, without tourists!

1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.

Review of Villagers Sausages

03 Oct 07, 11:34

Banger up to the mark

For a shop to survive on selling one item alone, it must be good. In the case of Villagers Sausages, they trade only in bangers, but, my, what bangers they are. Situated in Beckenham High Street, they have more combinations of sausages than you've ever dreamed of. There are the usual pork, pork and leek, Lincolnshire and Cumberland, but then it goes totally leftfield. You can get Steak and Guinness, Caribbean Chicken, Venison, Wild Boar, Merguez, Spanish chorizo, the list goes on. All the ones we've had so far, have tasted so succulent and flavoursome. What's more, the staff are knowledgeable and helpful and you don't have to buy in pre-packed amounts. Just want two to try? Not a problem. They know you'll be back for more, if you like them. This shop truly celebrates the great British banger, but also caters for many other tastes. Your life will be enriched if you go!

1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.

Review of The Dolphin

11 Sep 07, 14:07

Great for Sunday lunch

The Dolphin is a newly-refurbished pub in the heart of Sydenham and, my, is it nice!

We went there recently for Sunday lunch and were mightily impressed. It's big and has lots of tables inside, and the garden has a modern, almost architectural feel, complete with topiary hedges and water fountain.

The food was great, as well. A choice of three different roasts, (the beef was perfectly cooked - just pink enough), a veggie main course and sea bass (which was great).

The veggies were possibly a little too chunky, but the gravy was great.

They also do a nice line in Prosecco cocktails, but also serve up a lovely pint, if you so wish.

Definitely worth checking out, especially if you want to take the parents somewhere!

1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.

Review of Ginger Pig

08 Sep 07, 08:54

Meat at its very best

In a modern middle-class world obsessed by food provenance and quality, Ginger Pig is one of those places everyone should have in there Little Black Book.

Tucked away in a side street off Marylebone High Street, it restores your faith in local butchers. Run by authentic-sounding Londoners, you can pretty much any cut of pork (as the name of the shop would suggest), but they also do great lamb, beef and chicken, plus top notch sausages and some demon pies in their charcuterie section.

Maybe it's all a little expensive, but then we are talking top-quality meat here, not scrag ends.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Review of Borough Market

06 Sep 07, 13:10

Still as great as ever

There can't be many Londoners who haven't heard of Borough Market by now.

Open on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, it's 'the' place to get fresh, local, organic and wonderfully tasting food. You want it? They've got it...

whether it's top-notch meat, fish, fruit and veg, cheese, bread... I could go on.

Filled with famous names, such as Brindisa and Ginger Pig, but also less well-known, but no worse for that, suppliers, the selection of produce on offer is mind-boggling.

The one downside is how busy it is. If you go on a Saturday, get there as early as you can. The same with Thursdays and Fridays... go there as soon as it opens.

It's bloody great - go there once and you'll want to return again and again

1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.

Review of Indian Dining Club

02 Sep 07, 16:05

Superb Indian cuisine

We've only sampled their takeaway menu, but it's one of the best we've had in London.

Recently arrived in Gipsy Hill, and with a sister restaurant in Kennington, this place does extraordinarily good food.

We've tried their chicken and lamb dishes and they taste fresh, clean and extraordinarily divine - spicy, but not too hot-spicy. Their tandoori selection is equally good, the meat is always tender and their lemon rice is wonderful.

There are Indian restaurants a-plenty in London, but this one is definitely one of the best.

1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.

Review of The Ship

30 Aug 07, 22:41

Classic local boozer

Head out of central London and you come across pubs like The Ship, a typical English pub. Cleaned up a little since the smoking ban, this is still a happily unreconstructed boozer with a long bar, plenty of beer on tap and TV screens for the football. Filled with friendly locals, it's definitely one to check out, though.

1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.