Rob's reviews
Review of Daily Grind
08 Jan 08, 13:50
Ho hum coffee shop 
In the middle of a busy open-air shopping mall, you would have thought The Daily Grind could provide something a little more than something perfunctory.
It doesn't. This site has changed hands numerous times over the past few years, always attempting to be a better coffee shop than the previous one.
Coffee was OK. Selection of paninis and sarnies were average, at best.
The staff were very pleasant and friendly, though, and it was clearly popular, although I'm not sure if that's to do with the dearth of competition, or not.
If you're there and you need something to wet your whistle, you could do worse.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Review of Bo Peep
10 Dec 07, 14:37
Run-of-the-mill pub/restaurant
Parents live nearby, so we looked for somewhere that we could take our 20-month-old daughter.
The downside: even though my dad told them we were bringing my daughter, they neglected to mention they have no high chairs - and we weren't the only family with young'uns in.
The landlady was a little bit short and sharp with us - not exactly hospitable.
The food was pretty OK, though. Reasonably priced and the Sunday roast wasn't bad. good selection of beers and the place itself is deceptively big.
However, I wouldn't make a big diversion to go here. There must be plenty of other pubs in the area that are as good, if not better
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of Ikea
07 Dec 07, 16:29
What else did you expect?
It doesn't matter how cheap the furniture, pot plants or wine glasses are, I can't believe anyone seriously enjoys a trip to Ikea.
For better or worse, I've had to go quite a few times in the last year or so and it never fails to make my heart sink.
The car park is a nightmare, it takes ages to find anything and queueing up to pay is an awful experience.
And yet, and yet...
For what it costs, the quality is good. The restaurant/cafe is actually quite enjoyable and you do get a great idea of what to put in your pad.
In fact, if you go when it's quiet (and I have managed that), it's actually an enjoyable experience - sadly, it's almost impossible to work out when it will be quiet.
Oh, and the other branches in and around London (Thurrock, Brent Cross) are no different, so please don't try to convince me my experience is confined to the Croydon branch.
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
Review of Leon
07 Dec 07, 16:22
Needs time...
I love Leon. The branch in Carnaby Street is lovely and embodies exactly what this small restaurant chain was trying to do - serve seasonal, organic food at reasonable prices.
The thing is, they're branching out and some of the newer venues are on a far different scale.
The new one behind Tate Modern is a case in point. The try-too-hard decor is in place, as are the friendly menus, but the space is just too big. It feels empty a lot of the time and, sadly, it's in an area that is less likely to attract an evening crowd.
The food is still great and the drinks are lovely. The staff are friendly, as well, but this place needs time to establish itself and a loyal clientele. Good luck!
0 out of 0 people 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.
Review of Giraffe
21 Aug 07, 14:11
Great for kids, but too busy
This is one of a number of Giraffe restaurants dotted around London.
They're very kid-friendly and the menu has an upmarket burger joint feel to it (like GBK, or Planet Hollywood in its heyday).
It's loud, bright and has great alcoves to sit in, but (and this is a big but), if you go at the weekend, be prepared to wait a long time for a table.
The child-friendly status means that it is packed and people turn up early to get lunch (we're talking anytime from 11.45 am onwards).
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of Patisserie Valerie
21 Aug 07, 14:08
Lovely little cafe
This is a kind of 7/10 type place, rather than 8/10. I used to meet friends here for breakfast, when I had no other time to spare and it does great tea, coffee and other "continental" style accountrements. Their cakes, as another reviewer has mentioned, are divine and it's just a lovely calm place to escape the hustle and bustle of Soho. Recommended!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Review of Whole Foods
07 Aug 07, 16:40
Nothing great
The hype of this place has meant that it hasn't quite lived up to expectations. Yes, it's big. Yes, it has an awfully large selection of produce, but it's just too busy, queuing up to pay takes too long and it feels too "posh". That said, it's actually not as expensive as many people make out, assuming you're not after a specific type of olive only found one mountain in northern Greece. It's nicely laid out, the staff are very helpful and the baskets are pleasingly spacious. The thing is, we're actually quite spoiled in the UK, and London specifically, by the likes of M&S food, Waitrose, Sainsburys and likes of Borough Market, etc. It will succeed eventually, but just not as quickly as everyone assumed!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Review of The Dartmouth Castle
06 Aug 07, 21:37
Pleasant gastropub
Ten years ago, The Dartmouth Castle was a wonderfully old-school, pool-table-containing, beer-swilling local, run by a benevolent Irish landlord. Then the money moved in and it changed for, some might say, the better. To be honest, old-man pubs (as I like to call them) are very out of fashion, so the DC in its new guise is very 2007! There's a nice outdoor space at the front, the road shielded by a neat hedge (sadly, it doesn't drown out the traffic, though). The wine list is fairly extensive, the food menu is very gastropub (lots of trendy antipasti, non-potato mash and jus) and there's even two bitters on offer. All in all, pretty OK - it just doesn't inspire. There are plenty of similar pubs and, while the DC is good enough, it just doesn't stand out.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of Ziads
04 Aug 07, 20:26
Bog-standard barbers
Ziad's is a cheap and cheerful barber that will give you a good haircut.
Nice fixtures and fittings, adequate selection of magazines and newspapers and inoffensive music TV playing in the corner.
I've never had a bad haircut here, but then I've never had a great one, either. The staff are pleasant, without being engaging, or even that friendly.
If you literally want a short back and sides, it's good enough!
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of H K Diner
27 Jul 07, 21:23
Quick and functional
The food is pretty good, it comes quickly, it's not expensive and there are usually a lot of Chinese eating here (especially downstairs), which I usually take as a good sign.
You won't get the greatest Chinese meal ever, but if you fancy a quick bite in Chinatown and don't know where to go, you could do a lot worse than HK Diner.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Review of Amalfi
20 Jul 07, 17:34
Fun and friendly
Amalfi is a bit of an institution on Old Compton Street - I remember going there for the first time about 10 years ago.
It's not 5-star cuisine, but then the prices aren't 5-star prices, either. It's simply good, old-fashioned local Italian, yet in the centre of Soho.
It's also vast, but you don't always notice that, because there are lots of nice little alcoves. Even had a Christmas party there one year - weird, but entertaining!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Review of T Chabuk
19 Jul 07, 16:38
Quaint little surgery
This is actually Rosendale Surgery - one of those practices that are slowly being phased out. It's small, local and very accommodating.
They're always oversubscribed and have people on a waiting list. Doctors, receptionists and ancilliary staff are all lovely.
It was a shame to leave when we moved
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Review of Fujiyama Noodle Bar
19 Jul 07, 16:25
Don't expect luxury
This is a cheap and cheerful Japanese restaurant that is never a letdown.
You are usually squeezed in next to complete strangers, but the food is of top quality - they also do take-away, which is great!
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.