Ross's reviews
Review of Tower Tandoori
03 Mar 08, 09:09
Dodgy road - but well worth the visit! 
Very much a diamond in the rough (the extremely rough).
Sitting in amongst dodgy looking pubs, fried chicken shops and other such fun the restaurant stands out massively and once you get inside you feel like you could easily be much further up the road in Borough; but with far better prices :>
Alongside your normal curry house fair the specials are also well worth trying (and seem to change on a regular basis so are always good and seasonal).
With friendly staff who are clearly ecstatic to work there, great food and good prices the only downside is when you leave and you remember where you are!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Review of Blue Print Cafe
19 Mar 08, 08:24
Good simple food - possibly too simple.. 
People are going to come here for one of two reasons - either the view (directly over the Thames - they even provide binoculars) or for the good simple English cookery (it's one of those 'simple ingredients, cooked properly' places).
The menu changes daily (I read somewhere that it was twice daily) so everything you eat is going to be bang in season which is always a good thing but the simplicity of a few of the dishes didn't work all the time - especially with pudding which was a "plate of English cheese" that was three bits of a cheese on a plate with four really, really dry crackers - it needed just a little bit more!
The prices are good though and the service is nice. I'm sure when the sun's out in the summer and the open up the windows it'll feel a totally different place (especially the menu).
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of Benares
31 Mar 08, 20:11
Indian food, but not as you know it
Benares is one of my favourite restaurants in London (though probably also one of the more expensive).
Taking English ingredients (with a large fish infulence) the chefs cook them to perrfection and offset their flavour with enough spice to sound like too much but taste like heaven. Your more standard Indian food is also available (such as Rogan Josh or Chicken Tikka) if you're not feeling adventurous - never had them but can't imagine they are bad!
A good place to go on a special occasion - curry and cocktails - can't beat it!!
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of Dragon Castle
31 Mar 08, 20:26
Worth the visit from town 
I've been to the Dragon Castle a number of times and after a poor first showing (I wouldn't recommend having the steamed fish) it's kept on impressing!
The menu is massive so plenty of choice for everyone and includes all your standard Chinese fair aswell as food for those looking for something a bit out of the ordinary (or lovers of tripe). The prices are cheap enough to encourage exploration - order three dishes, keep on sampling from the menu and you're not going to leave unhappy; and certainly not feeling empty.
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
Review of Hummus Bros
18 Apr 08, 09:11
Tasty tasty veg (with meat)
I always liked the idea of this place but was never sure if I'd like the reality (would chickpeas be too bland to base a meal around!?!?!) - having now been I can happily say that the reality is indeed good!
A big bowl of humus with meat in the middle is a tasty and filling meal; I've seen people complain about prices but it all seemed good to me. I was also really impressed with the pitta breads (totally unlike any pitta I have had before) and salads (fresh, crispy and delicious).
A very cool place for lunch and certainly somewhere to go when you are fancying a change from your standard lunch fair.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Review of Private Shop
16 May 08, 12:15
Great for getting your rocks off
This is a lovely shop run by a lovely old couple who you wouldn't think would be the type.
While they no longer have that much of an interest in the goods (viagra can only do so much it seems) they have a very good stock and, if required, can get most things you need if you give them notice.
The place doesn't smell like some of the inner city shops which is good and the curtain ensure privacy.
If you're a dirty perv or a curious enthusiast I don't think you can go too far wrong.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of Wahaca
09 Jun 08, 08:30
Worth it if you can bear the wait
The food at Wahaca consists of your standards Mexican fair but it all cooked fresh so makes it one of the best places to go for a quick taco in the West End.
The menu contains no massive surprises but everything looks and tastes pretty darn good; order the Wahaca selection and you'll get a plate of food worthy of any appetite and feel that you got the most out of what there is on offer. I'd also really recommend staying clear of the beers and cocktails and going for the hot chocolate (which was superb).
The one thing that really annoyed me about the place was it's crappy 'no reservations' policy. With it's popularity this generally means that unless you arrive bang on opening time you're not getting in and be asked if you can wait for up to an hour - with no bar this is a toil.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of Masala Zone
09 Jun 08, 08:39
Disappointing - many better options availiable in the area 
Now while I can't actually remember how I got here (it was after a fairly heavy drinking session) I can remember how excited I was to be going; and also how disappointed I was by what I ate.
I felt that portions were pretty small and tasted fairly average. People say that the prices are good but I can't really agree for the quality of taste on display.
You can get this food at any other Indian Restaurant in the area for a similar price and be fed better. Be adventurous and do that - stay away the the sparkling lights!!
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of Wild Honey
09 Jun 08, 08:49
New restaurant with a good old tastes
I guess Mayfair restaurants all get tarnished with the same brush but when a place puts a cheese board at center stage then you really must be proud of the stuff you are doing rather than relying on reputation.
All dishes I had were of an excellent quality with enough flavor combinations to excite and interest - pig's head for instance sounds revolting but in reality was a terrine style block of tender meat, great stuff!
I've already mentioned the cheese board and I must say that with the desserts being rather iffy you're much better off going for a few more options from there opposed to going for sugar. (I had both but still - that's why I go to these places!!)
The drink menu is cool, one nice touch is the option to have a small carafe of wine so that you can try more than one and also, I guess save on those pennies. Also allows for more room for cocktails and champagne :>
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Review of Mestizo
11 Jun 08, 08:50
Mexican with a mexican twist
This isn't the place to go for your burritos, enchiladas or chili-con-carne; but if you want authentic Mexican (mole sauce and all) this is certainly a great visit!
If you are unsure on what to have they offer a 'tapas' style menu from which you can order multiple dishes and not feel like you have eaten a whole cow after polishing them all off and licking the plate clean. If you know what you are looking for there is also a large 'main course' menu consisting of larger portioned dishes.
I'd recommend avoiding puddings and sampling a couple of tequila's instead (they have a range of over 40 at varying prices).
On a weekend their is also a downstairs disco and this can lead to a rather odd dining experience but ignoring that the food is great and at a good price!
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.