Sarah's reviews
Review of Thanks For Franks
21 May 07, 21:05
Best sarnies in Soho 
These sarnies are fresh and delicious and absolutely enormous. Breads like pretzel, seeded rolls and doorstep sandwiches make for an excellent carby base for huge amounts of topping - like their tuna nicoise - piles of fresh egg, tune, corn, and salad - delicious. If you can find a table, the eat in - otherwise, you get a discount for takeout.
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Review of Zilli Fish
21 May 07, 20:02
Fantastic fish 
This fantastic fish restaurant is about as good as it gets when you can't see the sea from the window. Peppy staff serve up excellent food - and the science is in its simplicity. All the flavours of perfectly fresh food can come through unadulterated. You won't leave feeling over-full or too light of pocket - you will feel like you've had a great London dining experience.
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Review of Headmasters
20 May 07, 16:18
Use your head 
They can certainly talk the talk here (perhaps something to do with the proximity to Vogue house), but when it comes to cutting hair I'm not so sure. "Just a little off here"; "It'll work with your bone structure"; "Seriously, darling, it'll look winning..."; the trouble is, it seems like very expensive smoke and mirrors. My hairdresser pressured me into having highlights, which I didn't really want. Even at half price, the whole thing still set me back nearly 70 quid. I felt ripped off and a bit embarrassed by the experience.
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Review of Aperitivo
18 May 07, 13:20
Italy meets Spain
This is a brilliant concept - Italian tapas - and unsurprisingly it's hugely popular with local office workers and the post-work crowd. By the door, there are lovely leather sofas to relax and pass the time on, while the restaurant has about 30 covers. When ordering, you choose a selection of dishes at any one time, and while you're waiting you'll be brought delicious, thin crisp bread drizzled with olive oil. The petite pasta dishes and mixed meat platters are especially good.
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Review of Market Place
18 May 07, 10:41
Meat Market
This hugely popular bar is packed most nights of the week, and attracts a fun-loving clientèle. The drinks are reasonable prices and the staff is OK, though the food is dreadful. Expect to get mauled towards the weekend when people here are out on the pull. If you're not - avoid it.
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Review of Camoflage
15 May 07, 16:03
He's got the power
This fantastic pizza place has just been taken over by Vince Power, and has come through the transition of ownership unscathed. Light and open, it's modern rather than Chianti bottles and candles, but is consistently good. The staff are never the same, but are always smart and nice.
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Review of Turnbull and Asser
15 May 07, 11:37
A cut above
This beautiful store is testament to all things old and lovely about London's tailoring tradition. Piles of peacock-coloured shirts, ties, braces and handkerchiefs line the wood-panelled walls, while cases of cufflinks and accessories are stowed under glass counters. This is one (if not the?) last places where you can have a bespoke shirt made in London - and specify literally every detail: collar height, number of buttons, vents and, of course, fabric and cut. The charming, old-school service is expensive, but then this is a luxury and should be kept that way.
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Review of Sanderson Hotel
11 May 07, 15:36
Sexy Sanderson
This has the usual slightly wonky Schrager styling and eccentricity, but the best thing about staying in the Sanderson are the incredible beds. Huge, silver, sleigh style things with thread counts to die for. The service at this hotel is exceptional, and despite all the posing around, the actual "hotelness"Â of the place is really impressive. My room was quite noisy as it backed on to the terrace/garden/courtyard area at the back and it was a summers evening so everyone with a job in media and advertising were ensconced there. But otherwise I got a great nights sleep.
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Review of Soho Hotel
10 May 07, 11:03
Big screen
The Soho Hotel works on a Marmite philosophy, and I subscribe to the "love it"? camp. While it may have been criticised for a paint-by-numbers approach to boutique-cool, the eclectic mix of style, plus great service and a good mix of clientele make for a great destination. Its screening rooms are ideally located in the heart of media land. There are two on offer: one to seat 100 and the other catering for a more reasonable 45 people (£250/hour). The smaller of the two is furnished with huge armchair seats in cowhide or red leather with drinks trays and masses of legroom. Pre-screening refreshments can be laid on and there is a bar that can be exclusively booked. It's a great platform for a film preview or for your own private party.
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Review of Milk and Honey
09 May 07, 23:30
Food of the gods
This blissful hideaway is members only. Unless you've read this review of course, and found out that non members are actually welcome until 11pm every weeknight , just make sure you call or email in advance to make a reservation. Quite rightly, members get priority , that's what they pay their 600-odd-quid for. But more about the bar , booth seating and discrete tables fill most of the floor space as this is definitely out of the meet and drink school of bars, rather than a dancing on the table kind of place. Cocktails are well mixed and the wine list excellent. The staff is charming and the clientele are all like-minded folk governed by actually quite a strict set of rules, such as no unsanctioned approaches to other groups of people , which means you're left to enjoy your evening undisturbed.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of Foyles
05 May 07, 10:59
Shhhh! I'm trying to read
There aren't many bookshops that boast live jazz performances, a fantastic coffee shop and a staff with an encyclopaedic knowledge of stock, old and new - Foyles is one: a destination shop just a few metres from Tottenham Court Road tube station, where it's been for more than 100 years. Foyles is busy beating off the world-domination of Waterstone's and Tesco by any means necessary - which sometimes manifests itself in discounts on popular titles, but more importantly results in a wide, varied range of stock born out of a real passion for books. This is how big bookshops should be.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of La Trouvaille
01 May 07, 20:22
Find yourself
This is a beautiful and very well executed French restaurant. In the summer, tables laid with white linen skirt the outside, while inside, the dÈcor creates a convivial, intimate atmosphere. The food here is a modern twist on traditional French - with surprising dishes like mutton with lavender surpassing all expectations. The wine list is one of the best I've seen. The staff will woo you into staying for three courses and not wanting to leave. Go with lovers, with friends, with family - with anyone who offers to pay the bill - just go.
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Review of Cass Art
01 May 07, 15:35
Art attack
There's something about the smell of acrylic paint, blank canvasses and row upon row of stationary that makes you believe that artistic excellence is simply a matter of investing in the right tools, however, having nearly being sacked by a good friend for making her wedding present, I can definitely conclude that it doesn't. This hasn't stopped me from frequenting the brilliant CASS Art, where the notepads and paintbrushes scream potential. The prices are the best you'll find outside of student shops and there are always enticing things on sale.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.