Gemma's reviews
Review of Kipferl
14 Apr 08, 15:36
Fantastisch 
I stumbled across Kipferl while wandering aimlessly around Smithfield Market. And boy, am I ever glad I did. A neat little Austrian cafe, Kipferl is a lovely place to while away an hour or so with a coffee (served with a glass of water and a mini Milka chocolate) and a slice of poppyseed cake or Jewish apple cake, while watching the world go by. It is clearly popular with the Austrian expat community, and several times I have been the only Brit in the place (always a good sign).
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Review of Royal George
14 Apr 08, 15:26
A royal alternative 
My heart used to sink into my boots when friends suggested meeting up in the centre of London, as it usually meant sitting in a noisy All Bar One wishing I was somewhere else. You know, somewhere cool. Then, happily, I discovered the Royal George. Squat and concrete, it doesn't look too promising but once you're inside it's a whole different story. The decor is pleasingly eclectic, with fairy lights and junkshop chairs and walls papered with old comic strips. There are some tasty beers on tap - I'd particularly recommend the Budvar Black - and they serve good food to soak up the booze. Downstairs is a tiki bar which can be hired for private parties - the last time I went there was a ukelele jam session going on down there, which sort of sums the place up really. So if the idea of going out drinking in the West End brings you out in hives, then the Royal George is definitely the place for you.
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Review of Benugo
14 Apr 08, 15:06
Great for coffee
If you want a proper cup of coffee in the Clerkenwell area, then forget Starbucks, Costa et al and head over to Benugo. You won't be disappointed. Grab a sandwich too, while you're there. Benugo also offers a business lunch service, delivering platters of excellent sandwiches, salads, cut fruit and cakes, that is head and shoulders over anything offered by Pret a Manger.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of Nusa Soups & Salads
14 Apr 08, 14:56
Just souper
Walk past Nusa at lunchtime and you'd be forgiven for thinking that they were giving away free money - the queue snakes out of the door and down the road, sometimes merging with the queue for the HSBC cashpoint on the corner of Old Street. This soup 'n' salad place is justifiably popular: their ever-changing soup menu is always interesting, and they use all-natural organic ingredients. Salads are top-notch too, as are their breakfasts (my particular favourites being their delicious bircher muesli, and the Asian spiced eggs in flatbread). Forget Pret, Nusa is the ideal place to grab a nutritious, delicious lunch on the go.
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Review of Hoxton Furnace
14 Apr 08, 14:41
Just... one... more... bite...
I always find myself over-eating when I go to the Hoxton Furnace, because the food is just so damn good. The pleasantly buzzy atmosphere probably has something to do with it as well. I'd highly recommend that you go and try the pizza topped with suckling pig and fennel. Your tastebuds will love you forevermore. Desserts are spot-on as well. Not the sort of place to go if you're on a calorie-controlled diet, or have gluttony issues.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of Map Gift Shop
14 Apr 08, 14:30
One-stop present shop
Oh no! You're invited to a birthday party and haven't got time to go into town to buy a present! Well fear not, because Map Gift Shop is here to save the day. Stuffed full of lovely things, from pretty jewellery to quirkily kitsch homewares, I defy you not to find something you like. Oh, and they will gift-wrap your purchases too if you've left things *really* late.
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Review of The Landseer
14 Apr 08, 14:22
Make this place your new local (but go elsewhere for food)
This is a great pub to have on your doorstep. Lovely-looking and somehow combining airiness and cosiness in equal measure, The Landseer is the ideal place to meet friends for a convivial evening spent lounging on big squashy sofas with a bottle (or three) of good wine and a game of Trivial Pursuit. The food can be a bit hit-and-miss at times, though, to such an extent that I've stopped going there to eat (preferring the cheaper and far superior fare served up round the corner at North Nineteen). That said, as a place to hang out on a sunny summer evening The Landseer is hard to beat.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Review of Pink Express
04 Apr 08, 12:27
Think Pink
I've used many different courier firms in my time, and Pink are definitely the friendliest of the bunch (they even send me chocolate occasionally!). I have never had any problems with their service - which is more than I can say for some courier companies (*cough* TNT *cough). They are also committed to helping the environment. And how many courier companies are run by a member of Ten Pole Tudor?
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of The Crown
04 Apr 08, 12:12
A dying breed 
This is the sort of North London Irish alehouse that is, sadly, on the endangered list. Make no mistake, this is a proper old man's pub - go elsewhere if you want trendy imported continental lagers or gastropub fat chips. A pint of beer and a packet of crisps is the order of the day here. And why not? Sometimes you just need a nice friendly place to pop into for a swift one (or three) while you watch the football. Be warned, though: the ladies' loos are always freezing cold, so wrap up warm if you're indending on using the facilities.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of North Nineteen
03 Apr 08, 11:00
Lovely new local
Tucked away on a quiet street off the Holloway Road, North Nineteen is a real find. The landlord is a very friendly chap who obviously cares about his pub, and this is reflected in every aspect of the place. There are some excellent ales on tap (including a lovely Timothy Taylor last time I went) and a well-chosen wine list. The food is great as well - a ribeye steak came bloody as hell, as per my request (finally, somewhere that knows rare should mean rare!), accompanied by fat chips and some delicious fried red onion rings. A pumpkin risotto was also terrific, creamy and oozing with flavour.
This is not just another gastropub, though. This is a place that bends over backwards to ensure that you have a good time. There is a real ale festival in April, and the promise of regular wine tasting sessions. There's a quiz on Monday nights, open mic sessions, poker nights, live music... oh, and free wifi too. With so much to offer, North Nineteen is definitely a welcome addition to Holloway's pub scene.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.