Amanda 's reviews
Review of The Fox
28 Oct 07, 17:09
Organic but not impressive 
Maybe I expected too much of this pub. I'd heard good things about their organic menu and Sunday roasts but after lunching there today I was sorely disappointed.
I had gathered a group of friends to have a roast lunch - it started well, comfy sofas and a few drinks to soothe those suffering hangovers. We ordered... some going for the roast beef, some going for the roast salmon, a steak and a burger.
When my roast arrived it looked a little too gastropub for my liking. Tiny potatoes and two (thin) slabs of roast beef drizzled with gravy, as well as a burnt yorkshire pudding and a bowl of vegies - of which only the few sprigs of asparagus saved it from being a disaster. The slabs of meat were far too underdone, sitting on the wrong side of medium rare and with big bits of gristle in it. Those who picked the salmon had a better ride - receiving a huge portion of fish. The steak was described as so-so whilst the burger received by far the best compliments of the mains.
Desserts followed - chocolate puddings and coffee cake. The chocolate pudding looked amazing with a lovely gooey filling but the coffee cake was dried out and tasted stale. A cup of tea was a safe choice and the biscuit was lovely.
The total was around £18 each which isn't too bad including drinks but I've had meals for under a fiver which were a lot more satisfying.
I'd probably go here for a drink but I'll be continuing my search for the perfect pub roast elsewhere.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Review of Hoxton Square Bar and Kitchen
20 Aug 07, 18:04
Not on a Saturday Night
I probably woudn't mind this place on another night of the week but Saturday night.. no way!
It's dead in the middle of Hoxton.. and lets face it - Hoxton isn't what it used to be. The scenesters have migrated out to Brick Lane / Hackney / Stokey long ago. Instead its filled with people who come from out of town and don't know better... Or those that just haven't realised there are better bars just a bit further East.
The drinks were pricey, service was average and when I finally did migrate to the dance floor the music was so bad I left within 15 minutes.
Next time someone suggests this as a venue, I'll be making sure we go to an alternative (rather than keeping the peace)
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of The Great Northern Railway Tavern
31 Jul 07, 10:51
Too long for food
I went here on Sunday evening having spent a beautiful day up on Alexandra Palace. I was lured with the promise of cheap and tasty Thai food.
Unfortunately we were in a largish group - around 9 or 10 of us... and another large group had just ordered... and there was only 1 chef in the kitchen! They warned us it would be a short wait - which was fine, we had a few drinks and good company. When they said short wait, I thought maybe an hour tops...
1.5 hours later, we hadn't even got starters. We checked with the staff and they brought out our starters with free prawn crackers. 2 hours later and we still hadn't got our mains. Finally the mains started dribbling out and the chef appeared, weary, to apologise for the long wait. We said we had everything but a pad thai. Cue said chef running to the kitchen and the arrival of the possibly freshest pad thai we'd ever seen.
The food was pretty damn good and the prices even better but it was far too long a wait. If they sort out some extra kitchen staff this could be a real gem (or alternatively don't go in big groups)
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
Review of Fuel Bar
27 Jul 07, 15:30
Tourists Only
I've never been a big fan of bars in the West End. Maybe it's the combination of clientele and we don't have to try very hard snobbishness because being in locations like Covent Garden or Leicester Square virtually guarantees them with enough tourists to more than keep the afloat.
I was sceptical about this place to begin with and if I wasn't for a work function that brought me here, I'd hardly go here by choice. They did have half decent cocktails at brilliant prices (love happy hour)
We were seated downstairs.. not really ideal if you want to just have a few drinks and chat. The food was ok but if I had of ordered it because I was sitting in the restaurant for an actual meal I would have been quite disappointed.
I'd go back but only for happy hour and if I was sitting on the bar terrace. Downstairs is too miserable!
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
Review of The Dove Freehouse and Kitchen
18 Jul 07, 18:40
I like your old stuff better than your new stuff
I went here a few years earlier with a Belgian friend of mine and although the pub was quite nice with a good selection of Belgian beers, the cooking paled in comparison to proper Belgian food. They even used - shock! - English mayonaise for the chips.
I returned recently and was even less impressed. I wasn't bothered so much by the clientele (more Hackney Hipsters than you can shake a stick at) but the fact that the food was rubbish, service even worse and they have combined the male and female loos in some horrible haphazard way.
I'd go there for a drink but I think there are far better places nearby to eat.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.