Restaurant Spy - 2007

The Spring Hill, 312a Spring Hill, Warstones Rd, Penn, Wolverhampton, West Midlands, WV4 4LB

Wed, 12 Dec 2007 01:12:18 +0000

Address:
312a Spring Hill, Warstones Rd, Penn, Wolverhampton, West Midlands, WV4 4LB

Review:

The food was simply delicious, the best meal out I've had in months. I had the grilled sea bass, with sauteed potatoes, which tasted fantastic, and the creamed leeks/creamed spring onions (I couldn't work out which) set it off perfectly. If you like seafood - visiting here is a must. There must have been 10 fresh fish dishes on the menu, ranging from sea bass, to barramundi, and crab. Non-fish included the usual steak fare, coq-au-vin, a number of vegetarian options. The place is very well decorated with a very rustic feel.

Le Vivier, 6 rue Dominic Maisto, 13200 Arles, Provence, France

Thu, 29 Nov 2007 15:44:37 +0000

Address:
6 rue Dominic Maisto, 13200 Arles, Provence, France

Review:

This was near our hotel and looked really promising. The interior was quite shabby, the seats on the chairs had “gone” (not literally) and it had not been redecorated for some time, but this need not be a bad sign in a French restaurant. The food is the thing and the menu looked excellent. We went for the €25 menu: my soupe de poissons had been diluted once too often and was very watery, but came with the traditional croutons, aoli, grated cheese and garlic. L started with foi gras with lavender bread and lavender ice cream, and while it sounds a bit unlikely, it was actually the star of the meal. When did you last have ice cream and foi gras on the same plate? My main course of fish gratinée was nice enough, but it was a tiny portion, and no bread or vegetables accompanied it. L had a variety of grilled fish, well presented, but some were overcooked. My dessert - chocolat crème – tasted OK, but the presentation was complicated and didn’t really come off as the pudd slid dangerously around the plate on its way to the table, dislodging some of the fruit garnish. Of L’s plate of four cheeses, two were very salty, and he had to ask for bread as no biscuits or bread came with it.

Unicorn Inn, Excise Street, Kincardine, Scotland

Fri, 23 Nov 2007 13:44:56 +0000

Address:
Excise Street, Kincardine

Review:

We ate on a Wednesday evening under a newspaper promotion: 2 courses plus a glass of wine for £10 each.

What should have been an opportunity for the restaurant to showcase their wares turned out to be an exercise in short-sighted penny-pinching. Most of the food was good, although the pate seemed to be plastic stuff from a supermarket, while the sea bass was fantastic. These two cancelled each other out, then.

The Edmund Tylney, 30–34 High Street, Leatherhead, Surrey, KT22 8AW

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 11:18:09 +0000

Address:
30–34 High Street, Leatherhead, Surrey, KT22 8AW

Review:

I had the unfortunate experience of eating at the Wetherspoons in Leatherhead recently. While the prices were typically inexpensive, the food and the service can only be described as cheap.

I first started to feel uneasy when, after ordering, my food arrived at my chosen table before I did. There is a not-so-fine line between quick service and reheating a cold dish. Not wanting to add to the rather awkward atmosphere that this created, I accepted the meal. After realising that ‘dilapidated’ is actually an adjective one can use in conjunction with ‘jacket potato’, I pushed my food around my plate for a while and reasoned that it was too cheap to complain about, besides, the whole meal cost what the free glass of wine costs in some bars.

Au Tout Petit, 4, rue d'Amphoux, 84000 Avignon, France

Mon, 29 Oct 2007 21:13:40 +0000

Address:
4, rue d'Amphoux, 84000 Avignon

Review:

We didn't book, and they were full when we arrived, so with regret we walked away. But the man ran after us and said come back in five minutes and we'll have a table for you. We did, and they did !

I had La Trilogie autour des champignons d’automne en poêlée, soupe et glace (cèpes) which was a pungent mushroom soup, a bowl of sauteed wild mushrooms with - I think - marjoram, and ... mushroom ice cream! It all comes together on a tray, and oddly enough, it works. L had trout with almonds, mushrooms (it's that time of year), mange tout and barley, which he really enjoyed.

La Tomate, 6, Rue Four des Flammes, 34000 Montpellier, France

Mon, 29 Oct 2007 19:11:21 +0000

Address:
6, Rue Four des Flammes, 34000 Montpellier, France

Review:

We tried to get into this place three years ago, at the height of the holiday season and with no reservation. Fat chance. Back in Montpellier again in early October, we took the precaution of booking, though it was probably unnecessary. It looks exactly like a restaurant in the Languedoc should - I’m a sucker for a red checked tablecloth, me. The waiter brought a bottle of chilled tap water immediately, none of that paying extra for bottled water nonsense. The back of the menu has a la carte, but the front has a range of fixed price menus. The €16.90 caught our eyes, and although there were five courses, for that price we felt confident that the portions would be small, more like a tasting menu, really. Hah!

Kimos, Mount Pleasant, Liverpool, L3 5SD

Tue, 23 Oct 2007 15:38:32 +0000

Address:
Mount Pleasant, Liverpool, L3 5SD

Review:

I had arranged to take my sister to the Philharmonic on Friday to go and see The Dubliners as part Of the Cains Liverpool Irish Festival, and needed somewhere to eat whereby the service would be quick and non fussy. Boy, was I glad I stumbled accross this place.

I had been advised by some that this place is popular with students, well I am hardly surprised. It is a large cafe with a nice ambience. The furniture is all wooden and looked like it was straight from Morocco, and there is fantastic lighting and artwork.

Seven Fish, 24 Thurlo St, Kensington, London SW7 2LT

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 12:57:20 +0000

Address:
24 Thurlo St, Kensington, London SW7 2LT

Review:

This place is a real find. Smack in the middle of one of the poshest parts of Kensington it is charming, unpretentious and most important, reasonably priced. Even the lobsters. Only open a few weeks it is a fairly small fish restaurant and is designed to look like a Meditarranean seaside cafe. There is a sea mural on one wall and the others feature fishing nets, some containing some rather surprised fish. A marlin (I think it's a marlin) is suspended from the ceiling, over a brass rail. Tables and chairs are wooden, the tables with gingham covers. There is a bar/food preparation area at the back.

The Tunbridge Wells Bar & Grill, 84 High Street, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN1 1YB

Tue, 09 Oct 2007 10:44:28 +0000

Address:
84 High Street, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN1 1YB

Review:

We fell upon this place by pure fluke, found ourselves in the highstreet looking for a drink early evening last Tuesday. When we arrived it was quiet (6.30) and we were in two minds as to just have a drink....the Bar, or get some food....The Grill! It looks lovely, and whilst chatting to various members of staff, we now know that the Tunbridge Wells Bar And Grill is part of the Individual Something Company. Apparently they target well-to-do areas, Alderly Edge, Marlow, Leeds city centre, Zinc Bar and Grill Glasgow....etc etc. with Food and Drink. The Decor is Boutique but with an American feel, nice, I liked it, but we were a little confused as to where to sit for drinks and food. We eventually opted for the Garden, with heaters (electric) and ample seating, looked intimate, but nearly Canteen style.

Cwtch*, 22 High Street, St Davids, Pembrokeshire, Wales SA62 6SD

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 09:32:58 +0000

Address:
22 High Street, St Davids, Pembrokeshire, Wales SA62 6SD

Review:

Cwtch* is a modern restaurant on the main drag in St Davids. If you can ignore that daft and annoying asterisk you’ll probably have an enjoyable evening here.

We booked, arrived, were seated. We were in a low-ceilinged back room with painted stone walls of great thickness, nice where white, odd where not. I had belly of pork (forgotten which starter) and Maz had potted crab and something else and a wine I didn’t recognise from one of those less-shouted-about countries (you often get a good wine at a bargain this way). The food was very good. It was hot, delicious expertly cooked and all that. There was a young French couple at the next table being, well, French. The wine arrived and he went through this big deal. Not sure why he bothered really because just like with us the wine had arrived opened, wasn’t displayed, and may have been, like ours, fairly unremarkable. I’m not moaning about the wine, which was if I remember right Malbec, 2004 from Mendoza, Argentina at £22, but I do not expect it to be opened before I see it. And if they ask me to taste it and I say ‘No thanks, just pour it out’, I don’t expect a puzzled look. The deal ought to be: (1) show customer label. If he/she agrees it’s the one asked for, right vineyard and vintage, then (2) open it. (3) offer a little for him/her to check that it’s of merchantable quality. (4) pour out two half-glasses and push off. The service at Cwtch, while very friendly, was from young and relatively inexperienced – or improperly trained – girls. If they could match service to food quality, they’d have an even nicer restaurant.

Café Rouge, 6-7 South Grove, Highgate, London N6 6BP

Tue, 18 Sep 2007 14:26:14 +0000

Address:
6-7 South Grove, Highgate, London N6 6BP

Review:

Twice recently I’ve been out with a friend, and they’ve suggested Café Rouge. The first time was the Hampstead branch, half an hour before they closed, and they didn’t have much food left, or much enthusiasm for serving it either. We paid over a tenner each for lamb chops and some lukewarm pasta in gloopy sauce with about four mushrooms. We shovelled it down because it was only minutes to closing time, and anyway we were hungry. It didn’t seem fair to make a judgement under the circumstances, there are many restaurants which won’t even sit you down at 10.30pm.

The Ewe and Lamb, 26 Maytham Road, Rolvenden Layne, Kent TN17 4NP

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 12:15:01 +0000

Address:
26 Maytham Road, Rolvenden Layne, Kent TN17 4NP

Review:

A traditional and very pleasant free house which does a superb Sunday carvery as well as classic English and French dishes (so their business card says). Myself and some fellow ramblers all enjoyed our food, I opted for the pork which was cooked to perfection. Others chose the beef which also went down well. Portions are generous and the accompanying leak dish complemented the meat very well. Food prices are reasonable but a pint of coke will set you back a staggering £3 which is excessive by anyone's standards hence the ££££ rating. My dessert was chocolate fudge cake which was delicious, highly recommended. By the time we left the pub was full which is always a good sign. Overall I was impressed although be prepared for high soft drinks prices! The Who

St Davids Cathedral Refectory, St Davids, Pembrokeshire, Wales

Fri, 14 Sep 2007 09:21:05 +0000

Address:
St Davids, Pembrokeshire, Wales

Review:

St Davids [without apostrophe] Cathedral is a fantastic place. Very very old, slightly wonky everywhere, and showing the signs of being twice smashed: once by Henry VIII’s lot and then again by Cromwell’s soldiers. We wanted a cuppa and were directed through numerous huge wooden doors to a spanking new refectory, where we were instantly greeted by three smiling people. That’s amazing for a start. The refectory is architect designed (my equivalent of ‘pan-fried) - wood and space and fresh air. The tea, cake coffee etc. were all hot and/or delicious and we sat upstairs and looked down into the newly renovated cloisters. Only thing wrong was the confusing signage. At one point as I came through a big door only to find myself back in the Treasury where I’d started I began to fear that I would not escape with my life or ever see my cat again. Easy to fix this signage/wayfinding business, chaps! The proper-food menu was also recommended to me by a friend and if it is as good as the cuppa was, then you should be in for a treat at lunch or dinner. Well done St Davids.

Tower Tandoori, 74-76 Tower Bridge Rd, Bermondsey, London SE1 4TP

Wed, 12 Sep 2007 22:30:58 +0000

Address:
74-76 Tower Bridge Rd, Bermondsey, London SE1 4TP

Review:

I don't think Americans really get curry (mind you, why should they? It's not exactly part of their history). So I've got a new idea for a TV 'reality' show. Americans have to go into an Indian restaurant (or maybe any restaurant) and having read the description, order something straight off the menu without fuss, bother or calling the manager to discuss it. I've never seen them manage to do this. Points are awarded for each dish they manage to order and actually consume without fuss. I was entertained in the Tower Tandoori by an Amnerican woman asking for a vegetarian Vindaloo or something of the kind. At length. It could have been a short film. The waiters were extremely professional and very helpful and her needs, whatever they eventually were, were met. But it was certainly more exciting than Big Brother.

Moe's Mexican Bar & Grill, 106-110 Firebrace St Horsham, VIC, Australia 3400

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 23:27:22 +0000

Address:
106-110 Firebrace St Horsham, VIC, Australia 3400

Review:

Now, Mr RD and I know our mexican food and restaurants and we wanted to see what this place had to offer.

The young waitress showed us to our lower level table next to the bar. She asked if we wanted to order a drink. Water would be fine. Normally we'd order wine but not this time. Leaning over the balcony from the bar giving us a lovely view of her armpits as an appetiser ... she plonked glasses on the table.