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Little Bay, 228 Belsize Rd. London NW6 4BT

Little Bay, 228 Belsize Rd. London NW6 4BT

228 Belsize Rd. London NW6 4BT

Little Bay is one of those restaurants that appear in lists - secret London - best bargains in London - 'restaurants for those in the know' type lists. Unlike a lot of them Little Bay really does deliver. It is a bit out of the way, in a sort of no-man's land between Kilburn and its posher neighbours and is in a fairly innocuous little parade of shops. Inside it is anything but innocuous. It is not very big and looks like a cross between a pantommime set and a Turkish bordello. I have never actually been in a Turkish bordello but I imagine they would look a bit like this. It is mysterious, atmospheric and candle-lit, there is a lot of red, gold and wood around and there are secret looking balconies to the left and right and facing you, with little staircases leading up to them. We sat in a discreet table for two tucked away under a balcony and felt as if we were in our own secret world and should probably start plotting something. But in a good way. Tables are wooden with Sylvan scenes let into them. The whole effect is quite decadent but in a cosy Bohemian style.

By Harry at 04/01/2008 - 01:03 | 2008 | Ambience | Approved | London | Other | Review | ££/$$ | add new comment | read more | 101 reads

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

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

24 Thurlo St, Kensington, London SW7 2LT

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.

By Harry at 12/10/2007 - 13:57 | 2007 | Ambience | Approved | London | Other | Review | £££/$$$ | 1 comment | read more | 90 reads

Bonaventure, Aird Uig, Isle of Lewis, HS2 9JA

Bonaventure, Aird Uig, Isle of Lewis, HS2 9JA

Aird Uig, Isle of Lewis, HS2 9JA

My wife and I dined at this restaurant on 23 August 2007. I had been induced to seek it out by the rave reviews on the home page of the restaurant's website and in local tourist brochures. We looked it over on 22 August and we were (or at least I was) enchanted by its position. Anticipating an excellent meal we arrived ravenous having spent the day motoring around the island.

The intrusive piped music that we heard on arrival should have warned us; but it was a wet day and the open fire seemed very welcoming. A table by the window with a view over the sea took our minds off the background noise and we ordered our wine.

By lobster at 29/08/2007 - 01:02 | 2007 | Article | Other | Rejected | Scotland | Views | ££££/$$$$ | add new comment | read more | 143 reads

Lindsay House, 21 Romilly Street, London, W1D 5AF

Lindsay House, 21 Romilly Street, London, W1D 5AF

Lindsay House, 21 Romilly Street, London, W1D 5AF

I have wanted to go to Corrigan's Lindsay House since it opened, and wonder whether I shouldn't have gone sooner.
First, Lindsay House is a beautiful, Georgian building in central London. You ring the bell to get in, but the welcome is far from warm and a little indifferent. The rooms are on the small side which means the tables are close together, but the décor of muted browns and modernish art help them to be attractive, well lit and nicely presented.

By Fellow Traveller at 27/04/2007 - 15:56 | 2007 | Central/West End | OK | Other | Review | Romantic | Service | £££/$$$ | add new comment | read more | 99 reads

Limani, Upper Level, 11 Narrabeen St, Narrabeen NSW 2101, Australia

Limani, Upper Level, 11 Narrabeen St, Narrabeen NSW 2101, Australia

Upper Level, 11 Narrabeen St, NARRABEEN NSW 2101

We saw an ad in the Sydney Morning Herald: $25 for two courses, and after 3 hours on Narrabeen Beach we wandered in, wearing shorts, flip flops and covered in sand. We got a really friendly welcome, they found us a seat with a panoramic view and showed me to the cool, well appointed washroom where I was able to scrape off most of the sand and have a good wash before sitting down. The room is cool, crisp and beige, with white napery, big windows and ocean views - like something out of an architectural magazine.

By Daisy Middleton at 21/01/2007 - 08:00 | 2007 | Approved | Australia | Other | Review | Views | ££/$$ | add new comment | read more | 62 reads

The Bridge, 49 Bridge Street, Bendigo 3550 VIC Australia

The Bridge, 49 Bridge Street, Bendigo 3550 VIC Australia

49 Bridge Street, Bendigo 3550 VIC Australia

On our second night in Bendigo, we managed to book a table at what is generally held to be the top restaurant in town. The waiter showed us to our table, gave us the wine list, invited us to choose pre-dinner drinks, and left.

When she returned we asked for a menu, but she said she wanted us to order aperitifs first. We said we would choose our food, and then choose a wine to go with it. She had obviously been told not to give out menus until people had chosen pre-dinner drinks. To me, this kind of ploy is tacky and amateurish, and got the meal off to a bad start. Eventually we got menus and a wine list, and in the end were able to place our order. It was a laborious process.

By Daisy Middleton at 19/12/2006 - 10:58 | 2006 | Australia | £££££/$$$$$ | OK | Other | Review | add new comment | read more | 67 reads
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