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Ambience

Signor Franco's, 5a, High St Tunbridge Wells Kent TN1 1UL

Signor Franco's, 5a, High St Tunbridge Wells Kent TN1 1UL

5a, High St Tunbridge Wells Kent TN1 1UL

Signor Franco's is rather much an institution in Tunbridge Wells,with a reputation to suit and having lived in this hallowed town for so long and not sampled their culinery delights was quite simply unacceptable.

So on a delightful Monday evening we decided to pay them a visit and to say they live up to their repution would be a safe statement to make.

Even initial contact was a pleasure, with the booking procedure being nothing but a pleasant experience with a polite friendly person on the other end. My flatmate and I were greeted well and promptly taken to our table which had wonderful views of tunbridge wells and had a wonderful ambience to the whole establishment.

By elfigo at 22/04/2008 - 16:41 | 2008 | Ambience | Approved | Country | England | Italian | Kent | Review | Service | UK | Views | ££££/$$$$ | 2 comments | read more | 417 reads

The Crooked Billet, Newlands Lane, Stoke Row, Oxfordshire RG9 5PU

The Crooked Billet, Newlands Lane, Stoke Row, Oxfordshire RG9 5PU

Newlands Lane, Stoke Row, Oxfordshire RG9 5PU

On the door of the Crooked Billet is a sign which I have never seen before and hope very much that I will see again elsewhere - 'local produce swap for lunch'. So they really do serve local produce on their menu. The local producers would get a good deal, too, because the food here is, not surprisingly, excellent. The Crooked Billet can't do much passing trade because it is buried deep in the Oxfordshire countryside and is the sort of place you need to know about to go to. You also need to book.

By Harry at 26/03/2008 - 23:18 | 2008 | Ambience | Approved | Modern British | Oxfordshire | Review | ££££/$$$$ | add new comment | read more | 206 reads

Pasha, 301 Upper Street, Islington, London N1 2TU

Pasha, 301 Upper Street, Islington, London N1 2TU

301 Upper Street, Islington, London N1 2TU

It doesn't look like your stereotypical Turkish Restaurant - the recent refurbishment is all clean lines, dark wood and white napery. I'd booked through Time Out, who are currently offering 50% off all food, so the value-for-money-but-not-cheap prices became absolute bargains. Although Pasha's Turkish background is evident, it's modern and international with far more fish than you'd expect. Starters included a generous bowl of good lentil soup; a plate of five huge prawns in chilli and coriander; freshly prepared fried calamari (not from a freezer pack in other words) and Sucuk, a spicy, sausage dish.

By Daisy Middleton at 23/02/2008 - 12:50 | 2008 | Ambience | Approved | Mediterranean | North | Review | £££/$$$ | add new comment | read more | 243 reads

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 | 107 reads

Unicorn Inn, Excise Street, Kincardine, Scotland

Unicorn Inn, Excise Street, Kincardine, Scotland

Excise Street, Kincardine

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.

By FifeFoodie at 23/11/2007 - 14:44 | 2007 | Ambience | Mediterranean | Rejected | Review | Scotland | £££/$$$ | add new comment | read more | 127 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 | 100 reads
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