all about us | search reviews | links | message board | articles | submit review | ipod reviews | rage | top ten requested reviews | archive | double agents | best burger in London | buy | join spy | advertise on spy | local pages | oldsite | contact us
Home » Country » UK » England

Kent

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 | 397 reads

Oriental Palace, 38 Mount Ephraim, Tunbridge Wells, TN4 8AU

Oriental Palace, 38 Mount Ephraim, Tunbridge Wells, TN4 8AU

38 Mount Ephraim, Tunbridge Wells, TN4 8AU

If you were to give me a choice I would not go to a Chinese Restaurant. I’m not entirely sure if it was my first experience, going to my “girlfriend” Barbara Muir’s birthday party as a ten year old at the Hong Kong in Dundee or not. I was a dead cert for the Chicken Maryland, but Barbara’s dad Jim insisted I try the sweet and sour pork. Sour? Where was the bloody sour? It was sweet, sweet, sweet, sticky, gooey, violent infra-red gloop surrounding a bit of pig. It was so horrible I didn’t eat anything remotely Chinese until I was in my twenties. Even then it was a backdoor through. I fell in love with Korean food – bitter Kim Chee and barbecued Bul Gogi - a heavenly combination with noodles and sticky rice. Korean through to Thai, Indonesian, subtle Vietnamese and finally to fiery Szechuan and ceremoniously dumped on the door of Cantonese.

By m at 18/04/2008 - 17:55 | 2008 | Chinese | Kent | OK | Review | Service | £££/$$$ | add new comment | read more | 97 reads

The Spread Eagle, 119, Forest Rd, Hawkenbury, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 5BT

The Spread Eagle, 119, Forest Rd, Hawkenbury, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 5BT

119, Forest Rd, Hawkenbury, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 5BT

I came here on Thursday evening last week with a friend. When we arrived the dining area was empty, although both bar areas were relatively busy and a table of four people, who appeared to be regulars, arrived about 20 minutes after us. I wasn't the person who wrote the original review on Spy although I had been here before. It had now changed hands and I noted a couple of changes. Firstly, they now served take away fish and chips which I found strange for a public house and perhaps offputting to some, and they had done out the dining area in a nautical theme, this was quite apt given that they now specialise in fish.

By TheLa at 01/04/2008 - 23:23 | 2008 | Approved | Kent | Pub | Review | Takeaway | ££/$$ | 1 comment | read more | 203 reads

The Spice Club, Mount Ephraim Tunbridge Wells Kent TN4 8AA

The Spice Club, Mount Ephraim Tunbridge Wells Kent TN4 8AA

Mount Ephraim Tunbridge Wells Kent TN4 8AA

I have to confess that I have avoided the Spice Club, mostly because of the roller-coaster reviews I have seen on this and other sites. A sharp splash of rain and rumbling tummies fixed our minds and, in we went, caution to the wind.

I'm happy to say that some of the real and persistent worries I had read about were not in evidence on this visit. Service was attentive and formal, although a smile would not go amiss, and the food - from poppadums, pickles, through to main courses were all tasty with satisfying heat where required. My lamb dhansak was succulent and tender with a refreshingly sour taste.... just perfect.

By m at 30/03/2008 - 13:17 | 2008 | Approved | Indian | Kent | Review | £££/$$$ | add new comment | read more | 179 reads

Palm Kerala 49, Grosvenor Road, Tunbidge Wells, Kent, TN1 2AY

Palm Kerala 49, Grosvenor Road, Tunbidge Wells, Kent, TN1 2AY

49, Grosvenor Road, Tunbidge Wells, Kent, TN1 2AY

Kerala is just about alive in Tunbridge Wells but at a cost.... McDosa was a marvel: great food at a low price albeit with random service and somewhat dodgy surroundings. The revamped and sold on version still has some great Keralan specialities like parripu vadai and dosas but now costs far more with possibly even more random service.

In the McDosa days you could get more top quality South Indian specilaties than you could possibly eat and a decent dose of Cobra and wine for about £30. Now prices have risen and apart from a more even coat of grey paint on the walls there is little on the plus side to explain the 25-35% increase in price. The food is generally okay but £6.25 for a small quantity of some shop bought paneer and peas as a main course is about £3 too much. They also advertise the chutneys as a speciality but failed to deliver, returning only some Patak-style lime pickle instead of the promised lemon pickle (which is so easy to make in advance) and home made mango chutney. This came with achappam which was more akin to stamped on sugary square hula hoops than the flower shaped crunch that I remember from the delights of Rasa on Church St. N16.

By eastender at 26/03/2008 - 10:35 | 2008 | Indian | Kent | Rejected | Review | ££££/$$$$ | add new comment | read more | 89 reads

Mooli - Nepalese Restaurant, 57 - 59 Calverley Road Tunbridge Wells Kent TN1 2UY

Mooli - Nepalese Restaurant, 57 - 59 Calverley Road Tunbridge Wells Kent TN1 2UY

57 - 59 Calverley Road Tunbridge Wells Kent TN1 2UY

We went here on a Thursday night without a reservation (it got very busy later so book a table to avoid disappointment). It is a Nepalese restaurant serving authentic Nepalese food and is linked to the award winning Gurkha kitchen in Oxted (I have visited this and its again very good). The layout of the restaurant is well thought out and the tables well spaced. We were given appetizers whilst we chose our food and plenty of time to choose from the extensive menu. There is a choice between spicy dishes and non spicy with the ratings clearly marked on the menu. There was a range of dishes to choose from, so something for everyone.The food arrived quickly and was gorgeous! Just the right portion sizes and beautifully presented. I had slow cooked lamb which was succulent and tender. A three course meal for two with a glass of wine each costs about £45-£50 which I think is very good value for money considering the quality to the food. Definitely recommended and I will be visiting again. Littlelou16

By m at 27/01/2008 - 14:29 | 2008 | Approved | Kent | Other Asian | Review | Service | £££/$$$ | 1 comment | read more | 500 reads
XML feed