Reader's
THUMBS UP!
Recommendations (mostly!)
January - February 2001
Burton Cliff Hotel, Burton
Bradstock, West Dorset
A funny little place - we went
down there for a weekend. It was
a bit like going back in time.
The owner was very nice, but very
laid back about everything.
The rooms where OK but nothing
special, so we decided to stay
in and try the food. We were very
impressed with the menu and the
service. The food was of a very
high standard and it was all local
and fresh produce used. The service
was first class too, everyone was
all very friendly and most helpful.
I think the chef there is a very
talented young man and will go
a long way and will do well for
that hotel. My wife and myself
will most definitely be going back.
I hope you might go and check them
out too. It is well worth the travel.
Gregory Thomas -
January 2001 - Cammirfarq@aol.com
The Athens Greek Taverna,
Clarence Parade, Cheltenham;
tel 01242 237 200
I'd like to recommend this restaurant
for inclusion in your online guide.
I have eaten there several times
and found it to be a very pleasant
experience on each occasion, so
it's a shame not to see it included.
I believe the proprietor's name
is Nick Pandazis. Do get back to
me if you have any other questions.
James Morris - January 2001 -
bonviveur18@hotmail.com
Bensons Restaurant, the Quay,
Appledore, North Devon
Superb meal at this restaurant.
H. Crook - January 2001 - crook@barham35.freeserve.co.uk
The White Horse, 50 Middle
Road, Harrow on the Hill, Middlesex,
HA2 OHL; tel 020 84221215
This is the best place to try
really good Thai food in a traditional
English pub. The food here is spot
on and the wine list very extensive.
It caters to an ever changing crowd,
from trendy students to local people
(most of whom are regulars!). "Very
Popular - Very Authentic!" From
Thursday to Sunday you will need
to book at least 5 days in advance!!!!
Big Pete - January 2001 - peter@pthornton53.freeserve.co.uk
The Shurton Inn, Shurton,
near Bridgewater, Somerset
We live in Scotland but recently
travelled down to Somerset for
my husband's work for a week. We
found this lovely 350 year old
pub, tucked away in a little village
called Shurton which is about 15
minutes from Bridgwater towards
Hinkley Point. The atmosphere was
very friendly, the locals made
us feel welcome. We had real ales,
both Exmoor and Butcombe, both
well kept, and the food was beautiful
with home made soups, steak and
ale pie, home cooked gammon, gorgeous
steaks, home made apple pie and
much more. We were very fortunate
in finding this wee gem. If you
are down Somerset way seek out
the Shurton Inn and enjoy the hospitality
as we did.
Dave and Sue Jones - January
2001 - Petsyl@aol.com
Tulsi - Fine Asian (Indian)
Cuisine, Skipton Road, Foulridge,
Nr Colne, Lancashire BB8 7PY;
tel 01282 864242
Wonderfully imaginative menu
and food individually cooked to
perfection. Friendly and attentive
service - nothing too much trouble.
Relaxing atmosphere, tasteful and
up-market decor, with fabulous
views across hills. Excellent value
for money, both a-la-carte and
Sunday family buffet. Finest provincial
Asian restaurant I have visited.
Highly recommended!
Max - January 2001 - tinyspiders@yahoo.co.uk
Gordon Ramsay, 68 Royal Hospital
Road, SW3; tel 020 7352 4441
Lunched here 26/01. Selected
set menu at £30 - quite excellent
in every way - welcome, attention,
service and food. If there is a
very tiny criticism it is perhaps
the over attentiveness of the staff.
But it is
churlish to criticise.
Restaurant is a credit to eating
out in UK in the Euro context.
We shall go again when an occasion
and resources permit.
Menu at Ramsay's 26/01/01:
1. Amuses Geules. Tiny bowls
of pumpkin soup with Girolles flavour
and seedling of one girolle visible.
2. Layered terrine of foie gras
and ham knuckle with aspic.
3. Pan fried John Dory on bed
of spinach and mashed potato, with
tiny carrots and asparagus.
4. Caramel ice cream rolled in
chocolate, with demerara gauze
wafer.
5. Coffee with small chocolate
squares and coloured meringues
served in pottery bowls.
6. Two glasses of House wine
as aperitifs; Bergerac. Half of
Pouilly Fuisse with meal.
7. The whole, subtle perfection
, stylish and inventive. The room
not ornate but sophisticated and
attractive with beige and white
colour scheme. Excellent value
for the occasion which was a celebration.
We booked a fortnight before, and
confirmed 24 hours before as requested
Nigel Matthews- January 2001
- nigel@matthews30.fsnet.co.uk
The Queen's Head, Crowmarsh
Gifford, Wallingford, Oxfordshire
Anyone living or passing through
the Oxfordshire area should try
the Queen's Head. They change their
menu bi-weekly and it's lovely
fresh food of a two to three rosette
standard - not your normal pub
food. They also make their own
bread on a daily basis. You'll
be pushed to get a table at the
weekend so we like to book well
in advance
P. Winch - January 2001 - p.winch@ntlworld.com
Chez Gerrard
Selected solely on the evidence
of your review.
When: Saturday evening 8:00pm
- the restaurant was busy but not
packed.
Service: Reception at the door
was similar to the service throughout,
warm and friendly. The waiters
were attentive without what can
in some other places be an over
zealous desire to top the glass
after every mouthful.
Seating: Tables for two around
the edge of the room require one
person to sit with their back to
the rest of the restaurant. Much
as I appreciate the company and
looks of my partner, for me, part
of the dining experience is to
see what is going on around you
and with the wood panel walls and
high windows with views restricted
to the top floors of the building
opposite I felt somewhat cheated.
Tables were no closer together
than you find in most restaurants.
Not liking the now apparent acceptable
chic of smoking whilst dining,
the tobacco fumes from surrounding
tables could have caused discomfort
but the high ceilings helped dissipate
a possible source of discomfort.
Food: Partner: Warm scallops
on a bed of rocket - described
as excellent, fresh and not over
cooked. Fillet of sea bass with
leek mash potato and dill sauce
- fish and sauce again highly rated
but the leek tended to overpower
other flavours. Apple almond sponge
pudding - almond flavour not strongly
in evidence but overall a worthy
desert.
Me: Smoked salmon & cream cheese
roulade, with poached egg - I
liked this a lot. Monkfish in
a grain mustard sauce on a bed
of spinach - fish and sauce terrific
but would have preferred the spinach
just steamed, not creamed. Gingerbread
with honey and liquorice ice cream
- if your tooth is even slightly
sweet this is the one for you.
Wine: A light but quiet fruity
sauvignon blanc.
Cost: Including a dry sherry,
coffee, cover for the bread, salted
nuts and olives and the service
charge, £86.00 was extremely good
value for our anniversary meal.
Thanks for your recommendation
and yes I will return, hopefully
to a table with a better view of
the restaurant and have told my
friends that they should visit.
Stephen Spary - February 2001
- Stephen.Spary@rbcds.com
Le Mercury Restaurant, 140a
Upper Street, London, N1; tel
020 7354 4088
French, very small and cosy with
bar. Excellent food for very little
money (average £10-15 per head)
in this part of London. If you
turn up don't expect to be seated
immediately as they are always
full - booking is advised!
R. Kalpol - February 2001 -KalpolR@aol.com
The Oxo Tower Brasserie, Oxo
Tower Wharf, Barge House Street,
SE1; tel 020 7803 3888
We've eaten (lunch and dinner)
here a few times and always had
good service and excellent food. In
July 2000, I rang them to book
lunch for five and told them, in
passing, it was to celebrate my
daughter's graduation at the nearby
Festival Hall. When we arrived,
they had remembered the reason
for the celebration and greeted
her with congratulations. They
told us that they had given us
a 'nice table' and, indeed, it
was positioned to have a superb
view and they made lots of fuss
of us - particularly my daughter. The
food was, as we had always found,
really good and, because they knew
we had a time constraint, they
took care to ensure that we were
served in a timely way. Certainly
not the cheapest place in town,
but then you get what you pay for
- and we'd be happy to pay for
this quality of food and service
anytime! Elaine Napier - February
2001 - elaine.k.napier@m-int.co.uk
My hubby and I just returned
to the States from 10 days in London.
We were fortunate to have formal
afternoon tea five times. Hubby
said you'd like to know how we
got on, so this is my informal
critique.
Ritz: Expensive, but amazing.
The service was top-notch and the
food was flawless. Very welcoming
atmosphere in spite of the lavish
surroundings. Not intimidating
at all.
Brown's: This was my favourite
place, although the service left
a bit to be desired. They did come
around with extra bonus desserts
like sponge cake and tarts which
were in addition to your pastry
tray. Very yummy and nice environment
to relax in.
Lanesborough: Garden-like,
Asian setting. Again, somewhat
slow service, but a fine tea overall.
Made we think of an Indian garden
when Britain still had an empire.
Claridge's: Art Deco to
the max! They have a wonderful
South African tea with a hint of
vanilla (Bourbon was the name)
which was delicious. Unfortunately,
service was extremely slow and
we were only checked on once during
the meal.
Four Seasons: An excellent
tea-stop for beginners and tea
fans. We were one of only two tables
enjoying tea on the day we visited.
The hostess was very helpful and
explained the meal completely and
even poured and refreshed our cups
several times. Quiet, lush surroundings
with live piano music. We also
had a final sorbet included in
our teas which was an excellent
finish. Thank you for your earlier
input. We are looking forward to
a return to London in the near
future. Kim Mitchell - February
2001 - ktmitchell@earthlink.net
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