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Eating Out
The page where you can say what you really think about your gastronomic experience. Reviews to
contact@orra.org.uk
The Northgate
Where: Southgate Road
Genre: Gastropub
Visited: Every 1 or 2 weeks
By: Mark
This my “local” restaurant. The standard of food is consistently good. There is a large
blackboard on the rear wall, & dishes are written up there. Normally about 5 starters &
5 mains. No menu. There is a wine list with some good mid priced bottles. Nothing very
cheap and nothing too expensive. I have never had a “bad” meal & sometimes the food has
been wonderful .My girlfriend, who has VERY high standards, loves the place. The
restaurant is behind the pub & has no windows. This means it is great when the weather
is cold/wet etc. If it is hot or sunny I would probably eat outside somewhere.
Food; 8/10
Service: 7/10
Ambience: 6/10
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Pasha
Where: Upper St
Genre: Up market Turkish
When : Many times
By : Mark
This place has existed for at least 30 years. In the beginning it was rather grungy,
but still served a mean “pasha feast”. After successive revamps it is now very glossy.
In the evenings there are lots of large candles. The staff are very keen to please &
the food is generous & tasty. The Turkish red wine is very quaffable. Good for a
celebration, or just to go & feel good.
Food: 8/10
Service: 8/10
Ambience : 9/10
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Screen on the Green
Where: Islington Green
Visited by: Mark
This place has now been totally redone. It has a bar inside serving champagne & other proper
drinks. There are 2 rows of very comfy sofas , with side tables. In front of these are about
6 rows of large armchairs. This is a million miles from the description “fairly mainstream”
which appears on the website at present !
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The Scolt Head
Where: off Englefield Road
Genre: Pub-style British
Visited: 2 March 2009
By: Caroline & Jon
Sunday lunch and the place was rammed - a good sign, we thought. Sitting on a low-slung
leather sofa, we were in the mood for lots of tasters...but after the best part of an hour's
wait for 4 starters hunger levels were high and spirits a bit low. And rightly so - when
served we felt even more dispirited and more than a tad ripped off. Goat's cheese on toast
was literally a token scrape on a half slice, the promised walnuts delivered in the form of
a drizzling of walnut oil. Outrageous for 5! Chorizo and balsamic turned out to be 4 small
burnt half-ends of sausage on some limp, vinegar-free generic salad leaves. Again the margins
were clearly stratospheric. A little better was a mackerel and caper terrine, but hardly a
taxing effort for the chef. The winner was liver and black pudding salad which was hearty
(compared to the others) and serviceable but, as well as being of niche appeal would win no
prizes and was thrown together in a rather hurried and depressing fashion, just like the other
dishes. We ate up quickly and pushed off.
Food: 4/10
Service: 2/10
Ambience: 7/10 if you like a bit of coolish grunge
Value: 4/10
Total: 17/40
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Fig
Where: Hemingford Road
Genre: Scandinavian influenced modern European
When: December 2008
By: Caroline and Jon
A bijou neighbourhood place with lovingly sourced food. High quality ingredients and subtle
and sophisticated sauces. The owner/chef is ambitious and nearly always delivers on that
ambition. However, although it seems to be improving (perhaps a credit-crunch related need to
appeal to more conservative palates) the menu will not be to everyones taste. They do refresh
it regularly though, so it may be an idea to check online or ring them before you go. They
have a very good wine list including some lovely pudding wines. But it does seem overly pricey
for where it is and what you get.
Food: 9/10 if you like the menu, 7/10 if you dont
Service: 8/10
Ambience: 9/10
Value: 6/10
Total: 32/40
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The Barnsbury
Where: Liverpool Road
Genre: Modern British
Visited: December 2008
By: Jon and Caroline
This place does what so many gastropubs promise but fail to do good, simple, hearty dishes:
everything from tasty antipasti to good roasts. Good wine list, good beers, friendly, cosy
wood-panelled rooms for the winter and a bijou patio-style garden which is lovely in the
summer. Well run and friendly. Truly a pub for all seasons, with the grooviest chandeliers
(designed by the owners brother). Interestingly they have opened a deli just up the road
following popular demand.
Food: 9/10
Service: 8/10
Ambience: 9/10
Value: 8/10
Total: 34/40
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The House
Where: Canonbury Road
Genre: Modern British
Visited: November 2008
By: Caroline
A lunchtime visit held lots of promise. Light and bright, with a gastropub-restaurant
crossover ambiance this place certainly looks good. However the menu (2 courses for
close to 20 when I visited, a choice of 2 options for each course) was distinctly
underwhelming at first glance. Salmon sashimi was...raw salmon, unadorned. Butternut
Squash risotto was just that no surprises in the seasoning and no accompaniments to
leaven the savoury porridge. Worst of all the bangers & mash plumbed the depths. Meat
to bread (and other worrying things) ratio of the sausages must have neared 50:50, the
tin Martians would have recognised the potato puree as akin to their own, and again Id
have had to pay extra for the luxury of a veg distraction. With bread and cover and fizzy
water, coffee and service we each left 25 or so lighter in the pocket feeling more than a
little frustrated. It may well be better in the evenings though, when there's a full menu
on offer.
Food: 4/10
Service: 6/10
Ambience: 8/10
Value: 5/10
Total: 23/40
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Song Que
Where: Kingsland Road
Genre: Vietnamese
Visited: December 2008
By: Caroline
Having trumpeted its praises to a group of friends based on a previous visit, my expectations
crashed to the ground when I took a party of 10 for dinner. Insouicant staff, grubby
crockery, a huge delay in service, indifferent relatively expensive food...I could go on.
The canteen-feel restaurant itself lacks ambience to a fault, which I knew in advance, but the
food should at least make up! Suffice to say I was a little mortified given the significant
range of alternative Vietnamese eateries moments away. I get the feeling that this place has
got too big for its boots and lazy about its execution following positive media coverage.
One to boycott until they get their act together again.
Food: 4/10
Service: 3/10
Ambience: 2/10
Value: 5/10
Total: 14/40
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Thai Corner Cafe
We would stand by our comments this place truly stands the test of time and we contend
that it offers the freshest, tastiest Thai in London (correct to February 2009 when last
visited)
Food: 9/10
Service: 8/10
Ambience: 6/10 - scruffy but friendly
Value: 9/10
Total: 32/40
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Akari
Where: Essex Road
Genre: Japanese
Visited: February 2009
By: Caroline and Jon
The trick is to order the right dishes from a massive repertoire (displayed on 3 separate
menus!). Start with tasty edamame and truly delectable gyoza - knocks Wagamama into a
cocked hat. Beef and duck dishes are good bets a strong tip is the delicious beef
tataki (from the specials menu) Sushi is very hearty large, rustic slices of raw fish
and avocado wrapped in tasty seaweed. Tempura is serviceable but not great, teriyaki even
less so. Try a shochu (warm Japanese spirit). Good gastropub ambience, easy to drop by for
a table with the papers for a leisurely Saturday or Sunday lunch. We have been back and
back.
Food: 8/10 if you choose right
Service: 8/10
Ambience: 7/10
Value: 7/10
Total: 30/40
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The Lord Clyde
Where: Essex Road
Genre: Modern British
Visited: March 2009
By: Caroline & Jon
We've spent the last year plus sidling past, in two minds about whether to brave the new
incarnation of what used to be Kenrick's, a bit of an old man's boozer. But after various
tip-offs we braved it found the Lord Clyde to be a spacious, welcoming, wood panelled
place, much bigger than it looks from the outside with log fire and mixed, mellow local
clientele (and a small garden). It has a range of good guest ales and we gather from our
local CAMRA representative that this place is going to be listed in their 2009 guide. You
order food at the bar from a solid regular menu and a daily list of specials from the
blackboard. Roast gurnard with spiced lentils and roast artichoke (12.50 - a special) was
fresh and nicely put together and calves' liver and bacon (9 - from the regular menu) a
substantial plateful; to follow we shared a baked cheesecake with freshly-made warm hazelnut
praline (4.50 - a special). The tables are widely spaced and comparatively private, and
there are leather sofas where you can sit comfortably if you don't fancy the formality of
a table. We will be returning with the Sunday papers to try the roasts - and suspect it may
become one of our favoured locals.
Food: 7.5/10
Service: 8/10
Ambience: 7/10
Value: 8/10
Total: 30.5/40
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The Charles Lamb
Where: Elia Street
Genre: Modern British
Visited: March 2009
By: Caroline & Jon
A cosy, bijou gastro-pub which is predictably full of young City types given its location
in the well-heeled St Peter's Street environs (feels strangely as if you've been transported
to Clapham/Fulham). We found ourselves packed cheek by jowl with lots of hearty enthusiasts.
Set up 3 years ago by a keen husband and wife it has a rather self-conscious feel but does
offer an interesting menu and good wine list, plus tempting sweet and savoury pies and tarts
on the bar for those who want to graze. We started with one of these - a caramelised onion
tart (pretty nice), followed by potted crab on toast (very moreish; we took the fact that
it was served at room temperature and not 'set' to indicate that it was freshly made); and
then slow-cooked pork belly with beetroot and potato gratin (good) and squid, chorizo and
fennel stew (overwhelming flavour-wise as they had gone heavy on the smoked paprika so I
couldn't finish it). We went for an early pre-film supper and it worked pretty well as such
- it didn't feel like a place that you'd while an evening away mainly because it got so
packed.
Food: 7/10
Service: 7/10
Ambience: 5/10 - we're not Clapham/Fulham enthusiasts
Value: 6/10
Total: 25/40
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Puji Puji
Where: Balls Pond Road
Genre: Malaysian
By: Steve Holland
One of the benefits of living in N1 is the amazing range of restaurants. Within walking
distance of Ockendon Road we have Indian, Vietnamese, French, Eritrean and so on,
and not to mention Gastropubs galore! Recently added to the stable is Puji Puji the
little Malaysian restaurant squeezed in next to Hintons on Balls Pond Road (No 122).
And what a gem it is. It turns out Puji means praise in Malay and a double shot of praise
is indeed deserved. I was lucky enough to spend a couple of months working in Kuala
Lumpur recently, and I can vouch that the food served up at Puji Puji is probably as
authentic as you are going to get in London. Maybe the best way to try and recreate
the sights and smells of Jalan Alor (http://www.malaysiasite.nl/jalanaloreng.htm) is to
perch yourself up at the bar, order a plate of satay and watch as the mini-kebabs are
slowly (and I mean slowly) grilled in front of you on the charcoal brazier that sits within
the restaurant itself. The secret to satay aside from the slow/low cook over just lit coals,
is in the marinade. The glamorous lady owner, who was also our Satay chef for the night,
explained that she used 15 ingredients for the marinade- and that they are marinaded for
at least 24 hours. She also explained that lemongrass was the key to authentic Malaysian
cooking and bought many kilos every week. The satay was superb, with evidence of lemongrass
used in abundance, and kicked off a health debate as to which is better chicken, lamb or
beef.
Once past the satay there is a great selection of Malaysian favourites, from the ubiquitous
Beef Rendang (excellent just wet/dry enough), to the breakfast favourite of Roti Cannai
(flat bread and lentil curry sauce) and the very authentic Nasi Lemak which is an eclectic
mix of rice cooked with coconut milk and served with anchovies, roasted nuts, cucumbers, a
slice of egg and a chili paste known as sambal. Judging by the dishes sent out to the other
tables theres a lot more out there on the menu that I cant wait to try. It also seems like
a good idea to ask for the specials Ive heard reports of an awesome grilled Roast Sea
Bass!
Theres a comment in the menu that says Puji Puji has moved from Oriental City and I
had a few minutes trying to remember where this restaurant once was. I was reminded that
this was the large Asian shopping centre that used to exist in Collingdale, North London.
For whatever reason the owners have decided to move south. Lucky for us Ockendon Roaders,
although it seems well have a fight on our hands judging by how packed the place it they
seem to have brought a lot of their regulars with them.
Food: 8/10
Service: 6/10 (although I'd give them 9 for effort!)
Ambience: 7/10
Value: 8/10
Total: 31/40
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Belle Epoque Patisserie
Where: Newington Green
Genre: French
When visited: July 2008
By: Becky Peake
During a short trip to London, my hosts (Mom and Dad) suggested a visit to
this patisserie, where my expertise in French Gastronomie and Way of Life
(I have lived in France for the last 20 years) would come in useful in testing the
authenticity of this little bistro/boulangerie/patisserie/epicerie that claims to be the
real thing. The caf itself is quite a modest affair, the front shop has a bread and
cake counter and a few tables amongst the numerous shelves of French produce,
where you can sit and watch customers come and go during the late morning bustle.
The back room has a more relaxed atmosphere if you want to eat your lunch in
peace and quiet and there are also a couple of tables outside on the pavement if you
feel like smoking a fag or two while drinking your morning coffee. This is the ideal
place for a light lunch, the menu offers a good selection of sandwiches in crusty
French bread (tomato and mozzarella, brie and pear, etc), quiches and salads (salade
au chevre chaud for example). The food does indeed have that authentic French taste,
the different breads on offer are baked on the premises (if you nip to the loo, you can
smell the aroma of freshly baked bread that wafts up the stairs from the basement bakery)
and the coffee is up to scratch. We unfortunately didnt try any of the many patisseries on
display (chocolate or coffee clairs, millefeuille, individual fruit tarts,..), but they
looked absolutely mouth watering. It is possible to buy bread or cakes to take home as well as
cheese and other common supermarket groceries such as Bonne Mamam jams, tins of
vegetables, coffee and even cassoulet. So the final verdict is yes it is authentic and
yes the food is good and not particularly expensive. The only detectable sign of Englishness
is that you have to order and pay at the counter (which is not the French way) and table
service is minimal and rather bad tempered. All in all a pleasant experience.
Food: 8/10
Service: 4/10
Ambience: 7/10
Value: 8/10
Total: 27/40
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Isarn
Where: Upper Street
Genre: Thai
When visited: January 2008
By: Caroline and Jon
If you like Thai food then Isarn is well worth checking out. Its got a modern stylish
feel but it is small and, depending on where youre seated, it can feel a bit cramped.
But the food is great. Its a smallish menu but consistently good, particularly the fish
dishes. Although the food can be hot, if you ask they will spice your dishes more lightly.
The service is fantastic and, compared to what you get in Islingtons lazier gastropubs,
great value: the starters are between 5 and 8 and hearty mains come in at well
under 15. The wine list isnt huge but, again, its very fairly priced and well-matched
to the food. Its quite popular so its a good idea to book.
Food: 9/10
Service: 10/10
Ambience: 8/10
Value: 9/10
Total: 27/30
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The Talbot
Where: Mortimer Road
Genre: Gastropub
When visited visited: January 2008
By: Caroline and Jon
Having had good meals here in the past, The Talbot has gone sharply downhill. The
food redefined dreadful. The vegetarian lasagne tasted like a ready meal and was
a complete rip-off at 9.50 and the fish pie was a small, grey watery mess topped
with a greasy disc of pastry. Everything about the place was substandard, including
the drinks: the beer had floaters in it and clearly wasnt being kept properly. The staff
were weird, disinterested and probably stoned. Genuinely one to avoid.
Food: 0/10
Service: 2/10
Ambience: 4/10
Value: 0/10
Total: 6/40
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Casaba
Where: Essx Road
Genre: Turkish
When visited: December 2007
By: Caroline and Jon
This place has re-invented itself as a deli-cum-coffee shop after the smoking ban meant
it couldnt offer hookahs. The seating remains a bit eccentric but theres a good range
of Turkish cakes, good coffee and lovely fresh orange juice. The food tends to be a bit
insipid and under-seasoned but everything is fresh and well-made. It wont be to
everyones taste but given the dearth of coffee shops in this part of town its a good
pit-stop: its functional but not comfortable enough to make you want to stay and read
the papers.
Food: 7/10
Service: 7/10
Ambience: 6/10
Value: 7/10
Total: 27/40
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Houng-Viet
Where: Englefield Road
Genre: Vietnamese
When visited: January 2008
By: Caroline and Jon
This is one to visit under cover of darkness. Having visited many times in the evening
it was a bit of surprise to see when visiting for lunch just how dilapidated and dirty
the building is. But if you can put that to one side, the huge menu has some great dishes
and its extremely good value. There are boxes around the more popular dishes, which
helps as there is a lot on offer. The mains tend to be better than the starters. Service
can be a bit erratic and the restaurant is likely to become increasingly busy as Time Out
has been flagging up just what a bargain it is. You can bring your own wine but the house
wines are pretty good for the price.
Food: 8/10
Service: 6/10
Ambience: 6/10
Value: 10/10
Total: 30/40
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Akari
Where: Essex Road
Genre: Japanese
When visited: May 2008
By: Caroline and Jon
We took the plunge and dared to be the only diners at lunchtime on a Bank Holiday weekend.
A nice location, airy dining room, friendly staff... be wary of ordering too adventurously:
raw squid in squid liver sauce was not a success! Good sushi and sashimi but not
spectacular. As ever with Japanese restaurants the bill can rocket if youre not careful.
It wont blow you away, but if its what youre in the mood for its a perfectly
serviceable Japanese eaterie.
Food: 6/10
Service: 7/10
Ambience: 6/10
Value: 5/10
Total: 24/40
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Thai Corner Caf
Where: St Paul's Road
Genre: Thai
When visited: regularly, most recently May 2008
by: Caroline and Jon
Although amusingly styled the Thai Conner Caf on its signage, this is a cracking
cosy little restaurant with efficient, dedicated staff and extremely fresh and tasty
food. They genuinely cook dishes as they are ordered, as you can ascertain by a
quick trip downstairsyou cross the kitchen on the way to the loo! Bargain 2-course
set menu lunches are available 7 days, and a la carte has never disappointed. The
Thai fishcake starters are the best weve had, tom yum soup was a triumph and
they can make things off-menu on request, for example the freshest imaginable
stir-fried vegetables in ginger and garlic. Do try the Thai wines really cheap and
a perfect match for this style of food.
Food: 9/10
Service: 8/10
Ambience: 7/10
Value: 9/10
Total: 33/40
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The Alma
Where: Newington Green Road
Genre: Modern European-Aussie fusion
When visited: March 2008
By: Caroline and Jon
Dont be put off by the grungy feel of this pub the food was delicious and the
staff extremely friendly when we went for a late weekend lunch. We were genuinely
surprised at how well considered and executed our dishes were. We had a delicious
seabass and well-thought out pulse-based vegetarian main course. With this sort of
inventive and refreshingly different food, lets hope they hold on to the chef for as
long as possible!
Food: 8/10
Service: 7/10
Ambience: 5/10
Value: 8/10
Total: 28/40
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