[Food] Restaurant thread 2021

[vegster]

I got as far as “ heat-blistered sardines with fried bread and an anchovy cream.” before thinking I HAVE TO go to this restaurant.

Spookily, I had a nice tin of Sardines on a toasted Granary Roll for brekkie today!

Edit : I've probably saved myself 6.8 on that as well.

 

[Guinness Boy]

I managed to get halfway through the article before I got bored with the waffle and speed read some of the rest. God, does Rayner go on or what? Absolute load of tosh, at least Grace Dent can do succinct.

Decided to ignore the rest of the review and go straight for their menu, sounds ok although the Hipster style pricing, which leaves the "£" off the price, makes most of the dishes look like they have been scored out of ten.

I really like Rayner's writing. Essentially he has to fill "X" number of words each week essentially based on what he eaten, you have to riff on other stuff to do that. I'd take that over Naylor's prose any day.

Here I suspect he mentions the Skint offices because he knows Midfield General who is involved in The Sportsman in Whitstable. And "curating" is a pet hate of mine (plus he likes the same sort of food as me).

But if I was FORCED to choose between him and Grace Dent as a dinner date then, sorry Jay, it's Grace all day long.

I'm with Herr T. It's a review that ultimately makes me want to eat their food.

 

[Bakero]

I managed to get halfway through the article before I got bored with the waffle and speed read some of the rest. God, does Rayner go on or what? Absolute load of tosh, at least Grace Dent can do succinct.

Decided to ignore the rest of the review and go straight for their menu, sounds ok although the Hipster style pricing, which leaves the "£" off the price, makes most of the dishes look like they have been scored out of ten.

Rayner over Dent all day long for me.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

I really like Rayner's writing. Essentially he has to fill "X" number of words each week essentially based on what he eaten, you have to riff on other stuff to do that. I'd take that over Naylor's prose any day.

Here I suspect he mentions the Skint offices because he knows Midfield General who is involved in The Sportsman in Whitstable. And "curating" is a pet hate of mine (plus he likes the same sort of food as me).

But if I was FORCED to choose between him and Grace Dent as a dinner date then, sorry Jay, it's Grace all day long.

I'm with Herr T. It's a review that ultimately makes me want to eat their food.

Agree with this. When Rayner was celebrating 20 years as a critic he wrote about his review style. He said that he always weaves a related side story into his review, to highlight something of interest but to also make the review more interesting. I note that NSC’s answer to Jay Rayner, [MENTION=7710]Goldstone1979[/MENTION] adopts this tactic to good affect as well.

I like Jay Rayner and his writing; I guess it helps, as you say, that I like the same stuff as him but his humour and style amuse me. He also successfully conveys the “vibe” of restaurants which is important.

Grace or Jay…..Grace Dent seems intimidating….I’ll go Grace.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Spookily, I had a nice tin of Sardines on a toasted Granary Roll for brekkie today!

Edit : I've probably saved myself 6.8 on that as well.

….no anchovy cream?

 

[vegster]

….no anchovy cream?

Freshly ground Black Pepper .

 

[Cowfold Seagull]

I eventually found myself at the Bolney Estate today, l've lived just along the road from there for the past 30 odd years but never quite managed to get there until now.

I was frankly amazed by what l saw,l certainly in terms of the sheer scale of the operation, no longer the small winery that itonce was, and indeed they are celebrating their half century of planting their first vines next year.

Not really intending to eat, the wife and l decided to go the whole hog anyway, ordering cheese fritters and the charcuterie plate to start, followed by a Sunday roast, (chicken in my case), and a Cauliflower Pakora for the good lady, a bottle of "Bolney Bubbly" to wash it down with, and then two Americanos with Petite Fours to end the meal.

Good food and excellent service, what more could one ask for? I shall return.

 

[Westdene Seagull]

Grace or Jay…..Grace Dent seems intimidating….I’ll go Grace.

Nothing to do with anything else about her then ?

 

[Since1982]

I eventually found myself at the Bolney Estate today, l've lived just along the road from there for the past 30 odd years but never quite managed to get there until now.

I was frankly amazed by what l saw,l certainly in terms of the sheer scale of the operation, no longer the small winery that itonce was, and indeed they are celebrating their half century of planting their first vines next year.

Not really intending to eat, the wife and l decided to go the whole hog anyway, ordering cheese fritters and the charcuterie plate to start, followed by a Sunday roast, (chicken in my case), and a Cauliflower Pakora for the good lady, a bottle of "Bolney Bubbly" to wash it down with, and then two Americanos with Petite Fours to end the meal.

Good food and excellent service, what more could one ask for? I shall return.

Good call. Did the vineyard tour a few years back. Sounds a good choice when we don't fancy the hike into Brighton.

 

[Nitram]

Went to Burnt Orange today for lunch, better half went midweek and thought it worth a revisit as she wanted to try the set menu.
Hummus, lamb cigars and the flat bread were the stand outs for me. Very interesting menu lots of choices. I’d put this on a par with the Flint house.
Cost for a shared set menu, 2 desserts and a lager was £96 including 12.5 % service charge.
Was full but staff attentive. Tables for two were a bit close together so a lot of unwanted conversation shared. I’d go back. Good choice of cocktails and snacks so could be a good place for drinks.

Menu we had

 

[Springal]

Ended up for an impromptu lunch at Yes Chef gaff - Boathouse In The Marina. Wasn’t planned and wasn’t really that hungry - but shared the ‘Fish Finger’ sandwich - which was huge bits of fish and nice light batter. Also the salt & pepper squid was really good, nice change from the usual offering. Only slight downside and I’m bit of a snob but my flat white seemed like an Americano with milk and was a bit grainy. But nice location with a decent sun terrace. Will go back for a proper dinner

 

[Goldstone1976]

Barts SW3. La Poule au Pot SW1

Cocktail bar beside Gaucho, just along from Bibendum, followed by a French Brasserie on the border of Pimlico and Chelsea. The brasserie is an institution; it’s been there for 50+ years.

I could write a long review on both, but I just CBA.

Suffice to say that I make better cocktails (and don’t require a password to enter my premises [tossers]) and cook escargots, coquilles, lapin, and poule au pot better.

Sigh - avoid like the plague.

 

[Bring back Bryan wade!!]

Had dinner with friends last night at Andalucia Tapas and Wine Bar in Ferring.

The food and wine list were both excellent, would wholeheartedly recommend.

 

[Machiavelli]

Barts SW3. La Poule au Pot SW1

Cocktail bar beside Gaucho, just along from Bibendum, followed by a French Brasserie on the border of Pimlico and Chelsea. The brasserie is an institution; it’s been there for 50+ years.

I could write a long review on both, but I just CBA.

Suffice to say that I make better cocktails (and don’t require a password to enter my premises [tossers]) and cook escargots, coquilles, lapin, and poule au pot better.

Sigh - avoid like the plague.

Top three or five cocktails please (I no longer drink them, but could easily be persuaded)

 

[Goldstone1976]

Top three or five cocktails please (I no longer drink them, but could easily be persuaded)

Grey goose martini, very dry, up, with a twist
Old fashioned
Long Island ice tea

Whisky sour
Mojito

 

[Machiavelli]

Grey goose martini, very dry, up, with a twist
Old fashioned
Long Island ice tea

Whisky sour
Mojito

(Beefeater or Tanqueray) Martini, with an olive
Negroni
Old fashioned (I used to be content making these -- just takes some patience)
Margherita
Whisky sour

Bramble as a neo-cocktail

 

[Goldstone1976]

(Beefeater or Tanqueray) Martini, with an olive
Negroni
Old fashioned (I used to be content making these -- just takes some patience)
Margherita
Whisky sour

Bramble as a neo-cocktail

Dirty boy, eh?

 

[Machiavelli]

Dirty boy, eh?

It's not only you that's designated me as such

 

[spinoza]

Have we done Chamuyo? Top place but I've not been there since pre lockdown which now makes me feel a bit bad.

 

[Yes Chef]

Ended up for an impromptu lunch at Yes Chef gaff - Boathouse In The Marina. Wasn’t planned and wasn’t really that hungry - but shared the ‘Fish Finger’ sandwich - which was huge bits of fish and nice light batter. Also the salt & pepper squid was really good, nice change from the usual offering. Only slight downside and I’m bit of a snob but my flat white seemed like an Americano with milk and was a bit grainy. But nice location with a decent sun terrace. Will go back for a proper dinner

Sorry, only just seen this, thanks for the nice comments about the food, and I'll pass on your feedback about the coffee