no-bookings policies are so shit
― lex pretend, Tuesday, 15 February 2011 14:42 (thirteen years ago) link
Yeah, they feel likeable if somewhere's super convenient for a pop-in and you have figured out the rhythms of its custom. Otherwise maddening. (esp when I suspect I am being made to stand around w/ overpriced drinks in order to create a sense of 'buzz' around yr establishment.)
― portrait of velleity (woof), Tuesday, 15 February 2011 14:49 (thirteen years ago) link
No bookings policies are fine in a pub, which is what the Anchor & Hope is really.
― Matt DC, Tuesday, 15 February 2011 14:51 (thirteen years ago) link
do people really go to a&h just to have a few drinks? in my experience the people at the bar are ALL people who weren't quick enough for a table but were quick enough to be allowed to wait for one inside the building rather than having to leave their number and wander around the cut. think it would be disingenuous of them to claim that they are 'a pub that serves food', they are a restaurant with a bar, and a shitty booking policy.
― peligro, Tuesday, 15 February 2011 14:59 (thirteen years ago) link
if you want to book, you can just go to great queen st which is pretty much the same imo
― just sayin, Tuesday, 15 February 2011 15:01 (thirteen years ago) link
xxp agree with first half of that, but hesitant about 2nd… looks like a good pub, feels like a good pub, but can't imagine going for a pint there (but only because of the crowds?), also it's just so famous as a food-place. (But as I say, selfishly unbothered about their no-bookings.)
― portrait of velleity (woof), Tuesday, 15 February 2011 15:03 (thirteen years ago) link
non-veggie friend is going to this intriguing-looking place tonight - http://www.vanillablack.co.uk/ - tbh i think just the peanut butter and chocolate parfait would tempt me along
― lex pretend, Tuesday, 15 February 2011 15:05 (thirteen years ago) link
a+h would be a great local if it weren't quite so busy, which yeah is mostly people waiting for tables.
― ledge, Tuesday, 15 February 2011 15:11 (thirteen years ago) link
well i mean it looks like a pub yeah, but it is judged purely on the strength of its food and that is the only reason anyone ever goes there.
lex, i was raised vegetarian and as my parents are veggie i always take them somewhere that they can have plenty of menu options whenever they are in London. vanilla black is def the best non-indian vegetarian food I have had in the city, your friend is in for a treat
― peligro, Tuesday, 15 February 2011 15:18 (thirteen years ago) link
sooooo
good chinese restaurants in london?
― the philosopher named after a whiskey (nakhchivan), Tuesday, 15 February 2011 15:47 (thirteen years ago) link
Barshu in Soho is really good. I also like the much poncier Shanghai Blues in Holborn. And there's a terrific dim sum place near the O2 whose name escapes me. The downside is it's near the O2.
― Matt DC, Tuesday, 15 February 2011 15:50 (thirteen years ago) link
CHILLI COOL CHILLI COOL CHILLI COOL.
http://www.chillicool.com/home-eng.html
― anna sui generis (suzy), Tuesday, 15 February 2011 15:52 (thirteen years ago) link
dragon castle at elephant and castleleong's legendsyauatcha? (never been meself)
― ledge, Tuesday, 15 February 2011 15:54 (thirteen years ago) link
Chili Cool in Russel Square and Gourmet San in Bethnal Green (xpost)
― Inevitable stupid dubstep mix (chap), Tuesday, 15 February 2011 15:52 (49 seconds ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink
Did you go together? (xp)
― Tom D (Tom D.), Tuesday, 15 February 2011 15:54 (thirteen years ago) link
http://londonist.com/2011/02/top-10-chinatown-eats.php
― ledge, Tuesday, 15 February 2011 15:55 (thirteen years ago) link
never going to chinatown having known son of proprietor of one such restaurant who wouldn't eat there
― the philosopher named after a whiskey (nakhchivan), Tuesday, 15 February 2011 15:58 (thirteen years ago) link
ah whatevs, could hear that kinda thing from anyone who knows anyone who's ever had a relative who once worked in a restaurant.
― ledge, Tuesday, 15 February 2011 16:00 (thirteen years ago) link
Not sure about 'the best', but if you're nr the scruffy south-east, I enjoyed going to Le Wei Xiang in Lewisham the other week - cheap, nice, big portions, giant menu with loads of stuff I'd rather not eat on it (tendons). Cash only.
― portrait of velleity (woof), Tuesday, 15 February 2011 16:01 (thirteen years ago) link
barshu is great, def my favourite of the szechuan restaurants that got hyped up a couple of years ago. best dim sum i have had is at dragon castle in elephant & castle, which also benefits from fantastically ott decor and really friendly service. hunan in pimlico does amazing food but is more expensive and less welcoming.
i would be careful to not lump barshu in with the shitholes that make up most restaurants in chinatown. it's very much like people who wont eat a curry anywhere around brick lane, just because the vast majority are fucking foul doesnt mean there arent great meals to be had.
― peligro, Tuesday, 15 February 2011 16:03 (thirteen years ago) link
i second leong's legend. also shanghai in dalston.
the szechuan ones are great but i'm a wuss when it comes to spices so most of the menu is wasted on me.
― lex pretend, Tuesday, 15 February 2011 16:08 (thirteen years ago) link
I've been to Le Wei Xiang and while I'm not exactly squeamish about eating bits of animal most of the stuff on the menu just looked outright revolting. No restaurant needs that much tripe on the menu.
― Matt DC, Tuesday, 15 February 2011 16:10 (thirteen years ago) link
yeah I steered clear of most of the offal (i am a bit squeamish) but some potentially disgusting lumps of pig fat in one dish were delicious, so idk maybe they can pull off the tripe and tendons too.
― portrait of velleity (woof), Tuesday, 15 February 2011 16:13 (thirteen years ago) link
ok yes definitely enjoyed #meateasy. Definitely.
(& another place where I am def not bothered by no bookings.)
― portrait of velleity (woof), Thursday, 17 February 2011 12:10 (thirteen years ago) link
chilli cool is good, yes. fish hot pot.also "szechuan folk" by spitalfields market is really good.. there's a lot of good szechuan places popping up lately
not sure about that londonist list except 4 season is good (don't just have the duck, also have the bbq pork)
chinatown eat: people in the know go to "jen's cafe". "yeung cheng" (or something) are also pretty decent (and i still still do a prix fixe kind of fayre where you order a dish pp and get charged flat price) also the lady who sells you a massive pork meat bun (not the char siu) for a quid from her little stall opposite baozi inn (which is overrated)
― Eto'o ))) (ken c), Friday, 18 February 2011 09:13 (thirteen years ago) link
if yr in chinatown, that place that does the knife shaved + hand pulled noodles by leicester sq tube is also worthwhile
― just sayin, Friday, 18 February 2011 09:15 (thirteen years ago) link
its fun just watching the dude work his magic
― just sayin, Friday, 18 February 2011 09:16 (thirteen years ago) link
I had a fairly average meal at Le Wei Xiang ("Happy Smell"! in English!) - my companions seemed to enjoy it more than I did, but they were drinking and I was not? Pig blood and tofu soup was the blandest thing I've ever put in my mouth. Reminded me of the Goodness Gracious Me sketch where they order the blandest thing on the menu. Ergh! On saying that, I ate loads, the pork and garlic was very good, and something involving aubergines also tick VG. The DUMPLINGS! were ok, but there are better ones at Silk Road and from "Home" in Lewisham, which did the best DUMPLINGS! hands down.
Tripe isn't offputting, but when combined with the word "bowel"... that item was a little too much for me.
My favourite pork bun is from Kowloon Bakery - I love that place though and rarely bother trying anywhere else!
Matt, you're thinking of Penninsula! It's in a Holiday Inn! I always forget it exists. Hong Kong City on New Cross Road has not done me wrong in the past, but haven't been for ages.
― superpitching, Friday, 18 February 2011 13:19 (thirteen years ago) link
Hold on, what the DUMPLINGS! happened there?
― superpitching, Friday, 18 February 2011 13:20 (thirteen years ago) link
Ha! DUMPLINGS! are very p!o!p! (#oldschoolsinisterjokethere)
DUMPLINGS! are BLUDDY GRATE
― Eto'o ))) (ken c), Friday, 18 February 2011 17:00 (thirteen years ago) link
any good east suggestions for gastro pubs or other non ethnic food? or at least non viet/indian/pakistani, am having major burn out on that sort of cuisine and want to try some new places.
also a good place i can eat it on my birthday on friday but also invite people who want to drink and hang out?
― LocalGarda, Tuesday, 22 March 2011 10:41 (thirteen years ago) link
http://www.albioncaff.co.uk is great!
― 40% chill and 100% negative (Tracer Hand), Tuesday, 22 March 2011 10:53 (thirteen years ago) link
I have a direct interest in this, but http://www.masonandtaylor.co.uk/ might suit your needs? I think it's fab, but obviously I would. It can certainly accommodate mixed eating / drinking groups.
― Tim, Tuesday, 22 March 2011 11:07 (thirteen years ago) link
st john b & w?
― just sayin, Tuesday, 22 March 2011 11:10 (thirteen years ago) link
(not for yr birthday, just for food)
oh wow i've been liking the look of mason & taylor for ages! never quite the right place/right time yet but i will certainly make the effort now.
albion is v mediocre and overpriced imo.
― r|t|c, Tuesday, 22 March 2011 11:34 (thirteen years ago) link
i went to this place for my birthday: http://www.theeastonpub.co.uk nice (if slightly poncy) pub that does nice sunday roast and they have massive tables + take bookings
― kl0ppa kl0ppa down (tpp), Tuesday, 22 March 2011 11:36 (thirteen years ago) link
& yeah mason + taylor looks great, will definitely be paying a visit
― just sayin, Tuesday, 22 March 2011 11:37 (thirteen years ago) link
http://www.theprincearthurlondonfields.com/
once spent an evening here mesmerized by the sight of charles campion working his way through a pint of prawns. if you can book a big table it might possibly do the trick.
never eaten in the scolt head restaurant bit but maybe the gastro/pub divide there could be good?
duke of wellington on balls pond probably bit too busy on a friday generally but again, maybe if you nab a big table in the back room.
― r|t|c, Tuesday, 22 March 2011 11:49 (thirteen years ago) link
Any recommendations for places on/near Edgware Road? Plenty look appetising.
― I lolled at the Great Saucepan (GamalielRatsey), Tuesday, 22 March 2011 11:51 (thirteen years ago) link
(I work at The Duke of Wellington and Mason and Taylor, that's the interest I was declaring.)
― Tim, Tuesday, 22 March 2011 11:54 (thirteen years ago) link
I shall almost definitely be paying Mason & Taylor (and Tim, obviously) a visit over Easter, if I ever get my arse in gear and book this weekend away I've been talking about for months.
― ailsa, Tuesday, 22 March 2011 11:54 (thirteen years ago) link
^^^Duly noted, Hopkins.
The Easton is near Exmouth Market and thus a little bit too 'west' for what's required. If it's not, the Crown in Clerkenwell Green might even have a room on the first floor that is reservable. I haven't yet gone to Mason and Taylor but one of my friends is always banging on about it, in a good way - and most people will be able to stumble back to their neighbourhood of origin from there. The London Fields on Mare Street is good - they're owned by the same firm as Rat and Parrot and it's basically a less busy/irritating version of same.
Sadly, I rarely venture to Edgware Road unless it's for something Lebanese.
― anna sui generis (suzy), Tuesday, 22 March 2011 11:58 (thirteen years ago) link
food in scolt head is good but possibly not good enough to go out of your way there specifically
fika on brick lane does good swedish food, re: non-viet/indian ethnic food
― lex pretend, Tuesday, 22 March 2011 12:04 (thirteen years ago) link
pham sushi near old street too, best sushi anywhere in east
― lex pretend, Tuesday, 22 March 2011 12:05 (thirteen years ago) link
lol i can't believe fancyapint actually went to review dalston superstore
― r|t|c, Tuesday, 22 March 2011 12:09 (thirteen years ago) link
never eaten in the royal oak on columbia rd either but a one-two with the nelson's head after could also be soul-destroyinglively
ooh btw tim could you tell the duke of wellington staff that potted shrimp goes in the fridge and not the freezer. (very nice otherwise though mind.)
― r|t|c, Tuesday, 22 March 2011 12:10 (thirteen years ago) link
Would recommend Thai Garden next to the Florist in Bethnal Green for "non viet/indian/pakistani".
― James Mitchell, Tuesday, 22 March 2011 12:13 (thirteen years ago) link
Only ever been to the Nelson's Head at around 8am on a sunday - never seen it an an actual evening
― colby, Tuesday, 22 March 2011 12:20 (thirteen years ago) link
RTC: I'll tell the chef when he arrives! Sorry about that.
― Tim, Tuesday, 22 March 2011 12:21 (thirteen years ago) link