london gastrodomes

I've not eaten at many of the places you mention, but share your thoughts on Rive Cafe.  If it was not in London, and had not been adopted by the chattering people (formerly of Islington), one suspects it would have died.

Better Italian food in Abergavenny (Walnut Tree), and definitely not the sort of thing one can knock up at home.

Some good friends use Kensington Palace a lot, as it serves good food at sensible prices.  On the other hand, we went to Bank, and liked the design, but paid way over what the meal was worth.  Perhaps you have to pay for the eating experience, but like all sensations, it becomes dulled with time.

And people with expense accounts only encourage them.

And now a quick plug.  Not hyped, but if you can get out that far,  Redmonds in Upper Richmond Road West (Sheen) are busy, serving great food in excellent surroundings.

Bill

chot wrote:

> Am I alone in thinking that places like Mezzo (upstairs), Quags, L'Odeon
> and the other big trendy "brasseries" (sic) are over-priced, the food is
> often pre-cooked then finished off to order, the staff interested only
> in turning tables round and tips? There are some good "trendy" places
> like Zeffaranos, but how often do we pretend to have enjoyed these
> places when in our hearts we thought it rather ordinary. I got taken on
> a business meal to River Cafe and maybe I chose wrong, but the food
> seemed pleasant, but nothing I couldn't knock up myself. But since the
> other person was paying I had to drool over the food. And ouch! the
> bill.
>
> Comments, please!
> --
> chot

You are talking big dosh on these places and getting a booking will be a problem if you are thinking about Aubergine, etc. Forget Greenhouse, Tante Caire (unless you are dead rich) but think about Kensington Place, Zeffaranos (Italian), or if you want to push the boat out try Teatro. While the tossers from the weekend Times have slagged it, the food and atmosphere is interesting.

While on that subject, who is the most self-opiniated reviewer between AA Gill and Jonathan Meades? My favourites is Michael Winner. He is SO VERY funny. I like the idea of a rich man flaunting his dosh.

In article , Tim Almond <spamspam@almond
.globalnet.co.uk> writes
>I am going to London in July and would like to go to a really good
>restaurant. I don't want some Conrandome where you pay for the decor, and
>nothing too trendy. I also don't want an incredibly nouvelle experience,
>although presentation is important to me.
>
>I was thinking about either The Greenhouse, Turner's, Tante Claire or Chez
>Nico. Does anyone have any comments on these. Please please please e-mail me
>at [email removed] as soon as poss.
>
>Thanks awfully,
>
>Tim Almond
>
>
>
>Someone wrote:
>>Am I alone in thinking that places like Mezzo (upstairs), Quags, L'Odeon
>>and the other big trendy "brasseries" (sic) are over-priced, the food is
>>often pre-cooked then finished off to order, the staff interested only
>>in turning tables round and tips? There are some good "trendy" places
>>like Zeffaranos, but how often do we pretend to have enjoyed these
>>places when in our hearts we thought it rather ordinary. I got taken on
>>a business meal to River Cafe and maybe I chose wrong, but the food
>>seemed pleasant, but nothing I couldn't knock up myself. But since the
>>other person was paying I had to drool over the food. And ouch! the
>>bill.
>>
>>Comments, please!
>>--
>>chot
>
>

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Tim A. wrote:
>I am going to London in July and would like to go to a really good
>restaurant. I don't want some Conrandome where you pay for the decor, and
>nothing too trendy. I also don't want an incredibly nouvelle experience,
>although presentation is important to me.

I've been away awhile, but on a recent weekend back in London I tried Bank (in an old bank at 1 Kingsway - phone number not to hand but see the writeup in www.timeout.co.uk) which I rather liked. The initial impression was "too trendy - all style" etc. But actually the clientele was very mixed. The atmosphere is bustling and possibly a bit loud for some, but I liked it and the tables aren't crushed together. The food was pretty good, well presented - interesting selection of the sort of food that I find hard to categorise - sort of European but with Asian influences. Portions are by no means nouvelle-ish and the service was pretty competent.

Three good courses for two with G&Ts, a bottle of wine, coffee and some rather nice liqueur Muscat was a little pricey at about 120 quid including service, but we had some of the most expensive dishes.

You'll need to book I suspect, but I did so for a Saturday night at about 4 days notice.

> Please please please e-mail me
>at [email removed] as soon as poss.

Done also

HTH

Paul

Article 839 of uk.food+drink.restaurants:
Message-ID:
Date: Tue, 26 May 1998 11:13:49 +0100