… but is coming up short. Names can be many things. A descriptive label, a pigeonhole, a statement of intent. It’s therefore striking that Islington restaurant 1251 has such an easily forgotten, easily misremembered name. It may have some significance to someone behind the scenes, especially in light of the fact that chef James Cochran … Continue reading
This review of a Mexico City restaurant is a break from The Picky Glutton’s usual London-based coverage Biko is a glossy and sleek fine dining restaurant decked out in refined and soothing shades of beige and brown. It really could be anywhere in the world, but what it lacks in aesthetic distinctiveness it more than … Continue reading
Masterchef? What’s that? I don’t envy any new tapas restaurant opening in London. Unless you’re as good as José or Ember Yard, or as cheap as Barrafina, then it’ll be a real struggle to stand out. Bilbao Berria tries to rely on three things to set itself apart – a menu with alleged Basque and Catalan … Continue reading
Hotel food with a twist Hotel restaurants are very different from restaurants in hotels. This may seem like a minor semantic difference, but there’s actually a yawning gulf between the two. Hotel restaurants are identikit eateries serving up a large menu of lowest common denominator dishes designed for weary travellers too tired to care and … Continue reading
This review of a Taiwan restaurant is a break from The Picky Glutton’s usual London-based coverage Chain restaurants have a poor reputation in the UK for limp, poor-quality food and soulless atmospheres. Most dedicated London restaurant lovers try to avoid chain outlets whenever possible, although there are a few that are worth seeking out. Different rules … Continue reading
This review of a Barcelona restaurant is a break from The Picky Glutton’s usual London-based coverage. If you’re the sort of reader who only reads the introduction and conclusion to a review and perhaps skims the photos, then let me save you the trouble right now. If you haven’t already guessed from the headline above, … Continue reading
This review of a Vienna restaurant is a break from The Picky Glutton’s usual London-based coverage. Steirereck is an unusual restaurant since its premises are located within one of Vienna’s city parks – the Stadtpark. The Stadtpark isn’t Vienna’s most picturesque green space and the exterior of Steirereck’s building isn’t much to look at either, … Continue reading
Will I come back here thyme and thyme again? Much to Wicket’s horror I’m not a huge fan of Christmas. It’s not that I have anything against it, I just never got into the swing of celebrating a traditional Christmas with all the trimmings. Even so, I ended up having a Christmas dinner of sorts … Continue reading
Gordon Ramsay’s casual dining venture goes head-to-head with Jamie Oliver’s Barbecoa Despite his fame, I’ve never had much luck at Gordon Ramsay’s restaurants. I was unimpressed by famed Grosvenor Square stalwart Maze, disappointed by his Versailles venture Trianon and underwhelmed by private dining establishment Sloane Street. Although all of these experiences were admittedly a few … Continue reading
Is my favourite breakfast place in London still up to scratch? It’s been a while since my first visit to Kopapa, an Australian Antipodean cafe/restaurant that serves up a delicious French toast for breakfast, not because I haven’t wanted to but simply because I’ve been sidetracked by all the other places I’ve been eating at. … Continue reading
