The best and worst banh mi in London – Vietnamese sandwiches review
★★★★★ / ★★★★☆ / ★★★☆☆ / ★★☆☆☆ / ★☆☆☆☆ / Best and Worst group tests / Vietnamese

The best and worst banh mi in London – Vietnamese sandwiches review

26 eateries, 66 sandwiches, one verdict Updated 26/2/14 – tweaked Bun Cha review, added a missing photo and added reviews of Chao Kitchen and Chao!Now Updated 05/3/14 – added review of Bep Haus, tweaked The Verdict slightly to reflect its inclusion Updated 12/3/14 – added review of Miss Chu Updated 13/7/14 – added reviews of … Continue reading

Meat People review – Islington zebra, steak and pork
★★★☆☆ / Eclectic / Steak/chophouse

Meat People review – Islington zebra, steak and pork

S&M no more Update 6/1/2014 – tweaked the Verdict. Meat People might sound like yet another part of the burgeoning Meatliqour burger empire, but it’s actually, as far as I can tell, an independent meat-focussed restaurant. It’s located not far from the genteel sprawl of Islington’s Upper Street. Meat People has taken over the premises … Continue reading

Drakes Tabanco review – Tapas combining the best of Britain and Spain?
★★★☆☆ / Spanish / Tapas

Drakes Tabanco review – Tapas combining the best of Britain and Spain?

Fitzrovia tapas and sherry Update 7/04/2019 – this restaurant is now closed Fitzrovia, that weird part of London north of Oxford Street, south of Euston, west of Bloomsbury and east of Marylebone, is overflowing with tapas restaurants. Barrica, The Salt Yard and Fino are well established, each with their own dedicated following. That hasn’t stopped … Continue reading

Ember Yard review – Soho tapas is losing its sizzle
★★★☆☆ / Spanish / Tapas

Ember Yard review – Soho tapas is losing its sizzle

Octopus and chorizo skewers on Berwick Street Updated 21/6/2020 – added details of 2020 meals and updated the Verdict as well as the formatting. Disclosure: I used a publicly available discount for my 2020 meals. This discount was available to the general public; as ever I did not seek any special treatment just because I’m … Continue reading

Peyote vs Breddo’s Tacos review – Mayfair Mexican miracle or middling muddle?
★★★★★ / ★★★☆☆ / Mexican

Peyote vs Breddo’s Tacos review – Mayfair Mexican miracle or middling muddle?

Mayfair poshos vs market stall wanderers Breddo’s Tacos was one of the very few Mexican eateries that I managed to miss during my recent round-up of London’s burrito and taco eateries. I finally got off my arse and tasted the market stall’s wares (also currently available at The Player), while also trying the Mexican food … Continue reading

Foxlow review – the Farringdon meat restaurant that’s not St John
★★★☆☆ / Barbecue/BBQ / Eclectic / Steak/chophouse

Foxlow review – the Farringdon meat restaurant that’s not St John

The Hawksmoor that’s not a Hawksmoor Foxlow is the latest restaurant from the guys behind the Hawksmoor mini-chain of steakhouses, but it tries to be different by concentrating on meats other than steak. I say ‘tries’ quite deliberately, as you can still order various cuts of steak at Foxlow. Even if this wasn’t the case, Foxlow’s … Continue reading

Berners Tavern review – looks good and tastes even better
★★★★☆ / Modern European / Modernist

Berners Tavern review – looks good and tastes even better

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

Oriental Dragon review – hilarious service, good food
★★★★☆ / Chinese / Chinese Dumplings / Sichuanese

Oriental Dragon review – hilarious service, good food

Fitzrovia Chinese reaches new highs and lows Restaurants in London’s Chinatown are renowned for their brusque, hurried service, but this culture of surly indifference has no geographical boundaries. Oriental Dragon on Cleveland Street in Fitzrovia is a classic example. Although the service wasn’t completely charmless, overall it was hilariously unhelpful and it reached the apex … Continue reading

Mamita Que Chorizo review – South American Shoreditch sandwiches for supper
★★★★☆ / Steak/chophouse

Mamita Que Chorizo review – South American Shoreditch sandwiches for supper

Dinner time baguettes, ciabattas and buns Having a sandwich for dinner sounds like something only a slummy student might do, but having a steak sandwich from Mamita Que Chorizo is no second-best option. This small Shoreditch restaurant is only open in the evenings from Thursday to Saturday (perfect for chucking out time) and serves up … Continue reading