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| Brazil |
Camden Town
This bar is quite close to Camden Town station, and it was one of the first Brazilian places I went with Alistair. We ordered some Lime caipirinhas and some caldinho de feijão (black beans soup) which was a good way to start. But we were a bit disappointed with Brazilian Snacks Platter as the cheese bread was hard, and the pasteis and mandioca (cassava) weren´t crunchy and well fried. We also found a bit expensive for the quality of the food. I wouldn´t recommend it, specially if you're taking someone to try Brazilian food for the first time.
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| Caribbean |
Brixton
Despite not being a country, we thought trying Caribbean cuisine would be a good experience, considering there is a big Caribbean community in London. And what a great place to go to try that: Brixton Village!
Fish, Wings & Tings is a very small restaurant located in one of the corners of the market.
Alistair loved his Goat Roti which was tender, full of flavour with a rich & spicy sauce. I was surprised by the taste of my dish as well: roasted chicken with a barbecue spicy & sweet sauce, served with Roti and vegetables. The food was scrumptious and the serving very generous! I really enjoyed the food as it was quite a different flavour from cuisines I've tried before. We were served by the owner who was from Trinidad & Tobago and showed to be very friendly. Based on this experience, I've come away with a very positive impression of Caribbean food, apart from having another excuse to go to Brixton on a regular basis.
*No website available, visit: http://brixtonmarket.net/info/brixton-village/
*No website available, visit: http://brixtonmarket.net/info/brixton-village/
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| France |
Notting Hill
The Bloody French Cantine is a compact French restaurant located about 10 minutes walk from Notting Hill station. The restaurant is situated in a very smart part of town, but has a very relaxed atmosphere and welcoming staff. The menu was full of French classics with cheese featuring heavily. Apart from some french cheese, Vi went for the blue cheese and pear pastry which tasted amazing and was beautifully presented. I had the pan fried squid with Aubergine that was just scrumptious. We brought our own alcohol as the Cantine allows BYO from Sundays to Tuesdays. In all, it´s a good place to try french cuisine without having to spend too much money.
We would definitely recommend this bloody restaurant!
This restaurant is by Thames River and about 10 mins walk from Richmond Station. It´s a great option for a sunny day, as the tables are in the open air. Stein´s serves food in an informal and quick way; customers queue to make their orders and then wait to be served on the table. As a typical German restaurant, there are enough pork and sausage dishes for the meat lovers (including potato salad, white cabbage, goulash and wursts). You can also get into the German beer drinking and order an Erdinger Weissbier or a Paulaner Helles in 1 litre glasses. We found the food good and the staff friendly. A good option for a sunny day out!
See more: http://www.stein-s.com/richmond/
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| Lebanon |
Central
The restaurant serves Beirut Street Food and the branch we visited is close to Oxford Street Station. When we arrived we were taken to a long table shared with other people (a good option to get some tips from the menu with people seating beside you). It was our first time trying Lebanese food and it wasn´t disappointing. There were plenty of vegetarian options and we ordered Koussa, Halloum Meshoué and Samboussek Jibné (this last one was our favourite; a delicious pastry filled with feta, halloumi cheese and fresh mint). The portions are generous and everything seemed freshly cooked. Alistair decided to order an extra portion (Makale Samak- deep fried squid) which we nearly regretted, as the portion was generous and we were already quite replete.
See more: http://www.yalla-yalla.co.uk/ |
| Italy |
Soho
Out of all the Italian places we have been to, we decided to write about Tuscanic as we found something special about this place.
Located in the heart of Soho, Tuscanic has a rustic decor and offers a small menu, but it was just enough to open our appetite! The Italian staff and some special ingredients from Tuscany on sale on the shelves gives the feeling of being away ... maybe somewhere in Firenze?!
As we´re heading to another restaurant we only had some white wine and Crostini (similar version to Bruschetta) with Pecorino cheese, ham and artichoke. The special ingredients they use, justifies the taste and the extra bit you pay for it. Tuscanic is a place that reminds me of how good Italy is to eat (and to put on weight).
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| Japan |
SOHO
This restaurant was recommended by a very dear friend of mine; Stefi. So she came with us and some other friends. Despite having booked a table for 5 we initially got a table for 4, but we later managed to change to the correct table. We all ordered different dishes such as the suggested bento boxes on the menu that comes with Rice, salad, sushi, sashimi and meat with Teriyaki sauce. The highlight for me was the Seaweed Salad, but apart from that, I wouldn´t say I had an exceptional meal (The Teriyaki sauce wasn´t that tasty and I had some better gyozas before) . I wouldn't rush back, but know that my friends enjoyed it and the price was ok. In all, I would say that it could be a good place to suggest to friends for affordable Japanese food in Soho.
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| South Korea |
Central
Arirang was a good experience for me as it was my first time trying Korean food. There is a variety of vegetables, rice&noodles and meat. Generally a bit spicy! We had the Kimchi (korean preserved cabbage) and Kim Gui (pieces of salted seaweed, sesame oiled and toasted to crisp a delicacy) As main course we ordered Chap Che (thin vermicelli pan fried with mixed vegetables, mushrooms and onions).
The food was tasty and fresh. The service was also good and we didn´t have to book a table in advance on a Saturday night. We recommend it.
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| Mexico |
Covent Garden
This is a good option for those who are looking to have some cocktails and enjoy some good Mexican food at an affordable price. About 5 mins walk from Charing Cross station or from Leicester Square, the place is generally quite busy, specially at the bar. There is a good variety of drinks, most made with tequila. Last time we went, we had nachos and quesadillas. The size of the portions were generous and it seemed all freshly prepared and tasty. We also enjoyed trying some new drinks. It's definitely worth checking it out.
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| Pakistan |
Aldgate East
For those who never tried a Pakistani meal; what you can expect is loads of meat and spicy food! Bundu Khan is not an exception and has a variety of meaty and spicy dishes.
As we went with another two friends we ordered a different dish each; Shrimp masala, fish, mixed grill and Lahori lamb. All of them spicy and flavoursome. The service is good and it is not necessary to book a table beforehand. The restaurant is also BYO (Bring your own alcohol) and about 5 mins walk from Aldgate East Station. Another one to recommend!
See more: http://www.bundukhan.com/As we went with another two friends we ordered a different dish each; Shrimp masala, fish, mixed grill and Lahori lamb. All of them spicy and flavoursome. The service is good and it is not necessary to book a table beforehand. The restaurant is also BYO (Bring your own alcohol) and about 5 mins walk from Aldgate East Station. Another one to recommend!
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| Portugal |
Vauxhall
This restaurant is a few minutes walk from Vauxhall station and has a Portuguese Traditional decor and live music. We found the waiters very attentive and the Caipirinha made with cachaça was a good option to start. We had some fried squid as a starter and as main Bacalhau com Natas (Cod fish with white cream). The food was flavoursome and the portions were generous. Recomendamos!
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| Spain |
This is restaurant is part of a chain and located just opposite to Belsize Park underground station. When we went, the restaurant was busy and we had to wait to be served. We ordered some Mojitos, Calamar a la plancha and the Tabla (Serrano ham and Manchego cheese). We had to complain about our drinks and the squid wasn´t right to our taste. In all, we were expecting more in terms of flavour and customer service.
See more: http://www.jamonjamon.uk.com/
Thai Pot
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| Sri Lanka |
Apollo Banana Leaf
Tooting Broadway
Apollo Banana Leaf is a few minutes walk from Tooting Broadway Station. This restaurant caught my attention passing by once and observing how busy it was. The decor is dated but the friendly staff and nice atmosphere make up for it.
On the menu we could find just enough options to find it difficult to choose something. As a starter we had the Aubergine Bajhi which was a bit oily for our taste and some pappadums with different dips.
For a main course we ended up choosing from The Traditional Srilankan Meals list; the Vegetable Kothu and Masala Dosa, which were rich in flavour and different to what you would normally find in an Indian restaurant.
Another good thing about it is that it's BYO (bring your own) as well and the price of the meals, also justifies why it's always so busy.
See more: http://apollobananaleaf.com/.GIF) |
| Thailand |
Charing Cross
This restaurant is located on a back street very close to Charing Cross station. We visited on a Saturday night and the restaurant was fairly busy, but found the service good and staff very attentive. The restaurant decor is modern and quite minimalist for a a Thai restaurant. We visited as a party of four people and ordered a selection of our favourite Thai dishes. We found the papaya salad quite easy on the chilli, the sauce in the Thai green curry a little thin for our tastes and the Tofu with thai basil leaves had a chilli kick that took us all by surprise!
The white Thai white wine was also worth trying!
This restaurant is a short walk from Cutty Sark DLR. We decided to have a go when passing by and the food was actually better than we expected. The decor is simple with dark wood tables and medium light. The service was good and the waitresses were helpful giving some suggestions from the menu.
Although the fried squid wasn´t quite right for our taste, the soup was tasty and the rice rolls stuffed with prawns and vermicelli was fresh.
However, the best yet to come! We had Halibut, slightly cooked with red chillies, vegetable and boiled rice, It was flavoursome, mild and fresh. This is another restaurant we recommend to have good food without having to spend too much money.
See more: http://www.saigon-saigon.co.uk/
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| Vietnam |
Shoreditch
The more I try Vietnamese food the more I like it! This restaurant was a another reason to be willing to ask for more. Close to Old Street Station, Viet Hoa was designed to offer a natural feeling for diners, reminiscent of Vietnam´s organic and colourful culture.
For starters, we had Summer rolls and fried squid. As a main we ordered noodles with beef and char-grilled pork with vermicelli and salad. This last one was just perfect. The pork was seasoned with lemon grass, chilli and garlic. It was so flavoursome that Alistair wanted to have it all on his own. The service was also good. It didn´t take long to be served and still all the food tasted fresh. One of those restaurants you leave saying: We need to come back soon again.
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