Claire's reviews
Review of Whole Foods
18 Oct 07, 21:27
Ho Hum 
I'm really shocked to hear what Mark P had to say about the place with regard to how long their fish hangs around for, but having never bought fish from them, I can't really comment.
Sticking to my own experience, I think it's pretty much everything I expected it to be. It is HUGELY expensive on the whole and despite the fact that they talk a lot about organic, not everything in the store is organic.
But in terms of price, bear in mind that they're on a piece of prime real estate, slap bang in the middle of Kensington, which is one of the highest income areas in the country. And it seems that's who they're catering for.
Their salad bar is great if you want a quick lunch but as Nat R says, prices can quickly escalate if you're not careful. I also quite like their sushi rolls - they're fresher than any other supermarket sushi I've ever had and reasonably priced as well - around a fiver for 9 chunky little spicy salmon or tuna rolls.
Cheese devotees will love the cheese room and if you want to go to town on a cheese board, and are prepared to spend a decent amount of money, you'll get some seriously good bang for your buck.
Fruit and veg downstairs are beautifully displayed and regularly spritzed in a very American fashion, but again, buying a bunch of grapes ain't going to leave you much change from a fiver.
With this place, it's not that you get what you pay for, but that you get what Kensington locals are prepared to pay for.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of The Gaucho Grill
18 Oct 07, 19:24
Steak out 
If you're looking for tip top steak in London, this be one of your best bets. It's now become a mini chain with several outposts around the city, but it still seems to have managed to maintain standards.
This place spreads over several floors with a downstairs bar with a mirrored ceiling and mirrored tables which make for interesting people spying opportunities. There's a huge amount of cowhide all over the place, mixed with ornate chandeliers and very, very low lighting. It's almost got a clubby feel to it.
Upstairs is the main dining room - there's a real buzz here and the customer base mixes big groups of friends and colleagues round large tables with couples gazing into each others eyes.
Starters are all interesting but go for something light to avoid filling up before the main event. The ceviches are good - crisp, interesting flavours with a bit of a twist.
Then the steak - (there are other main options but why would you bother?) - it's superb. A number of different cuts are available in a number of different sizes, served plain or with one of several sauces. I usually have a plain small Lomo cooked rare and it's sublime - melt in the mouth tender.
Sides are expensive for the size of portion but tasty for all that - the potato with chorizo is very good indeed, as are the chips and the spinach.
Two courses with sides, a bottle of wine and two pre-dinner cocktails weighed in at about £60 a head including service.
Well worth it for simply fantastic steak.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of Shochu Lounge
18 Oct 07, 19:13
Show me the Shochu
I touched on this place briefly in my review of Roka, but it's worthy of its own. While a lot of people will only see it fleetingly while waiting for a table, if you want a sleek evening in slick surroundings, it definitely fits the bill.
Although I've never eaten down here, they apparently they also serve the full Roka menu so if you can't get a table upstairs, see if you can sneak in downstairs.
The dark, subterranean lounge has a bit of Bond feel to it. You can just imagine a seductive Bond girl being plied with a shot or two of Shochu before the baddies pile in and James is forced to impale a couple of evil geniuses on chopsticks, before returning to sweep her away to some silk-sheeted bed.
Anyway, delicious cocktails come at a price, so unless someone else is paying, it's probably best to restrict yourself to just one. I'm a particular fan of the Lychee Martini but whichever of their fresh fruit / alcoholic combos you choose, you're probably not going to be disappointed.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of Roka
18 Oct 07, 19:05
Roka rocks!
I really like this place - it's always got a buzzy, busy vibe, and sitting at the wooden bar and watching the chefs cook up tasty asparagus spears and chicken wings over a charcoal grill really whets your appetite
That said, I usually come just for the sushi - which has never yet disappointed me. The sashimi is deliciously fresh and beautifully presented and the tuna tataki salad with mustard and apple dressing with its fresh sharp flavours is a particular favourite.
If you're swigging back a bunch of cocktails or a lot of wine, that will really bump the price up, but it's possible to have a great sushi feast without feeling like you can only afford to eat rice for the next two weeks.
Get there early and have a drink downstairs in Shochu if you can. Even if you're not a sake fan, they do great lychee martinis and the like.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of Feng Sushi
29 Sep 07, 18:27
Feng fan
This tiny restaurant on Ken Church St is a popular lunchtime haunt for those who work locally so if you swing by at peak time, finding a perch might be tricky.
If you do squeeze in, you've done well. Their fresh and interesting sushi combinations are delicious, but for those who aren't raw fish fans, try the noodle soup that comes with crisp and tasty tempura.
The deep fried rolls are decidedly inauthentic if you're a true devotee of Japan, but none the less very tasty - although probably better for sharing - and, at the other end of the scale - the cherry tomato and feta salad with edamame beans is fresh, light and delicious.
Service is generally swift and friendly and, if you're a fan of Japanese, and not a stickler for tradition, this modern take on it slips down a treat.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of Hakkasan
29 Sep 07, 18:13
Gold-plated Chinese
As the previous reviewer noted, this is about as far from your local Chinese as Shanghai is from Tottenham Court Road.
Who would have thought that a former underground car park could be so glamorous? Tucked away down an unprepossessing side alley off Tottenham Court Road, descending into Hakkasan is like shimmying your way onto a James Bond film set. It's all just very dark and shiny and slick.
Start off with a cocktail at the long, long bar - some elegant concoction is the perfect introduction to a stylish evening. Then it's on to the food.
If you're a Chinese fan, you won't be disappointed - it is beyond delicious. It's all very high quality and either the platinum version of a common dish, or offers a twist on a traditional dish.
But this sort of high style dining comes at a price. If you're penny pinching or concerned about cash, don't bother. This is an expensive joint and fretting over the inevitable three figure bill is only going to spoil your enjoyment.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of Ping Pong Dim Sum
29 Sep 07, 17:25
Upmarket dim sum
I'm kind of surprised by the average reviews for this place because I've always had a lot of time for it.
Decor is slick and vaguely oriental, there's a no bookings policy which can mean a bit of a wait, especially if you're in a big group, but you can usually find space at the bar and linger over a cocktail or two while you're waiting.
The cocktails are imaginative and original - try a grape caipiroska or their signature cocktail which is very lychee heavy.
Once ordered, food comes quickly - a huge range of steamed dumplings is probably the strongest, although the buns and the jasmine chicken wraps are delicious too.
I'll concede that unless you're a big group, the round tables downstairs can seem a little strange, but there is plenty of bar space and smaller tables upstairs.
Plus, while prices aren't as cheap as they are in nearby Chinatown, for the food, the ambience and the experience, it's value for money.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of The Balham Tup
29 Sep 07, 16:37
Score draw
As mentioned above, this place has made a name for itself as sports pub. It's particularly popular with Antipodeans and South Africans and the rugby always draws a huge crowd.
The accoustics are terrible so even on a 'quietish' Saturday night, you'll be bellowing across the table to make yourself heard.
Food is distinctly average, so unless you're a broad-shouldered boy with a gang of mates intent on seeing some sporting fixture, there are probably better places to splash your cash round Balham.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of Battersea Arts Centre
29 Sep 07, 16:31
Not up its own arts 
I love, love, love this place.
It's exactly what you want your local Arts Centre to be - encouraging new ideas, prepared to take a gamble with offbeat things and keen to involve the local community.
There was recent hoo-hah over funding but I think that's all been resolved now and all to the good.Their 'scratch' evenings where producers get the chance to try out unfinished works on a real live audience and get feedback are legendary. I saw Jerry Springer The Opera here before it got all polished and hit the West End and most recently, they've hooked up with theatre company, Punchdrunk for the Mask of the Red Death interactive experience which is just amazing.
Whatever is going on down here it's almost always worth a look.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of The Falcon
29 Sep 07, 16:25
Decent boozer
They seem to have ditched the TVs here - maybe in a bid to smarten the place up. It used to be a decent place to watch sport, but now it's just an honest to goodness boozer.
I've never sampled the fare, but the extensive sausage menu in itself is worth reading.
Given its proximity to Clapham Junction station, it could very easily have become one of those grot, close to station pubs but seems to have escaped by a whisker, although you'll still find the odd 'character' in there.
On the whole though, not a bad place to while away some time while you're waiting for a train.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.