BensGrandad
New member
I thought the choice on their menu was very limited. I like La Campana in Haywards Heath for tapas but if anybody goes beware the portions are large in comparison to usual tapas in Spain.
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Restaurant 2016
- Thread starter Machiavelli
- Start date
So the wife behaved herself. What about the food?
Rangrez - Indian, top end of Fulham Palace Road, <100 yards from the Hammy-O (Apollo to those of a less mature vintage).
The GLDHI and I, in need of sustenance prior to seeing Romesh Ranganathan at the Odeon (disappointing, if I'm honest; he's not yet used to playing to a big audience) took to Google to find somewhere to eat at around 6pm. "Find somewhere that serves chilli-hot food, is good and is within 5 minutes walk of the venue", says she, as she hops on a tube at Kings Cross on her way to Hammersmith. "That should be easy enough", say I, "Tell you what, that's too easy - I'll see if I can find one where the chef is a unicorn; that'll make the challenge more worthwhile". But she'd already hung up.
Google, TripAdvisor, Zagat, LondonTown & Dojo later, I'd turned up Rangrez, ranked a frankly unbelievable ~400 out of 24,000 restaurants in London on TA.
"Chilli-heat? It's Indian, that'll do. Good? 400/24,000 - tick. Close to the Hammy-O? 100 yards - tick", I mutter to myself, to the mild discombobulation of passing commuters.
"Hello, can we have a table for two in 10 minutes please? Well, I'll be 10 minutes, my partner will be more like 20 [knowing that it would in fact be more like 30]", I ask of the friendly woman who answers the phone.
"Sorry, we're fully booked until 8:30. We have availability after the show at the Apollo has started, if that helps?"
"Umm, not really. Thanks. Bye"
Having spent 5 minutes looking for alternatives and finding nothing, I turn up, walk in and ask for a table for 2.
"Did you just phone me?"
"I don't know [how could I know whether it was her I had spoken to?]. Did you just take a call?"
After a bit of light banter, I got a table.
The GLDHI arrived after 45 minutes (Oooops), but that did include walking up Shepherds Bush Road for 300 yards (according to the Find Friends app on my phone - "Where is she? I told the owner she'd be here 15 mins ago.... WTF? Why is she going up SB Rd?..."). Perhaps she wanted to see what they'd done to the old Fire Station prior to eating? Who knows? "I got lost", she sheepishly confesses on arrival. "I came out of the other tube entrance and that threw me". "You didn't think to look for signs to the Apollo? Or ask someone? Or, oh, I dunno, read the street name signs?", I enquire gently. "Where's my beer?", she replies.
The menu is fairly short (for an Indian) - maybe 20 each of starters and mains. It's family owned - husband, with a magnificent oiled moustache and beard as chef, wife as front of house; charm personified. Anyway, we had:
Popadoms, plus 3 chutneys
Chicken Momos
Lamb samosas
Rocket Chicken with rice (upgraded from plain to pulao foc) and salad
Lamb Do-Pyaza with ditto
Dal Makhani
1 plain naan
3 large Cobra
£63, including a 12.5% "optional" service charge.
Absolutely everything was home-made, from the momo dough, to the chutneys, to the popadom batter... The sauces of the main courses were rich, deep, complex, very well spiced and, critically, totally different to each other. The lamb was served on the bone ("to get the bone flavour into the stock"). Very decent portion sizes. The (mini) popadoms were scattered with a light dusting of a toasted spice mix that the chef had rustled up, which was delicious, and indicative of a real attention to detail. This was extremely competent cooking out of the top drawer.
Forget about it being just a decent place to go for a curry before a gig, though it obviously is. Make a special trip if you're in London - it's worth it.
400/24,000? Yep, for sure.
The GLDHI and I, in need of sustenance prior to seeing Romesh Ranganathan at the Odeon (disappointing, if I'm honest; he's not yet used to playing to a big audience) took to Google to find somewhere to eat at around 6pm. "Find somewhere that serves chilli-hot food, is good and is within 5 minutes walk of the venue", says she, as she hops on a tube at Kings Cross on her way to Hammersmith. "That should be easy enough", say I, "Tell you what, that's too easy - I'll see if I can find one where the chef is a unicorn; that'll make the challenge more worthwhile". But she'd already hung up.
Google, TripAdvisor, Zagat, LondonTown & Dojo later, I'd turned up Rangrez, ranked a frankly unbelievable ~400 out of 24,000 restaurants in London on TA.
"Chilli-heat? It's Indian, that'll do. Good? 400/24,000 - tick. Close to the Hammy-O? 100 yards - tick", I mutter to myself, to the mild discombobulation of passing commuters.
"Hello, can we have a table for two in 10 minutes please? Well, I'll be 10 minutes, my partner will be more like 20 [knowing that it would in fact be more like 30]", I ask of the friendly woman who answers the phone.
"Sorry, we're fully booked until 8:30. We have availability after the show at the Apollo has started, if that helps?"
"Umm, not really. Thanks. Bye"
Having spent 5 minutes looking for alternatives and finding nothing, I turn up, walk in and ask for a table for 2.
"Did you just phone me?"
"I don't know [how could I know whether it was her I had spoken to?]. Did you just take a call?"
After a bit of light banter, I got a table.
The GLDHI arrived after 45 minutes (Oooops), but that did include walking up Shepherds Bush Road for 300 yards (according to the Find Friends app on my phone - "Where is she? I told the owner she'd be here 15 mins ago.... WTF? Why is she going up SB Rd?..."). Perhaps she wanted to see what they'd done to the old Fire Station prior to eating? Who knows? "I got lost", she sheepishly confesses on arrival. "I came out of the other tube entrance and that threw me". "You didn't think to look for signs to the Apollo? Or ask someone? Or, oh, I dunno, read the street name signs?", I enquire gently. "Where's my beer?", she replies.
The menu is fairly short (for an Indian) - maybe 20 each of starters and mains. It's family owned - husband, with a magnificent oiled moustache and beard as chef, wife as front of house; charm personified. Anyway, we had:
Popadoms, plus 3 chutneys
Chicken Momos
Lamb samosas
Rocket Chicken with rice (upgraded from plain to pulao foc) and salad
Lamb Do-Pyaza with ditto
Dal Makhani
1 plain naan
3 large Cobra
£63, including a 12.5% "optional" service charge.
Absolutely everything was home-made, from the momo dough, to the chutneys, to the popadom batter... The sauces of the main courses were rich, deep, complex, very well spiced and, critically, totally different to each other. The lamb was served on the bone ("to get the bone flavour into the stock"). Very decent portion sizes. The (mini) popadoms were scattered with a light dusting of a toasted spice mix that the chef had rustled up, which was delicious, and indicative of a real attention to detail. This was extremely competent cooking out of the top drawer.
Forget about it being just a decent place to go for a curry before a gig, though it obviously is. Make a special trip if you're in London - it's worth it.
400/24,000? Yep, for sure.
Last edited:
Lunch at Coach & Horses in Danehill after a turn around Sheffield Park yesterday.
Disclaimer: I have a rotten cold so this is based of everybody elses opinions.
Good varied menu for a Sunday, not just roasts. Plenty for everyone I would say and competitive pricing.
I had liver and bacon which was perfectly cooked, I really can't judge this on taste but the textures were good and the portion was of decent size, nice to have plenty of greens with it. The others had pork and beef roasts and were all very pleased. The cooking was clean and the dishes well presented. The drinks lists looked more than decent and my orange juice and lemonade went down very well. Roasts are 15 quid, the liver and bacon was probably overpriced at £14.50.
4 main dishes, two puddings, one cheese board, a bottle of Malbec, two large wines, two points of ale and an orange juice and lemonade came to £121 quid which is FINE I guess. Service was very good, good team of young waitresses, they got their ten percent.
I won't give a score as tastebuds were shot but worth a go if you're in the area. You will need to book.
Disclaimer: I have a rotten cold so this is based of everybody elses opinions.
Good varied menu for a Sunday, not just roasts. Plenty for everyone I would say and competitive pricing.
I had liver and bacon which was perfectly cooked, I really can't judge this on taste but the textures were good and the portion was of decent size, nice to have plenty of greens with it. The others had pork and beef roasts and were all very pleased. The cooking was clean and the dishes well presented. The drinks lists looked more than decent and my orange juice and lemonade went down very well. Roasts are 15 quid, the liver and bacon was probably overpriced at £14.50.
4 main dishes, two puddings, one cheese board, a bottle of Malbec, two large wines, two points of ale and an orange juice and lemonade came to £121 quid which is FINE I guess. Service was very good, good team of young waitresses, they got their ten percent.
I won't give a score as tastebuds were shot but worth a go if you're in the area. You will need to book.
BensGrandad
New member
I personally consider £15 for a roast at a pub to be too expensive as roast is one of the cheapest meals to serve.. I also love fried or grilled liver but not many places do Ox Liver which I like as it is very strong most do calves or even Lambs
Only when you do it like a school dinner.
BensGrandad
New member
My wife was renowned for her Sunday roasts which we sold at £5 or £6 for a large one with 8 roast potatoes, but I know that was a standard pub (Cricketers Burgess Hill) and 2001. She used to sell about 30 every Sunday I would now expect to pay about £10 - £12 in a pub. Incidentally all the family ask for her roasts whenever they visit and she asks what they wants for dinner.
Perhaps having retired I am out of touch, I know that I am with beer prices.
I know it was mentioned a few pages back but I don't mind a roast. As there is only 2 of us at home it is difficult to get a proper roast experience due to most nicer joints being larger weights (4+ people) and the amount of stuff to get a bit of variety.
The Gun in Findon is my haunt ever couple of months, really good roast, about £14-£16 but well cooked, lovely home yorkshires and good beer!
The Gun in Findon is my haunt ever couple of months, really good roast, about £14-£16 but well cooked, lovely home yorkshires and good beer!
I'm with you BG, I like my liver to have some flavour. This was calves and my less than impressed wife (hates offal the fool) said the flavour was quite mild.
mejonaNO12 aka riskit
Well-known member
I see that October deal on many of the top restaurants starts as of today.
The last two years we've been saving heavily so have never quite had the justification for these but think we might give one a go next week.
Any particular suggestions? I'm keen to try the Jetty.
The last two years we've been saving heavily so have never quite had the justification for these but think we might give one a go next week.
Any particular suggestions? I'm keen to try the Jetty.
Machiavelli
Well-known member
- Thread starter
- #511
Any feedback?
I remain unconvinced by how good this October Best thing really is. Most of the options are for lunchtimes when they all have deals anyway Riddle and Finns are doing the deal until 7pm so you can do an early dinner and their offer is one of the best.
Coal shed are doing a deal that is only about 5 quid cheaper than it normally would be (if that).
mejonaNO12 aka riskit
Well-known member
MattBackHome
Well-known member
- Jul 7, 2003
- 11,873
SEMOLINA
I've just been blown away. Didn't have a clue about this place and I can't believe the value.
I had a 3 course set menu lunch of 1) warm goats cheese, walnut & beetroot salad; 2) pork belly, red cabbage and celeriac and 3) tarte tatin. Every single but was impeccably cooked and tasted incredible. The whole lot came to £15. FIFTEEN QUID.
Brilliant.
I've just been blown away. Didn't have a clue about this place and I can't believe the value.
I had a 3 course set menu lunch of 1) warm goats cheese, walnut & beetroot salad; 2) pork belly, red cabbage and celeriac and 3) tarte tatin. Every single but was impeccably cooked and tasted incredible. The whole lot came to £15. FIFTEEN QUID.
Brilliant.
BensGrandad
New member
MattBackHome
Well-known member
- Jul 7, 2003
- 11,873
Never change BG.The woman on the next table had chips with hers but you'd probably have to pay an extra few quid for them I reckon.
Incidentally good to see Bardsleys doing very brisk business as well as I walked past.
manintheblackpajamas
Active member
- Oct 30, 2006
- 349
Anyone know any good weekday lunchtime deals knocking about? My lunch knowledge is usually pub based!
Not fussed about 3 courses, just a decent main meal...
Not fussed about 3 courses, just a decent main meal...
Everywhere has them in Brighton.
The Coal Shed lunch offer is particularly good though, and great quality.
manintheblackpajamas
Active member
- Oct 30, 2006
- 349
Textbook