10 Greek Street

10 Greek Street has been open since early 2012 and I finally made it there a couple of weeks ago for dinner with Nibs.  The place is pretty small and it's walk ins only for dinner (reservations are taken at lunchtimes for those who prefer to book in advance).

We arrived at around 8pm and managed to snag one of the small bar tables.  You need to order one dish at a time or go small plates because the table won't take more than one large plate, but this worked for us.  We ordered a carafe of Austrian white and settled in for the night.

House bread was lovely, foccacia, corn, olive and granary bread with olive oil to dip.  The first dish to show up was the fried squid (£7).

This was really delicious, I would have liked the pieces to have been a bit smaller, they were a little tricky to bite through but the accompanying romesco sauce was great.

Next up were the longhorn meatballs (£6).  Not a pretty plate, but really good, topped with chopped chives and parmesan.  They were a combination of pork and beef with a rich tomato sauce, loved them.

We'd really filled up on their brilliant bread selection so we decided to move onto cheese next.  Manchego, a blue and a soft chèvre came with a fruity chutney and some thin crispbreads for £7.

And we finished things off with the salted chocolate and caramel tart with crème fraîche (£6)

We couldn't believe the amount of salt piled on top, a bit eye watering to be honest and you need to be careful to only get a crystal or 2 with each mouthful or it's overpowering but I liked the simplicity and the boldness.

Looking back, it doesn't seem like we ate much but we both felt very full.  We lingered and ordered a couple more glasses of wine and weren't rushed to leave at all.  It was very busy on a Tuesday evening and there were so many other dishes on the menu that caught my eye.  I'll definitely be back.

We spent around £25 each so pretty good value to boot.

10 Greek Street
Soho
W1D
7/10

The Quality Chop House

I'd read great things about The Quality Chop House from numerous trusted sources, yet never made it over to Farringdon to try it for myself.  Recently they seem to have stepped up a gear and I've seen more and more people singing it's praises.  High time I ate there then. 

Last Friday, the weather was really beastly, it was finally my time, and it was actually the perfect day for it.  The menu is full of hearty dishes and was just what was needed.  As we walked in, the smells in the dining room we so enticing, we knew we were in for a treat.

There are 2 dining areas, the restaurant and the bar.  We booked in advance so were in for the 3 course set menu in the restaurant area which suited us fine, the bar was packed and people were turned away, so I'd certainly advise booking, or showing up early.

I started with a martini and we ordered a bottle of the house red.  What followed was one of the nicest meals I've had this year.

 

First came some radishes with bagna cauda, garlic and anchovy dip.  Slightly too fishy for my companion, so I got to scoff the lot, it was amazing.  Some good bread too, wholemeal and sourdough baguette.

Then came the smoked middle white pork fingers, breadcrumbed and served on a herby green sauce. 

The waitress had explained that the starters come in small plate form to share so we were expecting little dishes.  Actually, what followed was a lot of food for 2 people which came as a huge relief!  This dish didn't sound too exciting but was really lovely.  The delicate mackerel was served warm, with the cucumber cubes and blobs of beetroot puree.  We both loved it. 

This is the bone marrow with smoked chicory.  Everything was mixed together and served on the bone.  It was intensely meaty and rich and was another highlight.

We asked for some more bread to enjoy with the next dish, sweetbreads with chicken liver parfait and burnt onions.  The char on the onion was wonderful, as was the parfait, slathered on the bread.  The sweetbreads were good, but were outshone by the parfait.

Then on to the main course.  Roast shoulder of middlewhite pork served on a bed of salt baked celeriac, apple and onion puree and red kale.  Also served with this was a side of runner beans with pumpkin seeds and a mustard dressing.  This was exquisite.  Served pink, the meat was so tender with a good ring of fat and crispy crackling.  All of the vegetables too had something extra elevating this above just meat and veg.  It was pretty much perfect.

We were rather full by this point so declined the cheese course, available with the set menu for a supplement, we just couldn't find room.  The dessert was simple but special, frozen raspberries with a crunchy chocolate biscuit crumb, toasted marshmallows on chocolate ganache and malted barley ice cream.  An excellent end to a memorable meal.

All this for £35 plus drinks and service, I think this is such good value for the standard of cooking on offer.  We paid just over £100 altogether. 

Topping it all off, the service was also exceptional, so friendly and helpful and the plates warrant a mention as they're so pretty.  An enviable collection.  The wine was excellent, bottles start from £18 and there's a huge by the glass selection.  The only thing I would say as a negative, is that you share tables and if you're by the wall, you need to disturb your neighboring diners to go to the loo.  Also, the guy sitting next to me had his foot up on the seat, which is a padded bench type affair, so his feet were right next to me.  Thankfully he left not long after we arrived.

Having checked out the bar menu I'm already keen to return and try the other room.  A brilliant little place with a seasonal daily changing menu meaning you'll never have the same meal twice.  I should also add that they have been known to serve deep fried dauphinoise potatoes.  I don't think my life will be complete until I have them.

The Quality Chop House
92-94 Farringdon Road
EC1R
9/10

Koya Bar

Everyone loves Koya.  I don't think I know a single person with a bad word to say about it.  Actually, oh yes, people hate the queue.  Because there is often a queue as their noodles are that good, people will wait.  But hey, people wait for hours to eat at The Breakfast Club which makes me think those people are not right in the head.

But they're right about Koya.  And now even the queue haters can shut up, because there's a new Koya where Mooli's used to be.  Koya Bar.

They opened a few days early, I saw pictures of people eating there before the announced grand opening so promptly scooted round to Frith at lunch the following day with Art.

I was surprised to find the same menu as Koya, I'd imagined it would be different but why fix what ain't broke?  We started, as we usually do, with the atsu-age, £6.90, fried and grilled tofu.

I then had the fish & chips, which was coley in tempura batter with celeriac crisps and shisho dip, £9.10.  A dish I've not had before at Koya and I was really happy with it.  Light and crunchy, lovely dunked in the accompanying dip, I even loved the garnish of battered parsley leaf.

Art had the beef donburi which looked amazing, I tried the beef and it didn't disappoint.  The rice dishes all come with a bowl of miso, £11.40.

Having read Lizzie's post, I've learned they are serving breakfast at Koya Bar and that they plan to move the original Koya towards a more specials led menu, which is really exciting, I'm always tempted by the specials board there and have liked every dish I've tried from it.

A great addition to Soho, and one I'm sure I'll be returning to again and again.

Koya Bar
50 Frith St
Soho
W1D 4SQ
9/10

Picture

Picture on Great Portland St has been open for just over 3 months.  It wasn't particularly busy on the Tuesday I visited but I'd booked in advance.  You can reserve either tables or bar seats which I like.  Service is very relaxed and friendly.

We start with a couple of gin martinis.  We're told they're out of olives so go for a twist to then be asked if we'd like a bowl of olives to snack on.  Hmm.  We decline.  Bread arrives swiftly, nice little baguettes.

We opt for the 6 plate set menu for £35 which offers an appealing selection of small plates for great value.  First up comes a little chilled tomato and red pepper soup with basil oil.

As this is small we polish it off pretty quickly, it was good, really peppery and refreshing.  The next course arrives immediately after the soup glasses leave the table.  It's goat's curd cheese with figs and fennel.  We're a bit worried, that at this rate, we could be out of the place in half an hour.

It's a pretty dish, they like their wooden boards, and the cheese is lovely.  Interesting flavour combinations with the fruity sweetness of the fig and the bitterness from the endive.  There's some roasted onion under the figs too.  Then comes the pork.

It's pressed and served with watermelon and bbq sauce.  I find it a little confused, the sauce is very sweet and there's radish on there too.  But things really pick up from here.  Salmon is next.

Grilled fillet with tenderstem broccoli, anchovy and pine nuts.  The anchovy came in the form of the crunchy topping on the fish which sat on a bed of beetroot and pine nuts.  Again a lot going on, and perhaps overdoing things slightly, but the fish and vegetables were cooked perfectly and I liked the texures.

But, it was the beef which followed that was our favourite dish on the night.  The final of the savoury courses.

Served rare with heritage carrots, leeks and a little dollops of squash puree, it was brilliant.  The delivery of the dishes spaced out a bit after the first 2 and the pace felt just right.  As dessert was served we were given a glass of chilled pedro ximenez.

Dessert was chocolate mousse with honeycomb and strawberries, not the advertised raspberries.  Loved the mousse and honeycomb combo, light and airy with the caramel crunch but I'm personally not a huge fan of berries and chocolate.  I know it's me though, so I ate it all happily enough.

We ended with another glass of sherry and lingered at the bar.  We were the last people to leave at 11:30 and we weren't at all hurried.  I really enjoyed Picture and there was plenty on the menu which appealed to me.  I'd definitely revisit if I found myself in the area.  With drinks and service, we spent just over £100.

Picture
110 Great Portland St
W1W 6PQ
7/10

August Round Up

The Ledbury

A return visit to The Ledbury happened this month.  Excellent it was too.  Highlight being this jowl of pork dish with celeriac baked in juniper (they do wonderful things involving baked vegetables) truffle and hazelnuts.

Special mention once again for the incredible bread, onion brioche and tomato bread as well as several granary loaves.  I learned on my last visit that one must not fill up on the bread, as tempting as it is.  The banana and chocolate malt tart was also epic.  Still got it, Brett.

Herman Ze German

These guys have recently expanded and can now be found on Old Compton as well as Villiers St.  Handy for those missing The Bratwurst, which I never tried actually, but shame they're gone.  Midway point through a night out at Bar Soho and Trisha's this bratwurst was just what the doctor ordered.

Was about £6 if my memory serves me correctly.  I enjoyed it.  Open late into the night for Soho revellers to refuel on crispy onions.  Not as good as the wursts on Whitecross St Market though.

Oblix at The Shard

Bel and I went for a jazz brunch at Oblix on the 32nd floor of The Shard.  The first opening on the site, it's not been met with much acclaim, and I'll echo that sentiment, it was too hit and miss.

The set brunch is quite pricey at £58 per person.  It's a buffet affair, which I have to say fills me with a child like excitement, in this case lots of vibrant looking salads and veggies, think Ottolenghi.  I really filled up my plate.  Yes, I was hungover and this plateful absolutely revived me.  This and that glass of champagne, 1 per person.

You choose between 3 mains, my clam pasta was good, Bel's pork was bad.  The dessert buffet was also underwhelming.  We both concluded we should have gone to Aqua.  Next time.

Whyte & Brown

I was lucky enough to be invited along to try Whyte & Brown with a group of fellow bloggers.  We dined with creative director Fiona Gale who explained she hand picked most of the recipes and shared many of them with us.

The bangkok scotch egg was an interesting mix flavours, chicken thigh meat flecked with chilli, coriander and ginger.  The deal is this is a menu designed around the chicken and the egg.  A tad gimmicky but there is a genuine excitement about the venture from those involved and they've snagged a great spot on Kingly Court.

The real hit of the night was probably the hot wings, they were incredibly fiery, served with caramelized orange wedges to cool you down.  My chicken and langoustine pie was great too.  Thankfully no chicken in the desserts, this isn't garlic & shots!

The Ledbury
127 Ledbury Road
Notting Hill
W11
9/10



Herman Ze German
33 Old Compton Street
Soho
W1D
6/10



Oblix at the Shard
London Bridge
SE1
6/10

 

Whyte & Brown
Kingly Court, Carnaby St
W1B

I dined as a guest of Whyte & Brown

Wishbone and Franco Manca, Brixton

I've spent a couple of Saturdays in Brixton this summer and managed to try both Wishbone and Franco Manca, at last. 

Brixton Village is a cute little place, there are so many tempting eateries and the atmosphere is lovely, covered seating with an outdoor feel to it, long communal tables seating lots of happy looking people.  I really wish I lived closer.

First on my list to try was Wishbone.  There was really only 1 reason I was there and that is this.

Yes, my friends, that there is deep fried Mac 'N' Cheese with tomato sauce.  So so so good.  You get 3 mega slabs of the stuff (for want of a better word, they're rectangular, not balled) for £4.50.  And that tomato sauce is key to the whole thing because it's sharp and tangy and absolutely perfect with the creamy richness of the mac 'n' cheese.  I needed an actual lie down after eating these.  I managed to make it home first, but it was touch and go.  Hang over cured.

Of course, what Wishbone are best known for is fried chicken so I tried some of that too.  You choose wings or thighs and a style, Korean, Thai, buffalo, etc. and you're off.

I had the buffalo thighs with carrot, celery and blue cheese sauce.  They were brilliant.  I wasn't drinking so my meal came to just over £10 and service was really friendly and relaxed.  I can't wait to return and try the other varieties, but these were so great I'll find it hard not to order the same again.  Would like to get involved with the sours too, but found myself hanging too badly on this occasion.  Next time.  Love the place.  Well done Brixton.

Onto pizza.  I have to admit I rarely crave pizza.  I think it's because I, and everybody else no doubt, have had way too many average pizzas before.  This was until I had Franco Manca, of course, now I want it all the time and I must get to the new Pizza Pilgrims place. 

I met Nibs at Market Row one afternoon and we were seated without having to queue for long.  Orders are taken while you wait and tables turned pretty quickly and efficiently.  We shared a burrata salad to start, served on a board with tomatoes, rocket and olive oil (£6.50).  It doesn't look much but once opened up, the cheese is everything you want in a ball of mozzarella. 

I went for the tomato, chorizo and mozzarella pizza, with a liberal dousing of chilli oil (£6.80) while Nibs had the ricotta, ham and mushroom.  It's wonderful, of course, I knew it would be.  The wood fired oven adding char and crunch to the slow rising sourdough base and the quality of the toppings is evident, you can add pretty much anything you like for a small extra charge, ingredients are listed on a chalk board. 

Service was very charming and now Franco Manca have expanded, too, so there's really no excuse to eat the rubbish stuff anymore.  It's a nicely filling cheap eat and I'll definitely be back to try more, maybe they'll even venture North one day.

Had this for afters from Lab G, lovely gelato and sorbet place just around the corner.  Lemon sorbet for me and peanut butter ice cream for Nibs, £1.90 for a little tub, absolute bargain.

Wishbone
12 Market Row
SW9
9/10



Franco Manca
4 Market Row
SW9
8.5/10

Flesh & Buns

I lucked out last week and bagged a table for 2 on the opening night of Flesh & Buns, the latest offering from Ross Shonhan (of Bone Daddies).

We settled in at 7pm, the place was already packed and it didn't smell of paint or anything, all was well.  It's much larger than it's Soho sister, and you can actually reserve a table so hopefully this won't become a queuefest.  Though people probably still will.  There's plenty of room for it on the staircase leading down to the dining room, doorway just off of Seven Dials.

We started with the chicken yakitori, nice char, strong plate and a fine start to the meal, £4.50.

Next up came the whimsically named 'chips and dip', chips being rice crackers with shiso avo and tomato jalapeno salsa.  The latter was excellent, really zesty and fresh.  I liked it a lot, but it reminded me of an appalling experience in LA the week before in a Japanese/Mexican fusion restaurant.  Must we?  Anyway, I needn't have been concerned, this is really very well done, not cheap at £6 though*. 

We thought we'd better order some greens and our waitress recommended the broccoli.  Very good shout.  Really quite a kick to it which came from yuzu kosho, something I'd not heard of before, it's a hot and zesty Japanese condiment and I'm going to have to track some down because mixed with mayo this really elevated the humble broc to something a bit special, £5.

And on to the main event, we went for the pork belly buns, there are lots to choose from, steak, fish, chicken, duck, but we were swayed by the pork belly with mustard miso and pickled apple, £14.  It's forked apart and wedged into the steamed buns, then topped with the veggies in the foreground and some extra sauce.  These are soooooo good.  Reminded me of the duck buns I tried at Golden Fields in Melbourne.  Happy to see these appearing on more and more menus. 

One meat selection is enough for 2 but we did find that we needed more buns, these 4 were provided for all that pork, you can order extra for £2.50, but we only got 2 more, so there was still loads of meat left.  Small gripe really.  We drank tap water and then made off for the Odeon to get a Gosling fix. 

I'll definitely be back to try more and I'm very glad to see Shonhan branching out.  Reminds me, now the weather seems to have turned a little, I'll have to get back to Bone Daddies....

Flesh & Buns
41 Earlham Street
Covent Garden
WC2H
8/10

*I dined during the soft opening launch period, so all food was 50% off.