Veeraswamy

***** (5 stars)

It’s hardly surprising that all of the best Indian meals I’ve had have been in London, even include some Michelin starred meals. But Veeraswamy may well be the best of the best.

I was actually not expecting it to be quite that good, because the opentable listing emphasizes their corporate connections, plus a recommendation by National Geographic(?!)

Yet everything we tried was one of the best Indian dishes I’ve tasted, and we tried quite a few items, sampling four appetizers and a vegetarian main that included four separate dishes. Particular highlights were the Raj Kachori, a fancy version of Indian street food consisting of a crisp wheat puri filled with goodies, and Scallop Moilee, which came in a stunning coconut and ginger sauce. My wife is a Chicken Tikka aficionado, and proclaimed this one the best Indian dish she ever tasted.

There is also an excellent wine list, highlighted by some very well-described white and red Burgundies.

This will definitely be the Indian restaurant we return to on our next visit to London.

Veeraswamy
Victory House
99 Regent Street
London, W1B 4RS
+44 20 7734 1401
http://www.yelp.com/biz/veeraswamy-london

Roux at Parliament Square

***** (5 stars)

We were fortunate to find a table available when we wandered in for a late lunch. There is a superb prix fixe lunch menu at a very affordable price (so affordable, we couldn’t resist spending several times as much on a wonderful Corton Charlemagne, the perfect accompaniment).

I selected a cassoulet of squid and smoked mussels as my starter. It was richly flavored without being excessively buttery, although there was certainly plenty of that on the wonderful toast served with it.

For my main I had the mackerel. This is a dish for true fish lovers, as it’s of course quite fishy, but was not at all oily, just moist, and with a perfectly crisped skin. The accompanying beets were luscious.

A wonderful cheese trolley capped off a delightful meal. Professional yet friendly service increased our enjoyment, making us feel particularly lucky to have been squeezed in without a booking.

Highly recommended as a dressy, sophisticated retreat from the tourist-choked streets outside!

Roux at Parliament Square
11 Great George Street
Parliament Square
London, SW1P 3AD
+44 20 7334 3737
http://www.yelp.com/biz/roux-at-parliament-square-london

Ritz Hotel

***** (5 stars)

This is a review of the hotel and restaurant, not the high tea that many of the reviewers here have written about.

If the the founder of the Ritz could see his hotel a hundred years later I think he would be very pleased. Its maintenance and refurbishment are tip top, and its staff still cleaves to old-time standards of service. While the strict enforcement of the no jeans or sneakers rule may irk some, and the requirement of a jacket and tie in the restaurants may seem old fashioned, they work to enforce the tone attempted here, which some may find a bit snooty. So be it; if that’s not your thing, there are plenty of alternatives. But if you’d like to step back to the glamour of a past age, this is the place to do it.

The Restaurant at the Ritz offers a similarly rarefied experience, at rarefied prices. But actually the tasting menu, which included eight courses for 95 pounds, was a good deal. While the food is not likely to garner Michelin stars, several courses were quite good. The matching wine pairings were generous, but few actually matched the food. Service was, of course, impeccable.

Ritz Hotel
150 Piccadilly
London, W1J 9BR
+44 20 7493 8181
http://www.yelp.com/biz/ritz-hotel-london-2

Bentley’s

**** (4 stars)

This is a favorite stop of ours. Excellent fresh seafood and shellfish in a great environment. I particularly like the prepared crab appetizer.

Cozy, pub-like interior. On a nice day it’s great to dine in the covered area out front.

The wine selection is particularly well-suited to fish and especially the shellfish selections. You can’t go wrong with the Albarino.

Bentley’s
11-15 Swallow Street
London, W1B 4DG
+44 20 7734 4756
http://www.yelp.com/biz/bentleys-london

Thai Square

*** (3 stars)

Conveniently located adjacent to Windsor Castle, this Thai restaurant features attractive decor in its various interconnected dining rooms. The curry was the best thing we tried. The “Golden Sack” and rib appetizers were unremarkable, as was the duck entree. Service was pleasant but not particularly attentive.

Thai Square
29 Thames Street
Windsor, SL4 1PR
+44 1753 868900
http://www.yelp.com/biz/thai-square-windsor

Dema Restaurant and Bar

*** (3 stars)

The Zen-like setting of this lobby restaurant makes it a welcome retreat from the hustle of the Detroit airport, and it’s literally feet away from the gates, with a private TSA entry from the lobby to terminal A.

Service is friendly and there is an extensive selection of wines by the glass. The pepperoni and bacon pizza and the hummus and tapenade appetizer were both good.

Note that the TSA portal closes in the evening and you have to go back around through the terminal, but it’s still not that far.

Dema Restaurant and Bar
The Westin Detroit Metropolitan Airport
2501 Worldgateway Pl
Detroit, MI 48242
(734) 942-6500
http://www.yelp.com/biz/dema-restaurant-and-bar-detroit-2

Green Kitchen

**** (4 stars)

This is a welcome addition to the vegetarian dining scene in southwest Orange County, which has been pretty sparse. But despite the name this isn’t a vegetarian restaurant. The majority of offerings actually include a protein.

The menu is divided between salads, panini sandwiches, and melts made on a naan-like bread. I wasn’t too happy with my special of the day, a flank steak that was done with too little seasoning, although the accompanying broccoli was good. But my companions enjoyed their sandwiches.

The space is all hard surfaces, so it can be pretty loud, even when only a third filled. But the service is quick and friendly, making it a good lunch choice.

Green Kitchen
7055 S Kirkman Rd
Ste 126
Orlando, FL 32819
(407) 413-5005
http://www.yelp.com/biz/green-kitchen-orlando

Cask & Larder

**** (4 stars)

This is a great place for pork lovers, as most of the dishes involve some variant of that meat. The aroma of the place reminds me of some of Chicago’s pig-centric restaurants such as The Girl and the Goat.

The micro brew beers are interesting. I tried the cilantro lime variant, and it went great with the CBLT, a BLT involving fried chicken skin.

I also tried the Devils on Horseback, dates wrapped in country ham and stuffed with bleu cheese, but felt they were too sweet.

There’s an extensive cocktail list, and since half the space is taken up by the bar, it’s a great place for happy hour.

Cask & Larder
565 W Fairbanks Ave
Winter Park, FL 32789
(321) 280-4200
http://www.yelp.com/biz/cask-and-larder-winter-park

Dandelion Communitea Café

**** (4 stars)

This cute little restaurant is in a cute little house. You order at a cute little counter in the front room, and then they bring your food to you in one of the cute little inside rooms or on the not-so-cute front patio.

The majority of what they serve consists of quinoa and mixed greens with various vegetable toppings. This means that if you don’t like what you get it’s pretty much your own fault, since you picked it.

I particularly liked the ginger cilantro dressing that came with my friend’s lunch. Prices are very reasonable. Service is not really restaurant style, but more at an operational level.

Probably the best choice in town for a vegetarian meal.

Dandelion Communitea Café
618 N Thornton Ave
Orlando, FL 32803
(407) 362-1864
http://www.yelp.com/biz/dandelion-communitea-café-orlando-2

Elephant Bar Restaurant

**** (4 stars)

The elephant bar was a pleasant surprise. I was expecting just another middle of the road homogenous American food chain ala TGI Fridays, but it’s far better. For starters, the interior design is beautiful, filled with curved spaces, attractive wood and bamboo surfaces, lots of booths that help with the ambient noise level, and an intimate circular bar near the door.

The menu would be great in a foreign country, because each item is pictured, and the food that shows up actually looks like the picture.

I had the Thai BBQ Salmon Salad, and I have to say it was one of the best salads I’ve ever had. The wood-fired salmon was charred around the edges and glazed with a sweet yet tangy Thai BBQ sauce. The mixed greens were lightly tossed with a citrusy vinaigrette. And the plate was surrounded by little piles of mango, marinated cucumbers, green beans, cherry tomatoes, orange slices, and grilled bell peppers. Each had a unique flavor that complemented the salad. Really a delicious offering.

Service was friendly and efficient, from the greeter at the front door to the desk, to our server. Prices might be a dollar or two higher than the norm, but I felt it was worth it. Aside from a dirty fork, the entire experience was a great one, and I’ll be lobbying the lunch group to return here soon.

Elephant Bar Restaurant
4054 Conroy Road
Orlando, FL 32839
(407) 370-6412
http://www.yelp.com/biz/elephant-bar-restaurant-orlando