*** (3 stars)
This very historical pub is a good place for lunch before a matinee show at any of the nearby theatres. The food and beverage selections are what you’d expect, and there is a charming period decor. Service is friendly, and accommodating of foreign visitors, so the you can usually order at your table rather than the bar, as is more traditional.
The Salisbury
90 St Martins Lane
London, WC2N 4AP
+44 20 7836 5863
http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-salisbury-london-2
**** (4 stars)
Clos Maggiore has a well-deserved reputation as London’s most romantic restaurant. It’s convenient to the West End theatres, and open late enough to go after the show.
The food is reliable and elegantly presented, and the wine list ad Bas Armagnac are extensive and top notch.
But above all it’s the romantic atmosphere of the garden-like (but completely indoor) dining room that draws us back.
Clos Maggiore
33 King Street
Covent Garden
London, WC2E 8JD
+44 20 7379 9696
http://www.yelp.com/biz/clos-maggiore-london-2
***** (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
***** (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
***** (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
**** (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
*** (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
*** (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
**** (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
**** (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