The challenge is over - here are my favorites!

Finally, my challenge is over - but was I successful?  Well, it's taken me a lot longer than anticipated and what started as a summer eating fest extended into an autumn and winter extravaganza.  I've certainly eaten and imbibed a lot and although I've not had many 'official' followers I know that many of you have been keeping up unofficially with my festing.  Have I put on weight?  Well I'm afraid I have, but suspect this is more down to 3 weeks in the Far East over Christmas and the New Year rather than 7 months in Soho! 

The big question is, would I do it again?  Definitely - it's certainly been a talking point and friends have hopefully enjoyed joining me.  It's also made me visit places that I'd never have gone to and try lots of different foods. 
As I've had a number of requests for recommendations, I've listed my favourites.  So, if you find yourself in Soho and wonder where to go, check them out and think of me spending TP's pension in South America!  Finally don't forget to check out my new blog which will start in February: http://southamericaonapension.blogspot.com/.

Favourite Bar
1.  Kettners (Greek Street West) - an obvious choice: it sells champagne!
2.  LVPO (Dean Street East) - good for early evening happy hours.

Favourite Pub
Although I'm not a 'pub girl' I've included this category for those who like a pint.
1. Coach and Horses (Greek Street East) - mainly because it's become my regular for meeting two of my favourite boys (you know who you are!)
2. Montagu Pyke (Greek Street East) - although it's a Wetherspoons and huge, the entrance on Greek Street has intimate seating and good service  
3. Pillars of Hercules (Greek Street East) 

Favourite place for breakfast
Both chosen because like me they are stylish, sophisticated and serve my favourite breakfast of eggs benedict!   
1. Dean Street Town House (Dean Street West)
2. Cafe Boheme (Greek Street West)

Favourite traditional lunchtime menu
1. San Valentino (Greek Street East) - probably my most visited venue for jacket potato, beans and cheese - also served me the biggest portion of lasagne I've ever had
2. Cafe Emm (Greek Street East)
3. Soho Joe (Dean Street East)

Favourite ethnic lunchtime menu
All are chosen because they have casual seating inside and as I've discovered, this is much better than a sandwich at your desk
1. Moolis (Frith Street West) - spicy Indian wraps
2. Nam (Dean Street West) - Vietnamese spring rolls
3. Adagio (Greek Street East) - delicous looking huge slabs of pizza sold by the weight

Favourite cheap eat for the evening
All offer excellent value for under £10
1.  Nusa Dua (Dean Street East) 
2.  Rosa's (Dean Street East)
3.  Bi Bam Bap (Greek Street East)

Favourite 'special occasion' place
1.  Red Fort (Dean Street West) - fabulously stylish Indian food
2.  Barrafina (Frith Street West) - only in 2nd place because you can't book
3.  Arbutus (Frith Street West) - modern surroundings with fab food 

The 'try something' different award
1.  Garlic and Shots (Frith Street East)
2.  Gay Hussar (Greek Street East)

And finally the Quorn Award for vegetarianism, must go to Zilli Green on Dean Street East as it's the only place where a vegetarian can chose off the entire menu!

Bon appetite and keep up with South America!

The Final . . . . Anti Climax!

There was only one left - Gama on Dean Street East.  To be honest it wasn't last by co-incidence: it didn't look inviting and delivered my least favorite cuisine (Japanese/Korean fusion). There was no website but reviews on other sites were not particularly favourable.  So it was with some trepidation that I set out yesterday lunchtime . . . .  only to find it closed.  It was difficult to judge whether this was permanently or just during the day but I've made the decision to cross it off my list.  So although finishing my challenge should have been a real high spot, I'm afraid it was a bit of an anti climax!  So I decided to cheer myself up on a wet and windy day with a jacket potato, cheese and beans at my favourite lunchtime venue of San Valentino.  
I then began musing about all the places I'd explored over the last few months and have decided to make some awards so watch this space  .  . .       

Thai - ing up loose ends!

With the end in sight and a holiday to Thailand looming, TP and I (or is it TP and me, or me and TP?  I can never remember and have to rely on The Lady to advise) thought we'd get in the mood with a lunch-time trip to Patara on Greek Street East http://www.pataralondon.com/.   We had to ask to see the lunch time special menu (which I always hate as it makes me feel like a cheap skate).  But when it arrived the mains sounded delicious (there was one starter of a mixed platter and one desert of mango ice cream and melting chocolate pudding) and it was difficult to chose. Two courses were £15.50 and so TP decided to have a starter and main whilst I opted for main and pud.  However, this posed the first problem as we were told two courses are meant to be starter and main (although there was nothing on the menu to say this).  All was settled in due course after a minimum of fuss and we enjoyed mains of gressingham duck and slow cooked beef.  Interestingly my main was served at the same time as TP's starter but fortunately the waitress did ask, before she served my pud with TP's main. The food was beautifully presented and very tasty.  A bottle of sauv was £18.50 and the whole lunch came to just over £50 with service.   However,  if we'd gone a la carte, I suspect the bill would have been much higher.  Not somewhere we'd return to and they need to improve service at these prices!

Well, what a week so . . . .

 . . .  settle yourself down with a nice glass of wine and leave the bottle at your side ready for top ups - you'll need them!

Monday saw me trying to get a table at Pierre Victoire on Dean Street East   http://www.pierrevictoire.com/london/restaurant/index.asp only 
to find they were fully booked right up until Christmas.  This is obviously a reflection of their good value pre-theatre menu of £9.90 for two courses. Therefore having been to their sister restauant, Prix Fixe, I'm going to call it a day.

On the way back down Dean Street, I found that Chiang Mai had closed down.  Hooray, one less!

Tuesday was spent at the Mousetrap matinee with A Guest who, having seen it before, was very good and refused to reveal who did it!  We had fizz in Kettners, our favourite champagne bar, and could have walked out without paying.  However we didn't want to be like the couple who were captured on CCTV after legging it from a restaurant without paying, so we decided to be honest.  We then went to Jimmy's Greek on Frith Street East. I have to say I'd been putting this one off, because there's no website (so no idea of prices or menu) and only a blue door with a canopy.  And as there's no frontage,  you're not really sure what you're going in to.  We went downstairs with some trepidation to find quite a large, empty restaurant but with lots of arches making it feel quite intimate.  We decided to order a number of starters: as the waiter described it Greek tapas.  We sampled hummous, spicy meatballs, Turkish sausage, grilled hallumi and taramasalata with pitta.  They were all delicious and with a bottle of reasonably priced and tasting house white, the bill came to £32.  We got chatting to the waiter who told us that the restaurant opened in 1962 and at the time was only one of around four in the street (that would have made my challenge easier!). He said the grey haired lady with the gold Christmas party hat was the original owner.  She was washing up when we arrived but playing cards with an equally elderly chap with a long grey pony tail when we left.  It was a very friendly place and as they look to have live music at some time, I suspect it could get very lively.

Wednesday was a night of contrasts.  First up was a glass of wine in Garlic and Shots on Frith Street East http://www.garlicandshots.com/html/menu.html.  It's a small restaurant but with a couple of stools at the bar. As it was early we got chatting to the huge bear of a man behind the counter to find that he was the Swedish owner and that his two brothers run branches in Stockholm and Palma.  They have 101 vodka shots, infused on the premises: his bottle of citron vodka was full of lemon peel.  We couldn't leave without downing a shot and I went for Bloodshot - vodka, tomato, garlic (in slivers), chilli and spices.  It was rather warming but I tried to be casual about it.  The Pensioner chose a more sedate lemon vodka but followed it with a Boodshot chaser as he didn't want to be outdone. We cannot wait to go back in the New Year to try the food - the Internet says 'no dishes are served without garlic.  You can always order extra garlic, but never less.  As you leave the restaurant you should feel like you've been garlic marinated.  This is our mission from God.'  If you meet me in January, I suspect you'll probably be able to tell if I've been the night before! 

It was then onto a very up market Red Fort on Dean Street West http://www.redfort.co.uk/welcome.htm.  Coats were taken and we were shown to a quiet table in the window and immediately offered an aperitif, champagne or prosecco. We chose the latter, poured at the table so we could check out the label, which was served with two poppadoms and a delicate, white oblong dish with four chutneys.  We ordered a bottle of £25 sauvignon blanc and shared a starter of hara kebab; two fairly substantial spinach and fenugreek patties lightly filled with cheese, onion and coriander which came accompanied by another oblong dish with four different chutneys.  The Pensioner decided on his usual, lamb: Hyderabadi bhuna gosht or Welsh lamb cooked with ginger, garlic, coriander and whole red chilli whilst I opted for a chicken curry or luknowi murgh.  The meat in both was very tender and succulent and we shared as mine had a more spicy sauce (although after the bloodshot, it's a wonder we could tell)!  Very surprisingly, I then decided on a mango ice cream whilst TP had a glass of port, again poured from the bottle.  The service was very attentive throughout and the sommelier, extremely good.  It was obviously not a cheap night out, but would make a lovely choice for a special occasion (rather than an after work, mid week meal).

Thursday night saw me out with The Lady, Blonde Bombshell and The Pensioner.  As two of the three are eligible for Winter Fuel Payments (you know what I mean) and The Pensioner still hasn't received his pension,  austerity was the watchword.  Nusa Dua on Dean Street East fitted the bill admirably with its two course menu for an incredible £8.95 - http://www.nusadua.co.uk/.  I also chose it to put us in the mood for New Year which we'll be seeing in on the Indonesian island of Bintan.  There were prawn crackers on the table and we received a literally warm welcome as a fire was pulled up to our table.  First we were presented with a clear, spicy complementary soup which was excellent. The menu has a good selection of starters and mains and we chose fried crab sticks, potato cakes with a chilli dip and crab cakes. The list of mains was even longer and so we all found something we liked which came with a choice of noodles or rice. My beef curry was excellent and all the dishes were served in very good portion sizes.   With two bottles of white wine, our bill for four came to £66.  Austerity accomplished!  It was an excellent night with lots of laughs and at least we were well away from the rioting students.  I will definitely return! 

Spaghetti Free Junction . . .

. . .  in Little Italy on Frith Street East http://www.littleitalysoho.co.uk/ where I treated TP to lunch on Friday. Now he's retired and doesn't have a Xmas Team/work lunch to go to, I thought I'd spoil him.  The restaurant and tables looked beautiful with lots of tasteful Christmas decorations, the music was jazzy but subtle and the service excellent.  We opted for the two course set lunch (£16.90) of crayfish cocktails, the sea bream and turkey.  The food was well presented and delicious.  The second cheapest bottle of wine (I've been taught to go one up from the cheapest) was £23 but I did spot a bottle of something special for over £2000.  At the end of the meal, we were presented with a basket with walnuts and satsumas which added a festive air. TP then showed me his trick, which I'd never seen in 22 years of being together, of cracking two nuts together in his hands!  It's not a cheap place with main courses on the a la carte menu of around £25, but we'd definitely recommend the set menu.

Confusion at the Bar

Picture the scene: lunch-time snow showers, cross roads on Frith Street and Chinese restaurants on diagonal corners.  One called Bar Shu and one called Ba Shan. I knew one was still on the list, but couldn't remember which, so opted for Ba Shan on the East side as it looked more intimate. I ate in a small room designed like a Chinese tea house but I got the impression there were lots more similar rooms. The tables and chairs were dark rich wood and completely unadorned.  Although it was cold outside I opted for a starter of spicy salad with chicken slivers. The menu, with pictures of the dishes, contained a number of interesting dishes including ones with chopped pig ear, pig intestines, pig heart and every other piece of the animal.  The salad took a while to arrive but when it did it was huge and served in a lettuce leaf.  It was very spicy and was all finely chopped and really warmed me up.  A young Chinese couple who came in after me, were served huge amounts of dishes which were still arriving at suitable intervals as I left.  My meal with a beer was £10.90 which I thought was reasonable (I drank beer as I objected paying £6.90 for a glass of house wine).  Back at the office, I realised I'd discounted Ba Shan as the address is actually Romilly Street, but I've decided that it will count instead of Bar Shu!  http://www.bar-shu.co.uk/.

Breakfast today was at the Dean Street Town House, a trendy hotel on Dean Street West  http://www.deanstreettownhouse.com/.  The welcome was warm and friendly on a cold day and I soon had my coat off and was sat down in a large restaurant which had a long bar running nearly the length of it. The service was excellent and I was immediately offered water.  I opted for my very favourite breakfast of eggs benedict (but in the singular) but I could have had eggs florentine (with spinach) or royale (with salmon).  It was one of the best I've had with a pale, creamy hollandaise sauce. It was all so delicious I wished I opted for the plural!  Together with a pot of earl grey with lemon the bill came to £9.60 with service.  I'd definitely go again, as the staff are young, smart and willing and everything is beautifully served with juices being presented in individual small carafes.  Jams are in individual small pots and there was none of those horrendous packets of butter and sugar.  I walked out fully revived and all set for a hard day in the office.

Bi Bim Bap

Tuesday night was all about catching up with the Lovebirds who have now become Mr and Mrs.  After drinks in the Pillar of Hercules we popped two doors down to Bi Bim Bap on Greek Street East http://bibimbapuk.com/index.html.  It's a strange name and one that I can never remember and I've called it Bim Bam Bop, Bam Bi Bap and many other variations.  It's an informal place with no pretensions.  We weren't sure what to chose but a friendly waiter advised us to share 3 starters and so we chose: prawn katsu, pork and vegtaable mandoo and kimchi pancake, served with Korean pickles.  All were delicious and just the right amount. We chose individual mains which are served in a hot stone bowl and had beef booi-go-gi and unadventurously named, spicy pork.  They were all very good and at around £6-7 for the main dish (which didn't need expensive side orders) and beers all round, it was very good value.  We're all off on travels next year and so decided to meet up before we jet off so if anyone knows of a Cambodian restaurant which serves South American wine, let me know. 

Prego, Prego!

Lunch today was Il Sciliano on Dean Street East http://www.il-siciliano.co.uk/.  It's a rather old fashioned restaurant with mint green starched tablecloths.  It looks as though it's been there for years.  The welcome was warm and friendly but the constant prego, prego became mildly irritating by the end of the meal.  I chose a starter size portion of spaghetti Alla Sciliano (tomato sauce with aubergines) which considering the actual size of the dish was good value for £6.  However, the small glass of white wine for £5 was pricey and with a £2.50 cover charge (for bread, butter in packets and five olives) and a £2.50 espresso, the bill was soon bumped up.  Main meals were all around £10 to £15, so it's not a cheap option and to be honest I can't imagine the type of person I would take to it.  

On my way there I noticed that Geisya also on Dean Street appeared to have  closed down.  I have to say Japanese isn't my favourite and so I'm not too disappointed to cross it off.

And whilst I'm in crossing off mode, I'm going to eliminate Ronnie Scott's (Frith Street West) on the basis that it's a club and because I have been before although I admit it was a long time ago!

A bit of class!

The Suffolk Redhead was down for a day of girly Christmas shopping and so a nice lunch was called for. We headed to Arbutus on Frith Street West http://www.arbutusrestaurant.co.uk/ - one of the best remaining places on the list.  At 1.15pm it was very busy and remained so right through, so beware, bookings are necessary.  We decided on starters and puddings only.  Our pork porchetta (very thinly sliced pork) with apple puree and pecorino was ab fab and with rustic bread, nice and filling. The sweet-toothed Redhead opted for clafoutis of william pears and vanilla ice cream whilst I chose two types of cheese.  The service was efficient but unpretentious and the waitress described the cheese board easily and without notes.  We were left in charge of our own wine, a Torrentes Chakana Mendoza from Argentina chosen to get me in the mood for our 2011 trip to South America. All in all, a superb lunch and one that would be worth repeating.

Friday evening was more austere as the TP was taking me out.  We opted for the £10 pre-theatre meal at Yming a chinese on Greek Street West -http://www.yming.co.uk/.  For starters we chose hot, fattening sesame prawn toasts and crispy wun tuns followed by empress beef and Mr Edward's pork and a traditional dessert of lychees.  We skipped tea and finished our wine.  I was amazed at how busy it became. When we said we'd not booked, we were offered a table for two which we would have to vacate within an hour.  When we said we didn't want to be rushed, we were given a really nice table for four in a window.  People who came in after us with reservations were given small tables for two beside walls and in corners.  It must be Chinese logic! 

Clearing the sinuses!

Having been let down by a colleague protesting too much work, I decided to cheer myself up with lunch in Nandos at Frith Street East http://www.nandos.co.uk/fammenu/FEM/Menu.html.  I'd only been to a Nandos once and a long time ago after I'd been indoor sky diving in Milton Keynes!  So I said I've never been before and was led thorugh the process: choose at the table, order at the bar and the food will be delivered in 10 minutes.  I opted for a simple chicken breast fillet wrap at £6.45 and medium sized glass of Sauv.  As I had a slight snuffle, I thought the extra hot peri peri sauce might clear my sinuses!  It was all very delicious and the customer service was outstanding.  A chap next to me was presented with a chicken leg when he ordered a breast, but the manager dealt with it really well by saying he'd bring him along a chicken breast as well as he was sure he looked hungry.  With service like that, who could complain!  

A quick totopos!

Lunch time was wet and windy and so I didn't venture far.  I was lured by the Bay of Bengal (Greek Street East) and their three course set menu for £5.50 which I was told was lentil soup and chicken curry with rice.  The soup was reasonably spicy but quite thin with a huge chunk of lemon floating in it which gave it an unusual, but not dreadful taste.  The chicken curry was again, fairly spicy and had four chunks of very tender chicken in a rich sauce and was actually very good.  No mention was made of the third course and so I nursed my £2.35 glass of wine to see if anything was offered, but it wasn't.  When I asked for the bill no mention was made of why I was leaving without having my pud. Normally I'd have caused a fuss but to be honest I didn't really want a dessert and I thought if I asked, I'd have to eat it!

In the evening, The Lady and I had been invited to a 'Private View' at the Contemporary Applied Arts Gallery and we weren't sure whether there would be wine and canapes (but hoping there weren't as liberal as our previous trip there when The Lady lost all her loyalty cards in the back of a cab and another friend fell asleep on the train and went five stops past hers).  Anyway I digress . . . .  We decided that a quick glass of wine and totopos would be just the thing beforehand and so we met in Las Iguanas on Dean Street East http://www.iguanas.co.uk/las-iguanas-london-soho.asp.  The lady treated to the wine and I bought the totpos and and spiral fries.  The evening's main event had lots of lovely things that we couldn't afford but at least we had a free glass of fizz!  

Back to Pizza Express . . .

 . . . but this time, I resisted the Pizza.  My best lunch chum had recovered from his man flu and so we headed to the Pizza Express branch on Dean Street East.  This is much bigger than the one on Greek Street (and has the jazz element), but the service was just as good.  I went for a new pasta dish 'Piccante' which being a lover of spicy food, caught my eye with the description: Not for the faint hearted - Cavatappi pasta with pepperoni, hot spiced beef with green peppers, mozzarella, mushrooms and onions in a creamy tomato and béchamel sauce finished with parsley, oregano, grana padano and rocket.  It was absolutely delicous but I've now had enough of Pizza Express for a while!

Italian and Spanish at the end of the week

As my best lunch chum let me down at short notice, 'The Pensioner (TP)' stood in as a late replacement.  As it was pouring down we headed for the nearest place, Pizza Express on Greek Street East.  It's quite a small restaurant but the service was friendly and excellent (I was mystery dining the night before, and still in critique mode).  In view of TP's reduced income we shared my favourite pizza (American Hot) but managed to find enough pennies to pay for a bottle of wine.

That evening saw me with TP and A. Guest in El Cantara a Spanish and Moroccan tapas place on Frith Street West http://www.elcantara.co.uk/.  TP treated us to champagne which we sipped with hoummus and bread.  We then opted for the 4 tapas for £18.95 and chose harissa bread, pollo al ajillo, merguez briwat and zaalouk.  We opted for the cheapest wine, Moroccan Guerrouane Blanc, reasonably priced at £15.50.  To sum it up: it improved as the evening progressed.  The night was long, leisurely and jolly with A. Guest regaling us with her views on Strictly Come Dancing which I have refused to watch after Arlene was sacked.  She did a mean impression of Bruno talking to Scott but horrified us with how many times she votes each week! We also reminisced about when we met the gorgeous Brendan and she not only asked him a question but also got his autograph because I wasn't brave enough. An excellent finish to the week and much better than getting wet at a bonfire.

Normal service is resumed!

Yes, I know it's been a long time since my last post (as many of you have pointed out, well one person in particular!).  However, when I started this blog who would have thought that RM would become a pensioner and that we'd celebrate by spending a wonderfully, luxurious fortnight in Egypt. 

Although I've failed my original aim of completing my challenge before the end of October, I'm still going to be in Soho until the end of the year, so my revised aim is to finish by Christmas. 

On the first day back from our holiday, the 'house husband' refused to cook and so we started off with drinks in The Montagu Pyke  
http://www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk/home/pubs/the-montagu-pyke.  I'd seen the very uninspiring entrance on Greek Street East and thought it looked a bit dodgy.  But on walking through the narrow bar, it opened up into a huge bar with its main entrance on Charing Cross Road.   Although I've never been a fan of Wetherspoons (mainly because it always brings to mind old men drinking 99p pints of bitter all afternoon), it really changed my mind.  Because of their no music policy, cheap drinks and reasonable sharing platters it makes an ideal place for after work get togethers.  Our bottle of Villa Maria New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc was just over £13 and it was absolutely delicious (probably more so after two weeks of drinking Egyptian wine appropriately named: Pharaoh, Obelisk and Omar Khayyam).

We then went more up market to Marco Pierre White's L'Escargot just across the road:  http://www.lescargotrestaurant.co.uk/.  We chose the pre-theatre two course meal for £15 and had a glass of champagne to celebrate the publication of the Christmas edition of the Boots Health and Beauty Magazine (if you have no idea what I'm talking about, buy a copy for £1 and check out page 42).  I then had mushroom veloute served in a rather large portion.  I was interested that even Marco uses a doily on the plate (I remember painting them as a child).  RM chose a more appropriately sized starter of chicken terrine.  We shared main courses of pork with red cabbage, potato and a port jus and gnocchi with a tomato sauce, Parmesan and rocket. Both were well presented and delicious, but after two weeks of simple Egyptian meals, they seemed very heavy and rich and I wouldn't have wanted to sit through a two hour play after it.

To complete a hat trick we nipped back across Greek Street, to a very lively Zebrano http://www.zebrano.uk.com/greekSt/index.asp.  We hit happy hour (before 8pm) where a very helpful Matt told us that we could have two drinks for the price of one.  Therefore our double gin and tonics were only £6.75. Although it wasn't my sort of place (too much loud music and people far too young), it finished our evening off very well.

An absolute bargain!

Friday lunch was at the recently opened Soho Joe on Dean Street East http://www.sohojoe.net/.  It advertises 12" pizzas for £6 but I decided to be good (not forgetting that this challenge is about not putting weight on as well as about eating). I settled for a hummus and red pepper baguette which at £2.50 was a bargain.  As well as pizza and baguette there was a range of wonderful looking salads.  The baguette was well filled and fresh, but the bread was the sort where you need to have all your own teeth to eat it!  The place is quite large with lots of high tables and metal stools that you can casually perch on whilst eating, as well as more traditional furniture.  I've slowly come to the conclusion that whatever your lunch is, it tastes far better when you're not eating it at your desk.  It's one that I'll definitely be returning to and recommending.

After a weekend of caviar, champagne and vodka . . . .

 . . . . in St Petersburg, it was back to earth with a bump and a burger in gbk or Gourmet Burger Kitchen to the uninitiated http://www.gbk.co.uk/ on Frith Street East.  I chose a small (or junior as it was described on the bill) chicken burger.  Unfortunately I accepted the fries which at £3 were huge and far too many for one (unless it's Monday, you're hungry and it's miserable outside).  Along with a glass of house, my bill was £10.70.  What I cannot understand is that you walk in, you sit, they give you a menu and cutlery and then tell you you have to order at the counter.  Your drink and food are served to you and your table cleared.  So why can't they go the extra mile and take your order at the table?  Would I go again?  The burger was actually delicious, the chips large (in volume and size) and the wine reasonable.  So I guess my answer is yes!

An award winning restaurant last week

but unfortunately not a Michellin star.  Koya on Frith Street East http://www.koya.co.uk/ has just been named in the Time Out Eating and Drinking Awards 2010 as runner up in the best new cheap eats section.  For lunch last Thursday I chose Atsu Atsu which translates as hot noodles in hot broth, unlike Hiya Atsu which is cold noodles in hot broth. Lots of varieties to chose from but I went for pork miso.  The large bowl of juicy fat worms, sorry noodles, was served instantly and swam in a delicious broth with the minced pork on top.  At £8.50, it's not the cheapest lunch (despite the award) but it came with a complementary bottle of still water (take note Zilli Bar).

PS: for those of you who don't speak fluent Italian, Ugo's review of Zilli Green was 'In my opinion the food was good, in fact very good.  Not very spicy but with a special taste.  It seemed to be the food of the gods'.  I recommend that you eat here'.  Whilst Annie said 'Had a fantastic flavour.  Very light and tasted good. The bread from Sardinia was crisp, the food seemed like a tower with the vegetables underneath.  In short, excellent.' 

After the success of Zilli Green . . .

 . . . . the following day, I popped next door for lunch at Zilli Bar http://www.zillirestaurants.co.uk/bar (Dean Street West in case you haven't been keeping up!).  The greeting and service was exceptionally friendly and as it was Friday, I thought I deserved a treat and so ordered the spicy salami pizza for £7.50. (I could have ordered the dish I'd had the night before but thought better of it!). I asked for sparkling water and was presented with a huge bottle (£3.50).  I was looking in my bag at the time, otherwise I'd have asked for something smaller.  The pizza was excellent and it was a great way to kick off the weekend.  

Aldo's vegetarian feast!

The night started with pre-dinner drinks in an old favourite LVPO where, between 5pm and 8pm, a bottle of house white is an incredible £7.25. We then moved on to Zilli Green (Dean Street East), an Italian fusion vegetarian restaurant, specially selected for vegetarian friends, Annie and Ugo. It was also appropriate as they’ve spent a lot of time in Italy and strangely prefer Sicily to Southgate! They’re returning to there to live permanently, so it was an ideal choice for a farewell meal. Our table was brilliant: right at the back of the restaurant in a quiet alcove so perfect for chatting as the restaurant was really busy. The Meze ‘a selection of delights for two’ was huge, beautifully displayed and more than enough for four to share.

Ugo who had a Mexican Chiminchanga filled with sweet potato, spiced pinto beans, Monterey Jack cheese and red peppers with all the trimmings said ‘Secondo me questo cibo era buono anzi era buonissimo non era molto piccante avevra un sapore molto particolare. Vi parebbe che fosse un cibo del dio. Mi raccamando che tutti maggiano qui.’

Annie’s ‘tofu cake thing’, more accurately described on the menu as lightly smoked tofu cake with tarragon, skin on new potatoes, mixed green and Sardinian bread was a work on art. She reported ‘Aveva una sapore fantastica. Molto leggera buon guista. Il pane di sardegna era croccante ma non molto. Il pasto sembrava un torre con i verduri a basso. In somma, buonissimo’.

RM, who had tofu sausage, mash and mushy peas simply said ‘fabulous’. Italian types always use a lot of words when one will do!

My sundried tomato, goats cheese and mushroom ravioli with tomato and basil sauce was excellent although I did feel rather boring as it was something that I could have had in many Italian restaurants.

It was an excellent evening and with two bottles of wine, £50 per couple. If you have a vegetarian friend, you must take them to Zilli Green and don’t forget to ask for the table at the back!

Lunch is very different to dinner

Firstly there are two pieces of good news: (1) a new follower has just appeared, thank you Mr C (my telephony advisor), and (2) Soho Bar on Greek Street East has closed down so that's one less to do.

Now on to the main events: today I discovered what a Bento Box was in Hi Sushi on Frith Street West. The window promised quite an extensive menu along with lunchtime specials of various Box types for £4.50. The restaurant at street level is fairly small and simple with four high tables and stools designed for two, and another dozen high stools around a semi circular counter. My Box arrived and divided into five sections: (1) sticky rice, (2) an English salad with various lettuce leaves, sweetcorn, tomato and grated carrot lathered liberally with what I can only describe as an un-Japanese creamy dressing, (3) four semi circular slices, the size of a 10p piece, which could have been pickled ginger without the taste of ginger, (4) a small salad of more grated carrot with thinly sliced cucumber in a sweet chilli sauce with four postage stamp squares of something unidentifiable and not particularly pleasant (maybe tofu) and (5) the main event of chicken teriyaki which was a sliced chicken breast with its skin on and deep fried. All I could think about was the calories. It was accompanied by a side order of a bowl containing a cloudy, watery liquid. On the basis that I only had chopsticks, I wasn’t sure whether to drink it or wash my fingers in it. However on stirring it, I discovered some ‘bits’ including seaweed, so assumed I should eat/drink it, but I’m now sure how. A rather expensive bottle of sparkling water at £2.40 bumped the bill up to £6.90. Now I don’t want you to get the impression it was bad, it’s just that my knowledge of Japanese cuisine is very limited and so it’s difficult to judge how good/authentic it was but all I can say is it wasn’t exactly my favourite lunch to date. It does appear to have a larger restaurant downstairs as my table contained a list of ‘rules’ for the all you can eat buffet (rule number two: you can only stay an hour and a half)!

That evening we tried Zilli Green on Dean Street http://www.zillirestaurants.co.uk/ but you will have to wait for my review.