Reviews by hesterb

Bliss (Spa)
18 April 2008

Way too expensive for what they offer - which in truth isn't any different from what you can get for about 40% less at any other London spa. Last time I went, I had a thoroughly excellent mani/pedi with Keshia, who couldn't have been sweeter or more skilful; however, she's the first Bliss therapist I can, hand on heart, say was any more than civil.

There are so many little details Bliss London needs to iron out if it's to be brought up to the standard of the NYC spas: they keep you waiting for hours on the phone, then when someone does deign to answer, you're told to hold without waiting for a response; clients waiting for nail treatments are kept hanging around in the upstairs shop while staff chat amongst themselves; the downstairs treatment rooms aren't anywhere near as nice as the SpaNK ones; there's a slightly snotty attitude throughout. If it wasn't so outrageously overpriced you could overlook some of these niggles, but I doubt anyone at Bliss really cares...

Lamberts (Restaurant)
18 April 2008

The food is excellent and ambitious, wine list decent. Though not cheap, it's good value for money, especially the midweek set menus. Perhaps the only thing that lets Lamberts down is a slight lack of atmosphere, but the long room doesn't allow for much informality or cosy tables. Overall, though, it's definitely one of Balham's new highlights.

Alastair Little (Restaurant)
18 April 2008

I had a decent lunch here in March - good set menu, friendly service, calm atmosphere - and so brought some friends back for dinner last week. It could not have been more different: service was slow to the point of comedy; a medium-rare steak was even less cooked than the still-twitching rare order (both went back to the kitchen and were returned in identical condition); the dodgy-tasting ("It tastes fine to the chef!") rhubarb pudding was served with a soup spoon; long, long gaps endured between courses. Maybe you have to be friends with the staff/owner - other tables seemed to be having a much better, and quicker, evening than we did...

Hummingbird (Baker)
02 March 2008

The cupcakes here are about as near to the New York Magnolia Bakery experience as you'll get in London: sweet, frosting-heavy cakes in classic American varieties like Red Velvet (bright red sponge with a light chocolate flavour) and moist Carrot Cake, if not quite so big as their transatlantic relatives. They're on the expensive side, at around £2 a time, but so sweet only the serious cupcake junkie could manage more than one.

But be warned: while the Portobello branch has a swift turnover, counter service in the small South Ken branch moves marginally more slowly than global icecaps, and about as glacial. Twice now, I've been tempted in, joined the rugby scrum around the counter - you can't call it a queue, as it has no beginning or end - and waited pointlessly for fifteen minutes, before leaving, irritated by the 'we're so cool we don't need to rush' attitude of the staff.

Hummingbird cupcakes are pretty good, but cupcakes are an impulse buy, and at over a tenner for half a dozen, it's an impulse that evaporates pretty quickly.

Vivienne Westwood (Designer Shop)
22 January 2008

I love, love, love Vivienne Westwood's clothes, but have to agree with the comments about the almost surreal unpleasantness of some of the staff. I went to the Conduit St branch already knowing pretty much what I wanted, and yet the assistant serving me did so with such reluctance that I was almost prepared to walk out. When she did bring me the dress I wanted, rolling her eyes at the imposition, she made a loud performance about it 'not fitting... you need a much bigger size...' that my friend was compelled to barge into the changing room to rescue me. It did fit. I bought it anyway. But from now on I'm getting my Vivienne Westwood from Question-Air or net-a-porter.