Reviews by tekka

Gourmet Burger Kitchen (Diner)
14 June 2007

(No Comment)

L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon (Restaurant)
30 October 2006

We ate lunch upstairs, which has more conventional restaurant seating than the sushi-bar style downstairs.

It was hard to fault anything - amazing flavours, high quality ingredients cooked to perfection and attractively presented. The lamb cutlets and mashed potatoes where as good as I remember them from L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon in Paris.

Not at all cheap, but definitely worth it.

The National Dining Rooms (Restaurant)
01 April 2006

Beautifully designed space in a stunning building and the food was enjoyed by all. Bit of a shame it's not properly open at night - it closes with the gallery, except for pre-theatre meals on Wednesdays.

The other notable aspect was how different the crowd was from any other David Collins designed restaurants - much older and lots of tourists as you'd expect, not that this bothered us.

Will go again and would certainly recommend it for lunch in the area.

Roast (Restaurant)
18 November 2005

Good food - especially for those who really like their meat. Quality was high, though not quite St. John standards and service was mostly good, but far from quick.

Enjoyed the wine list too, and a superb location with views over Borough Market on one side and towards St Paul's on the other.

Ottolenghi (Restaurant / Delicatessen / Cafe)
28 August 2005

(No Comment)

The Wolseley (Restaurant)
28 August 2005

(No Comment)

Oliver Sweeney (Men's Shoe Shop)
28 August 2005

(No Comment)

Matthew Williamson (Designer Shop)
28 August 2005

(No Comment)

Hamleys (Toy Shop)
25 April 2005

It's obviously a huge store with a great range of products but the size and its attraction for tourists means that it can take ages to get around and a while to be served. Prices are quite high too.

Poste (Men's Shoe Shop)
11 April 2005

Not huge, but they only stock decent shoes and I nearly always come out with something I'm really happy with. I'd go elsewhere for smart & formal shoes, but for trainers and hybrid stuff they're the best.

Mortimer & Bennett (Delicatessen)
11 April 2005

Great little deli - helpful staff and the best olives in London!

Century (Members' Club)
24 March 2005

Great club - the only one I've chosen to remain a member of for more than a year or two. It's relaxed, not stuffy, the staff are polite and friendly and the whole environment feels unpretentious and chilled, at least to me.

Good place for business lunches upstairs, a quick burger and a beer downstairs, and the roof terrace is great in the summer. Also a good venue for private parties and product launches.

Only downside is that it's so popular for such events that I find myself here too much - I'd rather save it for social functions but find myself here for PR events all too often. Can't really complain though - it's still 5 out of 5.

Puma (Trainer Shop)
11 March 2005

A decent selection of trainers and an example of Carnaby Street's gradual improvement over the last few years. Gets a bit full of tourists at the weekend though and some of the smaller specialists have a much better choice of vintage pairs.

The Atlas (Gastro Pub)
22 February 2005

Used to eat here when I lived in West Kensington - it's just on the edge of West Ken, where it starts to get a bit nicer.

It's a nice pub - fairly relaxed, standard blackboards with 10 different wines by the glass, big wooden tables making it ideal for groups of 4 or more. There's an outside area which is very pleasant in the summer.

The food is fairly "hearty" well-made, tasty pub grub - great sausages, huge chunks of meat, spicy salsas and lentil beds - all round reliable gastro-pub staples, large portions, good prices.

It's not the most astonishingly inventive cuisine, but then that's not what you'd want here. Having moved on from this part of London, I have to say that I'd love to still have it as my local.

Eclipse (Bar)
03 January 2005

Always had a good time here with attentive service, decent music and good drinks. Crowd are a mixed bunch but generally friendly and up for it - not just the usual Chelsea set.

5 Maddox Street (Hotel)
29 November 2004

A small, stylish hotel just off Regent Street. Location makes it very handy for business people working with companies in Soho and Mayfair, but I'd recommend it as good choice for a city break too. The rooms I've had are self-contained apartments, simply but nicely decorated, comfortable and containing everything I've needed.

Don't confuse it with a regular hotel with multiple bars and restaurants though - it's much more personal and unique than that.

Iniquity (Bar)
06 November 2004

(No Comment)

Selfridges (Department Store / Lingerie Shop / General Sports Shop / Food Hall)
06 November 2004

(No Comment)

Dover Street Market (Designer Shop)
02 November 2004

Rei Kawakubo is a legend in the fashion world and it needed somebody with her status to create something like Dover Street Market.

What the above review doesn't make clear is how remarkable the concept and design is, with custom-made furniture, portacabin changing rooms, stuffed birds and generally wild creativity throughout. I love it.

And for those complaining in the UK press that calling it a "street market" is an insult to those who shop in street markets by necessity, get a life! It's on *Dover Street* and it's a market - it's not a "street market" named Dover. I know this is ridiculous, but it had to be said.

Roka (Restaurant / Restaurant)
22 August 2004

I'd say that Zuma still has the edge, but Roka's a great restaurant. Good quality ingredients and an inventive menu that doesn't just stick to the sushi, sashimi and tempura formula. Service was a bit patchy when we visited, but that could well be teething troubles. The bar also looks great - huge wooden barrels, candles and comfortable chairs, though we didn't have time to check it out properly on our visit - we'll be back soon to do so.