Restaurants reviewed last month
Ever indefatigable on your behalf, we've been out eating to sort the Ramsays from the also-rans.
Hanoi Cafe Shoreditch. Brilliant Vietnamese at a great price
190 Queens Gate South Kensington . Nice decor, nicer food
Shikara Notting Hill. Tasty Indian, a bit out of the ordinary
Zetter Clerkenwell. Gutsy food and a trendy setting
Yakitoria Paddington. Superior Japanese at a high price
Awana Knightsbridge. Chic Malaysian street food on Sloane Avenue
Sauterelle City. Conran's latest and perhaps greatest
Comptoir Gascon Farringdon Every bit as good as everyone says it is
Masala Zone Islington. Authentic and fairly priced
Meditteranean Kitchen Covent Garden. Good value in a pricey area
Dune Covent Garden fabulous food and a bit of a bargain
IIncognico. Covent Garden. Warm and welcoming
Bavarian Beer House City Actually a lot better than you might think
May we as usual take this opportunity to remind you that if a restaurant really gives you a bad time, please talk to them and allow them a chance to explain/make amends before you trash them on the website!
Eating well at Cheneston's
Cheneston’s Restaurant is a part of the venerable Grande Dame of a Hotel
called the Milestone, luxuriously located close to Kensington Gardens. It’s
a classic London Hotel with character, not one of those modern sterile places
so popular with business travellers. It even has real fires burning in its
Victorian grates.
So to be invited to one of their special Wine Dinners on a freezing February
night is a treat indeed, especially as the food is always good at Cheneston’s
and sommelier Nicolas Clerc is a knowledgeable and fun host. These Wine Dinners,
of which there are ten more to run this year, are a great idea. Basically Nic
invites another wine expert, normally a producer or importer, to decide the
wines to accompany a four course menu from Cheneston’s Chef. Each wine
is chosen to perfectly suit the food and the expert takes time out before each
course to explain a bit more about the wine and why he or she has chosen it.
The restaurant is closed to other diners for the evening, making it an intimate
and enjoyable affair
First though, some champagne in Cheneston’s rather lovely lounge, all
leaded windows, deep sofas and crackling flames. Very Agatha Christie, very
Jeeves and Wooster. Tonight’s expert, Nick Brookes, the Managing Director
of Vine Trail a company that specialises in small, family owned, French domains,
brings around bottles of a rather rare champagne, Larmandier Bernier Premier
Cry Tradition, Brut CV. Very nice and helps the twelve of us to get to know
each other before going into Cheneston’s charming dining room where a
long table awaits us. Nick sits at the head, his back to the fire like a Tudor
King before rising to discuss the first wine.
Four excellent courses later, and four more special and unusual wines well drunk, it’s time for Chef to step out and take a well – deserved bow. Time for me to wobble out into the night having had an excellent evening of eating, drinking and entertainment.
Cheneston’s wine dinners continue every month this year with plenty to choose from. And at the price, it’s a great way to enjoy food and wine in convivial company. Take a look here for more info.
