All reader reviews by Libshaw

Hummus Bros (Soho)

I've started going to Hummus Bros regularly - I combine it with my regular trip to the hairdressers in Soho.

It's great. The food is fabulous. The best hummus, and felafel you're likely to get, and at a great price. We love to go to the Soho one and sit in the window watching people go by whilst stuffing ourselves with some seriously tasty food.

They do Monmouth Coffee too, which is always a good thing in my book.

The staff are friendly and good at what they do. Love it.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9

Benito's Hat (Goodge St)

One of the best burritos I've ever had, and cheap too.

That's probably all you need to know about Benito's Hat. If you're heading out for the night, or been shopping all day, don't get pub food or a supermarket sandwich, go to Benito's Hat.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 9

Mediterranea

This is my new favourite restaurant.

Rarely do you get a local restaurant that has such wonderful ingredients, excellently cooked, with friendly and professional customer service.

We went on Saturday night and were blown away by the excellence of both the calamari and mussel starters (my partner said they were some of the best mussles she's ever had). Following that we had the most amazing hand-made ravioli and crab tagliatelli main courses, that were so fresh and had obviously been cooked by someone who not only knows what they are doing but cares about the food so much. This was all washed down with a very reasonably priced italian house white.

After a pear tarte tartin and a vanilla ice cream drenched in espresso and some coffees we were feeling pretty happy about life in general, and the Sardinian proprietor (who also does the service himself) introduced himself and had a chat about the food before offering us a choice of complimentary grappas.

We can't wait to go back.

Monday, November 09, 2009
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9

Canteen (Spitalfields)

I went to the Canteen behind the Festival Hall last week, and witnessed some of the worst customer service I've had in London for quite a long time.

The restaurant was less than half full, but the staff were so inattentive everything we ordered required us to remind someone at least twice, and when it came to getting the bill we waited for 20 minutes after asking repeatedly.

The food was fine, though I would argue it is overpriced, but when the service is so bad and takes so long, you've forgotten about the meal and just want to get out of there.

i wouldn;t bother going to Canteen, there's plenty of better places to go in London where you are not treated like an irksome inconvenience by the staff. They don't really deserve your custom.

Monday, November 09, 2009
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 3