All reader reviews by Jonathan Marks

Mosfilo

This Greek/Cypriot restaurant opened a short while ago. It is owned by the same family that own the Sea Pebbles fish and chip restaurant 50 yards up the road.

We went for supper. Inside the decor is modern and welcoming although a little noisy when busy. We chose to sit outside so that we could smoke.

My guest had the special of the day which was haddock with an accompanying sauce and thought it was very good.

I had the mixed grill, which was a huge plate of char grilled chicken and lamb chops together with a side dish of rice and vermicelli (?), a greek cypriot special which was very good.

Together with a bottle of wine the bill came to nearly £50. Not cheap but overall a good experience and one I would recommend.

Tuesday, November 06, 2012
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7

B&K Salt Beef Bar (Hatch End)

This has become a favourite of mine. The salt beef is very good, moist and tender. I have a sandwich on rye bread, a new green cucumber and a latkah. Good value at £6.20. Recommended.

Tuesday, November 06, 2012
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8

Nando's (Chalk Farm)

The usual Nando experience. Nandos is fast approaching McDonalds as the food currency of the moron. It's a step up, since it's served with cutlery which probably causes confusion to some of the patrons but you are welcomed to eat with your fingers.

Peri peri chicken served by degree of your choice from mild to guaranteed intestinal failure heat.

Service with a smile, food served hot and generally a pleasant experience.

Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 6

The Monarch

I have been staying in Primrose Hill recently and trying different places to eat and this place has been a real find.

Stopped for Sunday lunch initially. Roast Leg of Lamb served with roast new potatoes, brocoli, creamed leaks, carrots and yorkshire pudding.

Very good. And at £8.50 I thought good value.

Went there for lunch during the week and had a similarly good experience. This time I chose Pork Chop, Roasted New Potatoes and Kale for £7.00.

Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8

The Washington

Went for Sunday lunch weekend before last.

Ordered the 21 day aged beef, which came with a large yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes and vegetables.

The beef was okay. However, the skin on the potatoes had hardened and they were chewy. The selection of vegetables was strange bedfellows for roast beef I thought, including sugar snap peas, and celery and did nothing to enhance the beef.

All in all, a very poor experience.

I would not return.

Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 2

Belgo Noord

I first went to this restaurant about 18 years ago. Finding myself staying nearby, I have been a regular visitor the last couple of weeks.

My usual order is a kilo of mussels in white wine sauce, with frites and a glass of red wine. I have found the food and service both in the bar at the front and the main restaurant very good.

A good experience.

Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8

Chez Nous

Thought I would give this place a go for supper.

Sitting outside was pleasant. The waitress arrived to take my order, Veal Milanese. "Would you like chips and salad with that?" "Er, no. I'd like spaghetti with tomato sauce." She gave me a blank look, so I decided to change my order to Scampi and chips. Can't go too far wrong with that. Well, to an extent that was true. It was okayish, until I asked for some ketchup. The waitress brought a bowl of watery ketchup which tasted very unpleasant and which I didn't bother with.

With a glass of red wine the bill for 1, came to £13 odd.

A poor experience.

Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 3

McDermott's Fish & Chips

Went to McDermotts on Saturday evening for supper. The premises are divided into a restaurant with seating and a takeaway shop.

We arrived about 7.30 pm only to be told that the restaurant had run out of fish.

As we were leaving we noticed that the takeaway side was still serving so we were able to order two portions of haddock and chips to take away.

The fish and chips were good although it was difficult to eat them standing outside and we did not enjoy the experience.

The management were apologetic for having run out of fish and advised us that this was due to a spike in demand as they had thrown away 100 pieces the previous Saturday evening.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 5

Bar Boulud

I arrived about 2.30pm on a Tuesday afternoon. Personally, I didn’t like the restaurant. The main area was crowded and noisy, the annexe where you can watch the kitchen was the same, so I sat in the lounge area where there are banquet seats and low tables. I ordered a Piggy Burger (£13.50) and a diet coke (£4.00). The diet coke was flat and tasted unpleasant. The Piggy Burger arrived without some of the accompaniments described on the menu. It was dry and unappetising. The chips came in a steel bowl and were thin and tasteless. It was accompanied by a very small portion of tomato ketchup. It was all served on a tiny plate which was inadequate to dine from comfortably.

Finally, I was on my own and thought the service was pompous and undistinguished.

At £19.36 including a 12.5% “discretionary” service charge added to the bill, this is poor value for money and one to avoid.

Friday, June 11, 2010
Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 2

Byron (Kensington)

It was hot sunny day (unlikely I know, but true!), and seeing that Byrons in Kensington had some outside seating I decided to stop for lunch. I had the Byron Burger which was very good. The chips were less so, as I chose the shoestring size and thought they tasted the same as McDonalds. I should have chosen the handcut ones. I had a strawberry milkshake which was ice cold, very large and had a good flavour.

All in all this was a good experience, especially sitting outside watching the world go by on Kensington High Street.

The bill came to £15.00 which with a tip pushed it to £17.00. That is a lot of money to pay for a burger meal.

Friday, June 11, 2010
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 6