All reader reviews by NJD
Clos Maggiore
I dined here with 7 other friends to celebrate my engagement in Dec 2010. This was my fourth visit to Clos Maggiore and, once again, it was excellent. Due to the size of our party we weren't able to sit in the beautiful conservatory (it's always worth asking for this when you book your table) but our booth near the bar was lovely, and very intimate.
We all ate from the set lunch menu, the food was fantastic and the whole thing including wine, champagne, service and lunch for 8 came to less than £500. I have never been disappointed on a visit to Clos Maggiore and it remains one of my favourite London restaurants.
The only criticism I would level on this visit, was that my fiance had been enthusing to our guests that this was one of the few places in London where you could get a proper black russian - so he was slightly dismayed when his drink arrived and it was a dirty black russian (topped with coke) rather than the beautiful espresso bean topped cocktail he is normally served.
However I think if that's all you can find to complain about - then it's still a pretty good experience!
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Overall rating 
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Marcus Wareing at The Berkeley
I booked the chef's table here for my birthday dinner last night. We had a 9 course tasting menu and accompanying wines and the whole evening was faultless. The food was outstanding and they catered easily for the fact that one of the party wouldn't eat meat and another didn't eat fish.
Particular highlights were the fish veloute with salt and vinegar chip foam and mushy pea sticks, Monkfish cheeks with snails and herb gnocchi, Veal tongue with beetroot, horse radish and foraged herbs and a pre-dessert of caramelised white chocolate mouse.
I was particularly impressed with the wine selection as I had specified a relatively modest budget for wines. The sommelier did a brilliant job and served wines from France, Germany, Australia and (rather unexpectedly) Greece which were all lovely in their own right.
I would absolutely recommend this for a special occasion - every one of my party of 8 had nothing but praise for the evening.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Overall rating 
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Barrio Bars to open a new site in Shoreditch next month (via Caterer) -