All reader reviews by SE
Medcalf
I haven't been back to medcalf, after initially having a fantastic sunday lunch there I booked for our staff Xmas lunch and it was disappointing (no roast potoatoes?! I know maybe I am being overly traditional but still...). Went back last week and we had a really tasty, reasonably priced meal. Had skirt of beef which was cooked to perfection - and a huge portion too, really pink in the middle., with a great bottle of wine. They didn't bat an eyelid when we asked for welsh rarebit as a side order to our beef (in great contrast to Great Queen Street where they look appalled if you want to try something they decide doesn't go together). Good atmosphere and a really quirky looking place.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Overall rating 
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Moro
Found the whole experience very expensive but uninspiring. I couldn't find a starter that appealed to me. For my main course, I had the pork which I would have expected the crackling to be crispy - it wasn't - it was chewy and hard to get through. Desserts also were unmemorable. It was packed out though - even at a lunch time.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Overall rating 
Food 5 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 2
Dehesa
I love salt yard (it's sister restaurant) and this was no disappointment. Really tasty, beautifully cooked food (and not tiny Brindesa portions) in a glamorous setting.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Great Queen Street
I have been to this restaurant a number of times since it opened and introduced many firends to it, but after my most revcent trip I won't be going back. We got a slot (had to have the table back by 8.15 as usual) and I ordered sea bass to share with my friend and my other friend ordered the wood pigeon. I asked if I could order an accompaniment of chips to go with the bass - it came with nothing (even at £32) and I saw chips on the menu to go with other food. Unfortunately I was told this was not possible as the chips were hand cut ONLY to go with the steak (?). The fish arrived and I divided it between our plates but it was not cooked and smelled not too good either. We sent it back and it then re-appeared 15 minutes later cobbled back together again but this time not raw. We had gone off the whole idea at this point and our other frend had eaten her (nearly raw) wood pigeon on her own while we waited. We made the best of things and ate a some part of the fish then left the rest. I was so surprised when the bill came that they had made no gesture at all for the fact we had to send our food back even though we had said that we hadn't enjoyed it. They said they wouldn't take the fish off the bill 'because we'd eaten it'. Eventually they said they would compromise and take desserts off - but only becuase we made a point of it. It ruined the meal - if they had made a gesture without having to be challenged we would have written it off as a mistake and returned. Then to be asked for our table back sharply when we had been delayed by the fact our food wasn't cooked just topped it all off.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Overall rating 
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 0
Cypriana
Ignore the 1970s British standards such as prawn cocktail and steak diane and go for the excellent greek staples such as the cheeses, olives, pitta, grilled meats and salads. Really cheap, tasty and friendly - it even has a garden that is nice in summer evenings. Not going to set the world on fire but a great local greek restaurant.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8
Orford Saloon Tapas Bar
We ate here the other evening when passing and we very luckily managed to get a table. I was really impressed with the food, wine and atmosphere. We'd love to eat here more often but they always seem to be fully booked. The portions are much more generous than other tapas restaurants I've been to and are really tasty. The only thing that could have been better was the tortilla - it was very well done and didn't have the gooey texture that you get in places like the Salt Yard. The popularity of the place goes to show that Walthamstow has a strong market for really good quality restaurants!
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Mela
I love the food at this restaurant (particularly the melt in the mouth grilled meats) - but I don't go often because you can never be sure what kind of service you'll get. My partner point blank refuses to return after we had rude and slow service one time. So I went with a friend the other night - with a free glass of wine offer from TimeOut that I had booked that day. Horribly predictably they made a fuss and said no such offer existed, and then it did exist but it had expired etc. etc. Eventually we got our wine but it took the shine off the whole experince - although the food was great. What a shame as there are also some really nice, friendly staff there too.
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
Overall rating 
Food 8 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 6
Salt Yard
Have been to Salt Yard twice in quick succession - once for lunch and once for dinner. The food was absolutely delicious - fantastic rare beef with dressing, tortilla that is wobbly and gooey as it should be and chorizo in a lovely vinegar reduction. We had lovely prosecco cocktails to start and the service was excellent. We will now try its sister restaurant Dehesa and see if it lives up to the original.
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Hawksmoor
Returned to Hawksmoor. Surely their steak must be top notch at nearly £20 before you pay for side dishes? My rib eye I asked for medium. It came nicely cooked around the edges but raw in the centre. One third was gristle. I complained but was told it was cooked as I requested. On insisting, they took it back to the kitchen and cooked it until it resembled leather and returned it. Galling at the price. Won't be back.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 0
