All reader reviews by Yummymummynumberone

E Pellicci

I had wanted to come here many times after finding it had been used as a film set for such diverse shows as "Poirot" and "Pennies from Heaven". It is STILL exactly the same, and looks like you would have a first class meal in here before appearing on 'Brief Encounter'. The owner is funny and charming and (I believe) his sons and wife are too, a family-run business in a changing (and not for the better) catering world. The service was better than some expensive restaurants the Yummymummy clan have been to, cheap good no nonsense old fashioned food and the ambience is wonderful. The area's quite horrible, but if you can bear the surroundings, entering this lovely place is an experience. I hear Pellici's cafe is now a listed building and their not allowed to change it .. good. Shame Conran didn't have a listing slapped on the Bibendum. He should take note of how Pellici's have used the Art Deco originality as their main strength.

I would give it - albeit a small humble cafe - 12 points instead of 10 if I could.

Thursday, August 28, 2008
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10

Bibendum

Well, food was OK, service immaculate (but so it should be for the price!!!). and the clientele were obviously a good class of customer but the one thing that made us sad was the lovely flat roof of the Bibendum has been 'added' to with a ridiculous greenhouse on the top. Its a masterpiece of Art Deco design for goodness sake, it doesn't need or should have its flat roof destroyed by extra bits. If Conran needs a bigger restaurant he should have just bought a bigger place.

Shame, such Philistine and brutal butchery of a beautiful building. Prince Charles was right when he talked about Carbuncles. spoilt it for us...

Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9

Cafe Creperie

Nonsense.. these are perfectly superb crepes and the only ones the Yummymummy tribe have had that were better, was in a small cafe on the Left Bank in Paris. The Creperie is like a visit to France by itself.

Fully recommended by people who KNOW!

Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10

The Corner Store

After reading about the dreadful experience of the below reviewers me and my party decided to NOT go here for dinner. How rude and nasty. I shall tell all my friends that the manager is clearly inferior in his behaviour.

Thursday, August 07, 2008
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0

The Engineer

Went here last night and won't be again. The place was full of Primrose hill fools and katemossalikes. The service was ridiculous slow, and even though me and my female friend had booked a table we had to constantly ask the irritated head waitress if it was ready. When she snapped "just a minute will you?!!" I replied in my usual way that if she talked to either of us again I would take it MUCH further. I think she realised she and the Engineer were dealing with superior people and she stammered a half-baked apology.

The Fish... mmmm not that bad but quite bland Samantha had the steak which was apparently very chewy. We had to keep telling the waitresses to leave the bread and olives we had ordered alone and that if they tried to take them away ONE MORE TIME.. we would walk out without paying. Opposite we had the most annoying pair of women talking "Media" shop in loud voices and swinging their (drunken) arms around, narrowly missing us two. I had to put them in their place as well.

We told the Manageress that the service and the establishment were not quite the standard we normally expect and said that we were not paying the service charge. She did not quipple.

Overall then, not a too bad - if expansive for what it is - place but hardly a gastropub experience.. The man behind the bar doing his best to chat us girlies up was the best part of the evening.! he was so inept but made us laugh!!!

Friday, August 01, 2008
Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 4

The Little French Restaurant

Its true what B Smith says.. the hand rail is like touching treacle! Wear gloves!

That was the most amusing aspect of the whole evening. The Yummymummy clan went for a (what we hoped would be ) an uneventful meal in the slightly pretentious place. The waiters were very snotty and not at all as helpful as 'Al' says. (perhaps he has inside information??). We were quite put out at their 'deafness' at asking for cutlery and my husband had to actually go to the counter to ask for knives and forks. That seemed to increase the surlyness and the pseudo-Parisienne disdain - which might be great on the Left Bank but in Earls Court? do me a favour!!

The coffees were quite watery and the meals not exactly gourmet standard. Wouldn't go again, not even for another grab of the sticky handrail! (what's all that about?!)

Monday, July 21, 2008
Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 0

Chutney Mary

As it was his birthday and he's been good, I took YummyDaddynumberone here to treat him, as we've often thought about going here. As my husband is white I enjoy introducing him to Middle Eastern and Indian dishes which he would not normally try.

Fantastic. The waiters are sweet and helpful, the manager did exactly the right protocol for a manager... kept a discreet distance, just making sure everything ticked along correctly and keeping the ambience and pleasure just so. Which he did admirably.

To go into fine details regarding the food would not do it justice. It was perfect and we shall definitely go again. Not a cheap night and Primary School Teachers might not be able to afford it, but not overtly expensive for Chelsea.

Thursday, July 10, 2008
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10

Bluebird Restaurant

Must agree with Andy below, the two handsome gypsy boys playing such lovely guitar music were a great part of the ambience and flavour of this now very sad and deteriorating restaurant. The food has gone downhill too and as for the service, well the least said, etc! Won't come back until they pull their Bluebird socks up.

Wednesday, July 09, 2008
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 1

Le P'tit Normand

We had the most fantastic time here. The waiters are so so efficient, the food sublime and the whole was a most repeatable experience.

Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10

Sakura

Well, after reading the reviews about the Fawlty-like manager, we had to go didn't we!

As soon as I sat down with my female friend, the manager virtually demanded why we'd chosen a seat in the corner. Because its empty I said! No, you mustn't sit there. you sit THERE!

I don't do shouting at by canteen staff. I just got up with my friend and walked out. We went to a charming little place in Gerrard street, where we didn't feel we were in that TV series "Tenko".

Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0

Okawari (West End)

I agree. Cheap and cheerful and although not strictly Japanese (fusion anyone?!) it is a good entry into Nipponese cuisine. As a friend of mine calls it Japanese-lite! The waiting staff, although they can get things wrong, are so sweet and slightly dippy that we can forgive them a lot.

Friday, June 20, 2008
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10