All reader reviews by Samantha B

Auberge (Waterloo)

This place is pretty average. The only main meal option for vegetarians is a salad, so I ordered starters as a main. The portion, even for a starter, was decent, but the quality was pretty disappointing. The camembert portions were commercially crumbed and felt very 'processed' as a result. My friend's charcuterie plate was not as fresh or well-sourced as it might have been. The service was adequate, and the prices were reasonable. Nothing important to complain about, but it could have been done so much better.

Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 5

Mildred's

I loved this place! I went for the first time last night with two friends and we had a lovely meal. The food was lovely - we ordered olives and bread for starters. The olives were delicious and the bread basket contained lovely, salty rosemary foccacia slices and savoury nutty brown bread. For mains we ordered the tagine, the mushroom pie and the veggie bangers and mash. Everyone in the party enjoyed their meal and the portions were generous. I tried the orange pannacotta for dessert and it was amazing - I never usually have the pannacotta (because of the gelatine) but this veggie version was lovely. The decoration of marinated prunes and madeline biscuit were a nice touch (and delicious).

We found the service to be very good, even though the restaurant was busy. The waiters found time to chat, to make recommendations, and to be pleasant. This was a surprise after reading the reviews on this site.

Our bill came to £67 including the service charge. This covered two serves of olives, bread, three main courses, one dessert, and alcoholic drinks. For central London, I thought this was extremely good value.

Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 8

The Wallace Restaurant

This venue is lovely when the sun shines on London. I found the service to be adequate, but not fussy (which is fine by me). The portions were adequate, and food was tasty, and it was all priced as expected for a restaurant within a museum (ie not as good value as a meal away from a tourist spot).

Thursday, September 25, 2008
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 4

Al Mirage

The best mutter paneer in the universe, amazing garlic naan, and an extensive selection of vegetarian, fish and meat dishes. 'Hot' at Al Mirage isn't perhaps as hot as you would expect, so if you want a dish really spicy, make that clear to the waiter. The service is fast, the meals are delicious, and the surroundings are much nicer than some of the other curry houses in the area. The toilets are also quite clean by local standards. Also, the value for money is outstanding. My friend and I had poppadums to start, two vegetable dishes, a shared vegetable biryani, a shared garlic naan, and a couple of cans of soft drink for £16.50.

Thursday, September 25, 2008
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 8

Eat and Two Veg

Both my husband and I are vegetarians, and honestly, we like this place because it does a decent veggie burger that actually tastes like a flame-grilled meaty burger. It comes with coleslaw and gherkin, and skinny fries - very nice. It's not meant to be healthy, it's meant to be a treat.

I can imagine that vegetarians who don't like the taste or look of meat will find this place quite offensive - a lot of the menu is made up of meat-substitutes. But, I miss a nice bit of duck, and a big juicy burger, so when a meaty-craving strikes, this place is a blessing.

My husband swears by the Lancashire hot pot (usually served in winter only) - I think the steamed dumplings are very nice.

So, if you're a veggie and you're craving a burger, this place will sort you out, guilt-free. Don't expect a gourmet experience - order a bottle of wine and settle into a booth for the afternoon. Enjoy!

Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 5

Limoncello

Limoncello's prices are extremely good value. The portions are large, the staff are genuine and friendly, the owner is a fantastic host, and the drinks are reasonably priced. Best of all, the food is good, too. The olives are delicious - apparently they are marinated according to Mario's secret recipe. The side salads are extremely generous - one salad should be enough for two people to share as a side dish. The pizza is delicious. Best of all, the staff seem happy to combine any available ingredients in order to suit your tastes. Last time I went it cost around £25 per head, but this included olives, bread, a main course with a side salad, a glass of wine with the main, a pudding, a coffee, and a digestif. I think that's pretty good value in London. People attached to St George's in Tooting get a 10% discount for cash payments - just ask when you pay.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10