All reader reviews by WalshyMK

Hudsons

Despite swearing never to go back, I found myself in Hudson's again with a group of friends in November 2011. Remembered why I'd sworn never to go back: the management and all staff appear to HATE the customers. Waste of an afternoon trying and failing to get service.

Monday, January 30, 2012
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 0

Soif

Based on my Sunday lunch experience, Soif is a great restaurant and especially welcome to SW11, which enjoys many reliable restaurants but few as interesting as this. The menu (and the restaurant itself) are easier to navigate than Terroirs and the service was excellent - enthusiastic descriptions of everything we were unsure about, and only too happy to serve us house wine. Filtered tap water in plentiful supply too.

The five of us shared starters, including lardo di colonnata (ribbons of fat), which was (unfortunately?) delicious, chicken livers and fennel salad. Mains included skate in brown butter and rabbit with the fluffiest black pudding I've ever eaten (and I'm a Stornoway stalwart). Mains were priced from £10-17, which I thought was excellent considering how interesting each dish was and how nicely executed.

I will definitely be back!

Monday, January 30, 2012
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9

Dinner by Heston Blumenthal

One thing bound to put me off a hyped-up restaurant in a glamorous location with a celebrity chef hugging the the celebrity restaurant reviewer at the next table, would be the service. Or lack of. But not here - the service is absolutely charming, knowledgeable, and (gasp) comprehensible.

The food was delicious... but then I expected it to be so, both from rave reviews and from the price you pay. Absolutely delicious if not sock-knocking-off. I love the basis for the menu - this adds interest to what would otherwise be "just" lovely food. Highlights for us were the tipsy cake and the meat fruit.

Wines by the glass were of a sufficient range and I was very happy with the recommendations made by the sommelier.

In summary: great food; not the best meal I've ever had, but a hugely enjoyable experience. Was this partly the influence of hype? Absolutely - but who doesn't want to be at the coolest party in town?

Thursday, February 10, 2011
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 7

Cah Chi (Earlsfield)

Great wee local restaurant. Nice to try a different type of food vs. the typical chinese, indian, italian etc.

BYO wine allows for a very reasonably priced meal.

Must try: assorted kimchi (pickles) - strongly flavoured, really tasty; also the BBQ.

Front of house lady is really efficient, friendly and hard-working

I hope they continue to be busy, they deserve to be.

Friday, January 23, 2009
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8

Hudsons

If you're not going there for breakfast, don't bother. Especially don't have the thai green curry - revolting and expensive. Service is very poor.

Saturday, November 22, 2008
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 2

Tom Ilic

Food is fantastic - rich flavours, but not so much (or such big portions) that you walk away stuffed

Service is efficient and fairly friendly but not uber-slick (personal preference is for this over being too conscientious)

Atmosphere is of a buzzy bistro

Toilet could do with a lot more attention - I don't mind this place not being dead fancy but they could spend a bit more here!

Price - v.g. for the quality of the food - mains are around £15 and well worth it

Monday, October 20, 2008
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10