| February 8th,2012  Wild Mushroom and Truffle Risotto @Almeida Category: Brasserie (£££) Almeida,a French brasserie just opposite the outstanding Almeida Theater,does a very good value pre-theatre menu:2 courses for 16 and 3 courses for 19 pounds. We went to see The House of Bernarda Alba,a Llorca play with a pure female cast, transferred from catholic Spain to rural Iran. I liked it a lot,while my boyfriend found it depressing and hated it. I suggest you believe me and go see it,it’s on until 10th of March. January 16th,2012  Tinello Category: Bistro –Brasserie (££-£££)
It is a hard job to be an amateur restaurant critic. Always rushing off to the newest openings,which means,thanks to the new non-booking trend,queuing for hours in the cold,eating mediocre food in places hyped for inapprehensible reasons and then there is the constant fight against personal bankruptcy,alcoholism and obesity. January 12th,2012  Scallops,Garlic,Chili (11) @Galoupet Category: Brasserie (£££) And another small plate restaurant. I remember when these restaurants started to pop up everywhere I was thrilled. Now I have reached a point of saturation where all I want once in a while is a normal menu! December 11th,2011  Tagliolini al Tartufo Nero (19.50)
Category: Brasserie £££
Dear Sale e Pepe,Congratulations! You won the prestigious HungryinLondon Award for the worst and most overpriced meal of the year 2011. It was a close one between you and Osteria Basilico in Notthing Hill,(the Italians going strong!) but you managed to pull it off,well done! November 6th,2011
 1. course:Soup with chicken and mushroom
Category: Brasserie (£££) Hunan on Pimlico Road is contrary to what the name suggests,not a Hunanese restaurant. In my limited knowledge of Chinese cuisines,I would have placed it as being Cantonese,as dishes were rather mild and a some reminded me of upmarket versions of stir fries I had in Chinatown. According to their website,Hunan‘s food is mainly the chef’s own creations,chiefly influenced by Taiwanese. August 11th,2011 Category: Brasserie Entering Zafferano feels like stepping into the dining hall of an up-market old people’s home. Not only are the majority of customers far past retirement age but also the atmosphere is pleasantly subdued and old-fashioned with white table clothes and humongous flower arrangements. In short,you wouldn’t go to Zafferano for people watching or to meet men. Unless you want to catch a millionaire in his eighties of course…Zafferano is not only in one the poshest parts of town,namely in the border between Knightsbridge and Belgravia,but it is also just next to a Louboutin shoe shop. Just the right think to wet your appetite,girls… July 17th,2011 Category: Brasserie (££-£££) It was my last evening in Wales and to celebrate this we went to Y Polyn,which is located in the absolute nowhere between Llanelli and Camarthen in South Wales. Not exactly the place where you would expect a stunning restaurant to be…Let me introduce you to Y Polyn’s motto first. When you enter their website you are greeted by the ugly truth:“Fat equals flavour. Live with it!” The lovely waitresses (who despite the motto have largely managed to keep their figures) are wearing this slogan printed on their uniform and you can even buy a T shirt and become part of the “polynation”. July 10th,2011 Category: Brasserie (£££) After having read No Reservation‘s raving review on Medlar,I hurried straight away to make a booking. And I am glad I did,as I liked almost everything about this new restaurant serving contemporary European food with strong French influence. Medlar is located on the non-posh end of King’s Road,close to World’s End,Vivian Westwood’s first shop opened in 1971. The location is the only communality between these two places:in comparison to Vivian Westwood who has been pushing boundaries for the past 40 years,Medlar feels pleasantly classic and the food as well as the atmosphere is of understated elegance. Medlar which has opened only in April is a joint project of Joe Mercer Nairne,who cooked for gourmet temples such as The Savoy Grill and Chez Bruce and David O’Connor who managed front of the house at Chez Bruce,The Square and The Ledbury. You have to admit,this does sound promising!  Medlar I have to start by mentioning the immaculate and polished service. In fact it was so perfect that it was almost too much and felt a bit awkward at times. I second another review where the author felt that the waiters almost started crying and looked positively depressed when you didn’t finish the food. In the end this speaks for the restaurant,it is a good sign if the waiters believe in the quality of the restaurant they are working for. It wouldn’t hurt though if they relaxed a little bit,I think it would put the diner at easy… For dinner there is only the option of a three course menu compris for very good value 38 pounds. (I kind of like places that force me to eat dessert which I tend to skip far too often…) June 6th,2011 Category: Brasserie (£££) (I was invited to Magdalen and my visit was therefore not anonymous but hopefully still unbiased!) When I read the email inviting me to sample the food at Magdalen on Tooley Street,SE1,my heart skipped a beat. I used to live just down the road of this restaurant when I was a student and on my way to work I would always read the menu and on my way back in the evening I would glance jealously at the diners. I was desperate to try it,I thought it looked great,but never had enough money at this stage of my life. Then I moved away and didn’t think about it anymore. Now,the invite.’Yes,I want to try it,thank you very much’. I prayed my expectations,which were rather high I have to say,would be met,and in fact they were even exceeded. Magdalen is a rare find in London. If Magdalen(a) was a woman,she would be a classy,sophisticated and modest lady. In restaurant terms this means high quality,extremely civilized and utterly unpretentious.
I really loved the simple but sophisticated food,the elegant atmosphere,the charming service and last but not least the nice selection of inexpensive wines. The only reason why I think Magdalen is not filled with people (it was half empty on a Saturday evening) is the fact that it is in the no man’s land between the posh Shad Thames,buzzing Bermondsey Street and London Bridge with its Borough Market. If you don’t happen to walk to work along Tooley Street,there is absolutely no reason for you to be there. So I assume,even though it’s only about 7 minutes walk from London Bridge,random customers are rare. But let me assure you,I have lived in this area for almost 5 years and have probably tried most restaurants and next to Zucca in Bermondsey Street,Magdalen is certainly your best choice here. The cooking here has a distinctly British influence. One of the specials was brawn and there were several other offal based dishes on the menu. I am not big on offal apart from everything that has to do with liver pate or terrine. That’s why I had to try one of the pre-starters,Chicken liver toast (1.50). Creamy,smooth and luscious chicken liver came on a crispy ciabatta,very delicious indeed. May 25th,2011 Category: Brasserie (£££) After having read formidable reviews about Chabrot in the Metro and the blog Cheese &Biscuit this restaurant was top on my list to try,particularly as I am always a bit at loss on where to go in Knightsbridge. I don’t like to be ripped off,you see. In the end,I was not as taken with Chabrot Marina and Chris. The food was good,but it was by no means exceptional and it didn’t leave any lasting impression. The main criticism I have though,is that I found it rather overpriced. Ok,we are talking Knightsbridge here,but the only fish main on the menu £29? To be fair,there were cheaper dishes to choose from,but I really wanted fish. £29 I may pay at a Michelin star place with amazing atmosphere and great reputation,not at something that calls itself bistro…(that’s the cheapskate in me,sorry) The atmosphere was positively remarked on by most reviews I read about this place. I assume most of the reviewers must have sat downstairs which did look nice upon entering. We were however led upstairs to an empty,drafty room and apart from the checked tablecloth,I didn’t feel much of a pleasant French flair I have to say.
Now there is one thing worth mentioning about Chabrot Bistro D’Amis. They do a Plat du Jour,I think from 6-7 pm and also for lunch. We got there at 7:30 and sadly missed it as it is very good value for money. The dish of the day,one glass of wine and a coffee for 17.50,this is such a bargain for Knightsbridge! I do have to come back for this. Back to the A La Carte menu. | 
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