best restaurant in the world
Dec 2nd, 2005, 05:22 AM
#41
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I thought the "Tasting Menu" at Lola (www.lola4dinner.com) was over the top.
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Dec 2nd, 2005, 06:16 AM
#42
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Give me Jamie Oliver over the River Cafe anytime, had the worst restaurant experience for a looong time there a couple of years ago.
1. The food tasted like it had been made at lunchtime and heated up (e.g. soggy bruschetta)
2. The fish tasted less than fresh
3. the staff were rude
4. We had to wait for our table, and the tiny bar was packed with nowhere to sit
5. We were told we had to leave our table promptly at 9, even though
(a) we weren't sat til 15 mins after our booking
(b) we had to wait at least 15 mins for them to take our order
(c) we weren't served our main course until 20mins before we were due to leave
(d) we were given our bill while we were still eating our main course
(e) we were hassled to pay up and go as soon as they took our plates away
6. the atmosphere was like having dinner in a brightly lit aircraft hangar
7. The prices were ridiculous compared to comparative restaurants
8. The seating was the kind I would expect to find in a bad italian in the 70s
Don't get me wrong, I love the River Cafe cookbooks, but they can keep the restaurant.
1. The food tasted like it had been made at lunchtime and heated up (e.g. soggy bruschetta)
2. The fish tasted less than fresh
3. the staff were rude
4. We had to wait for our table, and the tiny bar was packed with nowhere to sit
5. We were told we had to leave our table promptly at 9, even though
(a) we weren't sat til 15 mins after our booking
(b) we had to wait at least 15 mins for them to take our order
(c) we weren't served our main course until 20mins before we were due to leave
(d) we were given our bill while we were still eating our main course
(e) we were hassled to pay up and go as soon as they took our plates away
6. the atmosphere was like having dinner in a brightly lit aircraft hangar
7. The prices were ridiculous compared to comparative restaurants
8. The seating was the kind I would expect to find in a bad italian in the 70s
Don't get me wrong, I love the River Cafe cookbooks, but they can keep the restaurant.
Dec 2nd, 2005, 06:21 AM
#43
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I had never heard of the River Cafe, until last week when A&E's Biography featured Jamie Oliver, and they talked to the owners of River Cafe where evidently Oliver got his start.
It must have been in the early afternoon when the restaurant was prepping for dinner, but it was odd b/c in the background of the interview there were like 20+ twentysomething hipsters in an assembly line prepping the food. They weren't wearing restaurant clothes, more like trendy outfits. It was like they were hanging out and then decided to start cutting up vegetables. They were laughing it up despite the fact that the restaurant owners were being interviewed.
It must have been in the early afternoon when the restaurant was prepping for dinner, but it was odd b/c in the background of the interview there were like 20+ twentysomething hipsters in an assembly line prepping the food. They weren't wearing restaurant clothes, more like trendy outfits. It was like they were hanging out and then decided to start cutting up vegetables. They were laughing it up despite the fact that the restaurant owners were being interviewed.
Dec 2nd, 2005, 06:21 AM
#44
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Our experience wasn't as bad as Kate's, but we didn't think it was that great either. We had a MUCH nicer time at the Hand & Flowers in Marlow. Especially if you linger til the end of the lunch (or evening) when the chef comes out to chat with his two friendly, sweet dogs.
http://enjoyment.independent.co.uk/f...icle300842.ece
Funny how Marlow is referred to as the "anti-Slough"
http://enjoyment.independent.co.uk/f...icle300842.ece
Funny how Marlow is referred to as the "anti-Slough"
Dec 2nd, 2005, 06:35 AM
#46
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Yes, we love it too, and if we buy a home in the UK, Marlow is at the very top of our list. The only thing it lacks to be too perfect for words is a good Japanese restaurant/sushi bar. If we ever win big on the lottery, we've promised ourselves to entice a good Japanese chef tired of London stress into running a restaurant there. As it is, Marlow has an excellent Indian restaurant (the Tiger Garden, but apparently the Tiger Cub offshoot isn't very good), the H&F, the Vanilla Pod (French), a couple of good Italian spots, a Tex-Mex cantina, several really nice pubs (we like the Two Brewers as they are very dog friendly), numerous other everyday spots (like the Marlow Bar and Grill), etc. etc. One of my husband's ancestors attended the national military academy there (before it was moved to Sandhurst) so he likes the idea of walking the same streets as his ancestor.
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offlady
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Oct 31st, 2005 04:13 AM
