Test Import

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HIX

HIX is a destination venue, or lucky chance. The heavy wooden door on Brewer street under a simple neon HIX sign is unobtrusive to say the least. The cuisine - posh surf and turf with great service, presentation and quality produce. Steak and Marrow, Two Garlic Soup, Duck salad it was almost great accept for the overly salted cabbage and bacon soup. I mean top notch just takes a whopping dive when the chef over salts. Hix is much praised for its design. I don't believe designer chimes of birds and balls a la Hirst or even maybe by Hirst deserve that high a crie. Below HIX is Mark's cocktail bar. Great barmen and atmosphere, if this was a bar review blog I would give it top marks. The latter it isn't so back to HIX the restaurant venue. Definitely a must see. Group feast menu of suckling pork on the spit looks worthwhile.

The Archipelaglo

The Archipelago is a small kitschy establishment amongst a belt of small food establishments in the environ of Warren Street. Despite more than moderate prices it is packed tight with university students from the nearby UCL campus.

The food was hit or miss. The gnu antelope was succulent but over salted, crocodile dolma was great, zebra was okay, chocolate scorpion a discovery. The Archipelago is a veritable adventure, make sure to pre-book and keep you fingers crossed at what you'll find.

Nakhon Thai

Canary Warf is not what comes to mind when one thinks of Thai, but then what is? Nakhon Thai is as close as one can get to real Thailand in London. Location, location, location - it is litterally situated on the river bank as in on a beach in Limehouse, bathed in moonlight with a fleet of 20 swans resting on the sandy, yes sandy bank.

The design is actually reminiscent of Thailand, instead of being stuffed with token Thai memorabilia like most central London establishments. The food was great and the service fast. Definitely worth the visit if you're a Thai fan.

Odette's

Odette's is an old establishment in Belsize park. The cuisine is what I call posh euro fusion; we had hand dived scallops, pork belly and apricot, Roasted wood pigeon, foie gras, pickled cherries, chocolate, vanilla salt for starters and Loin of welsh venison, beetroot, chestnut & venison pie and Roast saddle of rabbit, grain mustard gnocchi celery & carrot for mains. This all sounded very well but was served in rather small portions, slightly over salted. None the less the service was good and the ambience was perfect for those who are having an illicit affair and don't want to be spotted. To be fair I must say that the emptiness might have been due to our visit falling on a week day. I assume the Odette's gets busy on the weekend as it is a local establishment and locals like to eat out on weekends.

Jamie's at Westfield

Jamie Oliver's establishments never cease to amaze me with their low quality food. Ahh the pasta is to die for people say ... it's pasta, though possible it is yet hard to completely ruin a dish that is wheat in cheese surrounded by interesting condiments. At Jamie's in Westfield all our table took the baked fish in a bag due to the romantic homicidal sound of the dish. I tried everyone's at it was equally tasteless. How you can make something containing fennel and garlic seem mild like stilton, I do not know. What I do know is that I'm done giving Jamie second chances, he might put on a good show, me might alas even be a good cook himself but he does not know how to pick his stuff.

The Boundary

I am starting to think that Conran made restaurants are the only worthwhile eating establishments in London. Take the Boundary in Shoreditch for instance. Five stars for design and service and the freshest sea platter I've ever had, seaside towns included. It had everything from oysters to prawns to snails and mussels, served in abundance on a plate of ice. The bisque was heavenly rich and creamy, the bream and lamb had the strict austerity that come with the title of main dish and the excellent combination of flavours that one gladly pays 20 quid for. Needless to say there was a good wine selection and white was drink of the day.