The food scene

One of my favourite restaurants in London. It never fails to please, with big bold flavours and incredible grilled meats from the smoky barbecue. Not to mention the neck oil pale ale is one of the finest beers on the market. One of the tastiest dishes in this small rustic eatery, the smoked lamb ribs. The meat will just drop of the bone like butter, with a fatty gelatinous salty centre and perfectly crackled skin. If I were on death row, I'd be a happy man if this was my last meal. Second we had beautiful scallops with red nahm yum which gives a acidity tangy bite with a little heat to lift the tastebuds. The bavette was beautifully cooked soft and pink well seasoned but I did find the mint a little dominating on the dish, but a good dish none the less. The chicken wings are great and a must try when you visit, crunchy batter drizzled in chilli fish sauce and really wakes the palate up. Then come the show stopping rarebreed collar chop. A whopping kilo slowly barbecued on the fire ...

So Monica Galetti seems to have branched away from the Roux team and launched her first solo restaurant. The former master chef judge has payed homage to her heritage with some 'kiwi' inspired dishes amongst a menu that has a modern European feel. The menu reflects the small intimate restaurant in the heart of the very charming Fitzrovia, one of my favourite corners of the west end of London. Four men dining together it felt like the right thing to do, to order five starters and five entrée leaving both vegetarian courses alone. My favourite starter being the mushroom and marmite butter tortellini, I know what they say you either love it or hate it. This wasn't quite as extreme on the palate, actually with the butter it was creamy and almost cheesy. Very well executed dish and yes In this capacity. Marmite? Love it. Scallops and bacon crumb perfectly accompanied by asparagus and spring vegetables, I found well balanced between the fresh palate cleansing vegetables and the s...

If you give a guy a football match, he's happy, if you give a guy a football match and good quality food whilst watching, he'll be ecstatic. This isn't to say it's the greatest food I've eaten, no far from it. But me for one am happy to sip on a cask ale and have good chicken wings and a burger whilst watching the beautiful game. So to be served more refined food was a new exciting experience for me. One thing for sure the kitchen showed tremendous class when it comes to plating beautiful looking dishes. For me sadly one or two dishes failed to excite, I went with glazed quail with goats cheese and pepper chutney to start. The quail was cooked beautifully and the chutney and cheese complimented superbly. Maybe just needed a lift somehow. I followed this with cod stuffed potato gnocchi, cuttlefish and pea. The gnocchi was al dente and the fish was fresh like the ocean. But sadly like the 1st course I was reaching for the salt and pepper shakers. Finally for main I ha...