Hersalek's profile

I must say I was quite surprised with the Keuken van 1870. I wanted to treat the people I was staying with in Amsterdam to dinner.

I had found “Moeders” on Qype and as it came recommended, had good reviews, and was close by to where I was staying, I had thought it the perfect option.
Unfortunately when I called to reserve a table they were booked up until quite late.
Desperately, I asked for opinions from the people I was staying with and “De Keuken…” was suggested, as it was supposedly the “better” option to Moeders!

It too was close by, served “typische” Dutch food, and was significatly more affordable than Moeders.

As luck would have it a table freed up as we walked in the door. We were expectign to prop the bar up for a while, while waiting for a table.

I ordered the butter baked beefsteak with sides of fries and vegetables. I think those fries are the best I’ve ever tasted. Seriously.
The steak was amazing too, but perhaps it was the gamey sauce that came with it that was made the meat so tasty. The vegetables were surprisingly really good too! I think everything was cooked in butter so maybe that explains it!

One of my friends had the mussels, and the others opted for the stamppot. The latter being a stodgy mix of sausage bacon and vegetables served with mash.
All companions thought their food was really tasty too.

The food at “De Keuken” may not be “high cuisine”, and the menu may be a bit limited but what they do offer, they make extremely well.

Unlike the myriad and quite horrible pancake places that dot Amsterdam, “De Keuken” rises above the concept of touristy, typical local food and truly delivers on all dining fronts. I highly recommend this place.

Pros
- delicious food
- very affordable
- tourist friendly
- efficient and friendly service

Cons
- Massively popular so always full
- I’m not sure you can reserve a table, so you’ll have to queue (there was constant queue while we were there).

The newest in the F&W chain, located, just off Wardour Street on St Annes Court, opposite (the rather good) Papaya.

This seems to be more a clone of the “Coffee Bar” on Beak Street, than the “Wine Bar” around the corner, and I have no problem with that, it’s another welcome addition to the growing stable of small, good quality coffee shops that are peppered around Soho.

You have the same great range of cakes, deli style food and awesome coffee.

Pros
- good quality coffee
- good quality food
- not as busy as the other
- locations (just yet)
- nicely designed shop
- good location

Cons
- as per usual a bit pricier than your regular coffee place

Lantana serves a rather brilliant breakfast, especially good on a hangover, however, it’s not really that greasy, kind of healthy actually. No fried eggs, rather poached or scrambled eggs, served with loads of fresh rocket if I remember correctly. It is rather expensive for a breakfast (+£15 but I had coffee and orange juice) but you are getting freshly made good quality food. The decor is a clean, light, bright and quite contemporary style which certainly adds to the experience.

It’s a bit out of the way (for me anyway, since I usually venture to the Soho coffee shops) situated in a pretty little pedestrianised street in Noho, but word has spread quickly on this place and the last time I went it was completely packed, so yes, better get there extra early. Or extra late.

Pros
- delicious fresh tasty breakfasts
- nice decor
- nice area

Cons
- popular so gets very full

After reading the reviews here I thought I should check out Bar Chocolate. Walking past here a couple weeks back, they had advertised themselves serving Monmouth Coffee (which I’m a bit of a sucker for), so that was the clincher.

I tried it out for lunch and while it isn’t bad I don’t think it’s the best place for lunch in central London. The food is a bit overpriced, the coffee, not bad (but not amazing), the venue itself is pretty interesting and dilapidated, but probably works better as an evening spot than a place to have lunch, as it does come across as a bit too dingy. Dingyness is very important for me at night, but during the day…not so much, especially when you’re eating there.

Pros
- Monmouth coffee
- decent/interesting food menu
- good drinks menu (by all acounts)
- friendly bar staff

Cons
- bit pricey
- disinterested waiting staff
- dingy venue (bad in daylight, good at night)

Garufa is a recently opened Argentinian restaurant in Highbury, owned by the same people as Buen Ayre in East London and Santa María del Sur in South London.

Argentinia is reknown for the quality of its red meat and I think the steaks at Garufa live up reasonably well to this fame.
I find London, can be a difficult place to be served a decent piece of cooked meat, so it’s some relief to know of a decent steak restaurant, in my own neighbourhood, no less.

I went with a couple of friends to Garufa with the distinct intention of having a steak dinner. We all ordered the 300gr portion size (available in three sizes from 250 to 400gr as well as larger if requested) of the various main steaks available (fillet, rump, sirloin, rib eye) and chose a rather nice Pinot noir to go along with our meal, with sides of chips and humita (type of corn casserole).

The rump I had was succulent but a bit devoid of flavour, the sirlon steaks my friends had though, were, by all accounts very good. I’m not sure this was the best steak I’ve ever had (growing up in a meat-centric society will make you a bit particular I guess), but it is miles above a lot of of steakhouses in London I’ve eaten at.

The deserts available are rather nice and most are mixed with dulce de leche (aka arequipe, milk caramel) which is a personal favourite of mine and so went down quite well.

While not the cheapest restaurant around (£35-£40 pp) I think you’re getting pretty decent food for your money. I found it quite novel having a very large Argentinian wine selection as well.

Pros
- decent steak
- good wine selection
- good service
- nice environment

Cons
- bit pricey
- bit far out if you don’t live in North London

I was told this was a “must-see” in Manhattan, but I found it a bit wanting to be honest.

Sure it is a used book store and it does have a massive and varied stock (covering every subject possible, fiction to nonfiction), but it felt like it was filled with the same garbage all over the place. Call me ungrateful, but I’d much rather wander about a small 2nd hand book store than this behemoth.

I suppose the fact that it changes its stock fairly regularly is one of the redeeming qualities of this multi-story repository of reduced books. Their graphic novel section was particularly poor.

The most attractive feature of a 2nd hand book store, for me, is that while browsing, you’ll come across some overlooked gem of a book. Strand Books just seems too massive and stocks everything in such a quantity that you feel you’re browsing the shelves of a book Superstore (something I avoid in general).

Not to my taste but obviously is for many others.

Pros
- cheap books
- massive variety
- good location in Manhattan

Cons
- too massive (quite overwhelming for my taste)
- possibly a better experiennce upon regular visits (and so more suited for local people not tourists)

Just a few stores down from the Earlham Magma bookstore, their “product shop” is filled with contemporary knick knacks and gadgets, posters, and quirky domestic appliances, all arranged on eco-friendly cardboard shelving.

It’s rather pricy but worth a browse for interesting gifts. This place is rammed just before Christmas.

Pros
- has Totoro toys!!
- quirky little gadgets and knick knacks
- well located

Cons
- a bit pricy

Avalon is probably the only London comic store I know of South of the river. It’s a bit out of the way, located on Lavender Hill a fair bit up the road from Clapham Junction station.

The shop itself seems a bit cluttered, but in a good way, almost like you’re in some colourful magazine shop from the 1920’s, with some rotating magazine racks filled with suggested/profiled comics. Avalon have a decent selection of backissues, graphic novels and some toys, but the emphasis here is firmly on comics unlike some central London stores which offer manga, anime and videos etc..

Pros
- good back issue selection
- nice old shop, type feel

Cons
- bit out of the way, more for local South Londoners

Pizetta is a trendy pizza restaurant in Durban’s leafy Glenwood suburb. Like most South African restaurants it is open, airy and modern. Most foreigners will find the food extremely affordable, if not downright cheap.

Pizzeta has a bit of a gimmick to their pizzas with the concept of their mini pizzas, or pizzetas (around 12 cm wide), the idea being that you order a few and so sample a variety of toppings. The pizzas are also available in normal larger sizes too, in case you don’t fancy having a lot of pizzetas.

I’m uncertain about the wine menu since I skipped drinking the night I went, but the venue is licensed as there is a sleek bar attached to the restaurant which patrons use while waiting for a table, as this place gets busy and you may need to wait if you arrive during peak hours.

The pizzas themselves are very good, with thin and crispy bases, and an interesting and original mix of fresh ingredients.

Pizzeta has mostly outdoor seating, with a covering put up if it gets a bit cooler or rains. Eating al fresco, however is very welcome in the humid Durban clime. Overall, I’d say I was very pleased with the restaurant, its location, the quality of the food and the relaxed and breezy ambience it has created.

Pros
- good quality food
- novel
- lovely setting and stylishly designed restaurant
- very affordable, especially for tourists
- al fresco

Cons
- can get quite busy

The kebab, I think holds a place in late night London life, something to feed your starving body after a large night out. Generally I avoid kebabs like the plague. Quality is often suspect, and those elephant legs of meat by-product are a fearsome sight indeed.

Not at Crystals, no. Crystals is what every late night kebab restaurant in the UK should aspire to!
Superb quality food, and if you sit down, a very affordable, healthy meal (around £5) can be yours. With a choice of (very well made) rice or (very well made) pita, complimentary sides and salads. This is what dining in the unholy hours of the early morning should be about! In fact the shish kebab I had the last time I went there was probably the best shish I’ve ever had. Well in London at least.

It’s open 22 hours a day, situated on Holloway Road so if you live in North or North East London it’s usually on the way or a small detour on the way home.

Pros
- superb quality food
- very affordable
- open 22 hours a day
- staff are very friendly and welcoming

Cons
- busy, busy, busy