RagingAardvark's Qype profile

Another one of Henley’s restaurants that’s resting on it’s laurels.

In fact, it’s been resting on it’s laurels so long that they’re now well and truly crushed.

Generally speaking, it’s pretty hard to find a Chinese restaurant that can’t cook decent Chinese food. Chef Peking has managed to make this possible. Added to that the dining room needs a good make over, the eating experience is something out of the eighties.

The dining room itself is a good size and can take a large number of diners. With the other Chinese restaurant in town having just moved into new premises, I should imagine that the owner of Chef Peking is worried.

Price wise, I’d rate this as upper medium. It certainly won’t bankrupt you but, for what you get and the overall dining experience, it’s over priced.

And another downgrade. Just spent twenty minutes waiting for the privellege of ordering a take away. Gave up and left.

Yes. Grumpy is a good description. The maitre’d has balls the size of Rngland and takes it out on the world. Wrong.

I wanted to pan this place. Oh God I so wanted to drip sarcasm and vitriol upon it. I mean – I hate Belgian beer, can’t stand the Oz Clarke beer crowd and loathe pretentious menus.

Sod!

This place is pretty bloody OK.

It has all of the above (plus Jean Michelle Jarre playing) but, even with a cold that prevents me from tasting vindaloo, I can smell every bottle of beer that is being poured.

The staff really seem to care, and the place is lovely and cozy.

I’ll take this over an “Irish” bar in Brugges any day of the week.

Not bad. Not bad at all (apart from the fact that, as soon as you enter the car-park, everything is charged for. Parking, wifi, broadband, toilet paper – I made that up)

Clean, tidy, contemporary and with a bar that closes when you get thirsty this is a clean and comfortable chain hotel. The staff were all very friendly and the breakfast very nice. (I’m just glad that the company was paying for it not me)

Bed was extremely comfortable – although that could have had something to do with the amount I imbibed the previous night.

Within walking distance of the “happening” area of Southampton I would recommend this place for a one or two night stay.

After wandering across Southampton in search of the now closed Frog and Frigate, a small libation was required on the way back to the hotel. Witching hour was approaching, I needed a slash and the only lights I could see were those of the smart looking London Hotel.

Inside, very nice – with lots of posters of Monroe on the wall (should have been a clue) but it was only when I checked in on Foursquare that I got a message saying “Congratulations on your first gay bar!”

If I were gay, and if I hadn’t been the only person in there at that particular time on a Monday night, then this may have been a four or five star job.

As it was, the barman was very friendly, the wine very nice and prices very good. If you like 4/4 high energy music this could well be the place for you.

Are you hipster enough for the Orange Rooms? I am – I’m currently on a Macbook Air, wearing skinny retro 50’s glasses and have a messenger bag.

Sadly, I’m not going to be growing the de-rigeur student beard to accompany it all.

A pretty buzzing place, cheap – as everywhere in Southampton seems to be – and with a mix of hip-students, yacht slappers and the Southampton equivalent of the Essex clan.

I was “lucky”™ enough to be there on open mic night and listened to a trio of bearded hipsters thrashing cats to death whilst wailing like spoilt five-year olds who had had their iPhones stolen. Great!

Compared to some of the Yates and Wetherspoon type clubs abounding the area, this is definitely a step in the right direction and worth a visit.

Students yes. Sloaney no. Obviously that reviewer came from the West country somewhere.

A rarity in this area – a real pub with real people rather than some massive student hangar banging out fluorescent drinks at a pound a pop.

Friendly (but dim) barmaids do their best and the regular specials nights pull the punters in.

Give it a go. You won’t be disappointed.

Well, what a little find amongst the angst ridden doom of student bars this is. Reasonably busy early on a Monday night is a good sign. The clean (warm) and tidy interior is another.

Food absolutely sublime. Prices very reasonable and extremely friendly staff. Totally recommended if you find yourself stuck in studenthampton. (They can’t afford it here – it’s more than a pound a pint)

Oh god this place has annoyed me and made me so happy at the same time.

The number of times that I’ve walked past this place is untrue. Seriously.

I read the menu this morning on the way to work and decide that, yes, I want Bavette or Bourginon tonight.

So I visited. An empty echoing hall of a restaurant. And still the steak and chips took half an hour to turn up. And it looked tiny on the plate too but bloody hell did it taste good. Every component part of the dish was perfect. Absolutely totally perfect.

So I hate you Simon (the owner and chef) in case you close down but by god I love your food.

Another achingly hip pub this time full of ten year olds doing Movember. Clearly the “in” student thing at the moment is Brylcream. Great.

As a place, it’s ok. Clean. Big-ish. Beer fine. They’ve actually got heating on too – which seems unusual here.

Someone has clearly spent a lot of money on the place. Quite a lot of " ll right my son" Eastenders wannabes with associated c-word enhanced sentences. One day I am sure that they will grow up and realise its not big or clever. Especially in Suffolk.