bllipp's Qype profile

I absolutely love this place.
I visited for the first time last week and didn’t quite know what to expect. I’m a fairly new vegetarian and was looking for cheap eats around London - this restaurant was mentioned in an article on The Guardian website. I decided to trek up to Archway from my little abode in Canada Water, and I wasn’t disappointed.
The Peking Palace is relatively small and is easy to walk straight past it - the restaurant itself is narrow, but contains a full bar and plenty of tables. I’ve only been there during the daytime, and there is a small table set up by the door where you can pick up a regular or large 'Buffet Box’ and a drink. After paying you can help yourself to the buffet by the window which is always steaming hot and plentiful. There is also a pleasing range to suit every taste, from the usual spring rolls and seaweed to 'duck’ in black bean sauce (made with bean curd which I personally think tastes better than the real thing), chick pea curry, fresh steamed greens, and my favourite - little banana fritters. After piling on the food, someone puts a lid on and provides a fork and tissue. The staff are extremely pleasant and helpful; I spent a while talking to Kenny who is passionate about his vegetarian/vegan beliefs - as a newbie I had an opinion and a few questions I wanted to ask, but he talked to me like a friend and provided me with lots of information and encouragement about vegetarian lifestyle and cooking.
The evening menu looks fantastic, and I’m planning to go there with a group of friends to savour some more of their delicious culinary creations (you can find more information on their website). Oh, and they don’t use any MSG in their cooking and are trying hard to make all their food organic. The vast majority of the food is actually vegan, with very few exceptions. They also do home delivery within a 2-mile radius for orders over £12.
Brilliant!

No frills, no fuss, just good old fashioned English food.
As a Northerner living in London I felt particularly at home; the cheap, hearty, filling food and retro decor reminding me of my favourite cafes down the dark side streets of central Manchester.
Portions are good and the staff are friendly and welcoming. Perhaps best of all, the central location (just off Charing Cross road) makes this place a compulsory visit before a night out in Soho.
Fab.

I saw The Gardener here last year and it just about lived up to my expectations. I found the lack of formal/smart dress code slightly disappointed as people were turning up in all sorts of attire, some with backpacks and some wearing shorts and sandals. Also, the bar and food area were extremely expensive.
That said, the theatre itself was lovely and the unimposing subtitles were greatly appreciated. The view from the balcony overlooking Covent Garden was lovely and the staff were friendly.

Absolutely fantastic. I’ve been visiting this site for years and saving lots of money as a result. Martin is an incredibly intelligent man who has the economy well and truly sussed, and communicates his knowledge in a friendly and unpatronising manner which is refreshing and enjoyable to read.
Thank you, Martin!