char-lotte's Qype reviews
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86 Highgate Road, London NW5 1PB
char-lotte
wrote on 19 May 2009
Respect your elders right? You’ve got to have respect for the Vine in which case. Much like St John’s over the hill in Archway, the Vine has been alive and well for years. And it’s reputatuion has been healthy throughout. I have a mixed bag of associations to this joint. It seems to be the common thing between a number of nightmarish relationship, false starts or hiccups. But putting that aside I’m very fond. Settled down the road from the Heath en route to Kentish Town, the closest watering hole to Highgate Studios the place is often full of media types. So a better weekend place should you wish to avoid this. The food is great, Italian- right up my street. And there is something wonderfully magical about the covered courtyard garden at the back. In cooler months there is always a huge open fire blazing and if you’re lucky to bag a spot you can while away the hours sitting in the embracing sofa plonked right in front of it, staring into the flames, planning your next novel.
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51 Leverton Street, Kentish Town, London NW5 2NX
char-lotte
wrote on 19 May 2009
Tuckered out by a long week, weather refusing to decide what it was going to be I dragged my girlfriend to the Pineapple for a quick post pint last Friday. She’s from Canada, travelled and lived all corners of the world which generally makes me feel a little inferior in the life experience department (it’s my own hangup) So despite the fact she’s lived here for 3 years, I’m always keen to show her some proper, quintessential English things. May I quickly tell you that I haven’t a patriotic bone in my body so I’m not pulling rank or nothing. The Pineapple is full to the scuppers with local waifs and strays. A few years ago there was a battle to keep from the developers sticky paws and it seems now to go from strength to strength. It’s cramped and old school, full of the original features that have been given a face lift rather than an overhaul. Out the back there is a conservatory which, when hired out as it was last friday, leaves the rest of the pub standing room only and near unbearable. And out through the conservatory is a very modest l-shaped garden. I haven’t eaten here since they opted for a thai menu but I know that a majority of those that prop up the bar were somewhat annoyed an baffled by the change of menus. It was a litle overwhelming for my Canadian the day we went, we ended up out on the pavement finishing our drinks as the volume grew inside. But I love this pub, inside, outside, half empty or totally full. It’s proper.
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35 York Rise, London NW5 1SP
char-lotte
wrote on 19 May 2009
Lordy- if I totted up the hours spent in here during my early twenties I’d surely be asking why my liver is still talking to me. My best friends had a small flat, minus livingroom that overlooked the Dartmouth at the back and so it only seemed sensible to extend our territory into the pub. Spitting distance it was. And we were students or recently graduated so somewhat better off thanks to student loans than we seem to be today. Being part of the furniture as we were we got to know the bar staff well, in particular the then Manager who developed a soft spot for one of my mates- we always got a warm welcome from then on in. I don’t go there nearly as frequently as I did then but still there is a great big place in my heart for the Dartmouth. Big roasts, warm ales, familiar faces, pints of prawns and thank god, no pretension. It is what it is, a right proper English local watering hole.
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45 Holmes Road, Kentish Town, London NW5 3AN
char-lotte
wrote on 30 April 2009
This place saved my bacon many a time since I discovered it five years ago. Mid work I would discover I’d negelected yet again to stock up on white paint and had to dash out to buy some more. It used to be a long journey all the way to Atlantis at Aldgate East (this was in the days before Cass Art had arrived on our streets) that was until I thought to try and find somewhere a little closer. Much to my surprise and delight and discovered Bird and Davis in Kentish Town. Fully stocked with all things arty- paints, canvas, stretchers, portfolios and knowledgable staff who are more than helpful when you are try to figure out how much canvas you need to do those three frames at home. This is a great, great little art shop.
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Fortress Road, Tufnell Park, London NW5 2HP
char-lotte
wrote on 30 April 2009
I fear I may not be too popular saying that I don’t think Cafe Rustique deserves quite the hype it gets. Granted the owners and staff are really lovely and this is purely the reason I go back when I do. There is little in the way to write home about on the food side other than it’s on the whole pretty alarmingly spendy. I remember when Rustique first opened it’s doors near 10 years ago and all Tufnell Park residents were thrilled to have somewhere to go get a cup of coffee. Fortess Road is a notoriously difficult spot for businesses to survive, the majority of shops being owned by one greedy and awkward landlord. But Rustique’s original owner (a slightly unimaginative heavy smoking lovely American lady) had the stubborness and drive to get this place established. Job done she passed the reins to the Polish family who run the place now and I suspect keep it going through sheer hard work and determination. It does have a loyal clientele but may I suggest this is helped in part by the relatively thin on the ground competition. Sweet but not great- a lick of paint wouldn’t go a miss and perhaps a few new second hand books. Keep on trucking!
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186-188 Kentish Town Road, Kentish Town, London NW5 2AE
char-lotte
wrote on 30 April 2009
Foodhall is such an American term and Phoenicia Foodhall isn’t quite the type of foodhall I imagine foodhalls to be. Having said that it is full to the scuppers with just about one of every foody thing I can think of and is kinda hally too so… And there’s a café area. That on top of the butchers, the bakers and candlestick makers. Not quite, but almost. Cake shop? Yes! Buthers? Yes! Greengrocer bit? Yes! Cold cabinet, freezery bit? Yes! Turkish delight? YES! AND not only but also you can buy your shish pipe and tobacco to enjoy post foody delights. You need never shop anywhere else again. Quality.
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200 Kentish Town Road, Kentish Town, London NW5 2AE
char-lotte
wrote on 30 April 2009
Tis a temple to Organic foods this is… Long gone are the days when Organic Wholefood shops were dusty ‘earthy’, wholesome and downright depressing. We’re allowed to see our food, expect it fresh and hallelujah, have it taste of something! We can feel sophisticated and edgy, cool and elegant rather than dowdy, frumpy and virtuous. Fresh and Wild was the first reintroduction of organic to our London Streets and have taken the city by storm. But I can’t but help think that an American chain store is somewhat of a contradiction of the whole ‘organic’ thing. Earth is big bold and independent and happily likely to save Kentish Town from the bullying likes of Fresh and Wild. The staff are sweet if sometimes lacking in real knowledge- I think you’d agree that you are unlikely to get a good idea of the quality and flavour of a cheese when it’s been sold by a vegan- but thanks for trying Steve! Started by one renegade member of the long standing Bumblebee collective on Brecknock Road, Earth is healthy competition for which I fear there is little love loss. Earth has the upper hand. Fresher food, friendlier staff, better location and better premises. And I’ll happily take a big detour to go get a slice of their freshly made squash quiche. mmmm.
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101 Fortess Road, Kentish Town, London NW5 1AG
char-lotte
wrote on 30 January 2009
This was my favoured local before I moved away from the area out east. It was the favoured local of all my friends who lived local. We’d invariably end up in here of a Sunday afternoon. I remember when this place was dripping with busy lizzies on the outside and cheap beer on the inside. And so many of us threw our hands up in the air when yet another old boozer was to be gentrified and turned into just another Gastro pub. But I’ve spent many a good rolling afternoon/evening here and had some really good food. And having had some great conversations with perfect strangers about great food and travel, politics and dogs rather randomly. It’s always packed. The food is expensive but reserve a table in the dining area and you’ll have a sense of occasion and feel your money has been well spent. Or just treat yourself to a big slab of fish sitting by the fire or in warm weather out back in the garden. And even if you are penny pinching have a starter and fill up on the mammoth basket of bread dipped in the oil and balsamic vinegar. What ever you do, go home happy and go back, go back, go back.
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Next to: Kentish Town Tube Station, Kintish Town, London NW5 2AA
char-lotte
wrote on 31 December 2008
I’ve always liked this idea, ever since the first time I came across it on Brick Lane almost 10 years ago. The idea is selling coffee off the back of a van, well an Ape to be exact. It’s a bit of a marvel that they tend to make better, hotter coffee than most of their local cafe counterparts… Mr Coffee sits next to Kentish town tube from dawn til dusk, whatever the weather. Their coffee is good, not the best coffee ever ever, but it is better than anything I could make and I’ve done my fair share of coffee making. If you’re passing early enough of a morning you can treat yourself to a fresh butter pastry which they keep warm sitting on top of the coffee machine. Caffeined to the max or not, if I’m passing I’ll always stop for an espresso. And hurrah, I found their twin down in Clapham the other day. Equally good coffee and I had a really nice chat with the guy who made if for me about life, love and this bleeding credit crunch thing. Thumbs up Mr Coffee… but maybe back to the drawing board with the name….?