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»Meh, what's the point?«
5 Scale Lane, Hull HU1 1LA
kitteecat74
last updated on 15-09-2008:
(updated on 16-03-2009)
Fairly nice fine dining restaurant down a bit of a grotty side street and next to a horrible pub. Very nice interior and interesting menu, although it all seems a little old fashioned, reminds me of the fancy restaurants my parents used to take me to in the 80s where the women wore fur and the men wore rugs!
Set up like an old Edwardian house, it has a very intimate atmosphere but the food just isn’t great. It’s ok, but not fantastic and not worth the money. I wouldn’t say don’t go, but only if you’re flush and want to try something a little different.
Run by a husband and wife team from Holland, I think, they are very nice people who are doing fairly well… I think the phrase might be “damning with faint praise”?
16/03/09: I have since been informed that the couple running the restaurant were not Dutch - misunderstanding on my part.
2 people thought this review was helpful
12 St. Paul's Lane, Lincoln, Lincolnshire LN1 3AL
kitteecat74
last updated on 06-10-2008:
Beautifully decorated Thai restaurant in the shadow of the castle and a few steps from the cathedral.
The food and service was a bit hit and miss, my starter of Thai Fishcakes (Tod Mun Pla) were great, perfectly seasoned with that lovely, authentic spongey texture. My companion’s satay however was a disappointment, the skewered chicken was under seasoned and the sauce was cold with a strange plasticy taste that I couldn’t quite pace, but have a funny feeling may be the result of the way it has been stored.
The Pad Thai was not very good at all, tasted more like a chow mein as the bean sprouts had been cooked in with the noodles and they didn’t even provide the usual peanuts, chilli and lime wedges on the side. Very disappointing. On the other hand, my Spicy Chicken Salad (Laab Gai) was brilliant. Very similar to the one’s my mum makes. All the perfect Thai elements of hot, sour and salty. Maybe just a little too much red onion however.
The waitresses welcomed us and gave us time to choose our wine and then our food, looking over to see when we were ready but without making us feel rushed. After we received our main course though, they all went and stood together in a group by the stairs, having a chat and paying no attention to anyone in the restaurant. The bar man had to come out on two occasions to tell them someone was trying to call them over for something.
All in all a good experience for me, but disappointing for my friend!
3 people thought this review was helpful
2 Ferriby Road, Hessle HU13 0PG
kitteecat74
last updated on 06-10-2008:
This is the original Luciano’s located in Hessle and much more intimate than the Gran Cafe Centrale one in Hull city centre. A smaller venue with fewer tables and a more restauranty feel, better lighting too, not so bright and harsh.
Same menu - a great selection of antipasti with the usual pizza, pasta, fish etc plus a wonderful range of desserts and ice cream. Good choice of Italian wines and beers.
The food was ok, tasty, beautifully presented and very large portions but just lacking that wow factor.
The smoked salmon bruschetta was good but slightly overwhelmed by the pesto smothering the (fried!) ciabatta.
My grilled seabass was cooked perfectly but again slightly overwhelmed by the pesto and lemon stuffing. Also, hot fish lying on cold salad isn’t a great idea. My companion’s red snapper Livornese was quite enjoyable, but a tad overcooked. The chocolate fudge cake was nicely warmed and very rich (in a good way) and the selection of ice creams very good quality and tasty.
You can see in to the kitchen and watch them cook and prepare the meals, always very reassuring!
Very attentive staff at the beginning of the meal, by the end we were having to track them down to order desserts.
A major problem I have with this place though, is the large screen TV which seems completely out of place and not at all in keeping with the ambience they are trying to create. This was playing Italian TV (soaps and other shows) but with the sound turned down so you could hear the CD’s playing. We actually had to ask them to switch channels at one point as my companion was somewhat put off their food by the sight of a man filling his mouth with live bees directly after seeing another smash toilet lids with his head til it was bleeding on the Guiness Book of Records show!!! Very strange choice and don’t say I didn’t have to watch, it is very difficult not to glance up occasionally when you are seated directly in front of it.
2 people thought this review was helpful
Ferensway, Hull HU2 8NH
kitteecat74
last updated on 03-10-2008:
Average hotel but with a good location as it is so close to the town centre. It is clean and cheapish, open 24 hours with checkout at midday.
There is a continetal buffet breakfast for around £5 and whilst I haven’t actually tried it, it looks very nice with a nice selection. I believe it is served from 4 in the morning, but with a limited choice.The rooms are pretty basic, but clean and the bathrooms are adequate with large walk in showers.
Also, as with all Ibis hotels, they have a 15 minute satisfaction guarantee - if they can’t solve your problem within 15 minutes you stay for free!
1 person thought this review was helpful
29 Spring Bank Avenue, Hull HU3 1AF
kitteecat74
last updated on 03-10-2008:
This is an awful place - it used to be a dank, dingy and nasty pub but has had a refurb and is now an overbright, cliquey and nasty cafe bar - ahem. Seriously the wattage in this place would put a stadium to shame.
They sell terribly badly made cocktails, served by surly but well groomed barstaff with no idea what they are doing.
They block off one of the accesses to the toilets if someone wants to play guitar hero (!) and slag off regular customers to other customers. I don’t want to know about whatshisface’s love life, I just want a cocktail that takes less than 15 minutes to create and tastes at least remotely like the thing I ordered…...
7 people thought this review was helpful
9 Cleveland Street, Hull HU8 7AU
Victory Monument 3/8, Phyathai Road, Bangkok
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