Bone Daddies - Review

My rating out of 5: 5

The best ramen in London. Goodbye Wagamama and hello Bone Daddies. For me, there is always a mental foody benchmark with which other versions are compared.  Burgers are either better or worse than McDonalds. Pizzas are in competition with Pizza Express and the humble sandwich either falls short of or exceeds the Pret Normal. Ramen for me has to exceed the student holy grail named Wagamama, that place where your treated like school children and forced to sit on a long bench packed with strangers. That place where they scribble your order onto your placemat incase you change your mind when it arrives and where "your food could come at different times because it cooks at different speeds." We know food cooks at different speeds, so why not do what most restaurants do and devise ingenious strategies for coping with this small issue?!

Soft Shell Crab with Chilli Ginger Sauce

Thankfully, Bone Daddies has got it all right. It's officially my go-to place with a group of friends when we're walking around Soho and want a guaranteed delicious, fulfilling and all round great place to eat. Situated on 31 St Peter Street, you'll see a black fabric covered entrance which sometimes has a long queue outside, full of hungry diners awaiting their ramen feast. Upon entrance, you're greeted by a friendly, outgoing member of the waiter staff who will see you to your seat straight away. Amongst the loud music, the atmosphere is buzzing with young, enthusiastic people passionate about great food. The attention to detail is fabulous; on the table, you're presented with a white, plastic Bone Daddies bib for the messy pups among us. What makes me laugh every time are the black hair ties presented in a little glass jar, so the ladies can release their inner cavewoman and not worry about getting their hair being covered in the delicious ramen juices. 

First things first, drinks! The drinks menu is fantastic ranging from soft drinks to 'hard' cocktails and 'harder' spirits. I've never been disappointed with the drinks so will recommend the ones I've tried before as I simply can not choose the best. I've had the delicious mango and passionfruit Chuhai 2.0 cocktail (£8.20), the Tokyo Mule which contains rum, yuzu, shochu, ginger beer and bitters (£8.50) and the Prosecco Brut Zonin (£5 a glass) - not all in one sitting mind! But chose what you fancy as you really can't go wrong. I would say not to order the green tea however because at £3, it isn't worth it and you may as well spent another couple of pounds on something more special. 

Let's move onto the starters or so-called 'snacks'. I'm going to recommend three of my favourite snack dishes which are great for sharing. The soft shell crab served with a green chilli ginger sauce (£8.50), the gorgeous tenderstem broccoli with yuzu kosho mayo (£4.50) and finally the sweet spicy pig bones (£8) which is my friends and my personal favourite and can be found on the specials menu on the wall. 

Sweet Spicy Pig Bones

OK, ramen time! Now, I am a massive chicken lover and the first time I came to this ramen bar, I had the Tantanmen 2 which was very delicious, but having tried a couple of the pork dishes, I really do believe they're the ones to get. I am yet to try the seafood Kimchee ramen, but every time I've had the perfectly tender pork it's been fantastic. The noodles are hands down the best I've ever tasted and the flavours are clean and punchy served with an abundance of energy. No matter how many times I've said to my friends 'you'll have to help me finish this,' I always manage to finish it with absolutely no help at all. It's just too good! The only disappointment about this bar is the confusing opening and closing times:

Mon 12pm-3pm & 5.30pm-10pm
Tues & Weds 12pm-3pm & 5.30pm-11pm
Thurs, Fri & Sat 12pm-12am
Sun 12pm-9.30pm

You can understand my confusion when I went with a couple of girl friends on a Monday evening and by 10pm, the lights were on, the bill was on our table and we were given all the signals possible to politely ask us to leave. I guess it's my fault for not looking at the closing times beforehand but either way, the waiting staff were very up beat and happy to have us and a few more diners, even though we overstayed our welcome by 30 minutes (sorry!). All in all, Bone Daddies is a fantastic place to eat. The waiting staff are fun and efficient, the atmosphere it buzzing and the ramen is the best you'll find with a price that won't give you a minor heart attack when the bill arrives to the table. No doubt I'll be back again very soon!

Bone Daddies: 31 Peter St, London W1F 0AR

The Good Life Eatery - Review

My rating out of 5: 4.5

I think it's safe to say that this new healthy eating craze has hit London hard. It's not uncommon to be confronted by a paparazzi shot of a trendy celeb sipping from the straw of an ultra green hulk-like coloured smoothie as they walk to the gym. Just a quick trip to M&S will further this newfound health craze where you can easily grab a bag of salt and pepper kale or vinaigrette and beetroot crisps. Am I complaining? Absolutely not, I love it! Forget about Crocs and UGG boots, this is the best trend that has hit the UK in a very long time.

 Situated on 59 Sloane Avenue, The Good Life Eatery is a little gem bursting full of health and happiness. After walking through the tiny entrance, you're instantly hit by the overwhelming popularity of the place. This little eatery is buzzing with young energy and enthusiasm about all things healthy. Everywhere you look, there are beautiful, young (monied) ladies filling up the limited 25 seats, having their weekly gossip or planning which exotic holiday they intend to experience next. Funnily enough, on the table next to me, there sat a well dressed French male catching up with a slender American lady who (of course) came with her overly spoilt precious pooch which sat quietly beneath the table.

Entering the café, it wasn't clear at all if you're meant to find your own table, order your own food straight away or whether someone is meant to come to you. This was a little confusing at first, but in no way spoilt our overall experience of the eatery. Yet, for future reference, do try and find your own seat, go up to the till and see the menu to order your food and drinks. 

The sense of 'organicness' runs throughout this café. From the earthly wooden entrance sign, to the nutshell interior with exposed brick walls, ricketty wooden tables and metal stools. This organic feel is accomplished terrifically and is only the tip of the iceberg of what this eatery has to offer. Now onto the important bit - the food and drinks.

It serves delicious food which leaves you filling perfectly satisfied, guilt-free and not bloated. The lunch menu is scribbled in a school-like manner on a blackboard behind the counter and consists of a mixture of salads, sandwiches and smaller plates such as avocado chilli toast.  The salad prices range from £10.50-£11.25 and the sandwiches from £7.10-£9.00 (plus a little more £'s for optional 'extra protein.')My friend Annabel and myself wanted to have a protein shake and a lighter dish for lunch and trust me, it was incredibly fulfilling. I had the beautiful sweet potato and dukkah dip (£3.75) with spelt crispbread and Annabel had the avocado chilli (wheat free) toast (£5.50). Both were absolutely delicious, the generous serving of sweet potato dip was seductively smooth with a hint of spice and worked terrifically with the crunchy crispbread pieces. I would have preferred it being served warm rather than fridge cool, but that's just me being picky! Annabel's avocado dish both looked and tasted amazing. The avocado was the perfectly ripe and the eatery was not stingy on its portion sizes.  I recommend that if you visit this eatery, you can not leave without trying one of their raw pressed juices or superfood protein shakes. At £6.55 each, they aren't cheap but they're totally worth it! If you're the tropical type, why not try the Coco Verde or the Pineapple Immunity pressed juice but if you're into the green health kick, the Drink Your Salad looks like the juice to get. However, the crème de la crème was the superfood protein shakes. There are four mouth-watering shakes to choose from and each one is contains 15g of protein powder plus the added protein from the nutritious ingredients. I have listed below the shakes so that you can have an idea of their incredible nutritious qualities.

Incredible Hulk

Sun Warrior Vegan Brown Rice Protein, Wheatgrass, Spirulina, Raw Almonds, Coconut milk, Pineapple, Banana, Madagascar vanilla, Fresh Basil GF/DF

Berry Sunrise

Sun Warrior Vegan Brown Rice Protein, Blackberry, Blueberry, Banana, Almond, Milk, Raw Almonds, Honey GF/DF *high in anti-oxidants*

Choc Norris

Sun Warrior Vegan Brown Rice Protein, Almond/Hazelnut Milk, Avocado, Cacao, Cacao Nibs, Maca Powder, Banana GF/DF

Ninja Turtle

Sun Warrior Vegan Brown Rice Protein, Kale, Spinach, Coriander, Avocado, Cucumber, Ginger, Vanilla, Lime, Almond Milk, Chia Seeds GF/DF/SF

It was not an easy decision, but I had the Choc Norris after a recommendation from a regular standing in the queue. Annabel had the gorgeous Berry Sunrise. Both smoothies were absolutely delicious and really did keep us full throughout the afternoon. When (not if) I go again, I think I'll give the Incredible Hulk a try as that was another recommendation and one of their most popular shakes. 

All in all The Good Life Eatery is a fantastic place to visit for that on-the-go smoothie/juice or a fantastic health kick lunch. The eatery closes at 8pm on weekdays so if you're wanting to visit for dinner, then go at at least 6:30/7 to avoid disappointment. The lack in space and confusion of what to do upon arrival was the only reason for my 0.5 rating drop, but given it's popularity, no doubt it'll be upscaling or have some new larger eateries popping up some time in the near future. I simply can not wait to visit again.

The Olive Tree, Ledbury - Review

My rating out of 5 : 2.5

The Olive Tree Restaurant is well situated in the heart of the beautiful market town of Ledbury. On their website, they describe the restaurant to provide 'good traditional Italian food made with the finest ingredients within a friendly atmosphere.' I would say that is a fair description. Furthermore 'Good traditional Italian food,' is a wonderfully true statement in that the food is good, but fails to exceed expectations.

The waiting staff are good, but not overly welcoming and could do with being a little more light hearted and relaxed during service. They could also be a little more knowledgeable on the dishes they're there to sell! When asking a waiter what dish he would recommend, I was told that 'everything is pretty good to be honest'  - not particularly helpful given the overly diverse menu, which I feel could be a lot more refined. I counted 28 different pizza options alone! I suggest that the chef should concentrate on a handful of special dishes, rather than many average dishes. 

The food was good, but nothing to rave about. After sifting through the 22 different starters on the menu, the scallop starter or 'cappesante con pancetta'  was the chosen dish.  Unfortunately, it lacked flavour and was particularly overpriced given its simplicity, setting you back £7.90. The main was a little more promising and quite enjoyable. I had the risotto alla cappesante (£13.90), which was beautifully cooked with a creamy texture and certainly fulfilling given the huge portion size.  My friend had the trout provincial (£15.50) which can be found on the 'specialities' section of the menu. There wasn't anything particularly special about their selection though. It really was just a bland trout on a plate with a handful of prawns and tomato sauce. The only highlight to this dish was the roasted vegetables served on the side. 

This restaurant has such great potential, but it's currently drowned beneath the overwhelming quantity of dishes. The risotto was beautiful and the pizzas and pasta's I've experienced in this restaurant before are great, so it should focus on what it's good at, then simplify and refine the menu to make every dish special. 

The Clifton Sausage - Review

Two words: BOOK NOW! Here is the number to save you time..01179731192.

This restaurant is very popular in the Bristol area, with it being a very affordable, relaxed yet stylish restaurant that really does do the best of British. After a warm welcome, you are sat down and given the menu which is full of delicious dishes, from salmon to eight ounce rib eye steak. However, I think if you come to a restaurant with the word 'sausage' within its title, then sausages are the thing to have!  

Looking at the menu, you are confronted by five different sausages: 

1. Gloucester Old Spot pork– prime traditional pork

2. Beef and Butcombe Ale

3. Clifton– pork, cider and wholegrain mustard

4. Cotswold lamb, mint and apricot

5. v Glamorgan– leek, mustard, cheddar and Caerphilly cheese (with shallot gravy) 

I wish you luck choosing your sausage because it took me a while - but if in doubt, go for the traditional local Gloucester Old Spot. You can't go wrong! However if you really really can't choose, then low and behold 'The Clifton Sausage Tasting Plate' (£12.95).

Each 'Sausage and Mash' (or Bangers and Mash if you like to call it) dish is served with your choice of mash or champ (mash with spring onions) and onion gravy at a respectable price of £9.95. 

My top 3 puddings:

- Sticky toffee pudding with butterscotch sauce and vanilla ice cream (£5.50) 

- Hot chocolate fondant with a white chocolate centre, chocolate and hazelnut ice cream, (£6) 

- Banana crème brûlée with shortbread (£5.50)

I hope I've tempted you…Have a lovely day!

Branca Restaurant - Review

So I've been away for a week but boy, it has been worth it. The week started by spending a couple of nights in Oxford with my beautiful friend, Marina. She showed me the ins and outs of Oxford from the traditional punting experience to the stunning University grounds and the fabulous shops. This typically English experience was inevitably followed by an afternoon tea, juices and cocktails at the Old Bank Hotel. Below is the deliciously refreshing Beetroot, Apple & Lime Juice I had.

Back to Branca! If you are looking for a light lunch, I would highly recommend Branca Food. Branca Food is a deli next door to Branca Restaurant which serves delicious artisan sandwiches, daily salads and freshly prepared dishes. Walking into the deli, you are hit by a fresh Italian like feel being surrounded by fresh ciabatta sandwiches, exciting organic produces and delicious pressed drinks. It is the perfect place to grab a sandwich to later enjoy whilst punting down the River Cherwell (little date tip for you guys out there!)  

I had the delicious butternut squash, hummus, roasted vegetable and salad ciabatta (£2.95) but there were many to choose from with the mortadella, salami and parma ham ciabatta looking particularly enticing. At the back of the shop there are a range of fresh juices and presses and we chose the bottle of fresh apple juice. However, the bottle of Prosecco (£9.45), the Tuatara Sauvignon Blanc with 'fresh green fruits and satisfying acidity' (£12.95) looked tempting, but it's dependent on your mood and whose driving..!

 For our evening meal, we went to Branca Restaurant. Considering we went on a weekday (Tuesday), there was a buzzing, enthusiastic, cosmopolitan atmosphere. We were greeted by a amiable, friendly waitress who seated us in the outside garden terrace towards the back of the restaurant. We were served delicious, warm Italian bread with delightful olive oil and vinegar as we goggled over the menu consisting of simple, authentic rustic dishes. The menu was intelligent and restrained with very attractive prices. 

I recommend: 

Drinks

Bellini (fizzy) - white peach purée,créme de pêche topped with prosecco (£5.85) - Need I say more?

Mojito -appletons rum muddled with lime, mint and sugar (£7.25)

Mains

Organic salmon and smoked haddock fishcakes with tartare sauce (£12.85) - The potato to fish ratio in these fishcakes is perfect. There is nothing more annoying when your fish cake isn't 'fishy,' so don't you worry, they've got it right here. 

Butternut squash, taleggio and caramelised red onion risotto (£8.75/£12.75) - Marina's favorite dish. The perfect dish to 'fill a hole' and the flavours are delicious too. 

Linguine with tiger prawns, pistachio, rocket, chilli and lemon (£9.95/13.95) - Not tried myself but the lady sat next to us had it and it looked absolutely divine and smelt delicious. 

There was a party inside and many had pizzas that looked divine. Prices ranging from £10.45-£11.75

Desserts

Warm banana cake with caramelised bananas, frangelico and hazelnut semifreddo (£6.25) - Arguably the best dessert on the menu. The waitress agreed. 

Profiteroles, vanilla ice cream,chocolate sauce (£6.25) - For you chocoholics out there..enjoy!

Overall, Branca is a fantastic Italian restaurant offering vibrant, well prepared food at attractive prices.

Flesh & Buns - Review

Flesh & Buns is not just a place to eat, but it is an experience. It's a place to have a nice drink with your friends, followed by an evening of  exciting new foods. Leaving Covent Garden and walking down Earlham Street, you are confronted by a large black door, boldly stamped with the restaurants interesting and deceivable name. 

You are then standing at the top of a steep staircase, staring at some bizarre projection on the wall. Walking down the stairs, you enter into an industrial chamber of secrets. The music is pumping and you can automatically sense real energy in the room. Good for a night out with the friends, but maybe not for that awkward first date or the grandparents as you will find yourself having a shouting competition with the couple seated next to you - never a pretty site. 

Small dishes:

Softshell Crab Roll (£9) - this is delicious and beautifully fried. It is served with jalapeno mayo and chives. 

Broccoli (£5) - Probably the nicest broccoli i've ever tasted. No exaggeration. If you visit here, do yourself a favour and order this. You will thank me. 

Flesh & Buns:

This is the fun bit. First of all, pick your 'flesh.' I recommend:

Crispy Piglet Belly (£14.50) - succulent and crispy. Being a pork lover myself, this was a no brainer and I would certainly order it again. 

Crispy Duck Leg (£13.50) - In my opinion, it doesn't beat the pork but definitely worth going for if you're not a pork lover. 

200g Sirloin Steak (£19.50) - Unsurprisingly the most expensive 'flesh' on the menu, but an absolute must for all you meat eaters out there.

Grilled Sea Bass (£16.50) - Good for you fish lovers, but nothing special. I personally think that the meat is the best option to order in this restaurant

 Each bun is served with lettuce, cucumber, sauce and pickle. You get 2 buns for £2..but I've always ended up ordering more.

Next, construct your bun. It maybe the kid in me, but this is the best part. Stuff as much or as little meat you want into the bun and enjoy!

By this stage, I can not move from my seat. So I'm embarrassed to say that I have never made it to the pudding stage. However, I can just use it as an excuse to go back there again. Happy days! I would say that looking around the restaurant, the S'more (£8) was very popular. It's a marshmallow dish that comes with a little open fire, which is one to guarantee some instagram likes to show off your night. 

All in all, this is a fun, energetic place to go which is bound to impress. You can spend as much or as little as you like due to the pick-and-mix style of the menu. To have a good experience however, I would expect to spend at least £50 for two.