Showing posts with label restaurant review. Show all posts

Lina Stores, Bloomsberg Arcade, London Review

A good few weeks ago now, Elliot and I had a very last-minute day out in London. We didn't have any major plans and were just keen to mooch around, eat some good food and then come back home again. Now, Lina Stores has been on my to-visit list for the longest time and this particular trip felt like the ideal time to try it.

Now, the Bloomsberg Arcade restaurant (the one we visited) is the one that I've seen alllll over TikTok, so I knew if we were going to do it, we had to do it properly. That said, it's not in an area we usually go to, so if you're a day-tripper like me, it's not the most convenient.

Lina Stores, Bloomsberg Arcade, London - Review

So, shall we start with the decor? I love. The restaurant is beautiful and I cannot get over that bar area, it's stunning!

We just turned up on a Saturday lunchtime and there was absolutely no problem getting a table at all. So much so, in fact, I'm glad we actually didn't book a table. Just to note, there's a cancellation policy if you book a table online. It's £10 per person for no-shows and late cancellations charged to the card used when making the booking.

Enough waffling... The food then. It was SO good. I had the 'Pappardelle con Ragù di Salsiccia di Agnello' which is pappardelle, lamb sausage ragù, cime di rapa, chilli and pecorino romano. It was delicious. I've genuinely never had a pasta dish with as much flavour as this one. Elliot had the chicken and mushroom ravioli and that was amazing too. The ravioli parcels were absolutely brimming with chicken breast and the sauce was incredible too.

Not pictured, but I did also have a Limoncello Spritz which was great too.

The only downfall of my visit to Lina Stores? The portion size. I know I tend to eat hearty portion sizes, especially when it comes to pasta, but I'm not sure this would have filled me up if I had had it for dinner. As a quick lunch, it was ideal. Are you meant to have more than one pasta dish? Is that the idea? Who knows...

Finally, for anyone nosy like I am, we paid £47.25 total. We each had a pasta dish and a drink and there was a £5.25 service charge included in that too.

Would I go again? Yes! Would I recommend a visit to Lina Stores if you haven't already been? Yes!

London, UK

Lina Stores, Bloomsberg Arcade, London - Review

27.9.23 • food, london, restaurant review

Lina Stores, Bloomsberg Arcade, London - Review

So, shall we start with the decor? I love. The restaurant is beautiful and I cannot get over that bar area, it's stunning!

Not pictured, but I did also have a Limoncello Spritz which was great too.

Finally, for anyone nosy like I am, we paid £47.25 total. We each had a pasta dish and a drink and there was a £5.25 service charge included in that too.

Would I go again? Yes! Would I recommend a visit to Lina Stores if you haven't already been? Yes!

Lina Stores, Bloomsberg Arcade, London - Review

After a busy weekend in Weymouth, a roast dinner with all the trimmings was very much required last week. We parked in West Lulworth, walked over the top to Durdle Door, and sat at the top of the cliff googling local carveries and pubs. The Countryman Inn came up a few times and based on a) the price (a lot of others were quite expensive and b) the photos, we were sold. We did manage to book a table just a couple of hours before but they were very very busy. So, I'd definitely recommend booking ahead if you're planning a visit.

Just a 10-minute drive from Durdle Door, The Countryman Inn is a large pub with nine en-suite bedrooms. The team were all really friendly and the menu is pretty extensive. But, being a Sunday, there really was only one thing we were interested in... Their carvery.

A regular plate is £12.99 and a large is £14.99. Elliot and I both went for the regular and were absolutely stuffed afterwards. You can fit a huge mountain of food on the regular, I wouldn't upgrade to the large!

There were three meats on offer; beef, turkey, and pork, and because I'm a creature of habit, I naturally went for the beef. The meat was really tasty but, if I'm honest, it was the trimmings that were the star of the show. Besides Christmas Day, when the trimmings are exceptional, when has anyone ever said that?!

Normally, when you go to a carvery, you get a choice of carrots, peas or green beans and maybe a bit of stuffing if you're lucky. Well, not at The Countryman Inn. And for that reason, I think this could be the best carvery I've EVER been to.

I'm talking... roast potatoes, roast parsnips, Yorkshire pudding, baby carrots, green beans, savoy cabbage, swede mash, cauliflower cheese, AND stuffing balls. Besides maybe some broccoli, I think they have truly covered all of the bases there

For me, the standouts were the Yorkshire, the parsnips, and the cauliflower cheese. In hindsight, if I'd known they were going to be that good, I'd have had less of the other bits and absolutely loaded my plate up with those! In my opinion, the roast potatoes weren't anything special, but everything else got my approval.

So, if you're planning a wholesome Sunday day trip and don't know where to start then allow me to suggest a walk at Durdle Door and a carvery at The Countryman Inn - we had a fantastic day!

Have you ever been to The Countryman Inn?

A Carvery at The Countryman Inn, Dorchester - Review

13.2.23 • dorset, food, food review, restaurant review

So, if you're planning a wholesome Sunday day trip and don't know where to start then allow me to suggest a walk at Durdle Door and a carvery at The Countryman Inn - we had a fantastic day!

Have you ever been to The Countryman Inn?

A Carvery at The Countryman Inn, Dorchester - Review

Another morning in Berlin and another fantastic brunch... The best way to explore a new city is by eating your way around it, right? Elliot and I didn't end up going for any dinners out (hello bratwurst at the Christmas markets) but we more than made up for it with our brunch selections. Today's beauty that I want to share with you is Rocket + Basil.

Now, similar to Annelies, Rocket + Basil don't take any reservations but luckily we didn't have to wait outside too long for a table. The café is located not too far from Checkpoint Charlie (which was where our hotel was) so we took a little wander in the snow to have a stack each of their fantastic-looking pancakes.

This was another Google Maps/Instagram find and oh my, it was brilliant. Have you ever seen so much syrup on a stack of pancakes?! It was literally a syrup flood on the plate. Now, I don't have the biggest sweet tooth ever but I thoroughly enjoyed these.

The pancakes themselves were delicious and the pistachios added a nice crunch. The caramelised bananas were incredible and I would like to have those on every breakfast moving forwards please. I will admit that I couldn't quite finish the entire plate but I certainly managed over 80% of it which is no mean feat.

The pancakes were €13 and the only negative thing I have to say about them is that there wasn't enough mascarpone...

Our waitress was really friendly and the atmosphere in Rocket + Basil was really nice too. Other notable mentions on the menu include an omelette and a sausage bun.

If you're in the mood for pancakes, definitely head here in Berlin for a stack!

Pancakes at Rocket + Basil, Berlin - Review

17.12.22 • Berlin, food, restaurant review

The pancakes were €13 and the only negative thing I have to say about them is that there wasn't enough mascarpone...

Our waitress was really friendly and the atmosphere in Rocket + Basil was really nice too. Other notable mentions on the menu include an omelette and a sausage bun.

If you're in the mood for pancakes, definitely head here in Berlin for a stack!

Pancakes at Rocket + Basil, Berlin - Review

You know the brunch is going to be good when there's a queue of about 15 people waiting in -4° weather outside a café in a very quiet part of town...

I found Annelies online whilst searching for brunch places in Berlin and as soon as I saw the pictures I KNEW we had to visit.

Whilst it might be a bit out of the way of the main touristy part of the city, conveniently it's not too far from the East Side Gallery if you're planning on making a trip over that way.

Annelies don't take any reservations, hence the queueing outside in the cold. (I'm sure it would be much more pleasant in the summer haha!) We were told it would be a 30-40 minute wait, but seeing as a) we'd already trekked over there, b) there aren't loads of other places around, and c) we'd committed to those pancake buns, we just sat and got on with it. We ended up waiting about 45 minutes but let me assure you, it was absolutely worth it. Even if we couldn't feel our fingers or toes.

The staff were really friendly and the atmosphere in there is really chilled. There are a few different things on the menu including some outrageous buttermilk pancakes, scrambled eggs on sourdough, and granola. But, for us, it had to be the Sausage, Egg and Cheese Sandwich. It's €13 of pure deliciousness. A sausage patty, American cheese, an egg omelette, and spicy mayo all in a sesame pancake bun. Wow.

Elliot and I absolutely scoffed the whole thing and both couldn't get over that pancake bun?! If only all breakfast sandwiches came in that, I'm looking at you McDonald's...

If you're looking for a brunch place to head to in Berlin then definitely check out Annelies! A solid 10/10 and if there was one in Salisbury I can guarantee Elliot and I would be frequent visitors.

Brunch at Annelies in Berlin - Review

15.12.22 • Berlin, food, restaurant review, travel

You know the brunch is going to be good when there's a queue of about 15 people waiting in -4° weather outside a café in a very quiet part of town...

I found Annelies online whilst searching for brunch places in Berlin and as soon as I saw the pictures I KNEW we had to visit.

Whilst it might be a bit out of the way of the main touristy part of the city, conveniently it's not too far from the East Side Gallery if you're planning on making a trip over that way.

Elliot and I absolutely scoffed the whole thing and both couldn't get over that pancake bun?! If only all breakfast sandwiches came in that, I'm looking at you McDonald's...

If you're looking for a brunch place to head to in Berlin then definitely check out Annelies! A solid 10/10 and if there was one in Salisbury I can guarantee Elliot and I would be frequent visitors.

Brunch at Annelies in Berlin - Review

Now, I've had a fair few roast dinners in my time but the roasts at The Pityme Inn are truly something else. My parents have been singing their praises for a while now and over the summer I finally managed to try one for myself.

The Pityme Inn is about a 5 minute drive from Rock beach so we took the dog for a leisurely stroll and then headed for some lunch. We had booked in advance (luckily) so were shown straight to our table when we arrived. A few people did wander in without bookings but they only had tables outside left, so if you're planning a visit, definitely book in advance.

So, onto the food... We all had a beef roast dinner and then also shared a couple of cauliflower cheeses and stuffing portions. The beef itself was cooked to perfection, soft but not too over or underdone. The potatoes were crispy and fluffy, the veg cooked really well, and the gravy really tasty too. The cauliflower cheese and stuffing were great additions and I'd highly recommend adding them if you visit. The only part that I wasn't completely impressed with was the Yorkshire... It had a bizarre sort of seaweed taste to it but the texture was good. Elliot's also had the same flavour, maybe we were just unlucky and had a few rogue ones.

In terms of portion size, we all left absolutely full after our lunchtime Sunday feast. I'm glad we went for our beach walk before rather than after our meal, I think I'd have keeled over.

As for the price, The Pityme Inn isn't a budget place for a Sunday lunch but you absolutely get what you pay for. It's in a great location, the food is delicious and the decor is really nice. It gets a big stamp of approval from me (and Murph who laps up any leftover roast dinner).

Have you ever been to The Pityme Inn?

The Pityme Inn, Rock - Review

23.11.22 • Cornwall, food, restaurant review

In terms of portion size, we all left absolutely full after our lunchtime Sunday feast. I'm glad we went for our beach walk before rather than after our meal, I think I'd have keeled over.

Have you ever been to The Pityme Inn?

The Pityme Inn, Rock - Review

I'm just going to cut to the chase here. Both the burgers and the Pornstar Martinis at The Craft Bar are hands down the best in Salisbury. Not only are they truly delicious but they're also really affordable too with their weekly offers and discounts. If you follow me on Instagram you'll know that Elliot and I frequent burger Tuesdays at least once a month. So, here we are, here's the big review...

The Craft Bar Salisbury Arms - Review

Set down Endless Street, not far from the Market Square, The Craft Bar is a bit of a hidden gem in Salisbury. They've got both indoor and outdoor seating as well as their outdoor kitchen where they cook all of their food, rain or shine.

Now, we've been to The Craft Bar for cocktails of an evening but for me, the standout is the food. On a Tuesday between 6 and 9 all of their burgers are £7 each which includes a portion of rosemary fries. (They were £6 but we'll put that down to the cost of living crisis.) There are three burgers to choose from; beef, chicken, or vegan. I can't say I've tried either of the other two as I always opt for the beef, it's that good. Adding bacon or cheese is an additional £1.50 per topping, and if you're considering either it has to be the bacon.

The portion sizes are huge and the burgers are always really well seasoned, a little pink, and full of flavour. Cocktails are also 2 for £12 from 5-9, so two burgers and 2 pornstar martinis for less than £30 is a bit of steal in this current economic climate. Plus, in case you couldn't already tell, they're both truly delicious.

Much cheaper than other burger joints in town and also far tastier... What isn't there to love?! The staff are all really friendly and whilst it can be a little quiet on a Tuesday evening, it's well worth it. Delicious food, great prices and supporting a local business? We love to see it!

The Craft Bar Salisbury Arms - Review

1.11.22 • food, restaurant review, Salisbury, Salisbury Restaurant

The Craft Bar Salisbury Arms - Review

Our 5 days in Tenerife turned out to be an absolute foodie dream and, I'll be honest, that came as a massive surprise! With the trusty help of Google Reviews, we managed to find lots of brilliant bars, cafés, and restaurants in the Los Cristianos area so I thought I'd share them in case you're planning a trip.

Now, before we get into it I will confess that none of the meals we ate were local authentic cuisine. They were, however, all really tasty and I'd recommend visiting all 4 of them... (Which, in itself is a triumph becasue there's normally always at least one dud meal, hey?)

Dinner 1 - Linares

The restaurant we visited on our first night we actually found by the smell of the food alone. We were wandering along the beachfront mid-afternoon and the waft of garlic and pizza is what drew us in. We had a quick look at the menu and decided that it was a great choice for our first night.

Elliot and I actually had the same meal at Linares; fillet steak, wild mushroom, and red wine fettuccine. We also ordered garlic bread (of course) and had a pint each. The food was really tasty and the outdoor seating area is really nice. The service was maybe a tiny bit slow but, in fairness, they were really busy when we visited. This was one of the 'pricier' meals we had on the trip, but I think that might be partly due to location being very close to the beach...

Dinner 2 - The Hard Rock Cafe

Anyone who knows me personally will know how much I enjoy visiting a Hard Rock Cafe every time I travel somewhere new. Whilst we were in Tenerife I actually counted up how many I've visited and I *think* it's 11...

Now, I don't want you to call me a creature of habit but I may or may not have ordered my usual burger once again. Of course, it had to be the BBQ bacon cheeseburger. Whilst we're on the topic of this burger, I don't think I've ever had a bigger one than this. Look at the absolute state of that. My one comment on this burger is it didn't have nearly enough sauce, it was a little bit dry. But, like any other Hard Rock Cafe I've visited, the atmosphere was brilliant, and the staff were great.

Dinner 3 - Napoli

What is a holiday without a pizza, hey? I'll take no credit for this one, Elliot found 'Napoli' online and we were absolutely sold by the photos of the food. The reviews were all brilliant, and being down a side road up from the beach, it luckily wasn't too busy when we wandered up.

Naturally, I had a margherita and it was so tasty! I could see the chefs making the pizzas from where I was sat and they were truly delicious. If you're after an authentic tasting Italian pizza whilst in South Tenerife then this is absolutely the place to go.

Dinner 4 - 108 Bistro

I have absolutely saved the best til last here... Look at that! We found 108 Bistro whilst we were walking back to the apartment from the beach and knew it was where we wanted to spend the last evening of our holiday.

I'll cut to the chase. That HUGE pan of carbonara was only €8 total and I'm proud to say that we almost managed to finish it between us. It was genuinely delicious and if it wasn't our last night I would have been keen to visit again and try another of their pasta dishes. It goes without saying but you absolutely don't need to have one of these each. This could easily have been shared between 2-4 people. A pint of beer was also only €2 meaning our entire bill came to a grand total of €12! It's worth noting that pretty much all of the tables were reserved but they luckily could squeeze us in, so it might be worth booking ahead if you're keen!

Breakfast(s) - Cafeteria la Media Luna

I was only going to include our evening meals in this food diary but this cafe was so brill that it deserved it's own mention. Based at Passarela Oasis Shopping Center, Cafeteria la Media Luna serves these huuuuge delicious pastries and lots of other things too.

We visited twice, and paid about €6 a time for 2 pastries and 2 cups of tea. If you're staying in one of the hotels nearby, this is a great place to stop for refreshment on the way down to the beach.

Other honourable mentions from our food tour of Tenerife include La Pepa Food Market for a vast range of affordable street food kitchens, Sun King for €1 pints right on the beachfront, and Restaurant la Barca for a tasty English Breakfast. Whilst we might not have had any tapas or paella, we certainly ate well on our trip!

A Tenerife Food Diary