Noto - Bassishaw Highwalk, London Wall EC2V

Noto - Bassishaw Highwalk, London Wall EC2V

Food: 7
Menu: 6
Ambience: 5
Service: 7
Smoking Policy: -1
Value for Money: 6
Bonus**: 3

OVERALL: 33

My favourite no fuss, no nonsense Japanses restaurant in London. Japanese waiters but non-Japanese chefs have no impact on the quality and range of authentic dishes. Sashimi is always fresh and delicious. Bonus points are for the food and service. My favourite dish is their grilled/braised eel with rice and sauce in a box.

The Duke - Roger Street, Holborn, WC1

The Duke - Roger Street, Holborn WC1

Food: 7
Menu: 5
Ambience: 6
Service: 3
Smoking Policy: -1
Value for Money: 6
Bonus**: 0

OVERALL: 26

Lovely little pub, tucked away off Grays Inn Road. Their food is delicious but the service was too slow for lunch.

Izakaya Aki (Japanese Bistro) - Gray's Inn Road, Holborn WC1

Izakaya Aki (Japanese Bistro) - Gray's Inn Road, Holborn WC1

Food: 5
Menu: 5
Ambience: 5
Service: 5
Smoking Policy: 0
Value for Money: 4
Bonus**: 3

OVERALL: 27

Quaint little Japanese bistro. Meals are delicious but served in small portions. Service is quick and very suited for lunchers. At dinner time service was a little too quick for me. Aki has a downstairs dining area as well which is more secluded. Bonus points are for the extensive drinks menu including a wide range of sake! They also do take-away.

Food For Thought - Neal Street, Covent Garden WC2

Food For Thought - Neal Street, Covent Garden WC2

Food: 5
Menu: 4
Ambience: 4
Service: 4
Smoking Policy: 0
Value for Money: 6
Bonus**: 5

OVERALL: 28

Charming vegetarian café on the main drag in Covent Garden. A queue of at least 10 deep for lunch on a Saturday (this seemed to continue well past 4pm). Great healthy alternative and good value for money. Seating is limited so be prepared to share your meagre table space with other diners. Take-away is an option - no queues. The Smoking Policy was not clear although most diners were already feeling too guilty to further damage their health....!

Gratai - Red Lion Street, Holborn WC1

Gratai - Red Lion Street, Holborn WC1

Food: 5
Menu: 5
Ambience: 4
Service: 3
Smoking Policy: -1
Value for Money: 6
Bonus**: 0

OVERALL: 22

Standard Thai restaurant. Good value on the Express Lunch menu - £7.50 for two courses plus tea or coffee. Portions are reasonable. Service was unfortunately too slow for a Friday lunch time.

January 2005

Pride of Siam - Exmouth Market, Clerkenwell EC1

Food: 6
Menu: 4
Ambience: 4
Service: 5
Smoking Policy: -1
Value for Money: 6
Bonus**: 0

OVERALL: 24

Standard local Thai restaurant. Cheap dishes. £20 for a quick lunch for two and tea. Would have achieved 26/51 but for their smoking policy.


Medcalf - Exmouth Market, Clerkenwell EC1

Food: 9
Menu: 5
Ambience: 7
Service: 6
Smoking Policy: -1
Value for Money: 7
Bonus**: 2

OVERALL: 35

This gets better and better!... but it won't be a secret too long with Time Out readers rating it as The Best Local Restaurant for 2004. I had braised ox-tail with Stilton dumplings and baby carrots - simply delightful. Roast hake served with surf clams, mash and leeks with a creamy white wine sauce was another dish to die for! See December 2004 comments re: Menu - "Chocolate cake" - well here is how I would describe it, "Slice of delightful flourless mud cake simply served with a dollop of freshly made Madagascan vanilla cream." - "Chips & gravy" - "(Authentic!) hand-cut chips carefully roasted to perfection and served with a side pot of gravy.". I think I understand the Chef now... the menu is understated to let the food speak for itself. Only minimal bonus points for the food today - the Weiss beer was not served properly - a little flat - perhaps a faulty pump?