Qype: Queens Inn in Cranbrook

Cranbrook


The Queens Inn is a great pub in Hawkhurst in the weald of Kent and claims to do the best Sunday carvery in Kent. Well, i was lucky enough to sample the carvery on Sunday and i must admit, it was pretty darn good. We were given a choice of Lamb, Turkey, Beef or Pork (the beef was excellent) and you can help yourself to mounds of roast potatoes, cabbage, carrots, stuffing, yorkshire puddings, gravy and much, much more. If you're looking to eat as much as you like, this is the place to come.

Service was friendly, but be warned, this place is very popular on a sunday so you may have to wait a bit for your table. best to phone ahead and book.

Check out my review of Queens Inn - I am ahunter - on Qype

Qype: Byron Hamburgers in London

London


I am very excited about Byron Hamburgers. I'd heard good things from friends about the Kensington and Kingston branches and when i found out they were opening in Soho, i'm pretty sure i punched the air and asked for high fives from my colleagues!

These are seriously good burgers and while this isn't the best burger i have ever had (that title goes to Le Park Meridien Hotel in New York), this is the best burger i've had in London. Forget GBK, Ultimate Burger, Fine Burger Co. and all those other guys. This is the place to come.

So why are these burgers so good then?

- Freshly made burgers every day. If the patties aren't used, they're thrown out.

- Great quality highland beef

- Quality, solid buns that don't fall apart + a good size (there are no stupidly sized GBK tomatoes here)

- They taste really, really good. Nuff said.

What else is good here?

Excellent selection of beer (there's something for everyone - Brooklyn lager, London Pride, Sierra Nevada, Thatcher's Cider, Asahi). Someone has thought long and hard about this beer list which is great.

American treats that you seldom find in London - Cream Soda, Root Beer, Oreo Cookie Shakes, Mac & Cheese)

Service - Ok, ok we were the first ever customers here, but we were well looked after.

Areas to improve?

If i'm being pedantic:

- I wasn't asked how i'd like my burger cooked (but when it came it was perfect and i discovered later that everything is cooked to medium)

- Sauces: The sauces are really good, but don't charge me £1.75 for a thimble of blue cheese dressing. This should be free.

I will be back (probably about once a week).

Check out my review of Byron Hamburgers - I am ahunter - on Qype

Qype: Bangalore Express in London

London


I think Ian Marshall is exactly right. After sampling 16 different wines (which were delicious by the way), I was in no fit state to write a review!

Bangalore Express put on quite an evening for us bloggers and Qypers and i think everyone had a brilliant time. Champagne reception, tasty treats from the chicken (particularly the salmon and the goat curry) and more wine than you could shake a stick at.

Matching Indian food with wine has always been a nightmare for me and i've always defaulted to Kingfisher. After Wednesday night though, i'm ready to start experimenting. Bring on the Pieropan Soave!

Check out my review of Bangalore Express - I am ahunter - on Qype

Qype: Gastro in London

London - Eating & Drinking - Restaurants - French - Brasseries - Eating & Drinking - Restaurants - French - Eating & Drinking - Cafes & Coffee Shops - Cafes


My mind isn't quite made up about Gastro. I had a nice time here, but i can't help but think Gastro is lacking what the French call a certain "i don't know what". That's an Austin Powers reference by the way. Anyway, here are the good and points of this little French restaurant on Venn street:

*Good things about gastro*

Location - Venn street is one of my favourite streets in Clapham. You're opposite the cinema here so it's a great place for a snack or a glass of wine after a movie.

Language - Everyone speaks French! That's right, you will be addressed by your waitress in French first, English second (don't worry, if you don't speak particularly good Francais they will move onto English sooner or later!)

Eggs - Some of the best eggs i have had in a while. I imagine they must buy alot of their produce from the farmers market.

*Not so good things about Gastro*

No Ketchup! - "We are a french restaurant Monsieur. We do not have Ketchup". Well, if i'm eating scrambled eggs, bacon and toast i like to have an option. I don't care if i'm in SW4 or the 8'eme of Paris!

Service - Slow and almost impossible to get the bill when you want it (so i guess they're really going for the authentic Parisian experience!)

Check out my review of Gastro - I am ahunter - on Qype

Qype: Gallery Rendezvous in London

London - Eating & Drinking - Restaurants - Chinese


Not the greatest Chinese restaurant in central London, but it did the job last night. Moments from The Old Coffee House (one of my favourite pubs in London), Gallery Rendezvous (sounds a bit like a strip club doesn't it?) is known for its Pekenise cuisine and Karaoke nights. The food was good and i can definitely recommend the pork dumpling starters and the beef and cashew nuts.

If you're looking for a top notch chinese then you're best off heading into chinatown. But, if it's raining and you just want a quick meal near some good pubs. This is the place.

Check out my review of Gallery Rendezvous - I am ahunter - on Qype

Qype: White Hart in London

London - Eating & Drinking - Pubs & Bars - Pubs


A nice little pub walking distance from both Southwark and Borough Tube stations. I wouldn't go so far as to say this is a "hidden gem", but it certainly does the job. London Pride on tap (i think that was the only ale) and although the pub is narrow and can look deceptively full, we found it relatively easy to find a seat.

Having just read MissRachelle's review, i was disappointed not to see the San Andreas fault running through the pub. The only "epic crack" i saw was that of the Landlord when he bent down to change the pumps.... Ho hum.

Check out my review of White Hart - I am ahunter - on Qype

Qype: Kings Arms in London

London - Eating & Drinking - Restaurants - Thai - Eating & Drinking - Pubs & Bars - Pubs


A gem of a pub moments from Waterloo. Make sure you're armed with Qype Radar/Google Maps on your phone, this pub is pretty darn hard to find!

Plenty of ales on tap and this is the kind of place that serves beer in jugs (which i love!). A good selection of crisps and nuts behind the bar, but unfortunately i was too late to try the Thai food. Some might call the Kings Arms an old man pub, but you'd be surprised how many youngsters are attracted to this place on a Friday night and it was pretty heaving by 9.30pm.

Smokers beware - Staff will usher you to a small alleyway to the rear of the pub for your crafty smoke. I'm not entirely sure why, but those are the rules!

Check out my review of Kings Arms - I am ahunter - on Qype

Qype: Fabric in London

London - Nightlife - Clubs


Fabric is one of those places you either love or you hate. Before going on Friday night i was most definitely a "hater". I'd painted images in my head of tight jeaned floppy haired wallies, pilled off their faces chatting about how we live in a world of systems just waiting to be broken down.

In many ways i was right......

Fabric does attract some disgusting human beings. But to be fair to the club, the vast majority of the crowd on Friday night were friendly, normal and up for a laugh. The atmosphere was good and the music was fantastic (more on this later).

If you can stomach the entry fee (£16), you'll actually be suprised to hear that drinks inside Fabric are reasonably priced (for a club).

Fabric's stock is rising in my eyes though. As mentioned, the music on friday night was awesome. James Yuill's midnight set was phenomenal and by the looks of things, they have acts of equal pedigree playing all the way up to New Year's Eve.

Summary: Great music. Great Location. Cheaper than i expected.... but still quite a few floppy haired wallies.

Check out my review of Fabric - I am ahunter - on Qype

Qype: Italian Graffiti in London

London - Eating & Drinking - Restaurants - Italian & Pizza


Decent pizza in a killer location on Wardour street. The service last night was friendly and quick and my Americana pizza was very good. The wine list here is slightly limited and very chianti heavy, but it's adequate.

This isn't the best pizza place in Soho (try the Soho Pizzeria) but it does the job.

Check out my review of Italian Graffiti - I am ahunter - on Qype

Qype: The King's Arms in London

London - Eating & Drinking - Pubs & Bars - Pubs


A very agreeable little pub with plenty of outdoor seating, but a distinct shortage of real ale on tap! Spitting distance from Tower bridge, friendly staff and excellent food. I wouldn't go so far as to say (like PubLondoner) "this is my favourite pub of all time". But it's certainly very good.

Fix the real ale problem and The King's Arms will be a 5 star pub!

Check out my review of The King's Arms - I am ahunter - on Qype