Tipped

Reno, UK

May 11, 2008

I recently went to lunch with a big group from my work and we ended up at the Litten Tree. The good thing about the Litten Tree is that a group of 15 people can wander in just about any time and probably find a table - the place is simply massive.

The decor in the Litten Tree strongly reminds me of a casino restaurant that hasn't been remodeled since the late 1970s, like most of Reno, Nevada. I actually like Reno in a campy ironic sort of way, but I didn't expect to find a small chunk of it transported to London. The occasional book shelf filled with random boot sale books does little to dispel the casino vibe.

The Litten Tree of course has food and beer. Prices are good, quality is what you expect from places with corporate menus decided by someone at a food service company, which is to say edible, reasonably priced, but generally requiring several pints to actively enjoy anything.

Lunch at the Market

May 08, 2008

Whitecross Street Market is one of the best places for a good cheap meal in the Old Street/Barbican area, and it makes for an entertaining stroll at the same time. There are also some stalls with fruit and veg, used DVDs, and other random things, but the great variety of prepared food is really the best reason to go. There are good food options every day of the week, but on Thursdays and Fridays the market really ramps up and there are loads of cheap delicious food options plus some of the same vendors you can find at Borough Market on Saturdays.

Luardo's burrito van makes probably the best burritos in London (I know, a. this is asking for argument, and b. there isn't much competition to begin with). They have no idea how to fold a burrito, but the fillings, including a rendition of carnitas and chipotle beef, are really good. There's also a stall that does barbecued Italian sausage with grilled onions served, oddly enough, in a flour tortilla - weird concept but really great sausage. Beyond the various stalls, there are some great shops, coffee houses, and restaurants that line the street that also deserve some attention.

Nothing Could Be Finer

April 16, 2008

Most Americans in London will occasionally get desperate and sneak into McDonald's or Pizza Hut for a dose of guilty pleasure nostalgia. Not me; my policy is if I don't eat it in the US, I ain't eating it here. Still, the doughy smell of Pizza Hut and the boiling rancid fat smell of KFC will sometimes tempt me just a little bit.

Luckily, The Diner is there to fulfill my need for American food. True, it does play up the kitchy retro diner motif a bit, not to the Jack Rabbit Slim's extent, but there's no point in denying the obvious. And yeah, the food isn't great, but it is exactly what it should be: diner food, and nothing more. The burgers are really good in that really bad sort of way, they call the chips 'fries', milkshakes come with the extra mixing cup full of more milkshake, and they refill your coffee 7 times before they refill your water once. On top of this, they serve huevos rancheros and a few other Mexican options, and Mexican beer to wash it down. Other people miss McDonald's -- this is the stuff I miss. If only they served root beer floats...

We're Not in Munich Anymore

April 12, 2008

The Bavarian Beerhouse is about as charming as a place could possibly be given that it is a massive windowless basement with cheap collapsable tables, a floor that is clearly designed to be hosed down every night, cheerless waitresses dressed as Bavarian beer wenches, big screen TVs showing German football matches, and food that is barely one step above puppy chow. It is also amazingly popular, further proof that charm isn't everything. Apart from the obvious camp appeal (if you like to enjoy things ironically, this might be the place for you), the only plus side is that after two steins of some decent German beer (at over £7 each, mind you), you might start to forget what a hole this place is.

I'm a Francophile

April 12, 2008

Franco's makes me happy. It can get really busy at lunch, and crazy busy lunch places can definitely make me an unhappy camper especially when I end up waiting forever for a limp overpriced sandwich. But Franco's is really efficient at getting through the line. Plus I don't mind when there is a wait because (1) it smells amazing, and (2) watching the tiny open kitchen work is one of the best free shows in London. Franco's has some serious character.

Not everything on the menu is a hit, but if you stick with the pastas, salads, and the special sandwiches you can get some big portions of really good food for very little cash. My choice lately has been the lasagna - a massive slice with a generous portion of salad (your choice among 4 or 5 salad options). If you're one of those that needs to fulfill an occasional salt beef craving, check out the New York special - not exactly a hot pastrami on rye from the Carnegie, but close enough.

Sax Solo: Take 1

April 06, 2008

I don't think I'll ever be able to go through Baker Street Station without wanting to sing the blaring sax solo from Gerry Rafferty's 'Baker Street' at the top of my lungs, perhaps followed by a little air guitar. Maybe I'm alone on this. Somehow, I've never heard a busker playing 'Baker Street' in Baker Street station - there's probably a law against it somewhere.

Apart from the song, and the inevitable Sherlock Holmes references, the station itself is charming with its old tiled walls and curious angled circular air shafts extending up from the platform. It is one of the original Metropolitan line stations dating back to 1863 - I really like the feel of the real old-timers.

Now I have 'Baker Street' stuck in my head again.

Spicy Thai with a View

April 05, 2008

Nakhon Thai is so pretty and has such a nice view of the river that I was expecting the food to be a bit boring and weakly spiced. Quite the opposite. The food at Nakhon is very nicely spiced (try the green papaya salad for some real Thai spice), and the sauces are rich and aromatic.

The mixed appetizer platter has some hits and some misses, but is served with a nice array of homemade dipping sauces. Everything else I have tried has been excellent, including tom kha gai (coconut soup) that puts all others to shame, a nice creative twist on the classic Panang beef, and a delicious Phuket scallop stir-fry.

The location is going to be the problem for this restaurant: the view is wonderful, the parking is easy, the access from Tower Hill is simple, but you do have to go here on purpose - you don't really stumble through Wapping on your way somewhere else. Luckily, the food is excellent, the service is very good, and the place is really gorgeous, so hopefully people will go a bit out of their way to come to Nakhon Thai.

Warning: May be Addictive

March 31, 2008

BLT gets a 5-point rating simply on the basis of their Chicago Wrap. The days when it is off the menu, I'm a bit less happy but still quite happy. The Chicago Wrap is a piece of garbage food perfection, something like a happy marriage between a pepperoni pizza and a chicken burrito. Sounds like it wouldn't work on paper, but it is seriously tasty and a good portion too.

One of the best aspects of BLT is the crazy crowded atmosphere at lunch and the ordering system - essentially you just squeeze in and yell your order like you're a Wall Street stock trader. If you want one of the daily specials, they are usually making around 12 of them at a time, so you can often get one really quickly. Addictive, delicious, and cheap - a good combo.

Riverside Reading

March 30, 2008

This is a nice little bookshop tucked away in riverside Hays Galleria near London Bridge. It would be easy to walk right by the store and not notice it amongst the ugly statuary, chain restaurants, and out of place petanque playing, but it is worth seeking out. Despite the small size, they have a great variety of well selected books and nice cards. This is also one of those stores that puts up the useful little staff recommendation notes next to books of interest - I love these things and they always make me buy things that I previously had no idea existed. On nice warm days, reading on one of the benches by the river is a very nice thing to do, unless a small child decides to stand right in front of you and tunelessly sing 'Danny Boy' repeatedly to no one in particular, but otherwise it is very pleasant.

Finally, some great coffee

March 27, 2008

I have had a lot of coffee around London, and it is all fairly uniformly just okay. Even the places that use good beans often mess it up by not actually knowing what to do with them. And of course the chains are no better: Cafe Nero coffee has its own strange burnt parsnip flavor, and everything Starbucks makes seems to end up tasting like vanillin.

I have also had more lukewarm coffees here than I care to count, mostly because everyone is in a rush and good hot coffee takes time. In case anyone hasn't noticed, it can tend to be a bit chilly in London, so you would think that people might actually want their coffee, say, hot. Market Coffee House takes the time necessary to make a great cup of coffee, and the result is well worth the wait. Plus the atmosphere is charming and olde fashioned and they make nice crusty toast, which is always a bonus.