Quod
Vong
Zafferano
The Square
Quod
Old Bank Hotel
92 High St, Oxford
ph 01865 799599
Modern Italian-inspired
Sunday evening, 8th April 2001
Located in
the Old Bank Hotel, Quod is a stylish, large restaurant with large original
paintings on the walls and a bar dividing the non-smokers from the smoking
section. V. popular during the evening and the afternoon. Despite the
trendy low lighting and dark wood interior, the clientele were not dressed
to the nines, but were a mix of casually dressed hotel guests, locals,
families and trendy people.
The rocket and parmesan salad and the huge portion of the buffalo mozzarella with oven dried tomatoes were tasty starters.
Complimentary bread arrived in the shape of warm mini loaves on a wooden board with olive dipping oil.
For the mains we chose the risotto funghi, and as I was beginning to get full from the starter and breads I chose the smaller portion of the gnocchi with spinach and gorgonzola. I didn't even manage to finish that as it was a very filling dish. The gnocchi was the of the 'chewy' kind of gnocchi! Ben said that the risotto was the best that he had in years - tasty but not too rich, with "yummy" mushrooms.
We decided to share a dessert as we could not leave Oxford without trying a dessert from Quod. The limone tart with clotted cream was yummy too.
Cost: £40
for 2
8.5-9/10
.....................................................................
Zafferano
15 Lowndes St SW1
Phone 020-7235-5800
Italian
Wednesday, 7.45pm, 18th July 2001
Ben, Ade, Paul, Zollie
My third visit to Zaffs did not disappoint. The food is consistently good.
Diners can
follow the traditional Italian prima pasta format if wished, which hungry
Ben and Paul took up.
Ben's pesto pennata (like penne but smaller) was a little too basil-strong
for his taste, or it could have been the fact it looked like a bowl of
beans! Paul was on to a winner with his vegetable cheesy pasta.
My White
truffles with potato and white bean salad was a tangy and summery. Zollie's
octopus salad was also fresh and zingy, with the most tender octopus.
Ben and Paul's rocket and bresola was enjoyed.
For the main
course, I had chargilled pork which was was served in a pinwheel, and
was a little overdone and a bit chewy, but still the flavours were enjoyable.
Dessert only ordered by me was the envy of the table. Chocolate terrine
with chocolate ice-cream was rich and decadent. The terrine was a moist,
concentrated chocolate explosion, just a small slice, but just enough,
and the portion of ice-cream was chocolately and beautiful.
Service:
Professional and friendly. Attentive, but there was a long wait for coffee
and tea (my tea arrived a long time after) but there was apologies.
Set price for 2 courses, 3 courses, 4 courses.
Décor: Low lighting gives this busy restaurant atmosphere and you hardly notice the next table, so it is also very discreet. Cosy and comfortable.
9/10
Vong
Wilton Place, Knightsbridge SW1
Phone 020-7235-1010
French-Thai Fusion
Saturday, 8pm, 21st July 2001
Ben & Ade, Mike & Louise, Will, Nicolas & Ann-Fleur, Ross, Simon, Craig, Chris & friends.
As Vong is one of London's premier restaurants, the surroundings is part of the experience. The main dining area is modern, the lighting subtle. Very relaxing. With such a large group the long table had a comfortable banquette.
The entrance bar is a clever way to wait for friends. Off to the side of the entrance bar is The Blue Room, decorated in a baroque style.
Amazing food. The black platter (£18 pp) consisted of a selection of asian-inspired starters with a special compartmentalised sauce plate. Spring rolls, Prawns on skewers, Chicken satay, Rice paper and lobster rolls, salad. Very fresh and tasty and well presented.
Mains all were artistically presented on large platters. Some of the men in the group were disappointed by the small portions. If size matters, order the grilled grain-fed organic chicken served with vegetables. The salmon was served in 3 circular portions on a bed of wasabi mashed potato, which unfortunately the taste of the wasabi was a little dominating even to a regular sushi eater. My dish, the duck on a bed of mashed potato, was tasty, juicy and delicious; and filling despite its small portions.
The winners here were definitely the dessert. Absolute heaven. Some of the best desserts I have ever had in my life. The valrhona chocolate cake with coconut sorbet was mouth-wateringly wonderful. The cake was not your average solid slice, but more of a light souffle, with a warm liquid centre, which contrasted well with the cold and creamy coconut sorbet. Louise's dessert of the passionfruit sorbet with ice-cream was even better (if that was possible). Again, the contrasts of the warm souffle and cold ice-cream worked well, but the taste of the passionfruit was intoxicatingly delightful.
Service: Professional and friendly. However as the night got busier we were ignored and forgotten.
Overall: Wonderful food, you get what you pay for (expensive).
9/10 (let down by some non-service).
The
Square
6-10 Bruton Street, Mayfair, London WC1
ph 020 7495 7100
Modern British
14th August 2000
Jo's 30th birthday: Jo & Pete, Nicola & Shane, Melissa & Marty,
Ade & Ben (Private Room)
Wow, this is fine dining at its best. The evening started out with great
appetizers: anchovy pastry (crostini) and a posh version of a sausie roll.
The real appetizers of tuna with salsa: delicious and large. Raisin bread
tasted like a scone! The lobster lasagne was the winner. Looked great
and tasted wonderful.
The main
of the Saddle of Lamb with pesto served on a bed of spinach was just perfect.
Dessert was
preceded by complimentary vanilla yoghurt and raspberry with a doughnut!
The real dessert was raspberry soufflé with chocolate ice-cream.
Presentation was the best: a square shape was cut into each mini soufflé
and rapsberry sauce poured onto the square area, the warm centre melting
the ice-cream. V. good and v. rich. The cheese board was huge with a good
selection.
The tea deserved huge points as it was just the right strength for me,
not the namby-pamby dishwater that is often served.
The only
missing ingredient to the evening was the private room could have done
with some light music for atmosphere. Expensive.
9/10
Disclaimer: Please note reviews of restaurants are the personal opinion of a particular dining experience only. The writer is not a professional food critic and dining encounters are experienced in the role of a customer and the meal is paid for out of one's own pocket (or Ben's).
All content and images are the property of Adrienne Wong and may not be used or copied without permission. © 2002