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October 22, 2019 by: Sunny London

Fire Bar and Yuu Kitchen Review London

Guess who’s back? You might remember recently Mr Sunny and I hit ICEBAR London for a night of cool drinks and fun off Regent Street. Unfortunately, the night we chose to visit, Yuu Kitchen was booked for a private event. Because checking out their menu was high on our list of things to do, we made the effort to go back. And this is what we thought, Sunny friends.

fire-bar-yuu-kitchen-review-london

Fire Bar and Yuu Kitchen: The Atmosphere

Once again, we grabbed drinks at Fire Bar to kick off our foodie adventure. Within a few minutes, our cocktail server indicated our table was ready downstairs at Yuu Kitchen and whisked us away.

Just like the atmosphere of Fire Bar, Yuu Kitchen is low-lit and sexy. It’s spacious enough to be great for a date night or gathering with office colleagues.

While the lighting is dim, the walls are colourful and vibrant. This adds to the energetic and lively atmosphere.

fire-bar-yuu-kitchen-review-london
fire-bar-yuu-kitchen-review-london
fire-bar-yuu-kitchen-review-london

Fire Bar and Yuu Kitchen: The Menu

I love when a menu is compact enough to fit on one page, even though I generally let Mr Sunny do most of the ordering.

Yuu Kitchen suggests you order 3-4 plates per person since it is similar to a tapas style experience. Mr Sunny and the server worked together to choose 10 items for us to enjoy. Yes, it was probably too much. But, it did give us a really good opportunity to try a lot of the food in different sections of the menu at Yuu Kitchen.

I was keen to express some thoughts on certain food items I heard mentioned in their conversation. Things like pork belly and ribs did not sound appetising to me so I didn’t want to be counted in on those dishes. In fact, I don’t think I have ever eaten a rib in my life. It’s not because they don’t look delicious. I just do not enjoy eating with my hands, especially if the dish is particularly messy. Do any of you feel this way about using your hands for food?

Fire Bar and Yuu Kitchen: The Food

Our food was ready quickly and covered most of the table. For our dinner we chose these plates:

  • Bites: Steamed Rice, Grilled Cauliflower
  • Raw: Spicy Tuna Tostada
  • Bao: Crispy Soft Shell Crab, Sory & Buttermilk Crisp Chicken
  • Grill and Work: Baby Back Ribs
  • Crunch: Baby Octopus Karaage
  • Pinoy: Chicken Wings with Filipino Style Stick Adobo Sauce, Chicken Inasal, and Lechon Kawali
fire-bar-yuu-kitchen-review-london

Overall, if you aren’t a fan of spicy food, this might not be the place for you. However, if you clicked on this review with the headline “Fire Bar”, I am guessing hot foods don’t deter you.

Our absolute favourite dish of food was the bao. Yes, this includes both of them. I could’ve easily had two instead of the chicken wings. Again, that’s due to my lack of interest in handling messy food with my hands.

fire-bar-yuu-kitchen-review-london

The tuna tostadas were really good, and I enjoyed the octopus quite a bit. A few times on the blog we’ve written about ordering octopus and Americans have expressed hesitation. What do you think, Sunny friends? Do you fancy octopus when it’s on a menu?

fire-bar-yuu-kitchen-review-london
fire-bar-yuu-kitchen-review-london

Fire Bar and Yuu Kitchen: Final Thoughts

If you pair the ICEBAR with Fire Bar and Yuu Kitchen you really do run the spectrum of sensory experiences. Chilling temperatures and frosty champagne drinks paired with spicy food and hot cocktails makes for a fun night in London.

This is best for a date, night out with colleagues, or activity when visiting London.

fire-bar-yuu-kitchen-review-london
fire-bar-yuu-kitchen-review-london

Want a London Food Freebie?

Subscribe to the Sunny in London email and immediately get the ‘Local’s Pocket Restaurant Guide to London.’ It’s the ultimate free travel accessory for your London trip. The Guide has top recommended restaurants from a local, organised by neighbourhood. With it you can easily find a place to eat when you’re on a London street. Downloading the file to your phone means skipping Wi-fi and finding a fab foodie place- fast!

July 28, 2019 by: Sunny London

Top Food Trends 2020- What You Must Know

Want to know what top food trends everyone will be talking about in 2020? The best chefs, culinary experts and food personalities united for two days at the inaugural National Geographic Traveller Food Festival in London to determine this at the end of July 2019.

As a press member, I attended cooking demonstrations, interviewed tourism board officials, met with chefs and cooking school personnel and listened to panel discussions- all about food during these two days. And it is clear there are some very big, new trends on the horizon.

Top Food Trends 2020- Health

The biggest theme for top food trends is… be healthy. This is showing its strength in many different forms. In the YouTube video I created at the food festival, I break down how we will see the healthy food trend infiltrating different areas of our lives. It also includes information about what Le Cordon Bleu, London’s top cooking school, plans to introduce that will prepare upcoming chefs for the healthier demands that we will see.

Top Food Trends 2020- Culinary Trends Panel Discussion

National Geographic Traveller Food Executive Editor Glen Mutel hosted the Culinary Trends discussion which featured four panel members. You can see them in the Healthy Food Trends video above.

Carolyn Boyd is a travel writer and editor specialising in French food and drink. She is author of Lonely Planet’s travel and recipe book France From the Source and writes regularly for National Geographic Traveller, National Geographic Traveller Food, The Times, The Guardian, The i and The Independent. Throughout the discussion she was the barometer for all food trends related to France.

Neil Coletta served as a professor of food studies at Boston University, as well as as the university’s assistant director of programs in food & wine, organising a year-round series of gastronomic lectures, demonstrations, classes and events with some of the top names in the food world. He is now the brand & product manager of food tours at Intrepid Group.

top-food-trends-2020-culinary-news

Neil Davey has written regularly for The Guardian, Hello! and National Geographic Traveller (UK). As a broadcaster, Neil has worked for the likes of the BBC and Jazz FM.

Chef Reginald Ioos joined Le Cordon Bleu’s team of teaching cuisine chefs in 2013. He began his career at the five-star Sheraton Skyline London Heathrow Hotel. After four years, Chef Reginald moved to Brussels where he worked at the two Michelin-starred Sea Grill Restaurant and then onto the five-star Sheraton Hotel at Brussels Airport. In 2005 he returned to France where he later worked as a Private Chef to a former member of the French government.

Top Food Trends 2020- Key Ideas

Aside from the 5 key trends culinary trends related to health that the panel discussed and you can learn about in the video, there are other topics that will make headlines.

top-food-trends-2020-culinary-news

Top Food Trends 2020- The Next Big Meat

While people have been eating goat for thousands of years, you will start to see a rise on its place on menus. Pairing with the healthy trend, goat is lean and very low in fat. Panel members indicated they felt the taste was very close to lamb.

In the spirit of eating healthy, I tried the Lotus Root Curry from Yaalu Yaalu stand, which has several locations in London. The goat curry looked very good. However, I just wasn’t ready to take the plunge.

How about you, Sunny friends? Have you eaten goat either to be healthy or just because you thought it sounded good? Am I the only one who is a little hesitant?

Top Food Trends 2020- Ditching Fine Dining

Something slightly surprising that they indicted during the panel discussion is the move away from fine dining. This is attributed to the advent of take away services like Deliveroo.

Panel members felt that the millennial generation’s casual approach to urgent requests has created a cultural shift toward a food trend of delivery items being the norm for dinner. This means they have less attention for fancier food and prefer to avoid the fuss and eat good, fast.

Top Food Trends 2020- The New Favourite

While all these predicted food trends fold in to a healthier package, there is one prediction that doesn’t fit in this eco-lifestyle box- Filopino cuisine.

One panel member indicated that one of the last treasures Anthony Bourdain left behind was the declaration that Filipino food is the ‘food of the world’. This was based on his experience with sisig, a dish from the Philippines. It is a local street food dish made from chopped parts of a pig.

Bourdain told CNN Philippines that the sizzling, crispy pork dish is “perfectly positioned to win the hearts and minds of the world as a whole.

“I think it’s the most likely to convince people abroad who have had no exposure to Filipino food to maybe look further and investigate further beyond sisig,” he said.

“I think that’s the one that’s gonna hook them.”

Top-Food-Trends-2020-culinary-news

Top Food Trends 2020- Final Thoughts

What do you think, Sunny friends? Have you tried sisig or any other Filipino dishes? Do you think you will be following any of these top food trends for 2020? Or maybe you already are living healthy and the food trends mentioned in the video are part of your everyday lifestyle?

Want a Freebie for London?

Subscribe to the Sunny News weekly email and immediately receive my downloadable pocket guide to London restaurants. It has 100+ restaurants organised by neighbourhood.

Other articles and Sunny News YouTube videos about Food and London:

  • Eating Traditional British Food– What You Must Know
  • Best London Restaurant Guide for Foodies
  • What You MUST Book in Advance for London
  • What to Know about Healthy Food and Drink Trends 2020
  • What to Book Ahead in London (YouTube video)
  • Tips for Food to Eat When Visiting London (YouTube video)
  • The Best Hidden Pubs in London (YouTube video)

March 18, 2016 by: Sunny London

5 Places to Buy the Best Chocolate in London

Where would you go for the best chocolate in London? The quest to find the best piece certainly could be a treat to try. However, you can start with this list that I have prepared through delicious, extensive research while living in London as an American expat.

In my experience, British people are very particular about their chocolate. Most of them prefer chocolate made in Belgium. I can’t say I disagree too much with that philosophy. Many of the chocolate shops on this list use Belgium chocolate.

So, let’s take a look…

5 Places to Buy the Best Chocolate in London (1)

The Best Chocolate in London: Hotel Chocolat

This company doesn’t play by the standard chocolate rules. First, they actually grow their cocoa. They do this on Rabot Estate plantation in Saint Lucia. Yep, they’re one company I picked that doesn’t import from Belgium.

Further, instead of making Easter eggs that are thin and have chocolate candy around them, Hotel Chocolat makes ‘ridiculously thick shells with all of our chocolates hidden inside for extra excitement’.

Mr. Sunny and I had the opportunity to enjoy a Chocolate Tasting Adventure class at the Hotel Chocolat in Covent Garden. As a side note, it’s an excellent date night idea.

Hotel-Chocolat-Tasting-Adventure-Covent-Garden

Hotel-Chocolat-Tasting-Adventure-Covent-Garden

They also gave us a box of chocolate to devour eat at home. It didn’t last long.

They have locations throughout London. We took the class at 4 Monmouth Street, London WC2H 9HB.

Where to Buy the Best Chocolate in London- Hotel Chocolat

You can even stay at their hotel, which is set among the cocoa groves, in Saint Lucia.

My favourite chocolate item here is the Billionaire’s Shortbread.

Best Chocolate in London: Hotel Café Royal

Last year I was invited to learn how to make and a chocolate Easter egg at Hotel Café Royal. During the evening I not only had the chance to many other London bloggers, but also learned quite a bit about the hotel’s chocolate making process from their Executive Chef.

hotel-cafe-royal-chocolate-easter-egg-filling

hotel-cafe-royal-chocolate

I didn’t win the decorating contest for the egg. This meant that when I got home, I didn’t feel any remorse eating the egg I created. The taste of the silky, creamy chocolate erased any ‘artistic sentiment’ that might have existed. So worth it.

My favourite chocolate item here is: their annual Easter Eggs of course!

You can find the hotel at 68 Regent Street, London WCB 4DY.

Best Chocolate in London: Choccywoccydoodah

I frequently visit Choccywoccydoodah in Carnaby Street. One of the first blog experiences I had in London featured visiting their Bar Du Chocolat for a chocolate lunch.

Choccywoccydoodah London Dipping Plate

Another blog highlight was when I received a golden ticket to travel to their Brighton location for Halloween. The fun, flavourful afternoon featured decorating a solid white chocolate skull. The pain I suffered carrying it on the train home to London (during rush hour) was quickly forgotten when it came time to eat my treat.

Choccywoccydoodah-London-Brighton-Chocolate

Choccywoccydoodah-London-Brighton-Chocolate

Choccywoccydoodah-London-Brighton-Chocolate

Although, I will admit that Mr. Sunny had to involve his colleagues to break it in to pieces. I believe some type of jack hammer was used. It really was a solid chocolate skull.

If you’re ever in the Carnaby Street area of London, this is a must see and eat. If you can’t afford the calories, at least tease yourself with the gorgeous images of their seasonal displays and products.

Choccywoccydoodah London Cake

They also have a Secret Room that’s available for small party bookings.

If you can’t make it in to the Carnaby Street Choccywoccydoodah while in London, you can watch their chocolate cake making adventures via their reality show.

When I emailed them to let them know I was once again raving about their chocolate creations, they responded with a gorgeous photo of their hottest product this season.

For Easter, they are proud to present a small collection of enormous chocolate Faberge inspired eggs featuring Unicorns and Dragons. A trio of eggs, as featured, weigh in at around 100 kilos and cost £25,000. The eggs are entirely handmade, hand sculpted and painted, all in chocolate and are available to order only, with 3 weeks lead time required.

Where to Buy the Best Chocolate in London- Choccywoccydoodah Easter Eggs

Photo courtesy of Choccywoccydoodah

Alternatively, you can indulge in their handmade fantasy eggs in an egg box. They include 5 handmade chocolate eggs, filled with praline and caramel, sitting with a cheeky hatchling chick. They are £25 a box. These are available either at the London or Brighton shop or Choccywoccydoodah online.

The Faberge inspired Dragon collection can be seen in the London Flagship, 30-32 Fouberts Place, Carnaby, London W1F 7PS.

My favourite item at Choccywoccydoodah is the: toffee popcorn bars. However, I wouldn’t say no to a Faberge egg from the Dragon collection if you wanted to send me one, Sunny friends. 😉

Best Chocolate in London: Godiva UK

Americans seem to have a stronger knowledge of the brand Godiva. Londoners, surprisingly, don’t recognise it as quickly. They have a location on Regent Street and last summer sold chocolate ice cream that was, in my words, ‘Go-Die Vor’! It was deeee-licious!

godiva-ice-cream-uk-london-regent-street

Where to Buy the Best Chocolate in London- Godiva

Just like Choccywoccydoodah, I always make a stop in the store when I am shopping or passing by because it’s so damn Instagrammable! It’s at 141 Regent Street W1B 4JA.

My favourite item here is the chocolate covered strawberries, which are nearly always on display.

godiva-ice-cream-uk-london-regent-street

Best Chocolate in London: Cocoa Bijoux

Through Twitter, I discovered this specialty chocolate shop in West Hampstead in 2011 while I was planning for a trip to London prior to living here.

Cocoa Bijoux is a secret treasure because it isn’t showy on the outside and isn’t in the heart of Central London. However, if you can make a trip to this North London location in Zone 2, it will be well worth the extra effort. It’s just around the corner from both the West Hampstead Underground and Overground stations. Inside, you will find chocolate jewels.

5 Places to Buy the Best Chocolate in London- Cocoa Bijoux

The owner’s inspiration for his chocolate products started early in his childhood. Since he’s always been a foodie, he prides himself in making sure every product he offers is fit for perfection as it shines on his shelves. With over 60 different chocolate bars, each brought in for a specific reason, Cocoa Bijoux truly is the chocolate store in London with the best hidden story.

5 Places to Buy the Best Chocolate in London- Cocoa Bijoux

Not only do they have seasonal specials for you to entertain your dark indulgent dreams, but also they’ll dazzle you on any given day with what is rumoured to be the best hot chocolate in London. Chick out some of their Easter chocolate surprises…

5 Places to Buy the Best Chocolate in London- Cocoa Bijoux

5 Places to Buy the Best Chocolate in London- Cocoa Bijoux

Cocoa Bijoux concentrates on full flavour and beautifully designed chocolate. I can’t wait to share with you the full story about this very special London location in an upcoming blog feature.

You’ll find Cocoa Bijoux at: Broadwell Parade, Broadhurst Gardens, London NW6 3BQ

My favourite item here is the Peanut Butter Truffle.

Best Chocolate in London: Final Thoughts

Perhaps you can wander the city for hours just eating chocolate to gather your own opinions?

Ha Ha! You know where I am going with this, right? Why of course there is a tour for that type of adventure.

I haven’t been on any of the chocolate walking tours in London. However, as I prepared to write this blog I stumbled upon the Chocolate Ecstacy Tours website. Now, my big foodie problem is trying to decide which of their tours to take! They offer a chocolate tour in Mayfair, Chelsea and Notting Hill. And that’s just a few off their extensive list.

While I figure out which tour to check off my chocolate in London bucket list, I’d love to see your thoughts about my choices and challenge you to add your picks in the comments below…

March 25, 2016 by: Sunny London

The Sexiest London Food Tour for #FoodPorn Fans

What makes this London Food Tour the sexiest in all of food land, Sunny friends? Everything. It beautifully pairs food and London’s most intimate neighborhood, making it the ultimate #foodporn experience.

Now before you get your panties in a twist, let me remind you this blog isn’t for kids but it is pretty PG. Well, except for the frequent champagne, wine and beer mentions.

Two years ago I took the Eating London Food Tour, which hits the highlights of East London cuisine. When I heard they started a sister tour in Soho, I couldn’t wait to wrap my tongue around it.

Sexy Soho London Food Tour Review Eating London Tours, Twilight Soho Food Tour

Soho, London Food Tour: Foreplay

Having lived in the Covent Garden/Bloomsbury area previously, Soho is a nearby neighborhood that has good and bad traits. Yes, it’s where you find most of London’s theatres and a high concentration of restaurants. However, it also has a very dark, dodgy side which includes sex shops and scandalous stores.

The first stop on this London Food Tour is a Mexican restaurant that isn’t for the faint of heart. I first visited La Bodega Negra two years ago when it opened. It was a wild, tequila filled day that bled in to early evening, followed by a painful morning.

On the Twilight Soho Food Tour you have the chance to try a succulent frozen margarita and several tacos. London isn’t known for great Mexican cuisine, but if you give La Bodega Negra a shot, you won’t be disappointed. (Just don’t make them tequila shots dropped in champagne filled glasses. Trust me!) These are a few phallic served tacos for you voyeurs….

Sexy Soho London Food Tour Review Eating London Tours, Twilight Soho Food Tour

Sexy Soho London Food Tour Review Eating London Tours, Twilight Soho Food Tour

For those of you who aren’t aware of the restaurant’s cheeky back, your tour guide will show you the secret faux ‘sex shop’ entrance on the other side of the building.

Soho, London Food Tour: Main Course

As you move through the streets of Soho, your tour guide will point out the highlights of area’s history which involves dark features too. Aside from culinary delights, there is a naughty side which doesn’t showcase London’s finest. In fact, as my tour group stood hearing the secrets of Soho Square, a man with bright red lipstick and a St. Nick hat decided to crash our tour. This hardly secret Santa clearly had taken on one too many afternoon delights. Our tour guide Hannah handled the situation with grace, humor and quick redirection of our group.

There was no debate that after this rendevous, we were all ready for a stiff drink.

Sexy Soho London Food Tour Review Eating London Tours, Twilight Soho Food Tour

While visiting the London Gin Club on the tour, you will receive not only a gin and tonic but also a gin-infused beef pie. The venue is steeped in rich history and they make their own gin.

Sexy Soho London Food Tour Review Eating London Tours, Twilight Soho Food Tour

Moving along, you will hit Enrique Tomas, a family-run business which began as a huge success in Spain. The walls are covered in curing, hanging meat. Here you will try several selections of Jamon and a gorgeous, gorgeous glass of Spanish red wine.

Sexy Soho London Food Tour Review Eating London Tours, Twilight Soho Food Tour

Sexy Soho London Food Tour Review Eating London Tours, Twilight Soho Food Tour

Sexy Soho London Food Tour Review Eating London Tours, Twilight Soho Food TourIn fact, I made sure to find out that it comes from Spain’s Huesca region. Through your tasting, you will learn quickly about the curing process and have Manchego cheese to compliment your jamon.

My favourite stop on the tour is next- Pix Bar. I’ve never seen or heard of it and found this spot incredibly sexy. This is mostly because it’s dark and full of tall temptations. Mr. Sunny and I will be booking a table here soon, and I will recommend it to anyone seeking a sultry hideaway for supper.

A ‘pincho’ is Spanish for thorn/spike. The ‘pinxtos’ is Northern Spain’s response to tapas. They’re typically eaten in bars.

Sexy Soho London Food Tour Review Eating London Tours, Twilight Soho Food Tour

Sexy Soho London Food Tour Review Eating London Tours, Twilight Soho Food Tour

Each of the ‘pixy’ sticks I chose had a tongue tickling treat at the end. It’s the first thing I told Mr. Sunny about when I teased him about my food tour that night.

Soho, London Food Tour: The Climax

‘Smoke if you got ’em’ they say. The next stop on the Twilight Soho Food Tour is Opium. Located technically in Chinatown, Opium is an Oriental opium den. It’s not easy to find and there’s a tough climb of several flights of stairs to make it, but if you like delicious dim sum and Chinese tea, don’t miss this dark haven.

I don’t have any pictures for this experience. Some things just have to be left to your fantasies. Our group had the opportunity to have white peony tea and several varieties of dim sum. We also sipped on Lapsang souchong, a tea made by smoke-drying lapsang leaves over pinewood fires. It’s truly an acquired taste. In all honesty, I felt like I had just licked someone’s fireplace. No pun intended.

Finally, the tour hits the sweet spot with a toast at Said Chocolate. Imported from Rome, this chocolate cavern offers tour guests a tiramisu, which translates to ‘pick me up’ in Italian. The favourite dessert of both Mr. Sunny and me- it’s exactly what I needed after a night of engaging in a wild night of touring #foodporn in Soho.

Sexy Soho London Food Tour Review Eating London Tours, Twilight Soho Food Tour

Sexy Soho London Food Tour Review Eating London Tours, Twilight Soho Food Tour

As a final farewell, each tour guest gets a flavoured hot chocolate. I chose hazelnut and can best summarize it with another tour guest’s quote, ‘If I didn’t think it would end up on a social network, I’d scrape my tongue around this cup to get every last drop.’

Amen, sista!

Soho, London Food Tour: When Harry Met Sally

If this review and all its innuendos made you uncomfortable, the Twilight Soho Food Tour might not be for you. Two other guests on this tour who had experienced both tours like me indicated that they preferred the East London tour over Soho. I disagreed. However, depending on who asked, I would recommend them accordingly. They tours are different, so I would consider people’s preferences.

Both tours highlight culinary information of the food and drink items served, and the tour guides give tons of historic and cultural information through enthusiastic, personable presentations. However, you do have an alcoholic beverage on nearly every stop on the Twilight Soho Food Tour. You also pass several adult themed venues in the Soho area in the evening. While it’s also not the norm to be approached by random men wearing lipstick at 5pm in London, it’s not that shocking that it happened on our tour while we stood in Soho Square.

I had an explosively fun evening with Eating London Tours because of Hannah the tour guide, the expertly picked places and the fantastic people who were part of our eight person group. This tour does feature adult content, but rest assured, it is presented and conducted very, very tastefully.

It’s not your mother’s walking tour. 😉

August 4, 2017 by: Sunny London

What Food to Eat in Malta

Do you try to eat regional cuisine when you go on a holiday? Curiosity about what food to eat in Malta was one of the things that had Mr. Sunny and I eager to start our holiday. Yes, of course we couldn’t wait to get out in the sun and sand. However, you can’t bake outside all day. Can you? 😉

Part of our research for our trip involved investigating what local food we could eat while in Malta for five days. Some of the things were pretty easy to learn about in our pre-trip planning. However, some items we discovered through talking to Maltese people and then ordering the items for ourselves.

If you haven’t discovered my Malta Trip planning videos yet on YouTube, you’ll definitely want to give those a look. I am careful not to put the same information in the video and blog that matches it. For example, we will start with pizza. That’s always a good place to begin a conversation, right?

foods-to-eat-in-malta-maltese-cuisine-video

Food to Eat in Malta: Pizza

While I hope that picture above looks delish, I actually didn’t like it, and I don’t mention pizza in the video. If you look again, you’ll notice that it seems only the bread is baked. The other ingredients just feel like they are tossed on the top. In fact, it was a typical windy day in Malta when I had the pizza, so most of the ingredients blew off the top of it before I got to eat it all. If you’re an American girl like me, keep in mind that pizza will be served much differently in Malta.

Food to Eat in Malta: tomatoes

Juicy alert! Mr. Sunny and I both were enamoured with the tomatoes in Malta. They are so luscious and rich with flavor. Every bite is an explosion of warm sweet love. After realising it wasn’t at just one restaurant, we asked one of our tour guides to tell us more. We learned that Malta only exports a few food products. The top two are tomatoes and potatoes. Because of their very hot weather conditions and great soil, they are able to grow exceptionally good tomatoes in Malta. So, get your mouth around as many of these little red balls of juicy joy as you can while you are there! Oh, and the watermelon is crispy, sweet and fresh too.

Food to Eat in Malta: Restaurants

Since we were only in Malta for a five days, we didn’t get to his nearly as many restaurants as we would have liked. One we missed is Barracuda Restaurant in Sliema. My friend who was also in Malta at the same time said it was fantastic. Many celebrities have eaten there.

However, the most romantic location we went to was in Valletta.

foods-to-eat-in-malta-maltese-cuisine-video

I went back the next day to quickly take the photo of Papannis because we were there late in the evening and had a table inside. It was 95 degrees the day we went and they have air conditioning! We highly recommend eating here for Italian food.

In the YouTube video I show you the spectacular views you can see at the seafood restaurant below.

foods-to-eat-in-malta-maltese-cuisine-video

Our Game of Thrones private tour guide identified Fontanella in Mdina, the country’s former capital, as having excellent views of Mdina. It was packed with eager diners when we passed it.

foods-to-eat-in-malta-maltese-cuisine-video

Food to Eat in Malta: Final Thoughts

Our typical bill was between €70-€80 for dinner and included a starter, main course and two drinks each. Mr. Sunny had beer as always, and I enjoyed red wine. To see more about what I suggest you eat in Malta, take a few minutes to watch this…

More on Malta:

To make sure you don’t miss any Sunny updates about visiting Malta, be sure to subscribe to the Sunny News. Videos and advice articles about Malta on the blog include:

  • Game of Thrones Tour Review
  • Things to Do When Visiting Malta
  • Advice for Visiting the Blue Lagoon
  • Luzzu Cruises Review- Gozo, Comino, Blue Lagoon

On the blog you can also find my review of Air Malta and Grand Hotel Excelsior Malta. I haven’t created a video of the cruise and Blue Lagoon experience yet. If that’s something you would like to see, please let me know in the comments. Also, leave any questions you think I can answer about planning your Malta trip here or on YouTube. If you have been to Malta, it would be great if you can add your advice here too!

foods-to-eat-in-malta-maltese-cuisine-video

foods-to-eat-in-malta-maltese-cuisine-video

December 16, 2014 by: Sunny London

Places to Eat in London- All You Can Eat on One Street!

‘Where are the best places to eat in London?’ is a question I get all the time as a blogger and American expat living in London. In truth, since there are so many restaurants in mayfair as well as all the other areas of London, you could argue that it is impossible to have a definitive answer. However, I not only have my answer, but I had a Brit verify it for me!

When I was at the World Travel Market conference in November, I went to the Visit Florida stand to network with my home state peeps. One of the conference presenters I met was on her first trip to London. We talked about her experience. Then, she asked, ‘So where are the best places to eat in London? What pubs do you recommend?’

Since I’m asked these questions often and eat at some of London’s top restaurants regularly, I said, ‘You can honestly find everything you need on one street.’

A lifelong Londoner was also part of this conversation. I indicated that I was willing to give the street name, only if he he would candidly agree or disagree when he heard my answer.

‘Charlotte Street’, I said.

And he, without hesitation, agreed.

There’s nothing like getting a British stamp of approval when you’re an expat attempting to offer advice about a place you haven’t lived your whole life.

Best Places to Eat in London Charlotte Street

You know the game, ‘If you were stranded on an island and could only bring…’? Well, here’s a twist. If I were limited to eating at restaurants on one street for the rest of my life, I’d pick Charlotte Street. And I’d like it.

Actually, I’d love it.

I love Charlotte Street because of its variety and West End location just inches from Goodge Street Underground Station.

Best places to eat in London Charlotte Street

While everyone will have an opinion about what constitutes ‘best’ when it comes to food, I am going to make my definition for this blog post clear. I pick Charlotte Street for the ‘best places to eat in London’ winner because it features something for everyone.

Best places to eat in London Charlotte Street

When you’re traveling with a group of people, family or just need a central location to make sure you can get delicious food, Charlotte Street is where to go.

The street is literally lined with restaurants. They are from nearly every cuisine in every price range. Here’s a break down of the major food venues by categories:

Places to Eat in London: Charlotte Street- Snacks

EAT– features a daily changing menu which includes coffee, soups, salads, sandwiches.
Reynolds– ‘Great coffee, fresh food, nice people.’ Let’s face it, we all like nice people 😉
Yog– offers fat free, probiotic, natural frozen yogurt.

Best places to eat in London Charlotte Street

Places to Eat in London: Charlotte Street- American and British

Bubbledogs– serves Champagne with gourmet hotdogs. For more details, check out my Bubbledogs review.

Charlotte Street Hotel– part of the exquisite Firmdale Hotels. This location has the afternoon tea in London which I feel offers the best quality of food for the price. You can learn more about it in my review. It also has a gorgeous bar which is popular for happy hour and late evening cocktails.

Places to Eat in London: Charlotte Street- European

Andreas Restaurant– a Greek restaurant with a modern setting. They have highly nutritious dishes on a vast Greek and Mediterranean menu. Mr. Sunny and I ate here during my pre-blogging days so I don’t have a formal review or pictures. However, I can say it was an excellent meal, and I would love to return. I highly recommend it!

Best places to eat in London Charlotte Street
Cote Brasserie– a modern interpretation of the many famous bistros of Paris. It’s open early every day for breakfast, through to lunch and dinner.
Elena’s L’Etoile– ‘a legend among French bistro restaurants.’ Taste Card also offers a 50% off discount as well.
Obika Mozzarella Bar– has locations in Italy, United Kingdon, USA, Japan and Dubai.

Best places to eat in London Charlotte StreetBest places to eat in London Charlotte Street

Pescatori– also located in Mayfair. It’s an Italian Seafood restaurant.
Pizza Express– located throughout London. It accepts the Taste Card without advance table bookings. Be sure to read my review of their pizza, which can be ordered gluten free.
Zizzi Ristorante– ‘local, affordable Italian food’

Best places to eat in London Charlotte Street

Best places to eat in London Charlotte Street

Places to Eat in London: Charlotte Street- Pan-Asian & Indian

Dim T– with other locations in Hampstead, Highgate, London Bridge, Victoria and Winchester, Dim T offers a variety of the most popular Oriental dishes and a wide range of Chinese teas.
Palms of Goa– the first Goa restaurant in the West End. It features a South Indian cuisine. Palms of Goa has excellent reviews from London’s Daily Mirror, Evening Standard and Time Out.Best places to eat in London Charlotte Street

Best places to eat in London Charlotte StreetRoka– award winning restaurant serving contemporary Japanese food. Also located in Canary Wharf, Mayfair and Aldwych.
Siam Central- a Thai restaurant with outstanding reviews from London’s foodie community.

Best places to eat in London Charlotte Street

Places to Eat in London: Charlotte Street- Mexican

Wahaca– it’s a well known fact that London’s Mexican cuisine isn’t top on the ‘must have’ list. However, in my Wahaca review, I outline why Wahaca offers the best selection of Mexican market eating that I can find in London.

Places to Eat in London: Charlotte Street- Pubs & Wine

Fitzroy Tavern- a public house currently owned by Samuel Smith Brewery.
The Draft House– also has locations in Seething, Tower Bridge, Westbridge, Northcote, Bump Caves and Birdcage. It’s a small group of Public Houses ‘which aim to do for beer what our culture has done for food and wine over the past twenty years.’
Vagabond– a wine bar which ‘prepares shockingly good charcuterie and cheese platters, as well as other tasty and artisanal nibbles.’

Best places to eat in London Charlotte Street

Best places to eat in London Charlotte Street

Best places to eat in London Charlotte Street

Places to Eat in London: Honourable Mention

Kua’Aina– located on Goodge Street, this Hawaiian burger restaurant is one of my favourites in London. I reviewed the Carnaby Street location and loved the legendary burger and Sandwich Grill, which is also one of President Obama’s favourites too. I know it’s not technically a Charlotte Street restaurant, but it’s on the corner and simply too good to leave out!Best places to eat in London Charlotte Street

I hope you have the chance to enjoy many of the restaurants and food venues on Charlotte Street so you can see why I vote it #1 for the best places to eat in London. If not, well, I guess I’ll just have to eat my words. 😉

Places to Eat in London: Final Thoughts

For specific restaurants, be sure to see my restaurant review category of the blog. There’s also a listing of Pub Crawls. These are designed by my husband, a lifelong Londoner and ‘professional beer drinker.’ He and his father purchase the Good Pub Guide each year and can 100% vouch for its quality. And of course, if you plan on drinking beer here, you can’t miss these tips from Mr. Sunny and me…

If you’re visiting London for the the first time you’ll want to pin this: ‘Guide to London for Americans Visiting the First Time!’ and subscribe to regular emails with London news. I’ve also recently created a YouTube video and blog post with maps of 5 Foodie Streets in London.

October 5, 2019 by: Sunny London

The Ice Bar London Review

Literally the coolest thing to do in London is go to the ICEBAR London. Mr Sunny and I have been to this venue just off Regent Street in Mayfair twice. We still think if you’re looking for something unique for a date, out of office experience with colleagues or night out with the girls, then keep reading.

icebar-london-review-mayfair-cocktail

Back in 2011 we hit ICEBAR London for a super fun few hours. That’s because we combined it with their restaurant experience. It was pre-blog days but since I had some pictures I wrote about it as one of my first food reviews on Sunny in London.

We went on a Christmas holiday evening. Mr Sunny had booked our time well in advance. It was crowded.

While I nearly always prefer to avoid crowds, this is one of the rare times I advocate for going to a location when it is busy.

On the last Monday night of September 2019 we were nearly the only ones in the ICEBAR London at 5:45pm. Yeah, it was nice not to wait in a long queue for drinks. But, have you ever been on the dance floor by yourself at a club or wedding?

Not ideal, right?

icebar-london-review-mayfair-cocktail
icebar-london-review-mayfair-cocktail

We literally got our drinks, took our photos and returned our capes. I think we were in the actual ice bar for 15 minutes.

They offer a range of ICEBAR experiences, and you must book in advance. Basically, you get a cape and gloves to keep you warm plus your first ice cocktail on entry. You are welcome to stay inside the bar for up to
40 minutes from the start of your session.

While you might be concerned about the chilling temperatures and your ability to withstand them, it’s not anything that would impair your ability to have fun. In fact, during the most recent visit I had my gloves off for most of the time because I was filming video and taking pictures. Below is the 45 second highlight video I published on my Instagram of our night at Ice Bar and Fire Bar.

View this post on Instagram

Have you ever sipped from a cup of ice? This week Mr Sunny and I hit the @icebarlondon for cocktails. Since the last time we visited they have added a Fire Bar. It’s sexy and the perfect date location. Take 45 seconds to see why in this video…

A post shared by Sunny In London☀️🇬🇧 (@sunny_in_london) on Oct 2, 2019 at 7:09am PDT

Included in our complimentary experience was only snacks from Fire Bar on the patio because Yuu Kitchen was closed for a private event. We were informed that Yuu Kitchen isn’t open for food on Monday nights. Hopefully, we’ll have a chance to return in the future to try the food because that was one of the highlights from our first Ice Bar experience.

I absolutely loved my White Satin, which was Absolut Raspberri vodka, lychee, orgeat and apple juice. It really was so silky smooth that the name does says it all. Literally, I would put it in my top five cocktail experiences ever. The list includes my all time favourite- which was an aloe martini I had in a Toronto bar. Second is a “Peanut Butter and Jelly” creation that a bartender made me once in Hollywood. I told him I liked Chambord and requested a cocktail that wasn’t just another French martini.

Mr Sunny told them to surprise him with their choice of a cocktail and they brought him a Strawberry Crush. He said it was pretty tasty.

Sitting on the patio was a nice experience until it started to pour rain, which caused us to end our evening a bit early.

icebar-london-review-mayfair-cocktail

What you might not know if you have been to the Ice Bar London previously is that they annually change the theme of the sculptures. Currently it features Norse myth and magic that comes alive inside the frozen Hall of Odin.

Valhalla Calling is the ICE BAR’s latest ice art installation and their second collaboration with the creative team at PSD Ice Art. Yes, as huge Game of Thrones fans, Mr Sunny and I each took a chance to sit on the “ice throne”.

icebar-london-review-mayfair-cocktail

The concept draws its inspiration from the myths of the Norse Gods, Odin, Loki and Thor, the monsters of Ragnarok, the final war at the end of the world, and the fabulous hall of Valhalla where Odin feasts every night with the bravest warriors who have fallen in battle.

So, Sunny friends, would you take the deep freeze plunge for cocktails literally on ice? What’s been your most unique cocktail bar experience?

icebar-london-review-mayfair-cocktail
  • Please note, the IceBar closed in early Spring 2020. This post was updated on 14 April to reflect this.

October 15, 2019 by: Sunny London

The Best Pubs Near King’s Cross London

Mr Sunny and I never thought to share a King’s Cross Pub Crawl with you until this past summer. Generally, the King’s Cross and St Pancras International Station area is where we change trains or get trains. For example at these two stations it’s common to take either the East Midlands Railway Link, Eurostar, Southeastern or Thameslink.

This means that Mr Sunny and I don’t spend much time in the actual neighbourhood because we are likely just to have a drink at a pub or bar before or after a trip and then head to our travel destination.

For people visiting London for the first time, the British Library would be the only iconic place of interest in the immediate King’s Cross area. It is not a neighbourhood I would suggest getting a hotel if you want to be centrally located near many attractions or great shopping.

However, it is great for those taking a trip on the Eurostar to France, Belgium or the Netherlands before or after staying in London. Or, people planning additional trips within the UK to York or Edinburgh might want to stay close to the stations if they have an early train to these destinations.

So, what happened this summer that made us think you would want to know the best pubs near King’s Cross London?

Train delays and cancellations!

best-pubs-near-kings-cross-station-london-pub-crawl

Pubs at King’s Cross and St Pancras Station

On a few nights during the summer in 2019 all trains were cancelled from King’s Cross. This caused thousands of people who commute to London for work to either be stranded for hours, or even worse for them, stuck in London overnight.

If you know British culture, you know that the solution to being delayed is to wait in a pub with a pint. Or two. Or three…

Therefore, Mr Sunny felt it his moral obligation as an Englishman born in London to ‘help out humanity’ by preparing a list of the best pubs near King’s Cross. He recommends you have this list in your pocket so it is ready to help you cope with severe train delays at Kings Cross or St Pancras international station.

Perhaps the easiest pub to find at these stations is the Betjeman Arms, which is in St Pancras International Station on Euston Road. It is the poshest pub on our King’s Cross pub crawl.

best-pubs-near-kings-cross-london-betjemen-arms

The Grand Terrace at the Betjemen Arms has a great view of St Pancras Station and the famous The Meeting Place statue. In fact, that’s probably why I have had drinks there a few times. It is really easy to find because you can just direct people to meet you at the ‘pub near the statue at the station.’

This Geronimo Inns pub is open early for breakfast. The British menu changes seasonally, and they have craft beers and moreish wines from around the world.

Of our two pubs at the stations, King’s Cross Wetherspoons (AKA The Barrel Vault) is the top pub that Mr Sunny recommends. He chooses Wetherspoons because it is known for its cheaper prices. They also offer a good English breakfast. He is pretty sure that you can get it as takeaway too, if you are in a rush to catch a train. The Barrel Vault pub also is closely located to screens displaying train times, which is smart to keep your eye on while you are waiting.

Best Pubs Near King’s Cross- A Short Walk Away

If you leave either station and make a right on Euston Road, you will find O’Neills on 73-77 Euston Road. It is technically located in Marylebone.

O’Neills is an Irish Pub and Bar chain in London. This specific location is closed for a remodel until 21st October. We’ll be sure to include an update when the doors open again.

best-pubs-near-kings-cross-london-oneills-pub

Not too far down the road you will find The Euston Flyer at 83-87 Euston Road. Mr Sunny says this pub near King’s Cross is a great place for watching major sporting events. It is a lively location and is part of the Fuller’s pubs experience. Avid readers of Sunny in London know that we love their food and have reviewed many Fuller’s pubs.

Mabel’s Tavern is just around the corner on a side street off of Euston Road. At 9 Mabledon Pl, London WC1H 9AZ this tavern is allegedly haunted. Mabel’s Tavern is a traditional alehouse with a wide variety of superb beers and freshly prepared food on the menu.

At Mabel’s Tavern you will find commuters and tourists plus local office workers at lunch time. Crowds gather at this pub near King’s Cross in the evening to watch live sports events.

best-pubs-near-kings-cross-london-mabels-tavern

Just when Mr Sunny thought he had been to all the pubs in London, we discovered The Dolphin the day we did our final research for our list of the best pubs near King’s Cross and St Pancras stations. It is a straight shot from Mabel’s Tavern and is on 47 Tonbridge Street.

He loved it because he feels it is a “proper old traditional pub.’ Mr Sunny said The Dolphin and the next stop on this pub crawl are probably the last of the pubs that can be considered ‘local pubs’ in the King’s Cross neighbourhood because so few people can afford to live in Central London now.

best-pubs-near-kings-cross-london-skinners-arms

You might call the Skinner’s Arms an old London boozer. What caught Mr Sunny’s attention the day we visited is the “saloon” insignia above the door frame. He explained to me that back in the day, a saloon bar was separate from the public bar. It was an area for those deemed more elite and had better seats and drinks. The public bar was cheaper and an area where working class would mainly just get drunk.

The Skinners Arms has a friendly atmosphere for all. inside and outside you will regularly find London’s working commuters and visitors. The pub is located in Judd Street WC1, just far enough away from the hustle and bustle of Kings Cross station and Euston Road.

Best Pubs Near King’s Cross- Food

With all this beer, we feel it would be best to give you some food tips to soak up the alcohol. Mr Sunny gravitates to burgers or steak to compliment cold beer. He is a huge fan of Five Guys, which is just outside King’s Cross Station. My favourite burger joint in London is Shake Shack, which has locations in Covent Garden, Leicester Square and Victoria Station.

Another burger place near King’s Cross that we know is good is Honest Burger. Many of Mr Sunny’ mates who work in the area go to The Big Chill for after work drinks. It’s a laid-back bar club with basement and roof terrace, hosting busy and eclectic DJ programme. The Big Chill is on 257-259 Pentonville Road.

For a stronger meal, we recommend Bar and Block. They have great deals, so it’s worth following them on social media to know what’s on offer.

However, if you are on the run, The Kiosk is an independent takeaway kiosk offering deli-style roasted-meat sandwiches, plus iced teas and coffees that is right inside St Pancras station.

best-pubs-near-kings-cross-london-kiosk

Best Pubs Near King’s Cross- Final Thoughts

Please let us know if you visit any of these pubs, because we are always interested in feedback. Plus, if you have any experiences at pubs in the King’s Cross area that you can add, that would be great!

To be honest, if there ever is an occasion when Mr Sunny hasn’t been to a pub in London, he relies on the Good Pub Guide. If you are in America you can get it either as a hard copy or the Kindle version on Amazon here.

Want a Freebie for London food?

Subscribe to the Sunny in London email and immediately get the ‘Local’s Pocket Restaurant Guide to London.’ It’s the ultimate free travel accessory for your London trip. The Guide has top recommended restaurants from a local, organised by neighbourhood. With it you can easily find a place to eat when you’re on a London street. Downloading the file to your phone means skipping Wi-fi and finding a fab foodie place- fast!

October 9, 2019 by: Sunny London

1947 London-Modern Indian Restaurant Review

Sexy, sumptuous and savoury. 1947 London has proven in its launch as a modern Indian restaurant in London to attract diners with discerning palates.

It is an exciting new venture from the founders of the Chai Thali restaurant group. Protege of Michelin-starred Vineet Bhatia, Chef Krishnapal Negi created a menu which nods to recipes that evolved out of the movement of people and culture during the 1947 Partition.

1947-london-modern-indian-restaurant-london-review-food

1947 London- The Menu

On a Monday evening in October, just two weeks after 1947 London opened, Mr Sunny and I had the opportunity to review this modern Indian restaurant. We looked forward to the evening as soon as the review invitation hit my inbox. Mr Sunny, who has far more experience and knowledge about Indian food, combed over the menu. His enthusiasm for trying many dishes at 1947 London drove our anticipatory conversations prior to our date night at the restaurant.

Intentionally short and easy to navigate, the menu features dishes from a Tandoor oven and Robata grill for theatrical cooking in view of diners.

We had many conversations about the menu with servers and managers throughout our evening. I learned that out of the hundreds of desserts they can offer, they choose to keep the selections limited to a handful so as not to overwhelm guests and to give the restaurant clear focus on exquisite taste and excellence. This also gives them flexibility to rotate items frequently, which will mean 1947 London will surprise and delight guests upon every visit.

Is the proof in the pudding?

Keep reading, Sunny friends.

Sample menu items at 1947 London include:

Nano Plates
Beetroot Masala Uthappams £6 and Avocado Bombay Bhel £8
Small Plates
For example, Wild Mushroom Tikki & Chickpea Masala £9 and Crispy Cheese Kebabs £9
Sharing Bowls
Including Punjabi Lamb Masala £14 and 1947 Dhaaba Murg £14
Sides
Including Pomegranate Raita £6, Asparagus and Sugar snaps with Fresh Coconut £9 and Daal Tadka £8
Briyanis & Rice 
A selection from Steamed Basmati £5 to Lamb Dum Biriyani £24
Breads 
Such as Caramelised Onion & Cheese Nan £6 and Butter Naan £4.
Desserts 
Made in-house by pastry chefs include Kulfis in Pistachio & Rose and Mango £7 and Phirni, a cardamom-flavoured rice pudding  £7

1947 London- Atmosphere

Perhaps competing with their experienced Chef’s training as a unique selling point is the decadent atmosphere. This modern Indian restaurant is no where to dine by yourself. And judging from the tables filling up with couples and crowds on the Monday night we visited, that message is in place.

The shimmering rose-clad doorway ushers guests in to an exotic night in low light. Once you plunge down the copper-toned staircase and turn the corner overlooking the dining room, you immediately transcend in to a world of glamour and opulence. This environment is best enjoyed with company.

1947-london-modern-indian-restaurant-fitzrovia
Photo credit: Jon Ashford

Unlike many of London’s cramped food experiences, 1947 London has giant circular dining tables which offer plenty of space. The walls are copper, gold and green. These colours combined with the overhanging globes containing micro L.E.D. lights and myriad of candles infuse the room with a subtle glow.

And let’s not forget the velvet.

From the velvet drapes in crushed purple to the crushed velvet cushions, 1947 London just plain feels sexy.

1947-london-modern-indian-restaurant-fitzrovia
Photo credit: Jon Ashford

1947 London- Drinks

Our first order of “business” on our sexy date night included ordering our cocktails.

1947-london-modern-indian-restaurant-london-review-food

When I blurted out that I would like the “Indian Rose”, our server thought I had prior experience so knew exactly what to order. I confessed to him that while Mr Sunny had focused on the food, I had poured over their cocktail menu prior to our arrival.

The Indian Rose is a cosmopolitain with an Indian twist. It features a mixture of vodka, Contreau, Rooh Afza, orange juice, rose syrup and lime.

However, Mr Sunny’s “Hello Lassi” really got my attention. My drink had more visual sex appeal, but Mr Sunny’s “pina colada with no pina nor colada” stole the drink show. It features mango lassi, Baileys and white rum. It is luscious.

The cocktail menu and bar are impressive not only for what you see and taste, but also for the price. I have had equivalent cocktails in London’s posh bars and paid double what 1947 London charges.

1947 London- Food

You have probably already guessed through the atmospheric description and drink summary that 1947 London doesn’t hold back on flavour in their dishes.

For Small Plates, Mr Sunny and I chose the Baby Squid with garlic and green chilli. Next we had the Maharaha Prawns (jumbo praws lightly marinated in a blend of spices and cooked in a clay oven).

1947-london-modern-indian-restaurant-london-review-food

Finally, we picked the grilled lamb chops (rack of lamb marinated in Kashmiri chilli and selected homemade spices served with green herb chutney. Mr Sunny scored the prawns the highest. I couldn’t resist picking my winner to be the lamb chops, which were lit on fire as they were brought from the kitchen to our table.

I am a sucker for theatrics. We can safely say the lamb chops got flare. 😉 However, to see some of these dishes in motion, you had to have watched my Instastories from the evening.

For our Main courses, we of course had Naan bread and Mini Poppadums. I dined on the Malabar Lamb and Pulao Rice.

1947-london-modern-indian-restaurant-london-review-food
1947-london-modern-indian-restaurant-london-review-food

Mr Sunny strayed from his normal Indian restaurant selections and had the Lamb dum Biriyani. This dish is an aromatic basmati rice and pieces of tender lamb, cooked in a dum style served in a pastry sealed pot with a burani raita.

1947-london-modern-indian-restaurant-london-review-food

I am not accustom to as much spice as was in my lamb, but I have only been eating Indian food a few years. Plus, I was desperately trying to save room for the cheesecake.

1947-london-modern-indian-restaurant-london-review-food

Dessert dazzled us. The presentation of the “1947 Choice of Kulfi” gets a gold star. Would you ever have guessed the dish on the left is ice cream? That’s Mr Sunny’s salted caramel. Its mix of salty and sweet taste rolled beautifully over the tongue. My cheesecake didn’t disappoint either!

Given those two experiences, I can only wonder how gorgeous the Kulfi can be in the other flavour offers- rose and mango.

1947 London- Final Thoughts

Since taking over the address 33 Charlotte Street, Fitzrovia W1T 1RR this Modern Indian restaurant has caught quite a bit of attention. The reviews I have read on various websites match our experience.

So, while we enjoyed our night as a complimentary review, our feedback is consistent with the other guests who have rated it “absolutely outstanding” and declared it an “amazing place.”

1947 London offers an excellent evening for a couple’s date night. However, there were large tables of people who appeared to be work colleagues present while we ate too.

My advice… find someone you know, and give 1947 London a go!

Want a freebie Guide to London Restaurants?

Subscribe to the Sunny in London email and immediately get the ‘Local’s Pocket Restaurant Guide to London.’ It’s the ultimate free travel accessory for your London trip. The Guide has top recommended restaurants from a local, organised by neighbourhood. With it you can easily find a place to eat when you’re on a London street. Downloading the file to your phone means skipping Wi-fi and finding a fab foodie place- fast!

September 24, 2019 by: Sunny London

Oak Caffe Whetstone Review

Every weekend morning when I pass Oak Caffe in Whetstone it’s buzzing. Tables are full of people and the environment looks inviting.

For a closer look inside on a regular basis, I started following their Instagram account months ago. They consistently post vibrant, fun images and the food looks delicious. Mr Sunny and I had Oak Caffe on our list to try for a while. However with numerous holidays planned and weekends being short, it took a lot longer than we intended.

Finally, on a beautiful sunny September Saturday we set our morning alarm and made our best effort to get to Oak Caffe in Whetstone early.

oak-caffe-whetstone-review-london-breakfast

Oak Caffe Whetstone Review- The Atmosphere

Arriving at 10am, we were lucky to get a table. Nearly all were full and we noticed a large one in the back was reserved. Several staff members whizzed around serving fantastic looking breakfast food and coffees in giant, colourful cups.

Quickly, someone greeted us, got us seated and handed us menus. As Mr Sunny and I poured over the menu, we felt that staff were doing their best to manage a crowded caffe. Glancing around, I observed people looking happy with their meals and taking time to relax at their table in a cheery environment with friends and family.

Throughout our time at Oak Caffe the tables that turned over were quickly cleaned and immediately filled with more eager patrons. Staff hustled to keep everyone fed and moving.

Oak Caffe Whetstone Review- The Food

While the menu is simple, there are many items I still want to try after this experience. If you follow me on Instagram, you know that every time we leave for holiday I eat Eggs Benedict at the airport before an AM flight. It’s something I can’t resist on a breakfast menu when I am not obligated to each something specific for the purpose of a review. Choosing my old faithful poached eggs, slices of ham and hollandaise sauce made sense for my first visit to Oak Caffe in Whetstone.

oak-caffe-whetstone-review-london-breakfast

However, Mr Sunny chose something a bit more uncharacteristic of his traditional breakfast dish. For regular blog readers, you might remember Mr Sunny sharing his advice on how to make a traditional English breakfast. That’s pretty much what he gets nearly every time we have a chance to relax and focus on food in the morning.

Instead, he ordered Oak Caffe’s Cafe Breakfast. This dish includes smoked salmon, scrambled egg, avocado and granary toast.

oak-caffe-whetstone-review-london-breakfast

We both found our food very pleasing. Our only feedback is we felt it could have been served a little warmer. But, with the amount of people packed in to Oak Caffe that morning, we felt the staff did everything they could to keep things hot and moving.

I did ask to have a chocolate muffin that was sitting on the counter while waiting for my Eggs Benedict. I know the two aren’t necessarily great compliments, but I couldn’t resist them teasing me while I waited for my real breakfast.

The muffin was moist and rich with chocolate. I absolutely loved it. Our coffees were delicious too.

oak-caffe-whetstone-review-london-breakfast

Oak Caffe Whetstone- The Value

Compared to what we pay in Central London for breakfast, we feel Oak Caffe is really reasonable. So, their prices reflect what you would expect for a nice atmosphere and tasty food from a menu with a good selection of breakfast options in North London.

Final Thoughts- See You Soon

We will definitely return to Oak Caffe in Whetstone as soon as we have a morning off together and aren’t off to Central London for a different review or blog activity. I enjoyed the Eggs Benedict so much it will be tough not to order it again.

Sunny friends, do you find that you always choose the same food item on a menu? Or are you more adventurous when you visit somewhere for the first time?

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