Sunny in London

A Florida girl's guide to finding SUN and FUN

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October 3, 2016 by: Sunny London

The Holly Bush Pub Hampstead Review

Who in Hampstead isn’t familiar with The Holly Bush Pub? Everyone in this North London area knows this traditional 18th century wood panelled pub, yet it’s hidden down a small street which is at the top of a steep hill. It’s certainly no place in the path of a tourist.

I first visited The Holly Bush pub in 2013 when Mr. Sunny and I attended a leaving drink for one of his colleagues. I felt like I was in a pirate pub. This is neither from Mr. Sunny’s work mates nor the other clientele. It’s because the decor is dark, rooms are small and candles seem to provide most of the light. In my early stages of living as an American expat in London, I felt like I had transcended back centuries and was a part of a secret meeting place for beer lovers.

Since then the pub has been refurbished. Yet, it still holds on to its flavour. And, boy does it have flavour!

The Holly Bush Pub Hampstead Review London Guide

I featured the Holly Bush pub in my Hampstead Pub Crawl in 2014. However, in all of this time, I never thought to eat there. While the history is rich and local sentiment is strong, I always thought of it as a great place for North Londoners to drink. When Mr Sunny and I received an invitation to review a Fuller’s Kitchen and we realised The Holly Bush was an option, it was just a matter of picking a date we were both off before we booked our table.

I knew photography would be a challenge because low light is really tricky. How the meal would be remained a mystery.

The Holly Bush Pub Hampstead Review London Guide Beer

Mr. Sunny spent no time sampling the beer, as you can see by his half empty glass above. He says, ‘Half full or half empty, as long as there’s beer in the glass, who cares?’

Me, when I have to take a picture for a review!

He was mildly scolded for jumping to the Fuller’s beer too fast. But, I can’t say I blame him.

The first items to arrive (aside from my wine) were these starters. Below you can see his Devonshire crab mayonnaise, quails egg, and toasted sour dough. I enjoyed the Artichoke and Ricotta Ravioli with lemon and poppy-seed sauce.

The Holly Bush Pub Hampstead Review London Guide Devonshire Crab

The Holly Bush Pub Hampstead Review London Guide Gnocchi

As a girl who grew up in Florida, I don’t get too excited when I see seafood on a menu in London. I was caught off guard by how amazing Mr. Sunny’s crab dish tasted. Fresh and gorgeous. Even more striking was my ravioli. I’m Italian, so it was pretty risky to order ravioli in an English pub and assume it woud be good. The combination of lemon, poppy seeds and ricotta was certainly a new one for me. This dish rocked!

We both agreed that we could have eaten the Starters as bigger Main Dishes. The food was that delicious. Perhaps this built too high of hopes for our next course.

Mr Sunny took one for the blog team and ordered the Canoed Sea Bream because we were told the presentation would be the best of all the dishes for pictures. This meant the beef on the menu was all mine! I had been silently strategizing about how I could be the one who got to have the Hampshire Ribeye Steak as a non-sharing plate. 😉

The Holly Bush Pub Hampstead Review London Guide Sea Bream

We agreed the presentation was certainly interesting. Unfortunately, this fish dish wasn’t a winner because Mr Sunny found quite a few bones in his bites. My steak was cooked exactly how I ordered it, and that was the problem.

The Holly Bush Pub Hampstead Review London Guide Ribeye Steak

When I was asked how I wanted it cooked, Mr. Sunny jumped in with, ‘Blue!’ I added to that, ‘I am ok if meat is still moving, so let’s go with rare.’ Props to the chef for the precision and accuracy. This steak was certainly prepared to that preference. In hindsight, I should have said, ‘medium rare.’ Now I know that my response should not be so dramatic in the future.

Saving room for dessert, we looked forward to the final course. I’m a sucker for Sticky Toffee Pudding, so I didn’t even see anything else on the menu. And this pudding with stick with me for a long, long time.

The Holly Bush Pub Hampstead Review London Guide Sticky Toffee Pudding

While I’ve taken better pictures at other restaurants of sticky toffee pudding, none (and I mean none!) can beat the taste of this one! Holy heaven! Texture, temperature and taste were double A star! Here is Mr. Sunny’s Chocolate Fondant Tart with rosewater marshmallow and vanilla ice cream.

The Holly Bush Pub Hampstead Review London Guide Choclate Fondant Tart

I think he said it was really good. However, I was so induced by the entrancing sticky toffee pudding that I don’t recall much after my first bite.

After posting some images on my Instagram, I learned that The Holly Bush pub in Hampstead also has a rock star Sunday roast. We’d love to go back for this. I’m guessing the other Fuller’s Kitchens probably offer the same caliber of food because the brand has Head Chef, Pascal Persigout’s signature on every menu.

We’d be eager to visit the Holly Bush pub again for a dinner, or any other Fuller’s Kitchen for that matter. If you are one of the few people who doesn’t know hasn’t heard of this popular pub, you can find it on 22 Holly Mount London NW3 6SG. You’ll be glad you hiked up the hill once you have that sticky toffee pudding at the end of your meal!

September 19, 2016 by: Sunny London

Breakfast at Cafe Rouge Southgate

Not living in Central London means Mr Sunny and I spend a lot of time during the week travelling. On weekends it’s nice to stay home and not deal with long rides. We love our north London neighbourhood. When the weather is great, we enjoy spending time around the area.

When Cafe Rouge contacted us to try their summer breakfast menu, we were really excited because there is one located relatively close to us. On a beautiful, sunny day we walked to our local Cafe Rouge for a Sunday breakfast in Southgate.

Cafe Rouge Southgate Breakfast

We’ve been to Cafe Rouge in Highgate, the City of London, and Canary Wharf and really love their lunch and dinner menus. Mr. Sunny loves escargot and mussels. Me- not so much. Their Nicoise salad is my standard selection.

We found the Cafe Rouge in Southgate quite charming and the people we met are really lovely too. Apparently, they’ve had some patrons who have visited on a weekly basis for the seventeen years they have been open. That’s loyal!

Mr Sunny ordered the Rouge Breakfast and I opted for Buttermilk Pancakes with bacon, banana and maple syrup.

Cafe Rouge Southgate Rouge Breakfast

Cafe Rouge Southgate Breakfast Buttermilk Pancakes

I was surprised to see a French restaurant serve pancakes they were so similar to American pancakes. I had expected something like a crepe.

We also had Rouge Mimosas and enjoyed the wine cocktail. This is probably an odd choice to pair with breakfast, but we really wanted to try it.

Cafe Rouge Southgate Breakfast Mimosas

 

Cafe Rouge Southgate Breakfast

The highlight of our meal actually was the croissants we had at the end. I had the pain au chocolat croissant. I liked that it wasn’t super flaky. Rather, it had a wonderful soft texture that didn’t feel like shards of crumb shrapnel disintegrating in my mouth. The taste of the bread and pops of chocolate were perfect together.

Cafe Rouge Southgate Breakfast croissants

Mr Sunny and I agree that this restaurant is best for lunch and dinner and look forward to going to the Cafe Rouge Southgate with his parents some time in the near future. It’s great to know they have so many regular customers. It’s easy to see why they’re already letting everyone know what’s available for the holidays.

Cafe Rouge Southgate Breakfast Christmas

Cafe Rouge Southgate Breakfast

Our breakfast was complimentary for the purpose of a review. This does not affect the opinion of my experience.

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.

August 11, 2016 by: Sunny London

Big Easy Covent Garden Weekend Boozy Brunch

If you’re looking for true Southern hospitality in London, then Big Easy Covent Garden is for you. Mr. Sunny and I hit their Unlimited Boozy Brunch over the weekend and give this London location a huge ‘Yeeeeeehawwwww!’

Ok, all jokes aside, as an American expat living in London I’m always curious about what restaurants offer on their American themed menus. While it wasn’t perfect, Big Easy Covent Garden scores big with me for several reasons. The restaurant gives oversized portions typical of the U.S. The decor is truly reflective of country rustic. Food was flavorful.

What more could a Florida raised girl want on a lazy, sunny afternoon in London?

Big Easy Covent Garden Brunch in London

I’ve walked by the restaurant many times during my regular strolls through Covent Garden. The fun, colourful exterior is very alluring. When the invitation to try their weekend unlimited boozy brunch showed up in my inbox, my heart skipped a few beats. After reading the menu with Mr. Sunny, we thought it was a little too good to be true.

Our personal tastes in food pair well with this menu. We ordered quickly once at our table, and began sipping our booze.

Big Easy Covent Garden Brunch in London

Beer and Prosecco. I won’t give you long to guess whose was whose. 😉

Big Easy Covent Garden- The Food

Our food arrived not long after we ordered. Don’t tell Mr. Sunny, but I think he had the meat sweats before the beef and poultry hit the table. But, it was more like beads of excitement forming on his upper lip. I was a little more hesitant because I never order food that I need to manage once it is in front of me. No sir-eee.

Big Easy Covent Garden Brunch in London

Big Easy Covent Garden Brunch in London lobster

Above, you can see his North Carolina Chopped Pork, Pit-Smoked Bar B.Q Chicken, St Louis Pork Ribs, Slaw, Pit-Smoked Beans, Fries  and Fresh Baked Cornbread. I tried a little of each as a Southern Belle sampling the cuisine for accuracy. Everything but the cornbread could’ve easily been on a plate in America. In a Southern state, the cornbread probably would’ve had a honkin’ heap more sugar in the recipe. I don’t blame the restaurant for holding back. Londoners probably wouldn’t like the intense sweetness of what is served in the U.S.

My lobster gets two claws up. Mr. Sunny took it all out of the shell for me. No matter how much I love it and how many times I’ve ordered it, I’ve never man-handled the crustacean myself. The garlic butter that accompanied it was superb. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention they asked if I wanted it with butter or hollandaise sauce. That made me chuckle pretty hard. Mr. Sunny explained that British people would’ve picked the later. I can’t fathom any true Southern Americans doing it, but readers, correct me if I’m wrong.

We munched and slurped for nearly two hours. I was actually a bit embarrassed how long we were there. But we were having a boozy blast. I even managed a piece of red velvet cake!

Big Easy Covent Garden brunch in London

Big Easy Covent Garden- Southern Style

Like I wrote earlier, the atmosphere of the restaurant certainly has Southern flair. Even though the name seems to be all Louisiana, Big Easy Covent Garden shows a little bit of the Southern big guns throughout the location. Perhaps the biggest is the Lone Star state, Texas.

Big Easy Covent Garden boozy brunch in London

I couldn’t quite figure out why all the California plates were included below, but this wall art sure did lasso up my attention.

Big Easy Covent Garden boozy brunch in London

For those of you who have spent time in a good ‘ol Southern state, wouldn’t you agree that if you just looked at the pictures below you ‘wood’ not guess the restaurant was in London?

Big Easy Covent Garden boozy brunch in London

Big Easy Covent Garden boozy brunch in London

Big Easy Covent Garden boozy brunch in London

We really enjoyed the Big Easy Covent Garden weekend brunch and look forward to returning to try the other delicious looking items they have. Once we finished, I had a secret look at their largest live lobster minutes before he took the plunge on to someone’s plate. If you follow me on Snapchat (SunnyInLondon2), you got to wave goodbye to the little guy with me. 😉

I recommend you view the menu the of Big Easy Covent Garden location, as well as King’s Road and Canary Wharf to see all the juicy options for their Southern BBQ and more. Their weekend unlimited boozy brunch sure offers a whole lot of Southern comfort to even the heartiest eaters.

August 3, 2016 by: Sunny London

Harrods Restaurants- Mango Tree Review

What people might not know about the most famous place to shop in London is that Harrods restaurants are fantastic too. While I haven’t been to all of them, the ones I have been to have always been exquisite. So, when I was invited to enjoy food at Mango Tree in Harrods, of course Mr. Sunny and I said yes.

Keep in mind, if you are going to eat at one of Harrods restaurants, you should not expect cheap food. Everything about the famous British department store reflects luxury. Dinner at Mango Tree is no different. While Mr. Sunny and I experienced ‘sticker shock’ when we first sat down to review the menu, we did appreciate the location and took it into consideration.

You may remember that we recently had dinner at Mango Tree in Belgravia. The food was great, but what stood out to me the most from that experience was one of the cocktails. The Mango Tree which is a part of the Harrods restaurants selection doesn’t have such an array of cocktails. This certainly didn’t affect us, as we ordered our standard red wine and beer to pair with our food.

Harrods Restaurants Mango Tree Review London

Harrods Restaurants Mango Tree Review London

We ordered prawn crackers, and then each of us selected a Starter. I chose the Prawn with White Truffle Oil, and Mr. Sunny picked the Shanghai Pork Siu Long Bao. Both of us sampled a bit of each and felt they were lovely.

Harrods Restaurants Mango Tree Review London

Harrods Restaurants Mango Tree Review London

Next, we took some time to enjoy the sights of shoppers surrounding us and observed the crowd of people at Mango Tree restaurant. This Thai food location certainly has fast service because we saw several seats filled and re-filled during our time there. This makes perfect sense. If you’re busy shopping or being a tourist in London, you probably want to eat and go quickly.

For my Main course, I had the BBQ Roast Pork and Mr. Sunny ordered the Crispy Spring Chicken.

Harrods Restaurants Mango Tree Review London

 

Harrods Restaurants Mango Tree Review London

Harrods Restaurants Mango Tree Review London

His dish arrived covered in prawn crackers. Both were delicious. We really enjoyed our food at this 24-seater Harrods restaurant in the Food Hall.  Mango Tree was awarded Best Performing restaurant Concession in 2012 at Harrods. It has a commitment to offering guests an exceptional dining experience with a taste of warm Thai hospitality. We feel it certainly delivered that during our experience.

Harrods restaurants Mango Tree Review

 

July 20, 2016 by: Sunny London

Cabana- The Best Boozy Brunch in London

Hearing a lot about people enjoying a boozy brunch in London but not sure where to go? Cabana in Islington not only offers the best deal on booze but also has really fun food and a great atmosphere.

Mr. Sunny and I had the chance to settle in for the two-hour affair on Saturday. We sampled almost everything on their Bottomless Brasilian Brunch menu, including the luscious drinks! This is how it went…

Cabana- The Best Boozy Brunch in London

We arrived to Cabana Brasilian Barbecue around 11:30am, clearly ahead of the brunch crowd. The staff was immediately inviting and we loved the colourful decor. Mr. Sunny specifically thought the seat covers of our table were interesting, and I loved the Christ the Redeemer statue which is in the restaurant’s entrance.

Cabana- The Best Boozy Brunch in London

 

Cabana- The Best Boozy Brunch in London

Once we were seated, the manager Pete came to introduce himself and was very enthusiastic about explaining the brunch and bottomless drinks. It almost sounded too good to be true. Their current promotion is that you can enjoy the bottomless, very boozy brunch for £14.95.

This means that you can order any of the three Belleni and/or Bloody Maria for the two hours that you have a table. While we were there, we had the pineapple, the mango and the Passion Fruit Bellini. We also had the Bloody Marias too. So, five drinks for each of us- certainly a boozy brunch in London.

Cabana- The Best Boozy Brunch in London

During the time there, the food flow was pretty solid too. Pete suggested we try everything, so we did. First, we had the Acai Smoothie Bowl. It was healthy, rich and delicious. On its own this could be a great choice for someone who doesn’t want to be bottom-heavy from the experience. 😉

Cabana- The Best Boozy Brunch in London

Next, I loved the Rabanadas, or ‘Brasilian French Toast.’ It’s sourdough bread dipped in condensed milk, pan fried with cinnamon vanilla sugar and chocolate. On top is Greek yogurt and berries. I could have stopped there because both items were very filling. (And, yes, I did eat every bite!)

Cabana- The Best Boozy Brunch in London

Also on the Cabana Bottomless Boozy Brunch in London is the Avocado on Sourdough Toast. It’s served with fresh chilli, lime and a poached egg. This is one I will start craving again by the end of the week. I love the spin on the avocado toast trend that Cabana presents.

Cabana- The Best Boozy Brunch in London

I hit the food wall on this next menu item, the Sweet Potato Hash with poached egg. It’s served with crumbled feta and chopped parsley. At this point, I was beyond forcing myself, and I couldn’t cross the finish line. This dish plus the Avocado Toast tie for my favourites.

Cabana- The Best Boozy Brunch in London

Mr. Sunny, on the other hand, was holding back for more meat. As quite a few skewers stacked with beef passed our table, Mr. Sunny was a bit distracted. As I struggled to finish the Sweet Potato Hash, he ‘took one for the team’ and ordered the Picanha Burger and the Spicy Malagueta Chicken Wings.

Cabana- The Best Boozy Brunch in London

By the time he finished these final two additions to our overly boozy brunch in London, he was on the verge of food coma too. We gave it our best to test the bottomless brunch and nearly made it through everything. Because the drink offer is so fab at this Brasilian barbecue, we both give it two thumbs up. If this had been an Olympic eating contest, we would’ve certainly earned gold medals for effort.

Our experience at Cabana was complimentary for the purpose of a review. This doesn’t affect the opinion I’ve expressed here. How can you not claim that a bottomless choice of Bellini and/or Bloody Marias isn’t the best brunch in London deal?

Pete and the staff made our first experience at Cabana really enjoyable. I imagine the location of this restaurant and lively decor make it one of Islington’s evening hotspots too. Mr. Sunny will definitely be interested in returning with me to eat their barbecue, which is their speciality. For those who want a casual atmosphere to get their morning drunk on, we feel Cabana has the best boozy brunch in London.

Cabana- The Best Boozy Brunch in London

The Bottomless Brunch is offered at this location Saturday and Sunday from 11am-4pm. You can read the complete Cabana menu and see their numerous other locations around London too. What do you think you would order from all the food I mentioned above?

June 13, 2016 by: Sunny London

Tart Attack! Bel and the Dragon Windsor Review

When Mr. Sunny and I found out we had a table booked at Bel and the Dragon Windsor, we had no idea what a treat it would be. As part of our weekend in Windsor, we had many activities planned for us and some time to choose our own adventures. I don’t know if we would’ve found Bel and the Dragon on our own, because it isn’t right on the high street in Windsor. However, like many things to do in the regal area, it’s within view of the castle.

We’re incredibly happy to say that everything we ate in this historic restaurant steeped in old English heritage was five-star, for sure! While we were in Windsor to ingest the tiara-driven royal life, it was actually a tart that captured our attention!

Bel and the Dragon Windsor Restaurant Review

We probably didn’t make a great initial impression at the restaurant. We were scheduled to enjoy afternoon tea. However, given that I had just had two royal afternoon teas in honour of her Majesty’s 90th birthday in less than ten days, I needed variety.

Bel and the Dragon Windsor Review- afternoon tea

We not only asked to have something different but also changed the time of our table. None of this was a problem for Bel and the Dragon Windsor, and we really appreciated that.

Bel and the Dragon Windsor Review

Mr. Sunny and I chose not to have an outside table, because if you can believe it- it was just too hot and sunny that day! Instead, we sat next to the window and quickly ordered a beer and wine. ‘Taking one for the blog team’, Mr. Sunny missed his standard Stella and selected the beer brewed in Windsor and Eton. He’s such a Prince Charming 😉 The Kohinoor was brewed specifically for the Queen’s Jubilee.

Bel and the Dragon Windsor Review- Windsore brewery

Bel and the Dragon Windsor Review

During our Sunday lunch experience, he tried both the Kohinoor and the Republika which are featured above, and he gives them two thumbs up. For our starters we picked the Pink Peppercorn Squid, Sweet Chilli Jam and the Seared Scottish Scallops and Crispy Pancetta.

Bel and the Dragon Windsor Review- squid

Bel and the Dragon Windsor Review- scallops

When the food hit the table, we were stunned. The scallops had such artistic character, we didn’t want to disrupt the show.

Awww, dahhhling. Who am I kidding? … We dug right in! In fact, I was disappointed I had picked the squid because Mr. Sunny’s starter looked so delicious. Since he shared a few bites with me, I was able to enjoy the rolling textures of apple slices, pea puree, fluffly scallops and crunchy bacon. The contrasting flavours moved beautifully together.

We had been to a really fantastic and over-boozey wedding in Windsor the night before, so a heavy meal around 2pm was just what we needed. Feeling a bit rough, Mr. Sunny thought the Sunday Roasted Rib-Eye of Beef, Yorkshire Pudding and Fresh Horseradish Thyme and Duck Fat Roasted Potatoes, Lots of Green Vegetables and Braising Jus would be an excellent hangover cure. He added some side dishes for good measure.

Bel and the Dragon Windsor Review- Sunday Roast Beef

 

Bel and the Dragon Windsor ReviewHe wouldn’t stop talking about how perfect the beef was cooked. Again, he gives his food five-stars.

The chef’s exquisite ability to present a dish that’s both visually magnificent plus has sensational taste surfaced in my fish too. Since we had crossed the River Thames a few times during our weekend in Windsor, I wanted my food to be nautical and selected seafood. Thank cod I did!

Bel and the Dragon Windsor Review- Roasted Atlantic Cod

Doesn’t that main course look delightful? I have to admit, I was a bit nervous while waiting for it. I ordered the Roasted Atlantic Cod, Miso and Lime with Shaved Radishes, Avocado and Samphire. I don’t like miso, can’t stand radishes, and have never heard of samphire. Yet, this food combined through the chef’s masterful recipe completely rocked me! What a catch!

Throughout our meal, we had excellent service and couldn’t have asked for more. In fact, we were going to skip dessert because we didn’t think we had any room left. It’s amazing what a hot tart can do to destroy the most proper intentions!

Our server asked if we minded he picked a pudding for us. Based on everything we had experienced, we let him take over the final phase. Mr. Sunny and I dub this dish the ‘Tart Attack!’

Bel and the Dragon Windsor Review- tart pudding

When they first brought us plates with what I think were swirls of caramel sauce, I thought the server was playing a joke on us. And then, the baked tart hit the table.

Bel and the Dragon Windsor Review- tart pudding

Bel and the Dragon Windsor Review- tart pudding

Hot DAMN!

I don’t eat baked fruit, but for one of the few times in my life, I made an exception. It would be sinful if I repeated all the words Mr. Sunny and I shared over this dessert. Sweet hallelujah it was divine! I really don’t think this level of food porn should be allowed on a Sunday…

Bel and the Dragon Windsor Review: Final Thoughts

Bel and the Dragon Windsor historic restaurant and tea room has been serving food and drink since the 11th Century. And, based on our exceptional encounter, it’s clear to see it’s going to remain for centuries. Chef Ronnie Kimbugwe presents a series of menus full of twists on an array of classic British dishes, with a focus on local, sustainable and, above all, quality ingredients.

Bel and the Dragon Windsor Review

The restaurant with its open kitchen allows diners to watch the chefs at work, adding a touch of culinary theatre to the dining experience. The website states ‘Just a stone’s throw from the shops, theatres and the gates of Windsor Castle and a short hop across the footbridge from Eton College, Bel and the Dragon Windsor is the perfect place to take time out to relax and enjoy the superb food & drink on offer.’ Mr. Sunny and I will attest to that being true, on any day of the week.

Our experience at Bel and the Dragon Windsor was complimentary for the purpose of a review. This in no way affects our opinion of the food and service. In fact, I was super excited when I discovered that they have locations in Churt, Cookham, Godalming, Kingsclere, Odiham and Reading. Road trip, anyone?

May 23, 2016 by: Sunny London

Mango Tree Review- Belgravia, London

Who would’ve guessed that Mango Tree serves the swankiest cocktail in London?

At least that’s the story I am telling after my recent experience there. Sunny friends, I am not kidding. The ‘Bangkok Fizz’ is going to be my hot new drunk of choice. That’s of course after a cold glass of champagne.

This sexy mixture of Malibu, fresh lime juice, cranberry juice, lemonade with crushed ice and fresh mint really took me by surprise. But more on that later.

The Mango Tree Review Belgravia, London Thai Food

In the heart of Belgravia, literally on Buckingham Palace’s back door, is the ultra stylish Thai restaurant Mango Tree. With its original branch in Bangkok, this super spacious and feng-shui designed venue offers more than just a fun dining experience. It was featured on BBC1’s Masterchef and even has a mention in renowned Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling’s novel The Silkworm.

So, given all the hype, Mr. Sunny and I were excited when we received the invitation to take on this Thai food experience for a night.

We arrived just shortly after they opened, were whisked to the bar area and had colourful drinks in our hands within what felt like seconds.

The Mango Tree Review Belgravia, London Thai Food

And there she is, Miss Bangkok Fizz, front and centre. After the first sip, I fell in love. The smooth, silky feel of this drink hit me unexpectedly. Of course, the Malibu wasn’t too overpowering. I’ve always felt like it was like drinking suntan oil, light, luscious and tropical. It was the sheer lovely sensation of the drink and shock that it didn’t contain vanilla that resonated with me. For some reason it just seemed like it would have that ingredient hidden somewhere.

With nearly finished drinks, we headed to our table which was in a spacious area near a window. After ordering our food, a simple apple salad on a spoon arrived for each of us.

The Mango Tree Review Belgravia, London Thai Food

We both liked this little treat, as it had the right balance of a sweet and sour taste. Next, a seafood platter landed in the centre of the table and each bite was filled with excellent flavour. I may have taken more than my portion of the peanut sauce, but Mr. Sunny knows that’s one of my real weaknesses when it comes to food favourites.

The Mango Tree Review Belgravia, London Thai Food

For our Mains, I chose the Royal Pad Thai. Mr. Sunny picked the Pad Ka Pow. Now, I can guess that you’ve probably never seen a Pad Thai presented quite like this one below.

The Mango Tree Review Belgravia, London Thai Food

It is stir fried with lobster, Alaskan King Crab and the usual suspects for the Thai dish. For £32.50 I would’ve expected more lobster and crab, but the dish was tasty as served.

Mr. Sunny was a little surprised by the amount of chilli peppers in his minced meat dish and was happy it came with rice to ease the kick.

The Mango Tree Review Belgravia, London Thai Food

The Mango Tree Review Belgravia, London Thai Food

The Mango Tree restaurant in Belgravia, London serves genuine Thai dishes from each of the four main culinary regions: rich and mild dishes from the north, spicy food from the east, mild dishes influenced by the chinese cooking style from the central region, and hot and spicy food from the south.

We had excellent service and appreciate the complimentary experience. Naturally, I would be thrilled to return for the Bangkok Fizz and can only imagine how amazing the other drinks are until then. All the food I had was beautiful on a plate and rich with flavour. For an upscale evening of Thai food and swanky, spacious ambiance, Mango Tree in Belgravia is certainly an option.

April 6, 2016 by: Sunny London

Prezzo London Review- It’s Gluten Free Too!

What’s the latest from Prezzo London? If you haven’t had a chance to keep up with everything happening on London’s restaurant scene, you might not know that Prezzo London has launched an impressive Spring/Summer menu. However, it wasn’t just this menu that really caught my attention when I visited one of their locations recently. It was something else that really hit me where it counts.

Prezzo London Review of St Martin's Lane and Gluten Free Menu

Oh Sunny friends, I know what you’re thinking. It actually wasn’t all the bubbles that were served with lunch that had me so enthralled. Although, let’s be honest. Who complains when they keep getting topped up on Prosecco? ‘Not me’, says the Florida girl living in London. 😉 However, their new cocktail menu does feature an espresso martini, Amaretto sour, and Porn Star Martini! Most of you will know exactly what is meant by the Porn Star Martini, for those of you that don’t, it isn’t a martini that’s being drank by a porn star, instead you can Browse around tubev sex for top quality Milf sex to find that instead!

No. What was so intriguing about my visit to Prezzo London was their extensive gluten free menu. I really had no idea they offered so much.

As a chain that’s pretty widespread in London, I’ve passed many Prezzo locations in my travels around town. Although I always wanted to stop and eat, I refrained because Italian restaurants serve too many gluten temptations. As a girl who has Italian roots, I fight the carb battle on a daily basis. Staring at a menu full of powdery delights just isn’t smart. So, I’ve always steered clear of places that focus on flour. I wish I had known how large the gluten free menu is at Prezzo London.

Prezzo London Review of St Martin's Lane and Gluten Free Menu

Ok, so if you’ve ever met a gluten free menu that was super photogenic too, Call Me. Maybe. You’ve got to admit that this list from an Italian restaurant is beyond expectations. Really.

That being said, in the spirit of honesty, I didn’t exactly order everything gluten free. Because there are some things that I just can’t resist. For example, I had to have these Baked Mushrooms.

Prezzo London Review of St Martin's Lane and Gluten Free Menu

They are stuffed with bella lodi cheese, mozzarella, garlic, onion and breadcrumbs and served with garlic mayonnaise. They slid down real easy, and yes, a bit greasy. However, I had no problem finishing every.single.one.

My friend who joined me for lunch selected the King Prawns featured in a pomodoro sauce with garlic, red chilli and spinach and served with toasted sourdough.

Prezzo London Review St Martin's Lane Gluten Free Menu

I don’t think that dish will dawn any food magazine covers in the near future, but my friend said it was tasty.

From there we moved on to our Main courses. Here you won’t be surprised, if you read Sunny in London often. I’m a huge fan of risotto, so the deep magnetic attraction I have with this slow cooked rice is undefeateable, every time it is offered.

Prezzo London Review St Martin's Lane Gluten Free Menu

That is the King Prawns Risotto I selected from the gluten free menu. I agree that it doesn’t scream #foodporn by any stretch of the imagination. However, for the price it’s offered in the location where I enjoyed it, I think it’s fair. Let’s think about it- there is never going to be a time when a picture of risotto breaks the internet. Knowing this, I decided to marginally shake things up a bit and see what happened when I gave the food a good whipping for a better picture…

Prezzo London Review St Martin's Lane Gluten Free Menu

With a few more pops of colour to see, you can now enjoy the final result of my food feast before I forked it. That’s amore! This brought out the visuals for the oak-roasted salmon and leeks in a creamy saffron sauce with bella lodi cheese. It was smooth, sexy and rich with flavour.

My friend, on the other hand, played it genuinely colour safe and healthy with her Chicken, Bacon and Avocado Salad.

Prezzo London Review St Martin's Lane Gluten Free Menu

She won the antioxidant contest of the day against me. But, in the end we were dessert divas together because we both gave in to the almighty cheesecake chariot with these two champions…

Prezzo London Review St Martin's Lane Gluten Free Menu

Prezzo London Review St Martin's Lane Gluten Free Menu

Your eyes just settled on the White Peach and Amaretti Cheesecake and Honeycomb Smash Cheesecake. We both left plates that were so clean they probably didn’t need to be washed 😉 The first one is a new dessert on their Spring/Summer menu,

My friend and I really enjoyed our Prezzo London lunch. I’d recommend this location for any hungry tourist who wants to eat Italian and skip the gluten free weight. The St. Martin’s Lane location is right around the corner from the National Portrait Gallery and Trafalgar Square in Covent Garden.

Prezzo London St Martin's Lane Review Gluten Free Menu

You can view the options closer on their website, as well as see their lactose free and vegan menu.

  • This experience was complimentary via Prezzo but in no way affected my opinion above. I feel they offer an extensive gluten free menu for people. What I do regret is that I was distracted by the food and bubbles and forgot to take a picture of my friend and I enjoying our lunch catch up. She just had an amazing blowout at a salon and was ready for her blog debut. 😉 Next time, my friend!

March 22, 2016 by: Sunny London

Le Pain Quotidien Covent Garden

Le Pain Quotidien in Covent Garden really shocked me recently. This popular chain in London has a name that means ‘the daily bread’ in French. As someone who is gluten sensitive, I try as much as possible to avoid baked goods during my daily routine. Since I’m in my favourite neighborhood Covent Garden often, I pass this restaurant frequently. I never stopped to read the menu because I anticipated it would be full of gluten temptations.

When Mr. Sunny and I were invited to explore their menu, I did exactly that. Never did I expect that there would be so many healthy options. And bubbles too…

Le Pain Quotidien Covent Garden London Review

We met at a pub around the corner and each had a sip of our favourite adult beverages. Then we walked over to Le Pain Quotidien on a simply beautiful sunny afternoon. It’s located right near the London Transport Museum. I’ve reviewed it on the blog and definitely recommend the attraction for a fun, informative few hours.

Le Pain Quotidien Covent Garden London Review

You can sit outside Le Pain Quotidien in the unbrella covered tables above on the left. What many people don’t know is the restaurant has an upper level too which is filled with tons of tables and a nice view.

Le Pain Quotidien Covent Garden London Review

Le Pain Quotidien Covent Garden London Review

Our table was reserved by the window and our server, Kamila, was eager to help us with everything. She truly made our evening wonderful.  Mr. Sunny was happy to see the menu included beer. He tried several and still will be a Stella Artois fan for life. I do give him credit though for giving organic and gluten free beers a go.

I had a glass of Prosecco to toast my starter, which was Smoked Atlantic Salmon toast.

Le Pain Quotidien Covent Garden London Review

Mr. Sunny picked Moroccan Spice Meatballs after greatly debating between that dish and the Crevettes.

Le Pain Quotidien Covent Garden London Review

For our Main courses, we were both torn among many options too. If I wasn’t trying to be a little healthy, I would’ve had the Smoked Chicken Caesar Brioche Bun. However, the Quinoa Cake won because it sounded unique and nutritious. I would most definitely order it again. The textures and flavours combined beautifully together, and it wasn’t uncomfortably filling.

Le Pain Quotidien Covent Garden London Review

Mr. Sunny hotly debated between the Chicken and Leek Pie and the British Steak and West Country Ale Stew. I’m sure you aren’t surprised that the menu item which contained beer won that contest. Yes, he opted for the stew.

Le Pain Quotidien Covent Garden London Review

The vegetables weren’t exactly ones he enjoys, so his thoughts were a bit mixed on this meat dish.

We split a Tiramisu at the end of the night. It seemed to have a bit of a ginger taste, which is something I haven’t experienced before. But, it was pleasant.

As for Mr. Sunny, let’s just say you can lead a horse to water… I don’t think he’ll ever get excited about organic, healthy food. On the other hand, I am eager to go back to Le Pain Quotidien Covent Garden or other locations. The menu has so many gluten free items that I want to try. For example, they have Organic Coconut Granola, Granola Parfait, and several organic egg options. The tartines (especially with avocado) look delicious too.

Because of this experience, I will certainly think of Le Pain Quotidien for more than just cream tea, bread and pastries. This isn’t because my experience was complimentary for the purpose of a review. I will be very happy to return on days when I am out blogging and want an easy, healthy meal to keep me going.

Where do you recommend for healthy food in London? Have you tried Le Pain Quotidien Covent Garden or other locations?

Le Pain Quotidien Covent Garden London Review

 

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