RESTAURANT REVIEW

May 26, 2014 by: Sunny London

Bacon and BBQ at CARNABY BURGER Co

So, after all the yapping I did over that burger joint in Covent Garden being phenomenal, I figured my burger review days were done. And then, I ended up at Carnaby Burger Co.

It was actually a bit of a fluke. I was in the Carnaby Street area for the #Regent #Shopping Party.

The event included numerous discounts and offerings from nearly all the Carnaby Street stores. The problem was… they were all packed!

I wandered in Carnaby Burger Co because quite honestly, it looked like I could get a seat. The pub across the street was offering dinner and a drink for £10. However, I didn’t feel like waiting in the line wrapped around the building. Sometimes deals just aren’t worth all that.

Since Carnaby Burger Co was also listed on my shopping ticket as a venue giving discounts, I felt fairly ‘shopper savvy.’

I was really disappointed when I learned the only promotion was a small price reduction on a chicken sandwich. I wanted a hunka beef and buttery buns.

I told the server I was a blogger and my readers valued a strong slab of hot, juicy meat. Her smile grew across her face, and she said, ‘You like barbecue?’

And this Florida girl said, ‘Does a bear…’

HaHa! Well, now y’all know I’m not that crass. I just politely said, ‘Why sure, I do!’ as a fluttered my eyelashes.

The Barbecue Beef Burger (surrounded by smoked bacon, melted cheddar, crispy onion rings and homemade BBQ sauce)

Oh yeahhhhh! You know you want some now, Sunny friends!

It’s safe to say Sunny was no Southern Belle when it came to eatin’ time. This burger needed some serious man handling. I took the challenge and had no shame. I inhaled it in under 6 minutes. It was intense. I couldn’t stop myself.

It’s a good thing they sat me in the Conservatory, downstairs…

The absence of any elaborate décor made it feel a bit institutional. However, I did go absolutely mental on the food, so maybe it was all for the best. This is the top level.

I do want to give a special shout out to the staff. Thank you for not only recommending a truly memorable burger. But also, thank you for telling me I could have my burger within 15 minutes of ordering it and keeping your promise. The service was stellar!

You can find Carnaby Burger Co at 4 Newburgh Street, London W1F 7RF.

And I strongly suggest that you do!

July 1, 2015 by: Sunny London

Why Scarlets Covent Garden Restaurant is Cool!

All right Stop. Collaborate and Listen. Scarlets Covent Garden is here with a brand new invention. Ice! Ice, Baby!

Oh yeahhhhh, Sunny friends, today I have just the place for you to cool off in this London heat wave- Scarlets Covent Garden restaurant and bar. You’ll never believe what’s sizzlin’ on their menu for summer.

With temperatures set to hit 35 celsius (that’s a sweltering 95 degrees Fahrenheit for you Florida folk), London is on fire this week. Fo’ shizzle!

Thank goodness my favourite neighborhood has a new hot spot where you can chill and get your buzz on too. What. Could. Be. Better?

On Saturday, Mr. Sunny and I hit Covent Garden for a weekend of fun. The sun was out and the London streets were packed. We found an oasis for shade and drinks.

‘Take heed, ’cause I’m a lyrical poet
~~Miami’s~~ Sunny’s on the scene just in case you didn’t know it…’

I kicked off the day like a real Floridian. I wrapped my hair in to a twist and grabbed a funky themed t-shirt before heading to town with Mr. Sunny. With temperatures soaring on a Saturday morning, glamour went right out the window. First round of food… champagne and beer, of course.

‘Now that our party was jumping
With the bass kicked in, and the Vegas are pumpin’
Quick to the point, to the point, no faking
Cooking ~~MCs~~ lunch like a pound of bacon’

We ordered a Starter to share and our Main courses.

To keep our cool going, we had another round of drinks…

At that point I decided…

‘I’m on a roll and it’s time to go solo.’

So, I asked our server to bring out the frozen booze pops. Yes, you read that right. Scarlets Covent Garden has found a way to freeze alcohol. And it’s ja ja juicy heaven, Sunny friends.

scarlets-covent-garden-restaurant-bar-london

‘If there was a problem, yo, I’ll solve it
Check out the hook while my DJ fansicle revolves it’

After turning three alcohol popsicles in to a fan to keep cool, I enjoyed eating each one. The flavours are: Gin and Tonic, Vodka and Lemon and Mojito.

Finally, it was time to leave Scarlet’s Covent Garden.

‘Yo, man, let’s get out of here! Word to your mother!
Ice Ice Baby Too cold, Ice Ice Baby Too cold Too cold
Ice Ice Baby Too cold Too cold, Ice Ice Baby Too cold Too cold’

Our experience at Scarlet’s Covent Garden was complimentary for the purpose of a review. This did not affect my opinion of the restaurant. I fully accept responsibility for the ridiculous use and alteration of Vanilla Ice’s song lyrics for my own promotional gain on my blog.

Our food and drink selections at Scarlets Covent Garden were:

– A small board of cured meats
– Grilled Chicken Burger (The pictures above don’t do it justice. It was phenomenal.)
– Honey and Soy Marinated Salmon, Asparagus, Confit Potato, Beans, Peas, and Seeds. (The salmon was incredibly juicy and flavourful. This salad is healthy and something I will crave until I have it again.)
– The Scarlet
– The Rum Punch

If you’re looking for a fun way to keep cool for summer and you appreciate great food and service, give Scarlet’s in Covent Garden a try. It’s located at Upper St. Martin’s Lane, Covent Garden, WC2H 9NY. I can’t wait to see what they have planned for Christmas!

Meanwhile, I’m going to…

‘Keep my composure when it’s time to get loose
Magnetized by the mic while I kick my juice’

April 2, 2014 by: Sunny London

La Brasserie London- Chic Cocktails in Chelsea

When a neighborhood Super Blogger like Kings Road Rocks invites you to join her at a Chelsea hotspot like La Brasserie London, you have rocks in your brains if you decline.

Therefore, I eagerly arrived at La Brasserie London at 4pm on Saturday to meet with both Mina from Kings Road Rocks and Angie from Silver Spoon London.

We were seated right near the entrance of London’s first all day Brasserie.

Aside from it being in a prime location for people watching, La Brasserie also has a stunning interior, filled with my favourite…

You guessed it, Sunny friends… CHAMPAGNE!

And just as quickly as we were seated, a round of bubbly arrived for us to enjoy.

After our initial chats and giggles, we placed our order for their Afternoon Tea, which is 3-tiers of French love, mon ami!

The bottom layer features assorted pastries that are perfectly sized for any Chelsea girl who wants to have fun and still zip and button her skinny jeans.

La Brasserie London Chelsea Afternoon Tea

Mini Choux, Framboisier, Macarons, Petit Financier, Mini Opera

Next, is the lovely layer of finger sandwiches…

Smoked Salmon, Ham with Dijon Mustard Mayonnaise, and Cucumber

And last (but if you know Sunny, certainly not least)… the SCONES!

Freshly Baked Fruit Scones with Clotted Cream and Strawberry Preserve

Oui! Oui!

I tried very hard to be polite and eat slowly, but I just couldn’t help myself with the scones. They were tres tres tres MAGNIFICIENT! As we talked and talked, our bubbles “evaporated”, so we decided to raise the adventure glasses and explore the cocktail menu.

I had the Brompton Road (vodka, peach, passion fruit puree, passion fruit syrup, pineapple juice and champagne). Angie sipped on the Made in Chelsea (vodka, fresh blackberries, fresh strawberries, crème mure, passion syrup, and champagne).

Since Mina has enjoyed the La Brasserie London cocktail menu before, she chose the La Brasserie Martini & Oyster (belvedere, elderflower cordial, chateau bligny champagne, twist of grapefruit, and fresh oyster on the side).

Doesn’t that just look slinky as all hell? 😉

Now, here’s where it gets really fun, Sunny friends. La Brasserie lit such a French fire in us, we ordered yet, another round of cocktails. Behold the Raspberry Bellini!

Our blogger trifecta lasted nearly fours.

Just finished an awesome 4-hour afternoon tea with @SilverSpoonUK and @Sunny_in_London. Thank you @Labrasserie272! pic.twitter.com/zhXMhbkfQR

— King's Road Rocks (@kingsroadrocks) March 29, 2014

La Brasserie London is just that chic, Sunny friends.

Once the sun set, we noticed the tables quickly filling around us and said our tipsy adieus.

While I might have been hazy from the bubbles, I am absolutely clear on this:

– I’ll definitely be back to La Brasserie for their divine cocktails. Further, I’m going to check out one of their Cocktail Masterclasses, which is offered every Sunday evening at 7pm.

– Mr. Sunny has heard all about the beef at La Brasserie London and can’t wait to accompany me on a Monday for La Brasserie Burger in a bread-bun night. Seeee….

Photo courtesy of La Brasserie

– I’ll make sure to bring a few female sunshines on a Thursday for Ladies’ Night, where girls receive a cocktail upon arrival.

– Finally, we never really had their tea, but if you think about it, tea is just sooooooooo 19th century. 😉

La Brasserie is open from 8am-11.30pm, and you can reserve tables at La Brasserie online

They have AMAZING Easter events, so be sure to watch them! The celebrations will begin at La Brasserie on April 18^th. They include an Easter egg hunt and a snail race where the picker of the fastest snail wins a bottle of champagne! Monday 21^st will feature raffle prize tickets of epic levels!

My meal at La Brasserie was complimentary. All opinions and pictures (unless otherwise credited) are my own.

July 22, 2015 by: Sunny London

Indigo Restaurant at One Aldwych Hotel

Indigo restaurant was the wild card.

It was the one variable I wasn’t sure about for our sunny staycation at One Aldwych Hotel in Covent Garden. You see, Mr. Sunny and I had pretty much figured our weekend at the hotel would be fabulous. We just didn’t know what to expect with our dinner at Indigo restaurant.

I am so excited to say it was as superior as our room, my facial at the spa, cocktails, breakfast and service. In fact, I can without a doubt tell you that I ate the most perfectly cooked piece of lamb that I’ve ever had in my life at Indigo restaurant.

So, let’s break it down now.

We splashed up the evening first with a round of drinks in the Lobby Bar. Then we moved upstairs to Indigo restaurant, which is located in the balcony in the picture above.

Immediately after being seated, Mr. Sunny and I were toasting our staycation with champagne. Clink!

Next we settled in to our Starters. I had the quinoa, and he enjoyed the Dorset Crab.

Here it is… The most mouth-watering lamb ever to hit a plate…

It nearly melted in my mouth. Juicy. Tender. Warm. Ahhhh. If I could only have a few bites again as I am typing this.

Mr. Sunny’s steak was great too. Quite honestly I was so in love with my lamb, I didn’t explore much on his plate.

After our Main courses, we couldn’t pass up sweet treats.

These are the Wild Strawberries, Nyetimber and Basil my husband savoured.

I chose a chocolatey Amedei Chocolate Mousse, Honeycomb, and Almond Milk Ice Cream.

Yummy! Yummy!

With such close proximity to so many theatres, the Royal Opera, the English National Opera, and pretty much everything, Indigo restaurant at One Aldwych hotel could be a perfect place for cocktails and a pre-theatre dinner.

If you’re visiting London for the NFL games or heading to town for an overnight evening of fun, this hotel basically has everything you need at a luxury level.

How do I know?

You can check TripAdvisor for their outstanding reviews and read about my great experiences at One Aldwych hotel in Covent Garden below:

– 7 Secrets of One Aldwych hotel (A Review)
– Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Afternoon Tea

If someone said, ‘What should be the tag line for this hotel?’ I would respond, ‘Five-star Everything.’

The End

September 12, 2014 by: Sunny London

How My Diet Died at DRUNCH

Drunch was supposed to be my night off! Every night this week I had a dinner or party to attend that I knew would be a calorie overload. And every morning I woke up and found it harder and harder to fit in to my skinny jeans.

So, my plans were to hit Drunch in Mayfair for a delicious, healthy dinner. And it did, in fact, start out that way. Let’s just say my plan was well intended.

Naturally, Mr. Sunny and I arrived to Drunch on a gorgeous sunny in London day just before twilight.

We were quickly greeted and seated. At first, the interior of Drunch seems limited.

However after further exploration, you’ll find the lower level to be very intimate and secluded.

Since there is no alcohol served at Drunch, we ordered from the Juice Bar. Mr. Sunny sipped on the Cooler (watermelon and mint). I picked the Antioxidant Supreme (strawberry, blueberry and mango). They were very refreshing.

For Starters, we shared the Crispy Squid with Seasonal Szechuan Peppers (with garlic mayo and sweet chilli and spring onions) and Butterfly Tiger Prawns (served with a mild garlic and butter sauce).

We loved them both.

Next, Mr. Sunny satisfied his beefy appetite with the Sirloin Steak served medium with hasselback potatoes and cream of spinach.

He gives it two sunny thumbs up.

I chose the Salmon and was proud of myself for being so restrained. Here’s my Salmon Teriyaki grilled and served medium with a teriyaki glaze and accompanied with roast courgette and onion.

Like I said, we meant well. We figured with no alcohol to drown our decision making abilities, we’d be alright. No so much.

At the end of our meal, our Server guided us to the dessert display.

Ohhhhhhhhh nooooooo!

All hell broke loose then, Sunny friends.

You can’t say we weren’t warned though. Clearly, Drunch wants you to know the healthy game is over when you pick their cheesecake.

As someone who lived in New York for many years and has baked a New York traditional cheesecake or two, this one was very different. It was an extra special treat.

I’ve never had a cheesecake quite like it. The crust easily had to be an inch or two thick. It also seemed the filling wasn’t added after the crust was baked. It was excellent, but the portion they give you is definitely for two people. I’m glad our Server (who was fabulous) warned us.

Something you should know before heading to Drunch is that it’s extremely popular for shisha. Mr. Sunny was interested in trying it, as it’s something he hasn’t done since his days as an international journalist when NBC News sent him to Jordan and Beirut.

Unfortunately, by the time we had finished our meal inside, all the outside tables were full. This certainly was no fault of the staff. They had offered when we arrived, but we declined in order to eat first.

Another interesting fact I noticed about Drunch is these on the interior wall…

I absolutely love that they have charging stations for phones so visibly available. Smart. Smart. Smart.

If you’re look for a boutique eatery and lounge with an alfresco shisha garden, then you would really enjoy Drunch. It’s open from 11am daily and serves a signature breakfast, brunch lunch, drunch and dinner.

Drunch is in the heart of W1 and serves authentic, fresh and healthy (well, almost) food. It’s located on the corner of Woodstock and Blenheim Street.

Our meal at Drunch was complimentary for the purpose of a review. This did not influence our opinion of the experience.

September 2, 2015 by: Sunny London

The Real Greek- A Big, Fat Greek Addiction

Starving and tired from shopping all day, I begged Mr. Sunny to find somewhere for us to eat. He used an app on his mobile and said, ‘The Real Greek is just around the corner. Want to give it a go?’

I said it was fine but had no idea what to order. Although the Greek population in my hometown of Daytona Beach, Florida is kind of big, this Italian girl really just grew up knowing about gyros, Greek salads and baklava.

The meal we had that day in 2012 when we were engaged but I hadn’t moved to London yet stands high on my list of memories from the trip. Aside from trying so many fabulous dishes, I have still have vivid images in my head of stacks and stacks of empty plates that nearly touched the restaurant’s ceiling. In fact, I bet they rivaled the height of Mount Olympus.

We have been to The Real Greek a few times at their Long Acre location in Covent Garden. However, this was pre-blog days so I wasn’t in to all the #foodporn #instafood images and onslaught of #foodie posts on Instagram.

Over the past few years Greek food has become an obsession for me. Currently, I can’t get enough of halloumi. So, when Mr. Sunny and I received an invitation to visit The Real Greek on St. Martin’s Lane, it didn’t take long to reply.

In fact, I think Mr. Sunny didn’t eat for two days leading up to our night at The Real Greek. He wanted to be ready for our big, fat Greek date!

We kicked off the food fest at The Real Greek with Taramasalata, which is made with undyed cod roe. I’ve had this dish quite a few times and have to say this location didn’t have the fishy taste that can sometimes flap around in your mouth.

You know we order calamari as much as possible, so Mr. Sunny selected their Grilled Kalamari. He was warned ‘Hands off my halloumi!’ and didn’t even get to try mine.

I don’t feel selfish. It was the best halloumi I have ever had! The flavour simply melted all over my tongue.

Mr. Sunny watched me ooh and ahhh all over the table while sipping on his go to drink… beer!

Just in case you are wondering, the Kalamari served with sticky Greek honey and a paprika marinade was cooked beautifully.

Mr. Sunny also snuck in an order of Tiropitakia, filo pastry filled with creamy leek, spinach and feta filling. They prepare it handmade every day at The Real Greek.Also, I had the Kanenas Red wine with these dishes. The menu indicated it’s probably the most popular red wine in Greece right now. It was great. Had I not been engulfed in hallelujahs while heaving halloumi in to my mouth, I might have remembered to take a picture.

Like I wrote earlier, the menu is all Greek to me, so I had Mr. Sunny decide what followed for our big, fat Greek dinner. He decided not to order meat. Instead we just had lamb 😉

Lamb Kefte. Lamb Cutlets. Lamb Skewers.

Did I mention that I am a lamb addict too? That’s also a food fetish I have developed since living in London. The quality of lamb available in England far surpasses what I have had in America.

Since Mr. Sunny snuck chicken wings in to our Greek feast, he had the task of finishing them when I hit the food wall. And I hit HARD!

He didn’t seem to mind, even though I could see he was near defeat as well. Mr. Sunny the Great managed to unite all of the empty plates together. This is the before picture because the aftermath was pretty scary!

We had not one ounce of room left for dessert, but with divine intervention from the Gods, we pushed forward.

That light chocolate mousse cake dripping with more delicious fudge flavour was worth every ounce of pain I experienced on the way home in my skinny jeans.

Mr. Sunny tackled the piece of baklava you saw at the beginning of this restaurant review.

The Real Greek defeated us in this food battle. We didn’t have one food dish that was average. Everything we ate (as it had been the previous occasions) would be items we would recommend to you. Further, the service at The Real Greek every time we’ve eaten at a location is fantastic too.

We did prefer this location over the one on Long Acre because it offers more space between tables. However, of the 9 locations around London, we’d be thrilled to return to any of them. And, if someone could send me that Halloumi recipe, I would be eternally grateful!

Our experience at The Real Greek was complimentary for the purpose of a review. I assure you there is no Trojan horse here. My thoughts are honest and represent a 100% solid opinion (with no hidden surprises) of all the times both my husband and I have enjoyed meals at The Real Greek.

Opaaaaaaaaa!

The Real Greek website lists all of the locations around London and their amazing menu.

After revealing that I have a recent addiction to halloumi and constant craving for lamb, I wonder what’s your food obsession? What restaurants do you recommend in London for your food fix?

November 1, 2015 by: Sunny London

The Ship Tavern Holborn, The Best Pub Food

Do you know what’s hidden inside The Ship Tavern in Holborn, London?

Grab a pint and sit down, Sunny friends. Here is the story of the best pub meal Mr. Sunny and I have had in Central London.

That’s right. If you’re looking for an exquisite experience that will have you cheering ‘O Captain, My Captain!’ while eating in London, then this pub review is for you.

It’s pretty bold to use the term ‘best’ for a blog.

I assure you this is no gimmick or endorsement. Yes, our meal was complimentary for a review. However, it’s the experience, service and quality of food that have Mr. Sunny and I telling our friends, ‘All aboard The Ship Tavern!’

The Ship Tavern Review Holborn, London The Best Pub Food

In the spirit of an honest review, I will start with the negative feedback. While the evening started wonderful at 4pm, the sun faded during our meal. When this happened, the dining room, which is located upstairs of the pub, got extremely dark.

This had little affect on our actual meal, but it did make taking pictures extremely difficult. Further, the presentation of the dishes is so stunning, I feel I missed some of their glory due to low lighting. I wish the pub had better lighting.

That being said, I can’t write anything else negative regarding the entire time we were there.

Mr. Sunny has been to The Ship Tavern numerous times for beer after work. However, as he told the Head Chef, until our dinner, he could only vouch for the fantastic sausage rolls served in the pub.

Mr Sunny and I quickly selected our Starters, the Trio of Mackerel and Seared King Scallops.

Although we wanted the Salt and Pepper Calamari, and order it nearly everywhere it’s offered, we wanted to try other food items because we had done research on how amazing the food is at The Ship Tavern. Calamari is kind of standard.

After nearly a half an hour of trying to narrow down what we would order (we started with six Main course ideas each, then narrowed our choices to three each), it was all hands on deck as the Head Chef came to our table to steer us.

I was looking at the Tavern Steak Burger, Beef Wellington, Butternut Squash Gnocchi, and Beef and ‘1549’ Real Ale Sausages. Mr Sunny hoped for Pan Fried Halibut, Trio of Lamb or the special Steak and Ale Pie.

As soon as the Chef indicated his signature dish is the Trio of Lamb, the decision happened.

We waited eagerly for our Main courses, both agreeing that the texture and quality of the Starters far surpassed our expectations. In fact, my Instagram post ‘Holy Mackerel’ says it all!

I love beef rare, so after I sliced through this pastry, this meat measured exactly how I anticipated.

The pastry, which is homemade like nearly everything at The Ship Tavern, was flaky, buttery and delicious.

After docking one bite in his mouth, Mr. Sunny said the lamb trio was five stars too.

We both finished every mouth-watering drop on our plates. The Chef also came to speak with us to receive feedback during this time. Defeated by the wonderful food and bursting in our waistbands, we exclaimed he was on course for an outstanding review.

Only because we knew we couldn’t forgive ourselves in the morning for passing up greatness, we both ordered dessert.

Mr. Sunny scooped a bit of his Lemongrass Creme brûlée and I muscled through a few bites of my Peanut Butter and Jelly Cheesecake with Oreo crust.

At that point, I dropped my spoon and said, ‘I think I need to see the Chef again’.

‘This peanut butter and jelly cheese cake is just too good. The Chef must be American’, I said. Mr. Sunny agreed. He felt the Chef had an accent similar to mine, yet a bit more continental.

When the Chef returned, my suspicions were validated. He’s what his staff fondly says is ‘J’american’.

He has lived in Jamaica and the New England States of America. Specifically, he trained at the Culinary Institute of America in New York. This is one of the top culinary schools in America. We talked for quite some time. Both Mr. Sunny and I were impressed with his knowledge, approachability, and of course culinary expertise.

The Ship Tavern is located at 12 Gate Street, Holborn, London WC2A 3HP. It’s literally around the corner of Holborn Station down a narrow street. They take large parties and group bookings, as well as offer a Christmas and Christmas Day Menu. The pub has Dickensian style dining theme, so it’s the perfect place for the holidays, or any day in our opinion.

When my American friends inquire about where they can go for excellent pub food in London, The Ship Tavern will be at the top of my recommendation list and definitely featured on the Sunny Guide to London. It’s made huge gains on TripAdvisor as a 2014 Certificate of Excellence Winner.

Don’t just stop in and have a few beers and sausage rolls downstairs. Make sure next time you are in Holborn, you go upstairs to the Oak Room for a fantastic meal at The Ship Tavern. It’s been in London since 1549, and with this Chef at the helm, it’s set for a long course ahead!

The Ship Tavern Holborn London Pub Review

What do you order when you visit a traditional English pub, Sunny friends?

November 23, 2015 by: Sunny London

Burger and Bubbles at Grand Union Bars

Who’s looking for a way to save money on drinks in London?

Yes. I thought you would be interested, so that’s why I have a great place for you, Sunny friends. Grand Union Bars in London.

You might remember the mention of this venue in last week’s newsletter. Mr. Sunny recommended Grand Union Bars for his ‘Pub of the Week.’ Even though we hadn’t been there yet, we were excited about their current cocktail promotions and wanted to let you know about their deals. On Friday night, we went to the Grand Unions Bars Chancery Lane location and loved it.

However, we were there for an even better opportunity- Burger and Bubbles.

I have to say this is one of the best deals on drinks that I have seen in Central London. Well, at least for a girl like me who fancies bubbles in her beverage.

Burger and Bubbles is offered limited times and you need to book your table in advance. Basically, you can order any Main course, and with it you receive 90 minutes of Prosecco. You read that right, 90 minutes of drinks.

Mr. Sunny and I strayed a bit from this menu and added some extras. He chose the Large Basket of Wings and side of Onion Rings to go with a Full Rack of BBQ Ribs.

He thought they were all excellent.

I have never eaten a rib in my life, and onion rings aren’t really my thing. However, having lived in Buffalo, New York for ten years, I have had my share of real Buffalo wings. For this reason, I am always eager to try one when Mr. Sunny orders them in London.

While I can’t say I have ever had a wing in London that equals the size of a wing you get in Buffalo, I will say the wings at Grand Union Bars are pretty damn good. They were crispy on the outside and had great flavor.

Since I spent most of my life living in Florida, I have a strong appreciation for Mexican food because it’s so popular in my home state. For this reason, I couldn’t pass up the nachos.

Piled high, this dish that’s listed on the Sharer section of the menu is delicious. Sadly, Mr. Sunny didn’t see much of it because I devoured most of the food on the plate. Nachos aren’t quite the same in London as they are in the US. However, since there wasn’t much left when I finished, we’ll call these a winner.

Next, I went for the Grand Union Royale.

What’s all that between the buns? Two hand pressed beef burgers, American cheese, bacon, BBQ sauce, and lettuce. I held off on the onion.

It was messy, and I loved it.

Aside from the food and great deal on drinks, Mr. Sunny and I felt Grand Union Bars has a lot to offer.

When we arrived around 6:00pm on a Friday night, we walked in to a buzzing atmosphere. The Chancery Lane location is not far from the Underground Station. Yet, it’s not right on Chancery Lane. You really have to walk down a few small streets to find it. This was appealing to us because we felt it meant that it attracts a crowd of more savvy people.

Later in our Burger and Bubbles experience, we noticed the vibe change from an after work ‘happy hour’ spot to a club-like lounge as a DJ started spinning. Both Mr. Sunny and I appreciate this, as we were both fans of London’s club scene when we first met.

While I haven’t been to Grand Union Bars other locations (Brixton, Camberwell, Camden, Farringdon, Kennington, Paddington and Wandsworth), I can speculate they have just as cool of a scene.

We loved the 90 minute Prosecco part of the evening, even though we only had one bottle between us.

Our server (who is also American like me) stated that she’s seen quite a few people take the time allotment too seriously and end up sick. Keep this cautionary advice in mind when you visit.

It’s important to note that we enjoyed Burger and Bubbles outside of the times it’s offered, and our experience was complimentary. That doesn’t reflect my opinion of our evening at Grand Union Bars. I’m guessing if we had ordered and finished two bottles of Prosecco that probably would’ve had some impact on my thoughts. I honestly would have been cursing the venue the next morning. 😉

If you want to stay informed of the news in London, consider subscribing to the weekly Sunny newsletter.

Have you ever been to Grand Union Bars in London? Do you think you could survive 90 minutes of Prosecco?

October 26, 2016 by: Sunny London

Jamie Oliver’s Barbecoa Review- A Heavenly Experience

When I tried thinking of catchy titles for this Jamie Oliver’s Barbecoa review, it felt really cliché to call the food ‘heavenly’ because it’s such an overused metaphor. But how could I not?

Warning: this review is going to be loaded with religious puns. If that’s not something you appreciate, add it to my list of sins this week. Oh, and if you’re a vegetarian, the grass isn’t going to be greener at the end of this food review for you either.

After a fun night at the Jamie Oliver Cookery School, Mr Sunny and I were invited to be guests of Jamie Oliver’s Barbecoa St Paul’s location. Would you turn down a steak dinner? 😉

In my last restaurant review I indicated future writing would focus on three areas: ambiance, quality of food and service. One of the many unique selling points of this steakhouse is location, which adds to its ambiance. We’ll start there.

Jamie-oliver-barbecoa-review-london-st-pauls

Jamie Oliver’s Barbecoa- Ambiance

When you google this restaurant you will repeatedly see ‘St Paul’s.’ It’s highly likely your table at the steakhouse will have the cathedral as its backdrop as well. We arrived at about 6pm on a beautiful Autumn October night in London. I probably spent the first ten minutes at the table taking pictures for Instagram stories, Snapchat, and this blog review.

Mr Sunny was a bit put off by my lack of consideration for the menu. However, I gave him free reign that night to choose everything. I mean, what smart girl gets in between a man and a steak?

On that note- ladies, listen up. One of the best tips I ever learned about meeting men was in Patti Stanger’s book Become Your Own Matchmaker. She outlines a strategy to meet men who likely do very well in life is to have a glass of wine (by yourself) at a steakhouse after work. It might be blasphemy to stray from the food review topic for a sec but seriously- Jamie Oliver’s Barbecoa is a complete meat fest of men in nice suits for you single ladies. *Cue Beyoncé song now*

I’ll even take it a step further and say, have steak at the bar. It turns most men on to know a chick digs beef. Ok, it might not be as sexy as Jen Aniston’s stripper scene in We’re the Millers or Cameron Diaz’s car washing performance in Bad Teacher. But- it is a turn on for most blokes. Anyhow, back to the re-view.

While Jamie Oliver’s Barbecoa has the low light atmosphere which is classic for a steakhouse, it foils the illumination of the cathedral perfectly.

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While the sun set during our dinner, the sky filled with orange and purple fire, forming a glorious halo around St Paul’s. Scenery hand-crafted by gods, no doubt. I confess- my biggest sin that evening was not being prepared ahead of time for low-lighting photography.

Jamie Oliver’s Barbecoa- Food

We started with cocktails from the happy hour menu. Both were fresh and elegant. A great way to anoint the night.

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My Tuna Ceviche starter had a range of citrus and seafood flavours. The crunchy texture of vegetables against the tuna was delightful.
Yep. I’m sure you already guessed that Mr Sunny had the Chicken Wings. He manages to slide this in to as many food reviews as possible. He really should write a guest blog feature on the best wings in London. Considering I trained him well at the home of the original wing, Anchor Bar, when I lived in Buffalo, he’s very qualified.

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Then, as the sun was tucked away behind St Paul’s Cathedral, our tray of steak arrived. I kid you not. This Rib-Eye for Two is of biblical pro-portions. As my dad would say, ‘Dear God in Heaven!’ This steak will bring any carnivore to his/her knees. Cooked exactly to our specification, juicy and rich with flavor, this steak scored high on our satisfaction chart.

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However, most surprising are the sides. I snuck in the Truffle Mac and Cheese. It didn’t disappoint. But the real hit of the evening was the spinach. Trying to decide which bite to choose as my last (steak or spinach) was tough! The nutmeg accent is strong but this cooked spinach side dish is a must not miss at Jamie Oliver’s Barbecoa. There is something to be said for a spinach that stands that well against a tender cut of beef!

Finally, we filled ourselves just a bit more with the Snickerverse dessert!

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Jamie Oliver’s Barbecoa- Service

Every encounter we had at the restaurant was excellent. While you would expect bang on service at these prices, we know it isn’t a guarantee. The service was just enough at all the right times. Attentive but not intrusive. This allowed us to fully enjoy the food and atmosphere.

Jamie Oliver’s Barbacoa- Final Thoughts

If your budget is such that you can afford a restaurant like this regularly, then I’d suggest Jamie Oliver’s Barbecoa as often as you crave steak. If you save experiences like this for special occasions, I would suggest an anniversary, wedding proposal or new job celebration night. We arrived early evening and the restaurant filled steadily during the course of our meal.

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The crowd on a Tuesday night seemed filled with work colleagues and perhaps those in London on business. However, Jamie Oliver’s Barbecoa was a really romantic date night for us. In fact, we paired it with a trip to Sky Garden first.

We were guests of Jamie Oliver’s Barbecoa. I will not be in confession for anything dishonest in my blog review. However, our trip to the restaurant did involve a substantial amount of gluttony. For this Father, we have truly sinned. 😉

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November 29, 2016 by: Sunny London

Namaaste Kitchen Review- Camden Town

Being invited to the Namaaste Kitchen in Camden, the ‘Best Indian Restaurant of 2014’, is quite an honour, especially when it’s to be one of the first people to eat from their Christmas menu.

Actually, I am still learning about Indian food, as I had never eaten it until several months after I moved to London. The first time I tried it was on a walking food tour of the East End when we visited Brick Lane. Londoners know that this is quite a popular place to eat Indian food. Mr. Sunny loves the cuisine. Some of his favourite dishes include Madras, Vindaloo and Lamb Pasanda. He thought he knew a lot about Indian food, until we checked out the menu at Namaaste Kitchen. Right away, he realised it is very contemporary, and this was new adventure for him.

On a Saturday night, we arrived a half hour before our table booking, eager to learn more about Namaaste Kitchen and their excellent reputation in a very trendy part of London.

The staff quickly gave us a table and didn’t seem bothered that we had arrived so early. We ordered our standard beer and red wine and perused the menu while munching on poppadoms. I adored the mango sauce featured on the far left in the picture above.

Mr. Sunny wanted to try food from the a la carte menu. Since I have had the festive spirit since mid-October, I was all over the Christmas menu. Namaaste Kitchen has quite an extensive holiday offering. I chose menu ‘C’, as there are three set menus from which to choose.

Namaaste Kitchen Review: The Food

Above is the first bit to arrive at our table. We weren’t quite sure what it was. However, it was pretty good. Next, Mr. Sunny had his Starter, Tandoori Aastish-e-Jingha. This is jumbo prawns marinated in English mustard. I had Dal Chini Salmon, which is salmon fillet infused in Dhungar with Cinnamon exotic spices. This is traditional quick smoke procedure used to flavour a dish.

Mr. Sunny thoroughly enjoyed his prawns, and my salmon was a homerun. I rarely order salmon on a menu, unless I feel pressure to be really healthy. The salmon on the Namaaste Kitchen Christmas menu is different. I would really get excited about having it again because the incorporation of cinnamon with a beautifully cooked piece of seafood is extraordinary. Well done to the Chef!

For our Main courses, Mr. Sunny ordered lobster and I ate the Lamb Xacuti. My dish is tender boneless lamb cooked in a paste of fresh ground coconut, cumin and coriander. This dish packed some serious flavour. I’m a real lightweight when it comes to spice. Further, cumin and coriander have never been high on my list. I tried to eat as much as possible, balanced with gulps of water and a splash of wine.

For me, it was a little too hot. Again, I’m new to Indian food, and Mr. Sunny didn’t think it was too spicy at all. His lobster was gone before I knew it.

Finally, we shared a Christmas pudding because we knew we were too full to manage a dessert each. While we both loved the Christmas pudding with Saffron Vanilla Custard, Mr. Sunny was especially happy. He said it wasn’t traditional English Christmas pudding and that’s why it was so good. 😉

Hmmmm. Yet, he’s the one who said Christmas pudding should be in the ‘What Do British People Eat for Christmas’ video…

Namaaste Kitchen Review: Food Quality

We both felt that the value for the money is well worth it for both the 2016 Christmas Menu and a la carte menu at Namaaste Kitchen. I’m guessing the Indian and Pakistani restuarant is very consistent with their food and service because there wasn’t a table available when we left. Our experience was fantastic, and I would look forward to trying other items on their menu. Well, as long as they are super mild. I’m still working my way through understanding Indian cuisine and what resonates with me.

Namaaste Kitchen Review: Location

The restaurant is inches from Camden Town underground station on Parkway, which is Camden High Street. It’s a buzzing area at all times of the day, especially at night. The ambiance and decor of Namaaste Kitchen match the contemporary theme. Our first visit was complimentary for the purpose of a review. However, we are eager to return again on our own, as we are sure the experience would be just as lovely.

What Christmas menus in London have you had the chance to try this year? Are there annual Christmas things to do and events in which you look forward in London every year?

Bacon and BBQ at CARNABY BURGER Co

Why Scarlets Covent Garden Restaurant is Cool!

Our food and drink selections at Scarlets Covent Garden were:

La Brasserie London- Chic Cocktails in Chelsea

Indigo Restaurant at One Aldwych Hotel

How My Diet Died at DRUNCH

The Real Greek- A Big, Fat Greek Addiction

The Ship Tavern Holborn, The Best Pub Food

Burger and Bubbles at Grand Union Bars

Jamie Oliver’s Barbecoa Review- A Heavenly Experience

Jamie Oliver’s Barbecoa- Ambiance

Jamie Oliver’s Barbecoa- Food

Jamie Oliver’s Barbecoa- Service

Jamie Oliver’s Barbacoa- Final Thoughts

Namaaste Kitchen Review- Camden Town

Namaaste Kitchen Review: The Food

Namaaste Kitchen Review: Food Quality

Namaaste Kitchen Review: Location

THE ESSENTIAL 1st TIME GUIDE TO LONDON

HARRY POTTER

PUBS IN LONDON