RESTAURANT REVIEW

March 17, 2014 by: Sunny London

The Wagamama Menu and Why You Should Change Your Number!

Recently I attended an event at Wagamama that will change my eating and dining out habits forever. Prior to the event, I had to submit my favourite selections from the Wagamama menu so they could be analaysed by two fantastic foodies.

My favourite Wagamama menu items were:

#60 Mandarin and Sesame Chicken Salad (marinated chicken with mixed leaves, mandarin, coriander, red and spring onions, mangetout and cashew nuts with a sesame, thai basil and mint dressing, garnished with sesame seeds)

#48 Wagamama Pad-Thai (teppan-fried rice noodles in a sweet tamarind sauce with chicken and prawns or fried tofu, egg, beansprouts, leek, red and spring onions, chinese chives, garlic, ginger and chillies, garnished with coriander cress, fresh shallots, peanuts, mint and lime)

I arrived with 9 other bloggers for a unique experience involving a collaborative effort between their Executive Chef Steve Mangleshot and Channel 4 Taste Expert, Dr. Christy Fergusson.

After hearing a short introduction from each of them, we were each treated to an alternative dish from the Wagamama menu. The purpose was to learn about the science behind our favourite ingredients and to analyse our taste buds.

I received #37 Chicken Itame.

(Rice noodles in a spicy green coconut and lemongrass soup topped with stir-fried chicken, prawns or fried tofu, beansprouts, red and spring onions, bok choi, peppers, mushrooms and chillies, garnished with coriander and lime)

Chef Mangleshot & Dr. Fergusson picked up on my citrus preference from my original selection and picked this new dish to create a stronger sensory experience for me. It worked!

Dr. Fergusson, who is a Doctor of Psychology, Chartered Psychologist AND Nutritional Therapist, explained to us that only 10% of taste is determined by taste buds, and the other 90% is by smell. She also said that those who prefer chilli tend to be thrill seekers because endorphin levels are raised when eating them. We also learned that certain ingredients can trigger special emotions, memories and moods. This means our food preferences convey insight to our personalities. Whoa!!

Perhaps growing up in Florida triggers my citrusy selections on menus now?

I was a bit puzzled why Chef Mangleshot guided me to chilli, considering I’m not a big risk taker. However, I did take a pretty big gamble with naming a blog Sunny in London, when let’s face it, the town isn’t known for its tropical climate 😉

That’s my second entrée, #44 2^nd entrée- Ginger Chicken Udon.

(Teppan-fried udon noodles with chicken, egg, beansprouts, red and spring ionions, mengetout and chilli, garnished with pickled ginger and coriander)

It was delish! I always stick with Pad Thai because I not only love the flavours, but also I try to eat gluten free. Through talking with Chef Mangleshot, I learned that it’s easy to substitute rice and noodles on the Wagamama menu for gluten free meals. I always thought they didn’t have flexibility because everything is so keenly defined by numbers on their menu.

Aside from the amazing food, a highlight of my night was talking to these two food stars.

It would be tough to find a chef who loves his profession more than Chef Mangleshot. In our conversation, he said, “For me, it’s about how well we do at Wagamama.” He truly wants people to converse with wait staff to learn alternatives to their favourite entrees, based on the key ingredients in them, and to explore the 60+ other Wagamama menu options.

The bloggers who favoured soy sauce, which forms the basis of dishes such as Yaki Soba, tried dishes such as Cha Han. This is Yaki Soba, but with rice. Dr. Fergusson suggested Donburi, because she says people who like saltier soy sauce flavours don’t like bitter dishes.

Dr. Fergusson also was a canon of information regarding the science of food. I highly suggest you explore her website to learn more.

After my second course, I was really starting to feel like I was part of a Man vs. Food episode, but somehow I found room for the dessert tray!

Passion Fruit Cheesecake, White Chocolate and Ginger Cheesecake, Chocolate Fudge Cake

So, I have to ask, Sunny friends…. When you go to Wagamama, do you order their Chicken Katsu Curry? Chef Mangleshot says it’s their most popular selection. If so, maybe you’d consider conversing with them to discover an alternative that might become your new favourite?

What do you think?

At the very least, you can follow:

Wagamama on Twitter

Dr. Christy Fergusson on Twitter

* My meal at Wagamama was complimentary. Opinions and pictures are entirely my own.

April 23, 2014 by: Sunny London

A Faux Lunch between Foes at Pho Restaurant?

What do you do when an ancient rival contacts you about meeting for lunch? Well, Sunny friends, I said ‘yes’. My foe lunch date at Pho Restaurant was absolutely Pho-nom-e-nal!

Pho Restaurant’s Head of Marketing is a Florida girl just like me. But, I learned through our email exchanges that she’s a University of Florida graduate. That’s a huge problem for this Florida State University girl, pho shizzle!

Photo courtesy of Seminoles.com

I was skeptical about an invitation from my school’s biggest rival, but I agreed to meet. When I learned 9 out of their 11 restaurant locations are in London, I was curious why I had to travel so far south to Battersea Rise.
Once I arrived, it became clear. This location opened just two weeks ago. Talk about a HOT invite! So far, my hostess seemed Pho real. Doesn’t this venue look gorgeous?
And while I was travelling, this ‘Welcome’ tweet was posted for me.

.@Sunny_in_London the sun is ready for you pic.twitter.com/k2qaDQvY6J
— Pho (@PhoRestaurant) April 16, 2014

We started our afternoon with a few drinks from their beautiful bar.

In honour of the warm, sunny day, I had a tropical favorite, the Dua Colada. It’s basically a Pina Colada (spirit, coconut, fresh pineapple and apple). My hostess had a Bloody Mary. I was nervous about the significance of that until I learned it’s part of their new cocktail promotion at that location. Phew!

I was very impressed with my drink’s smooth flavor. Pho Restaurant uses Nep Phu Loc, which is a clear rice spirit. Sipping on it was super easy because of its light texture. This meant another tick on the scoreboard for my hostess!

We began our feast with several starters.

Goi Cuon (fresh rice paper summer rolls with herbs, vermicelli and pickle, with prawn)

Muc chien gion (tender fried baby squid with a salt, pepper and lime dip)

Nem hai san (large crispy spring roll of tiger prawn, crab and pork with nuoc cham dipping sauce)

Each dish has strong flavor and color. With regard to healthy eating, nearly the whole menu is gluten free!

As we munched on our food, I reminded my hostess that this past year my university’s football team beat hers without mercy and won the National Championship. Unmoved, she reminded me that when she went to University of Florida, they won back-to-back National Championships in football and basketball multiple times, while crushing my team for years. Another point for her.

I decided to focus back on the food. 😉

Next, we sampled each of the 4 broths used in the exquisite Pho dishes.

Veggie stock, Chicken stock, Beef stock, and Spicy Chicken stock

Pho is the national dish of Vietnam and the Pho menu defines it as “an aromatic, nutritious and delicious rice noodle soup served with a side plate of fresh herbs to add as you please.” Their stocks take approximately 12 hours to prepare. Sounds like pho-ever doesn’t it?

My favourite was the Veggie stock.

Then, we sampled a Vietnamese salad, the Goi du du.
This features crunchy green papaya salad with peanuts and prawn crackers. Can you believe this rainbow of fun only has 200 calories? There was nothing light about the taste. It was Pho-licious!

Also, we had the Bun: vermicelli noodles.

(Vermicelli rice noodles with a lemongrass & chilli wok-fried topping with chicken)

Just like all the others I ate, the above entrée rocked!

Then, the real test occurred. My hostess wanted me to give the ‘Bun bo hue’ a go. This hot and spicy brisket beef served with a chilli shrimp paste is a favourite for many, especially men.
Hot damn! Talk about a deep flavor that settles in all the right places in your mouth. Whooooaaaa!

Although after a few giant spoons full, my hostess said, “It’s probably a good idea for you to stop now.” GAME OVER. I knew that this was no foe lunch.

Apparently, it’s recommended that you wear a bib when eating this dish due to its splash factor.

Photo courtesy of Pho Restaurant

So, many thanks to my hostess for making sure I didn’t stain my beige dress that I was wearing to an awards ceremony later that evening.

And, I’d like to extend an even bigger thanks to her for not giving my head a Gator chomp in the pictures she took of me either!

Pho Restaurant Final Thoughts:

I had a really great lunch packed with great food and…. company!

This location gets crazy crowded on evenings and weekends, and they don’t take reservations. If you’re in a hurry, you can always check them out via their Pho to Go takeaway.
Aside from Battersea Rise, you can find Pho Restaurants in: Clerkenwell, Oxford Circus, Shepherd’s Bush, Brighton, Soho, Stratford, Spitalfields, Islington, Leeds and Chiswick.

And of course, Pho mo’ fun, you can follow them on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

So, Sunny friends, …. 1.2.3… What you waitin’ PHO?!

I love that my meal was complimentary from a Florida GATOR. I assure you it did not influence my opinion of the University of Florida. If you know anything about the rivalry between FSU and UF, you appreciate that the opinions in this review are 100% honest. Seminoles don’t dish out compliments to Gators unless they’re 100% warranted.

April 28, 2014 by: Sunny London

Sunny Dims for Cha Cha Moon!

I didn’t think anything would top last week’s invitation from a Florida university rival to review the restaurant for which she did the marketing. Until now…

When a Red Kite PR executive contacted me to ask if I wanted to be featured as a spotlight blogger on Cha Cha Moon’s website, I had to giggle. This wouldn’t be epic…

It would be an eclipse!

Photo credit to Wikipedia

You’ve read my suggestions for HOT things to do in Carnaby Street. So, you know I love that area. I’m excited to add eating at Cha Cha Moon to that list!

I met Jessica from Red Kite PR for dinner at 6:30pm. Having curiously walked by Cha Cha Moon in Kingly Court countless times, I was eager to see the interior. It’s row-style seating makes it very casual. Yet, the decor and lighting give it a warm and inviting ambiance.

And, Sunny friends, the tides have recently changed at Cha Cha Moon, because they’ve just added a new cocktail menu. It is certainly zestful! I chose the Wen Wen (sweet peach, tangy raspberry and splash of vodka). It’s on the right….

My drink was light and refreshing. I appreciated that the alcohol content wasn’t overpowering.

Next, we selected our Mains. Since Jessica said the platters are already very popular, I want to give you a glimpse at other possibilities.

Chicken, mango, red onion, pomelo, chilli, ginger, lime

This is the Mango Chicken Salad for £8.00. What I thoroughly enjoyed about this dish is the beautiful balance of flavor among the citrus, chilli and onion. I would be very excited about ordering it again. My dining mate chose the Seafood Singapore Noodles, which is also £8.00. It looked like a heavenly experience too.

Smoked chicken, prawn, beansprout, red and green pepper, chilli, egg, rice vermicelli

We chatted non-stop about food and blogging, as she asked me the questions for my spotlight.

For dessert, we both ordered the 2 scoops of Green Tea Ice Cream and 1 scoop of Black Sesame Ice Cream.

I love ice cream! Tasting the Green Tea flavour is something that’s been on my ice cream bucket list 😉

Wow! It is like Buddha in a bowl! The flavours are perfectly balanced to produce a treat that satisfies an ice cream craving and skips a sugary after taste. It was a bit different having the sesame seeds in ice cream, but I feel it definitely works.

Quite simply, this dining experience sent me over the Cha Cha Moon!

Cha Cha Moon is very affordable, in a great location and has delicious food.

So, Sunny friends, I’d suggest you Cha Cha Slide yourself right on over to 15-21 Ganton Street
London W1F 9BN as soon as you Cha Cha Can! And if you can’t stay for long, they have takeaway.
You can follow Cha Cha Moon on Twitter and Facebook.

My meal at Cha Cha Moon was complimentary. This did not influence my thoughts about the restaurant.

August 22, 2014 by: Sunny London

Get Picked Up at Locale Cucina Italiana!

Locale Cucina Italiana in Fulham has one of the best pick up experiences in London!

Ok, silly. I’m a married lady, so I’m not referring to any type of flirting shenanigans. I’m talkin’ tiramisu. It’s an Italian dessert. The name of it literally means ‘pick me up.’

I have to say, Locale’s uplifting experience isn’t just limited to dessert. No, mi tesoro, it’s a whole lot more!

After a ten minute walk from the Parsons Green underground station, Mr. Sunny and I arrived to Locale Cucina Italiana. Naturally, it was a beautiful sunny evening in London.

We were greeted and given a quick tour. It’s a neighborhood Italian restaurant with an outside terrace and sexy cocktail bar.

It was really tough for us to pick out our food. Too many menu items appealed to us.

Foremost, they have a completely separate gluten free menu. Do you know how rare that is for Italian restaurants?

I chose the Cappesante e Pancetta. It’s pan fried scallops, garden peas and mint puree, with rocket and crispy pancetta.

Naturally, Mr. Sunny selected his standard squid and had Calamari Fritti. That’s golden fried baby calamari served with homemade tartar sauce.

Both were molto bene!

Mr. Sunny struggled between several options. The great debate ended with him choosing one of the Specials- Tagliata di Manzo with Lobster Tail, upon our Server’s suggestion.

He says it was ‘Gorgeous!’. I had a couple sneaky bites, and I have to say… he is RIGHT!

It was a total battle for me between the Lobster and Prosecco Risotto, fresh herb and sour cream versus the Pollo al Madeira. Sauteed chicken breast, French beans with melted mozzarella cheese, sauteed mushrooms, madeira sauce and roasted cherry tomato. Do you know how I decided?

You’ll never guess!

I chose the chicken because it was gluten free AND photographs better than risotto. I guess you can say I took one for the Sunny team. 😉

We were blown away by the amazing flavours in both of our Main courses. Tender, juicy and cooked to perfection. My Madeira sauce was remarkable!

In addition to these fabulous dishes, we also ordered the Sauteed Spinach and Creamy Mashed Potato.

We enjoyed both of them. However, the mashed potatoes were without a doubt naughty. They were so creamy! I seemed to think they had a good amount of parmesan cheese mixed in to them. Soooooo yummy!

Here’s everything we devoured.

Even though we were full, we were coerced in to trying the tiramisu. I say ‘coerced’ because tiramisu is a tricky dessert. Both Mr. Sunny and I love it. The problem is, often it’s not made right, so it can be very disappointing. Plus, he and I both make it ourselves. Because we were ‘assured’ Locale’s tiramisu was excellent, we decided to give it a go.

After his first bite, Mr. Sunny assessed it best with, ‘Damn! We should’ve ordered two!’

To die for.

Oh! Ooops. I was so excited about getting to the sugary, creamy part of the post that I forgot to mention the booze! (Now, that’s a first!)

Mr. Sunny loved the frosty beer glass that came with his Moretti. My Chianti (which if you’re a Sunny reader, you know I never order) was fruity and smooth. Again, I went with this wine because our Server said so.

I did have a second glass. Mr. Sunny switched to one of his Italian favourites, Peroni.

And, just as the sun was turning the sky a beautiful shade of orange and saying goodbye for the night, two limoncello shots arrived for us.

We were a bit surprised when we picked up the glasses and they were warm. Neither of us had ever had limoncello served this way. Another gold star! They were la la luscious.

Our entire experience was stellar at Locale Cucina Italiana. From our outstanding service to the fabulous flavours of the food, this restaurant gets a gold medal from us.

It’s located at 222 Munster Road Fulham, London SW6 6AY. You can follow them on Twitter too. In fact, their Twitter account is fun and very engaging with followers. I love that. They also just started an Instagram account, so check that out. Their menu changes often to reflect seasonal changes and specials. Love that too.

If you think this restaurant is too far for you, my suggestion is… well, get picked up! And a tiramisu 😉

Our dinner was complimentary for the purpose of a review. However, this did not influence our opinion.

Our evening at Locale Cucina Italiana one of the best dining experiences Mr. Sunny have had in London.

May 2, 2014 by: Sunny London

No 11 Pimlico Road is better than a 10!

When No 11 Pimlico Road invited me to try their Roasts from their Sunday Menu, I was extremely honored. Like afternoon tea, a Sunday Roast is such a wonderful part of British culture. For many reasons, No 11 Pimlico Road is better than a 10!

Reason #1: Location

At the intersection of Pimlico Road and Ranelagh Road, No 11 Pimlico Road is easy to find. In fact, it’s in such a trendy place, even the cabs outside are cool…

Reason #2: Interior Design

The interior is very inviting. I specifically loved the ample space given to patrons. This allowed Mr. Sunny and I to focus fully on the drinks, food and service quality.

Reason #3: Fun Cocktails

We were early for our 4:30pm reservation. Since the bar is so gorgeous, we decided to enjoy a beverage on our own first. Yes, Mr Sunny stuck with his standard Stella. I couldn’t resist the Marmalade Champagne Cocktail. It was only natural for a Florida girl to pick one that included oranges. The bubbles in my drink danced beautifully with the orange garnish. It was zesty, playful and perfect for a sunny day!

Reason #4- Sunshine!

Yep. You can actually order liquid sunshine! Also, the amount of actual sunlight pouring through the windows was magnetic. So, we were sure to choose a table with street views.

Reason #5- The Menu

A bottle of Merlot was included in our meal. It perfectly matched our red meat selections. I had the 28 Day Aged Rib of Beef with Yorkshire pudding, roast red onion and buttered spring greens. Did you notice my Yorky missing in that photo? Mr. Sunny stole it from me because I got to order the beef! Mr. Sunny had the Slow Roasted Pork Shoulder with cauliflower puree and buttered spring greens. Both of our meat dishes were cooked to perfection and packed with juicy flavor. Mr. Sunny said the potatoes were done according to tradition. Crunchy on the outside. Pillowy on the inside. We also both loved the cauliflower puree. He let me ‘steal’ some of his.

Final Thoughts on No 11 Pimlico Road:

No 11 Pimlico Road will certainly see us again. Every staff member was pleasant and eager to make our experience first class. Next, we look forward to enjoying the Saturday brunch menu. Some of the options teasing us are: blueberry pancakes, breakfast sourdough bruschetta, and poached eggs benedict. Apparently we aren’t the only ones who think No 11 Pimlico Road is better than a 10. I hear it can get a bit manic on weekends because of its popularity. We were lucky to arrive at a time when it was less busy. Check out No 11 Pimlico Road not only because I said so, but also because it was awarded the inaugural Casual Dining Design Award for ‘Best Designed Casual Dining Pub 2014’ 🙂 You can follow No 11 Pimlico Road on Twitter and Facebook too! Sunny friends, where is your favourite place to enjoy a Sunday Roast?

Our meal and wine was complimentary for the purposes of a review. Opinions and photographs are our own.

July 27, 2014 by: Sunny London

Planet Hollywood London Almost Made Me a Bond Girl!

FADE TO:

EXT. HAYMARKET SQUARE LONDON. DAY. THE SUN SHINES BRIGHTLY.

We see SUNNY, a cheerful blogger, bouncing down the street toward Planet Hollywood London. In her giant tote bag, she carries a camera, an iPad Air, an iPhone (with several charge cords), a notebook, pens and a stack of business cards. Her heart has a huge smile and a dream. And today’s her day. She’s gonna become a star…

CUT TO:

INT. PLANET HOLLYWOOD LONDON.
We see SUNNY enter through the doors of the international restaurant chain…

(MORE…)

– – – – – – – – – – – –

How’s that for a dramatic post opening, Sunny friends?

I wanted to give you a little bit of silver screen fun to kick off this restaurant review. But, seriously, when I walked in to Planet Hollywood London for lunch last week, I had no idea I would leave like a movie star.

Here’s what went down to catapult me to celebrity status…

I met my day’s co-star, Julie for our lunch shoot. After a bit of catching up on our recent blogging adventures, we ordered a round of star-studded cocktails. She chose the Ironman. I couldn’t resist the Terminator.
You see, before moving to London, I worked at Universal Studios Florida for a bit. In fact, I was there when they opened the Terminator 3-D attraction. So, every sip of this fun drink was one of several steps down memory lane for me.

When I lived in London the first time, Planet Hollywood London had just opened (at a different location than their current one). It was very close to my flat.

The queues were outrageous! Luckily, I had befriended a Doorman. He often let me bypass the queue and head straight to the top level bar. I loved it there. I always felt like I was watching a bunch of Tom Cruise clones in ‘Cocktail.’ The bartenders were bonafide tricksters.

I never stayed for food. But I did buy a sweatshirt. Typical university kid, eh?

Going to Planet Hollywood London last week was especially important to me. This time, I went to eat.

Julie and I shared one Starter. We knew the Main Courses would be American-sized, so we chose a soft premiere. Here’s our Blackened Shrimp.
This dish’s cast includes: six marinated jumbo shrimp pan-fried in Cajun spices served with Creole mustard sauce.

For her Main course my starlet friend, who really is a California native, went for the Sizzling Fajitas.

This is a plate full of chargrilled chicken served with sizzling onions, red and green peppers, fresh guacamole, Pico de gallo, sour cream, mild red and white cheddar cheese, Mexican rice and flour tortillas.

It was a blockbuster hit for her.

For my Feature, I chose the BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger. This is a classic burger topped with hickory smoked bacon, tangy sweet BBQ sauce and sharp cheddar cheese.
CUT!

This beef diva prefers a shot from a better side… ACTION!
At first I thought I’d need a stunt double to eat it. But, after cutting it in half, I showed this burger who has top billing.

The Academy should certainly nominate this entree for ‘Best BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger in London.’

Even though we were super full, we decided to follow Hollywood’s over the top personality, and we ordered a dessert.

Don’t you think we could have fit the ‘HOLLYWOOD’ sign on this hill of ice cream?
There’s no special effects there, Sunny friends. That’s all pure sugar love. It took two of us, but we made it all the way to the gorgeous brownie at the bottom of the dish.

That’s a wrap!

After lunch, I was invited to tour the sets and backlot of Planet Hollywood London.

Upstairs is a room that you can reserve for private parties.
It even includes a neon version of Hollywood Boulevard’s Walk of Fame.
Downstairs, if you look at the very back of the room, you’ll see a wall filled with James Bond images.
Behind it is a secret room full of Bond memorabilia.

And, if you unfold this wall, you’ll get a sneaky peek at 007 and Bond Girls through the years.
And, as an absolute Sunny in London exclusive, right now you can see a preview of who’s debuting as the next Bond Girl in the upcoming feature ‘The Sun Never Sets on London’…
Don’t worry, I’m laughing at that picture and the thought of this too.

Obviously I’m not getting a call back for the role of a Bond Girl. A blogger can dream though. Can’t she?

Even though I’ll clearly never be the love interest of 007, I did get my name in lights at Planet Hollywood London.
Now that’s a damn cool way to make a blogger feel like an A-lister!

(Applause)

I loved the food and atmosphere at Planet Hollywood London. I’m definitely down for a lunch sequel. If you like movies, giant portion sizes and American culture, Planet Hollywood London is worth you making a meal appearance.

It is located footsteps from Piccadilly Circus at 57-60 Haymarket London, SW1Y 4QX. You can also follow them on Twitter and Facebook.

CREDITS:
‘I’d like to thank the Hollywood Foreign Press. I’d also like to thank Planet Hollywood for the complimentary lunch for the purpose of a review. I assure you, all opinions are unscripted.’

Now can someone get me an agent?

July 25, 2014 by: Sunny London

Wildwood Kitchen in Seven Dials

Wildwood Kitchen is perfect for a fun, flavourful lunch in the Seven Dials area. Located near the the corner of Monmouth Street and Shaftesbury Avenue, this restaurant features freshly prepared homemade Mediterranean cooking. And it’s delicious!

Over the next few weeks I am going to have several features on Sunny in London which will highlight this great area of London.

Why? Because I love it!

So, let’s start with my lunch at Wildwood Kitchen!

I was kind of gutted when my lunch date ordered the Baked Brie, toasted sourdough, tomato chilli jam selection from the Starters menu. Simply because- it’s what I wanted to have!
You can imagine how jealous I was when it hit the table. It was just ooey gooey super yummy looking.

Since my first pick was taken, I opted for an old faithful- Calamari, rocket and aioli.
I loved every bite of my food!

Aside from daily seasonal specials, Wildwood Kitchen’s menu also features main courses in: Pasta and Risotto, Stone Baked Pizza, Grills and Seafood, and Salads.

From the Pasta and Risotto section, I ordered the Mushroom Risotto, white wine, parmesan, roasted fennel, and rocket.
Risotto always makes me weak in the knees. Having made this food many times myself, I know the key to this dish is a slow, steady stir. Without this technique, you just can’t achieve the right consistency. My Mushroom Risotto at Wildwood Kitchen could not have been served better.

However, once again my lunch date stole the show with this scrumptious dish…
Holy Healthy Eating, Batman! That’s the Goat’s cheese, with mixed leaves, carmelised onion, walnuts, butternut squash, and house dressing. With that many colors, I can’t even begin to imagine the level of antioxidants she consumed. And, she said it was fabulous!

Although the dessert menu looked ridiculously enticing, we both opted out as we had a full day of touring Seven Dials ahead of us.

Our service at Wildwood Kitchen was great. The location of the restaurant is tough to beat. The interior was simple, chic and attractive.
For a closer look at what the restaurant has to offer, you can check out their Main Menu. Or, maybe you want to check out what you can order for takeaway?

Wildwood Kitchen Information:

They’re open Monday-Saturday 12pm-11pm, Sunday 12pm-10:30pm.

If you aren’t in the Seven Dials area, you can also find Wildwood Kitchen in Didcot, Stratford Upon Avon, Barnes, Oakham, and pretty soon- Ludlow.

I’d recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for great food that’s well priced.
So, Sunny friends, what fabulous food, great shops and experiences can you recommend in Seven Dials?

January 28, 2014 by: Sunny London

La Tasca Spanish Tapas Restaurant is La-fan-tastic!

Recently, I spent an entire sunny afternoon wandering Trafalgar Square, the Strand and Covent Garden. By chance, I stumbled on La Tasca Spanish Tapas Bar and Restaurant and enjoyed a fantastic meal accompanied by outstanding service.

This restaurant features an excellent wine list and three stories, the top of which is available for large parties.

The staff who greeted me were very friendly and eager to seat me at exactly the table I preferred. Even better, once I got situated, they whisked over a smashing glass of Marques de Morano Tinto. If you’re a Sunny in London reader, you know that Rioja is my preferred “vintage grape juice.”

The authentic menu was impressive indeed, as there were clearly labeled vegetarian, gluten free and lower calorie options. But, let’s be honest, who’s thinking low calorie when facing an array of tapas dishes? 😉 Not any fun Sunny friend, for sure!

My server suggested three of the most popular menu options. I trusted her expertise, and it certainly was a great decision.

First, I had the Warm Winter Salad for £4.95

It’s a classic Spanish dish featuring broad beans and Serrano ham. It was yummy.

Next, I enjoyed the Gambras Al Ajillo (Andalucia) which was also £4.95. Feast your eyes on these succulent butterflied king prawns sautéed in a chilli and garlic infused oil.

These cooked crustaceans were amazing, and the chillis sure put a nice little AYE CARUMBA in my mouth. Beware to those who don’t fancy a dish with a hot, sexy kick!

I saved the most tempting dish for last. It’s the Pollo con Crema (Castilla) £5.25

It’s marinated chicken thighs with a creamy spinach and mustard sauce and was by far, my favourite. The chicken literally melted off of the bone. The toasted almonds really took the excellent flavor up another level. It was divine!

I learned two important things after I left.

One: La Tasca Spanish Tapas Bar and Restaurant is steps away from Porterhouse Brewing Co.

Sometimes on the small London streets I’m not always sure which direction I’m heading. So, I literally didn’t realise that I ended up the same place I was just a few days before when I went on my Covent Garden Pub Crawl.

Two: The La Tasca Spanish Tapas Bar and Restaurant has a Loyalty Card you can sign up for via their website. It indicates you can receive offers including: updates on the latest rewards, 20% off food from the main menu and a monthly treat, and member only offers & incentives.

I’ll definitely be back to try their “Famous Paellas.” It seems like it’ll be fairly easy to do since La Tasca Spanish Tapas has 40 locations throughout the UK and overseas! And, once I sign up for and receive this special card, they’ll certainly have a loyal tapas customer in me.

February 5, 2014 by: Sunny London

Palm Court Brasserie- A Floridian’s French Feast

As I walked through Covent Garden trying to find a nice quiet space to sulk after my failed attempt to celebrate the Chinese New Year, I spotted the Palm Court Brasserie just off of the Piazza. How could this Florida girl not venture inside this tropical paradise to enjoy some liquid sunshine and French cuisine?

While I have to say, the “palm tree” in the entrance was a nice touch, it was actually the reasonably priced Sunday lunch options that reeled me in.

I immediately loved the beautiful 1920’s art nouveau atmosphere in this Parisian-style brasserie and appreciated the array of tables I could choose from at 2:30 in the afternoon.

The waiter quickly brought me a glass of Rioja Tempranillo and guided me through the menu. For £13.95, I could have a starter and main course. I chose the Smoked and Confit Salmon Roulade with Horseradish Crème Fraiche. When I asked his recommendation for the main course, his eyes ignited as he indicated the Wild Mushroom Risotto with Truffle Oil and Shaved Parmesan was unbeatable.

My first course was fabulous, but I have to admit, nothing compares to truffle oil. The entrée was mind blowing. Although, sometimes I think you could pour truffle oil on anything and still come out holding Michelin stars!

About half way through my meal, I heard the two girls seated next to me giggle excitedly as their afternoon tea sandwiches and sweets hit their table. What a carbalicious delight! Before they started their feast, they allowed me to grab a quick picture to share it with you.

I regret I didn’t try the Cocktail of the Day, the St Germain Royale, but it sure is an excellent reason to return.

Sunny friends, if you’re in the Covent Garden area, do a truffle shuffle on over to the Palm Court Brasserie for an afternoon tea or other tasty delight. I’m sure you’ll be just as pleased as me. Or even better, let me know when you’re going and I’ll meet you for a St Germain Royale!

February 15, 2014 by: Sunny London

Burger and Lobster London Review- £20 of juicy love!

Hello Sunshines! Grab a beer or glass of wine and have a seat, because this Burger and Lobster London review illustrates one of the juiciest discoveries I have made!

Not kidding.

After filling my soul with sun at the Dale Chihuly exhibition at the Halycon Gallery, I strolled through Mayfair to see where destiny would lead me. While navigating London’s tricky side streets via Maps on my iPhone, I saw “Burger and Lobster” featured on a nearby street and decided to give it a whirl.

Yikes! I couldn’t even squeeze inside because it was so packed. The bouncer hostess barricading the door indicated there would be a 45 minute wait. Bummer.

Around 45 minutes later, I had wandered to Soho and was beyond starving. Walking down Dean Street, I noticed another Burger and Lobster. “Enough already,” I thought. I’m going in!

Although, there was also an equally long wait, I was able to score a seat at their bar. Party of ONE in the HOUSE!

A bartender verbally conveyed the 3-option menu:

· Beef Burger (with/without bacon &cheese)

· Lobster (whole grilled or steamed)

· Lobster roll (served in a toasted brioche bun)

It’s quite simple really. If you’re vegetarian, this probably isn’t the place for you. And, if you like to eat gluten-free, you’re fairly limited to the whole lobster. Things could be worse, right? 😉

Oh yeah, and each entrée is £20, which includes salad and fries. They also have larger lobsters to share, which are priced by weight.

I anxiously awaited my order and started thinking maybe my hunger had caused me to be careless with my money. How could a burger be worth £20? I watched the ginormous clock tick and tick as I second guessed my decision.

About 5 minutes later…..

BOOOOOOM!

Check out the size of that bad boy!

Like the exquisite artwork I viewed earlier, this was a one of a kind masterpiece. In fact, I wasn’t sure if I should disrupt the image by eating it or if I should just play paparazzi and snap photos for you! But for that £20 ticket price, there really was only one thing to do.

DIG IN!

Just trying to get a firm grip on this hunka hunka beef was a struggle. As much as I tried to squish it together, I still couldn’t widen my jaws enough to get a clear top to bottom bite. While I tried, I felt a warm sensation drizzling down my arms.

JUICE JUICE BABY!!!!! Whoaaaaaaaaa.

With 10 ounces of 5 different cuts of beef, all I can say is- Hot damn this is the ticket!

I proudly finished every morsel, managed to graze through the salad, and put a fairly decent dent in the golden fries served as a side.

With a three option menu, quick service and quality food, Burger and Lobster made eating fun and WELL WORTH the £20. Also an honourable mention goes to the Soho staff member who creates their artwork. She’s super talented!

My suggestion to you is not to casually enter on a random day like I did. Either make a reservation at one of the locations that accepts them, or build the time in to your schedule and JUST DO IT!

I went back a few days after my visit to take some pictures inside when it wasn’t so crowded so you could have a peek at the fun, casual atmosphere.

Burger and Lobster has locations in: Mayfair, Soho, Farringdon, City, and Knightsbridge. They also tweet at @LondonLobster

Check the website to see which ones take reservations, so you can avoid any confusion, and if you go, please let me know. I’d really like to hear about the lobster. It looked LA LA LUSCIOUS!

So, Sunny friends, where have you had delicious burgers in London?