Posts Tagged ‘restaurant’

Pizzeria La Fiorfiore, Via della Croce 17, 00187 Rome, Italy

rome-outsideMy husband and I were looking for somewhere to eat lunch near the Spanish Steps in Rome. There were lots of little pizzeria and trattoria but many of them had prices we were not willing to pay, just for lunch. When we turned down Via della Croce there were two restaurants directly opposite one another wih menus and prices much the same. We chose the one on the left and ended up in Pizzeria La Fiorfiore.rome-pasta

It was very crowded and the lavatories left a lot to be desired. Indeed, we decided against visiting the rest rooms. However, the cooking area was open and was clean. The waiters worked fast to ensure all the customers were served timeously.rome-chicken

We were quite hungry so we had a starter we shared mozzerella balls. They were very tasty but extremely hot which made me think they might have been microwaved. Still, we enjoyed them. For our main course, I chose pasta. I had the tagliatelle with mushroom sauce. I had had the same dish at Jamie’s Italian in Threadneedle Street, London. It is reviewed here, https://hotelandrestaurantreviews.com/2016/01/04/jamies-italian-ground-floor-38-threadneedle-st-london-ec2r-8ay/ . I  wish no disrespect to the celebrity chef, but I enjoyed my meal at Pizzeria La Fiorfiore better. My husband chose the roast chicken and thoroughly enjoyed it. The portion size was generous and that suited him very well!rome-inside

The lunch we had at Pizzeria La Fiorfiore was tasty and not too expensive, bearing it is near the Spanish Steps. I would visit this little restaurant again.

Valerie Penny

Advertisement

Lemon Tree Garden – Rethymnon, Crete by guest author Reijosfood

First published by Reijosfood on 5th August 2016 at https://reijosfood.com/2016/08/05/restaurant-review-lemon-tree-garden-rethymnon-crete/.

Summer vacation in Crete, Rethymnon meant also visits to several restaurants and tavernas. Tried about 10 places and always tested starters and main courses. Better avoid dining spots with most aggressive “in throwers”, best ones are those counting on menu,location and athmosphere.

image

Mostly ate in Old Town where you can find many good and not so good dining spots. When it comes to taverna type of restaurants serving traditional greek food, Lemon Tree Garden is the choice. Judgement is based on two visits, which both were above average in “tavernas category”.

Restaurant has good service, fresh ingredients and well prepared dishes not forgetting vegan choises.

During second visit had for starters Spinach Pies, Vine Leaves Rolls and Feta Cheese.Usually spinach pies include cheese, but restaurant had vegetarian version available. Two types rolls, vine leaves (dolmades) and zuccini flower rolls. Both were prepared at restaurant, too often you get canned rolls. Greek style feta cheese was delicious, right mixture of herbs and tomato.image

For main courses had Gyros, which in this case were perfect. Best part of this was just outdoor terrace, grilled pork. In one taverna get meat which had been grilled earlier and was warmed before serving.

image

 

 

….and Stuffed VegetablesSweet pepper and tomato stuffed with deliciously spiced rice. A perfect vegan dish accompanied by sliced potatoes.  Olive oil is always part of the dishes, and combined with the proper spices, makes for the perfect sauce.

image

 

In previous post you can find some information about Greek wines, which are part of dining. In Lemon Tree Garden had Melios and Chateau Julia, both Merlots.

image

Chateau Julia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lemon Tree Garden has nice outdoor terrace inside old walls. The name comes from the trees above tables, lemon and orange trees are the roof of restaurant.

After dinner restaurant serves fresh water melon, lemon cake and raki depending on what you have eaten. Nice way of ending dinner, but as you know what to expect, do not order dessert.

 

REVIEW: FOOD 4+/5 – SERVICE 4+/5 – OVERALL GRADE 4,5/5

Scott’s Bar and Restaurant Largs Yacht Haven, Irvine Rd, Largs, Scotland

scotts in largs

It was a long time since I had been to Scott’s Bar and Restaurant at Largs Yacht Haven. It had changed beyond all recognition when I joined a recent family celebration hosted by my brother-in-law and his wife to celebrate their silver wedding anniversary. It was a lovely occasion.John & Lesley 25

We had a long table by the window. The menus were interesting and varied. I was particularly surprised and pleased that there was a complete substitute vegetarian menu that I could choose from.

red wine at scottsOur nephew recommended the haggis tower starter to my husband. It was a good shout as he enjoyed it very much. I chose from the vegetarian menu. The vegetables tempura were delicious. Throughout the meal red and white wine, beer and cider all flowed freely. John and Lesley were very generous hosts. Also, the service at Scott’s was excellent. We had a dedicated server taking our orders and ensuring all was well. It was lovely to feel so valued. We had the long table, by the window, at the top of this photo.

table at scotts

For the main courses, fish and chips was a popular choice. This was served in a beer batter with mushy peas and a slice of lemon. Having eaten his own portion, our nephew then “helped” his girlfriend with her fish before moving on to “share” my meal. This young man has hollow legs: he takes a lot of feeding!

food at scottsI cannot blame him for wanting to share my maincourse, though. I had chosen the vegetables fajitas which arrived sizzling to the table. They were served with sour crea, cheese and a chilli sauce. It was very tasty, but there was no way that I would manage to finish the four pancakes offered. My husband chose the ribeye steak. It was large and cooked exactly as he had asked. His steak was served with onion rings, mushrooms and grilled tomatoes. This was a big success. (Our nehew had no chance!)

largs marinaIt is amazing to admit that we made it to desserts and coffee, but we did. My husband chose  a selections of icecreams. The quality of the icecream was excellent and left him a little space to “help” me with my chocolate brownie. The bownie was tasty, but, to my taste, slightly dryer than I would have liked. The selection of coffees was wide and included decaffinated choices.

After our meal, we adjourned to the bar for a night cap before the evening came to an end. Scott’s is a very sleak gastro pub now. Although it had been a long time since I had been to Scott’s Bar and Restaurant in Largs, Scotland, we had a lovely meal and a fun evening, so I highly recommend it and doubt it will be so long before I am back again.

Valerie Penny

 

Brasserie Kamp by guest author Reijosfood

This article was first published on 3 July 2016 at https://reijosfood.com/2016/07/03/restaurant-review-brasserie-kamp-3/

Brasserie Kämp

Hotel Kämp is a historical hotel in Helsinki, Finland. The hotel was originally built in 1887 by Carl Kämp. The building was demolished and the facade was rebuilt in 1965. 

Dining at Hotel Kämp gives a possibility on a culinary journey from East to West. Asian food is offered at restaurant YUME. Brasserie Kämp offers a wide range of European brasserie style food.

A la carte list is short which makes ordering easy, if you find suitable dish. One option is to order gourmet “fast food” like Kämp burger or club sandwich which are luxorious. Especially french fries are maybe the best in the city.

Wanted to challenge kitchen and decided to order for starters Salad a la Kämp Mixed salad, cucumber, plum tomatoes with marinated artichokes and button mushrooms

Crispy, fresh vegetables made for a very delicious salad.  The parmesan dressing was substituded by a vinagrette, and marinated artichoke with button mushrooms were the choice to make the perfect all vegan option.  The other options are shrimps orchicken.

image

 

and Arctic Ocean Shrimps Hand peeled shrimps, fennel and apple salad, cold cucumber juice.

Shrimps were fresh and just hand peeled, of course. Cucumber juice was delicous and made the dish sort of soup like of starter.

Shrimps at Kämp

For main courses ordered Roasted salmon Creamed seasonal mushrooms seasoned with chervil and tarragon, potato puree.

Salmon was roasted well, meaning that it was not over cooked which can happen easily. Mixture of mushrooms and potato puree paired extremely well with the fish.

Salmon at Kämp

 

and from All day Dining list Black rice and cauliflower Black rice from Piemonte, roasted cauliflower, hazelnut vinaigrette.

From the “All Day Dinning” part of the menu, this is the perfect vegan option.  The original dish is served with goat cheese.  The dish is creamy, but the hazelnut vinagrette and roasted cauliflower keep it fresh and crispy.

image

 

Recommend to dine at the terrace of Kämp Brasserie, which is perfect location to observe passers-by on Esplanadi promenade or pedestrian street. Most of the dishes can be ordered as starters or main courses which helps in keeping the menu short.

Service was unique with French touch. There is a difference between Kämp Brasserie and recently opened trendy bistro type of restaurants when it comes to service. But it is refreshing that there still are some traditions honored.

REVIEW: FOOD 4+/5 – SERVICE 4,5/5 – OVERALL GRADE 4+/5

Reijosfood

Double Tree Hilton, 1 Doubletree, Rohnert Park, CA 94928, USA

Double Tree out.jpgWhen we went to visit family in Northern California there were too many of us to stay with our relatives, we were fortunate that the hotel nearest to their home was the Double Tree Hilton, 1 Doubletree, Rohnert Park, California, USA. It is a lovely hotel and reasonably priced. It is easy to get to as the Double Tree is only 2-minute drive from US Highway 101 and adjacent to two 18-hole golf courses. The hotel is in the Sonoma Wine Valley area.Double Tree room

Our room was spacious and ticked all the boxes for us. It had been freshly decorated, but was a little dated, although it did have a flat screen TV. There was wi-fi, but only available at a fee. Some rooms had a balcony, but ours did not. The en-suite facilities were spacious and everything was scrupulously clean. The staff were polite and friendly.

We enjoyed the meals we had in the hotel. The restaurant has far more space between the tables than in most dining Double tree diner 2rooms which made moving around easier and added to a sense of privacy when we were chatting. It has feature fireplaces and a patio that serves all-day meals and local wines. In addition there is a lobby bar and a Starbucks cafe.

We did not use the fitness center but we did enjoy swimming in the outdoor pool. The weather was warm enough to make it a pleasure to use. The hotel also has tennis courts within the grounds. The grounds are extensive and have lovely wooded areas.Double Tree pool

The situation of this Double Tree Hilton makes it easy to visit the surrounding area including Petaluma (‘the egg basket of the world’), Napa, Sonoma and San Raphael. I enjoyed my stay at this Double Tree Hilton and will use it again when I am in the area, if my relatives cannot put me up!

Valerie Penny

 

 

Jamie’s Italian, 5 More London Place, London, England

We went to London, England to visit family and managed to arrange that everybody was free to join us for a meal on the same evening. We played safe and booked an Italian Jamie OliverRestaurant, Jamie’s Italian, 5 More London Place, London, England  that we could enter from our hotel, Hilton London Tower Bridge Hotel, 5 More London Place, Tooley Street London SE1 2BY, England. The hotel is reviewed at https://hotelandrestaurantreviews.com/2015/03/02/hilton-london-tower-bridge-hotel-5-more-london-place-tooley-street-london-se1-2by-england/.

Jamie’s Italian bears the name of celebrity chef, Jamie Oliver. We had been to another branch of Jamie’s Italian a few months previously. It is reviewed at https://hotelandrestaurantreviews.com/2016/01/04/jamies-italian-ground-floor-38-threadneedle-st-london-ec2r-8ay/. I was not overly impressed with the food, but other members of the family had enjoyed it so I was willing to give Jamie’s Italian, 5 More London Place, London, England a try. I am very glad I did.

The ambience of this Jamie’s Italian is relaxed and friendly. The service from the moment we arrived to the moment we left was very good, but not quite as good as the service par excellence that I experienced at Jamie’s Italian Threadneedle Street, London. This is not a criticism, just a comparison.

Jamie's Italian insideWe were seated in a large booth and started our meal with olives and a delicious variety of breads. My husband and son-in-law sampled the beers while my daughters and I indulged by following a gin and tonic with a bottle of Prosecco. We chose a variety of main courses. My husband had a turkey milanese. This was a turkey steak stuffed with prosciutto and fontal cheese, breadcrumbed and topped with a fried egg and black truffle with a side of fries. He enjoyed it very much.

My son-in-law chose the Gennaro’s chargrilled & butterflied chicken breast which was served with peas, beans and courgette with a hazelnut and lovage pesto. He also had a side portion of fries. My elder daughter chose a JI superfoods salad with chicken. The salad comprised fresh avocado, roasted beets, pulses & grains, sprouting broccoli, pomegranate & spicy seeds with harissa dressing & cottage cheese. She really enjoyed it. My younger daughter and I both chose veggie tagliatellie bolognese. It was a lovely recipe with an agù of porcini mushrooms, tomatoes, pulses, herbs & garlic with Bella Lodi & herby breadcrumbs: very tasty indeed.Jamie's Italian 5.jpg

Only my husband made it to desert. He had the Tiramisu which he said was the best he had tasted. We rounded off the meal with a variety of teas and coffees. We had a delicious meal in relaxing surroundings. I recommend Jamie’s Italian, 5 More London Place, London, England and would use this restaurant again.

Valerie Penny

 

Ainsty Farm Shop, Green Hammerton

On a recent visit to Yorkshire, my husband and I stopped for lunch at the tea-room attached to the Ainsty Farm Shop, York Road, Green Hammerton, Yorkshire, England. We debated between the Chinese Restaurant across the car park, but chose the more traditional Yorkshire Fayre and we were very glad we did.Map of Ainsty Farm Shop

Of course the farm shop sells fresh fruit and vegetables, but also delicious home baking, and fresh meat, milk, butter and cheese. We took time to study all of these as we made our way to the tiny restaurant. It was a shame that we had already bought our provisions for the holiday because much of the food in the shop would have been perfect and the prices were very reasonable. We will not make that mistake again!Ainsty Farm Shop

The tea-room is on the far side of the shop, so we got a good look at all the products for sale as we made our way round. Everything is spotlessly clean and access is good for those who have mobility issues. The menu offers simple, tasty dishes for vegetarians and omnivores alike.

We were just there for a quick lunch on our journey. My husband chose a hot sausage sandwich while I had a cheese salad roll. Both were fresh and delicious. The sausages were fat and juicy and just what my husband had hoped for. The cheese salad sandwich was served in a freshly baked roll, with lots of salad: not the usual one piece of lettuce, tomato and cucmber you might usually expect. Both meals were also served with a generous side salad. They were very filling.coffee cake

However, we could not resist a piece of the home-made coffee cake to go with the rest of our drinks. The protions were enormous. I could not possibly finish mine after the large roll I had had. However, my husband could not see such lovely cake go to waste so managed his own slice, as well as my left overs! It was very good cake.

We enjoyed our meals at Ainsty Farm Shop, the service was good and friendly too. I highly recommend the Ainsty Farm Shop and will visit again.

Valerie Penny

 

Olly Bongo’s, 4 Teviot Place, Edinburgh, Scotland, EH1 2QZ

christineI met a friend for lunch recently. She works at The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland and suggested that we meet near her work so that I could catch up with her during her lunch break. As I was not familiar with the area, she chose Olly Bongo’s. We were greeted by a friendly waitress on arrival, who gave us a choice of seats. I like getting the option rather than being told where to sit, so that was a good start. The decor was nice with a Mediterranean feel and posters advertising music nights.

We ordered our drinks quickly, but took time choosing lunch from the varied menu. I chose a spinach, tomato and mezzefeta cheese bruchetta while my friend chose a mezze. When our meals arrived, I was amazed by the size of the portions. Our meals were enormous and delicious. The food was freshly prepared and served with a side salad by polite and attentive staff. I certainly could not finish my meal. The portion was so big. However, I did enjoy it very much and my friend finished every crumb. I subsequently discovered that she is such a regular customer she qualifies for a discount!

Access to Olly Bongo’s is easy for those with mobility issues and the cafe is spotlessly clean. We finished our lunch with tea and coffee. Again, it was freshly brewed and outsideserved with individual pots. I had never heard of Olly Bongo’s, but, for the price, it was a real bargain.  This inconspicuous little cafe on the corner of Teviot Place is one of Edinburgh’s fun and quirky places to sit down, have a chat and enjoy a great plate of food. You could easily walk right past it as it does not look like much from the outside. However, if you step through the doors you will get a different impression entirely. I highly recommend Olly Bongo’s.

Valerie Penny

 

Lounge, 33-43 Main Street, Largs, Ayrshire, Scotland, KA30 8AE

lounge-largs1Lounge is a stylish venue in the centre of Largs, Ayrshire in Scotland. It combines a restaurant, bar, outdoor terrace and nightclub. My husband and I went there recently with friends for dinner. What a lovely evening we had! The restaurant at Lounge specialises in contemporary Celtic cuisine with menus and strives to use the very finest local products.

Although the bar was not busy, we chose to go straight through to our table and have our pre-dinner drinks there. They were all perfectly chilled and served. The dining room is carefully lit and the service was impeccable. The table are also far enough apart or separated by furnishings to give diners some privacy.food1

We chose a selection of starters. Two of us went with the black pudding and haggis fritters, one with the garlic mushrooms and I chose a side salad of mixed greens and walnuts with shavings of parmesan cheese. My salad was really tasty, indeed we all enjoyed our starters very much. With our main courses we ordered more drinks. Again, these were perfectly chilled and nicely served. I am vegetarian and food2there were sufficient numbers of choices  for me. I opted for beer battered halloumi with salad and french fries. My husband and one of our friends chose the steak pie while our other friend went with a burger which was served on a large wooden platter. The meals were all freshly cooked, and very tasty. We all thoroughly enjoyed them.

Somehow or another, we managed to make room for pudding. Lounge is unusual as it offers smaller portions of restaurant-3several deserts. I chose a small size brownie. It was beautifully served and just enough to finish my meal. One of our friends chose the cheese cake, which he really enjoyed. The others had sticky toffee pudding. This amply lived up to its name. Our after dinner coffees were served after our puddings and were all as ordered. We all really enjoyed a leisurely meal. The service at Lounge was efficient and courteous. Altogether we had a lovely meal and a great evening. I will certainly look forward to going back to Lounge.

Valerie Penny

La Vita, 161 Queen Street, Glasgow, Scotland, G1 3BJ

My sister and I meet up for lunch every 5-6 weeks. We usually go somewhere mutually inconvenient! Last month wela vita out chose to go to  La Vita, 161 Queen Street, Glasgow, Scotland. This restaurant is situated in central Glasgow, on the corner of George Square, very close to the Queen Street Train Station. As it is on a corner of the street, it has an interesting view to the downstairs dining area. The stairs, however, are rather steep. The tables are also very close together. I would not recommend this restaurant to those who are disabled or with mobility issues. I was also slightly surprised that none of the staff I encountered were Scottish or Italian: for an Italian restaurant in Scotland, I thought that was unusual.

Our table was booked for 1pm. My sister arrived a few minutes early: I was a few minutes late. During this interval the waitress was keen to unite my sister with a complete stranger, who was also waiting for a friend, at pizzaanother table – twice. My sister was incensed by the time I arrived, not with me, but with the unwanted introduction the waitress seemed intent on making for her.

We ordered our meals. We each chose a margarita pizza with a side salad to share. At this time the waitress took it upon herself to berate me for my late arrival. I was bemused but I thought my sister was going to explode. She had, in fact only been waiting about 5 minutes. In any event, it was hardly for the waitress to take this up for her.la vita inside

La Vita has separate menus for food and drinks. There are also chilrdens’ meals available. The menus are varied, but the lunchtime selection for vegetarians is not wide.

Our drinks arrived. They were chilled and nicely served. The pizzas did take a little time to arrive. That is not unusual for freshly prepared food and gave us time to chat. The salad, arrived first. It was quite large and served with a tasty balsamic vinaigrette dressing. It was delicious and complemented the pizza perfectly. The pizzas were also large. The tomato base was tangy and tasty as was the cheese used. Both my sister and I enjoyed our meals very much. It was unfortunate that the service was so intrusive. As a result of that service, I am unlikely to use this restaurant again. If you and your companions arrive at the same time, you may enjoy a meal at La Vita.

Valerie Penny