Rock and Sole Plaice

One place we forgot to make mention while we were in London was a fish and chips place that we had gone to.  This place supposedly was one of the better fish and chip places in London although many will argue that there are plenty of those all over London.  The place we went to that night was the Rock And Sole Plaice which was located near the London Eye.  We didn’t have reservations as it was about 8pm so we figured the place would have emptied out by then.  When we got there, that motion was quickly dashed as the entire restaurant on the main floor on the inside and on their patio outside were completely full.  Luckily for us, this restaurant has a basement level and it just so happened that a family of four had just left.  We got in and were given a seat right away.  We were given out menus and a waitress soon took our order.

The interesting aspect of the menu was that there was plenty of fish to choose from, so much so that one had to sit there and say which one??  There were just so many different types that we needed the waitress to filter out the best from the worse.  She said some of the fish were really salty, some were a little fishy and some were just bland.  After some hemming and hawing we decided to go with the calamari, the skate and the halibut.  We also got a couple of nice English London Pride beers to celebrate this evening. 

Calamari and Chips

The calamari arrived first and this looked stunningly good.  There were about 6 huge pieces of calamari in front of us.  We cut the first piece open and steam was flying out of it like there was no tomorrow. The meat of the squid was ultra smooth on the inside.  The calamari was definitely fresh and tasted beautifully.  The batter was crispy and the tarter sauce was excellent!! The fries were amazing but truthfully no one was here for the fries.

The skate fish was interesting. For those who didn't know, it’s actually shark fin and for those who have never had shark fin before, it’s mainly all bones, both hard and soft. The cartilaginous part of the fin was edible but closer to the distal part of the fin, the bones were harder and therefore not chewable.  There really wasn’t a whole lot of taste to it either but one would not expect it to be anyways since it was mostly cartilage. As you get closer to the harder parts of the bone, one would need to just suck the meat of the bone.  Compared to the calamari, I think I would have prefer the former over the latter.  More meat and less bone!!

Skate and Chips

The halibut was the best fish of them all.  Like the calamari, the meat was so soft, so tender and very juicy.  There was a slight saltiness to it as well which made the halibut a cut above the rest.  The meat did not flake off and at first taste, one can tell that this was one fresh halibut that was served to us.  The waitress mentioned to us that because of the high turnover especially with halibut, that it was possible for them to get fresh halibut in there almost on a daily basis.  One can certainly appreciate the gesture as it sure does distinguishes them from one fish and chips place to the next. The halibut was very very smooth and the batter was once again cooked to perfection.

Halibut and Chips

I think I would have given them an easy five out of five if it wasn’t for the skate.  Truthfully it wasn’t really the fault of the owners however if you were to sell me something that is just as expensive as the other two to eat, I would expect to be able to eat the whole thing.  The unfortunate part of the skate was that much of it was bone and only ¼ of the meal was edible.  My recommendation was that it was probably best left off the menu rather than being on it.  The other interesting part was that when it came to paying, one had to go back upstairs to the cashier to pay.  The upstairs at most is about 450 square feet and even though it was like around ten at night, there were lots of people inside the restaurant and there was a line up still all the way outside the door!!  Even a couple of local policemen decided to take a break and order a couple of meals from this place.  With all these people milling about it could have been so easy for anyone to have just walked out of there and not pay.  I thought it was quite bizarre as I watched from across the street the “chaos” that was before me.  In the end the food was good and something I would highly recommend.  Avoid the skate fish and you will have a pretty good evening.  Overall, I give it a 4.5 out of 5.

Rock and Sole Plaice
47 Endell St  London WC2H 9AJ, United Kingdom

+44 20 7836 3785

Telferic Platform Café

A trip to Barcelona usually would include a customary trip on to the cable car ride up the hill towards Barcelona’s fame castle, The Castell De Montjuic.  However prior to getting all the way to the top, there is a pit stop prior to the highest point where you can have lunch and observe all of Barcelona on its spacious patio lot. When one takes the Transbordador Aeri del Port or Port Cable car to take in the spectacular view of Barcelona, the end of the trip offers a couple of restaurants that people can sit and relax and enjoy the spectacular view on Montjuic mountain side.  There are two restaurants there, one on top of another.  The more expensive fine dining restaurant is located on the bottom while the Telferic Platform Cafe is located on top.  My wife and I were quite famish so we decided to go for something quick after spending the morning high above on the cable car.  After checking out the menu of this cafe, we noticed that they offer a variety of items including pizzas, salads, sandwiches and paellas. 

We were greeted at the door by a very enthusiastic gentleman who promptly gave us a seat inside the restaurant.  It was a tiny bit chilly that afternoon so despite a patio full of people, we opted to stay indoors and enjoy our meal and enjoy the view of Barcelona from within closed windows.   After checking out their menu, we decided to go with their Paella Marisco which was a seafood mixed paella. Since we had one the night before at Portovono Restaurant, we wanted to see if there was a marked difference from this place or not.

Paella Marisco

It arrived within ten minutes and it was served in its traditional pan.  The paella smelled alright but not as aromatic as the one we had the night before.  There were about three pieces of shrimp, some calamari and a piece of chicken meat as well.  The funny thing is that on the menu the chicken actually went with their Paella Mixta and not their Marisco so obvious I was a little surprised to see a piece of meat in our seafood Marisco paella.  I guess it was our bonus addition. After mixing the rice, we could tell that the entire pan of rice was a bit soggy and soft.  There wasn’t that crunchy edge on the bottom on the side that really makes a paella stand out.  Taking a bite into it, although one could taste a bit of seafood taste to it, it was overall bland and certainly quite different than the one we had from the night before.  The shrimp lacked that true seafood taste to it which I think contributed to the lack of overall taste to the paella.  As the lady said from the night before, the difference between a good paella and an average one was the amount of time you leave the rice simmering in the pan and whether fresh seafood is used when cooking a mixed seafood rice. I'm not 100% sure but I'm sure the mussels and calamari used here were not of the fresh type.

Yes I was a little disappointed with the overall meal although truthfully it could have been a lot worse.  When your high up on the hills and there is little to choose from then what you pay for is what you get.  The fine dining restaurant actually looked good from the outside and there were a lot of positive reviews from various blogs and websites.  There were a lot of tourists there and staff was at least helpful and courteous at all times.  Just wish the paella was a little better.  Overall I give it a 2.5 out of 5.  

Telferic Platform Café

 

Restaurante Portonovo

Five years ago while on a Mediterranean Cruise, we had a chance to visit Barcelona for a couple of days.  We scaled hills, visited many of the popular tourist sites and of course took part in many of its fine authentic cuisines.  Five years later, we made a return trip into the city.  One of the places we remembered very well was a restaurant that was located along the shoreline where one could eat fresh seafood and paella. Although we had totally forgotten the name of the place, we had a pretty good idea as to where it was and after thirty minutes of walking we were able to relocate that restaurant. 

The restaurant’s name was Restaurant Portonovo.   It’s located on the east side of Barcelona near the yacht docks.  They serve a variety of paellas and fresh seafood platters, which is what this restaurant is known for.  When we located this place, a lady was standing in front of the restaurant welcoming us onto her restaurant front patio.  This was the same lady that we had met five years ago when we had first visited the place so we knew we were in the right place. 

Paella De Marisco

Scanning their menu, it appeared they had expanded it by a few dishes.  On this evening we ordered the Mariscada, a dish that we had exactly ordered five years ago and the Paella De Marisco.  Although the restaurant was not fully packed, the food took a while to get to the table.  I wasn’t sure whether we were all just a little extra hungry that night or just salivating for our food but it actually took about 40 minutes to arrive from the time that we ordered.  The staff however had provided us with fresh bread to keep our stomachs happy. 

When it arrived it smelled really, really good.  The paella came in its traditional pan while the large seafood Mariscada platter arrived on a separate large plate.  The platter had fresh lobster tails, shrimps, squids, mussels, scallops and shellfish in it.  I can tell you all the seafood on this plate was fresh and the seasonings they used I think were kept as simple as possible as to not to distort the taste of the seafood.  I think all the chef used were some butter, olive oil and sea salt and that was pretty much it.  Everything on this plate was as advertised and for 45 Euros, it certainly was all worth it. 

Mariscada

The paella with its fresh jumbo shrimp and mussels made all the difference in the world.  I can say that because we had paella a couple more times a few days later and I can tell you one can notice the difference between an average paella from a good one.  The people at Portovono really knew how to cook up a real good paella.  With a touch of lemon on its side and with the rice soft and moist on top and toasty on the bottom, this paella was certainly ahead of its class.  Compared to other paellas we had that week, this certainly was above average.  

Overall it was a great night back in Barcelona.  The manager even snapped a photo for us with her sign on top so that we would remember it the next time we go into Barcelona.  The staff was pretty helpful as there were two waiters serving us.  The manager I think was a little disappointed in that the four of us only had two dishes for the entire evening but believe me, her dishes were quite large and very filling.  We were thinking of getting some gelato afterwards that evening but as we were walking back to the subways, we realized we didn’t need it at all because all four us were completely full.  I highly recommend people to check this place out and read some of their other reviews at Trip Advisor. You sure won't be disappointed.  I give this place a 4.5 out of 5.

Restaurante Portonovo

Carrer de la Creu Coberta, 25

Barcelona Spain

+34 932 925 395

Regency Cafe

Our last stop in London was the Regency Café Restaurant which too was within walking distance from Buckingham Palace.  One of the reasons why we chose this establishment for some hearty breakfast was that it was known for its big and delicious breakfasts but as well, it was the location where Daniel Craig had starred in his movie Layer Cake.  We figured if London Hollywood felt that this was a good place to shoot their film, then chances are it was probably a good place to eat as well.

When we got there, it was about three quarters full and this was about 10:30 in the morning.  We found seats for ourselves, as there wasn’t really anyone there to seat you.  We went to the counter and the manager in a deep baritone voice took our order.  We all decided to grab something a little different from their menu.  I went with the sausage and chips, my wife went with the Sunnyside up egg, sausage and beans combination, and our friends went with the Egg combination which included tomatoes, hash browns and bacon. I also got an orange juice which I must say was a rather large bottle of juice. The fact that it was only two dollars more and that it was freshly squeezed juice made it all the more worthwhile.

Orange Juice

Once you have placed your order and have paid for your meal, you go back to your seat and wait.  When your food is ready, the manager will bellow out in his deep baritone voice your order and it’s up to you to get up and go get your breakfast. 

The sausage they had for me was quite good I must say.  I’m not too sure if it was beef or pork but the sausage was hardly fattening at all.  There was no pooling of fat or oil underneath the sausage which made it more appealing.  The fries were sizzling hot and made to perfection.  A little crispy on the outside and with a touch of ketchup, it sure was a good choice to have. 

Egg Tomato and Bacon Combination

My wife said the egg she had was perfectly cooked.  The best part of her meal however was the beans.  At first glance they looked like beans that came out of a Heinz can however when you take a bite into it, you realize they were not.  The sauce was slightly different and it wasn’t thick or gooey like the stuff that you get from the can.  The beans were not starchy and were actually some of the best beans I have ever tasted.  I would never thought that beans could taste this good but these guys sure knew how to make them good. 

The egg combination looked great and the plate my buddy brought back to the table was rather large.  The tomatoes were very juicy and they were able to cook it without losing any of its flavor juices, the hashbrowns were nicely crisped on the outside and perfectly cooked on the inside and the bacon, like my sausage, was crispy and hardly fattening at all. 

Sausage and chips

I have to admit we were lucky that we had gotten there when we did.  Ten minutes after we had sat down to eat, there was a huge lineup of people that had formed inside the restaurant.  I couldn’t believe the number of people that all of sudden decided to come off the street to have breakfast here.  My meal was only five pounds and the rest were about 6 pounds.  One could also have toast and butter here for an extra pound or so.

Sausage Egg and Bean Combination

The interior certainly gives you that sixties feel to it as many sports memorabilia were also hung on the wall.  The only thing I felt it lacked was the sight of any waitresses or waiters.  One or two would have been helpful just to refill some tea or coffee while you were eating.  Otherwise, if you get a chance to visit London and you want a good fulsome meal, I certainly would recommend coming here for breakfast.  Overall I give it a 4.25 out of 5. 

Egg Combination

Regency Cafe
17-19 Regency St  London, Greater London SW1P 4BY, United Kingdom

+44 20 7821 6596

Lido Chinese Restaurant

A trip into London England would not be complete without a quick visit into Chinatown.  Once there, one can go up and down two streets filled with Chinese markets and restaurants.  That evening we chose to eat at Lido Chinese Restaurant where choosing this restaurant was actually not by random choice.  We had actually seen this restaurant being featured in a Hong Kong show a few months back and thought it would be really neat to order some of the dishes that those guys had ordered and compare it to some of the restaurants here in Toronto. 

We got there roughly around 6pm on a weeknight and were escorted downstairs where the area was a little bit more private.  We scanned their menu and it looked like a typical Chinese menu with lots of great authentic Chinese dishes.  That night we went with the Aromatic Crispy Duck, Tong Choi, Freshly Baked Crab and Stir Fried Garlic Frog’s Legs.  

Our food arrived within ten minutes of ordering.  The first to arrive was the Aromatic Crispy Duck.  Now appearance wise I even have to admit that it certainly didn’t look like the greatest of dishes.  It look liked this duck had just gotten out of bed and had its skin removed.  The photo is that actual photo of when the plate hit our table.  It was not taken after everyone had gone through it already.  Looking at it, the duck was skinned completely.  What was left was shredded duck meat.  Just like a Peking Duck order, the meal came with wraps, green onions and Hoisin sauce.  Once all the ingredients were put together, we munched into this wrap.  It was actually quite tasty and one thing I found enlightening was that it was hardly fattening at all.  Since all the skin was removed, there were really no excessive oils or fats in this wrap.  It actually tasted quite healthy and the duck meat tasted just like the duck meat from home.  If anything I thought it was a brilliant idea.  Never thought Peking Duck without the skin would taste this good. 

Freshly Baked Crab

The Tong Choi arrived soon afterwards and it was good.  There wasn’t anything spectacular to it.  It was a little salty and mildly spicy but that was just because of the sauce that they had used.  Otherwise, it was nothing but a refreshing vegetable to go with your rice and meal. 

Aromatic Crispy Duck

We were looking forward to the Freshly Baked Crab as it was one of the featured dishes on the television show.  The crab was baked in garlic and onion sauce and smelled really good upon arrival.  The crab was definitely fresh as the meat was juicy and very tasty.  One thing I really want to commend is the amount of brain matter and membrane in this crab.  There was so much so that it was overflowing and for someone like me who absolutely loves this delicacy, it was definitely a dish worth having.  I certainly had no complaints and will definitely give two thumbs on this dish. The crab also came with some noodles that were laid beneath the crab.  The noodles were able to soak up all the sweet tasting crab sauce which made the noodles extra tasty.

Tong Choi

Last to arrive was the Stir Fried Garlic Frog’s Legs.  The meat was nice and tender and slipped pretty easy off the bone.  The garlic sauce was made to perfection and complimented the frog’s legs meat very well.  Many people online and abroad have said the meat feels like chicken meat and rightfully so it certainly did.  I had absolutely no complaints at all as this dish certainly made you salivate for more. 

Overall it was a pretty decent play to eat at.  It was quite inexpensive as it was roughly $15.00 per person.  Staff was very nice and made sure we were well hydrated throughout the evening.  The meals were all simple and healthy dishes and one did not get the feeling that we were getting caked on with MSG.  I would recommend it to anyone who would venture into Chinatown to eat.  It’s easy to locate and it’s about a ten minute walk from the nearest subway station.  Overall I give it a 4.25 out of 5.

Lido Chinese Restaurant

41 Gerrard Street

London, England

+44 20 7437 4431

The Athenaeum - Afternoon High Tea

The Athenaeum was ranked once upon a time one of the top ten high tea places to go to in London England.  This high tea place is within walking distance from Buckingham Palace and is located adjacent to Green Park.  We had made reservations to visit this establishment one afternoon after watching the changing of the guards. 

When we got there we were given a seat to wait as they were preparing our table.  We waited for about five minutes before proceeding to our table.  They offered us a variety of teas to choose from in which it was presented in a “wooden book” where all the tealeaves could be seen. 

Finger Sandwiches

Since there were 4 of us, we each ordered 4 different types of tea although halfway through the meal, the waiter did offer us a choice of changing our tea.  I went with the Bella Coola which was a mixture of dried fruits and herbs mixed into one.  It had quite a strong fruity “cool-aid” taste to it and for those who were looking for a more traditional type tea, this is one tea you may want to avoid.

Crumpets and Scones

The menu itself was the set Evergreen Tea menu.  The appetizers comprised of finger sandwiches, the main course was a mixture or crumpets and scones and the dessert was a buffet from their dessert tray.  The sandwiches were brought out soon after we had selected our teas.  The waitress held them all on a tray and since it was our first time here at this high tea place, we decided to go with the “we’ll try one of each” response.  Sandwiches provided today included Cucumber, Smoked Salmon with Cream Cheese, Egg Mayonnaise and Honey Roasted Ham.   I can tell you that the two best ones I thought were the smoked salmon and the honey roasted ham.  The other two had no wow factor and tasted like any other cucumber and egg mayonnaise sandwich.  The cream cheese was very aromatic and mixed with the smoked salmon produced a very juicy and tasty finger sandwich.  Whereas some of the other sandwiches were dry and lackluster at least this one had a bit of flare to it.  The honey roasted ham was one of their signature sandwiches here at the Athenaeum and for the most part it was fairly decent.  The ham was tasty, tiny bit salty tasting and unique to a certain extent.  

Scones and Crumpets

After the sandwiches came the Orange Blossom Scones and Toasted Crumpets.  These delicate pastries came with their own homemade jam, lemon curd and Devonshire clotted cream.  The scones were warm and soft and smelled pretty good as it laid on the tray.  The scones for the most part were satisfactory as one can taste a tiny bit of the orangy flavor of the scones.  It wasn’t overly sweet however it didn’t have a spectacular wow factor to it.  I guess for me to travel all the way from Toronto to the heart and soul of scones in London England, I was expecting a little more and for some reason I just didn’t get that with the scones.  As for the crumpets, they were a little bit tougher to chew but were still fresh.  Jams included today were honey, strawberry and orange marmalade jam.  The honey and strawberry were quite sweet I must say.  It was pretty good jam and it went well with the scones.  The orange marmalade jam was little bit bitter and although I know marmalade jam is bitter to begin with, this was a little bit more so than usual.   

The dessert cart was filled with a variety of desserts and it would take another page or so to probably list on the different types of desserts that were on the tray.  I played it safe and went with the strawberry, grape and black current tart, lemon tart and chocolate covered strawberries.  My partners were more adventurous and went with the tiramisu cake and what I believe was a chocolate cheesecake.  When the waitress went to cut the slices for the cake, she ended up giving us whopping huge pieces.  I’m not too sure whether if she thought we were going to share the cakes but the slices were about the size of a medium size pizza.  They were huge!!!  Needless to say my partners could only take about three or four bites before they were done with them.  Unfortunately much of it went to waste.  Taste wise, the cakes were quite sweet and heavy.  Truthfully all the desserts were probably a lot sweeter than we would have liked. 

Dessert Tray

Overall it was satisfactory but I have to admit it was not something that I would say has to be a “must-do” when you go to London.  You are not truly full and I have to admit some of the high tea places back home were better than this one here.  Although the place was very clean and had the appearance of royalty, the food itself I thought had no distinctness or uniqueness to it.  I was expecting something spectacular and came away a little disappointed. Lunch itself was roughly about $40 CDN per person.  If you go to their website and book online, they actually have discounts for a variety of their tea offers.  Overall I would give it a 3.25 out of 5. 

Athenaeum High Tea Hotel – Mayfair

116 Piccailly London

+744 (0) 20 7640 3333

Quilon | Michelin Star Restaurant London

Gordon Ramsay Restaurant wasn't the only Michelin restaurant we had visited while we were in London.  Quilon Restaurant which specializes in authentic Indian cuisine was also a place that we had decided to visit while we were in London.  This restaurant is located near Buckingham Palace which makes it very easy for one to get to.  

Although we did not have reservations to this restaurant, they were able to offer us a table for the four of us.  Once inside,  there is a bar to the left of the restaurant, a larger party room in the back and individual tables on the right.  We were greeted by not one but two servers who took the time to explain to us everything on the menu.  Since we were not familiar with Indian food, we actually had the waiter pick out some of their best dishes for us.  The waiter decided we should go with the Manglorean Chicken, Prawn Masala, Fish Curry, Mamabar Paratha and Chickpeas Masala and Crispy Okra. 

Complimentary Popadoms

Prior to the arrival of our entrees, we were given some complimentary popadoms as appetizers.  There were three dips to choose from. I am not entirely sure what the first two were but the last one was definitely a hot jalapeno dip.  The popadoms were fresh and crispy and were a great appetizer to start off with. 

Before the food arrived, we were given 4 fresh pieces of Mamabar Paratha.   These pieces of bread were very thin and delicate yet they were strong enough to hold its own.  Dipped into the curry that was brought before us, the bread and the curry would melt so nicely in one's mouth.  Truthfully, even without the curry, the bread alone was mouth watering and smelled as if it had come straight out of the oven. 

Mangalorean Chicken

The four dishes all arrived more or less the same time.  The Manglorean Chicken was immersed in a red colored curry.  The chicken meat despite being in the pot was very soft, not over cooked and was able to absorb all the curry sauce in its meat.  The chicken was absolutely tasty and the curry was one of the best curries I have ever tasted. The curry itself was mildly spicy which was perfect as to not to numb one's tongue completely so that one can enjoy the tastes of the rest of their meal. 

Fish Curry

Next I tried the fish curry and this too was pretty good. There were 4 pieces of fish inside the curry.  The curry was lighter and more orangy than the Mongalorean Chicken curry which I assume was because they used some sort of a mango based sauce.  Again, like the previous curry, it was not all that spicy but just mildly spicy enough that one could enjoy the beautiful creation of this curry. 

The Chickpeas Masala was a little beany and starchy if there were words to describe it.  Taste wise the chickpeas were very good. I found the chickpeas to be a little starchy and sticky for the throat but again this could be just me.  No one else at the table had any problems with it so I will leave it at that.  If you are a fan of chickpeas then this is a probably a very good dish for one to  have. 

Chickpeas Masala

The Crispy Okra was pretty good however having had this dish in Toronto before, I would say it was comparable to the ones served here in Toronto.  The okras were lightly breaded and although it looked spicy on appearance, the dish was hardly spicy at all. 

The Prawn Masala (not shown in photos) was the last thing I tried and it was probably best that I did.  It was probably the most spiciest of the dishes that we had ordered that night  One recommendation is that by eating this last, the unfortunate part was that the shrimp had cooled down a little bit so if you can, make sure you eat this first however be prepared to be a little bit numb in the tongue afterwards as there is a slight kick of spiciness to it.  Still it was very good, the shrimp was fresh and tender and the dish was well worth the price. 

Crispy Okra

I would have to say the curries were what set this place apart from all other Indian restaurants that I have been to.  The aroma of the curries were undeniably incredible and the curries were mouth savoring , so much so that we actually ordered two extra bowls of white rice just so that we could  finish every last drop of the curries.   The only disappointment of the night and the only reason why this author is choosing to take a quarter point off from the final tally was that they had run out of the Baked Black Cod which was their signature dish here at this restaurant.  You may wonder why but in our case the waiter had recommended and offered it to us and even mentioned that this was the one dish that one must have when people came to their restaurant however we were given the disappointing news soon afterwards in that they had run out of stock.  Other wise everything else was stellar here and I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves good authentic Indian food.  Price wise it was fairly reasonable with the final tally roughly about thirty-five dollars CDN per person.  If I go back to London in the future, I will certainly seek this restaurant out again and hopefully have their Baked Black Cod.  Overall I would give this place a 4.75 out of 5. 

Quilon Michelin Star Restaurant
41 Buckingham Gate
London England
SW1E 8AF

+44 (0) 20 7821 1899