Roka - Restaurant

So, having been back to Roka twice in the space of a week, I must confess that it is now officially my favourite restaurant in London and am full of suggestions:

- The rose petal martini is smooth, pretty and oh so chic.
- The king crab
- The tuna sashimi
- The fois gras with ume (Japanese plum) = heaven on a plate.

The service rocks and the atmosphere is energetic, fun and without pretense. Can't wait to go back!

14/10/08

Sitting around the counter, watching the chefs prepare the most delicious food - heavenly. Sashimi was really good. Helpful service and, despite being quite busy, you never feel rushed. I like it a lot, though not terribly keen on the miso there.

Long Bar

Now, I’m not advocating drinking in the afternoon, but if you happen to find yourself sat at the Long Bar at 15:30 on a Wednesday afternoon after a little shopping, you’ll have a great time. The service is flirty, attentive and spot on and the martinis are exquisite. If you have the misfortune of being there 17:00-22:00 Mon-Sat, you’ll probably find it full of hookers, excessively loud media types and the optimum of pretension. Suddenly Wednesday afternoon isn’t looking so shabby!

A male friend referred to the Long Bar as being the tackiest place ever. A female friend thinks it’s the best thing since sliced bread! Over to you...

Carluccio's - Restaurant/Groceries

Great for a quick bite when out shopping. Fast, easy service, with a menu and price that attracts all types and ages. The freshly prepared pappardelle con funghi is a favourite of mine. Can be very chaotic on a Saturday afternoon. Don't say I didn't warn you!

The Wolseley - Restaurant

I really cannot think of a better way to spend a Saturday morning than catching up with a friend over breakfast – a lazy start to my weekend. If you happen to have said breakfast at The Wolseley, all the better. We started with individual pots of jasmine and mint tea followed by omelettes with gruyere, toasted brioche and juice.

The food was fresh and well prepared, the staff super friendly and the atmosphere comfortable. It’s also a good place to stop off for some soup/a quick bite if you want quality without excessive prices. The only fault was that my carrot and ginger juice wasn’t freshly made - it was nice but had obviously been prepared earlier that morning and refrigerated. A minor detail but I noticed...

Axis - restaurant

Really, really like it - intimate, gorgeous surroundings and great service.

Oxo Tower - Restaurant

If you're happy to pay for a truly wonderful view, make a reservation now... but to be honest, you will probably be left disappointed. I wouldn't describe the food as inedible, just bland and excessively overpriced. The staff were okay (no complaints) but nothing really stands out about this place except for the view.

Versailles - Culture

Best to visit during the warmer months when you can aimlessly wander through the surrounding gardens, which are, in my opinion, the main attraction.

Tamarai - Restaurant

Excellent food*, mediocre service and the worst ever placemats known to man!

The strange thing is that this place completely changes into a noisy club/bar on Friday and Saturday nights, so talking during dinner becomes near impossible. A good place to go to for a late night drink.

*Sweet Chilli Lotus and Crispy Red Mullet are to die for!

Planet Organic - Groceries

I’m torn; on one hand, they have an excellent selection of food, health products and beauty items any health-conscious individual would die for. Good for herbal tea, snack bars, grains and seeds – you can find every possible type here. On the other hand, it’s so expensive! I bought a (small) fresh vegetable juice and it cost almost £4! It’s just too expensive. C’est la crise!

It’s conveniently 2 mins away, but then again so is Waitrose and they stock the same organic fresh products for half the price. I do, however, really appreciate the knowledgeable and helpful staff at PO.

Harrods - Department store

The only store to rival Harrods is Bergdorf Goodman in New York, and even then, Harrods might just win. Anywhere that sells Christian Louboutin shoes, Myla lingerie and Krispy Kreme doughnuts under one roof gets my vote! They just have everything you could possibly want and more than you could possibly afford!

The staff are so helpful, it’s actually quite amazing. When trying on a slip from La Perla which was too big, the assistant telephoned the La Perla branch on Sloane Street to check if they had a smaller version and put it on hold for me to collect. It's a small detail but it makes all the difference. We all want to feel as though we’re getting a personal service and, let’s be fair, it costs the sales assistants nothing but makes all the difference to the clientele.

If you can, go during the week before 13:00 (well worth taking the morning off of work for), and avoid Sundays at all costs when the tourists are out in force!