5th April 2016 - Vista, Trafalgar, London

Vista

Approx 13:50pm - 14:40pm

2 Spring Gardens, London SW1A 2TS

http://www.thetrafalgar.com/vista-homepage/

 

On the rare occasion us Britanians catch a glimpse of sunshine, our main pastime is to find a place we can bask in that sunshine, get sunburned, and get rather tipsy. Hence, Vista. A rooftop bar on top of The Trafalgar Hotel in Trafalgar Square. I wasn't quite sure what to expect from the view, but I was more than pleasantly surprised.

 

On entering the Trafalgar hotel, head into the lift and up to the 6th floor. You will then need to climb a set of stairs to the rooftop. You will be greeted by a man who must also be hired as a Jake Gyllenhaal impersonator, and be taken to a seat with a view of either Trafalgar square or Big Ben. I chose Big Ben, and I could see pretty much everywhere from that spot...

...and here's a little video showing off the view, and the main seating area...

Now, you may notice the music over this video. I didn't add the music myself; this was coming from the speaker which was directly under my seat. It was quite loud, but I didn't mind; it helped to get me in the party mood.

You may also notice that in the pictures you can see workmen on the decking below. They only made a brief appearance, and didn't cause any noise or distractions.

Even though I arrived relatively early in the day, the bar was quite busy. Pretty much every table was occupied, so I'd recommend booking ahead or getting there as it opens if you have a group of people. You can make reservations via the website if your group is quite large. Even though it was a busy time, the service was fast and friendly, and the waiters seems to know their stuff.

To drink, I opted for the Inti, which is featured on their Vista Signatures list. The ingredients included Pisco, St Germain, ginger, lavender bitters, egg white, and lime juice. The drink was sweet and citrus-y, very summery and refreshing. I didn't get much of a hint of the ginger or lavender bitters, but it was still a nice cocktail. 

As the sun was still shining and I was starting to feel quite lovely by this point, I thought I'd treat myself to another. Being a big fan of smokey flavours, the waiter recommended I try the Tennessee Sour, which included Lynchburg, Jack Daniels, maple syrup, peach, lemon juice, plum bitters, pepper and egg white. WOW! What a taste! The maple syrup was the standout flavour in this drink, and it certainly did have a smokey edge. According to the waiter, this is the barman - Angelo's - own recipe. The barman did ask if I wanted a straw, which I declined. I shouldn't have, because there were lots of small pieces of ice which were hard to drink around. Overall, this was the winning cocktail!

 

 

A quick extra note, there didn't seem to be any WiFi up there, so I hope you have 4g!

Overall, this was a fun place, but I would like to see some more adventurous cocktails on their list, with more unusual ingredients. I'd love to come here with a group of friends one evening - I can imagine the atmosphere would be fantastic!

 

Total cost: 32.60GBP

 

ThymeTip: Cocktail of the Day: Tennessee Sour

Food: N/A

Drink: 6/10

Service: 8/10

Fun-ness: 9/10

5th April 2016 - Quo Vadis, Soho, London

Quo Vadis

Approx 12:50pm - 13:30pm

26-29 Dean St, London W1D 3LL

http://www.quovadissoho.co.uk/

Having seen this place rated highly on Google Maps, I figured it would only be right to pop in for a quick cocktail on my way to the rest of my bar crawl.

The front of the building is adorned in colourful, stained glass windows, and has a collection of sunny, outdoor seating lining the path. I made my way through the revolving door to be greeted by a very polite and helpful matradee, who showed me to a quiet table in the bar area. 

My first impression was that it was a lot 'posher' than I originally imagined it to be - the dining area looks very swank - but the bar banter made the whole place feel very welcoming and comfortable. There was no music playing at the bar here, so the atmospheric chit-chat was my main focus of entertainment.

As I was perusing the cocktail menu, the waiter - who was lovely and helpful and chatty - recommended that I try one of their aged Negronis. Well, I certainly couldn't turn that down! The Negroni arrive a couple of minutes later, paired with a generous helping of ice and a half-slice of orange. It was delicious! A lot smoother than your average Negroni, and it went down very well! I later learned that it was actually made by the waiter! Brand name 'Fatman's Aged Negroni'. This isn't available in the shops, so if you want to try it head down there for an exclusive taste! 

Overall, a short, but very pleasant visit to Quo Vadis. I'll definitely come back at some point to sample something from the cocktail menu, and maybe even purchase a bottle of the Negroni!

Total cost: 12GBP (13.50GBP with service charge)

ThymeTip: Give the Negroni a whirl, if that's your kind of thing.

Food: N/A

Drink: 8/10

Service: 8/10

Fun-ness: 8/10

5th April 2016 - Balls & Company, Soho, London

Balls & Company 

Approx 12:05pm - 12:45pm

58 Greek St, London W1D 3DY

http://ballsandcompany.london/

Like balls? 

If you're like me, and you've constantly found yourself asking 'why oh why isn't their a meatball dedicated restaurant around this town?', then your prayers may very well be answered. Meet Balls & Company; an intimate and well designed restaurant in the heart of Soho - just a few steps off Soho Square. I took a visit to this jazzy little place yesterday afternoon, and was overall impressed by whole meatball-y, down-to-earth package. 

I arrived at approximately 12:05pm, 5 minutes after the restaurant opens, and I had the place to myself for a whole 5 minutes. It remained quiet for the entirety of my visit (which is fine by me). 

The venue was very neatly laid out, and strangely geometric for a place which is named 'Balls' (circular, yes?). Geometric shapes on the ceiling, as well as the walls, square tables, in-line table layouts, even a rectangular radiator. But, I digress... it was beautifully presented, modern, clean, and tidy. To add to the atmosphere, they played - what I believe to be - laid-back House music through the speakers, adding to the contemporary vibe.

Having taken my seat near the door, I perused the menus, which included a full menu, specials menu, wine list and cocktails list (See below).

I ordered my food and drinks at approximately 12:10pm, and was kindly recommended 2 different ball types from the main menu by the waiter to accommodate for me being a meat-hating Pescetarian:
- QUINOA beetroot & feta - accompanied by the PESTO basil, lemon, garlic, cashew nuts sauce
- SALMON dill & seeds - accompanied by the BECHAMEL creamy ricotta & parmesan sauce
I also ordered a side of Polenta Chips with Rosemary Salt from the special menu.
The waiter recommended a wine to accompany my meal, of which he chose the MAUI Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand.

The feast arrived at approximately 12:27pm (and when I say feat, I mean FEAST! It certainly was a lot for one small person to digest). Time to dig in!

Firstly, the Polenta Chips with Rosemary Salt - absolutely wonderful! Majorly crispy, not too greasy, and nice and salty. They also came with a garlic aioli, which was slightly thinner than any I've had before, and not too heavy on the garlic. I'd definitely recommend trying these!

The SALMON balls were the biggest winner for me. HUGE chunks of salmon in there, and they were cooked to perfection. The balls were nice and dense and held together perfectly. The BECHAMEL sauce was creamy and subtle, with the right balance of citrus flavours in there. The MAUI sure was a good accompaniment to this dish, too.

The QUINOA balls didn't hit the spot as much as the other 2 dishes did, but, they were absolutely stunning to look at! The purple of the Quinoa and the green of the PESTO were so rich and vibrant - it was a shame to even dig into this pretty picture! The flavours were all there; the ball had a very fresh taste, and the taste of the beetroot was very vibrant. The pesto didn't overpower the ball either, and they complimented each other very well. My only gripe here is that I would have liked these balls to be denser; they did fall apart very easily. If they held together a little better I would have been all over them!

So, to conclude, this place is great! Food - top notch. Service - polite and friendly. Venue - modern and clean. I loved it! I would like to come back with meat-eating friends to get their views on some of the other flavours available on the menu. I really should try the cocktail menu as well.
Thanks to everyone at Balls & Company for a wonderful luncheon!

Total cost: 29GBP (32.63GBP with service charge)

ThymeTip: To my meat-eating readers; the waiter recommends the PORK ball, but I have also read good reviews on the WAGYU ball as well. If you try them, please let me know what you think!

Food: 8/10

Drink: 7/10

Service: 8/10

Fun-ness: 7/10

9th Oct 2015: MENU SHARE: L'Enclume, Cartmel, England

A quick share of the menu which was operating at the Michelin starred restaurant L'Enclume on 9th October 2015.

If you ever get chance to dine at this fantastic restaurant you MUST do it! It is nestled in an almost purely restaurant owned village in the Lake District, and hosts course after course of delicious- yet undecipherable - flavours.

The wine parings were also well matched. We liked the Testalonga, El Bandito so much we purchased a bottle for home (notice how empty it is now)!

Want to see this restaurant in action? It was featured on the BBC's hilarious sitcom The Trip, and clips from this can be watched here and here.

To find out more about L'Enclume, visit their website.

I hope you like the menu; we certainly did, and it now takes pride of place on our hallway wall.


Thyme Tip: Put on your glad rags, and don't go mad on food or drink before your arrival - make sure you turn up with a hungry stomach!

3rd April 2016 - I'm back! Round-up of the Last Year

I have been very lazy this last year. I haven't posted since March 2015; it's now April 2016.

To make up for my absence, I am posting a quick picture round-up of some of the places I have visited over the last year. The majority of these are situated in London, but you can find a couple of randoms out in the sticks (Farnborough, Woking, Bodmin!), and I also have a few places to highlight in Vancouver, Canada as well.

All of the pictured places are highly recommended. I won't be posting in-depth reviews for these - as per my usual format - but it should hopefully give you an idea of the kind of thing you can expect from each venue.

This post includes pics and a short review for the following bars and restaurants: Cellar Magneval, MOMMI, Bone Daddies Shackfuyu, Bar Termini, Hakkasan, Hawksmoor, The Italian Job, Sky Bar, Cardero's,  Lift Bar and Grill, Forage, Camel Valley Vineyard, Whistling Shop and Smokehouse.

Enjoy!

Cellar Magneval, Woking

April 2016

http://www.cellarmagneval.com/

Great wine selection, and a FABULOUS cheese trolley!! Vintage, cosy ambience. Get in as early as you can if you'd like to get a seat. We arrived at around 6pm and by 6:15pm there were no seats available, and this was on a Thursday.

MOMMI, Clapham Common

March 2016

http://www.wearemommi.com/

This is a fairly recent open, and even though the food and drinks weren't anything to shout about, the price was right! Go here with friends for the very reasonably priced set menu. Stylish decor, great location.

Bone Daddies - Shackfuyu, London

March 2016

http://www.bonedaddies.com/shackfuyu/

Excellent, small, Japanese inspired dishes. The Sake flight was the highlight of the visit. Be prepared to wait for your food if the restaurant is busy!

Bar Termini, Soho

February 2016

 http://www.bar-termini.com/

I've slowly grown to love this place. Very relaxed atmosphere - perfect when the sun is out. Worth going for the tiny glasses! Try the Superiore or the Rosato Negroni.

Hakkasan, Hanway Place, London

February 2016

http://hakkasan.com/locations/hakkasan-hanway-place/

Went here for Valentine's Day lunch. The cocktails were top notch, and although the food was 'good', I don't feel as though it matches the hype. Nicely decorated, and busy at all times!

Hawksmoor, Seven Dials, London

November 2015

http://thehawksmoor.com/locations/seven-dials/cocktails/anti-fogmatics/

Just nipped for a quick cocktail here on this occasion - never fail to impress me!

The Italian Job, Chiswick, London

November 2015

http://www.theitalianjobpub.co.uk/

This is one everyone should try. Relatively unknown, they stock a wide range of Italian beers. I'd recommend going for a sour beer, with a side of fried pizza dough.

Sky Bar, Farnborough

October 2015

https://www.aviatorbytag.com/sky-bar 

The only cocktail bar in Farnborough! Expensive for what they are, but tasty enough. If you're struggling to find a nice place to go for a drink in the Farnborough area, this is the safest bet for you to head to.

Cardero's Restaurant, Vancouver, Canada

September 2015

https://www.vancouverdine.com/carderos/

  Gorgeous waterside seating, and delicious fish courses. Outstanding service.

Lift Bar and Grill, Vancouver, Canada

September 2015

http://liftbarandgrill.com/

Another great waterside dining experience. Check out the Bloody Mary with a prawn atop!

Forage, Vancouver, Canada

September 2015

http://www.foragevancouver.com/

One of my favorite ever restaurants! Not only ethical, but amazing food and perfected cocktails. 

Camel Valley Vineyard, Bodmin, Cornwall

August 2015

https://www.camelvalley.com/

Go here for the vineyard tour, and make sure you sample their Gold Award Winning champagne! I've purchased a crate of it since returning home and it's superb.

Worship Street Whistling Shop, London

June 2016

http://www.whistlingshop.com/

A high-end, dingy cocktail bar - just the way I like'em! Beautifully mastered cocktails, great atmosphere.

Smokehouse, Chiswick, London

May 2016

http://smokehousechiswick.co.uk/

This place has great beers, and we were blown away by the starters. Rustic decor, with dining, bar and lounge areas.

7th Mar 2015 - Peony at Opium, Chinatown, London

Approx 6pm - 9pm

Peonny at Opium

The Jade Door, 15-16 Gerrard Street, Chinatown, London, W1D 6JE

http://www.peonychinatown.com

Before I even start, I am going to struggle to do this bar justice - the drinks, brilliant. The service, unbeatable. The atmosphere, top-notch. I can't big this place up enough.

We arrived at around 6pm and were the first people in there. To get into Peony, you have to first gain access to Opium, and Peony is located further into this maze of bars. Booking is integral, as it seems to be a very popular place.

The decor in here is beautiful - oriental themed throughout, and very cosy. The bar was stacked with unusual drinks, and the walls were adorned with pretty little teapots (one of which we used that night). A little pot of alcohol was steaming away at the bar, which made the place smell delicious, and gave the impression of being in an authentic, Chinese, back-alley bar.

To really get the best experience in this place, try to sit at the bar. It was great to be up close to the action, and the bartender kept us entertained all night - thanks Rasa!

The cocktails were expertly concocted. The cocktail menu is quite small, but they are all interesting and unique. You could choose to go with a single cocktail, or go with a teapot for 2 or 4 people, which was a great touch.

I chose to go with a Golden Sazerac, which was strong and delicious. The orange and lemongrass smoke was an excellent touch to a well-constructed cocktail. I also sampled some of the Peony Punch teapot, which was very interesting - the coconut flavour really came through well, and it was very easy to drink, and fun to share. You also got to choose your own teapot from the wall to have it served in!

Rasa was an extremely capable cocktail-maker, and was more than happy to mix us up a few cocktails which weren't on the menu to suit our tastes. The ones she made for us were all top-notch, but don't ask me what was in them because by this point I was on the tipsy side, and my memory from this point is pretty skewed...

...I remember that this one had a chili kick to it, but only as a hint in the aftertaste. Very well done.

...and this one really was right up my alley. Made with Mescal, it had a distinct and smokey flavour, and a creamy consistency. One of my favourite ever cocktails!

Whilst you're here, it's also worth trying the Dim Sum. Some of the flavours were really amazing and a bit different, and it was instant comfort food. We went for 3 different types; King Prawn Dumplings, Mushroom and Truffle dumplings, and the Pork and Samphire Dumplings (these were my favourite). They all went down very well, and were brought out in quick time.

In conclusion, probably the best cocktail bar ever - I was actually sad to leave. I'll be back soon, I promise!

ThymeTip: To guarantee a great night, sit at the bar for great service and great banter.

Food: 8/10

Drink: 10/10

Service: 10/10

Fun-ness: 10/10