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

7th Mar 2015 - Zenna, Soho, London

Approx 5pm - 5:30pm

Zenna

77 Dean Street, London W1D 3SH

http://www.zenna-bar.co.uk

Beneath a very attractive Indian restaurant on Dean Street is a mysterious-looking cocktail venue, which even at this early hour proved to be well-known and popular.

We had a table booked, and we were seated in a cushioned archway, which, I have to say, was a little on the dark side! It added to the mysterious atmosphere they were obviously aiming for, but it was difficult to even see the menu! Either way, it was still comfortable, and I could have quite easily fallen asleep.

The cocktail menu didn't particularly excite me, but it was quite extensive, and spanned over several pages. I decided to go for the Palace Punch, with its main ingredients being red wine and tequila (two of my absolute favourites). The tequila was a little overpowering, but it was still a relatively nice cocktail.

The cocktails were also reasonably priced. Please also bear in mind that there is no table service, so orders have to be made at the bar - this eliminates the service charge.

I can imagine that once it gets later in the evening, it's packed with people, and the DJ is playing, that the venue really would come to life. 

ThymeTip: Best Cocktail: Alcoholic Salted Caramel Lassi - this was GORGEOUS! A must get if you visit this bar.

Food: N/A

Drink: 6/10

Service: 6/10

Fun-ness: 6/10

7th Mar 2015 - The Cocktail Trading Company, Soho, London

Approx 4pm - 4:45pm
The Cocktail Trading Company

22 Great Marlborough St, London W1F 7HU

http://www.thecocktailtradingco.co.uk

The Cocktail Trading Company is a relatively newly opened cocktail bar in Soho, and like so many cocktails bars around at the moment is clad in dark wood with alcohol filled shelves and kitsch decor. It is dimly lit and cosy, and has a very cool and hip atmosphere.

As we hadn't booked, we (4 of us) were seated at a small table at the back of the room. This was a little cramped, and the stools were a little uncomfortable. To guarantee a good seat, make sure you book before your arrival. Also, we arrived as soon as the bar opened - at 4pm - and it was already starting to get busy, so if you plan on visiting in the evening, be prepared to book, or to queue. 

There were complementary shelled peanuts provided on the tables, which was more than welcome, but not much room to put the discarded shells - we made a bit of a mess, but the staff were happy to help us out with cleaning that up promptly. 

The cocktail menu was extensive and instantly caught my interest. The cocktails were very experimental, and all had their own unique look.

As well as the cocktails looking super crazy, they were also well made and extremely tasty. I went for the For Whom The Bells Bols (which was served in an actual bell, with a side of shortbread), and an Urn Aged Corpse Reviver (which came on a bed of grass with a plastic zombie hand for decoration). My favourite of these two was the bell - it was extremely tangy, and the Golden Syrup which was mixed into the cocktail gave it a sweet twang.

The award for most novel cocktail went to both the Scouts Honour (included a small tin which contained a toffee, a party popper, and a bad joke!), and the Welcome to Kentucky, Have a Nice Day (looked like a take-away noodle box with edible noodles, and straws within the chopstick wrapper!).

Overall, this bar was great fun; it had a great atmosphere, great cocktails, attentive and friendly staff, and I'll definitely be back.

ThymeTip: Want a weird looking cocktail but don't know which to go for? The pictures on the menu are representative of what you'll receive.

Food: N/A

Drink: 9/10

Service: 7/10

Fun-ness: 9/10

7th Mar 2015 - Bar Termini, Soho, London

Approx 3:30pm - 4pm
Bar Termini

7 Old Compton Street, London W1D 5JE

http://www.bar-termini.com 

Bar Termini is an extremely cute little Italian themed bar nestled at one end of Old Compton Street. The bar itself must seat around 20 people, so it is very intimate, and this added to it's already comfortable atmosphere. 

The menu cocktail was focused on their specialities, and wasn't too extensive. Their most popular specialty was the Negroni, so I opted for the Superiore, which is Negroni infused with pink peppercorns. It came in a very sweet, tiny glass, and the peppercorn taste was a great accompaniment to this dry and strong drink - highly recommended! 

We didn't try the coffee, but it smelled wonderful! I'd definitely recommend this place for a quick aperitif with friends on a sunny Saturday afternoon! 

ThymeTip: Best Cocktail: The Negroni Rosato was also a great little drink - infused with rose petals for a more delicate flavour

Food: N/A

Drink: 7/10

Service: 6/10

Fun-ness: 7/10

7th Mar 2015 - Archer Street, Soho, London

Approx 2:30pm - 3pm
Archer Street

3-4 Archer Street, London W1D 7AP

http://archerstreet.co.uk

Archer Street is a very well kept - and lovely smelling - bar within the confines of Soho, and is decorated stylishly and lavishly...

...as the pictures display. What the pictures also display is how quiet it was. At this time on this Saturday, there were more bar staff than customers. This meant that the service was quick and attentive. All of the tables had reserved signs on for later on in the evening, so it must pick up later on.

The cocktail menu was interesting, but a little pricey. I decided to go for the Zacapa Don't Preach, which is strong in taste, and in alcohol! The absinthe mist was more prominent in the smell than the taste. 

Zacapa Don’t Preach Zacapa rum stirred down with cognac, brown sugar syrup and barrel aged bitters, with an absinthe mist Overall, I liked the decor, but at this early time I felt it lacked atmosphere. I'd like to visit again on another day, but maybe book a table for the evening. ThymeTip: Best Cocktail: Coco in Acapulco Food: N/A Drink: 7/10 Service: 7/10 Fun-ness: 6/10

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7th March 2015 - Señor Ceviche, Kingly Court, London

Approx 1pm - 2pm
Señor Ceviche

Kingly Court, Kingly Street, London W1B 5PW

http://senor-ceviche.com 

Senor Ceviche is a bright and colourful Peruvian restaurant and cocktail bar on the second floor of Kingly Court. The front of the place has really nice, big windows, which almost makes you feel as though you are sitting in an open front bar on your holidays. The walls and ceiling are covered in day glow posters and colourful light bulbs, and the tiling feels uncoordinated and haphazard in a good way!

We were surprised that at 1pm on a Saturday afternoon in the popular spot that the place was almost

empty, but this was fine for us as it meant that the service was super quick, and the staff were friendly and attentive.

I'll start on cocktails - in summary they were really well done! The menu showed a good variety of flavours to choose from, and the were genuinely well made. The garnishes were also very pretty and well thought out.

We tried pretty much the whole cocktail menu (which can found here: http://senor-ceviche.com/pdf/drinks_menu.pdf), and they were all very nice, but out of all of them I would recommend the...

BARRANCO BABE ............................................................................ 8
1615 Pisco, passion fruit purée, lime juice, vanilla syrup, egg white, basil leaves & burnt Angustura 

The basil was a really nice, simple touch to this drink, and tipped it over the edge of the others. See the image below (it has the dried apple slice and the leaf on the top of it) to see how it looked.

Another good point is that the cocktails were really reasonably priced for the quality produced, which of course means you can sample more of them!

The food, I have to say, was outstanding. Every dish was packed full of flavour, with an amazing mix of different textures.

The Spaniard - Sea Bream and King Prawn ceviche with tomato tiger's milk and crispy chorizo

- My favourite dish. The tomato went really well with the fish (only go for this if raw fish doesn't scare you!), and the crispy chorizo balanced it all out perfectly.

Mr Miyagi - Salmon tiradito with nikkei tiger's milk, pomegranate, purple shiso and crispy salmon skin.

- This dish came a close second. A very nice piece of salmon, and the tangy flavours made this dish pop. Thee crispy salmon skin and crunchy pomegranate seeds set it all off really well.

Smokey Chili Citrus Wings - Chicken wings with aji panca and zesty lemon glaze. 

- I'm normally not one for chicken wings (as I get scared about getting food on my hands!), but these wings were delicate and not too sticky. They tasted great too!

Side Dish: Patatas Fritas with huancaina and tomato fondue - Fries covered in spicy Peruvian cheese sauce and tomato fondue.

- I literally didn't want to stop eating these... ever.

Overall, this is a great place to go for a light lunch, but make sure you try the cocktails whilst you're there!

ThymeTip: Get the fries!

Food: 8/10

Drink: 8/10

Service: 6/10

Fun-ness: 6/10

5th Mar 2015 - Wings Cottage, Farnborough, UK

Approx 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Wings Cottage

32 Alexandra Road, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 6DA

http://wings-restaurant.co.uk 

Myself and my boyfriend live in a relatively un-developed town, which unfortunately doesn't boast too many restaurants or cool bars to try out. On our local tried-and-tested list however is Wings Cottage - a friendly and well-decorated Chinese restaurant about 15 minutes walk from the town centre. We have been on several occasions if we don't want to travel too far out, and it is always tasty and hassle-free.

We got there at around 6:30pm and we were the first people in - it started to fill up at around 7:00pm though, and enough for the place to be at half capacity.

The decor here is very nice - there are some Eastern influences here and there, with a very clean and modern finish. On some nights, they hire a pianist to play to the guests, which is always entertaining (but that didn't happen tonight - I guess it's more a weekend thing).

We ordered starters of the Crispy Hot Platter, and also Spicy Salt and Chili Squid, which on reflection was a bit too much - the portions here are very generous! Everything we were served was very nice, and was brought out in quick time. The main stand-out on the hot platter was the prawn toast - it is thick with prawns, and the perfect combination of crispy and oily - absolutely delicious! The salt and chili squid comes sprinkled with crispy garlic pieces, which are a great addition - they give off a lovely, strong (but not overpowering), garlic-y flavour and great, crunchy texture.

Crispy Hot Platter Sesame Prawn on toast, BBQ pork Ribs, Spring Rolls and Chicken in Paradise.	£10.45

Spicy salt and Chili Squid

£7.15

For our mains we ordered a nice mixture of dishes (and once agan, went a bit mad, and ordered way too much for 2 people!):

Stir fried Squids in Sun Dried Chili and Soy Sauce	£9.50

Deep-fried Chili Beef	£8.25

Singapore Fried Rice-Noodle Hot and Spicy	£6.95

Special Fried Rice with Roast Pork and Prawn	£5.50

The squid dish was a little disappointing - there was lots of squid, and it was nicely cooked, but the sauce was bland, and lacked seasoning. 

The chili beef was tasty and very crispy, and was a very generous portion. On a personal note, I always get a little bored of chili beef half way through the dish due to the flavour consistency throughout, but, it was still enjoyable. 

I really enjoyed the noodles - they were spicy, but may have been a bit heavy on the curry flavouring. The rice was cooked well and had a good amount of prawn and pork.

We didn't really explore the drinks menu here (it is mainly wines and beers), and we just decided to go with a house red, which was pleasant and drinkable. 

Overall, this place does very nice Chinese food within the area. My main problem with this one is that it is quite expensive, but the quality of the food and the prompt service makes that not so painful.

ThymeTip: Try the prawn toast and the chili squid! Also, if you're feeling adventurous, why not go for one of their frogs legs specials? (I tried them on a previous visit and they were very tasty!)

Food: 6/10

Drink: 5/10

Service: 6/10

Fun-ness: 6/10

28th Feb 2015: Basement Sate, Soho, London UK

Approx 7pm - 8pm
Basement Sate

8 Broadwick Street, London W1F

http://www.basementsate.com

After visiting Milk and Honey and failing to get in (if you wish to visit there, be sure to book before 6pm on the day), the bouncer advised us that there is 'a cocktail bar on the next street, number 8, with a red door'. I asked what the name was, and he said that it doesn't have a sign - sounds like my kinda sneaky-secret-speakeasy kinda place!

We made our way there, and came across the red door on number 8 Broadwick Street. The door was open, and we went in, down the stairs, and into the dimly lit cocktail bar. 

The bar area was very nice - it has the typical wooden theme that is seen so much at the moment, with a wide variety of alcohols on the wall. The bar at this early hour was quite empty, so we had the pick of seats. We chose a Chesterfield style couch with its own table which looked out over pretty much the whole place, and it was very comfortable.

The cocktail menu was good, with a decent range of flavours. The one thing it was missing was the weird and wonderful ingredients that I am so fond of, but there were still plenty of other flavours to experiment with. 

We had 4 cocktails between us, and they were all quite nice, if not a bit fruity for my palette. If you are a fan of a mojito, or a daiquiri then these cocktails will be up your alley. My favourite cocktail of the night was the Timeless Crusta, and if you're one for a more unusual tasting drink then this is the one to go for. The list of cocktails we had are:

Don't Acte: Sichuan pepper infused gin, Bubonnet, Lemon Juice (not as spicy as it sounds, but very fruity)

Workinonit: Vodka, Moscato D'Asti syrup, cucumber, Yellow Chartreuse (refreshing)

Shikoku Calling: Gin, Yuzu, Fino Sherry (my second favourite of the evening)

Timeless Crusta: Cognac, Green Chartreuse, Triple Sec, Luxardo Maraschino (Best cocktail of the night - bitter and woody and super tasty!)

If you've been for a meal out and fancy eating dessert elsewhere, this is a good place to go. The  dessert menu was extensive, and everything on there sounded delicious. As I lack the sweet tooth I didn't go for one, but my boyfriend couldn't resist the Orangette, which looked a bit like a crumble and consisted of orange and caramel cream, black trumpet crumble, chocolate and lavender foam, and a honey crisp. He loved it, and wants to try the rest of the dessert menu.

Whilst I was sitting there I felt like there was something missing from the whole experience, and after a while it came to me... on the walls there were zero pictures, images, figurines, weird deer heads... anything! It looked quite sparse, and that made it feel a little chain-pub-y. The wallpaper also could have been put up a little better, but a few pics here and there would hide that!

This would be a good place to go with friends, but from what I hear it does get quite busy in the evenings and booking is recommended (booking can only be done by email - the address being on their website).

The service is fast and friendly, and they seemed very willing to help.

I'd definitely go again, and it was a nice place, but I think they need to step up a gear in the cocktail variety and decor department to match up to some of the most established cocktail bars in the London area.

ThymeTip: Save room for pudding!

Food: 7/10

Drink: 7/10

Service: 7/10

Fun-ness: 7/10

28th Feb 2014: Pizza Pilgrims, Soho, London, UK

Approx 5:30pm-6:30pm
Pizza Pilgrims

11 Dean Street, London W1D 3RP

http://pizzapilgrims.co.uk

After hearing from an old work colleague that this pizza place is 'better than Franco Manca', I knew that this would soon be coming up on my to-visit list. Surely no pizza - ever - can be better than Franco Manca?! Let's find out...

The place from the outside looks tiny, with a little seating area around the front window, and the large, stone oven at the back of the room. I then realised that there was a downstairs area, and most of the queue were escorted down there as soon as we arrived. When we got to the front of the queue however, we were told that there was no more room downstairs, but that there was room by the window - fine by us! Watching the pizzas cooking, plus people watching, equals win in my book!

In the end, I was very glad we got to sit upstairs. On visiting the loos - which were situated down the stairs - I got to take a look at what we were missing out on. It was a larger area than I expected, with a lot of full tables with little red and white tablecloths. It was very quaint, but I have to say that it was very stuffy down there. Being upstairs suited me just fine!

The menu was fairly good - although I was expecting a wider and more diverse set of ingredients. The pizzas were all very generic, but I was willing to bet that the taste would make up for this.

I decided to go for the Smoked Napoli pizza, which had toppings of smoked anchovies (a personal favourite of mine), black olives, capers and oregano on a margarita base. The pizza arrived in a timely manner, and I was not disappointed! The flavours were very rich, and the base was soft and fluffy. The only thing I will say is that the base could have been a little crispier on the bottom as towards the middle the base seemed to disintegrate into a bit of a tomato-y mush. However, this didn't detract from the taste - it was delicious!

My boyfriend went for the recommended Nduja, which he also rated highly.

Another note here is that the chili oil was actually hot! It was packed fill of tiny chilies, and gave a great kick. Not many paces have chili oil like that.

For drinks, I went with a carafe of house red, which was fairly nice. I would have preferred the quality to be slightly better, but it was cheap and cheerful. My boyfriend went for the beer of the day, which was the Cortigana - that didn't last very long, so I presume that it was rather enjoyable!

The service here was friendly and casual, and we were served promptly.

Overall, a really great pizza at Pizza Pilgrims, but maybe a small notch away from Franco Mancas. I'd definitely visit again, and maybe bring some friends.

ThymeTip: Sit upstairs for a street view and plenty of air!

Food: 8/10

Drink: 5/10

Service: 7/10

Fun-ness: 7/10

28th Feb 2015: Hubbard and Bell in The Hoxton, Holborn, London, UK

Approx 1:30pm-2pm
Hubbard and Bell in The Hoxton

199 - 206 High Holborn, London WC1V 7BW

http://www.hubbardandbell.com

I just so happened to walk past this pace on the way to the hairdressers. I had a spare half an hour, and so thought it'd be rude not to pop in for a sneaky cocktail.

The decor looked intriguing - very hipster-y with its sofa and armchairs, plus a cafe style eating area at the back. 

After researching this place, it seems to be concentrated as an Italian eatery. I would definitely like to go back to sample the food, as the place was packed out.

I sat at the bar, which was all wooden with a massive array of alcoholic beverages and syrups on display. It had a lovely atmosphere, and everyone seemed to be relaxed and happy.

The cocktail menu was a decent one - I am one for weird and wonderful ingredients in my cocktails, so this menu was good for me:

I decided to go with The Don Javier, which seemed right up my alley with its ingredients of Gran Centenario Plata, Del Maguey Vida, beets and horseradish shrub, and lime. 

The Don Javier was pretty in pink, and tasted absolutely delicious! It had a really woody taste and a sharp kick, with a smooth and creamy texture. It was topped off with a coriander leaf and a shake of pepper, which was a lovely touch. If you're one - like me - who likes to order cocktails not knowing how they're going to taste at all, this is a great one to order! How it looks and how it tastes are polar opposites - It looks so pretty, but it tastes so naughty!

I will also say that the service was very good. The bar staff were friendly and attentive, and took the time to explain all of the ingredients and the processes behind how they distilled their ingredients.

One small set back was that the place smelled a bit... welll... toilet-y. Other than that, the place was spot on! I'll definitely be back here to taste the food, as well as the rest of the cocktail menu.

ThymeTip: Well,this was a very quick visit, and I only tried one thing, so, I will recommend... The Don Javier!

Food: N/A

Drink: 8/10

Service: 8/10

Fun-ness: 7/10

28th Feb 2015: Asadal, Holborn, London, UK

Approx 12:30pm-1:15pm
Asadal

227 High Holborn, London WC1V 7DA

http://www.asadal.co.uk

Before I start on this one; I have been to Asadal before, and it is great for Korean food (probably in my top 2 Korean restaurants in London)!

I am currently in the middle of (and struggling through) a Korean language course on Saturday mornings, and so I thought it would be a great idea to nip into Asadal afterwards for a spot of lunch, and maybe to practice my Korean speaking (it is only around the corner from my school). In the end, I got way too scared to speak any Korean in there, and just ate quietly instead. I'm in no way complaining - it was delicious, and very reasonable.

You'll notice when you first go through the doors here that you have to go downstairs for the restaurant - I have always found this very daunting for some reason, but don't let put you off! The decor is great - very clean and modern with dark wood, leafy details and moody lighting. There is a lot of room in here, and a lot of tables, but it can still get very busy in the evening (expect to queue).

The lunch menu is a lot smaller than the evening menu, and concentrates on a Bi Bim Bap special of beef, chicken or pork. During the evening there is a much larger menu; one of the main focuses being the Korean BBQ, which is always a lot of fun. If you choose to go for Korean BBQ, it's best to eat it with a group of people, as the portions are generally quite large. On the larger tables is a BBQ stove, which will be lit if you choose to go with the BBQ option. The staff will show you how to cook the meat at your table, and then you can cook it to your own liking. Such a good laugh!

Here was the lunch menu for my Saturday afternoon visit:

I chose to go with the Marinated Beef Bi Bim Bap; This is a sizzling stone bowl filled with rice, vegetables and beef. I was surprised to see that when the stone bowl of goodness came out, it was accompanied by 3 kimchi sides, a bowl of miso soup, and a pot of hot sauce (to add to the Bi Bim Bap as required). For a price of £9.50, the amount of food I got was an absolute bargain! If you add an extra side it would easily enough to feed two people for a light lunch. Luckily, I was very hungry, and ate the lot!

The main dish and the sides were delicious. The rice bowl was packed with flavour, and I love the crispy bit of rice that cooks on the hot bowl - it really adds some depth to the texture. The cabbage kimchi was delicious - I would happily have paid for a bigger portion of this if I had been greedier. The last time I visited, I tried the pork fried kimchi, which was amazing! I topped this off with a cheeky Hite beer, which went down a treat.

The only thing that could make this better is if:

- The beef was added to the bowl raw - the bowl would have cooked it perfectly

- An egg was added to the top of the rice bowl - this always goes great with Bi Bim Bap

Overall, I loved my lunch here at Asadal - I can't wait to visit again with friends!

ThymeTip: If it's your first thyme doing Korean food, try a pajeon starter - nothing is better as comfort food!!

Food: 8/10

Drink: 5/10

Service: 6/10

Fun-ness: 6/10