Herman Ze German

The German stereotype is taken to another level with ‘Herman Ze German’; the menu and decorations are bound to make you laugh. “Our Wursts are Ze Best” is written in neon lights on the wall, they have replaced the word chips with ‘pommes frites’, and they refer to women as ‘Fraulein’. The hotdogs themselves are perfectly cooked and juicy, and the sauerkraut is pleasantly combined with crispy onions. However as I prefer my hotdogs very saucy, I believe a healthy dose of mustard and ketchup is required. The bun I would say is the weakest part of the experience- very basic bread that doesn’t add much. The atmosphere however is cosy, the staff are friendly and service is great. It is the ultimate solution for a hot dog craving.

£14 (2 people)

33 Old Compton Street, London, W1D 5JP

Herman Ze German: Website / Menu / Facebook / Twitter

Duck and Waffle

In a city that never sleeps, its almost imperative that there be a restaurant that never sleeps. Staying open 24 hours, and sitting 40 floors high in the middle of London’s financial district, Duck and Waffle has assumed this role in some style.

The vibe of the place instantly makes you want to just have a fantastic time. The restaurant being absolutely packed, with the constant sound of trendy tunes mixed with intense laughter and conversation, makes the ambience unbelievably lively. The big glass windows allow it’s exclusive clientele to look over the city they rule, with panoramic views of London stretching from Canary Wharf to Westminster Abbey.

I went with 3 of their small plates, the roasted octopus, wild cornish pollock meatballs, and the foie gras creme brûlée. Also, the mood seemed to scream out for a cocktail, so I went with a concoction of Jack Daniels, amaro, and smoked maple leaf and autumn flavours called Autumn. The flavour of the whiskey drowned in the aromas of the smoked leaf and autumn flavours made this cocktail hit the senses in multiple ways, leaving a beautiful feeling of wholesome satisfaction after every sip.

The octopus was nicely grilled, with the squeezed lemon juice over the pieces giving it a nice tangy flavour in addition to the fishy taste of the octopus. The meatballs were also very tasty, with the lobster cream giving it a classy dressing and the breaded crumbs on top giving it a nice crunch. The winner though, by a clear margin, was the foie gras creme brûlée. I was initially skeptical about ordering a creme brûlée made out of foie gras, but thank heavens I did. With a crispy top, and a hint of caramel custard, it initially disguises itself as just another creme brûlée, but soon after the wonderful foie gras carrying its baby pieces of butter roasted lobster marches in to remind you that this is a dish of another universe. I’m honestly surprised it wasn’t featured in “Interstellar.” Every bite of this was like the first bite, as the foie gras blends so well with the caramel and lobster that I constantly questioned what it is I was tasting.

I would recommend Duck and Waffle for the creme brûlée itself, however with its spectacular views, drinks, and atmosphere, I would rate it as one of the best spots for a great night out in London I’ve been to so far. On a side note though, our group paid around £80 a person, so a trip here wouldn’t be the best time to forget your wallet!

£160 (2 people)

Heron Tower, 110 Bishopsgate, London, EC2N 4AY

Beijing Dumpling

It was the day after the clocks went back, and although it’s supposed to be the warmest October in years, the one hour change somehow made it feel that winter had descended upon us. On such a day, one must listen to the heart. And the heart pointed towards some good old steamed dumplings.

So I wandered into Chinatown and followed this dumpling compass to Beijing Dumpling, a fairly typical looking Chinatown eatery with the chefs situated near the entrance so curious travellers treading upon the West End’s Silk Road (otherwise known as Lisle St) can marvel as long threads of dough are flipped and kneaded into all sorts of dumplings, wontons, and buns. The restaurant was near empty, but for the smell of soy sauce and steamed pork balls, which made it as full as I need it to be. I went with the plate of Siu Long Bao. I also ordered their “Special fried rice.” Although I wasn’t expecting much, the service at this place wasn’t the greatest. The main waiter seemed to take great offence every time he was called, and hence he wasn’t exactly a pocket full of sunshine while interacting with me.

The Siu Long Bao dumplings were decently tasty, however the outer layer was a bit too thick, so there was a bit too much of a wheat taste instead of that of the pork ball in the soup. Also, I felt there wasn’t enough soup in the dumpling, making it a bit dry. The fried rice on the other hand, was extremely well made. The “Special” turned out to be a Yang Zhou Fried Rice, which is in my opinion the best kind of fried rice anyway. With minced barbecued pork, prawn, egg, and vegetables, it offers a mix of flavours like no other fried rice dish across any cuisine I’ve had. These guys got the texture and flavours all right, including the amount of soy and MSG to add which can be tricky, so props to them.

Charging £5 for 8 pieces of dumpling, and £4.5 for a very authentically and deliciously prepared fried rice, Beijing Dumpling definitely gives a good bang for your buck. Worth a visit if you are in the mood for a decent Chinese meal under £10!

£20 (2 people)

23 Lisle St, Chinatown, London WC2H 7BA

Beijing Dumpling: Menu / Facebook

Baozi Inn

If someone closed my eyes, kidnapped (or gently transported), and dropped me in the middle of Newport Court, I would swear I was on a by-alley in a Southern Chinese city. The first restaurant on Newport Court is Baozi Inn, a typical, compact restaurant that serves a (surprise surprise) Southern Chinese and Sichuan Chinese fare.

Ambience wise it is just what you’d expect from such a place. The tables are essentially on top of each other yet seat multiple different groups. You’d have to struggle quite hard to not eavesdrop, however if you get my luck and the group sitting next to you talks about literally nothing other than chicken farming for 45 minutes, then it becomes less of a struggle. Also, don’t expect any sort of traditional Chinese music that you might hear at tourist traps. Here, they stick to the most authentic of Chinese restaurant music – yelling in every dialect China has to offer.

I ordered a plate of boiled pork Beijing dumplings, Chengdu pork wontons in a spicy garlic sauce, and Pork Dan Dan noodles. The dumplings were £7.50 for 8 pieces, and the noodles £7.80, very reasonable for the size of their portions. The Beijing dumplings were excellent, with great texture and perfect size of the pork balls inside. My only criticism would be that there should be even more of the boiled soup inside, so that the taste of the dumpling explodes in the mouth after biting it. The wontons were quite spectacular, completely doused in typical Sichuan chilli and garlic, with a great blend of tangy and spicy. Taking my first look at the noodles, I held my breath in fear, as it looked like just noodles and minced pork, with no chilli sauce!!! However, the gods were kind and I found that there was a significant amount of Sichuan chilli sauce, it had just sunk to the bottom. So if you eat this, make sure you properly mix the noodles with the sauce, as the sauce is what makes any Sichuanese dish. This dish most definitely held true to that as the sauce, like with the wontons, had a fantastic mix of spice and soy/tangy flavour that complimented the minced pork excellently.

A peculiar aspect of this restaurant is that the waiters seem to be in a rush to take away your plates when they have the slightest suspicion that you’ve finished eating. So in case you’re taking a slight break but are not done yet, keep a close eye on your plate as it might be snatched away at any second. Do this, and I’m sure you’ll end up loving this typical Southern Chinese gem as much as I do!

£30 (2 people)

26 Newport Ct, London, WC2H 7JS

Baozi Inn: Website / Menu / Twitter

Panini House

Panini House on Exhibition Road has an unusual vibe, but lovely food! The Chicken Panini was a little too mayonnaise-y, but the flavors completely made up for it. The bread also was not great, so I cannot really explain why the sandwich worked so well. I was also served three salads, cole slaw, spinach & cucumber, and cuscus. I did not expect to like any of them, but I tried them all for the sake of this review and was thrilled! May have been the best coleslaw I have ever had. The other two were tasty as well and the whole plate was an unusual combination, but worked together flawlessly! I was planning on just eating most of the sandwich and getting to class early, but I took my time and ate it all. The Panini House also has very fast and quality service, which can be a deal breaker, even at the best restaurants. The interior confused me a little bit, everything looked very modern, but it was crowded and stiff.

£8.50 (2 people)

58 Uxbridge Road London W12 8LP

Bright Courtyard Club

This restaurant is not bright, there is no courtyard and it’s not a club. But as far as I’m aware, it is unique in that it has an all-you-can-eat à la carte dim sum offering – something of a rarity in London and certainly a bright idea (only available Mon-Fri 12-4.30pm). Dim Sum aficionados? You may have just found heaven.

The décor is elegant and classy – ceiling high vintage wine cabinets on display. The standard à la carte menus are presented on iPads, with items including Braised Shark’s Fin (£48), Braised Abalone on Rice (£36) and Iberico Pork Pot Stickers (£12)…it’s just that sort of place. But the all-you-can-eat dim sum menu at £18pp presents much better value and less pretentiousness, although it’s a meagre paper menu. Pfft.

The selection available to choose from is slightly smaller than the average dim-sum restaurant menu, but more than enough to not feel limited at all. The dishes are all-round on par with the best in Chinatown. Special mention must go to the mooli croissants, dough stick cheung fun and Shanghai dumplings. Steer clear of the stodgy chestnut patties.

£56 (2 people)

43-45 Baker Street, Marylebone, London, W1U 8EW

020 7486 6998

Bright Courtyard Club: Website / Facebook / Twitter

Cinnamon Deli

Independent coffee shop, named after a spice with aphrodisiac powers, is a real hidden gem in West London. Situated on Englands Lane close to Belsize park, this place is highly loved by locals thanks to a high quality food and friendly service. Cinnamon offers its visitors a great variety of healthy and delicious options for breakfast, weekend brunch or a quick coffee fix.

Family owned café serves Monmouth coffee and desserts prepared with organic ingredients (treat yourself for a gluten-free brownie or toasted banana loaf!). Besides traditional poached eggs on a sourdough toast and porridge, you can find very unique Persian-inspired dishes such as Persian frittata Kuku Sabzi or Grilled Aubergine with lamb and yogurt sauce. Freshly squeezed juices are made by demand, and with a little imagination you can also create an original juice mix by yourself.

Whether you are going for a business meeting, romantic breakfast, or a casual cup of flat white with a friend, Cinnamon with its minimalist design, wooden floors and tables, as well as cute ceramic dinnerware and vintage bottle-glasses, will satisfy your needs (Needless to say that this place is instagram-friendly).

£15 (2 people) 

2a England’s Lane, Belsize Park NW3 4TG

020 7483 2622

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

The Monocle Café

Only by looking at the entrance of the small café at Baker Street it feels like this place is somewhat unreal: seems like it was drawn in the city landscape canvas or carefully cut out from an old-fashioned sepia photography and glued to the NAME street. When you turn out to be inside the place, the magic continues: as Lewis Caroll’s Alice, who went after the White Rabbit into the hole, you are invited to follow the stairs to the downstairs level. There, the cosy interior with vintage lamps, beautiful photographs on walls, and a cosy fireplace create the atmosphere of a warm countryside house.

The menu, which is happily affordable, represents a trendy combination of organic salads, hot dishes, and desserts, including soft and moist cardamon-buns. Having its sister restaurant in Japan, Monocle also offers a variety of fusion Asian cuisine: try grilled-sandwich with deep-fried shrimps and chips on the side and a delicate green-tea cheesecake with white chocolate flakes, – and you will be left craving for more.

£15 (2 people)

18 Chiltern Street London W1U 7QA

0207 725 4388

The Monocle Café: Website / Menu / Twitter

Workshop Coffee Co

On a glorious sunny Saturday afternoon, no city shines brighter than London, and not many parts of London are more of a testament to that fact than James Street off Oxford Street. With its cobblestone pavements and courtyards filled with al fresco diners feasting on crepes and pizza, James Street combines London vibrance with the joyousness of Rome.

Thus, it’s not very surprising that amongst these by-lanes brews one of London’s best coffees. So subtle is Workshop Coffee Co’s presence that I walked past it 3 times before realising it was in front of me. Let this not fool you though, as their coffee certainly makes its presence felt. The Machiatto I ordered left my taste buds happily knocked and jolted around and the high levels of acidity gave this coffee an awesome kick. The texture of the coffee was thick with the right amount of foam to make it feel smooth on the tongue. Also, the beans they used in making the coffee (their own brand) created a fantastic aroma, leaving an aftertaste so memorable my sushi dinner tonight tasted like Machiatto.

Considering there are 2 and a quarter seats available, it can be quite the challenge to get a place to sit at Workshop Coffee Co. People generally seemed to squeeze their stools into available pockets of air, however I found that one such pocket was sacred and must never be touched by a mere mortal. Despite there being an empty stool near the napkins, for some reason any time someone would try sit there, the baristas would drop whatever they were doing and sprint across the 1 metre long kitchen to tell them (politely of course) to move elsewhere. Aside from this mysterious ritual, the baristas couldn’t be more friendly and inviting. I actually felt like ordering more just to make them happy.

While the by-lanes of James Street really do spoil you for choice, I would strongly recommend that you let yourself get spoilt instead by what truly is a special coffee at Workshop Coffee Co.

75 Wigmore St, London W1U 1QD

020 7487 4902

Workshop Coffee Co: Website / Facebook / Twitter

Bocca di Lupo

Bocca di Lupo is a classic Soho, turned Italian restaurant. The décor is very inviting with a well lit bar upon entering. My companions were both 30 minutes late and so I had a conversation with a friendly waiter. He brought over some bread, olives and water. The bread was fabulous: doughy with a sweetened onion and drenched in Olive oil, probably best to keep away from those prone to heart attack! Lo and behold my companions wafted in half an hour later and I ordered the partridge. I refused to have the mash drenched in fat and so I just had polenta instead, the staff were very easy about this. The service was slow, however it was a Sunday afternoon and it was pretty packed. I was certainly the youngest there and probably dressed the shabbiest.

The food eventually came and it was pretty damn delicious. Although not most artistically presented, the taste made up for this. Polenta is quite hard to flavour, but the chef had added a lovely cheese taste to the bland cornmeal. The side of spinach and pine nuts was also very successful.

£36 (2 people)

12 Archer St, London W1D 7BB