Lomito Restaurant Argentinian Steaks, Northwood, Middlesex, North West London For Four Types Of Steak - A Memorable Meal

 Lomito means lion, what the English flatteringly call Sirloin (Sir Loin!), or steak. We'd visited Lomito before and liked it so we went there again. 

You have to book. The places is on the ground floor and underneath. We booked the ground floor, confusingly called upstairs, because I did not want to go down stairs, having recently fallen down stairs at a hotel in the Canary islands.

Lomito Restaurant interior mural showing horses and riders, people wearing ponchos and hats to shelter from the sun, and guitarists. Photo by Sharot family. Copyright.

Photo by Sharot family.

Four kinds of steaks, on a platter for a minimum of two to share. Photo by Sharot family.

Lime cheesecake with pieces of lime on top. Photo by Sharot family.

The far end has an attractive mural wall to wall. On the right beyond the bar area is a picture of cow, or bull, and a diagram or picture of a skin spread out showing the size of the animal, a kin of aerial view of a flattened skin.

I ordered a Prosecco, which was acceptable, nothing special.

Starter

The starter found favour with us all.

Main Course Steak

The steak was really special. Four thicknesses of steak, so soft, as well as tasty, that I thought today's was better than I had had previously at Hawksmoor, which is our family's favourite and regular. Our dish was the sharing platter. We had enough for the two of us and |I still had some steak to take home.

Vegetarian Alternatives

The vegetarian and fish options for somebody who did not want meat, were starters of two kinds of fish, one of which was tuna. The vegetarian main courses were what seemed like diced potato mixture in a sauce, or mushroom ravioli. Large ravioli, got good marks from all three of us, after our diner sent back the alternative which was misdescribed. 

We also had to wait a while for our main courses which seemed to have been forgotten by the kitchen. Despite this we were very pleased with the service. They changed the wrong dish quickly and gave us three free desserts to compensate for the long wait for the main course.

Delightful Desserts

The desserts were universally acclaimed. The churros, twisted fried dough sticks which you dipped in chocolate sauce were yummy, like the very best doughnuts. Delicious, despite everybody knowing that they must be bad for you. 

The tiramisu came in a bowl of edible crisp, a visual novelty. The creamy tiramisu had distinctive brandy flavour, no stinting on the alcohol.

My lime cheesecake was wonderful. Despite it not being my favourite New York style slightly crumbly baked cheesecake. Instead it was a very creamy oblong with thin slices of lime elegantly overlapping along the top. More cream than cheese. 

The waiters sang Happy Birthday To You at the distant table.

An enormous number of staff. I counted six to eight visible at one time. The lady at the welcome pedestal was charming. And my grand-daughter lost the top of a crayon. They managed to find it dropped to the downstairs area. So we left all smiles.

If you are thinking of going with a child, a child eats free with one paying adult during the month of August, the UK's school holiday month. That's also the month when children travel free in London. If you are travelling by train, Northwood is on the Met line.

Lomito

Northwood

Middlesex

Tel:019238 29499

Comments welcome.

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Hidden Hawksmoor Restaurant, a Haven in Bustling Borough Market, London, England

Outside entrance of Hawksmoor Restaurant in Borough Market, London, England. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

The bar area of the Hawksmoor restaurant in Borough Market, London, England. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

The restaurant table area. Hawksmoor restaurant. London. England. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

Hawksmoor Steak

Steak is their Speciality.

They have English, French and wholegrain mustard and horseradish but you. Have to ask for it.

Muscat not sweet enough for me.

Delightful, Delicious Dessert - Pavlova

Pavlova pastry was delightful. Good to look at. Strong, dramatic, delicious taste of black cherry.

Chocolate looked good. At the last, no real chocolate flavou. Like confectioners' chocolate or Hersheys which was created to not melt in summer tropics in the pockets and hands of wartime soldiers, so it was made waxy with oily ingredients instead of melting milk. I am a British Cadbury's fan.

Pavlova? A small piece of solid, hidden underneath, white meringue. The Australian and New Zealand summer favourite with summer fruit, with summer being December, which is winter in England. Yes. But in England the fruit in winter is traditionally preserved, the dried currants and sultanas in Xmas pudding and cake, dried dates. Here you have preserved cherries, their flavour intensified. 

Altogether Impressive looking. 

As Shakespeare said, all's well that ends well.

My husband is a huge fan of Hawksmoor.

Wrapped toothpick.

Getting there

From Stanmore station on the Jubilee, with no changes.

Useful Website

https://thehawksmoor.com/locations/london/

Mill Hill, marvellous Numa restaurant for freshly cooked food, home made

 We had planned to eat in Mill Hill in north west London. My husband checked the online menus of several places and chose Numa because they specifially stated that some of their dishes were home made and my husband wanted that.

 Numa restaurant serves Middle Eastern food. The word numa means 'so what' in Hebrew, according to their website. It is also written as pneuma is Greek for breath, spirit or soul. Perhaps think of it as soul food. Our server was Greek. Numa is also a word in Arabic and Indian and other languages.

Decor

Decor is pleasant and original. 

Attractive features of the decor included an arch over the bar.

On the back wall is an elephant. 

If you want to wash your hands before eating, the ladies' toilet is adorned with imitation greenery.

Food

Olives were placed on the table when we arrived. My Prosecco came up fast.

I had checked the menu in advance by looking at their website.

Starters

Our starters included  potato wedges coated in truffles. I could not see any specks of black truffle. My husband said. 'It must be prepared using truffle salt. That is very common. '

Main Courses

For the main course, my shredded chicken was accompanied by pots of garnish.

The steak was the runaway leader. The most expensive dish for good reason. A thick and soft steak.Accompanied by those lovely potatoes.

We had enough food to have the surplus packed up by the restaurant. 

Useful Websites

https://www.numacafe.co.uk/menus

https://wearenuma.org/home/numa-the-story-of-our-name/#:~:text=The%20ancient%20Greek%20word%20pneuma,soul%20the%20energy%20to%20act.

Portuguese Words For shopping -and restaurants - easy to recognize

 Portuguese language is handy in Portugal in Europe and in Brazil in South America. 

Pr

Map of Brazil and flag.

Map of Portugal.

Portuguese - English

abastecimento - supply

adulto - adult

alimento seco - dry food (the adjective comes after the noun)

amendoa - almond

banho - bath

bifana - steak

bife - beef

biscoito - biscuit (UK) /cookie ((USA)

bola - ball

bolo - cake

cebola - onion

comida quente - hot food

fresco - fresh

frutos de bosque  - forest fruits

congelado - frozen

cozido - baked

daqui - from here

farinha - flour

flor - flower

fri - cold

ganhe - win (like the English word gain)

infantil - child

maquina - machine

manteiga - butter

mel - honey

melhores - best

mercado - market

roupa - clothing (like the English word robe(s)

supermarcado - supermarket

tarte - tart

tomate - tomato

tudo - all

vinho - wine

Pessego - peach

A roundup of Restaurants in Hatch End, NW London, for breakfast, early bird dinners, birthdays and Mondays

Here's a list of places in Hatch End which are open or closed on Mondays, and which ones have music or offer to do something for a birthday, or serve breakfast or early bird dinners.

If you want small and cosy where you  can easily catch the waiter's or owner's eye, you might like little B & K, or Lattakia, small, cosy, personal service. Or any other restaurat if you sit near the bar.

If you think small places are claustrophobic and want a big and bustling when busy, noisy for privacy, if you like big is better, Izgara might be the place for you. 

Hatch End Restaurants By Cuisines

Asian

Dojo

Open Monday. Will do something for birthdays. Has music. 

'Classical?' asked my husand.  

'Modern, thumping, let's say heavy rhythm. I've recorded it for you to decide.'

Possibly too loud for the elderly with hearing aids trying to make conversation. Suitable for the younger set.

Coffee

Costa

A family favourite. Small secluded back room

You can sit outside and smoke.

Closed in the evenings.

Indian

Coriander - update - closed or closing in 2025. 

Social Dhaba

Modern Music. 

Will do something for birthdays.

Italian

Several choices.

Minori, open for breakfast, and Mondayys.  Wide choice of menu. 

Casa Mia

Open Mondays. Early bird dinners. Will do something for birthdays.

Murals.

Tonito Italian. 

Clean, pristine and spartan.

Japanese - 

Kiyoto

Open Monday. 

Will do something for birthdays.

Jewish Ashkenazi style Salt Beef  

B & K Salt Beef Bar and Restaurant (and take away counter). 

Closed Mondays except for (busy) bank holidays when they open only lunch times but close in the evening.

Middle Eastern/Lebanese

Lattakia - middle eastern

Turkish

Izgara

Mock Grape Vine overhead on the roadside glasses area adds to the atmophere. Lively.

Izgara Restaurant. Turkish food. Hatch End. London. England. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

Lunch time special at Izgara. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

English & Irish, Curry & Worldwide 

Steakhouse

Will do something for birthdays.

Wetherspoons Pub - huge choice of worldwide drinks by the glass. The day's speciality cuisine varies. Seasonal events such as St Patrick's Day in March, Irish.

Also in the street

Chipsy hamburgers. 

An Indian and Sri Lankan restaurant will open sometime this year 2024.

(Rude Restaurant - update closed in May 2025 - now Eggholic on this location, see my later post on Eggholic.)

(I wrote of Rude - Asian. We liked their food under the previous name, but the current name does not appeal to my husband, although he is happy to eat at a chain called Slub and Lettuce (not in Hatch End), whilst Slug and Lettuce is not a name which evokes pleasant thoughts in my mind.

Rose Kulfi appealed to me. Closed Monday. Weekend breakfast.

I could persuade my husband, even if rude means raw, or is short for Rudie in some other language.)

 

Vegetarian

Useful Websites

bksaltbeefbar.com

dojorestaurant.co.uk

Lattakia Lebanese

www.lattakia.co.uk

TheSteakrestaurant.com

Please share links to your favourite posts. Update November 2025. Costa has closed. A new coffee and cake place is opening. See later post.

Steak Restaurant, Hatch End, Pinner. Planning Before A Visit

Steak restaurant. Photo by Angela Lansbury.

The steak restaurant is to the right of Tanna's pharmacy.

It is interesting to compare what you expected of a restaurant before your visit, and what you discovered during a visit. Here is my before impression of the Steak Restaurant, Hatch End. 

I was not interested in the steak restaurant. Steak is expensive. I can stick a steak under a grill at home. 

Besides, grills tend to leave black strips of carbon. The burned stuff doesn't taste nice. It's reputed to give you cancer.

All steaks? They also offered what to me looked like overpriced hamburgers. No, I thought. 

Then I changed my mind.  

My friend, Lucinda, said, "It's one of our favourite restaurants.'

Her husband, Brian, echoed: "It's my favourite. I like steak. You can see what you are getting. The meat is not chopped up and hidden inside silly sauces."

"Okay,"  I said. "I haven't  been there before. I've tried everywhere else in Hatch End. Let's give it a try."

I looked at their website. They have a Sunday roast.

Also, a halal menu. The food choices are much the same, but certified meat, cooked in separate dishes.

Jews might choose the halal which has no pork, or sea bass. 

Desserts

I fancy the baked cheesecake. Or the warm chocolate pud. The set lunch is 15.95 for two courses. Plus seven for dessert. I wonder if you can have a main course and dessert instead of the starter. 

https://www.thesteakrestaurant.com/desserts/

https://www.thesteakrestaurant.com/drinks/

https://www.thesteakrestaurant.com/drinks/cocktails/

A photo I took a while back at night. Steak Restaurant on the right. Hatch End is quite lively at night with lots of restaurants.

 Useful Websites

https://www.thesteakrestaurant.com/

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g186338-d13370343-Reviews-The_Steak_Restaurant-London_England.html

https://www.mylondon.news/whats-on/food-drink-news/best-steaks-in-london-tripadvisor-24057105

https://www.opentable.co.uk/r/the-steak-restaurant-pinner

Please save links to your favourite posts.

Fusion 381 - Fabulous Fun At Fusion 381, an evening out at a new restaurant in Hatch End

The outside of Fusion 381 restaurant in Hatch End, in the former Natwest Bank.

Decor

I am glad the empty bank building has been put to good use. I liked the fact that we had windows but were secluded from passers by and the distraction of views of the street and pedestrians and traffic. We could concentrate on each other.

Fusion 381 opened in June 2022 and four of us were keen to try out the new restaurant in Hatch End in the converted premises of the old Natwest Bank.  You see it and pass it on the corner near Tesco in Hatch End. Hatch End is a suburb of Pinner, on the Uxbridge Road in London. You have a choice of restaurants, several Italian, and other European.

What is Fusion 381? A fusion of styles, at number 381 on the Uxbridge Road. The menu on their website looked quite complicated and ambitious. However, when we sat down and looked at the menu it seemed much more straightforward.

We booked a table. That was good because they were busy on a Saturday night. The decor is dark and relaxing with tables round and square. The nice thing is the service. They rush to greet you when you step in through the door. They are happy to discuss your table and offer you alternative options. We had a baby and wanted room for the push chair.

The tables are quite close together which creates a warm atmosphere, yet, because of the echo, you don't hear anybody else's conversation. And your own is lost in the general buzz and pleasant faint popular song background music.

Starters

Californian Roll at Fusion 381 restaurant. Photo by Angela Lansbury.

I'm allergic to shellfish so I passed on most of the starters and opted to share what the others had. With 8 pieces, we had enough for two each for the four adults. (The mother shared with her baby.)

The Californian rolls were a bit like sushi, with rice and what looked like dark green seaweed or vine leaves and stuffing and on top orange fish roe. The rice was very solid, but was eagerly eaten by all five of us including the one year old. The last thing I ate was the little green swirl, left on the corner of the long black dish, thinking the green was avocado or something subtle. No, it was wasabi - spicy hot, hot, hot!

The chicken wings with a choice of sauce were a success with everybody.

Main Courses

We chose four different main courses. My chicken with mushrooms was tasty. 

The duck was even better.  The saute potatoes were adequate, but not a generous size portion.

The vegetarian dish came with batons of orange coloured sweet potato which were enjoyed by our dieter, and me, and the baby. The person who ordered them said some of them were undercooked. I thought some of my baby asparagus was undercooked. Not so bad as to be remarked on or sent back when our server asked, 'Is everything all right?'

We chorused, 'Lovely. Great.' 

The steak and chips was fine. Chips okay. Could have done with salt. No salt was on the table.

The steak was soft, succelent and tasty. But they could not supply mustard. 

Our son hopped out and bought mustard from Tesco Express. He left it with the staff when we departed.

Toilets

The toilets are upstairs. The stairs are carpeted which makes them seem less steep.Quite delightful underfoot. The handrail on only one side is adequate, but annoying if you are right handed as you have to hold it with your left hand on the way down.  I suppose it makes more room, as well as being cheaper to install only one.

The owner came over to talk to us. An older man with a greying beard, quietly spoken. I could hardly hear him against the background noise of jolly music and excited, happy chatter. He has extensive experience of running restaurants, at assorted locations in London, including Ruislip Manor.

Drinks

Cocktails were what a google reviewer called 'London prices'.  Central London high prices. So I looked at the reasonably priced wine by the glass.

The barman is happy to discuss drinks with you. They had a small number of wines by the glass, but no Prosecco, nor anything sweet. I could have had a fruit juice, if that was available. I was offered the white wine to taste. It was okay, not too acidly dry, but didn't inspire me. Full marks to the restaurant for service.

I had a small sake, Japanese rice wine. I wanted a novelty. 

A small glass. I had expected it to be on a saucer. It looked like a tall, narrow transparent little shot glass. Slightly disappointed at the sight. But pleased with the effect. I quickly felt jolly.

(I postponed the climb up and down the flight of stairs to the toilet. Do they have a ground floor toilet for the disabled? I should have asked. Other restaurants in Hatch End provide this if anybody in a wheelchair needs it. For example, B & K, and one of the Italian restaurants. Check if you need a ground floor toilet.)

My husband's red wine was quite drinkable. 

Delightful Desserts

Chocolate brownie dessert with vanilla ice cream, at fusion 381 restaurant, Hatch End. Photo by Angela Lansbury.

The printed menu differed from the website. Not the unusual dishes I had hoped for, not the Japanese dessert nor the coconut ice cream.

Only two of the desserts on the printed menu were available, no sorbets. We were not hungry, and one person objected that he didn't like sticky toffee pudding. I mentally conceded that you could have a chocolate brownie any time anywhere.  But, out of curiosity, we opted for one portion of the chocolate brownie to share between four. The dessert was prettily presented with a stripe of red on top. It passed the taste test with full marks. It was lip-smacking good with a strong chocolate flavour and with the vanilla ice cream melting, quite a liquid mouthful. 

Service

Our server was delightful and attentive. Chatty but not obtrusive. Fast and efficient and warm. She was by the door to say goodbye when we left. 

They did not serve any coffees or hot drinks. You have an Italian coffee bar a few doors along, and an ice cream from an ice cream parlour, if you want to prolong your evening out. We did not need that. 

A final plus for some diners. They can supply halal food.

Getting There

The Uxbridge Road runs east to west across north London, from the Stonegrove, Edgware area in the East, through to Hatch End, then past Pinner and on to Uxbridge.

The buses H12 and H14 stop at Hatch End station and in the middle of The Broadway, which is the wide but short High Street - you can walk one end to the other in 5 minutes.

Fusion 381

Hatch End 

Pinner

HA5 4JP

tel: 020 3859 8722

Useful Websites

Their Website

https://www.fusion381.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/381food-v2.pdf

Reviews on Google

https://www.google.com/search?q=fusion+381

Tripadvisor add a listing

Three melons and Katsu chicken + tips and tricks from The Civil Service Club & Restaurant during Covid-19

The Civil Service Club. Photo from Wikipedia.

The Civil Service club is now taking bookings for Christmas and you might have the chance to be invited to a group dinner. I have been to several Christmas dinners organized by a long-standing friend, who is a civil Servant by Profession, who I know from Harrow Writers Circle, and he took me to Toastmasters International's local club. He organized meetings for both these organizations and others. Yet again, I went to the Civil Service Club weekly meetings with a wine and dine group which meets here often, so I know it well.

We just had the pre-Xmas menu, but you may be getting some of the same this winter or next summer so here are my suggestions.

Our meal started well with hot bread and butter. That was good to keep us going - I needed the energy to climb the steep staircase up to the ladies toilet. I also did not want to get too drunk on our wine and dine club's two starter white wines. If I had drunk on an empty stomach, I would have been unsteady and nervous on the steep stairs. I vowed to go down in the lift instead to the ground floor toilets at the end of the meal which included several wines and ended with a sweet Gewurtztraminer, a spicy wine, my favourite, followed by port.

After a toast to demised Paul, who was the focus of  our memorial dinner, we were on to the meal\s starters. One diner at our table liked the prawns, thought they were flavoursome and succulent. And easy to eat. My husband prefers prawns in the shell. However, he had no complaints.

How to Eat Hard Melon

Our starters for a group meal included prawns or the trio of melons. 

Trio of melon. Photo by Angela Lansbury

 I am allergic to shellfish so I opted for the melon. A lovely trio of colours, red, yellow and green, like traffic lights. 

The red watermelon was great. The orange and green and white melon slices were so hard that you could not cut them with a knife or spoon. However, I discovered that if you pick them up in your hands, real teeth (I can't speak for dentures), are strong enough to eat a hard water melon. The orange melon was quite tasty. 

Main courses

I had chosen the chicken katsu. It's Japanese style. I like to try something new. 

It was fried breaded chicken in a curry sauce on rice. Why put a hard dry coating on chicken? Chicken should be succulent. 

The alternative was fish. Or steak and chips. The steak was rather tough. The portion of chips was generous and did for two of us. 

So far, ups and downs. Fortunately the meal ended on a high note. Dessert. 

Dessert

I chose cheesecake, which had two fresh strawberry halves on top.  It wasn't a really cheesy, baked solid cheesecake like the ones called New York style which you get in coffee shops such as Starbucks on a good day (when they have not run out already). But not a piece of blancmange nor toothpaste masquerading as a dessert and contending for disappointing dessert of the year. 

I was happy enough with my choice. However, I looked with keen, suspicious interest at the other lady's apple crumble. I asked, "Did you like your dessert?"

She didn't respond to my questions. She stared at me as if finding it difficult to commit. I feared the worst.  After I repeated the question, she admitted, "I'm hard of hearing." 

She eventually understood my vital question. I rephrased it, "Was the crumble too hard  - or too soft?" 

She said,"No - in the middle." She conceded, "It was the best part of the meal."

My husband opted for the cheese platter, which had generous pieces of solid cheese, and crackers.

Seating - in Covid Times

We were two couples on a table for four. That seemed a good arrangement during Covid-10. We sat each facing our own partners. The top table diners, like at a wedding, were all facing forward.

And now for some practicalities:

Downstairs Bar Seating and Eating

The ground floor bar area is an informal restaurant. It offers both indoor and outdoor seating. The interior is very pleasant, with pictures made up of postage stamps, at a distance you can see they form traditional London sights such as a telephone box, and the symbol of the underground railway system.

Toilet Tips

The Civil Service Club has two sets of toilets. The larger one is on the ground floor with several cubicles. The other is above the restaurant with two cubicles.

From the ground floor to the restaurant, you can take the tiny lift which takes two or three people crammed together, so a maximum of  two others. But rather close, but you could ride it alone.

To avoid other people, you might prefer the two cubicle ladies toilet upstairs. It is up the steep double flight of stairs from the main restaurant. (The upstairs toilets are on the same level as some of the private dining rooms).

To avoid climbing the steep stairs up to the ladies toilet, you can use the ground floor ladies, through a doorway behind the bar.

The tables are secluded, if that's what you want. But when they are arranged around the room in a U shape or three sides of a square, with the top table backs to the window. The large round pillars may prevent some of the diners from seeing or hearing speakers at the top table.

With Covid-10 still a concern for some, the organizer of the event reduced mingling by printing out place cards. He met us at the door and directed us to the correct tables. He said, "I had meant to print out a seating plan, but my printer ran out of ink at the vital moment."

Useful Websites

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicken_katsu

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_Service_Club

https://www.civilserviceclub.org.uk/Membership/Ordinary_Member_Form/accomodation_2021_screen.aspx

https://travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com/2021/10/covi19-and-restaurants-and-quarantine.html

https://travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com/2021/09/food-choices-stains-and-toilets-at.html

About the Author

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Favourite foods and wines from Madeira

Problem
What is it? Would I like it?

Answers
I love food from Madeira.
For breakfast our hotel buffet's choices included what we in England call French toast, toast with a thick eggy batter which sinks in. We were offered strawberry jam or chocolate sauce, like on waffles or pancakes. In addition the fruit bar included grapes and bananas. You see vineyards up and down the terraced hillsides. (Plus grapefruit, prunes, porridge, kiwi fruit, pineapples, melon and more.)

Plus the usual boiled eggs, scrambled egg, baked beans, bacon, small frankfurter type sausages. sliced cheese, cucumber and salads.

Madeira Style Steak
The dinner buffet included steaks which cooked on a huge skewer in an oven and on the place were high, like small oranges, with a hole in the middle. A local restaurant served the same at the table on the skewer. Like kebab but fist size pieces.

Madeira Cake
The desserts one evening included Madeira cake, a kind of dark honey cake.

Table Wine
We were offered glasses of sparkling wine, made in Portugal. Mateus Rose is still available, but now you can also get the equivalent of sparkling wine, like Prosecco.

Supermarkets have stocks of local Madeira wine, which is fortified wine - more alcohol than the usual wine, strong, like spirits.

Other souvenirs to take home to the family, see next post.

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and phtographer.

Fab food at Fulham Wine Rooms

Problem
What to eat at Fulham Wine Rooms?

We started in a back room with a Rioja tasting organised for a private group by Trevor of Grape Deal. We had more people than expected, about 19, so we had enough money in the kitty to order plates of cold meats and cheese from the restaurant.

The food was presented with brown bread, and bowls of oil with crackers. The brown bread was absolutely wonderful, full of crunchy grains.

Super Service
We had flagons of still and sparkling water. When I went to ask for more water and more side plates, they arrived quickly.

Selecting Starters
Afterwards we ordered dinner in the restaurant, a large table for about ten of us. We had already had the cheese plate and the cold meal plates.

I was allergic to shellfish.

We chose to share a plate of asparagus and egg. Another couple also ordered a starter plate to share, so we did not feel we were the odd one out in doing so.

The photos above show: chicken; salmon; chips ; steak.
Chicken or Chips?
My main course was chicken, which came up with one vegetable. Very filling - but I would have liked potato and or a second vegetable. At over £10 I thought two vegetables and potato would have been provided at my local restaurants in Hatch End. Fortunately I was able to share potatoes, a generous portion, on somebody else's plate of pork.

I asked what the pork eater thought of their portion. They said, "Beautifully cooked with crispy outside".

Another dish came up with chips. So, chicken, or chips?

You could order a side plate of mashed potato, but I felt that should not be necessary with main dishes costing more than £15.

Nearly all of my fellow guests were happy. One person who had to catch a train home asked for the dishes to be served up when each one was ready instead of all at once, but all the dishes appeared moments later.

Nineteen of us, all very happy.

Wines By The Glass
We had plenty of food. We could have ordered wines by the glass from the E n o m a t i c machines. All in all, a great evening out for a group.

Fulham Wine Rooms
871-873 Fulham Rd, Fulham, London SW6 5HP
England
UK

Hours: Open 12pm–12am
Phone: (+44) (0)20 7042 9440.
Nearest railway station: Parsons Green.
http://winerooms.london/fulham/

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. Please share posts.

Honey of a restaurant, Incanto, at Harrow-on-the-Hill

With some trepidation I went to Incanto Restaurant, Harrow-on-the-Hill because it had changed hands and had mixed reviews. I am glad to report that we had a delightful meal. Beyond the deli which overlooks the street is in the upstairs restart, secluded, but brightly lit by overhead windows. The mirror along one wall adds to the spaciousness.

We were immediately shown to our booked table. The dishes started with bread and oil served on a wooden platter. Then came the amuse gueule of white cheese creamed in a teeny shot glass. I assumed it was sweet but it was cheese. Tasty, like blue cheese.

My starter of pea soup had a line of fresh peas in the middle which was pleasing to the eye and mouth. Green asparagus contrasting with yellowy cream sauce was wonderful on the eye and tongue.

My main course of veal with creamed potatoes was pleasant. With three main dishes I was able to sample some of the thick steak and thick chips, as well as the third exotic looking main course of duck.

Honeycomb

Chocolate and fruit

Desserts
The highest point was the desserts.Chocolate with a melting middle and raspberries on the side. We'd seen it carried past and two of the three of us chose that. I oped to have something different on principle. By process of elimination I decided not to go for the cheeses, nor the mixed ice creams, although the flavours sounded lovely, and the dessert with meringue sounded just too sugary. That left me with a dessert which featured honeycomb. Wonderful.

For drinks I started with Prosecco. Can't go wrong. The other two shared a bottle of red wine. Too much for two, as one was driving. But the staff provided a cork so we could take the leftovers home. i had looked at the wine list earlier and noted a glass of muscat which did not appear on the dessert menu. So you have more options to go with your coffees, or instead, before or after.

The only disappointment was that although I had phoned earlier to point out that one of us had a birthday and to ask if we could have a candle, the person answering the phone had not noted this. I thought I'd also mentioned that 'The birthday boy is parking the car'.

However when the desserts had appeared without a candle, and nothing immediately after that, and the others were asking for the bill. I rushed back to the desk to ask where was the candle.

After a quick confab, that the desserts had already been served, somebody said, 'with the petits fours'. We had not ordered coffee which I presumed came with petits fours, but they brought another dessert with the honeycomb with a candle which was very welcome. We liked the petits fours of chocolate, soft nougat and ice cream.

Service from Irish Liz from Belfast was all smiles. We were all very pleased with our evening.

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.

The Bridge Hotel - great coffee stop in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire

We made a trip to an industrial estate in Huntingdon and were looking for an interesting coffee stop, something historic. We did not want to spend much on a grand lunch as we already had a dinner booked in London for the evening.

A nearby out of town complex had a vast choice of ordinary country-wide chain restaurants, Nando's chicken, Mexican and several more.

Famous Tea Place
A lady who lived in nearby St Neot's said that the place for tea in Huntingdon is The Bridge Hotel. It's good, and historic. Just what we wanted.

We drove past it twice, trying to get into the centre of Huntingdon. Unfortunately, Huntingdon is rather unfriendly to passing cars, being partly pedestrianised. Having seen a bit of the pedestrianised area from both ends, just more nationwide chain shops, we returned to the Bridge hotel which had a large free car park at the back.

The front of the hotel, on the road on a busy corner, is nonetheless attractive with its i v y -covered front. At the back is the easy to locate car park with a second riverside area so lots of places.

Haunted Hotel Outlook Out Back
The back of the hotel is a bit disappointing, despite their efforts to make it attractive. The river is the colour of sludge, or sewage. A derelict building opposite is unnerving, looks haunted. Blackened broken windows make you want to cross the river and long inside, fearing the worst. The flapping front door lures in the unsuspected trespasser. Piles of rubbish outside are hiding what? Like something out of a horror movie. The only bright note is that if you want to write a horror novel or short story or screen play, sitting opposite, imagining what could be inside, who would dare too there, with what intention - this place is a great inspiration.

On our exit we saw a lone white swan. I wondered how it stayed so clean in the muddy river. Maybe it was actually off-white, very off, and simply appeared white by relativity, contrasting with the dirty brown river.

What's worse, the noise of the fountain in the garden was drowned by the industrial sound of lorries passing along the motorway on the nearby overhead bridge. Sad. About as elegant and romantic as being a down and out under a viaduct in a B movie.

Wine Shop
However, stepping inside was a great relief. Our first stop in the hotel was the wonderful wine shop. (No assistant in sight.) A central E n o m a t i c machine was circular. At first look prices seemed high, around £6-10 for a glass. But a second machine against the wall had a revolving display of prices for different dispenses of sizes, £1 something for the smallest taste.

The big displays of bottles were helpfully labelled, red, white, low price, high price and so on. As for novelties, gifts for special occasions, I spotted a bottle light converting an empty wine bottle into a light at just under £10. Plus point for a shop and souvenirs to buy. (Something under £5 and a shop assistant, a bell, or directions to ask another member of staff, would have been even better.)

Hotel Decor
Around the walls of the hotel were invitations to wine tasting events and flower arranging classes. Events - and something to read about - plus point. The flower displays were a good feature. I gave it a plus point.

Coffee was being served in two areas, the main lounge you walk into at the back with a view over the garden. Even more inviting a sunken room off it with windows on the front and a cheerful burning fire, and a bar. Newspaper in the rack - Telegraph and Times included.

In the lounge were a crowd of middle aged and elderly white-haired, well-spoken people. A good-looking elderly man, very devoted to an elderly woman. I stared at them. They stared at me, probably because I stared at them.

We inspected the menu. A choice of coffees. I chose affogato, espresso poured over ice cream. That made a change. (Although they claimed the ice cream is home made it was nothing special, not as good as the affogato at an ice cream shop in London where people queue for tiny tables squashed in to have affogato made with exotic mixtures of two or three fruit and nut flavours.)

When the coffees arrived, we were pleasantly surprised to find that a large rock hard biscuit was included with both the espresso coffee (old-fashioned generous large jug of milk slightly higher than the cup on the side, not those thimble size jugs half the size of an espresso cup you get in some places). The rock hard biscuit resisted my teeth, but proved just right for not dissolving when dunked in coffee.

Having decided that the coffee was no more expensive than Starbucks, for a very elegant, historic hotel, with a large biscuit. I asked my companion: 'Is this usual? Or did we get somebody else's by mistake?' He replied, confidently, 'Obviously they way they do things here."

By now the Bridge hotel is collecting accolades from me. Off to the Ladies. Ah - both a dispenser of washing gel and a dispenser of hand cream. Both flavoured with rhubarb. Apparently the Gents has only the washing gel, not the moisturiser, but my companion enthuses about the aroma.

Having now been won over, we stop to look at the dinner menu in case we want to return for a meal. Unfortunately the price is way beyond our budget, way beyond the prices of the lunchtime offers we get flowing in daily in London, two or three courses for £20, usually with a cocktail added. Thirty or forty pounds per person for top restaurants.

The Bridge menu offers a seat meal including steak on Sunday night, but we will be returning for mid-week lunch.

We gasp with horror at the prices, a main course at £15-20, tempting items costing even more, add starter, dessert, coffee, wine, service and the price goes up and up.

Nonetheless, we will return for coffee, and maybe look for any off season offers. If price is no object, looks at the reviews on TripAdvisor for rooms and lunches and dinners.

Just before we left we discovered a second doing room at the front, with an oriental statue in the fireplace. A helpful member of staff came to see what we were looking for. She told us that this room is used for overflow at Xmas time, for special events such as weddings, Christenings, parties, business meetings and funeral parties, or as the substitute main restaurant if the larger main restaurant is booked for a large wedding.

I've already planned my return trip. I think I shall sit by the window looking over the garden or by the fireplace.

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.

Photos being added shortly.

Father's Day UK - 21st June 2015

What do Dad's like to eat on Father's Day? Steaks? This year, 2015, Father's Day in the UK is 21st June, according to the email I just received from Miller and Carter. With one of the fathers in my extended family having a birthday in June, I'm hoping for some special offers.

The Ruislip branch has sent me the offer of a complimentary drink. They also have a great pun, the Daddy of all steaks.

Father's Day is Sunday 21st of June. But the offer is also valid on Saturday 20th. Why would anybody celebrate Father's Day on Saturday instead? Because you might be busy working on Sunday. Or in church. Or playing a sporting event, or judging it as a referee. Or the restaurant might be fully booked on Sunday. Or two different people, such as children living in different parts of the country, might wish to invite their father, or both father and step-father or fathers-in-law in different areas to lunch or dinner.

Angela Lansbury - travel writer, author and speaker. Also see Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn.
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Munching T-bone steak at Miller and Carter Steakhouse, Ruislip - also Harrow in London, England and Wales

Driving into Ruislip we saw this place with an adjacent car park and pulled in for a quick meal.
The decor is inviting, modern and chic. This steakhouse has class. The atmosphere is informal but the place is pristine and smartly decorated, with amusing cartoons on the theme of cows and bulls holding conversations.

Drinks
Lots of choice. Lots of drinks by the glass, conveniently divided by styles on one large page. Could not see a sweet muscat for dessert, but two kinds of zinfandel, red and white.

If you've no room for dessert, coffee with a chocolate pot.

Starters
Chicken wings, four pieces, to start were good. Although billed as spicy with specks of red pimento, not too spicy, just tasty. Came with a finger bowl containing lemon and paper napkins.

Main courses.
Steaks offered included T-bone and our English speaking local London waiter was able to explain clearly the different types and sizes of steak. The steak was served with a choice of three kinds of potato, including the healthy option of baked in its jacket. Chips came in a container. The piece of cooked tomato was well received.

If you have more time than money, get in and out before 6.30 pm when you can have two courses, or add a dessert for £3, at less than £20. Options on the lunch menu include chicken main course and apple crumble dessert, which is not on the evening menu.

The evening desserts are all highly calorific and mostly sugar and toffee and ice cream and chocolate.

This chain has 35 locations including Bath, Cardiff in Wales, Harrow in North London, Lakeside shopping centre, Leeds, Manchester, and Poole.

You can find them using satnav. Follow them on Facebook. Sign up to their newsletter and get a free starter or dessert.

I have reviewed the Ruislip branch on Tripadvisor in November 2014.
More information from
www.millerandcarter.co.uk


Photos copyright Angela Lansbury.
For more information on Angela Lansbury travel writer, author, comic poetry, table etiquette, see YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook, Lulu.com