A taste of Calcutta at Paro in Covent Garden

Nearly seven years ago I had the absolute pleasure to review City Spice in Brick Lane. It's still one of my favourite restaurants, and I make sure to take friends to it when they're visiting London. However, it's not very central and I'm not often in Brick Lane these days. So I am thrilled that its executive chef, Niaz Caan, has opened a brand-new Indian restaurant smack-down in the centre of town: Covent Garden. Paro officially opened its doors in October and it's already buzzing.

An Authentic Taste of Italy at Venerdi in East London

Pizza, pasta, panna cotta... Italy gets all of the best foods starting with a 'p', apparently, but you don't have to make the trek all the way down to the sunny south to be able to sample some of these delicious dishes for yourself. Most of us will be familiar with the many Italian chain restaurants London has to offer but while they're convenient for a quick bite, they lack an authenticity that can really transport you to a sweltering hot Mediterranean day. Cosy restaurant Venerdi in East London's Hackney brings the essence of real Italian food right onto our doorstep with the deep flavours of fresh home-made pasta, quality buffalo mozzarella and the most scrumptious white pizza steeped in cheese and truffle you'll ever have.

Dinner at The Elephant's Head in Hackney

Known for its hipster residents and eclectic mixture of shops, Hackney has become one of the most liveable areas in London in recent years. The East London borough han't only had a boom in independent coffee shops and artisan cafes but the restaurants have seen an evolution too. One such a foodie destination is the Elephant's Head – a traditional pub, restaurant and cocktail bar wrapped into on – which after a series of incarnations has recently returned to its Hackney hot spot under its original guise.

Bottomless Brunch at Bounce: Ping Pong, Pizza & Prosecco

I'm a huge fan of brunch (so much so that last week I had a double brunch weekend!), and I love discovering new restaurants that put on a scrumptious spread. Especially if they give their own twist to the traditional brunch, and that's exactly what Bounce has done. They offer unlimited pizza, Prosecco and Ping Pong madness for two whole hours and I had the opportunity to check it out for myself this weekend.

Dinner at Royal China Baker Street in London

It's been a while since I have highlighted an eatery on my blog as there is so much to see and do in London and it's impossible to cover it all by myself. However, I was recently invited to visit one of the Royal China Group restaurants and their menu looked so enticing that I was definitely keen to check it out. We went to the Baker Street location, which is situated between Bond Street and Baker Street stations, and the perfect after-work location for those who work in or near Mayfair, Marylebone or the West End.

Blogger meetup at Icebar London

London is filled with an eclectic mix of fabulous discoveries, from new musicals at West End Live and a restaurant in Soho which serves nearly all dishes with a variation of polenta, to a funky pop art exhibition at the Tate Modern. If there's something you're particularly fond of, then there's probably a place in Blighty's capital that can cater to your wishes. If, for instance, being surrounded by ice from the frozen Torne River in Jukkasjärvi, Sweden, is your thing then you don't have to catch a plane to the Nordics to get that experience, a tube ride to Oxford Circus and a visit to Icebar London off Regent Street will do just fine.

Dinner at 106 Baker Street

Baker Street is no longer just the home of Britain's most famous consulting detective, but also that of a nameless new café, which doesn't hide behind fancy branding but lets the wealth of natural and wholesome produce used in their daily changing menu speak for itself.

Particularly busy during the lunch rush because of their wealth of sandwiches, quiches and take-away salads on offer, the café on 106 Baker Street was blissfully quiet when we visited this week for an early dinner. The light wooden interior and spare seating spaces create an open and inviting establishment, which is a welcome change from the hustle and bustle just outside.

We started the meal with some freshly made drinks; an almond milk, banana and chocolate smoothie for me and a cantaloupe watermelon juice for my friend. The smoothie was really interesting in that all three of the different flavours could be tasted individually which each sip, but I'm still not quite sure whether I was merely intrigued or if I genuinely liked it! The watermelon juice on the other hand refreshing and fruity, going down really quickly.


For dinner fare the cafe offers fish, meat, pasta and a veggie dish, all of which changes slightly on a daily basis, depending on what produce has been sourced from the markets. Both my guest and myself opted for the wonderfully presented gratined herb salmon, which was a delicious piece of beautifully pink fish, complimented well by its flavoursome herb crust.

To accompany the fish, we picked three out of a wealth of brightly coloured salads displayed: brown quinoa with tomatoes and cucumber; pearl barley, broccoli, green beans and sunripe tomatoes; and a stunning dish comprised of thick slices of yellow, orange, red, green and even deep purple tomatoes. Each of the salads tasted impeccable and with so many fantastic ingredients it wasn't only super tasty but felt like a real health boost as well.


Of course no dinner is complete without a tasty dessert and since it was 'Great British Bake Off Wednesday', cake definitely needed to be part of the meal. As soon as I spotted a beautiful carrot cake on display my mind was made up, as that is one of my all-time favourite sweet treats. And I wasn't disappointed; the cake was moist (but no soggy bottom to be spotted) and flavoursome, though it was the taste of the spices rather than the carrot that were really prominent to me.

My friend chose the French toast which was made to order, so very fresh when she received it. This did mean that it took a little while to arrive and she commented that it unfortunately had gone cold by the time it was served. It did however look lovely on the plate and the slight disappointed was more than made up for when we also had a taste of the chocolate ricotta cake, which came highly recommend and we were told was a must-try. They were absolutely right.


With a beautiful array of colourful dishes made with produce sourced from London markets and Italy, this newly opened café on Baker Street really stands out from the otherwise unimaginative range of chain restaurants located on the same street as the home of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's famous detective.

So even without an official name we are certain they will soon make a name for themselves as the place to be for a delicious and healthy lunch or early dinner.

106 Baker St, London W1U 6TW.

Dinner at Benito's Hat Covent Garden

Most people may associate tapas with the flavours of Spain, but Mexican restaurant chain Benito's Hat in London believes this fun way of sharing food can be adapted for other cuisines too. This is why the eatery primarily known for its quickly served burritos and tacos has introduced a new sharing menu, which is available after 5pm and on weekends and is comprised of 'Mexican starter tapas'.


Mexican food is not the only thing the restaurant is known for, their margaritas take a prominent spot on the menu too and we couldn't resist the sound of the frozen strawberry version, which was of course the first thing we ordered when visiting their central London location hidden on the reasonably quiet New Row, a street which connects the tourist hubs of Covent Garden and Leicester Square.

We heard the margaritas being freshly made in the kitchen and they were served in big glasses with a fruity decoration on its rim. Ice cold (it is the frozen margarita after all) this is a perfect drink for hot summer evenings in the city, though we can definitely be tempted to return on a colder day as well for another hit of the delicious drink.

While we ordered our starters and mains at the same time, the first to arrive were the dishes from the main mezclar y combinar (mix & match) menu. Service was slow on the night we visited, with people ordering burritos and tacos for take away being attended to much quicker than the sporadic diners sitting down at the tables for a leisurely evening out.


It seemed there were no specific waiters for the restaurant, other than those standing behind the counter helping all patrons, and this was unfortunately very noticeable. Our mains eventually arrived after waiting over thirty minutes and finishing our first round of margaritas.

As the menu is meant for sharing, we made one order which was served on big dishes for us to pick from. We'd opted for two meat options from the principales; slow-braised pork with balsamic vinegar & cinnamon, and the chicken tinga with chipotle & garlic. To accompany these we also had the chipotle coleslaw with pomegranate seeds from the al lado section and finally four small flour tortillas from the basicos. All of this was served with salsas, pico de gallo (tomato, onion & coriander), Monterey Jack cheese and lettuce.

While the pork was adequate, the chicken was delicious. Perfectly seasoned (not too spicy, but not boring either) and very succulent that dish was quickly emptied and we wish we'd ordered more. The coleslaw was a refreshing accompaniment and the pomegranate seeds were a delightful crispy and fruity touch to the combination. The only thing we would recommend changing from this order, is to get more tortillas. Two small ones each was not enough for a main meal, so be sure to get two orders of these from the basicos menu when you visit.


After we'd finished our mains, our starters still hadn't arrived so when we eventually managed to catch the eye from one of the servers we were reassured it was yet to come, and indeed over 45 minutes after we had ordered them it did. At this stage we were unfortunately slightly rushed as we had tickets to go to the theatre that night and couldn't fully appreciate the huge antojitos served.

The sharing dish was comprised of a generous portion of nachos alongside potato & oregano taquitos, spinach & cheese quesadillas, chicken tinga tostadas and black bean & feta tostadas. We tried at least one each of the various tapas on the board and our favourites were definitely the spinach & cheese quesadillas and the chicken tinga tostadas. The nachos were a bit too salty for our liking, but then again they did taste well with the frozen margaritas.

We'd ordered our desserts before the starter came and they arrived fairly quickly after. I'd chosen the tres leches cake, which is not something I was familiar with and it sounded very intriguing. It turned out to be a fairly plain sponge cake, but soaked in different types of milk making it incredibly moist and appealing. Shows that sweet treats don't always have to be made up to the nines with swirls of chocolate and other decorations to hit the spot just right.


The food, when it came was tasty and exactly what we expected from Mexican street 'tapas'. However, for a more enjoyable experience visiting the restaurant we'd advise the employees to pay better attention to their patrons sitting down and not just those queuing up for a quick takeaway fix.

The only time we were asked how the food was, was before any had arrived at all and the waiting time for the dishes to arrive was simply too long. After all, they're located smack-down in the West End, so we won't have been the only customers paying a visit before heading off to the theatre.

Having said that, their delicious frozen strawberry margaritas made it worth the visit and this delightful drink is perfect both before and after seeing a show.

Benito's Hat Covent Garden, 19 New Row, London WC2N 4LA.

Dinner at The Noodle House

Shaftesbury Avenue in London is mainly known for the wealth of theatres located on the famous street, but there is an eclectic mix of restaurants to pick from too - which are perfectly located for a pre-theatre meal or some after-theatre drinks.

The Noodle House opposite the Palace Theatre caters to both, as it has a restaurant (which even does a special pre-theatre menu) and a separate cocktail bar located in the same venue.

We went for a pre-theatre visit and the incredibly quick service and turn-around meant that after finishing our meal we still had plenty of time to catch our 7.30pm play afterwards.


My guest and I ordered both a starter and a main each, but because of the policy at the restaurant - they serve the food whenever it's ready, regardless of which part of the menu you ordered it from - it arrived out of order.

This meant that while my friend had both two dishes and a drink waiting for her on the table, my entire order was still to come. Of course she couldn't wait too long, as that would mean her food would've gone cold, and so she started ahead of me.

Pad Thai is a classic South East Asian dish and the fact that there were different varieties on the menu, made it a perfect main for a vegetarian such as her. Rice noodles, beansprouts, eggs, peanuts, chilli and tangy tamarind sauce were complimented well by the broccoli and crispy tofu, and she ended up polishing off her plate.


The vegetable spring rolls she chose for her starter were another winner. The crispy hand-made rolls were large, bursting with flavour and she was particularly fond of the sweet soy dipping sauce it was accompanied by. So much so, that she even consumed some of the dip with her Pad Thai.


The first of my dishes to arrive was the Sweet & Sour. I'd opted for the crispy chicken, which was served with the sweet & sour sauce, wok-fried peppers and spring onions. While I liked the vegetables and the spicy flavour of the sauce, the chicken was unfortunately disappointing. Dry and hard it was difficult to separate and even harder to chew.


I was very glad then that the waitress had suggested I order a side, as on its own the Sweet & Sour was far too heavy and meaty. I chose the vegetable Fried Rice, which was a flavoursome wok-fried jasmine rice with peas, sweet corn, carrots and mangetout. It was absolutely delicious and I would've happily devoured the entire plate if I wasn't already getting quite full at this point.


My starter (while arriving after my main it wasn't much later so I tried these at the same time) was a generous plate of gorgeous Si Racha Prawns. The tempura style prawns were served with the restaurant's divine signature spicy mayo (which definitely lived up to its name) and were perfectly crispy and delicious.


To finish the meal only I couldn't withstand the temptation of the chocolate fondant with ice cream, but after having a taste of my delectable dessert, my friend ended up ordering one for herself too! Still warm and beautifully gooey on the inside, this was perhaps not a typical treat for an Asian restaurant but it was cooked very well and for us worth the visit alone.


With a cocktail bar in the basement there is a plethora of delicious sounding alcoholic drinks to pick from on the menu as well, like the one pictured above. The two sugary sweet ice cubes in the glass provide the fruity flavour to the cocktail, whereas the bottle of alcohol on the right gives it a boozy kick. You can combine the two and the longer you wait - and the more the ice cubes have melted - the sweeter your drink will be; a very fun concept.

The establishment's policy to serve dishes whenever they are ready, makes this a great place to go to share platters with a group of friends. Don't get too focussed on what is supposed to be a main and what is supposed to be a starter, but just take the food as it comes and enjoy the tempting spicy flavours of Asia (and a very French, but not any less delicious, chocolate fondant).

The Noodle House, 117 Shaftesbury Ave, London WC2H 8AD.

Dinner at Happenstance

Right on the doorstep of the majestic St Paul's Cathedral is a very different but equally impressive destination: The Happenstance. The restaurant's interior is a mix of straight lines and industrial touches, mixed with organic materials and fresh pots of herbs on all the tables, which creates an eclectic yet inviting atmosphere.

Both our waiter and the mixologist on the night we visited were very knowledgeable as we asked them about the wide selection of food and cocktail items on the menu. In fact, the latter even went so far as to create a special cocktail based on the flavour preferences of my friend, which she was delighted with.


The choice of our starter was an easy one as it was the dish that was both recommended by our server and the one that instantly popped out at us from the menu: the warm grilled Mediterranean flatbread with hummus, baba ganoush and roasted marinated vegetables.

This gorgeous and very generous platter was perfect for sharing with two, or even three people. The vegetables were cooked to al dente perfection and were matched wonderfully with the hummus and baba ganoush (an eggplant, onion and tomato-based dip) it was served with. Both my friend and I loved this dish, the flavours of which instantly swept us away to warmer shores, and could've happily eaten it all night long.


Picking my main course was a more difficult decision as there were plenty of tasty items on the menu that caught my eye. In the end I once again trusted the recommendation of the waitress and chose the chicken in a basket with chips - though I opted to swap my ordinary chips for the more interestingly sounding cowboy fries with honey, chilli & garlic from the side menu.

When my chicken arrived, I had to stop myself from going "awww" as it looked so cute in its own little basket. It was unfortunately served with normal chips, rather than the cowboy fries I'd ordered with it, but upon seeing the size of what was supposed to be a small chicken I realised that I'd probably eat very little of the chips anyway so this wasn't an issue.

The meat was beautifully succulent, practically falling off the bone as I was attempting to eat it delicately with my knife and fork. Once again, as with the starter, it was a very generous portion and try as I might I wasn't able to finish my main - even though I really liked it.


My friend did a better job with her halloumi and hummus burger with red pepper, roast mushroom & tomato chutney (and most of my chips too, I might add). All the elements of her burger were cooked and seasoned very well and she loved the tasty combination of the halloumi with the peppers in particular.

She also ordered a side of potato and sweet potato wedges and she was particularly enthusiastic about the sweet potato ones, which were crispy on the outside and soft in the middle. The presentation of all parts of the meal was very fun and reminiscent of an upmarket diner, which suited the dishes we had ordered very well.


After two very large courses already both myself and my guest were quite satisfied at this stage, but as soon as our eyes fell on the chocolate brownie with vanilla bean ice cream on the desserts menu we knew we had to have a taster. Sharing one dessert and savouring it in very small bites was the perfect way to consume this gorgeously crunchy on the outside and melt-in-the-mouth on the inside cocoa treat. It provided a wonderful finish to what had been an excellent meal.

With a playfully eclectic atmosphere and excellent service, this is definitely an establishment we'll be returning to soon. If only to once more have the opportunity to taste the beautiful Mediterranean flatbread with hummus, baba ganoush and roasted marinated vegetables (though a second time around we'd probably keep it all for ourselves, rather than share it!).

Happenstance, 1 Ludgate Hill, London EC4M 7AA.

Dinner at Ekachai Liverpool Street

In the heart of London, just a stone's throw away from the hustle and bustle of Liverpool Street station, lies an oasis of calm in the form of the Arcade; a quiet and narrow little street which offers passers-by an eclectic mix of dining options, including the South East Asian spicy flavours of oriental dining room Ekachai.

The Liverpool Street location is one of four in London and Birmingham and recently had both an interior and menu makeover, which is evident as soon as we walked into the beautifully rustic space. The service matched our first impression, with not only very friendly and accommodating waiters but also an incredibly swift delivery of the food we ordered.


I love the flavour of duck in South East Asian cooking and since the option on the main menu (a dish which sounded a bit too meaty, combining roast duck slices with BBQ pork) didn't particularly appeal to me, I opted for the Duck Spring Rolls for my starter.

It was a very good choice indeed. I was presented with two large spring rolls cut in half, filled to the brim with succulent duck and veggies, which went really well with the thick and rich sauce it was served with. I'm not always a fan of spring rolls, as they can easily be made too greasy, but these were deliciously crispy and perfect in my eyes.


My friend chose the Prawn & Crab Siu Mai Dumplings for her starter, which was an equally generous portion (a running theme throughout our evening). The sticky dumplings were tasty, although a bit too dense and filling for a starter, and she commented that she was particularly fond of the accompanying sauce.


For my main I ordered the Pad Thai, consisting of wok fried flat noodles with egg, chives, bean sprouts and chicken. First of all, let me take a moment to compliment the stunning and hugely effective presentation. The portions of chilli flakes and dried onions on the side not only make for a pretty picture, but it also means that each guest can flavour their own dish and ensure it is as spicy or mild as they prefer it.

Feeling adventurous I mixed all the ingredients together (including the slices of fresh chilli which I cut up into smaller pieces), which made for a very hot but also very appetising dish. I really love a good Pad Thai and this one was more than good. In fact, it was probably the best one I've ever had the pleasure to taste, so for me only being able to finish about half of the plate really is a testimony to how incredibly plenty the portions at Ekachai are.


Singapore Noodles were the main of choice for my friend, which was a perfectly cooked and well-seasoned combination of rice vermicelli noodles with prawn, egg, onions, spring onions, carrots, mixed peppers, beansprouts & fresh chilli. She too marvelled at the beautiful presentation and despite her best efforts, could not finish her main either.


For dessert I was tempted by the Pandan & Passion Fruit Creme Brule, which sounded like an interesting take one of my all-time favourite desserts. When it arrived however I was initially taken aback by the dish' almost poisonous-looking vivid green colour, which didn't make it look particularly appetising to me.

The moment I had a taste of the deliciously creamy sweet, my worries dissolved. It had the crispy, sugary coating of a crème brûlée, but to me any similarities ended there. The flavour wasn't like anything I've tried before and the warm pudding underneath also had a different texture. So while this dessert wasn't quite like what I had in mind when ordering, it was a very delicious surprise.


My friend opted for the Chocolate Chilli Mousse, which came with an ice cream accompaniment of her choice and she decided on the Toasted Coconut flavour. Unfortunately the mousse wasn't what she, or I, had expected as it seemed to lack any sugary flavouring to make the dessert suitably sweet. The hint of chilli also didn't come through, making it a flavourless pudding. The ice cream however was delectable, and she'd soon devoured the entire cold treat.

In all we had a delightful evening at this oriental dining room. With generous portions of lush food that is both cooked to perfection and beautifully presented, not to mention very affordable, we'd happily return and revel in the spicy smells and flavours of South East Asia.

Ekachai, 9-10 Arcade Liverpool St, London EC2M 7PN.

Dinner at Bodo's Schloss

Named after Bodo's Cafezelt, the oldest tent at Munich's legendary Oktoberfest - and Schloss, the Austrian word for palace, Bodo's Schloss aims to offer an alpine escape without guests having to set foot outside of London.

As soon as you near the restaurant, which is modelled on an authentic Austrian farmhouse, you know you're in the right place. Charming fairy lights adorn the building's entrance and the rustic wooden interior and checked tablecloths wouldn't look out of place in a real Austrian alpine venue.


Before our visit, friend and I had checked out the menu online, which looked divine, and picked our favourites. However, when we arrived we were told that because of Fondue Wednesday they would only be serving a reduced menu which, incidentally, didn't list any of the dishes we'd been excited to try. This was disappointing, not to mention strange as many of the authentic Austrian options the restaurant advertises were missing as well.

To make matters worse, as I took a sip from my water I nearly cut myself as there was a big shard missing from the rim of the glass. I would've probably noticed this sooner had it not been so dark inside the establishment but either way, Bodo's Schloss and I were not off to a good start.

After some deliberation we chose the seasonal soup to start our meal with, which was a sweet potato one when we visited. We were presented with huge bowls of steaming hot thick soup that could've easily passed for a main course. I enjoyed it, particularly the crunchy pumpkin seeds it was served with as it gave the dish some much-needed texture, but my fiend found it too bland and thought that having a soup made of just sweet potatoes and no other (root) vegetables didn't work.


For my main I opted for the only authentic Austrian dish available on the reduced menu: the Schloss Wiener Schnitzel. I love a good chicken schnitzel and as Austria's unofficial national dish I of course had to give it a try. The meat was properly thin and came with a deliciously crispy crust. It was served with cranberry sauce, which was a good choice as it made what could've been a very dry meal, nice and moist.

The side of a cold potato salad with a few slices of cucumber was adequate, but I did miss some vegetables with the dish. Unfortunately the reduced menu didn't offer any sides at all so I wasn't able to order anything else with the meal. I also wasn't a big fan of how the schnitzel was presented, in the pan it was cooked in, as it made it awkward to cut pieces from it.

My friend's hearty lamb goulash was a bigger success than her starter had been. The pieces of meat were succulent and plenty and the dish was complimented well by the side of crispy spaetzle (an Austrian egg noodle) and crunchy toasted hazelnuts. It was a side I'd never tried before but I had a taste as well and it was delightful.


For dessert my friend chose the apple strudel with custard which didn't do much for her. An excess of raisins made it hard to find the 'apple' and the custard it was served with wasn't very tasty nor did it come with a pouring jug, making it difficult to eat.

While I hadn't been in the mood for the cheese fondue as a main, I did get a taste of the Wednesday specials with my dessert as I chose the chocolate fondue. It came with generous helpings of assorted dippers - from strawberries to marshmallows and Amaretti biscuits to coconut flakes - and I was even told that if I wanted a top up, all I had to do was ask.

This wasn't necessary as there was more than enough for me (my friend even discarded her apple strudel in favour of the fondue and tried some of the dippers as well - there was that much) and I loved every bit of it. Dipping the various fruits and candy bits in the scrumptious hot chocolate was fun (albeit slightly messy as the strawberries kept falling into it) and tasty, making the fondue the undisputed highlight of my meal.


While Fondue Wednesdays are a fun idea we were disappointed that this unfortunately meant that the rest of the menu was considerably reduced and barely catered to. This wasn't made clear on the restaurant's website at all, so it took us by surprise after we'd already been seated and been presented with the small alternative menu.

The dishes we did order, were mostly fine but as they weren't the ones we'd had our heart set on, they were never going to be able to live up to our expectations. Thankfully the chocolate fondue was delicious and managed to lift an otherwise rather disappointing evening considerably. My friend wholeheartedly agreed and as she dipped her final slice of pineapple first in the hot and gooey chocolate and then in the popping candy, she commented it felt and tasted like a party in her mouth.

Bodo's Schloss, 2a Kensington High St, London W8 4PT.

Dinner at Rub Diner & Milk Bar

If you have a craving for some deliciousness of the speedy variety, but don't necessarily want to visit one of the fast food chains dotted around the capital, then Rub Diner & Milk Bar might be just the thing for you. The restaurant is based in North London and claims to specialise in slow cooked food delivered fast.

The eatery opened its doors last summer and is currently undergoing a major refurbishment, which is to transform the intimate dining space into a more comfortable eating area. When we visited they were in the middle of the refurb and so the atmosphere was a bit lacking, but we hope that once finished the home-from-home look and feel the diner is aiming for will be that of a comfy and classy home, rather than a shabby one.

The restaurant serves an array of American diner style food - from spicy buffalo wings served with creamy blue cheese dip to sticky brioche with pulled pork - and so we couldn't start the meal with anything but a proper shake. Faced with the choice between chocolate and double chocolate (amongst others), friend went with the latter while I opted for the slightly safer former variety. The drink was thick and creamy and tasted just like a good ice cream, making it the perfect start to what would be an indulgent meal.


From the food menu we chose two types of burgers with a side order of onion rings, fries and sweet potato fries, though when the plates with mountain-like burgers arrived we realised that perhaps we'd ordered slightly too much for just two people.

Rub Diner being known for their slow cooked food, I tried the Piggy Back Burger, which is their basic burger with an added generous helping of perfectly succulent 10-hour cooked pulled pork. It made a tasty and hearty combination with the thick, juicy burger patty, tomatoes, onions, lettuce, cheese and gorgeous homemade burger sauce. The burger was stacked high though, which not only made it impossible to eat it in a dignified manner, but try as I might I also couldn't finish it.

My friend chose the even bigger Smoke Stack, which was all of the above with added smoked sausage and smoked bacon. Needless to say, despite her applaud-worthy efforts, her plate didn't get polished off either. We did finish both side orders of fries and our favourite was hands-down the sweet potato variety; perfectly crispy and with a delicious bite we would've happily devoured another portion (if we hadn't been so full already). The onion rings were unfortunately not as successful as they were flavourless and greasy, but with the wealth of other food on the table this wasn't a huge miss.


What the restaurant lacked in atmosphere and personality during the refurb was more than made up for by the helpful and friendly staff serving us on the night. And with generous portions of swiftly served feel-good food, this diner is on the road to becoming a comfy home-from-home.

Dinner at Ye Olde Saracen's Head in Coventry

Ye Olde Saracen's Head is set in a historic 16th century building and was renovated just a few years ago; perfectly balancing the rustic charm of the original features with the modern amenities we've now come to expect from a very good country restaurant. The seasonal menu offers an extensive range of dishes, all made in-house with fresh, local produce.

As soon as we walked into the restaurant we felt welcomed by the cosy atmosphere and the friendly serving staff. There is a wealth of choice on the menu and after much contemplation I eventually opted to start my dinner with the Josper grilled asparagus, crispy poached egg and truffle dressing. It is very easy to over- or undercook asparagus, but these were prepared to perfection and had a subtle bite to them. The poached egg added a lovely texture to the dish and while overall it was a bit too bland for my taste, it makes an excellent vegetarian starter for someone not too fond of spicy food.


My guest chose to start with the charcoal oven roasted marinated duck skewers with Asian salad, sticky plum dressing and toasted sesame seeds, which she called succulent. The beautiful pieces of duck were incredibly flavoursome and the dressing had a pleasant tingly aftertaste. I too had a small bite as it looked so inviting on her plate and have to agree, it was a wonderfully cooked and presented dish.


For my main course I opted for the lemon and thyme stuffed pork belly with Josper roasted garlicky baby spuds, which was served on a beautiful wooden board, which perfectly fitted into its surroundings and added to the rustic charm of the establishment. There was plenty of space on the plate for the various parts of the dish, including the gravy jar, and carving the meat on the wooden surface was much more comfortable than it would've been on a regular plate.

The pork was cooked to succulent perfection and encased in an inviting crispy exterior. The seasoning was spot on and combined with the generous helping of potatoes the dish was reminiscent of a very good Sunday roast. Good to note is that this course also comes with a serving of broccoli, which made me ordering a side of the same vegetable a bit superfluous, but we solved this easily by sharing our greens.


My guest was served the beautiful roast rump of lamb, which came with watercress purée, gratin potatoes and a fricassée of fresh peas and smoked bacon. The potatoes looked particularly inviting in all their creamy goodness and I made sure to have a taste as well. It was just as delectable as it looked; crispy on top with a beautiful, buttery melt-in-the-mouth layer underneath. My friend went as far as to call this part of the dish "sinfully delicious". The lamb was cooked beautifully as well and complimented by the smoky flavour of the bacon and the freshness of the peas.


Even though we were satisfyingly full at this stage, the dessert menu looked incredibly inviting and we were easily tempted to order a pudding each. My friend chose the Granny Smith apple and butterscotch crumble with vanilla ice cream, which looked beautiful country chic displayed on a pale blue and white striped serviette. While the butterscotch flavour wasn't overwhelmingly present, the rich crumble went down a treat.


I'm always partial to anything chocolatey when on offer and the warm gooey chocolate brownie with vanilla ice cream ended up being the perfect choice for me. It was a very generous portion so I struggled finishing it, though not for lack of trying. Beautifully crisp on top and melt-in-the-mouth gooey on the inside, each little bite was an intense cocoa-flavoured sensation. My mouth is watering just by thinking back to this, it's one of the best brownies I've ever had - and there have been many throughout the years.


After dinner we had the opportunity to peak in the stunning private dining room, located in the older part of the building. Low ceilings, wooden beams and a variety of other original features make this a cosy space for a private party; seated in one of the old-fashioned carved seats on either end of the table you almost believe you've been transported back to a more rustic and simpler time.

This was in stark contrast to the modern open kitchen in the part of the restaurant we were dining, which is build around a centrepiece wood-fired pizza oven. Combining old and new in this instance worked very well, bringing the best of both worlds together in a unique and very charming setting.

When night fell the fireplaces were lit up, adding a gentle smoky fragrance to the homely atmosphere already lingering in the pub. This feeling was amplified by the fairy lights twinkling in the trees just outside, the country charm of the establishment entrancing passers-by before they'd even had a chance to glance at the delectable menu.

Ye Olde Saracen's Head, Balsall Street, Balsall Common, Coventry CV7 7AS.