Review: Places to Eat in London
Hello there!
London is one of my favourite places to visit with friends and family. I just love the atmosphere of places with markets, street performers and, of course, the great food. These are just a few places that I have been to in London recently and a review of what I had when I visited. Enjoy!
Fabrique Bakery
Fabrique Bakery is an artisan bakery with several bakeries across London. I visited the one in Covent Garden and wasn't disappointed. I arrived when they opened since you can then try the freshest baked goods. I wasn't the only person with this idea since many people came in as soon as they opened. The cinnamon buns looked amazing so I had to try one. The dough was so soft it almost melts in your mouth. It still had a good firm texture on the outside though. They were baked perfectly and topped with sugar. The cinnamon flavour was just right and the aroma when you walk in is exactly what you expect from a bakery. In addition, they had a walnut bun as well which was filled with lots of walnuts and topped with sugar. The aesthetic of their products complemented the atmosphere and decor of their bakeries creating a modern vibe.
Price per portion = the cinnamon and walnut buns were £3 each
Value for money - they can be considered a little expensive for one bun but you have to bare in mind that they are an artisan bakery in the centre of London, plus they were very nice and I would go back
Santa Nata
Another bakery in Covent Garden is Santa Nata, though they are very different to Fabrique Bakery. Santa Nata has two bakeries, both located in Covent Garden and it is dedicated to selling Pastel de Nata, or Portuguese Tarts. I absolutely love these pastries and when I heard that this bakery was opening I had to visit next time I was in London. The actual bakeries themselves are very small but you can see the bakers making the tarts in both locations which is something special. The custard in the centre is very smooth and not too thick or gelatinous. You can taste a subtle hint of spice and the pastry is very crisp and light to eat. All you would hope to be in a classic Pastel de Nata.
Price per portion = each tart is £2
Value for money = It is a little expensive but you see them being handmade and they are nice to have with a coffee instead of buying a sweet treat from a coffee shop
Padella
Moving away from bakeries and into meals. Probably the best pasta dish I have ever had has to be whilst eating in Padella. The restaurant is located near Borough Market and is very popular. I arrived not long after they opened for lunch and there was a queue of people waiting already. It was simple though, they give you a time slot and text you when your table is ready and we didn't have to wait long. We were sat at a counter which is right in front of the kitchen so you can watch the chefs prepare all the dishes with the fresh pasta. It was fascinating to watch. I ordered stracci with sweet onion, thyme and gorgonzola fonduta which was very rich but had an amazing flavour. The onions were sweet and cut through the rich cheese perfectly. The pasta itself was exactly what you expect, it had a bite to it still and it soaked up all the flavours in the sauce. The portion sizes were perfect for me since it was so rich but many people were sharing dishes so a great place to take friends.
Price per portion = The dish I had was £6 but all the pasta dishes ranged from £4-£11.50
Value for money - I would say Padella is great value for money. The fact you can get a portion of gnocchi that is made fresh and prepared right in front of you for £4 amazing. I would definitely recommend Padella to anyone and will be returning
By Chloe
By Chloe is a 100% plant-based restaurant with several locations across London. I went for breakfast and arrived not long after it opened and it was fairly busy already showing it was popular. I ordered their quinoa hash brown which comes with tofu sour cream and is sprinkled with smoked paprika. Personally, I'm not a big fan of quinoa but this pleasantly surprised me. The quinoa flavour wasn't very strong, which for me was nice. My favourite part of the dish was the tofu sour cream as it was so creamy it was hard to believe it was vegan. It would be perfect in a wrap or sandwich as well. The smoked paprika worked well with the sour cream and hash brown which is a combination I didn't think would. The only downside was that the outside could have been crispier and it didn't hold it's shape brilliantly. I also tried their juice "Cuckoo's Nest" which was made of beetroot, apple, romaine, lemon and ginger. If you don't like beetroot then you wouldn't like this juice as it is very strong beet flavour and colour but it does have hints of the other ingredients and was very refreshing.
Price per portion = Both the hash brown and drink were both £4.80 each
Value for money - The hash brown was a bit expensive but you did get a large hash brown with lots of tofu sour cream, the quinoa also made it filling. Personally, the juice was definitely overpriced for how much you got. Until vegan restaurants become completely mainstream they will be a bit pricey, especially in Central London but it was an experience going and I would like to go back to try their lunchtime menu
Like food places in London? Why not check out this blog post:
Afternoon Tea in Covent Garden
If you liked this post, visit my full blog at:
https://littlechefbeth.blogspot.com
London is one of my favourite places to visit with friends and family. I just love the atmosphere of places with markets, street performers and, of course, the great food. These are just a few places that I have been to in London recently and a review of what I had when I visited. Enjoy!
Review: Places to Eat in London
Fabrique Bakery is an artisan bakery with several bakeries across London. I visited the one in Covent Garden and wasn't disappointed. I arrived when they opened since you can then try the freshest baked goods. I wasn't the only person with this idea since many people came in as soon as they opened. The cinnamon buns looked amazing so I had to try one. The dough was so soft it almost melts in your mouth. It still had a good firm texture on the outside though. They were baked perfectly and topped with sugar. The cinnamon flavour was just right and the aroma when you walk in is exactly what you expect from a bakery. In addition, they had a walnut bun as well which was filled with lots of walnuts and topped with sugar. The aesthetic of their products complemented the atmosphere and decor of their bakeries creating a modern vibe.
Price per portion = the cinnamon and walnut buns were £3 each
Value for money - they can be considered a little expensive for one bun but you have to bare in mind that they are an artisan bakery in the centre of London, plus they were very nice and I would go back
Another bakery in Covent Garden is Santa Nata, though they are very different to Fabrique Bakery. Santa Nata has two bakeries, both located in Covent Garden and it is dedicated to selling Pastel de Nata, or Portuguese Tarts. I absolutely love these pastries and when I heard that this bakery was opening I had to visit next time I was in London. The actual bakeries themselves are very small but you can see the bakers making the tarts in both locations which is something special. The custard in the centre is very smooth and not too thick or gelatinous. You can taste a subtle hint of spice and the pastry is very crisp and light to eat. All you would hope to be in a classic Pastel de Nata.
Price per portion = each tart is £2
Value for money = It is a little expensive but you see them being handmade and they are nice to have with a coffee instead of buying a sweet treat from a coffee shop
Padella Moving away from bakeries and into meals. Probably the best pasta dish I have ever had has to be whilst eating in Padella. The restaurant is located near Borough Market and is very popular. I arrived not long after they opened for lunch and there was a queue of people waiting already. It was simple though, they give you a time slot and text you when your table is ready and we didn't have to wait long. We were sat at a counter which is right in front of the kitchen so you can watch the chefs prepare all the dishes with the fresh pasta. It was fascinating to watch. I ordered stracci with sweet onion, thyme and gorgonzola fonduta which was very rich but had an amazing flavour. The onions were sweet and cut through the rich cheese perfectly. The pasta itself was exactly what you expect, it had a bite to it still and it soaked up all the flavours in the sauce. The portion sizes were perfect for me since it was so rich but many people were sharing dishes so a great place to take friends.
Price per portion = The dish I had was £6 but all the pasta dishes ranged from £4-£11.50Value for money - I would say Padella is great value for money. The fact you can get a portion of gnocchi that is made fresh and prepared right in front of you for £4 amazing. I would definitely recommend Padella to anyone and will be returning
By Chloe
By Chloe is a 100% plant-based restaurant with several locations across London. I went for breakfast and arrived not long after it opened and it was fairly busy already showing it was popular. I ordered their quinoa hash brown which comes with tofu sour cream and is sprinkled with smoked paprika. Personally, I'm not a big fan of quinoa but this pleasantly surprised me. The quinoa flavour wasn't very strong, which for me was nice. My favourite part of the dish was the tofu sour cream as it was so creamy it was hard to believe it was vegan. It would be perfect in a wrap or sandwich as well. The smoked paprika worked well with the sour cream and hash brown which is a combination I didn't think would. The only downside was that the outside could have been crispier and it didn't hold it's shape brilliantly. I also tried their juice "Cuckoo's Nest" which was made of beetroot, apple, romaine, lemon and ginger. If you don't like beetroot then you wouldn't like this juice as it is very strong beet flavour and colour but it does have hints of the other ingredients and was very refreshing.
Price per portion = Both the hash brown and drink were both £4.80 each
Value for money - The hash brown was a bit expensive but you did get a large hash brown with lots of tofu sour cream, the quinoa also made it filling. Personally, the juice was definitely overpriced for how much you got. Until vegan restaurants become completely mainstream they will be a bit pricey, especially in Central London but it was an experience going and I would like to go back to try their lunchtime menuLike food places in London? Why not check out this blog post:
Afternoon Tea in Covent Garden
If you liked this post, visit my full blog at:
https://littlechefbeth.blogspot.com
